Live Review: The Angels – 50 Not Out Tour in Fremantle
Freo.Social, Fremantle Western Australia on the 26th of July 2024
By Angela Frodsham
Photography by Erica Lorimer Photographer
When the Angels flew into Perth in the summer of 1982 the band’s popularity had already taken off like a rocket. For this then 18-year-old reviewer there was no bigger Australian gig for a hard rock ‘rage’ with your mates; the band’s feisty musical brand was a clarion call energising youngsters living through a Cold War winter. Discovered in 1976 by the legendary AC/DC, as musicologist Ian McFarlane states, the Angels “…helped redefine the Australian pub rock tradition…” while producing a treasure trove of beloved Aussie hits now woven into our cultural fabric.
Forging their own inimitable niche at the very top of the golden Australian music scene of the 1970s and 1980s, the band delivered concert goers an exciting new standard of explosive live performance. Although both the world and the Angels lineup have since changed, their show at Freo.Social on Friday night proved their unique brand of rock is still every bit as fresh, power driven and enticing as those heady days of stratospheric success.
To celebrate an amazing 50 years since their formation the band is treating fans to not only a national tour 50 Not Out, but also to a brand-new album “Ninety Nine” to proudly take its place alongside any of the band’s iconic classics. All those who have enjoyed the Angels’ shows over the years knew we were all in for a great night, and the excited pre-show vibe at Freo.Social agreed.
Finally, under the cover of atmospheric darkness, the Angels took to the stage while devoted fans rushed to claim front barrier spots, drinks in hand. First track out of the blocks was “Night Attack” from their 1981 album of the same name – an anthem with a rolling drum introduction guaranteed to whip live crowds into the mood to rock.
“Freo mate, we love it!” shouted lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nick Norton, who moved from drums to vocals last year after the departure of Dave Gleeson. Leading a stage once dominated by the late “Doc” Neeson, one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic frontmen of the late 1970s to mid 1980s, couldn’t be an easy task. But Norton has the range and personality of voice to do justice to the band’s extensive song catalogue and has made the role his own while sporting a recognisably Angels irreverence and streetwise pugnacity.
Original band members and co-founders, John Brewster on rhythm guitar and elder brother Rick on lead guitar, are joined in the present line up by another Brewster brothers pairing in John’s sons Sam on bass and Tom on drums. Sam took over on bass in 2013 from long time band member Chris Bailey who passed away that year, and Tom took to the Angels’ drums when Norton moved to lead vocals. Norton in his smart shirt, tie and suit coat matched the elder Brewsters with their bare heads, Rick and John both sporting classic Angels dark glasses. After all, it was the clever contrast of the energetic, dramatic and wide eyed Neeson against a sunglassed Rick Brewster’s impassive, cool guitar playing that was an early hallmark of the band.
The Brewsters clearly have musical talent in their genes with many eminent musicians in their family including a concert pianist grandfather. A 16-year-old Rick won a piano Eisteddfod and looked set for a classical career until enticed by John to join him and Neeson in Adelaide’s Moonshine Jug and String Band in the early 1970s to play a mix of blues and jazz. Forward to the formation mid-1974 of the electric guitar playing Keystone Angels (renamed the Angels) and the rest is rock history with eight Top 10 albums and 17 Top 40 singles.
“After the Rain”and “Shoot It Up” blasted on, then came the 1980 hit “No Secrets” from the “Dark Room” album, a song many in the mostly older crowd could sing word for word. The audience were appreciative, enthusiastic and happy, no doubt recalling much younger days when standing all evening to watch favourite bands was not a problem.
Fashion and Fame”was a chance for Norton to also show his talents joining John and Rick to rock as a third guitar, before launching into the only song played from their new album, the title track “Ninety Nine” written by Norton and Sam Brewster. A great track promising to be hit for the band, the song is a lament about the lot of the silent 99% who watch the minority super rich enjoy most of the world’s wealth.
The band have described their first album offering in 10 years as a “compelling new chapter”, with a cover in keeping with the Angels’ often mysterious and shadowy artwork depicting co-founder Rick Brewster’s fondness for collecting old telephone boxes. John told Sheldon Ang Media in an interview last week (see SAM’s webpage for more) he believes this album is a “benchmark album” to join the trilogy of “Face to Face”, “No Exit” and “Dark Room”.
John’s son Sam said the new album reflects the band’s “new energy”, and enthusiasm shown during the tour by audiences such as at Freo.Social can only help fuel this new impetus. Notable during the night was the number of young adult fans, often enjoying the night with their parents and boogying alongside them in the standing area in front of stage. This multi-generational aspect bodes well for the future of the band – a younger audience to move with the younger generation now also resident in the band.
