Chisel Rock Like Never Before Post by: Dan The Internut 28 November, 2011 - 9:38 AM

(show review: Sandalford Wines, Margaret River)

So I commence this review with a brag... I got to MC the event down at Sandalford Winery at Margaret River, so got to see first hand just how massive this event would be. And yes, I got to shake Barnesy's hand :)

It'd been a massive lead-up to the first WA Cold Chisel show in waaaaayyyyy too long. If just the anticipation wasn't enough, the whole bushfire tragedy just made this event all the more important for the region... for reasons that will be explained later.

Now to the show. Local blues guitarist Junior Bowles opened up proceedings, and what can we say... he's definitely got his own distinctive take on his brand of "The Blues". Which, when you consider the crowd, might not have been the perfect fit. But you know what? The fans really seemed to like it.

Next up were another local act, The Ghost Hotel. The band were great. They played tight, they have a big guitar sound, and they have THREE singers... that's right, THREE lead singers. Which actually really suited their sound. The boys have been in and around the local music scene for years, and it showed.

The Cold Chisel crowd really dug them as well, obviously not only for their songs, but also for the fact that these struggling musos chose to donate all proceeds of their EP sales from the gig to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund. Brilliant.

What has to be said here too is just how nice a bloke Barnsey is... he took time out from his preparation to come up and check both support acts out from side of stage. Hence all the front rowers waving to Barnesy during the set (he waved back, by the way). As the lead singer from The Ghost Hotel remarked,

"It's kind of freaking me out, Barnsey's sitting side of stage and watching us play"

Anyway, enough about the support act... on to the main show.

At 8pm on the dot, the lights went down and a cachophony of "Aussie" audio samples from the last 30 years played over the PA. Cold Chisel hit the stage and launched into Standing On The Outside... and the crowd went nuts. As you would expect.

From then, it was just the beginning of what would be arguably one of the best night's for any self respecting Cold Chisel fan. Shipping Steel, then Light The Nitro ("this is a song about cars and chicks", said Barnsey), and then Choir Girl... oh yes, we're in Cold Chisel heaven.

"Good evening... how the f**k are you?" asked Barnsey... erm, yeah, we're pretty good Barnsey, thanks for asking.

Forever Now was received with the expected roar, although it must be said that many of the songs were played at a much slower tempo than the recorded versions... At first I thought it was a one off, but Cheap Wine, My Baby, You Got Nothin' I Want, all at a slower tempo. But you know what, it really suited the night, as this was one BIG singalong.

The band got all "acoustic" on us and played a mini set at the front of the stage, starting out with When The War Is Over, as a tribute to the late great drummer, Steve Prestwich. I'll tell you right now, you could argue that Ian Moss actually sounds better live than on the recording, such is the power and presence of his magnificent voice. The tribute was brilliant and we're sure Steve was looking down from above, tapping along (in time of course).

Obviously, every song that hit the crowd was a classic. Flame Trees was simply brilliant, Bow River just awesome (and yes, I actually saw a lighter... a real, flameable, lighter), and Khe Sanh featured possibly the biggest waste of screen graphics ever conceived... they actually flashed the lyrics to the song, on the screen, so we could all sing along. You'd be kicked out of a Cold Chisel concert if you didn't know the lyrics to Khe Sanh (although, at least punters would know to sing "plane" rather than "train").

Before you knew it, the night was almost over and Barnesy was holding up his drink with "that salute" to the crowd... 30 years ago, it was a vodka bottle... nowadays, it's a travel coffee mug... but you know what, no-one seemed to care.

Kudos must go to Zaccaria Events, Sandalford Wines, everyone involved on the big night. It would have been a logistical nightmare to make it all happen, and the fact that everyone left with a massive smile on their face is testament to what was a huge success this Cold Chisel concert was.

And the best thing I saw on the night... Everyone digging in deep to drop money in the collection tins to raise money for the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund. It was the perfect way for us to thank the Margaret River region for having us in what must have been an awful week for them all.

In actual fact, the boys from Cold Chisel got together to organise a signed guitar for auction... all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund.

The Set List

Standing On The Outside
Shipping Steel
HQ 454 Monroe
Choir Girl
Forever Now
Cheap Wine
The things I love in you
My Baby
Rising Sun
Houndog
When the War is over
Yakuza Girls
Breakfast At Sweethearts
All For You
You Got Nothing I Want
Merry Go Round
Flame trees
Khe Sanh
Bow River

Encore:
Saturday Night
Four Walls
Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)

Were you at the either Cold Chisel show? What did you think?

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