Living Colour @ The Gov, Adelaide 17/5/2017
Living Colour aren’t just any band! This Grammy Award winning band are pace setters infusing elements of heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, count and alt-rock in to the unique brand of music. It was Adelaide’s turn and boy did they turn out in force. Always good to see the full house sign shown proudly on the box office window walking through to the venue.
It has been a while since Living Colour have been in Adelaide to play their own headline show and the band will admit that they wish they could tour here more often and they more than made up for that in Adelaide. Hot damn! The line up of Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish is a formidable one and they made their impression felt at The Gov.
Not only did the fans get to revel in the greatest hits and memories there was also a previous to the new album Shade with the release just around the corner. Opening with the Robert Johnson cover Preachin’ Blues it was full; throttle. Singer Corey Glover said to the crowd “you’re a little too excited for a Wednesday night” definitely feeling the love from the fans in the room. The politically charged Wall was superb followed by two classics from Vivid by way of Middle Man and Desperate People. If the crowd weren’t feeling energised they were now.
Then there were two in succession from Stain including the likes of Mind Your Own Business and Ignorance Is Bliss. Wowsers! To top that off they pull out a cover of the Notorious B.I.G’s Who Shot Ya? Who’s That and Nothingness were brand new tunes off the forthcoming album Shade which were well received. The crowd were ready for it and literally waiting for the big hit Love Rears Its Ugly Head which turned in to a massive sing-a-long.
The bass and drum solos were impressive and nothing can beat glow in the dark drum sticks. It was a well staged argument between Glover and Reid on Elvis Is Dead featuring a verse of Hound Dog part way through. Upping the energy again it was Type from 1991s Time’s Up that led the charge.
Just when you thought we had seen the best the band wind up their main set with a cover of David Bowie’s I’m Afraid Of Americans and big single Cult Of Personality. The encore was the perfect night closer with Time’s Up which morphed in to James Brown’s Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine then winding it up with Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love.
All I can say is what a night and what a show made even better meeting them at the merch desk after where they proudly signed my tour poster. With a new album due in September its fingers crossed for a return visit early next year.
Review by Rob Lyon