Friday 11
September 2022
The Gov
Review – Geoff Jenke
Photos – Robert McArthur
After sitting on some inspired recordings that he’d written and produced in Matt Walker’s regional Victorian studio prior to Covid, Tex Perkins knew that he couldn’t wait any longer to give them the public airing they needed. So eventuated the self-titled debut album Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Band, released in 2021. The live stage was calling.
Before we had Tex on stage, Alana Jagt enthralled those of us who were listening, with a set of great acoustic songs. It is so hard for a support act, armed only with an acoustic guitar to play over all the people talking, waiting for the main act. I had seen Alana recently and she continues to impress.
Tex walked on stage with a cup of tea and with Matt Walker in tow. The two plugged in and the evening started with My Philosophy from the recently released self-titled album. Tex was looking splendid as usual in a suit jacket and jeans. For some reason, rightly or wrongly, I have always linked Tex and Nick Cave’s careers together. Both wild men of Australian rock in their early days, which could have ended badly, both featuring in many bands and collaborations and both have come out the other end respected gentlemen of Australian music.
The rest of the band joined Tex and Matt on stage for the opening track off the album, Pay the Devil’s Due and it became obvious very quickly this was no “make shift” band Tex had collected, this was a real deal band. Danger Has Been Cold followed before Tex introducing Place in the Sun “to all the young homebuyers in the room”.
The sound is difficult to categorise. It sure does have country roots and you can hear some Americana in the music, but it also rocks. Maybe we should just call it Australiana music.
Tex announced a new album should be out “early next year” and we were privileged to a few numbers off that album, even one he said “I heard my 12-year-old son playing a riff and said What’s that? So, I pinched it.” Hope the son gets a credit.
The new single, Brand New Man is a brooding, slow burning masterpiece, showing a gentler side to Tex’s powerful voice. But it was a new song in Nobody Owes that set the bar high for the night. This was one wonderful piece of music. The guitars were loud and the drums and percussion matched the power. Cannot wait to hear this one on the new album.
The band then pulled out an old 1969 Lee Dorsey song Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky (From Now On). This song is so out of character for Tex but strangely it worked. Only Tex would get away with this.
Another cover in Woman with Soul “is dedicated to all the mothers out there. We love you all”. While a Tony Joe White number, it has relevance to Tex as The Cruel Sea did a version on the Honeymoon is Over album, thirty years ago, back in 1993.
“This is the song that inspired this band” Tex told us, introducing Link Wray’s 1971 Fire and Brimstone. “It was recorded in a chicken shack. We didn’t have a chicken shack but we recorded it in Matt’s shed”. As the title suggests, it’s no ballad, and Tex singing to us with his deep powerful voice “I saw fire and brimstone coming down on my head”, sounding like one of those fire and brimstone ministers in the U.S.
The Aria song of the year, 1993, followed. “This song is a curse” said Tex, “I hate this song, but I love to hate it” and the band launched into The Honeymoon is Over and the audience launched dozens of phones in the air to capture the song.
“It’s the Aria Awards section of the show” announced Tex, and when mentioned they were partying after the show but Matt was the designated driver, someone in the audience yelled “Get a Uber”, Tex told us “I hate Uber, I’m, a cab man” before launching into This is Not the Way Home.
As the band left the stage, Tex hinted “there maybe a couple more”, and with the audience trying to bring the roof down to get them back, they obliged. With only a simple drum beat for accompaniment Tex and Matt sang Poor Simple-Minded Fool. It was beautiful.
In Another Lifetime and For a Love Long Gone rounded out the evening. For a Love Long Gone gave Nobody Owes a run for song of the night with its soaring guitars and stunning vocals. What a perfect way to end the evening.
Tex Perkins is the ultimate performer no matter who he is playing with, but with the Fat Rubber Band he may have reached new heights.
A magnificent evening and I eagerly await the new album, Other World, next year, and for him to return to the stage to present it.
Tex Perkins and The rubber Band are a class act. One not to be missed.
No Comments