Review & Photos by Geoff Jenke
Directed by Madeleine Parry (Hannah Gadsby: Nanette and Hannah Gadsby: Douglas), the film doesn’t pull any punches when current and past members talk about their roles in the band and their aspirations and disappointments. Original drummer, Charlie King, who was fired early in the career of The Angels, gives his account of what he feels happened and the reasons why he was fired as opposed to the “real” reason. Rock and Roll is a cruel mistress, as Charlie then had to watch the band become famous from the sidelines.
The band formed out of The Moonshine Jug String Band in 1974. The band decided to go electric and originally came up with the name Keystone Angels, before changing it to just The Angels.
Even with support from Albert’s Studios (home of a young AC/DC) and producers Vanda & Young, The Angels struggled to make a dent in Australian charts. In today’s world of “instant” pop stars, The Angels would have been dropped from the label very smartly, but in the 70’s, labels gave bands a “second chance” and the second album Face to Face shot up the charts while going 4 times platinum, launching The Angels on the world.
The documentary covers the Angels rise in Australia and their attempt to crack it overseas, where a couple of really bad decisions they made went against them and America went cold on them.
The movie has interviews with friends, other bands and is forthright frank about the people in the band. It is at times confronting but at times very moving with the honesty displayed on screen.
I am of the age that I saw The Keystone Angels support AC/DC at the Pt Pirie Town Hall in 1975 and was impressed with both bands. I followed The Angels through the 70’s and into the 80’s and spent a few drunken evenings watching them at Beer Barnes around Adelaide, not believing Doc’s antics on stage.
Well done to Madeleine Parry for an honest appraisal of one of South Australia’s finest bands, a band who are still performing today with the Brewster Brothers still in tow and Dave Gleeson on vocals.
If you have any interest in rock music, no matter what the genre, you should check this film out, even if it is to see how things were done “back in the day”. It was a whole different world back then for bands.
Rating: 8
Live Review : The Angels – Kickin’ Down the Door
Opening Night of The Adelaide Film
Festival
Adelaide Uni Bar & Cloisters
Wednesday 19th October 2022
Once the movie premier of The Angels: Kickin’ Down the Door had finished, we were ushered out into the laneways and told to follow the people with red flashing batons down to the Adelaide Uni Cloisters area for a live Angels gig. So like sheep we headed along Rundle Street and Frome Road to the venue. It was well done by the Adelaide Film Festival team, and the guides along the way were happy and fun to talk to.
The Angels hit the stage around 10:15pm, a very Rock N Roll time, and gave us a selection of Angel classics for the next hour. After the Rain opened the set and was followed by No Secrets. Dave Gleeson was throwing himself around the stage while Rick and John Brewster stood opposite sides of the stage supplying the guitar barrage to the songs.
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again came out early, complete with the usual “crowd chorus”, but the song was done quickly, so not too much swearing to upset any neighbours. It was loud, (I had a friend in Prospect who claimed he could hear the band clearly at his place) much what you would expect from an Angels gig.
Face the Day gave us a wonderful guitar solo from Rick Brewster and Fashion and Fame, while not a hit for the band, sounded wonderful. But it was a “hits” crowd, so Shadow Boxer and Take a Long Line provided, but it was the brooding Be with You that gave me the biggest thrill for the night.
The band stormed through Marseilles before Rick and John did the acoustic Love Takes Care of Its Own, dedicating it to Doc Neeson and ex bassist Chris Bailey and also introducing Madeleine Parry on stage before playing the song.
The closer was Can’t Shake It from Beyond Salvation album, giving Sam Brewster on bass and Nick Norton on drums a chance to show their wares on their respected instruments. Not quite the show stopper ending I expected, but still good.
The Angels approach their 50th Anniversary in less than two years. I am sure they will make a big thing of it and deservedly so. There are not many bands last that long, especially Australian bands.
Maybe I’ll go see them in 2025 to celebrate my 50th year of seeing them live.
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