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Friday night at the UC Refectory was like Australia Day – it was bliss in a plastic cup. Many had a classy plastic wine glass of red or white in one hand and a hot meat pie in the other, all reared up to watch The Whitlams play a special one off just for them. The night was hosted by our lovely friends at UC Live.

The night began with Margaret Helen King. Familiar faces to many as these guys have been playing gigs week after week, supporting many big names too. Their style which is more than catchy indie-pop – brilliant in it’s own unique self, and that’s why they seem to be the best choice of a support.

Shortly afterwards, Gossling made her way to the stage. Backed by a gorgeous array of musicians was the tiny, Helen Croombe. She had the tiniest and cute voice which sang beautifully with the band. Close to the end of her set, she asked the audience while pressing her keys, “Who’d you come to see tonight?... Was it Margret Helen King?” The crowd responds with a cheer. “Whitley? The crowd lets out a fan-girl squeal, “Whitley hey? I’ve seen Whitley…” Croombe just chuckled.

Whitley aka Lawrence Greenwood and his rock-star looking kind of band hit the stage pretty much straight afterwards. Setting up, Whitley was covered by flashes flickering from the front of the stage. There is no doubt all of those boys were very nice to look at. The band pulled some brilliant ones from the new album, as well as one or two from elsewhere. It was not long before Whitley’s known banter came out. “So, let’s play that impression game”, where you guess what voice that the band puts on. Greenwood may have come across as a comedian rather than a musician to some. Sadly, this was Canberra’s last chance to catch Whitley before the talented lad is off to the UK for a bit.

Sneaking on a little past ten thirty, The Whitlams came out on to the stage and broke out into their first chords; playing the dreamy sounding Fall For You. The young in spirit, Tim Freedman was quick to make note of the age differences before him. “Ah, the alumni and the new ability,” Freedman cooed. For the old and the young, songs unknown were absent as all had no problem singing along in a loud fashion to You Sound Like Louis Burdett, Blow Up The Pokies and I Make Hamburgers, Thank You and more.

Tim Freedman did prop up nicely by his piano, seated by a lovely bottle of white wine (which by the end of the set was to be an empty one). It was one thing the audience seemed to be watching, waving their own plastic wine glasses in the air as if to agree with Freedman’s choice of beverage. From this wine drinking singer came some pretty responsible words which were closely followed by something naughty – “Drive home safely, so you can go home and have unsafe sex with your lovers.”

Freedman clearly excited by his audience’s cheer, in return decided to call for one last song. This song was dedicated to an important person in the history of the band. It was about a man called Gough; once the Prime Minister of our country – Gough Whitlam that is. Before playing, Freedman reminded the crowd of his yet previous statement: “This song is precisely one minute and forty six seconds – then I’ll let you get home to your respective orgies.”

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