Eddie Kowalczyk @ NorwoodConcert Hall, Adelaide(18/08/09)

Mon 24th Aug, 2009 in Gig Reviews

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.

Edward (or as the ticket stated Eddie!) Kowalczyk was back in Adelaide to perform stripped back versions of Live classics and new solo material. It wasn’t that long ago that he wanted to be known only as Edward. Fuck it, he’s a rock star, he can call himself whatever he wants!

Having been to several Live shows in my gig going career which includes moshing to the brilliantly chaotic track White Discussion back in 1997, I was a little apprehensive to hear acoustic versions of Live classics from the comforts of a swish red seat. But now that I’m older and more open to this style of music, I no longer require a mosh pit to have a good time at a gig.

Each album got a look in, some more than others (thankfully). Let’s be honest here their first album Mental Jewellery (1992), V (2001) and last Songs from the Black Mountain (2006) were quite poor releases. A couple of great singles and album tracks but they didn’t have the depth of their other releases Throwing Copper (1994), Secret Samadhi (1997), The Distance To Here (1999) and Birds Of Pray (2003).

Eddie is a born front man; he knows how to get a crowd involved. His years of clean living have paid off – he still looks like the young man who first tasted success in 1994 when Throwing Copper hit the big time. He walks on stage to a huge sold out applause to join two identical acoustic guitars, four bottles of water, and a set-list. The choice was a greatest hits set, but with some notable surprises and rarities. And although members of the crowd yelled out some tracks, Eddie didn’t sway from the set-list.

One of the first tracks, The Distance, was a special one for us locals as he incorporated “Adelaide” into the lyrics much to the joy of the crowd…a few yelps of approval were evidence to this. Selling The Drama saw some nice ass shaking by Eddie, while I Alone had the crowd singing most of the chorus which brought a smile to Eddie’s face.

He continued through his plethora of songs with a brilliant version of Turn My Head, Dolphin’s Cry, Stood Up For Love and Heaven. All showing a different angle to the usual album version the crowd already know and love. He even took the time to talk to the crowd in between songs – about his daughters, Australia, and his soon to be released solo record. He played a new song called Zion which will appear on his solo album. It’s always hard to judge a new track when you hear it for the first time live but it too was outstanding.

Two encores were very generous. First up was a rare version of Vic Chestnutt’s Supernatural that was made famous by Live back in 1995 when they performed it on MTV Unplugged. All Over You, Lightning Crashes and Dance With You which was brilliantly sung acapella by the crowd, rounded off the first encore.

Second encore saw Sofia and an interesting Bob Dylan cover of Blowin’ in the Wind.

The gig was great but what would have given it a boost would be the addition of a semi-unplugged backing band. An acoustic bass in particular would have been a perfect accompaniment for this style of concert and setting.

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.