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Sold Out! Live at Thebby!

There isn’t a better way to celebrate a Saturday than checking out a live show at Thebby Theatre. Tonight it was the elder statesman of Australian rock – œn roll – Mr Jimmy Barnes. After attending many shows over the years, Jimmy Barnes was one I hadn’t seen and was on my must see list for 2009.

The Pictures warmed the stage to a very tough crowd who either sat like stunned mullets or basically yelled obscenities telling them where to go. Nevertheless, they battled on with a tight set as a four-piece playing a good spread of tunes from both albums. Opening with Pissin’ With The Catman was quite enough to excite the crowd nor was the big single Can You Hear It off Kicking Indifference.

The main act needed little introduction at all sending the crowd in to hyper drive when he walked on stage. Opening with Driving Wheels the scene was set for a night of greatest hits and memories plus a few random tunes from the back catalogue. The set was divided in to two fifty-minute halves – not because he needed a rest in between – the set list seemed logical and well thought out.

The first set was just loaded with hits – To Much Ain’t Enough Love, Lay Down Your Guns and Love Is Enough. There was an almighty roar and rapturous applause for the Chisel hits Breakfast At Sweethearts and Khe Sanh. It would have been quite easy to leave at this point and still been satisfied with what was on show.

There’s no questioning the intensity of Jimmy Barne’s live show and he commands the stage like no other, knowing how to engage with the audience and feed off their energy.

The second set picked up where things left off opening with Catch Your Shadow followed by Flame Trees – brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! There was also a taster from Jimmy’s new album The Rhythm And The Blues wowing the crowd with Red Hot, You Can’t Judge A Book and Shake Rattle & Roll. There was still plenty left in the tank with I’d Die To Be With You Tonight, Ain’t No Second Prize and Good Times to close out the second set.

Jimmy and band returned for two encores featuring the appropriately positioned Goodnight and Working Class Man before retiring for the night.

Walking back to my car I definitely felt privileged seeing one of Australia’s finest play at Thebby Theatre even though my ears were still ringing for sometime after.

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