Confession time before I start this review. I don’t particularly like tribute/cover bands. Also I am a Neil Young tragic. So I was torn about going to see Helpless, a Neil Young cover band. Interestingly, Neil Young was meant to be touring Australia about now, but pulled out of the tour. This is why the Helpless show came about.
The band walked on stage at The Gov to an enthusiastic reception. “Don’t get too excited, were only a cover band” we were told.
But excited we did get as Helpless led us through a very entertaining evening of Neil Young classic and not so classic songs. Singer Tom West was joined on stage by fellow singer songwriters Todd Sibben, Ryan Martin and John West as well as Ryan Oliver on keyboard and David Mazzarelli on drums.
Starting with a great version of Powderfinger, the band were tight and the harmonies superb. It is not easy doing 4 and 5 person harmonies, but these guys nailed it every time. The first set had classics like Old Man, Southern Man mixed with lesser known, but equally as great tracks Walk On and Out on the Weekend. The highlights of the first set were When You Dance, done exactly the way Neil would have and Cortez the Killer, done the way the band felt it should be done, a slow burning bluesy number.
The second set continued to mix classic and album tracks. It would have just been an easy option to just play the hits, but the band members are obvious Neil Young fans and played what they liked. Alabama, a slightly less know song got an airing was one highlight, but it was an extended Down by the River that shone brightly.
Ohio actually had people up dancing which was a bit strange. How can you dance to a song about mass murder? Naturally they played the song Helpless, after which they had named themselves and at the end of the set turned everything up to eleven for a sensational version of Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black).
The encore was a stripped back version of Heart of Gold and the band left the stage. Strange, there was no Like a Hurricane or Rocking in the Free World. But then the band played what they liked and after a great night of Neil songs, who are we to complain.
I still am not a big fan of tribute/cover bands, but I am now a big fan of the band Helpless.
Words & Photo Geoff Jenke
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