Tim Rogers, Alice Cottee @Transit Bar, Canberra,(24/7/11)

Mon 25th Jul, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Sunday night in Canberra saw Transit Bar crowded with those brave souls defying the winter cold for a chance to catch Australian rock icon, rogue and You Am I frontman Tim Rogers in an intimate solo performance.

To kick things off (and not for the first time supporting Rogers), Canberra local Alice Cottee came on stage at 7pm. Sounding at times like Suzanne Vega, at others like PJ Harvey, Ani Di Franco and (dare I say it?) Jewel, Cottee’s songs were a mixture of bluesy alt-country which converged on topics obviously close to her heart. From her origins growing up in a small country town and the expectations that accompany that, her emotions surrounding a lifetime spent making questionable decisions (especially on songs such as Born Lucky and even PJ Harvey’s One Line), and reflections on addiction and loss (made especially poignant in her dedication to Amy Winehouse as well as departed friends). It wasn’t all dark however, as Cottee delved into melodies inspired by such material as a samurai-inspired dream. She played to a friendly crowd, which included Tim Rogers himself at one point – always a good sign. An experienced local act, Cottee’s performance was a perfect demonstration of her wide ranging vocal talent and pleasant harmonies.

With only a short break between acts, it didn’t take long for the mostly seated and bar-bound patrons to begin filling the empty spaces to secure prime positions closer to the stage, until reaching standing-room-only capacity (a regular occurrence with Transit). Self-confessed “pop icon living in a fantasy world,” Tim Rogers came out to prep and, in true egalitarian fashion, lined up at the bar to order a drink just prior to taking the stage, only to be ushered forward by a fan. After collecting a beverage, and decked out in a typical bohemian (was that velvet?) black jacket, white shirt and black tie, Rogers took the stage promptly at 8pm.

A true entertainer, Rogers commenced proceedings with a Dylan Thomas- inspired ode to Transit, in which he challenged the patrons to “rejoice in these tunes of misery.” This wasn’t a hard ask as Rogers launched into his tribute to the Hume Highway institution with Paragon Cafe, which noticeably resonated with locals. From his upcoming film project (in which, Rogers assured the crowd, he does not appear), he performed I Didn’t Plan To Be Here Either Baby, though skipping the instrumental part as “the lyrics are just so damn good.”

The eclectic and versatile storyteller’s songs were interspersed with cultural, social and personal references reflective of his career both on and off the stage. Rogers, with a self-confessed “soon to be illustrious, posthumous career,” dealt with any heckling in his typical curt, whimsical, yet entertaining throwaway lines. The Beatles’ Girl segued into Johnny Cash’s The Beast in Me to immense applause, following up with the brooding You’ve Been So Good to Me So Far, which pleased the crowd. Part way through his set, Rogers thanked Alice Cottee for providing support, mentioning that it had been a real pleasure to listen to her.

You Am I classics were not ignored, with Damage and If We Can’t Get it Together proving particular crowd favourites and an intensely energetic and melancholic rendition of contemplative mainstay Heavy Heart to close the show receiving rousing applause. An encore included songs dedicated to maintaining childhood dreams and the pleasures of Cleveland, Ohio before leaving the appreciative crowd with his own personal reflections of touring and Canberra in particular, of which he has fond memories from his earliest days of touring with You Am I. In a pointed riposte to the many Canberra naysayers, Rogers professed that Canberra “does indeed have a lot of soul,” of which he had been the personal recipient in his student days, praising the Canberra punk scene of the 1980s and encouraging the crowd to research this era. Rogers also commended the crowd for being good listeners, which “was a rare treat”. Many of the suitably thawed crowd lingered to grab a quick photo and autograph.

Sometimes controversial, always entertaining, Tim Rogers’ witty and introspective performance was thoroughly absorbing and a great way to spend a wintry Sunday night. A great venue for a great gig, peppered throughout with humorous commentary which the crowd clearly enjoyed, perhaps the last word should be left to the immensely talented and hugely popular man himself, again from his Transit poem: “Oh Transit, you wondrous venue, what a joy it remains to be, inside you.”