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Rise
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Australian Idol Final 12 | |
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Where Is The
Love?
Black Eyed Peas | |
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Not Me, Not
I
Delta Goodrem | |
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Shake Ya
Tailfeather
P. Diddy-Nelly-Murphy
Lee | |
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| Back then better than hear and
now |
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| By Simon Collins |
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HERE in Perth
we are used to the 80s promising much and delivering little, so it
was hardly a surprise that Here & Now was a disappointing event.
To be fair, it wasn't a flop, with three of the acts turning in
fun-filled performances and three crashing out in front of around
5,000 people.
The Australian entree to the cheese platter was
served by 1927 and Mondo Rock, the latter delivering an excellent
and all-too-short set of hits - Summer of '81, Cool World, State of
the Heart, Come Said the Boy and No Time - embellished by frontman
Ross Wilson's trademark jerky moves. Only keen eared fans would have
noticed Wilson fluff the lyrics of Cool World. Nonetheless, the
circa 1981 line-up of Mondo Rock were a polished adult rock
band.
While Mondo Rock's songs stood the test of time, UK duo
Go West's high energy pop was very average. They were crap then,
what's 20 years going to change? Don't Look Down and Call Me
redefined mediocrity, while the camp King of Wishful Thinking (from
the Pretty Woman soundtrack) and hit single We Close Our Eyes got
some fans out of their seats. Singer Peter Cox, encouraged by the
response, begged for one more song, only for the dull British
announcer (hidden offstage) to cut him off with news of Belinda
Carlisle's imminent arrival.
He should not have rushed,
because the band that backed Go West, Carlisle, Paul Young and Kim
Wilde had to wait and wait for the former Go-Go. After the early
hiccup, the Californian singer delivered a crowd pleasing
performance.
Her distinctive tremolo vocals were on show
through a seven song set, including Mad About You ("The first single
I released when I left THAT band"), the infectious Summer Rain,
Leave a Light On and Heaven is a Place on Earth. Yes, there were
some very silly lyrics written in the 80s.
The highlight for
the scarlet-haired songstress was Our Lips are Sealed, a hit for her
old new wave girl group The Go-Go's that the band failed to nail,
but was still enjoyable.
After Carlisle's quality effort,
Paul Young seemed to be here for a payday, now. After telling The
West Australian last Wednesday that these nostalgia trips are "a big
laugh", there were few chuckling at the soul pop singer's pathetic
performance.
Young's voice was shot. Wherever I Lay My Hat
(That's My Home) - a Marvin Gaye cover and the UK crooner's first
hit - was so rough that perhaps he should've attempted Joe Cocker's
You Can Leave Your Hat On instead.
He attempted some
halfhearted audience karaoke to cover his crook throat, and
definitely missed his old backing singers, the Fabulous Wealthy
Tarts, on Love of the Common People. He lost the audience to the
point that when Young wafted into Everytime You Go Away there was a
collective groan. If he isn't careful, Young could find himself
replaced by John Paul Young or even Johnny Young on the following
Australian Here & Now dates.
Thankfully, we had the
lovely Kim Wilde to revive proceedings. Vamped to the max in a
figure-hugging black catsuit, the British popstar brought some
bouncing new wave to the stage, with Chequered Love and View from a
Bridge.
"You don't think I'm too old to be singing these
songs, do you?" asked Wilde, who was clearly having fun and not
taking herself or the songs too seriously. It was a right-on
attitude, especially when rechewing bubblegum pop like You
Came.
The voluptuous 42-year-old got the crowd to sing Happy
Birthday to her brother Ricki, who was touring as part of the
backing band. Wilde kept us all singing for You Keep Me Hangin' On
and Kids in America - her big hit, penned by Ricki and father
Marty.
Sheffield synth-pop act Human League glided on after
setting up their austere stage - shiny white equipment, white
backdrop and goth clothing. Philip Oakey, minus his freaky fringe,
wandered on with backing singers Susanne Sulley and Joanne
Catherall, for Love Action (I Believe in Love).
The
Kraftwerk-inspired electronic sounds of Heart Like a Wheel, Human
and (Keep Feeling) Fascination left many cold, while pockets of fans
welcomed Human League's first Perth show. However, Oakey woke up the
crowd with his 1984 collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, Together in
Electric Dreams, and closed with Human League's massive 1981 hit
Don't You Want Me.
Thus, the retrofest ended, after four
hours, seven bands and nothing but pop hits. The line-up may not
have gelled - Human League were too left-of-centre after the
sugarcoated pop of Wilde and Carlisle, and Go West and Young were
too crap - but if this package works elsewhere around Australia, we
may be seeing Here & Now back again.
There must be loads
of 80s acts keen for a paid jaunt around Oz. Anyone know where we
can find Tears for Fears, Spandau Ballet and
Ultravox?
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