Augie March, Davey Lane @ The Gov, Adelaide 4/4/2026
There are certain albums that are like a time capsule and take you back to a point where you remember certain events or situations where these moments feel like yesterday. One of those albums is Augie March’s Moo, You Bloody Choir which is turning twenty and being celebrated with a quick lap around the country. Who can forget in 2026 when Augie March took out the coveted number spot in Triple J’s Hottest One Hundred, what a countdown when it was good (discussion for another day). They were riding high earning the success they deserved.
Fast forward twenty years and we are back The Gov to celebrate this much loved album and I’m one hundred percent certain that most of us were there back then also perhaps a bit older (and wanting a seat) and a bit wiser. The supporter base is staunchly loyal and whilst it wasn’t a sell out being the Easter long weekend it was a strong showing with those attending experiencing something that will most not likely be repeated any time soon.
The affable guitarist from You Am I, Davey Lane, treated Adelaide to a rare solo performance supporting Augie March. I think it’s lost on a lot of people and it isn’t until you see Davey play solo when you can fully appreciate his musical genius and talent. He was fantastic and worth the ticket price alone. Despite looking a little anxious it was a stellar forty five minutes starting with This Is Hell and Affection’s Walkin’ The Wires. His set list was a good mix of songs that covered his own solo career including a surprise You Am I cover We All Went Deaf Overnight being introduced “as an adjunct to this vanity project I’m in this band called You and I playing a song you don’t know”. At times Davey knocked his own wares, which surprises me because he is more than accomplished as as a singer songwriter who just needs that one song to trip the algorithm in his favour to get broader attention.
Songs such as Some Other Wonder and a real songs about a “hypothetical romance” Dumbarse Feelings were fantastic. The emotive God, I’m Fucked Up Over You was another highlight along with Beguile Me, Palindrome. Davey spoke about his band in a box pointing out the harsh realities of the costs of touring, especially now, but what he did with the likes of You’re the Cops, I’m the Crime and set closer Love Is Not An Option was brilliant. A really enjoyable opening set warming the stage for Augie March.
Augie March were next and whilst there were no surprises with the set list being the album Moo, You Bloody Choir it was presented in a different order for obvious reasons thinking that people might leave after hearing their iconic hit single One Crowded Hour which is track one. Playing the entirety of this album is an ambitious undertaking even by Glen Richards own admission saying that he was “a bit of a smart arse writing this album with weird guitar tunings needing a different guitar each song.”
With consecutive days of 4am lobby calls the band looked tired with Richards saying “holy shit! The second day feeling really road worn.” Nevertheless, even twenty years on this album live still has all its majestic charm that we have grown with and there’s no denying the significance of this celebration. Opening with Vernoona and Thin Captain Crackers by the time Cold Acre rolled round the crowd were in to it. Mt Wellington Reverie took on greater meaning with Richards having moved there then thanking the 4am lobby call for stealing his falsetto playing Victoria’s Secrets.
There was a bit of dry humour again from Richards saying that The Baron of Sentiment was about him taking the piss out of himself getting a bit loosey goosey in a Crazyhorse style. Using his “man voice” on Bolte and Dunstan Talk Youth followed by a “simple on” in Mother Greer Richards spoke of the challenges not playing the album sequentially perhaps getting the revenge on the record company now by his account. There was a moment of reflection with Richards reading out a post card from a fan who met their partner at their show twenty years ago and in a full circle moment with their kids it was a reminder of that song One Crowded Moment used for all sorts of life moments including marriages to deaths and “someone’s first orgy!” That pivotal moment was truly magical and the reaction was priceless. No doubt difficult to top that but the band did return for an encore with Stranger Strange and Clockwork. A magical evening, a nod and a wink to twenty years of Moo, You Bloody Choir.
Live Review By Rob Lyon