Tim Rogers @ The QuarryAmphitheatre, Perth (13/12/11)

Thu 29th Dec, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Live at the Quarry, now in its fifth season, has stapled itself as a must do summer music event. Hosting an array of live performances in its intimate 500 capacity space, the amphitheatre is a hidden gem tucked away in Perth’s suburbs. The scenic venue is surrounded by trees, without viewing obstructions, looking out over the city. An intimate and relaxed vibe permeates the air, punters ease into the night bringing their own picnic dinners. This is a sit down and enjoy the music kind of gig, there will be no mosh pits in sight here.

Perth’s very own Abbe May strutted onto the stage looking sultry, even with her new $90 ‘Cleopatra’ haircut, that she clearly wasn’t impressed with. Armed with only a guitar, the stripped back nature of her songs really showcased her emotive vocals. Her songs were given a totally different feeling without the power of her backing band behind her. Blues-rock suddenly became blues-country, really giving the audience a chance to soak in the lyrics as she sang about tails of love and heartache.

She played a range of songs spanning her entire back catalogue but the highlight of the set came in the form of a seductive rendition of Willie Dickson’s Spoonful.

You am I front man Tim Rogers is known for his hilariously witty stage banter, it did not take long for this trait to shine. Before his set was due to start he was already apologising to those who may have found it distressing to witness a cultural icon setting up his own gear. He then exited to stage only to return no more that two minutes later to begin his show.

Looking sharp in a white suit, the beauty of the venue inspired Rogers to open his set with a humorous ode to the quarry, detailing his love for the amphitheatre. Showcasing the intimacy of the venue, Rogers was distracted by a sneezing punter, to which he responded by adding a ‘Bless you’ whilst performing Paragon Cafe, making sure not to miss a beat, much to the surprise of the fan.

Rogers gave the majority of the songs performed a back-story, but you never really know whether he is being serious or not, you get the feeling that he is constantly toying with the audience. Rogers struggled to remember the lyrics to Some Fella’s Heart breaker (Correlation to the bottle of wine he had been guzzling throughout the night?), luckily one eager fan decided to jump in and help him out.

Rogers is aware of his character flaws and uses this to his advantage for comedic value. Take his massive ego for example. The show was visibly not sold out; a few empty seats were sprinkled throughout the venue. But Rogers explained that this is because he only lets A-Listers into his shows. While it’s all smiles and laughter between songs he gives a very honest performance. Very honest delivery to match his very honest lyrics. Even though his vocal chords have undoubtedly been put through years of hardship, Rogers has a strong voice.

Rogers was not alone, he was accompanied fellow by Temperance Union guitarist Shane O’Mara, who added some extra melody to the songs. Anyone who went to this gig expecting a whole bunch of You am I songs would have been sorely disappointed. Heavy Heart and If we can’t get it together did make it onto the set list, however. The night was ended with a cover of Bob Dylan’s Boots of Spanish Leather.

If you’re a fan of unpredictability, be sure not to miss Rogers perform the next time he rolls into town. You never really know what to expect at his shows. One thing is certain, he never fails to entertain.