Primal Scream, Gut Health @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 14/1/2025
It has been a minute but one of Scotland’s finest Primal Scream were back in town playing Hindley Street Music Hall. Hard to believe their last show here was at the now defunct HQ Complex in 2018. As they say absence makes the hard grow fonder and all that which was definitely true, This time round they are armed with new album Come Around which I have had on constant rotation since it was released. Its an interesting album with a few twists and turns, has some great moments and I was definitely curious about how much they would actually play from it, how many people knew there was a new album or were they expecting a Screamadelica inspired set? Time would tell…
Warming the stage was Melbourne six-piece Gut Health who brought a subtle contrast with their brand of “hypnotic dance-punk”. The crowd took a bit of coaxing to get in to and for some I think it may have been a little lost of them. They definitely played a spirited set and lead singer Anthina Uh Oh brought truck loads of energy and enthusiasm to their performance. The focus was very much on new album Stiletto with the first three from it including Uh Oh, Restless and Scripture. Non-album tracks Statuette and Bounce House were solid offerings. Peeling back the layers they have a lot going on with their sound with two drummers (very cool), guitar and synth driven sound. The title track to close out their set was played at a frenetic pace leaving the stage well and truly warmed.
After a short change over it was over to Primal Scream for the next ninety minutes or so. The heart and soul of the band is main man Bobby Gillespie and the core of the band with Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass) and Darrin Mooney (drums) with touring members Terry Miles (keys) and Alex White (saxophone and flute) as well as two backing singers joining the fold. As the band emerged they wasted no time getting in to the electronic groove of Swastika Eyes from XTRMNTR (2000) followed by the lead single Love Insurrection from new album Come Ahead. There really wasn’t a lot of small talk from Bobby and when he did speak it was really hard to catch what he was saying. Jailbird from 1994s Give Out but Don’t Give Up was killer.
From here we got to hear new singles Ready To Go Home and Deep Dark Waters. There were some hecklers yelling out all sorts and Bobby seemed nonplussed by it pulling out the next nugget Medication from Vanishing Point. Don’t get me wrong the new album is a great listen but live there were some flat spots as some songs just didn’t seem to resonate with the crowd. Given that set featured eight new songs the pre-gig preparation may have been enhanced having listened to the new album. Highlights from the new album at the show for me were the likes of Innocent Money and Love Ain’t Enough. The back story behind Circus Of Life was an interesting one being about an alcoholic’s life spiralling out of control. I think it would have made for an interesting hearing the album start to end followed by the hits.
The crowd were quietish for the most part and Bobby said it felt like a morgue in here trying to rev the crowd up as they finished the main set in a blaze of glory with Loaded and Movin’ On Up from Screamadelica which really did bring the crowd alive. Finishing on Country Girl from Riot City Blues was fantastic and as a mate described that album as thee best album The Rolling Stones never wrote and even some fans nearby agreed. It was another new tune with chilled vibe of Melancholy Man to kick off the encore before raising the roof off with crowd pleasers Come Together and the ever so popular Rocks ending the show in a big way. Definitely great to be able to have seen ’em again!
Live Review By Rob Lyon