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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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GEORGE THOROGOOD
AND THE DESTROYERS
+ Hamish Anderson
@ Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
11th November 2022
(Live Review)

Review by Colin Reid

Photos by CDR Imagery

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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There are some international touring artists whose sound is so uniquely identifiable as being from their own country, state or town and there are others who fit so closely with an Australian attitude that they seem to really belong here as much as their homeland. George Thorogood and the Destroyers definitely fit into the second category.  I first heard them in the early 1980s through a group of mates whose Friday night was always kicked off with a drink along to George’s cover of John Lee Hooker’s “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”.  The bands ballsy, bluesy, boozy sound, the subject matter of their songs, their work ethic and their sense of humour could just as easily have originated here.

They translated well to an Australian audience then and still do today to their fiercely loyal fans. The midweek gig at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre is sold out. Outside is a small group hoping to be able to pick up a ticket, they know what is instore tonight and are not wanting to miss out.  Inside the bars are packed, unlike George’s song “I drink alone” no one is doing that tonight!

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HAMISH ANDERSON // Photo – CDR Imagery

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HAMISH ANDERSON // Photo – CDR Imagery

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The support for the tour is Melbourne blues rock act Hamish Anderson. He is a great choice and they lay down a tremendous opening set that is warmly enjoyed by those of us that have torn themselves away from the bar.  He seems to have the tunes and the stage presence to be able to fill a hall in his on right, I really enjoyed his set and I hope he makes it big.  More than one person in the room commented on his look being very reminiscent of Marc Bolan and he hams this up with working a Bolan riff into one of his songs! He thanked George for taking him on tour across the country and spoke with genuine fever about being able to watch George tear up the stage each night.  Hamish closed his set with a blistering version of the Ron Davies song “It Ain’t Easy” that has been covered by Three Dog Night and David Bowie amongst others.

Expectation builds amongst the crowd, the lights dim and Barry Maguire’s “Eve of Destruction” is feed through the speakers. The Destroyer’s are coming! The crowd sing-a-long with the chorus in full voice as the drum kit lights up GTD and George hits the stage. He throws out his arms to acknowledge the room and it feels like a hug from a returning best mate before he grabs his Epiphone signature guitar and the band launches into “Rock Party”; they are on fire! George is in his element; he loves the stage and the crowd loves him. So much energy, they sound great live they are faultless and so loud.  Whilst we appreciated Hamish earlier they can be no doubt that this is an altogether higher level. George and the rest of the Destroyers truly are tearing it up and sure enough Hamish can be seen to the right of stage taking it all in just as he said it did.

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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Next is a cover of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love”. It is pretty plain that tonight everyone at The Thebbie is loving George Thorogood and The Destroyers. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand. A natural extrovert frontman born to entertain, he owns the stage but isn’t afraid to ham it up a little now and then pulling faces at the audience as he struts across the stage owning every inch of it. If anyone is going to be arrested for too much rock n roll it will be George.

There is an edge to the crowd. A boozy good time feeding on the energy coming from the stage. “I drink Alone” gets a huge crowd reaction, there is no chance of drinking alone tonight George we are all with you all the way.

‘Does anyone know this story?’ George asks ‘well I guess your gonna hear it again’ before launching into “House Rent Blues / One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”.  We bloody love it singing along with the chorus to confirm this is a story close to our hearts too!  Afterwards George warns us about drink driving ‘that was you public service announcement’ he quips laughing and joking that he is ‘so full of shit’ we all get the joke.  There is such a great vibe tonight, so much energy and love in the room that if we weren’t all too old and hadn’t drunk so much alcohol there was a risk of children being conceived tonight on the altar of bluesy, bar room rock and roll. This show encapsules everything that you go to see live music for.

The band are awesome. Incredible lead guitar work and the sax is superb too. This is highlighted in an instrumental break before George is back on stage, being handed a white Epiphone by a roadie wearing a Mexican wrestling mask. ‘some people will do anything to get in show business’.  In between the great music the gags keep coming. ‘Are you enjoying yourselves tonight? I like to enjoy myself every night’ and ‘thank you for letting me fulfill my rock and roll fantasy tonight oh wait I’m your rock and roll fantasy’ and ’back when we getting the band together in the 60s….no not the 1860s’ none of this is corny, it all works so well and feels really genuine.

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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“Get a Haircut” is another show highlight, there are moves reminiscent of Jagger as he struts the stage before they launch into their biggest song “Bad to the Bone” which has a couple of lines changed to feature making Australian women squeal! A tremendous version of Tequiila, which showcases the power of the saxophone in rock n roll follows and the regular set closes with the Hank Williams song “Move It On Over”.

The single song encore is “Born to be Bad”. George is now wearing an Aussie flag t-shirt and it joined on stage by Hamish help play the final song, it is clear that George rates Hamish too.

The Thebbie has just hosted one of the best gigs that I’ve seen in a long time. No one wants it to end least of all George who feigns being held back before wrestling his way back once more to acknowledge the crowd.

So much energy, so much love for the stage and the crowd, so much enthusiasm for what he does and such fun doing it. I spoke to people in the crowd that saw he over 30 years ago and they couldn’t believe that even though he is now in his 70s he is still giving it 110% I’m so glad I was finally able to catch him live and hope he comes back to continue the Aussie love affair soon.

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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Check out CDR Imagery’s full gallery of this event HERE

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Follow GEORGE THOROGOOD
& THE DESTROYERS
WEBSITE

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GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS // Photo – CDR Imagery

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Press Release 6th September 2022 (below) – check it out HERE

GEORGE THOROGOOD
& THE DESTROYERS
announce tour special guests
GOOD TO BE BAD TOUR:
45 YEARS OF ROCK

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AMNPLIFY – DB