A newspaper hat-wearing crowd of 20-somethings filled the Governor Hindmarsh for Peter Combe’s second Adelaide gig for ‘big kids’ for 2009.

Support act, local stand-up comedian Steve Sheehan, opened the evening. His brand of clever lines and anecdotes, delivered in his trademark softly spoken manner, was much better suited to the surrounds of a comedy club than a rowdy audience awaiting their childhood musical hero. To his credit, Steve was reasonably quick to acknowledge this fact, graciously moving the gig on to the next act.

Mad Dog Malcolm Cummings was received a little better as second support act, but it was clear that the audience was impatient for the main act. The chauvinistic alter-ego of local comedian and singer Gerry Masi, Cummings’ one-liners and comic songs were purposefully cringe-worthy and often as colourful as his garish 70s shirt. Not exactly a ‘clean’ choice of support to precede a children’s performer, but then, which other children’s performer plays their music at late night gigs for adults?

When finally the man himself, Peter Combe, launched on to the stage, it was met with toffee apples brandished high. Combe was supported by the Belly Flop Band, with son Thomas on lead guitar and daughter Emily on back-up vocals. Combe made his way through his impressive back catalogue that has seen him receive 3 ARIAS, 7 Gold and 2 Platinum Albums. Crowd favourites came from much loved albums Spaghetti Bolognaise (1985), Toffee Apple (1987) and Newspaper Mama (1988).

Combe plays without any signs that he is flagging with age, the artist maintaining up-beat performances 20+ years into his career. It is very refreshing to watch a musician who performs with genuine joy, and the wide-grinned audience more than returned the favour by giving plenty of energy back. The crowd joined him in song through childhood hits such as It’s Saturday Night, Mr Clickety Cane and Newspaper Mama. Combe even slipped in a song from his Christmas album – “Why not? It’s my show!”

Having learned the extent of the crowd’s appetite from his last Adelaide gig, Combe was well-prepared for the demanded two encores, engaging the delighted audience with Spaghetti Bolognaise, Juicy Juicy Green Grass and Parcel in the Post. After seemingly no time at all, Peter Combe departed the stage, leaving a room a-buzz with giddy and nostalgic young adults, their inner-children musically satisfied.