After seeing John Waite live for the first time tonight all I can say is that for those that missed out on this first visit to Australia you really missed something very special indeed. Waite, with a weighty back catalogue that defies description and a hugely enjoyable and solid band behind him, put on a great show in front of an appreciative Astor crowd. The music though is only part of the equation. A John Waite show, or at least these John Waite shows also give you an real insight into the man and the music as he takes time to regale you of stories and anecdotes from his long and rewarding career. He’s blunt, brutally honest and lays himself bare at times but its all done with a huge sense of charm and a not inconsiderable sense of humour, if I’m honest at times I was so enthralled by the stories I hoped they wouldn’t end if only the set had been twice as long!
As an artist Waite has a long and many textured history but at heart he’s a song-writer who I guess at points has found himself in bands, starting out with The Babys a severely underappreciated act and then testing the waters with a late eighties dalliance with super-group ‘Bad English’. In between it all he’s lived in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles and whilst his stories name-check all three U.S. Cities you feel his heart is in New York.
Tonight we get the best of a stunning career and we touch all the bases, Perth even getting treated to change in the set-list for the third last night of the tour. It’s a set that encompasses both electric and acoustic segments and to kick things off it’s back to The Babys with ‘Midnight Rendezvous’ before John drops in ‘Change’ from ‘Ignition’ and the flips back to The Babys again with ‘Every Time I Think of You’
By the time we hit the Bad English ballad ‘When I See You Smile’ there’s not a member on the audience unmoved by a voice that seems to be better than it ever was.
It’s the stories that resonate though whether its the charm of the tale of the ‘Bluebird Cafe’ about the beautiful Iranian girl, or the mourning of friends since passed on the majestic ‘Downtown’ which has to be one of my highlights of the night.
‘If you Ever Get Lonely’ marks the sole song from Waite’s wonderful his tenth studio outing ‘Rough and Tumble’ from 2011 which I can’t recommend highly enough. It shows that he’s managed to retain that eye for melodic and lyrical liquid gold.
The second half of the set shows no sign of slowing down as the sharp-suited Waite tells more tall tales around the songs and the band move into acoustic mode,finally unleashing ‘Missing You’ to rapturous applause. It’s the stripped back presentation that underlines what a powerful song it is.
The are surprises though – a lengthy drum solo is always something I despair of no matter how good the drummer as it always leaves me wondering which song we missed out on,and let’s face it these days it’s uncommon to have a drum solo but not guitar or bass equivalent.
Waite’s best tale of the night is built around his time in New York and the tale of a song unfolding in the presence of a Martini,but in truth every story is golden, and the impromptu ad-lib nature of the tales is evident when Waite manages to surprise himself on a couple of occasions with a nice turn of phrase.
Wen you listen to a set like this it’s sad to think that some only know John Waite for his one mega-hit ‘Missing You’ as it truth there’s not a song in this set that isn’t its equal to these ears from the slick thrust of ‘Mr Wonderful’ and the sublime cover of Dylan’s ‘All Along the Watchtower’ which manages to tread the line between that version and Hendrix’ more extreme ride over the classic.
Going off stage twice its hard to work out what constitutes an encore but we close with a great version of one of The Baby’s best – ‘Back on My Feet Again’ a real classic rocker that has lost none of its appeal over the years. By this time of course the crowd is dancing and we’re treated to a cameo by support artist Sarah McLeod on what I still think is one of he best songs John never wrote (but sang of course) – The Baby’s ‘Isn’t It Time’.
The final word goes to a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ proving that Waite still has formidable rock pipes to go with the subtler notes. Interestingly Mr Plant the original vocalist is in town next week if you have a hance to grab a ticket you just may well see two of rock’s best within the space of days.
Throughout the band has been top of its game and they get their well-earned introductions in Waite’s inimitable style. For a Tuesday night out in Perth in a month where there have been so many international acts visiting our shores the smart money was spent here. I can’t imagine a better show than this all year.
