Bryan Ferry drew the crowd, I’m Talking stunned them. That pretty much sums up A Day On The Green in Rochford, Yarra Valley on Saturday.
Bryan Ferry last toured Australia eight years ago but for I’m Talking, this is their first tour in 31 years. While the Ferry setlist is a walk through contemporary UK rock from the 70s and 80s, I’m Talking were a bright shining light for a few only years in the late 80s and then gone.
Over the decades Ferry grew old with his audience while I’m Talking remained a moment in time. The stage presence between the two was obvious. I’m Talking were out there having fun and feeling vibrant. Ferry operated within a structured set with little engagement with the crowd. It was chalk and cheese.
I’m Talking owning the @ADayOnTheGreen crowd Trust Me’ @Rochfordwines @KateCeberano pic.twitter.com/SN2jHXyYsY
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 24, 2019
I’m Talking were part of the all-Melbourne based opening acts for Bryan Ferry. Stephen Cummings was a late addition and gave an admirable performance under difficult circumstances replacing Died Pretty after the sudden announcement from Ron Peno last week that he had been diagnosed with cancer. It was a tough gig for Stephen under the circumstances but those Sports classics ‘Don’t Throw Stones’ and ‘Who Listens To The radio’ reminded the audience of his legacy.
Sean Kelly’s Models likewise generated a setlist of songs most Aussies are familiar with including ‘Out of Mind Out of Sight’ and ‘I Hear Motion’ but it was I’m Talking who wowed the crowd. Here is another Aussie act with an 80s legacy that sounds more relevant today than in their day. Kelly has rediscovered Models DNA and gives the audience exactly that.
The brightness of the I’m Talking secret gig in Melbourne a few weeks indicated we would be in for a treat and their A Day On The Green performance proved that the first night back was no fluke. It is a shame I’m Talking only went as far as one record ‘Bear Witness’ and a number of non-album track singles. 30 years on, ‘Bear Witness’ verifies that it was an album (and that they as a band) were ahead of their time.
The short life of I’m Talking proved an admirable launch pad for Kate Ceberano who later became a household name in Australia as a solo star. The dynamic of the two together is much greater than the individual parts.
Original members Robert Goodge, Stephen Charlesworth and Barbara Hogarth created an incredible Australia funk-pop band in the 80s and we are now seeing evidence of the greatness today.
I’m Talking generating the energy for @ADayOnTheGreen at @Rochfordwines pic.twitter.com/pTm6JEPuEE
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 24, 2019
I’m Talking are a tough act to follow, even for Bryan Ferry. Ferry had a strong start and a strong finish, kicking off at the end of the Roxy Music era with ‘The Main Thing’ and finishing with a song he covered and then made his own ‘Lets Stick Together’. The lull was in the five songs from ‘A Waste Land’ to ‘Stronger Through The Years’ which may work in a theatre environment but we lost on the outdoor crowd.
Like many artists his age, Bryan’s voice is now showing signs of deterioration but there is no denying the music history he was part of creating. The man is a true legend, arguably as influential in his day as Bowie. We are lucky that we still get to ‘bear witness’ to his musical genius.
Roxy Music’s More Than This from @bryanferry at @ADayOnTheGreen @Rochfordwines pic.twitter.com/0BLEdof3Ok
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 24, 2019
Bryan Ferry setlist, A Day On The Green, Yarra Valley, 23 February, 2019
The Main Thing (from Roxy Music, Avalon, 1982)
Slave to Love (from Boys and Girls, 1985)
Don’t Stop the Dance (from Boys and Girls, 1985)
Ladytron (from Roxy Music, Roxy Music, 1972)
Out of the Blue (from Roxy Music, Country Life, 1974)
Oh Yeah (from Roxy Music, Flesh and Blood, 1980)
Casanova (from Roxy Music, Country Life, 1974)
A Waste Land (from Boys and Girls, 1985)
Windswept (from Boys and Girls, 1985)
Bête Noire (from Bête Noir, 1987)
Zamba (from Bête Noir, 1987)
Stronger Through the Years (from Roxy Music, Manifesto, 1979)
Bitter-Sweet (from Roxy Music, Country Life, 1974)
My Only Love (from Roxy Music, Flesh and Blood, 1980)
In Every Dream Home a Heartache (from Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, 1973)
If There Is Something (from Roxy Music, Roxy Music, 1972)
Re-Make/Re-Model (from Roxy Music, Roxy Music, 1972)
More Than This (from Roxy Music, Avalon, 1982)
Avalon (from Roxy Music, Avalon, 1982)
Love Is the Drug (from Roxy Music, Siren, 1975)
Virginia Plain (single, 1972)
Encore:
Jealous Guy (single 1981)
Let’s Stick Together (from Let’s Stick Together, 1976)
C’mon c’mon Let’s Stick Together. The @bryanferry @ADayOnTheGreen finale @Rochfordwines pic.twitter.com/M5wrfflYBa
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 24, 2019
A DAY ON THE GREEN SHOWS:
Bryan Ferry, I’m Talking, Models and Stephen Cummings
Sun March 3 Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
INDOOR SHOWS: (Frontier Touring)
Bryan Ferry plus Juanita Stein
Tues February 26 Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Fri March 1 ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
All event information www.frontiertouring.com
Ticketek.com.au | 132 849
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