He swings his arm like Pete Townsend, he struts like Mike Jagger. He is Tim Rogers, and if you haven’t heard of him by now you’re over a decade late. As a band they are You Am I and with seven studio albums and a soap opera’s worth of dramas, they have been giving Australian youngsters from Silverchair to Wolfmother a lesson in rock’n’roll since before this reviewer could ride a bike.
During this time, You Am I has developed and nurtured a die hard crowd that show their worth by making the latest release, Convicts, debut at number eleven on the ARIA charts and packing the Tivoli. A rowdy bunch they transcend trends making everything from rock chic, emo hip, and electro-funk look like flashes in the pan.
Openers The Vasco Era are visibly intimidated by the dedicated fan base but did their best to win over new fans. The three-piece have been working on a debut LP to follow up their 2005 Miles EP, and the live show previewed their original blues/rock/roots style that is guaranteed to take them far. But as a live act they put on an impressive show with all three proving amazing talents, even astonishing a few with an original bongo solo.
The Drones were next on the line-up and proved that their next big thing tag is not misplaced. Touring constantly for the past year, in follow up to their latest album Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of your Enemies will Float By, they prove to be a tight and well practiced live act. With all instruments slung low, the four piece beat out favourites like ‘Baby Squared’ and ‘Sitting on the Edge of the Bed Crying’, that got the crowd gagging for more rock and roll.
And this is where we enter national heroes You Am I. Beginning with the riff of ‘Thuggery’, the Tim Rogers starts to show us why he’s been around for so long. Mayhen ensues as new and old songs are bashed out with unchained precision.
Rogers’ theatrics were in full swing as he constantly windmilled his arm around and headed off hecklers by shouting “I’m working here”. Davey Lane proved why he is one of the best rock guitarists in the country and his impressive back-up vocals gave great harmonises in ‘It Ain’t Funny’ and ‘Berlin Chair’. The rhythm section of Andy Kent and Rusty Hopkinson were as always tight and gave fully support to Rogers in whatever tangent he took the show.
This is a set list to reward the fans. Rarely heard old favourites like ‘Handwasher’ and ‘Sound as Ever’ surprise us and the big hits Berlin Chair and ‘Purple Sneakers’ never cease to amaze. One lucky fan was even plucked from the crowd to duet during ‘Berlin Chair’. He did a good rendition but realised what the crowd was there for politely backing away allowing Tim regain fully attention.
But it was largely the new material on show with the pop hooks of ‘It Ain’t Funny’ to the riffing wonders of latest single ‘Friends Like You’ all rolled off the stage. The set is rounded off with Tim doing a touch of Tex Perkins in the dirty punk rock of ‘Thank God I’ve Hit the Bottom’.
The crowd quickly pulled the band back onstage to give us three more songs, ending in the b-side rarity from the ‘Damage’ single, ‘Open all Night’. The band exhausted and sweaty then had to call it a night and those in the front few rows were lucky enough to get sprayed in Rusty’s champagne.
Finally after too long away You Am I are back on the road and in tonight’s show they proved they were glad to be. We’re glad too.
