Thebarton Theatre
Tuesday 4 October 2022
Words – Geoff Jenke
Photos – Robert McArthur
Driving to the Thebarton Theatre in the pouring rain and wild wild weather, I was wondering if maybe it would turn into an outdoor event with the roof of the Thebby Theatre blowing off. Dodging the rain running in to the theatre, I soon discovered it was dry and warm inside.
Adalita, from Magic Dirt, hit the stage solo armed only with a guitar and an occasional backing track to entertain us. I have seen Adalita play solo several times now and she always wins the crowd over. Changing guitars for each song, Adalita gave us the song The Repairer, off her debut album, a couple from the All-Day Venus album and challenging the crowd, finished her short set with two brand new songs in Listen Hard and Equations from her forth coming December album. Unusual way to finish a set, with playing new songs, but such is the guitar and vocal talent of Adalita that she left the crowd wanting more.
A lot of bands have gone out in the last few years playing their “best” album in full and then playing a set of the hits. Eskimo Joe raised the level last night by playing two albums in full, the 2004 A Song Is A City and 2006’s Black Fingernails, Red Wine. This is a big decision to make as while the hard-core fans will love it, the casual punter who just wants the hits may shy away from the show. Eskimo Joe need not worry as the hard-core fans filled the Thebarton Theatre to hear many tracks that have probably never been played live.
A Song Is A City was up first so naturally the set began with the quieter Come Down, Trav Temperley looking every part a 50’s rocker. The hit single came next, From the Sea, a song that would normally be left for the encore, but it won the crowd over early.
It was not just the songs that was entertaining but the stories behind the songs. For Older Than You Kav told us they had heard the Beatles, when they started, just tried to write a Roy Orbison song, then speed it up. This song was written that way apparently. The song I’m So Tired was written after watching Rage on ABC TV one night and seeing a clip of Bill Withers playing Ain’t No Sunshine. Eskimo Joe threw a bit of the Bill Withers song in at the beginning and end of I’m So Tired. During the song, guitarist Joel Quartermain joined Paul on drums for a great tribal beat to complete the song. It really did add a whole new depth to the song.
Smoke was a left over from the debut album sessions and the first part of the evening rounded out with Carousel/This Room and Car Crash.
The band were in fine form, as my photographer said to me, “This band has practiced, a lot”. The video screen behind them was very subtle, playing the video clip for the song if there was one or just giving gentle images. It never overpowered the band on stage.
After a 20-minute break the band were back to tackle Black Fingernails, Red Wine in full (and as in the first set, in order), This album gave the band their first Aria number 1 and with five singles released from it, was even more popular with the audience.
The stories came again which is a nice touch. The title track, Black Fingernails, Red Wine was just originally a silly idea, but as Kav told us “Sometimes silly ideas work the best”. Breaking Up was the first track recorded for the album and Setting Sun appeared in the Miley Cyrus movie, The Last Song. London Bombs had the phones out and Sarah is a “good song to discuss at dinner parties,” said Kav. “Why is there the line ‘Sarah, what is your name’ when the guy apparently knows her name?” Confused? Me too.
Reprise was lovely, with only the keyboard player, Timothy Nelson, and drummer Paul on stage with guitarist Joel MacLeod, also playing keyboards. Kav asked everyone to put their arms around the persons next to them and sway to the tune of How Does It Feel, the final track off the album. Was interesting watching from the raised rear section as one couple in the middle went against the grain of the sway.
So, what do the band then bring to the encore with such a vast repertoire to choose from? “Last time we played this song in Adelaide was at Fowlers” said Kav launching into Sweater, the song that started it all for the band and hardly played since it became a hit. With only Kav, Stu and Joel on stage, it shows the friendship has endured. They also wore sweaters, with the word Seater on it. (“available from the merch stall” we were told).
After a false start, 2011’s Love is a Drug came next and then for the first time this evening, the amps went to 11 for a powerful Foreign Land to finish the evening. A brilliant ending to the night.
Eskimo Joe is a class act. Kav promised they would be back soon.
You should be there if they do come back.
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