The Gov Saturday 22 May 2021
Words – Geoff Jenke
Choirboys, along with AC/DC, The Angels, Cold Chisel and many others came out of the “pub Rock” scene of the 1970’s. Formed in 1979, they cut their straps in the sweaty pubs of Sydney before scoring a hit with their first single “Never Gonna Die” 3 years later. Here they were, 40 years later playing their style of pub rock in The Gov pub.
The band still have original members Mark Gable (vocals), Ian Hulme (bass) Lindsay Tebbutt (drums – although he wasn’t playing Saturday night) and longtime member Brett Williams (lead guitar) still pounding the boards and giving the fans, and it looked as if females outnumbered the males, nearly two hours of classic pub rock songs.
Choirboys played most of their fist two albums, the self-titled first and 1988’s Big Bad Noise and this is what the punters wanted to hear. Marks’ voice is still in fine form and the band are tight from years of playing together. The singles were all there with Never Gonna Die and Boys in the Band coming out early.
It was also Mark’s stories that held the crowd in the palm of his hand as well. Tales of making expensive singles (Rendezvous) and failing to have a hit with it, how Gasoline came about, being an ode to Chrissie Amphlett, and a song about a relative coming out to Australia at the age of 14 early last century (James Dale). And it was this audience interaction interspersed with great songs that made the evening so enjoyable. The band even showed their love of The Easybeats by playing She’s So Fine, with the dance floor filling quickly.
Naturally it was Run to Paradise that the fans wanted and the Choirboys played it with as much passion as they would have when it was first released. But the real treat was the encore, a version of Little Heroes This Perfect Day. It was in fact perfect way to end the set.
Adelaide power trio, Surviving Sharks opened for Choirboys, giving a serve of high energy rock N roll and even a bit of punk with Get in the Car. Closing song Have a Go was masterful, with a slight nod to the 70’s band Mountain perhaps? Catch them if you can. They are worth checking out.
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