Hoodoo Gurus, Dallas Crane @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 23/11/2024
The elder statesman of Australian rock ‘n roll the Hoodoo Gurus played to a sold out Hindley Street Music Hall. If anything, they might of underestimated the demand and could have played a bigger venue as I’m sure they would have sold that out as well. As the great man Dave Faulkner pointed out that at times it has been tough selling tickets here in Adelaide not knowing if people would turn up. Nevertheless, it was a bumper Saturday night crowd and it is a usual thing to see now with a long line wrapping right around the corner early in to Morphett Street with fans wanting to secure a good spot. Oh my, it was like a sauna in there and a tad stifling but regardless of that this occasion was about celebrating the fortieth anniversary of classic album Stoneage Romeos.
The mighty Dallas Crane from Melbourne got things off to a scintillating start. As far as support acts go they are definitely top shelf and would be easy to say that they are a much underrated band. They have plenty of salvos to fire right from first drop with Sunnyside and Wrong Party. Front man Dave Larkin remarked “that’s a pretty good reaction for a support band” adding that they had been coming here regularly for twenty five years playing their first shows at The Austral with bands such as Six Ft Hick. Killer set bowling over No Through Road and Sold Me. There was a bit of a game where Larkin says when the drummer strikes three the crowd are to lose their minds. Led Zeppelin’s Rock ‘n Roll was awesome and throw in the likes of Lucky Star, Tonight! (There’s A Party Goin’ Down), new single Sycamore Street plus Dallas Crane staples Sit On My Knee and Dirty Hearts set the scene for an awesome Saturday night.
Hoodoo Gurus are well and truly at the top of their game and tonight’s performance reaffirmed what we already knew. It was already stifling in the venue and that temperature only intensified as the band took the stage. There was no real surprise with the set list for the first part of the set playing Stoneage Romeos start to end kicking off with (Let’s All) Turn On followed by the ever so popular I Want You Back. Dave thanked the crowd for putting their money where their mouth is buying tickets early wondering whether people still wanted to see them or were waiting for cheap tickets suggesting that’s “fucked up”..
So many highlights from this album from the likes of My Girl, Leilani and Tojo but not forgetting the likes of Arthur, Dig It Up and I Was A Kamikaze Pilot. Congratulating the crowd for getting through the record live it was on to an assortment of Hoodoo Gurus classics for the next hour or so. Kicking off with the country song left off the record as “people don’t understand us anyway” it was Hayride to Hell which featured. Chariots Of The Gods was awesome followed by Brad Shepherd taking the lead on Mars Needs Guitars. With Dave saying “now you have had a feel of us we want taste of you” taking fan requests Crossed Wires and Middle Of The Road. It was great hearing songs I’ve never heard played live before.
Rolling up the sleeves The Gurus ploughed through Axegrinder the crowd were encouraged to sing as they pulled out the big ones with Come Anytime, The Right Time, and the song I consider to be one of the best ever written in Bittersweet, Miss Freelove, 1000 Miles Away and topping it off with their anthem Be My Guru (released on a limited seven inch vinyl) sold at the shows. Simply incredible! The encore elevated their performance tenfold with Hanging With The Girls topped off with gems What’s My Scene and Like Wow – Wipe Out. Confirmed, Hoodoo Gurus are right at the top of their game and we got to witness that, until next time.
Live Review By Rob Lyon