Jimmy Barnes @ The RoyalTheatre, Canberra (26/11/10)

Tue 30th Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Since my youth I’d say my music taste has changed quite a bit. There was a brief S Club 7 phase, a rather angsty few months spent listening to Avril Lavigne and the time when I owned every one of Ja Rule’s albums. Those obsessions have long since faded into mere fads, yet my love for Jimmy Barnes has remained steadfast. Perhaps it’s a result of long coast trips listening to my parents music or some subconscious memories of hearing Cold Chisel as a newborn, but whatever it is, Jimmy has always been the man for me.

Last Friday marked the third time I’ve seen Jimmy Barnes live and once again I found myself likening him to a good wine – he only gets better with age. Often you get musicians that, after doing the rounds for three or four years, seem worn out and past it. However, Jimmy shows no signs of weariness, no signs of slowing down and no signs of losing that famous voice. At 53 years young he might swig from a thermos of tea instead of the vodka bottles of his misspent youth, but he can still scream like he used to, with a stage presence and kick-ass attitude that’s reminiscent of the Chisel days.

On tour for his latest venture, Rage and Ruin, Barnes was supported as always, by his daughter Mahalia whose soul-drenched, power house vocals invoke divas of the past and threatened to blow the roof off the convention centre. It’s always a family affair at any of Jimmy’s shows and this one was no different, with Mahalia returning, along with sister Elly May to sing backup, with son Jackie taking his usual spot on the drums.

Barnes showcased tracks from the new album, highlights being Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, God or Money and Largs Pier Hotel, but also delighted the nostalgic crowd with a trip down memory lane, with past solo tracks and a few Chisel gems met with hoarse screaming and word-for-word sing-a-longs. Flame Trees was pretty perfect, Ride the Night Away made me feel five again and Still on Your Side prompted my parents to put their arms around each other, but it was when Jimmy returned for an encore made up of Khe Sanh and Goodbye that the crowd really went off.

A Jimmy Barnes concert is a pretty cool place to be. An eclectic mix of age groups and genders, all with a mutual love for one man and his national icon of a voice. Next time Jimmy makes his way to Canberra (and thankfully, he does that often) embrace your inner Aussie rock bogan/40 year old screaming fan-girl and check him out.