Everclear @ The Gov, Adelaide 13/12/2025
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing! It is hard to believe that Everclear are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of their career defining album Sparke And Fade which sent them on an upward trajectory worldwide. It has always been one of those albums that has always near and dear to me and so much so I remember going to buy a copy at the then Virgin Megastore in Rundle Mall complete with bonus disc topped off by seeing them play with Silverchair the following September.
Fast forward thirty years and Everclear played to a full house at The Gov who we up for a night of 90s alternate rock and celebrate these songs that are just as important to everyone else and an integral part of the music that has shaped our lives. Sixteen sold out shows over the last few weeks is a testament to that and the Everclear legacy forges on even stronger than before. It was a tough schedule factoring in travel so it is of no surprise that front man Art Alexakis is looking tired but dug deep to put on a good show. It is a herculean effort as well managing multiple sclerosis and playing to the high standard not letting this slow him even stating that they would be back in two years time for the thirtieth anniversary of So Much For The Afterglow.
It was a rowdy Saturday night crowd and collective spirits were at an all time high as the band took to the stage kicking off with Electra Made Me Blind. Not helped by a particularly good vocal mix early in the peace and much to the frustration of Art it didn’t detract from the vibe of the crowd revelling in this classic 90s alternate rock. The crowd went nuts for Heroin Girl and were full of voice which was followed up by You Make Me Feel Like a Whore. Songs from So Much For The Afterglow were interspersed in between with one being Father Of Mine. Art dropped the revelation that the promoters did not want the tour to come to Adelaide replying with a “fuck that!” pointing out that Adelaide was the last show added but the first to sell out.
There was a teaser of Santa Monica (which they later returned to) before launching in to Summerland. Talking about sobriety and bad dreams influenced Strawberry dedicating it to all the “sober brothers and sisters: and all the MS warriors, cancer warriors and anyone suffering any illness or disability. Backed by a super tight band including bassist Freddy Herrera, guitarist Dave French and drummer Brian Nolan who keep things chugging along. Herrera asked if there were any requests prompting the teaser of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid with Art shaking his head and interjecting with “stop, stop, you came to hear 90s alt rock” and “Everclear is what I can do”. Delving deeper in to the album it was The Twistinside. Her Brand New Skin, Nehalem and Queen Of The Air that followed.
Stating “:we have to do this one in Australia because it went number one” with Local God which featured on the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack (how’s that for six degrees of separation with Garbage playing Adelaide the night before and playing their song from the soundtrack as well). Despite being the most requested Pale Green Stars is rarely played live so it was great to hear this one before finishing on Chemical Smile and My Sexual Life. With the album done there was a brief encore break returning to play crowd favourites So Much For The Afterglow, I Will Buy You A New Life and the evergreen Santa Monica complete with audience sing-a-long. Let’s reconvene in two years for the thirtieth anniversary of So Much For The Afterglow.
Live Review By Rob Lyon