Eskimo Joe, Alex Lloyd @ The Gov, Adelaide 5/6/2026
Eskimo Joe are a class act and their show at The Gov to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of career shaping album Black Fingernails, Red Wine confirmed what we already know. The Gov was packed and the mood was buoyant being the start of a long weekend. It definitely did feel like that there were more people there than normal especially earlier to get a good spot. This was one of those not to miss and arguably they could have played a much bigger venue and still sold it out but as front man Kav Temperly pointed out this was the first time in their career they got to rock The Gov.
The much-revered Alex Lloyd opened proceedings to a crowd who were as equally keen to see him also. Albums in the ilk on Black The Sun and Everybody’s Laughing still stack up with the best of them today so with an abundance of riches to choose from fitting that all in thirty minutes is a nice ole challenge to have. The connection with the crowd and emotionally driven songs was the essence of his set and combined with his wry trademark candour made it all the more captivating. Black The Sun and Amazing were unbeatable moments.
The heart and soul of Eskimo Joe is Kav Temperley, Stuart McLeod and Joel Quartermain and has been that way since the beginning. I still remember seeing them support The Offspring way back in 1997 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and they have evolved in to one of Australia’s finest live bands. So much so you wonder if the cards they were dealt fell a certain way they could have been the next INXS or Icehouse which they aspired to be. Bang on nine thirty and with boundless energy they took to the stage to celebrate this much loved album. No surprise with the set list playing it start to end but it was definitely on of those albums built with the live experience in mind translating into the surrounds of The Gov brilliantly.
Opening with Comfort You and New York, Kav encouraged the faithful to sing these songs adding that it felt a bit weird to be singing their big chart single Black Fingernails, Red Wine at third drop. Definitely one of those songs that still sounds just as good now as it did back then. The crowd response was absolutely phenomenal. This was nostalgia at its finest, the crowd loved it and the beaming smiles from Kav, Stu and Joel was gold. There was no dialling it in or going through the motions, they poured every ounce of their being in to this. The back story behind the songs was just as captivating as well revealing that Adelaide’s very own Teresa Palmer starred in the film clip for Breaking Up and that Setting Sun was one of those songs to bring “US and Australian relations closer together” being featured in the movie The Last Song starring Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. London Bombs was another compelling moment waiting for the phone calls from friends and loved ones suggesting “for such a dark record it was the summer of our content”.
Sarah and This Is Pressure were great with Beating Like A Drum being described as the heart beat of the album wanting to be the next INXS or Icehouse. Reprise added a subtle contrast before Suicide Girl. Hard to believe that the album was done with the crowd asked to put their arm around the person to their left and “sway to the music” on How Does It Feel. Good times!
There was still more to come with the band returning to the stage for a encore with the usual chanting for one more but getting five more. Foreign Land was brilliant fast forward to now with newish single The First Time. Lesser light but Kav’s favourite I’m So Tired took on so many different meanings for so many different reasons but was the ultimate nostalgia trip. Love Is The Drug saw the band at full flight wrapping it up on From The Sea. With everyone’s cup having been filled this was truly a fantastic show leaving the crowd wanting more and in anticipation for what’s next. Raise a glass to twenty years of Black Fingernails, Red Wine!
Live Review By Rob Lyon