A testament to the weird and wonderful band who never compromised its sound, and whose experimentation and knack for a hook thrust the foursome into the mainstream.
With a second sold-out gig at The Gov on Thursday night in support of 12th studio album Rockmaker, the evening had all the hallmarks of a classic rock show of a sort few and far between these days.
Dimly lit with the dank smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke wafting through the venue, it was the perfect stage for the band to share its often simple, mostly psychedelic and always infectious rock sound.
No fancy lights, no screens; just drums, guitars, vocals, keys and a legion of loyal fans.
Opening with “Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth”, it was clear the band weren’t going to shy away from its extensive catalogue that is peppered with hits.
“We Used to Be Friends” wasn’t far behind, but it wasn’t without its issues. Arguably one of the band’s biggest singles in Australia, which soundtracked the reality television cooking boom on My Restaurant Rules, it sounded flat and muddled – a momentary lapse that was quickly resolved.
For the most part it was the slower, moodier moments that elevated the band’s performance, washing over the crowd like a cool hallucinogenic mist.
“Crack Cocaine Ranger”, “I’d like to Help You with Your Problem” and the sublime “Ride” were trance-inducing, as guitarist Peter Holmström, hiding under his hat most of the evening, tipped it faithfully to rock n’ roll icon Keith Richards with his understated yet engaging stage presence.
Keyboardist Zia McCabe, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. The talented multi-instrumentalist cut a striking figure on stage, dimly lit from behind shaking her tambourine as flowing hair spilling out from a chic beret danced under the fans.
Her meek yet pertinent dance moves almost set the tone for the evening, ranging from graceful glides to hallucinogen inducing hip shakes, all the while switching instruments and keeping that all important tambourine shaking without missing a beat.
New tracks “Summer of Hate”, “Danzig with Myself” and “I will Never Stop Loving You” slotted perfectly into the band’s hit-laden set, proving the experimentation and classic rock sensibilities are still very much fine and dandy for the Dandies.
“Plan A, “Be Alright”, “Get Off”, “Bohemian Like You” and “Godless” followed, and right there is a collection of songs almost bigger than the band itself.
Adelaide responded appropriately as the band professed its love for the city, saying Australia has and seemingly always will be one of its biggest champions.
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Before leaving, Zia McCabe once again gave us yet another moment – one that drew the biggest response from the crowd.
“Save the Cranker” she shouted in reference to the threat facing iconic Adelaide rock pub the Crown & Anchor, before inviting everyone back there for a post-drink show.
It was a fairytale ending for The Dandy Warhols tour and for a band that seemingly saved rock and roll in the 90s, they seem intent on doing it all over again in Adelaide.
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