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THE WHITLAMS
@ The Gov, Adelaide,
20th October 2023
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Colin Reid (@cdrimagery)

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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There is something unique about seeing The Whitlams at The Gov. Despite a capacity 900 sellout crowd, it doesn’t feel cramped there is room to move and mingle. It feels like attending the best backyard BBQ where everyone is in a joyous mood and music playing is simply the best. It is a place where old friends are caught up with and new friends in the crowd are made.  Fittingly this is reflected on the stage with a double bass treat in the form of new band member Ian Peres of Wolfmother fame on the electric bass and old friend Scott Owen from The Living End on double bass.

There is no support band. The Whitlams intend on playing two sets. The first will comprise older songs, a chance for lesser played gems from the back catalogue to get an outing and the second will be a mixture of the newer works.

The first set gets underway with ‘Gough’, their anthem to Gough Whitlam from whom the band drew their name. It suits the standup double bass so well and the crowd begin to sway and sing along. At the end of the song Tim Freedmen references Whitlam symbolically pouring dirt into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. The comparison between the success of Whitlam’s land rights reform and Albanese’s referendum failure is clear. “That is enough politics” says Tim “Lets have some songs about drug addiction, mental illness, suicide and homelesses”.

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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The band are perfect. Jak Housden on guitar and Terepai Richmond on drums are amazing. Ian plays keys during the first step while Scott is on double bass duties. After playing ‘Following My Own Tracks’ and The Ballard of Lester Walker’, both Stevie Plunder compositions, Tim takes a moment to talk about Stevie and pay tribute to the great music that he wrote. The sadness in the room over Stevie’s death is palpable.

The set moves on and Tim mentions that after the soundcheck he’d gone back to the hotel and made the mistake of turning on the news. It is a reference to situation in Gaza. ‘The news is so distressing that a few love songs won’t go astray’. The audience concur and we are treated to a couple of earlier Freedman compositions “Where is She” and “Met My Match”.  Meeting your match in a 5 foot 1 inch girl, I know that feeling too.

The set rolls on and it is great to hear these older songs live, songs that perhaps don’t get as many plays as others when there isn’t the luxury of two sets.  There is another poignant moment when Tim talks about Ron Peno who died earlier this year.

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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The first set closes out with “I Make Hamburgers” and “No Aphrodisiac”. The part of the venue that is closest to Tim’s piano is mostly female and Tim delights in singing the line ‘dirty girls’ to them. After the track he asks the audience ‘can you say that still? Apparently, you can’.  It is no surprise that “No Aphrodisiac” gets a huge reaction with ever voice in the 900 strong crowd singing along with it.

Tim promises only a 20 minute break between sets and asks if all the people at the back would like to swap places with those at the front.  They return to find we are all still in our places, no surprise there. Ian has moved out from behind the keys to take over electric bass and he demonstrates what a fantastic bass player he is.  I said it earlier and I’ll say it again, this band is superb!  There is great chemistry between this band, they clearly love playing together and enjoy each other’s company.

The second set is full of big songs. ‘Royal In The Afternoon’ goes off. Tim states that we look like a sing a long crowd and he was right. The band goes into ‘Charlie No 1’ and ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ and we raise the roof. Tim steps out from behind his keyboard to sing ‘Melbourne’ and Ian takes that piano part. Returning to keyboard duties Tim pours himself another glass of wine and lets us in on a tip for playing two sets “I love it because you can’t get drunk in the second set and ruin your performance in the first one!’

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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“We love playing Adelaide and coming to The Gov” says Tim. “This is probably our 36th time here”. He then takes time to reminisce about Adelaide music identity Robert Dunstan who also passed away earlier this year. Next, he commends the venue for its No Pokies stance and the band goes into ‘Blow up the Pokies’.

Scott rejoins the band for ‘Up Against the Wall’ it is a double bass / electric bass extended jam treat. ‘I Get High”, ‘I’m Different’ and just before the last song of the set Tim finally removes his jacket to the acclaim of the crowd and the roof gets lifted once more for ‘You Sound Like Louis Burdett’.

The night seemed like it could have gone on forever but sadly all good things must come to an end. “Are you a Bob Dylan fan” Tim asks of Scott before they close with a perfect version of ‘Tangled up in Blue’ to end a perfect evening.

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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Check out Colin Reid’s (@cdrimagery) full gallery of this show HERE

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Follow THE WHITLAMS
Facebook – Instagram – Website

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THE WHITLAMS, The Gov, Adelaide, 2023 / Photo – @cdrimagery

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Press Release 23rd May 2023 (below) HERE

THE WHITLAMS
announce
EARLY YEARS ’93 – ’97
NATIONAL TOUR
featuring
SCOTT OWEN
of THE LIVING END

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AMNPLIFY – DB