94.5 Classic Hits All Day – An Evening on the Green Spectacular

Shane | 4 December 2014 | Reply

94.5 Classic Hits All Day – An Evening on the Green Spectacular
Kings Park, Perth
Saturday 8 November 2014
Review & Photography by Maree King

On this cool yet balmy Saturday evening we stepped back in time to re-visit the music that not only defined the birth of the Australian Rock-Pop music scene but define the youth of a Nation that was on the precipice of a new generation. Brought to us by Mix 94.5 fm Radio and Mellen Events hosted by WA’s No. 1 Breakfast Radio Team Clairsy, Shane and Kymba who kept us entertained in-between sets was another wonderful success for the Evening on the Green series.

Opening the show Mr John ‘Swanee’ Swan (brother of the illustrious Jimmy Barnes), with hits like ‘Sail Away’ and ‘If I was a Carpenter’ then gracing the stage with her sublime and expressive voice was the ever youthful Wendy Matthews belting out her classic bluesy/alt-pop hit ‘The Day you Went Away.’

A little hiccup in the original line-up saw a swap out with Machinations coming on to replace Mi-Sex (who would appear later in the line-up) and we were not disappointed. Fred Loneragan showing us he still has what it takes to crank out a great tune, his energy and playfulness with the crowd he managed to get everyone on their feet to classic Machination’s tunes ‘My hearts on Fire’ and the crowd where lapping it up.

[Show picture list]

After a quick break GANGgajang were up next with their classic “Sounds of Then (This is Australia)” and had everyone singing along the humming of voices in unison wafted through the Kings Park Botanic Gardens

The unusual instrumental introduction by Kymba from Mix 94.5 fm of Mark Gable of Choirboys fame, cranking out a medley of riffs from the Choirboys hits list before Gable appeared and belted out some classic Choirboys tunes including the ever popular ‘Run to Paradise’ again pleasing the rather tipsy crowd, which responded in kind with joyful exuberance. Reliving 1983 where Choirboys played support for the Angels and Rose Tattoo, the infamous and proud Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo joined us for some more of the classic hits, and as usual Angry sang straight from the heart, paying tribute to our great country and making us feel proud to be part of the Australian Music Scene. After Angry’s amazing rendition of Rose Tattoo classics we finally get a taste of Mi-Sex, who have finally managed to make it centre stage. With Noiseworks’ Steve Balbi fronting the band they still managed to show all the measures of a greatness of the years gone by with hits like ‘Computer Games’ and more.

While the beautiful hues glowed as the sun set in the western sky, John Paul Young arrives on stage looking distinguished in his Tuxedo and ‘Love was in the Air’ again tonight.

Following JPY was Wa Wa Nee and Pseudo Echo who epitomised the funk pop sound with a mix of Australian Rock gave a new wave of sound for the Australian music scene. Pseudo echo wanted to make sure we were still ‘Listening’ and the crowd were definitely ready to head down to ‘Funky Town’.

Heading into the big headline acts for the night, 1927 gave us reason to ‘If you Could’ and ‘You’ll Never Know’ followed by the effervescent Alex Smith and Moving Pictures who treated us to one of the most energetic sets I’ve seen in some time. His energy and fire spread through the crowd like a wildfire, and belting out their most renowned hit ‘What about Me’ that was given a second lease of life by Shannon Noll a few years back. Alex Smith’s joy and excitement at being on stage and performing was palpable and crowd loved it. Then an announcement was made that there would be a special performance, as all performers entered the stage and announced this final performance was a joint collaboration to pay tribute to one the Greats of the Australian Music Industry and an Australian Rock icon in the illustrious Doc Neeson of The Angels, with a joint rendition of ‘Am I Ever See Your Face Again.’ The crowd lifted to their feet joining them all as they paid tribute to our recently fallen legend. It was the most fitting tribute to finish such an amazing collections of Australian Music.

THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES