Deacon Blue are in Australia to dust off their 45’s for the Greatest Hits Tour. Checking Wikipedia, I was amazed to find they only had four charting singles in Australia, and two of those only rose to the dizzy heights of 130 and 187. However, here they are at The Hindley Street Music Hall playing to a show packed to the rafters. I know this, as I was in the rafters of the Hall (but still had a great view) and it was packed.
First up was Brisbane’s Bud Rokesky who was up against it from the start. The crowd (especially around me, were totally disrespectful to the man, talking loudly throughout his short, but what sounded like an impressive set. Armed only with a guitar and harmonica, he sounded good from what I could hear.
Starting with his current single, Getting Old, as a tribute to his grandpa who had recently passed, Bud played tracks from his current album. He closed the set with a version of U2’s All I Want is You, which drew great applause from the crowd, including those around me, who hadn’t even listened to the song. He deserved better!
The last time Deacon Blue played Adelaide, it was a 40-degree day and Ricky Ross told us they were telling friends back in Scotland how hot it was here. Today it was more like Scotland weather, cold and very wet. As Ricky would say during the set, “Thanks for trying to make us feel at home with the weather”.
A piano intro led to the opening track, City of Love from the 2020 album of the same name. Singers Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh owned the front of the stage, but in a humble way. A Walk in the Woods from the same album followed, before heading back to 1989 and Wages Day. The audience joining with the band, singing loudly and proudly.
Lorraine McIntosh never stops moving. She dances, turns and bangs the tambourine all evening and on occasion she plays guitar. Puts the Energizer Bunny to shame. Before Your Swaying Arms, (187 on the Australian charts) Ricky tells us “Tonight we are going to have the best day of our lives”. So far it is getting close to it! Raintown, very appropriate song for Adelaide weather of late, sounded wonderful and introducing 1986’s Loaded Ricky said they first played it at a festival in the U.K. A voice rang out from the crowd saying they were at that festival. The crowd tonight knew and again, sang the song with the band. Ricky also compared the Hindley Street Music Hall as a cross between an Art and Porn Centre, but “in a good way”.
A primal drum roll started a rocking Your Town, Lorraine dancing even harder than before. When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring) segued into The Delfonics, Didn’t I (Blow Your mind This Time) and back to When Will You. It was a moving, beautiful moment.
A change of pace followed with the band in “campfire” mode. Acoustic guitars and a piano accordion came out for a delightful Chocolate Girl, with the audience taking up the vocals for the first verse and chorus. He looks like Spencer Tracy followed and then Lorraine took lead vocal on Cover from the Sky.
Back to rock ‘N’n roll with The Hipsters and then Ricky asking the audience to stand up do some Scottish country dancing for Twist and Shout, (no not that one). Then the BIG one. “Are you ready Adelaide? Are you ready?” cried out Ricky and yes, we were ready for Real Gone Kid. The band kicked in and so did the audience. There was no sitting down again this evening. As the song wound down, the band collected into the middle of the stage, the music slowing, before Ricky shouts “1,2,3,4 Wooo ooo wooo” and re launching back into the song.
The Believers followed, before band introductions and That’s What We Can Do rounded out a perfect evening.
But we knew there would be more. The band were soon back for the stunning Peace Will Come and an arousing Dignity with crowd again singing the first two verses. Fergus Sings the Blues played out the night with Ricky declaring “People of Adelaide, you have just seen Deacon Blue” We had indeed.
But wait, there’s more! Acoustic guitars came out and the band all proceed to the front of stage for a cover of Warren Zevon’s Keep Me in Your Heart. Both Drummer Dougie Vipond and guitarist Gregor Philp, got to sing a verse, along with Ricky and Lorraine, on this magnificent song. This time the show was over and the Scottish community retired from the hall to go home, happy. I am not Scottish but I too went home happy, extremely happy, to have seen Deacon Blue again.
A bit of trivia; the name Deacon Blue was taken from the 1977 Steely Dan song Deacon Blues.
Live Review by Geoff Jenke