Rosemount Hotel
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Australian rock ‘n’ roll veterans You Am I have been busy of late, releasing their 10th studio album last year, and a few years back celebrated their 20th birthday as a band with the re-release of their classic first three albums and the Hi Fi Daily tour. While frontman and national treasure, Tim Rogers, even found time to stretch his wings, recording and touring with soul/funk outfit The Bamboos.
While Rogers has been focussing more on his band in recent years, this weekend in Perth was something a little different and kinda special, the opportunity to see a more stripped back Timmy, playing some of the most heartfelt, beautiful, acoustic songs from his formidable back catalogue, backed only by Davey Lane on lead guitar and harmonies.
It’s always kinda hard to tell what sort of mood and form Rogers will be in, but tonight we were blessed with an intimate and brilliant performance – the main was in fine form, putting together a superb setlist full of classics, alternate versions and few rarities – reminding all and sundry of his rightful reputation as one of the greatest singer-songwriters this country has ever produced.
Local lass Lucy Peach scored the plum support slot and did well to capture the attention of the crowd with her beautiful ditties; backed by only a keyboardist who also provided some lovely harmonies.
She provided a great start to the night, charming the crowd with her well-crafted songs, personable presence and sultry, wavering vocals, floating around the room like the smoke that filled the stage, somewhat reminiscent of Sarah Blasko, Cat Power or Sharon Van Etten. Having had a great couple of years, Peach has continued to ripen with age.
After a short break Rogers and Lane casually strolled onstage and set up. Dressed resplendent in a suit and cowboy hat, Rogers kicked things off with a low-key version of Guys, Girls, Guitars from You Am I’s 1998 #4 Record.
Davey Lane, who can no longer be described as the new guy in the group, now well and truly plays an integral role as gunslinger by Rogers’ side, complementing him superbly without distracting from his performance, his solos hit the mark every time and his background vocals added depth to the songs. He even pulled out a bass guitar to add some low end to bonafide the classic Jaimme’s Got a Gal from You Am I’s ’93 debut album. It was truly sound as ever.
Rogers unique voice, which sometimes struggles these days at the high end in a rock arena, was sounding great on the more crooning, melodic numbers, such as the wonderful Happy Anniversary from his first solo album with The Twin Set, the country-tinged What Rhymes With Cars And Girls. Rogers altered the lyrics at the end to “Happy Anniversary Davey”, the first of several pisstakes directed at Lane. As well as complementing each other musically, the banter and chemistry between them is a joy to watch.
Always one for an amusing anecdote or rambling tale, Rogers was particularly chatty tonight, reminiscing over various antics over the years, such us the story of one big night out with The Strokes in Philadelphia (The NYC band’s first time in Perth was supporting You Am I) and the following day in struggletown/Cleveland – as an introduction to the rare song Cleveland.
Songs inspired by tales on the road continued with Hi, We’re The Support Band, a song Rogers explained was about their misadventures in Rotterdam, and another time where American singer Steve Earle saved Rogers life.
He even took a toungue-in-cheek stab at Muse at one point, “Fuck Muse!” he exclaimed, only to continue, “Just joking. They’re sweet guys. I’m just a jealous 46 year old drinking man.”
It’s sometimes easy to forget how long Rogers has been around, the incredible period he’s lived through, and the many bands and artists he’s met and no doubt impressed with his undeniable rock ‘n’ roll swagger (as now officially approved by David Jones’ recent campaign)
It really was an incredible setlist tonight, with Rogers pulling out some big guns early, performing an awesome, slowed down, swinging version of Berlin Chair that lapsed into the riff from The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood.
From You Am I’s 1996’s record Hourly Daily, Someone Else’s Home still sounded great, Lane’s lead really shone, as it did at the end of Gone, Gone, Gone from 2001’s Dress Me Slowly. As the great tunes continued, so did the hilarity, with Rogers now referring to Lane as his son.
With his usual dry wit Rogers shot down an overly zealous fan for shouting out requests. He then introduced Lane as his “lovely daughter” for the next track, as a bemused Lane stepped up to take the lead vocal on a cracking cover of Now and Always by 70s British band Rockpile.
The jokes at Lane’s expense continued with Rogers waxing lyrical about touring in such close quarters, and how he’d written many songs about Lane’s “magnificent penis”. On a more genuine note, Rogers also took the time to thank Xpress Magazine’s long-time chief editor Bob Gordon, for his support over the years.
They then brought it home strongly, with certified classic Rogers’ ballad, Heavy Heart, that featured an unexpected intro cover of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon that segued nicely into one of You Am I’s biggest hits.
Another highlight from the Twin Set album I Left My Heart All Over The Place, was clearly a crowd fav, receiving a warm reception. Rogers had a bit of fun with his delivery, turning into Bob Dylan for a little bit in the middle.
Another welcome inclusion and perhaps one of Rogers’ most under-rated songs was the beautiful, sentimental Dinosaurs, taken from his 2006 TnT collaboration with Tex Perkins. He then allowed Lane to take the spotlight for a moment to perform one of his own more upbeat, poppy tracks Not An Option.
Taking us out on a real high, Rogers said he was gonna play a song by Davey Jones – who most of us know of course as the late, great David Bowie. We were then treated to a brilliant version of Young Americans, which had the whole crowd singing “Allllllllllllright!”. Alright indeed.
ALFRED GORMAN
