The Cruel Sea @ The Gov,Adelaide (25/11/11)

Wed 30th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

“Do you want to come and see the Cruel Sea?”

My friend Sally-Anne was celebrating her birthday at the Governor Hindmarsh the night these Aussie legends were playing, and she kindly invited me to come along for the show. The only time I’d seen Tex Perkins in the flesh was in an airport line years ago. It was early, he was clad in black, the colour of a ghost and totally shot. I was impressed. And I was even more impressed by their live show.

Both before the main set and the first of the two encores, a dimly lit band opened with an atmospheric instrumental, focussing us on the imminent arrival of His Texness. First up was Navigate from their 1989 debut, Down Below. A track 22 years old, yet when it started there it was, instantly warm, recognisable and somehow in some way still current. The Cruel Sea sound is a very recognisable one we’ve all heard for decades. And really, it’s still a pretty great sound.

What was the name of that ABC Seachange style drama set in Byron Bay with the good looking people and the nice lighting? Seachange maybe? Anyway as soon as this band started playing it suddenly felt a bit like that – a lush, warm, relaxed, slightly intoxicated bush retreat. Which isn’t so surprising, given that’s where these guys now like to hang out to make albums together, on the northern NSW coast.

Sexy Texy eventually strode into his space, working double denim and thongs, a cup of tea in hand. Unlike the last rock star I saw with a teacup on the Gov’s stage, Tex’s had steam rising from it and appeared to contain actual tea. My next thoughts were, “oh, nice neat and tidy hair, that’s a surprise…” and “yep, put on 10 kilos. Maybe 15? He looks good though. The food and wine up there is pretty delicious… Good for him.”

Perhaps I’d anticipated the more dangerous man I had stood behind at the airport. But judging this book by its cover, the Beast of Bourbon offered no threat. Instead his confidence was coupled with a maturity and a healthy glow, most likely borne of years of success, adulation and royalties from singles on a thousand compilation albums.

Tex, aka Gregory, did eventually swap his tea for a couple of beers, but they were Coronas, and overall you got the impression of a more measured and genteel man than the guy we used to hear about in the 90s. Of course, I could be way off.

The first song – It’s Alright (Baby She Loves Me) was anthemic and well chosen to open with – everybody there loved Tex and he understood that fundamentally. Everyone loved the rest of the band too, to be sure, it just seemed it was through Tex first. Thereafter, for a good 90 minutes, much joy and enthusiasm were exchanged between band and audience.

All hits were played: Better Get a Lawyer, Takin’ All Day and The Honeymoon Is Over, the Sea being amply rewarded for their creations with dancing, keen applause and offers of on-stage love-making.

The final encore delivered the crowd a cracking serve of Cocaine that had them dancing right into the back row. Not so cracking a rendition that you thought the band was on it, but cracking enough that you knew that they’d all been there. It was a perfect close to a well delivered show that was obviously enjoyed by all in the by then, very hot and sweaty Governor Hindmarsh.

Weighing the denouement in the courtyard, reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Generally, the more drinks, the more positive. Yet my friend Mads, a new mother who had driver’s duties, agreed that while yes she also had had a great time, she didn’t want to bone Tex Perkins anymore. Although I’ve never wanted to bone Tex, I knew what she meant.

It isn’t because (at 47) Tex isn’t still hot, he is, it’s that while the Cruel Sea may still sound a bit like rock n roll predators, they’re actually more grown-up family men these days. They can still command a room, but it seems they use their powers more for good these days. Good and school fees. Mostly. I think.

Overall there was a touch of the old fashioned about the show, nostalgia maybe, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying classics. In an interview in 2006 Tex suggested the Cruel Sea were no longer, but this hasn’t seemed to slow down touring too much, and I get the sense they’ll be around for a few years yet. So if you have an opportunity to see the Cruel Sea, give it a go. Chances are you’ll have a good time.