Jon Steven, Taylor Sheridan @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 14/10/2023
The name Jon Stevens needs no introduction and whenever he plays in Adelaide there is always going to be a big crowd stepping it up once again playing Hindley Street Music Hall treating fans to the hits of Noiseworks and INXS. Being a rock show it seemed a bit odd having everyone seated when everyone wanted to stand out and dance anyway. Nevertheless, this was a cracking show full of great rock tunes and very few would have left disappointed.
Kudos to opener Taylor Sheridan who won over a few new hearts and minds with his unique brand of “soulfully acoustic” tunes. The trademark hat and smile draws a lot of comparisons to big name contemporaries on the American country scene. Maybe a hint of Zach Bryan amongst others. Taylor is a great story teller and for fans there is much to look forward to with his first album due for release next year.
The powerful and emotive Touch got things off to a flyer and some fans down the front were lucky enough to get a fist bump from the great man. Having played Noarlunga and Mt Gambier over the last couple of consecutive nights the band were gig hardened. The calibre of his band can only be rated as elite and the best of the best with guitar masteros Tim Henwood and Tony Kopa, Johnny Salerno on drums, Glenn Reither on keys and saxophone and Chris Bekker on bass.
INXS classics New Sensation and Devil Inside got the crowd going as did Noiseworks classics Burning Feeling and Miles And Miles. Jon spoke about having had to much to eat for lunch at a city cafe earlier in the day and the vibe in Hindley Street Music Hall which was electric. Not really much of need for chit chat considering the back to back hits which were played including the likes of What You Need and Love Somebody. The later was a poignant moment where Jon reflected on the goings on in the world saying that we should not just love somebody but everybody.
The hits kept coming with Original Sin, Voice Of Reason and Never Tear Us Apart which was described as the best song ever written (I was just missing my Port scarf). The room was lit up with everyone’s mobile phone lights and it was quite the spectacle. No Lies absolute rocked as did Need You Tonight which featured a teaser of Bob Marley’s Is This Love sung by Tony. An hour literally sailed passed with the main set finishing on Hot Chilli Woman and Don’t Change which is another one of INXS’s finest.
Returning for an encore starting with Disappear and finishing on one of Noiseworks biggest hits Take Me Back got the crowd singing in unison one last time. Another great show by Jon Stevens and band who played these songs brilliantly. It will be interesting to see what the live experience will bring next. More Noiseworks deep cuts? Jon Stevens solo music? Wherever it goes, we’ll be back!
Live Review By Rob Lyon