Cold Chisel, The Cruel Sea, The Superjesus @ VAILO Adelaide 500, Adelaide 17/11/2024
Back at the VAILO Adelaide 500 After Concerts was even bigger and even more epic with Cold Chisel (who were celebrating The Big Five-0), The Cruel Sea and The Superjesus. With the racing component over for another year it was a thirty thousand strong crowd that assembled to see some of Australia’s finest rockers. The weather was a bit cooler but that did not put a dampener on the collective enthusiasm of the crowd to celebrate the close of this motor sport festival. As far as line ups go race organisers well and truly nailed this one.
Hometown favourites The Superjesus were up for it playing a spirited forty-five minute treating fans to a set list that included something new, something old and something borrowed. Fronted by Sarah McLeod, she could not hide her excitement and even her top had “Radelaide” emblazoned on the front. The first part of their set was loaded with hits including Down Again, Saturation and Ashes. Sarah’s opening remarks were “We are The Superjesus from Adelaide, you are in for a banger of an evening, I hope you are prepared.” The crowd roared in support as they proceeded to play a swag of new tunes including Money (We’re Only In It For Love), Stick Together and Something Good. It was back to familiar territory with Gravity topping of their set and getting the crowd involved with GEN-X cover Dancing With Myself.
The Cruel Sea were seriously elite and this would be right up there as one of their best performances I have seen. It really seems like it is a bit of a renaissance period for this much loved band and the fact that new album Straight Into The Sun is out next March is pretty much a good reason to be excited about what is in store in 2025. Opening with the instrumental 4 gave the spotlight to the band to shine before the great man Tex Perkins took the stage. There are very few that have the charisma and swagger of Tex but it literally oozes from his veins. There was plenty to like whether that be It’s Alright (‘Cause She Loves Me), Anybody but You, Don’t Sell It or Delivery Man with Tex posing the thought it could be about “sex, drugs or pizza but help me decide!” Better Get a Lawyer was a stand out as well as new tunes Waste Your Time and Straight Into The Sun. Pulling out the big guns with Black Stick, “1964 song of the year” The Honeymoon Is Over finishing on This Is Not The Way Home. Really impressive and can’t wait for the album tour next year.
Hometown heroes Cold Chisel need no introduction and this behemoth is celebrating The Big Five-0. Their music is embedded in Australian music culture and their are not many in the ilk of Chisel that have broad appeal offering something to everyone of ages and there would be few that would not be able rattle off a number of their songs. Even with health issues, you would hardly know it, as Jimmy Barnes powered through a two hour set covering an entire career with “brothers” Ian Moss, Don Walker, Phil Small and Charlie Drayton. It was a bombastic opener in Standing on the Outside followed by Letter to Alan, HQ454 Monroe and Four Walls. Barnesie said it all literally started down the road in our home town reflecting on a long journey having broken up in ’83. Mr Crown Prosecutor off The Last Wave Of Summer featured prominently but it was set staples such as When the War Is Over, Forever Now, Cheap Wine, the rockabilly infused Rising Sun and My Baby that got the crowd excitable.
Chisel were red hot, sounding incredible, looking fantastic making this more than just any show. They gave absolutely everything leaving nothing on the table. Barnesies reflected on 1974 when they left Adelaide literally playing to everyone and anyone on the way. Houndog was killer and the cover Georgia (on My Mind) was well positioned in the set before bulldozing their way through You Got Nothing I Want Want. At this point there would be nothing that could stop this behemoth. This led to Barnesie discussing a not so simple get together to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary with “his brothers” over a simple meal and “getting a few wines in to them” to talk them in to another tour. There was a moment of reflection when Barnesie heard Flame Trees on the radio where he felt Steve Prestwich’s presence reaffirming the choice to go on tour. The finish to the main set doesn’t get any bigger than Khe Sanh and Bow River.
The first encore upped the ante and as Barnesie said “I know it’s Sunday night” but it felt like the best day of the week being Saturday Night. Breakfast at Sweethearts and Shipping Steel were great moments but that wasn’t it. The second encore featured the stellar Taipan off Circus Animals before closing out with Choirgirl and Breakfast at Sweethearts. That was The Big Five-0 which might take some beating with the 2025 VAILO Adelaide 500.
Live Review By Rob Lyon