Ash @ Fowlers Live, Adelaide 14/11/2018
It has been a big week of live music here in Adelaide but it was great to be able to see one of my favourite bands Ash in a more intimate venue at Fowlers Live. I haven’t missed a show since Ash started touring Australia from 1996 when they supported Garbage and I feel like I have been there and experienced the highs and lows of this band. There have been some great shows over the journey including the Big Day Out, playing at Heaven and The Gov.
This show seemed quite low and the production was stripped right back and it was focused on the music and in particular their relatively new album Islands which is a cracker. It is unfortunate that it seems a few fans have dropped off but for me I reckon this show was right up there as one of their best. Opening with True Story and Kung Fu the crowd were hooked. After Cocoon front man Tim Wheeler explained his Magnum P.I. look sporting a moustache for Movember and “Islands goes a long way to explaining this shirt”.
New single Annabel is a cracker but the vibe lifted another notch with the Ash classic Oh Yeah. Confessions In A Pool has all the hallmarks of a set staple but it was great when they covered familiar territory with A Life Less Ordinary and Goldfinger. Wheeler asked the crowd if they going great for a Wednesday before going in to Walking Barefoot. From a fan perspective it is really pleasing that the Ash back catalogue gets a good going over and I was full of smiles for Shining Light and Jesus Says. The glockenspiel came out for Incoming Waves.
The real surprise in the set came by way of the song from Star Wars in Catina Band (which coincidentally is a b-side on the Girl From Mars single). Wowsers! The ride to the end of their set could not get any better with a real treasure trove of hits including the ripping Buzzkill, Girl From Mars and Burn Baby Burn. There was plenty of noise for an encore with the band return for Did Your Love Burn Out? There was a request for a song that rarely gets played live in Arcadia. Lose Control topped the night off perfectly leaving fans satisfied with their fill until next time. There is a touch of sadness that this would be the last show for me at Fowlers Live as we know. Hats off to the Fowlers Live crew who made this a great place to see live music for such a long time.
Live Review by Rob Lyon