Live Review: Red Hot Summer Tour 2024 in Perth – Simple Minds, ICEHOUSE and Bachelor Girl in Concert
21 February 2024 at Kings Park, Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Like in a scene of the 80’s, the performer is spellbindingly animated, carving through the dancefloor with moves that would make excite a yoga through the bending and stretching on stage. Age is just a number; so they say, and he proves them right; he bends his back like a limbo kid, then resting his back on the stage as he sings the crescendo. As he reaches the end of the high notes, he flips back to his feet, taking off from 1985 in a scene from The Breakfast Club. Molly Ringwall would be chuff. He urges the crowd to sing along…then in Italian…in French…in Australian…so it goes on and on as they say, la la la la…la la la la…la la la la…for five minutes and a few seconds. The timeless sentiments fused into a time machine that exploded. It was the anthem for many audience here. It was a masterpiece and still is one of the most exciting bangers in the living rooms as it’s in the clubs.
The iconic track, the seminal song that launched Simple Minds as a global sensation is far from a one hit wonder. The band have travel the globe on the back of over 20 albums that have peaked within Top 40 in the UK Album charts, with similar success In the UK Singles Chart. The band from Glasgow have enjoyed similar commercial success particularly in Australia as he acknowledged “Australia is the first international country that gave us success”
The evening sparked with Bachelor Girl. Formed in 1992 by Tania Doko and James Roche, they provided the entertainment and impressive guest slots for the likes of Eurythmics, Goo Goo Dolls and now they can include Simple Minds into their resume. For those who are here purely for ICEHOUSE and Simple Minds, they would realise that Bachelor Girl had many memorable hits such as Buses and Trains (the ‘Hey Mum..why didn’t you tell me’ song) and Permission to Shine. Also added was The Motel’s Total Control (this writer got excited hoping it would be Only The Lonely). Tania weaved her hair like a model in a shampoo ad, as the fiery defied gravity. The energy was set.
ICEHOUSE further thawed the night with the track ICEHOUSE under the stars of the spectacular summer night at King Park and the Botanical Garden. When Electric Blue echoed across the lawn by the third track, the night transformed into the biggest karaoke spectacle of the Great Southern Land. Then this,
You’ve gotta be crazy, baby…To want a guy like me …you’ve gotta be out of your mind…Crazy, Well it must be some kind of mistake, to fall in love with me…
The nostalgic montage on the big screen capturing the music video of the young Iva Davies in his mullet-esque days drove the fans deeper into the primary and high school realms, while enjoying the exhibition of a Sydney boy larrikinism who had a dream…and still living the fantasy over four decades on. The nostalgia surfaced – the live music, the video – all sparking the burning memory from the yesteryear as Iva Davies took us through the journey of our lives.
The rhythm guitarist Paul Gildea was arguably the supporting actor of the night. The sax by Hugo Lee was eye catching. Standing before the screen, his silhouette glued to the raised saxophone was breathtaking, carving a statuesque figurine instilled in the minds of many for some time.
The unofficial anthem Great Southern Land got the fans onto their feet, with a picture of Ayers Rock on the big screen, but one notable absentee was Michael Payntor, who would have sung the marquee track Man of Colours. But with accompaniments such as as Hey Little Girl, We Can Get Together, No Promises, and many more the fans were willing to forgive the void.
With the two original members remaining for Simple Minds, it didn’t matter. For one – Jim Kerr remains as the lead vocalist since the band’s inception , with the energy, charisma and motion from the 1985 video remaining intact. Lead lead vocalist supported by guitarist Charlie Burchill who has been with Simple Minds since their discovery in 1977. Secondly, the band is injected by the high end fuel of diverse, energetic musicians with vocal powerhouse Sarah Brown, reaching notes of the likes of Adele and Lizzo, and drummer Cherisse Osei who would’ve given goose bumps to the likes of Travis Barker. The benchmark was set from the first track (song).
Jim Kerr despite looking…well forty years more matured from their haydays, was rejuvenated on stage. Like a fencing student his feet weaved, and punching the air like a 80’s rockstar in a We Will Rock You musical. He swung the mic stand through a series of revolution. And lying on stage he did, like a true rocker. Jim knows the art of connecting with the crowd, where he regularly squads and sings for the crowd. The performances within the first few songs had set the benchmark for the rest of the night.
“For those who have been living under the rock and don’t know us, well we’re a new and upcoming band”.
Kerr did an extended version of Belfast Child, the sound of the pipes and Scotland resonated across the town. Silence cast over the grounds in the first half as drums and guitar kicked in in the second in a beautiful arrangement. Someone Somewhere, Alive and Kicking and All the Things She Said were performed with the same gusto as others
Simple Minds are more than Don’t You. As the night progressed, it became obvious that they are far from a One Hit Wonder.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review over 70 of the hottest acts in Perth including Coldplay, KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lizzo with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) and over forty legends.
