James Reyne & Daryl Braithwaite @ Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series (14/02/2014)
As I entered the Melbourne Zoo grounds on this humble Valentines Day I was greeted by a sea of fold out chairs, eskies and old people. And that's no understatement. The sun was setting over the trees as the lions roared and the bugs chirped softly. It was going to be a great night to watch Aussie music legends Darryl Braithwaite and James Reyne rock it out!
Braithwaite opened the night with As The Days Go By to a fairly silent crowd. But as he got into songs like Beautiful Feeling and One Summer the old punters got into the booze and they loosened up. Slowly but surely, his energy and rock vibe rubbed off on us and before long, the crowd was singing and dancing.
He and the band played a very commendable and steady set playing his list of hits that would please most of his fans. Despite being a man of many years, Braithwaite was pulling punches all the way through; moving about, belting out notes many singers dream of hitting and genuinely warming up a stiff crowd. He was definitely a great and professional musician but he really showed his stuff when he and his bland blasted out the number one hit, The Horses. It ended his fun and splendid set on a very night note.
But if we thought he was good, Reyne was about to show us how it's done.
Opening with Fall of Rome, Reyne smashed out his set with an ease and swagger that comes only from touring the world for years and years.
His twenty or so song setlist was what just about everyone at the concert was looking forward to since their purchase of tickets. People were belting out the lyrics, finger pointing and dancing vigorously.
Songs such as Hammerhead and Errol got the crowd off their feet and rolling their heads from side to side and even myself, a young Gen-Y teen at best, singing along the words due to accessibility and catchiness.
One thing I must note on is the difference in the way the different generations act at these concerts. Whereas most older folk towards the back areas were happy to just sit and chat without looking at the stage sipping on wine, just about all the younger demographic were glued to the stage trying to see it with their best ability despite looking bored to all hell.
There just seems to be a different mentality and approach to live events that you could clearly make out at an event such as this.
Reyne's blend of rock, folk and country made for a loud and fun concert but nothing could compare to the stellar performance of English Girls. Now I had never heard of it before but I instantly felt a connection to the his great live melody work and rock guitar progressions in the song.
As the set continued with Rainbow's Dead End and Water Water, the presence of alcohol in the older punters came very clear. They belted words loudly and laughed, truly enjoying themselves and having an absolute ball; something I absolutely love to see! They also thought they're dancing was exquisite and it was; exquisitely humorous!
Reyne kept up the energy and passion all the way through his set before coming back onto stage for an encore with Braithwaite to perform The Boys Light Up as the ender. Letting the crowd sing for the most part, it was a fantastic ender.
These punters and the performers proved that rock doesn't die with age. Like wine, it only gets better
Matty Sievers
Braithwaite opened the night with As The Days Go By to a fairly silent crowd. But as he got into songs like Beautiful Feeling and One Summer the old punters got into the booze and they loosened up. Slowly but surely, his energy and rock vibe rubbed off on us and before long, the crowd was singing and dancing.
He and the band played a very commendable and steady set playing his list of hits that would please most of his fans. Despite being a man of many years, Braithwaite was pulling punches all the way through; moving about, belting out notes many singers dream of hitting and genuinely warming up a stiff crowd. He was definitely a great and professional musician but he really showed his stuff when he and his bland blasted out the number one hit, The Horses. It ended his fun and splendid set on a very night note.
But if we thought he was good, Reyne was about to show us how it's done.
Opening with Fall of Rome, Reyne smashed out his set with an ease and swagger that comes only from touring the world for years and years.
His twenty or so song setlist was what just about everyone at the concert was looking forward to since their purchase of tickets. People were belting out the lyrics, finger pointing and dancing vigorously.
Songs such as Hammerhead and Errol got the crowd off their feet and rolling their heads from side to side and even myself, a young Gen-Y teen at best, singing along the words due to accessibility and catchiness.
One thing I must note on is the difference in the way the different generations act at these concerts. Whereas most older folk towards the back areas were happy to just sit and chat without looking at the stage sipping on wine, just about all the younger demographic were glued to the stage trying to see it with their best ability despite looking bored to all hell.
There just seems to be a different mentality and approach to live events that you could clearly make out at an event such as this.
Reyne's blend of rock, folk and country made for a loud and fun concert but nothing could compare to the stellar performance of English Girls. Now I had never heard of it before but I instantly felt a connection to the his great live melody work and rock guitar progressions in the song.
As the set continued with Rainbow's Dead End and Water Water, the presence of alcohol in the older punters came very clear. They belted words loudly and laughed, truly enjoying themselves and having an absolute ball; something I absolutely love to see! They also thought they're dancing was exquisite and it was; exquisitely humorous!
Reyne kept up the energy and passion all the way through his set before coming back onto stage for an encore with Braithwaite to perform The Boys Light Up as the ender. Letting the crowd sing for the most part, it was a fantastic ender.
These punters and the performers proved that rock doesn't die with age. Like wine, it only gets better
Matty Sievers