Then came a song many had waited for – the band’s first ever release
“Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”with its famous chant of “no way, get f*d, f* off!”. John Brewster told SAM he loves this “just great, larrakin Australian sense of humour”. This track sent the crowd into even greater levels of excitement, maintained by “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” with Rick moving to some keyboard duty. Then came what felt like a high point of the night’s rocking energy with John Brewster’s incredible harmonica solo adding to the build of the climax of “Devil’s Gate”.
In contrast to guests Mi-Sex there was less chat with the crowd during the show, but this was fine as the songs speak for themselves and with so many hits to cover time was short. “Shadow Boxer” burst on, bringing back memories of the 1980s and the pogo stick jumping popular for this song. The appropriate “Let the Night Roll On” was followed by the much anticipated ‘head banger’ “Take a Long Line”, heralded by the iconic “…this is it folks, over the top!”.
The relatively mellow “Be With You”was followed by another classic “Marseilles”, which Norton informed us had been written by John Brewster about the south of France. The Angels are credited as having influenced many other important national and international artists, such as Icehouse who playing Perth last year paid tribute to the band by including “Marseilles” in their setlist, with Iva Davies revealing the classic Icehouse track “Fatman” as their “Angels song”. “Marseilles”is also home to a classic Rick Brewster guitar solo, one of a number the crowd enjoyed from one of Australian music’s all-time best guitarists.
The night wasn’t getting any younger and after “Marseilles” the band said goodbye and left the stage. But, after the crowd signalled for more with loud calls and thunderous stomping on the old wooden floorboards, the Angels were gratefully received back. “What was left to play?”, asked my fellow concert goer of his young adult daughter. She rightly guessed “Mr Damage”, which was followed by “Face the Day”, a classic with an early video portraying Neeson as a tormented office worker and displaying his dramatic skills at their best. Before finally leaving stage for the evening, fans were given an extended ending to “Face the Day” with another Rick Brewster guitar solo which left no doubt about his playing prowess and ingenuity. It’s clear that John and Rick are delighted to still be rocking on and delivering the fans a great night out.
The band has said their Angels 2024 tour is “for everyone who has played with the Angels and everyone who has enjoyed an Angels show”. As with any remarkable journey there have been ups and downs, but the Angels are indeed a lasting phenomenon created by musicians, timeless songs and the audiences still flocking to see the band.
John Brewster told SAM that also important are those who work in various other capacities to make it all happen, who “make the experience something very, very special. And then we rock… we rock! Ha! I love it!”. And rock they most certainly still do!
The Angels Set List:
Night Attack, After the Rain, Shoot It Up, No Secrets, Call That Living, Fashion and Fame, Ninety Nine, Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Devil’s Gate, Shadow Boxer, Let the Night Roll On, Take a Long Line, Be With You, Marseilles
Encore: Mr Damage, Face the Day
First up that night was the introduction of young Brisbane independent band DIAL, who thanked the already sizable audience for coming in early and did a great job getting them moving and shaking with an onslaught of a gritty sonic wall and impressive guitar work. Hopefully we’ll see more of them in the future.
Following DIAL were the Angels’ very special touring guests and great friends Mi-Sex, and this proved a great pairing with the audience given a superb performance readying concert goers for the Angels arrival. Please see Shelton Ang Media’s separate review on Mi-Sex to read more.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Revolutions Per Minute and The Angels for the accreditation and reviewer ticket, and for arranging a fabulous interview with John Brewster who so generously gave of his time.
50 Not Out Tour details: https://theangels.com.au/gigs/
Ninety Nine album and merchandise: https://theangels.com.au/shop/
Click here for Ninety Nine album stream
Writer – Angela Frodsham
Angela is a music lover who has enjoyed live concerts with sister Erica and friends since the early 1980’s, including raving in the pit during The Angels performances at Perth Entertainment Centre in 1981. A career in Government economic development and transport policy followed a Bachelor of Economics majoring in the Japanese language. More recently, Angela’s love of writing and history has led her back to UWA to study Classics and Ancient History, including the Latin language and ancient Greek.
Photographer – Erica Lorimer
Erica is a freelance photographer who loves capturing images of live music and travel photography. She enjoys shooting film with vintage cameras and making prints in a home darkroom. She has lived in Japan, the UK and Nigeria. Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), majoring in English Literature and Economics, and a Certificate IV in Design.
About Sheldon Ang Media
Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to almost 100 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), KNOTFEST (Melbourne), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, P!NK, Tom Jones, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media. Sheldon Ang Media is also a music contributor on Triple M Radio.
