Live – Evening On The Green with Bernard Fanning, 17 Nov 2013, Perth

Shane | 27 November 2013

Bernard Fanning with The Cruel Sea, Sarah Blasko & Bob Evans
Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia
Sunday 17 November 2013
Review & photographs by Maree King

As the sun sets on the second instalment of the summer series of the Evening on the Green, our cooler summers evening kicks off with the Queensland psychedelic surf roots and rock sensations Band Of Frequencies, and they didn’t disappoint, showing a vast spectrum of roots, rock and electronic styles. This is a band that makes music with an authentic social conscience. They have a refreshing outlook and a message that sits inside of everything they do, and a quality that speaks to your higher consciousness.

Next on the bill the ever self-effacing and relaxed Bob Evans aka Kevin Mitchell of Jebediah fame and his sidekick Poncho played a short but sweet set of his classic tunes, including Darling Won’t You Come from Suburban Songbook and Don’t Wanna Grow Up Any More from his last album Familiar Stranger and rounding out the subdued set with probably his most successful hit Don’t You Think It’s Time. As usual Bob appeals to the development of the self and our journey through love and loss, and he always delivers with a sensitivity and insightfulness that evokes and understanding and compassion.

Sarah Blasko graced the stage just as the sun was setting over the crowd, with the hues of the orange/pink sky in the background adding to her exquisite vocal range and quirkiness, a sublime experience that allowed you to get lost in her voice and lyrics. She has a stripped back and subtle simplicity that draws you into her world that is beautiful, strange and fragile. Yet each song is like listening to her journey through the dark void of fears and love and the determination to overcome them, she takes you to a brilliant, intimate and intense place and she is truly a captivating artist that has a richness, inner strength and clarity of vision. She will be a part of our musical consciousness for a long time to come.

As the night set in and the crowd started to the settle in for the night, Cruel Sea came on with their indie style, the first tune celebrating their instrumental roots with Dan Rumour, Gerard Corben and James Cruikshank ripping out some great guitar riffs. Tex Perkins prowled onto the stage for the second song, and a few technical issues, but once they were sorted he settled into the set, with classic Cruel Sea tracks like This Is Not The Way Home, Better Get A Lawyer and It’s Alright Cause She Loves Me.

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Finally the act of the night was here, and Bernard Fanning fans were itching to get on their feet and he was the standout highlight of the evening, with graphics on a large screen behind him of old vintage family photo’s and a tribute song with photo montage to his father.

Fanning showed he is a songwriter and singer that can touch your soul from the deepest places within. Promoting his second solo effort since the demise of Powderfinger, Fanning’s new album Departures explores themes of loss, death, mourning, life and fatherhood. His haunting lyrics and raspy vocals allowed him to move effortlessly from the bigger rock sounds to softer ballads with ease. The almost title track Departures (Blue Toowong Skies) is a tribute to his own father who passed away in 2011 and is beautiful piece played with poetic tenderness and reminds us all to stop and smell the roses and to grateful for the beauty that we are surrounded by, which was perfect for the setting.

Sleeping Rough, Inside Track and Battleships all follow with the big guitar sounds and rock theme. He rounds out the final set with Wish You Were Here from Tea & Sympathy and the crowd erupted and danced joyously.

Bernard Fanning you are the beautiful truth.