The Angels are an Australia powerhouse. Founded by brothers John and Rick Brewster with Doc Neeson in Adelaide in 1974, two-thirds of the founding members are still about to remind us what an incredibly creative time Australian rock was in the 70s and 80s.
The Angels formed around the same time as AC/DC and Cold Chisel. Chisel and The Angels grew out of Adelaide while AC/DC were making their mark on Sydney. AC/DC and The Angels then developed together on Alberts with Vanda and Young behind the production of both debut albums.
Australian rock was very and truly alive by then. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs had already created the pub rock culture but it took The Angels, AC/DC and Chisel to take it to new heights.
So here we are more than 40 years later. The Brewsters, along with Dave Gleeson, Nick Norton and John’s son Sam, are keeping the heritage alive. What better way to honour classic rock than with classical music.
Adelaide was treated to Symphony of Angels in 2018. Sydney and Melbourne were treated to the event this week with Melbourne’s hallowed ground of Hamer Hall picked as the venue of choice.
Six floors under St Kilda Road, the Hamer Hall stage formed a perfect chamber for The Angels to perform decades of creativity with the Australian Stage Orchestra, conducted by Rob John and the Royal Philharmonic Choir.
The Angels with a symphony orchestra bring the dramatic to the dynamic. Imagine all of the energy from an Angels pub gig expanded and accelerated through an orchestra and accentuated with a choir. This is one incredible show.
Once upon a time, pub rock was classical music’s grubby little cousin. Just look at how close those kids have now become.
The setlist was deep into the iconic albums Face To Face and No Exit but it also threw a couple of curveballs. ‘Blue Blood’ was originally a Brewster Brothers original but has crept into Angels shows and become one of their own. ‘My Life Will Shine’ is the last song the Brewsters ever wrote with Doc Neeson.
And what better way to end than in an iconic venue with a rock band, an orchestra and a choir and an audience of mainly 50+ rockers chanting “no way, get fucked, fuck off”.
The Angels at Hamer Hall? No way get fucked fuck off pic.twitter.com/sj3B6ojKcm
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) April 7, 2019
Symphony of Angels setlist, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, 6 April 2019
After The Rain (from Face To Face, 1978)
Straight Jacket (from Face To Face, 1978)
After Dark (from No Exit, 1979)
No Exit (from No Exit, 1979)
Outcast (from Face To Face, 1978)
Face The Day (from Dark Room, 1980)
Take A Long Line (from Face To Face, 1978)
Love Takes Care (from Face To Face, 1978)
Be With You (from Face To Face, 1978)
Dawn Is Breaking (from No Exit, 1979)
No Secrets (from Dark Room, 1980)
Shadow Boxer (from No Exit, 1979)
Marseilles (from Face To Face, 1978)
My Light Will Shine (from Skin and Bone, 1999)
My Damage (from No Exit, 1979)
Fashion and Fame (from Night Attack, 1981)
Blue Blood (from Brewster Brothers, Shadows Fall, 2006)
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (from The Angels, 1977)
The next round of Angels dates will mark the 40th anniversary of ‘No Exit’.
The Angels tour dates
Friday 28th June 2019
The Gov, ADELAIDE SA
www.thegov.com.au | www.oztix.com.au
Saturday 29th June 2019
The Gov, ADELAIDE SA
www.thegov.com.au | www.oztix.com.au
Friday 5th July 2019
Highfield Caringbah, CARINGBAH NSW
www.highfieldcaringbah.com.au
Saturday 6th July 2019
Pittwater RSL, PITTWATER NSW
www.pittwaterrsl.com.au
Friday 12th July 2019
Gateway Hotel, GEELONG VIC
www.thegatewayhotel.com.au
Saturday 13th July 2019
Village Green Hotel, MULGRAVE VIC
www.thevillagegreen.com.au
Friday 19th July 2019
The Triffid, BRISBANE QLD
www.thetriffid.com.au
Saturday 20th July 2019
Kingscliff Beach Hotel, KINGSCLIFF NSW
www.kingscliffbeachhotel.com.au
Friday 26th July 2019
Belmont 16ft, BELMONT NSW
www.16s.com.au
Saturday 27th July 2019
Hornsby RSL, HORNSBY NSW
www.hornsbyrsl.com.au
