The Dandy Warhols, Magic Machine @ The Gov, Adelaide 26/4/2024
Thank god for The Dandy Warhols!
This was one for the ages. The Dandy Warhols return to Adelaide to play the first of two sold out shows at the home of live music at The Gov. One word, incredible! Armed with brand new album (their twelfth) Rockmaker and plenty of classics from the back catalogue we experienced The Dandies at the height of their powers and at their very best. Even the day after I feel like pinching myself having experienced a show in the ilk of this and in such intimate surrounds at The Gov. This show to borrow front man Courtney Taylor-Taylor’s words “is the shit”. Blown away, mind blown! I’m hoping for more like that when I venture back next Thursday.
Opening proceedings was Sydney pysch rockers Magic Machine. These guys played a solid set featuring songs from their brand new album Castle In The Sky released a couple of weeks ago. They seemed the perfect pairing to be supporting The Dandy Warhols. First cab off the rank was Pieces Of My Brain followed with By The River. Single Daydreamer is killer with the band asserting that they hoped they did their job “warming you up”. Yep! They did! Keep an eye out for Magic Machine, they are worth a listen on Spotify finishing their set on Sweet Creature and Horror Movie.
It was a really great atmosphere in The Gov being a Friday night and there was definitely a sense of anticipation for what was about to unfold. The Dandy Warhols emerged from the shadows just after nine opening with Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth followed by Shakin’. Hells bells! They were seriously on song right from the get go. Super cool hearing Ride from the Dandys Rule OK followed by new tune I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem. Zia said “how’s it goin’ Adelaide” with Courtney adding that after touring with the Hoodoo Gurus that Adelaide is his favourite Adelaide city having stayed in the centre of town saying that this is the most “culturally integrated” place he has ever been to. He also spoke of his favourite restaurant Penfolds, watching the film Gallipoli and having not been able to get an ANZAC biscuit he wanted to do so before the end of the tour.
Kicking it up a gear with We Used To Be Friends and big singles from the new album Summer Of Hate and Danzig With Myself. Courtney said they were just getting warmed up, a bit like a twenty one course meal at Penfolds. Courtney went on to tell another Adelaide story about Brent losing his phone in the back of taxi, not knowing it was lost, thinking he was kidnapped when someone else answered it and then going in to the “burbs” to pick up the phone and all told in an Adelaide accent! Gold! You had to have been there.
Their set was loaded with gold with Plan A, Be Alright and I Will Never Stop Loving You with Courtney adding that Deborah Harry (Blondie) sung Zia’s parts on the album with Zia replying with “she did a good job”. Courtney name dropped and spoke about hanging with Blondie and Ice-T in New York being a “cool combo”. Last High was sublime and with Zia needing a bathroom break Courtney played a solo improv version of Every Day Should Be a Holiday (which was not on the set list). Wowsers! What a moment! Even Zia said it sounded good from the bathroom.
With the end approaching The Dandies pulled out all stops with Get Off, Bohemian Like You and Godless. When you’re this good you don’t need an encore, they finished on Pete International Airport which morphed in to Boys Better. This was a night to remember and I can’t wait for the second show next week. Elite! As Courtney left the stage saying “We are The Dandy Warhols!”
Live Review By Rob Lyon