Crowded House, Ocean Alley, Meg Mac, J-Milla @ VAILO Adelaide 500, Adelaide 16/11/2024
Weather was absolutely perfect for another day at the VAILO Adelaide 500 and after a full day of racing attention turned to the first of the After Concerts. In a new location (same spot at Harvest Rock), nestled away in Victoria Park and a short step away from Pit Straight, this year I definitely this was an excellent choice making it so much easier getting in, out and around to grab drinks, eats as well as catching up with friends with the space coping better with large amounts of people. The addition of the Hot Zone was a nice upgrade for those wanting to get a bit closer to all the live action.
First up was local rapper J-Milla who brought plenty of spunk to the stage. Making the most of every minute of his allotted time he really did relish the opportunity playing to big audience who started to gather to stake claim to their optimal viewing point. He played some absolute bangers including Boomerang, a song about karma and essentially what goes around comes around, Run It Up and set closer Ego Trip.
Meg Mac’s performance was sublime and with a couple new singles to preview there was plenty to get excited about. Opening with Grace Gold, I’m Not Coming Back and Maybe It’s Not My First Time Meg commented on the blustery conditions after being so hot earlier in the same and adding that she was excited about her first appearance at the VAILO Adelaide 500 taking a keen interest in “all the cars and trucks”. The Bill Withers cover of Grandma’s Hands was brilliantly done which was followed by another cover being Good Neighbours Home. The story behind it was equally compelling with Meg pointing out she first heard it on TikTok. Teaming with her sister Hannah, a great talent also, they stripped this one back on piano. Wow! Low Blows was stellar and new song Valentine was a great addition to the set having only being played once before. Meg even conceded that playing something new is always scary if no one has heard it before. It definitely went down a treat. With her time drawing to a close it was Something Tells Me followed by Never Be and topped off with another new tune Roll Up Your Sleeves bringing this classy set to an end.
Ocean Alley were a top shelf addition to the bill playing all the hits we love plus a new one released not that long ago. They play with such precision and it seems as if nothing is out of place. I’ve never seen them play a dud show ever and with a big crowd they really stepped up their game. Having toured relentlessly in 2024 they are definitely match fit and gig hardened. Definitely the perfect soundtrack as the sun started to set. Kicking off with Touch Back Down and Tombstone front man Baden Donegal remarked “How good is this? What a day!” There was no disputing those facts as the band covered almost all corners of the back catalogue. Knees, so good, new tune Tangerine is equally as good and will be a set staple. Double Vision was popular with the good time vibe carrying through Drinks And Cigars and Yellow Mellow. The single Confidence got people on their feet to sing and dance with much the same happening on Player cover Baby Come Back. Finishing on Happy Sad and Lemonworld it was hard to believe there was still more to come.
In short Crowded House were excellent and anyone planning on seeing them on this tour better get their skates on and grab a ticket. The line up of Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, Liam and Elroy Finn are in red hot form and their performance at the VAILO Adelaide 500 really did capture the festival vibe. I’m pretty sure most wouldn’t know they had a new album out so fortunately there was a good blend between the old and the new. Mean To Me got things going with Neil Finn stating “Adelaide, so good to be with you wherever you have come from”. Classic Crowded House tunes World Where You Live and Something So Strong followed with Neil commenting that “you are in good voice Adelaide”. Setting the scene with Teenage Summer Neil asked “remember how it felt, I can smell it”.
Neil spoke about the sound check the night before and the thirty people that went “nuts on it” taking a moment to be hopeful and thankful for this night. Fall At Your Feet was a magical moment and the crowd sing-a-long “sounded strong and pure, you are in the show!” New tune Oh Hi featured and was followed a a relative newish tune To The Island. Chocolate Cake, yes please, was fantastic but it was the piano driven Split Enz cover Message To My Girl which elevated the collective spirits. More familiar tunes with When You Come and Private Universe was great. Liam created some V8 noises on his guitar with Neil saying “it’s time to soothe those engines” which was the perfect intro to Four Seasons In One Day. Sister Madly and Locked Out were great moments before the awkward Dad humour with Neil joking that “sons start in the bedroom and the loungeroom” which led to set closer It’s Only Natural.
Returning for an encore Weather With You had an interesting twist morphing in to the “Crowded House Disco Melody” which morphed in to I Believe In Miracles, Groove Is in The Heart, Born To Be Alive and Relax. Neil suggested it was a strange journey and that he would try to learn to play them better. Don’t Dream It’s Over and Distant Sun were so good, brilliant, loved it! Even Neil’s guitar “carking it” didn’t stop a rousing version of Split Enz I Got You being played. Described as a family song Hunters & Collectors cover Throw Your Arms Around Me was well placed and as the crowd did that and sung a long this was one for the highlights reel. Hard to believe two hours whizzed by finishing on the iconic Better Be Home Soon. Fantastic night, time to rest up for day two.
Live Review By Rob Lyon