Live – The Angels with Dave Gleeson, Melbourne, 20 September 2012

Shane | 13 October 2012 | Reply

The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Review by Shayne McGowan
8/10

Much has been said lately about how The Angels are not The Angels without Doc Neeson. I have to admit that I have been guilty of thinking the same thing, but I decided to see what it was all about anyway. First I got myself a copy of their new album “Take it to the Streets”, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the original material on there. I can’t say the same for The Angels songs that have been redone, or their cover of Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up”, but you’ll just have to read about the album in my review.

Seeing as I liked the album, I figured the next step was to see how the songs held up live, and indeed, how The Angels classics held up with Dave Gleeson on vocals. I again was not disappointed.
Dave Gleeson still has one of the best rock voices in Australian music history, and The Angels band were on fire. Mixing a few new songs in to set comprised mostly of classics was a great way to get the crowd (Large for a Thursday night) on side.

Opening with the first 2 tracks from the album, “Take it to the Streets” and “Wounded Healer” before launching in to a set that featured “Mr Damage”, “Shadow Boxer”, “No Secrets”, “Take a Long Line” and of course the always present “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” as well as more new tracks, it was plain to see that the entire band were enjoying themselves.

I personally think that the group has found the middle ground between The Screaming Jets and The Angels, and are all quite comfortable as a result.

Closing the set out was the first single from the new album, “Waiting for the Sun”, rather than a classic hit, which shows that the band has great faith in their current direction, and rightly so.