Sounds Better Together Concert Series-Yarra Valley
Sounds Better Together 23 January 2021
Sounds Better Together 23 January 2021
Jimmy Barnes/ The Teskey Brothers
Rochford Wines-Yarra Valley
The opportunity to experience live music with a crowd of a few thousand is something that has been impossible to do for about a year. There was no holding many back when the idea of a winery gig with these folks came up at short notice.
Checking into the most delightful, surreal accommodation a few kilometres from the winery was truly an omen to how the rest of the day would progress. This little farm was run by a lovely woman who spoke only Mandarin and we communicated with charades and sign language. The delivery to our door of a plate of fresh off the vine tomatoes as we unpacked the beer and tequila and other accoutrements warmed the heart and soul. With a fellow traveller in the room next door, we lazed around the shanty and got ourselves tuned up for the event.
Thinking it would be easy to get transport to the gig was a mistake, so I found myself driving to the winery and arriving as The Teskey Brothers hit the boards. Based on the smiles and joy on and off the stage, you could tell that everyone was hungry for this evening. The Teskey Brothers continue to amaze and deliver with an ease that shows the years they have taken to perfect their craft. The soulful sound of Josh Teskey on vocals are enough to send goose bumps through your entire being. Think Muscle Shoals, Otis Redding. Simply, Josh has pipes and delivers in such an effortless manner in his work boots and jeans. Everyone is in awe I do believe.
Sam Teskey has a lead guitar style that gets you down in the groove and you want to shake your money maker, but can you do that and be Covid Safe? Time would tell. The rhythm section of Brendon Love (bass) and Liam Gough (drums) kept things in the pocket. Throw in the juicy horn section and you could close your eyes and be grooving in N’awlins or Melbourne. The hour flew by with “Let Me Let You Down”, “Carry You”, “So Caught Up” and the rollicking “Louisa” were a handful of the songs they presented to the gathering. People were starting to dance away but being in a Covid-safe event as soon as they delved into the aisles attempts were made to move them back to the dancing seat side. This was going to be a losing battle during many a song. One lone Covid safety officer attempted to corral a group of young women while many other security folks just looked on. You had to be there…but this went on all evening. One security guard when questioned about the need to stay near your seat said, “Jimmy don’t like no aisle dancing ‘round here”.
With a beautiful sunset and a 1/2 a moon coming on, the war summer evening was quite a change from the summer like a winter we have had in Melbourne so far. But so many people were locked into their seats, but of course, there were handfuls of people really throwing themselves into the hours of music wine and laughter. Many fences and gates around the very empty bar area seemed to be a bit over the top for virus avoidance. One security guard looked at the set-up and said,” Yeah, this is Covid Normal, more like Covid retarded.” Strange days indeed.
Barnesy closed the night down with his family and friends travelling band. Jimmy crammed as many hits as he could into the 75 minutes he strutted around the stage. They turned the volume up to 11, the security guard continued to fail to keep the dancers’ Covid Safe and mostly everyone appeared to be having a Saturday night blast. Jimmy kicked off with “Driving Wheels” and “No Second Prize” and he kept the throttle wide open most of the night. “Khe Sanh” and “Flame Trees” were of course rolled out and the demographically correct crowd lapped it up. Jimmy and Jane turned it down for a moment with a duet of the ballad “Love Hurts”.
Towards the middle of his set Vika and Linda Bull, Josh Teskey and some others came out and covered “The Weight”. Hearing the Aussie Icon Jimmy do his bit and then Josh sing his verse it made you think that in 20 years time The Teskey Brothers will be the legends headling these shows. With the close of that song, Jimmy said, “Well I guess there is nothing to do but a ballad” and he launched into pedal-to-the-metal rock and roll. Barnesy is such a joker!
With Jimmy Barnes, you know what you are going to get most of the time. The only surprise tonight was Jane Barnes in knee-high boots and a kilt playing bagpipes on the Springsteen like “Shutting Down Our Town.” The pandemic has impacted some people in ways that I don’t even understand.
Promoters and the Government are doing what they can to bring music and the arts back. With an industry already struggling to survive, allowing people to get out and breathe in some artistic oxygen is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. So please, support your artists in any way you can and make some noise politically when you can.
This is what many of us live for to feel alive and our favourite artists need all the support we can garner to keep them afloat. Keep on rockin’ in the new somewhat free world.