Live Review: The Fabulous Caprettos (Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris, Jack Jones, Rai Thistlethwayte)
Astor Theatre, Perth 4 February 2023
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
From the opening verse to one the most sing-your-heartout choruses since 1990 and spurred by the echoing vocals of the late Margaret Urlich, the extended version sparks the timelessness and immortality of the Aussie classic. Vision of a horse running along the beach surfaced through the minds of the crooners, baby boomers and the millennials.
“I’ve waited all my life for The Horses, Daryl,” this writer/photographer tells the ex Sherbet singer backstage after the show.
The crowd self-appoint themselves as the co-vocalists. As the song fades into the final verses, it is renewed by Rai through his rock’esque propagation. The crowd give their approval with a roar of acceptance. Then Jack casts his repertoire; a poet, a vocal gymnasts since the ballads of the broken hearts era, the singer/guitarist’s falsetto and high register are mellifluously devastating. Finally, Russell’s rendition could be a classic in its own right, culminating into a fusion of artists defining the music landscape across four decades.
They are The Fabulous Caprettos. Or the fabulous goat.
The night was a celebration of some of the most iconic Australian anthems from the 60’s through the vocals of Russell Morris AM, to the 80’s and 90’s in Daryl Braithwaite and Jack Jones of Southern Sons to the post millennium soundscape by Rai Thistlethwayte – the lead vocalist of Thirsty Merc. Some might agree this is the supergroup of Aussie rock/pop, fusing and propelling the classic archives of songs that they once fronted…
At nine, the fabulous four graced the stage with two scintillating backup musicians; Russell Morris and Daryl Baithwaite taking their positions in the middle, flanked by Jack Jones and Rai Thistlethwayte, all positioning themselves at equidistant to each other in a single row. Early in the setlist were Sweet Sweet Love crafted by Morris, and Sherbet’s Howzat – a rather auspicious song considering the Perth Scorchers had just won the Big Bash 20/20 cricket a moment ago at Optus Stadium. Thanks to the win by the locals, the foreplay was already taken care for Braithwaite, as he led an airy and revelry mood.
Jones’s first lead of the night was Always and Ever, sparking a faster tempo sing along. But his first solo was Hold Me In Your Arms, a seminal track by Southern Sons released in 1990. It may have been over 30 years since Jack Jones had the frock that most women would envy, nevertheless the Ex Southern Sons’ lead vocalist melted the room through the honey-coated vocals, sparking the nostalgia of the first love, the first kiss and the first time waking next to a lover with the morning sunlight and the sound of distant traffic. The musical poetry and the lyricism were beautifully interpreted, withholding movement and subduing any conversation in the theatre under the spell of Jack Jones, real name Irwin Thomas.
“I was also waiting for You Were There,” I said after the show, a track that is still propagating through the airwaves across South East Asia.
“Aha! Next time for sure!” Replied Jack. Perhaps two power ballads would’ve been too emotionally sedentary for the crowd.
Jones also charmed the fans through Southern Sons’s Lead Me To Water and Heart In Danger.
Thistlethwayte on keyboard was the baby of the group, casting a dose of youth through 20 Good Reasons, Mousetrap Heart and the ultimate convertible summer time driving song in Summertime
The other summery track was One Summer by Braithwaite, and despite being a septuagenarian, he is still able to register the high notes required for this song. He also showed off his latest track – Love Song which was released last year.
Apparently Russell Morris is in his mid 70’s, but we wouldn’t have guessed it with his vocals that are still crystal clear despite decades of usage, as evident in It’s All Over Now Baby Blue, Hush, and the last song before the encore, The Real Thing.
“When was this song released, Russ?” asked Braithwaite, cheekily.
“1967, I think” replied Morris.
“I was only 12 then.”
Caprettos is Italian for goat – as in the animal. But some prefer them to be known as “The Greatest of All Time”. Arguably, it’s a collection of greatness on a single stage.
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The writer would like to thank Special Starr Events and Astor Theatre for accommodating.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to photograph and review some of hottest acts in Perth including KISS, Sting, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, RnB Fridayz Live, The Kid LAROI, Midnight Oil, The Killers, Rufus Du Sol, UB40, etc and have interviewed the likes of Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses) and forty other legends.
