The Animals @ The Gov, Adelaide 9/7/2024
The Animals returned to their spiritual home at The Gov as part of their thirty date sixtieth anniversary tour. This is the third time I have seen them this year and it is a great night guaranteed and a celebration of music that shaped a generation. This show is a testament to great songs that have stood the test of time, still relevant just as much now as ever before and still resonates with music lovers of all ages. The word is out about how good this show with music lovers of all ages getting on board and there is no doubt that if and when they come back to continue the celebrations there will be even stronger interest.
The Animals are led by the legendary John Steel on drums and joined by the charismatic front man Danny Handley (vocals and guitar), Barney Williams (keys) and Norm Helm (bass). John Steel was full of smiles behind the drums living his best life at eighty-three years young. He didn’t skip a beat and has more zest than people half his life. Have toured solidly throughout the year they are well and truly gig hardened and work like a well oiled machine. The band are elite respecting and honouring the legacy of these awesome tunes.
The vibe in The Gov was awesome and front man Danny Handley kept spirits amongst the faithful at a high throughout the two sets. Opening with Baby, Let Me Take You Home Handley remarked “Adelaide, you never let us down” referring to another big turnout at their spiritual home adding how much they love their time here. It’s My Life was epic and rollicking tune Bright Lights, Big City. Barney Williams had a moment shine on I Believe to My Soul – more on Barney later!
Set one had so many great tunes and the band ploughed their way through I’m Crying, Bring It On Home to Me, Don’t Bring Me Down, Big Boss Man and another big crowd favourite in Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.
After a short intermission the band returned for the second set which was more bluesy, jamming out some of these tunes a little longer being a bit more relaxed on their last show of the tour. The crowd was up and about on Hey! Bo Diddley and Who Do You Love. Handley got amongst the crowd encouraging the sing-a-long to Night Time Is the Right Time. After being egged on for most the show the master of the boogie woogie Barney Williams finally relented baring his arse to the crowd revealing his boogie woogie tattoo. A few laughs and cheers for that! Not sure if that was the intro he was looking for before taking the lead on I’m Going To Change The World. Hard to believe it was almost the end with the band finishing the second set on We Gotta Get Out of This Place.
The crowd chanted for one more with the band returning starting off with introductions and John talking about pinching the last song of the night from Bob Dylan “fiddling” with it to make it uniquely their own. What a way to go out on than their big hit The House of the Rising Sun. Another great night and fingers crossed for an encore tour soon.
Live Review By Rob Lyon