Ben Lee, Sally Seltmann, Huck Hastings @ The Gov, Adelaide 17/10/2025
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing! Adelaide was the second to last stop on Ben Lee’s Australian tour celebrating the twentieth year of classic album Awake Is The New Sleep. Ben has been very clear in pointing out that he has been “deeply resistant” against nostalgia and wanting to keep moving forwards. That said, this is one of those album’s that captured a moment in time perfectly and that people have a deep kinship and attachment to this album. So why not? The proof is in the pudding with close to a full house at The Gov wanting to relive the magic of this album from 2005. In an interesting twist The Gov is the only venue on this tour he played at originally back in 2005 as well as this time round. It was definitely something that was meant to be. What was quite striking was the crowd vibe and this album definitely brings out everyone’s inner happy with plenty of smiling faces.
Sydney singer songwriter Huck Hastings is a real find and is held in high regard by Ben Lee himself. He seemed under appreciated with all the audience chatter but nevertheless there is a enough there to suggest he is making all the right noises and has a bright future ahead of him. Notable highlights for me include the likes of The Clincher and It’s Alright, It’s Cool (Commitment Issues).
It seems like an eternity since the last time I saw Sally Seltmann play, I’m guessing it was twenty years ago in this very venue. Sally remarked with “Here I am again, twenty years later…” Sally has quite the esteemed career with New Buffalo, Seeker Lover Keeper and now playing under her own name. It was mostly Sally on the keys and changing over to guitar being later joined by a couple of members of Ben Lee’s band. There were some absolute moments of gold in there with Recovery (New Buffalo), Cheer Me Up Thank You, Real Born Tragic and new single Shirt With Pussy Bow.
It was definitely a “special night” celebrating Ben Lee’s Awake Is The New Sleep outlining his views on nostalgia but seeing the happiness it brings to people has definitely got him viewing things a little differently saying “let’s do it”. Lee endeared himself with the crowd right from the moment he stepped on stage bringing his unique charm, wisdom and stories behind the songs that gave fans even greater insight to this album. The stage was laden with flower arrangements that looked similar to the album cover. I had wondered if they were plastic or not but they were definitely real.
There were no surprises for the first part of the set playing the album start to end in full going it solo on the title track before the band joined him for Whatever It Is and the accompanying story from being in a dingy apartment in West Hollywood. Gamble Everything For Love was fantastic but it was the engagement that was priceless with Ben reading out fan letters, being given a ‘one arm bunny’, to watching a couple have their first romantic embrace minus the Coldplay kiss cam. There’s plenty going on behind the lyrics with mixed messages to the music industry in Catch My Disease and showing his “homoerotic” (Apple Candy) to his most hetro song (Ache For You) in what was described as the “age appropriate horny section” of the set.
Into The Dark was a “close the circle” moment trying to replicate the sing-a-long moment from twenty years ago. Definitely one of those moments for the highlights reel. Ben made the interesting point about We’re All In This Together being the “litmus or the compass of where the world is at” making it just as relevant now as it ever has been before. Light morphed in to this “stoner-psych jam” with Archie (local saxophone player), one picked from each state with no rehearsal, to go in “hand to hand combat” and give this song a whole new fresh outlook. Equally as refreshing was seeing Ben play solo finishing on I’m Willing.
Waiting the obligatory ninety seconds Ben returned solo to play a new song Fall Of America before having some fun with a couple of covers with his band. Modest Mouse’ Float On was given the Ben Lee touch up followed by 1234 with Sally Seltmann and Huck Hastings. I think a few were surprised that international hit was actually written by Sally. This was a fun show that sadly had to end on another classic Cigarettes Will Kill You with Ben leaving the stage saying “let’s meet back here in another twenty years!”
Live Review By Rob Lyon