Absolute Bowie @ The Gov, Adelaide 6/7/2024
Back in the 80’s (yes last century) I swore to myself I would never attend a Tribute Band concert. As the years rolled on and the realisation, I would never see some of the artists, like Bowie, ever again I have mellowed my approach to these bands. January 10, 2016 was indeed a sad day in rock history with the loss of David Bowie. I had been fortunate enough to see Bowie live, twice, so it was with a bit of trepidation I went along to The Gov to see Absolute Bowie.
It was obvious on entry that many people have missed Bowie as the room was almost full and people were clambering to get to the front of the stage. As the band entered, it was 1970’s all over again and Glam Rock was king. The band supported mullets and sparkling glam suits. John O’Neill came on stage in a splendid striped body suit from the 1973 Aladdin Sane tour, claiming that ‘he was not wearing anything underneath”.
The first set was a tribute to Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era. Hang on to Yourself commenced proceedings, followed by Suffragette City. With photos and videos projected on the screen behind the band, John O’Neill had all the moves and poses of Bowie on the front of the stage. He eerily looks and sounds like Bowie a lot. Andy Marr on guitar gave us his best Mick Ronson impersonations while filling the room with great guitar sounds.
Moonage Daydream sounded out and with an extended searing guitar sound (allowing for a costume change for John), the song proved to be the highlight of the evening. Just goes to show, no matter how good a lead vocalist, he is only as good as the band behind him, and this band was good.
John was now wearing a very tight-fitting Ziggy Stardust body suit, showing the passion he goes to in recreating the Bowie aura. Changes plays out before John asks “You want some rock n roll Adelaide?”. Apparently, we did and The Jean Genie roll out with Varo Sisti playing harmonica at the same time as playing the keyboards. No mean feat! John, I’m Only Dancing gave us some “cock rock” and when asked “to raise your hands” during All The Young Dudes, the whole room obliged.
Starman and Life on Mars closed out set one with John telling us they would be back in “five or ten minutes, maybe fifteen or twenty minutes”.
It was to be forty minutes before the opening sounds of a train pulling out of the station blasted through the speakers and Andy’s guitar spewed forth a beautiful sonic salvo for at least five minutes. This is Bowie post Ziggy, The Thin White Duke. Station to Station played out loud with the band now in just black and sans the mullet wigs. Even John just had his natural short cropped hair, wearing a white shirt and black vest. Fame followed and then a disappointing Ashes to Ashes with the vocals struggling against the loud music.
Another costume change saw John in a light tan suit with silver hair for the set finale of China Girl and an extended Let’s Dance.
With only six songs in the second set, I felt a bit cheated. Of course there was an encore, they hadn’t played Bowies “most famous” songs. John, donning an acoustic guitar, started Space Oddity with the band following his lead. Major Tom never sounded so good. “This is for you Adelaide” and Heroes rolled out, loud and proud. Rebel Rebel finished the evening, with band introductions following and a promise they will be back.
Of course, Absolute Bowie will never replace the “real thing” and they have no expectation of doing so, but for one evening they gave everyone a good time, even big fans like me. While a few more songs would have been appreciated, great memories of a giant in Rock n Roll, David Bowie, came flooding back.
Live Review By Geoff Jenke