LIVE REVIEW: 10cc, Perth, 28 October, 2015

LIVE REVIEW: 10cc, Perth, 28 October, 2015
The Astor Theatre, Perth – Wednesday, 28 October, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
Photography by Maree King

Attention every band out there: THIS is what you should be aspiring to. A wonderfully talented, well-rehearsed band who know exactly what they are doing, backed up by people who can deliver the best lights and sound in the business on a realistic budget. Watch and listen and learn.

10cc may only have one of its original core members remaining (Graham Gouldman) but as writer or co-writer of many of tonight’s songs, and singer of many as well, that’s enough. More than enough, in fact, as he has assembled a band including of several of 10cc’s ‘70s or ‘80s touring members, who do a magnificent job paying homage to the band’s enormous legacy of wonderful songs.

With consummate class and pristine clarity and quality (The Astor Theatre always sounds miles ahead of every other Perth venue: tonight it sounded up there with the world’s greatest opera and concert halls) several of the band members bounce from instrument to instrument, starting with crowd favourites The Wall Street Shuffle and The Things We Do For Love.

Lead guitarist (and sometime bass player) Rick Fenn is in red hot form, peeling off solos left and right, whilst keys player Mike Stevens (who sometimes plays guitar, bass or sax) is a master of his craft. Drummer Paul Burgess – a veteran on 10cc for many years – makes it all look effortlessly easy, but the biggest kudos have to go to Mick Wilson, who plays guitars, keys, a scintillating array of percussion better suited to a prog rock behemoth, and sings pretty much everything Gouldman doesn’t.

Gouldman and his former colleagues Lol Crème, Eric Stewart and Kevin Godley enjoyed one of the most prolific purple patches in modern music, rendering there no need for anything remotely approaching ‘filler’ in this live set, and the full house sung along with almost every word.

After a wonderful I’m Mandy, Fly Me and Life Is A Minestrone, Art For Art’s Sake was practically Pink Floydesque, while the front line go all Status Quo with their guitars for Silly Love.

Gouldman & co seem genuinely pleased by the love shown by the audience, even though it’s impossible not to enjoy such great songs played so damned well.

The singer gives credit to the writers of each song, crediting his former bandmates wherever appropriate. Feel The Benefits is another proggy turn, and an epic one at that with an extended jam section.

If there’s one 10cc song that EVERYONE knows, it’s I’m Not In Love, it’s lush soundscape and divine harmonies rendering it nigh on impossible to do justice with in the live arena… or so you might think. With Burgess out front for some tasteful percussion and the rest of the band singing harmonies like far younger men, it’s a stunning performance.

Dreadlock Holiday is another classic, this time getting dancers dancing, and Gouldman finishes the song by changing the last line to, “I don’t like Perth – I LOVE IT!” before returning from a short break for “a very special acapella version of 10cc’s very first hit from 1972” – Donna. It’s very barbershop quartet and – as was the entire show – immaculate. Burgess’s singing voice may not be the best as he is left out of this one but pushes his way into the tight circle around the microphone to deliver the final, deep and booming “you.”

Rubber Bullets finishes the night with more dancing, and the band revel in this much-loved Beach Boys pastiche, jamming out some boogie woogie as the entire house stands and claps along to end a fantastic night.

Set List:
Wall Street Shuffle
The Things We Do For Love
Good Morning Judge
I’m Mandy, Fly me
Life Is A Minestrone
Art For Art’s Sake
Silly Love
Feel The Benefit
The Dean & I
From Rochedale To Ocho Rios
I’m Not In Love
Dreadlock Holiday

Donna [acapapella]
Rubber Bullets

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries