STICKY FINGERS SHOW

Back in February I had the pleasure of seeing Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins, Adalita and Phil Jamieson in concert at The Civic Theatre doing the songs of The Rolling Stones. Specifically, their seminal album, Sticky Fingers - you know the one, the one with the zipper!!

Never a fan of tribute shows, I resisted these kind of shows, until I saw a Beatles one at The Opera House some years back. It was remarkable and I was hooked. 

But!!! It must be a good range of artists and a good set.

This was...obviously!

We have been starved of gigs during COVID so we were excited taking our seats upstairs at The Civic Theatre.

Tim Rogers, dressed in sparkly emerald flares with a purple velvet jacket, swaggered out for the opening - Brown Sugar. A song The Stones have retired, but it worked. Tim, a long time Stones fan, had obviously been practising his Jagger moves for many decades and he had them down pact. He was on fire. He would only get better as the night proceeds.

He then introduced Tex Perkins, who owned Sway. Tex was quite emotional towards the end of the song, saying he didn't think he'd ever be back on a stage again. It was quite sweet but he was obviously unstuck, in a way that featured all evening. He sung and performed perfectly, but he didn't have a lot to say and seemed not quite himself. 

Adalita joined him on stage to sing Wild Horses as a stunning duet. She seemed to be comforting him and propping him up a little. Bu their performance was top notch.

Phil Jamieson then took the stage for a cracking version of Can't You Hear Me Knocking. 

Each of their voices picking the right song to sing, it really was something to behold and hear. And the backing band was something else, all top grade musicians that enhanced the performances and sometimes sold the show!

This section continued with You Gotta Move, Bitch, I Got the Blues, Sister Morphine (totally killed by Tex), Dead Flowers, and Moonlight Mile.

We were just warming up.

After the break, it was a perfect selection of their best hits over the decades.

It just got better and better!!

Here's where my memory fails, I cannot remember every song nor the order they came in and for some who sung what. But it was next level for sure!

Phil Jamison bounced out and started the set with Start Me Up! He also did a great version of Miss You.

Adalita did a beautiful version of Ruby Tuesday, Tim introducing her and telling us his daughter was named for that song. She joined Phil on a rocking Beast of Burden.

Tim also did Let's Spend the Night Together and Jumpin' Jack Flash (or was it Phil!?)

Tex rocked out Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil and Angie, the later was stunning.

My highlights were towards the end of the show. Adalita and Tim did a church worthy version of You Can't Always Get What You Want and then Tim pretty much stole the show with his sensual, sexual and length version of Midnight Rambler. It had to be seen to be believed!

Then they all hit the stage for one of my top five faves, Gimme Shelter, freakin' amazing.

The final song is one I guess the audience wanted, but I can live without, Satisfaction. I guess that has to be sung, I would have preferred it to finish with the powerful Gimme Shelter, but I loved the show so much, that was a very small negative.

If this tours again, I'd be there again, and you should go too. It will make you smile and feel alive!!!

THE WHITE ALBUM CONCERT

As a Beatles fan I get a little particular about cover versions. A few years ago I went to the Opera House to see a bunch of musos play Abbey Road and Sgt Peppers. Against my better judgement, I absolutely loved it! You can read about it here.

The White Album tour came first, I think, and this is the third time it has been toured, so I had to go. And when it came to Newcastle, even better. No one was interested, and that doesn't stop me anymore, so I got a ticket for one.

The backing orchestra featured many musos from the other concert, including string and brass sections. The singers were Tim Rogers, Phil Jamieson, Chris Cheney and Josh Pyke. I was super impressed.

So The White Album...again, another set of music The Beatles never toured, again experimental, and also the album marking the beginning of the end. The White Album does divide, it is a mix of amazing and experimental and I love it to pieces. I rotate between The White Album and Abbey Road as my faves, but honestly I just love everything they did.

I should have not been concerned, Chris Cheney totally owned the opening track, Back in the USSR and the show just soared from there!

The show was seamless, with the material divided up mostly by style, Cheney taking most of the rock, Pyke, the ballads, and Tim and Phil the quirkier stuff. They sang solo, or as a group etc. It just worked so very well. The backing band were something else, remarkable stuff indeed.

I am not a huge fan of The Living End, but Cheney owned the rockier material on the album, including an amazing rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. And then an absolute kick arse version of Helter Skelter as highlights.

Same goes for Grinspoon, not that much of a fan, but I do have a huge crush on Phil Jamieson. Phil got a lot of the quirkier songs and that totally suited his style. He hammed it up, dancing and being silly, often with Tim Rogers and he had me in the palm of his hand. I loved him doing Sexy Sadie.

Josh Pyke, who I quite like, landed the more gentle songs, his version of Julia was beautiful.

Tim Rogers, who I love so very much, was brilliant. He hammed it up, especially to Piggies and Happiness is a Warm Gun, adding in a reworked John Lennon cockney crack every now and then. "Rattle your light rail tickets" got a lot of laughs. And also did a superb version of Revolution 1.

They played every song exactly as it was meant to be played, with songs played in album order, down to every odd sound and whistle.

And the audience - and myself - loved every single minute of it.

The variety of musical style, the genius of their collective writing, the excitement of hearing the songs, evoked The Beatles for every second they were on stage.

My highlights were Ob La Di, Ob La Da, Blackbird, and Revolution 1.

After the final song, Good night, they left the stage but we all wanted more.

And the four came out with guitars and did a trio of lovely acoustic songs, Two of Us, Across the Universe, The Ballad of John and Yoko.

This was simply outstanding and quite frankly jaw dropping unexpectedness, you wanted them to jam all night. These were their versions of the songs, and respectful and brilliant.

The orchestra then rejoined them, and they did a stunning version of All Things Must Pass, followed by a rock the joint version of Revolution.

I could have watched these guys all night. It was a really big deal that this worked for me.

If the whole world could watch this just once, there would be world peace I am certain. I felt so good and refreshed and happy and wonderful at the end of this concert. Good music will always be good music if played as it is meant to and played well.

Bless John, Paul, George, and Ringo for creating musical history and perfection.

Bless Chris, Phil, Josh, and Tim for recreating it!