A Day on the Green @Sandalford Winery, Perth(06/12/09)

Thu 10th Dec, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Find your mum misbehaving in Williamb’s gallery

Continuing the seemingly endless parade of reformations and comeback tours, The B-52s have been roaming around the world delighting audiences full of the not too old to party and probably too young to understand. Sunday was Perth’s turn as they headlined A Day on the Green, the Parent’s Big Day Out if you like.

Opening proceedings at the tail end of the day were perennial comeback band openers and winery favourites, Mental as Anything who played some warm up tunes while the rapidly growing crowd scoffed their picnics and got their drink on. A short changeover filled by DJ Master Bates (No, really! – he was a bit of a wanker.) in odd costumes playing hits from the late 80s and early nineties and did well to remind people what it was like to love a band so much you’d stand for hours at the backstage carpark entrance before the show to catch a glimpse of the band arriving in the Tarago, or hoping to make friends with a roadie.

For anyone who thought the Proclaimers were a one or two hit wonder, you’d be wrong, at least in bloodnut country. These boys have been making albums and touring consistently since the success of I’m on my way and 500 Miles it’s just that they have a very specific target audience, all of whom were on the green and in fine form by the time the sun started blinding people. So many drunk Scotspeople! They loved it. They loved it so much they spilled wine, hollered all the words to all the songs, danced with absolute abandon and did their utmost to impart their Proclaimers loving wisdom to anyone in the crowd who seemed less boisterous. Regardless of their incredibly gay tambourine technique, the Scottish twins were earnest and talented, their songs were fairly sameish, and without the pop-genius intensity of the two big hits. Nevertheless, like trashy romance, they have a clear appeal. To be frank, the fans added so much exuberance to their performance that it was impossible to not spend their entire set with a stupid grin, and when you grin non-stop for an hour, you can’t help but feel good.

The grinning continued, with the advent of the B-52s set, and while it seemed many of the crowd had actually come for the Proclaimers, and started to stagger towards their cars (Apparently drink-driving laws don’t apply to baby boomers) those that stayed were rewarded with a snapshot of a Funplex and a retro trip that demanded you dance like it was 1979. If any of us look that good in 40+ years and are still wearing sequinned miniskirts and dancing around on stage, it’ll be a miracle. Indeed, age seems not to have wearied them or dimmed their pop sensibilities the way it has with certain still successful rock bands who have aged with their audience into adult easy listening. The B-52s are still writing accessible pop dance tunes just like you’d hear on Nova. Once again however, this band also has the gayest tambourine playing technique ever; well, after the Proclaimers anyway.

My Own Private Idaho was the first of the hits that had the crowd jiggling their jiggly bits but then, instead of returning to their seats exhausted, the music kept them moving through the back catalogue and the new album and when they looked like flagging, Rome, Love Shack and Rock Lobster kept them on their feet. By the time the set was over, the audience was as sweaty and shattered as a 61 year old might be after being on stage for an hour – Except that the band still looked daisy fresh, and might have played some more if they thought the audience could handle the pace.

NOTE: DJ Bates, admit it, you asked for the wanker comment.

Find your mum misbehaving in Williamb’s gallery