The Angels/ Rose Tattoo/ Hell City Glamours
Friday 28 November
Thebarton Theatre


Tonight, Doc and Angry and their respective teams were supported by Sydney's Hell City Glamours, who performed an energetic set citing influences along the lines of The Black Crowes, Hellacopters, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC. Highlights, from the current eponymous album, were One Night Only, Ready To Fall, Back To You and the Deep Purple-influenced In The Cold, the combination of Gretsch and Gibson creating a sonic dynamic that entertained the few people in attendance at 7.30.

Next, Rose Tattoo delivered an aural assault of full on rock that harked back to the days when music could never be too loud. Opening with One Of The Boys, the crowd exuberantly received each and every song. Never Too Loud featured feedback, naturally, while Rock' N' Roll Outlaw, All For One and Rock' N' Roll Is King were all delivered with the flying V slide guitar of Pritchard admirably replicating the brilliance of the late Peter Wells. The between song banter seemed to be lifted from Angry's Book Of Philosophy, ranging from topics as diverse as Australia and defending it to the hazards of using hydroponically grown marijuana while slugging away on a beer. The 60 minute set closed with Scarred For Life, before a medley of We Can't Be Beaten/ Bad Boy For Love and then Nice Boys, by which time the ears were ready for a rest. Using the minimal lighting (and "no fuckin' smoke! We don't do smoke!"), this set harked back to the halcyon days of pub shows with the floor crammed tight.

The Angels. What can I say about this Adelaide band that I didn't cover when they played at The Gov back in July? That night they were on song, and even the fly on the wall documentary of that reformation and the argy-bargy that happened in meetings was not evident tonight. Opening again with After The Rain, the set was pretty much the same, and though the band suffered monitor power issues, they trooped on and the break gave Doc a chance to have a chat. It was a fitter and healthier looking Doc too, enjoying the larger stage and jumping around more, just like the old days. No jumping around from Rick Brewster, who was welded to the spot as he churned out those soaring riffs and solos, with bassist Chris Bailey running around a bit providing back up vocals as did drummer Buzz Bidstrup, this time perched on a riser looking down on his kingdom. John Brewster, you ask? Sadly he suffered a major heart attack the previous Sunday in Toowoomba, and his place was taken by his son Sam, an extremely capable guitarist in his own right.

Crowd faves Am I Ever, Shadow Boxer, Comin' Down, Be With You and a different intro to We Gotta Get Outta This Place all popped up before the usual closer Marseille. The encore saw the inclusion of City Out Of Control off the 'Night Attack' album, given Rick Brewster a chance to do some fancy solo stuff under green effects, before finally finishing off with Take A Long Line.

I don't think you could have asked for a better double bill than with two of Australia's greatest rock acts. Both brilliant in their performance, The Angels just pipped the Tatts, whose aural energy was at eleven. The real winners were the audience, though - not only those who could remember the original days of such tours, but those who took their kids to witness a piece of history.

Mark Liebelt