There’s the well-worn joke that Nostalgia’s not what it used to be but don’t you believe it as it arrived in Perth by the bucket load at the Charles Hotel on Sunday night when the Pretty Things finally arrived in Town. It may have been 55 years late but boy did they do their best to make up for lost time and we journeyed seamlessly (apart from Dick tailors broken string after show us what Australia missed.
We got a tour de force of a one and a half hour musical journey which never let up in its excellence from the opening ‘Mr Evasion’ through to ‘Roadrunner” as the last number of 21 if my counting is accurate and including a first on the Australian Tour of ‘Judgement Day’. In between all the hits and more we were frequently reminded of the extreme talent that exists in the band of today. Dick Taylor at the tender age of 75 is the motoring equivalent of the finest Rolls Royce.
Phil May’ at a mere 2 years younger cuts it as he ever did with a voice that appears effortlessly to switch from R and B to soothing Psychedelia and all the way back again. Add to them Frank Holland who I have to mention played a brilliant harp part in Blues for Robert Johnson, George Woosey who any band would relish the thought of him playing for them and then Jack Greenwood who in the ‘Mona” medley played one of the best drum solos anyone is ever likely to hear- just the right length but showing the full range of his drumming talent –without ever edging on the verge of excess as some drummers are frequently inclined to do !
They all proved that whatever their age or degree of fame each have had in their musical career they gel together perfectly and you will be hard pressed to find a more talented, exciting and nostalgic group anywhere in whichever hemisphere you care to inhabit and catch your music in.
The best advice I can give to anyone is if you are anywhere near the O2 in London on the 13th December is to beg, buy(if you still can) or steal a ticket to see them give their final electric performance. There’s also the added bonus of appearances by long-time friends Van Morrison and Dave Gilmour.
Just a final note to thank the Charles Hotel. It’s a great, friendly and acoustically pleasing venue and well worth a visit if you’ve never been before.
Set list: Mr.Evasion | Honey I need | Mama keep your big mouth shut | Big Boss Man | Alexander | The same Sun | Judgement Day (first time on tour) | SF Sorrow is born | She Says Good Morning | I See You | I Can’t be Satisfied | Blues for Robert Johnson | You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover | Come See Me | Don’t Bring Me Down | Medley -Mona, Pretty Thing, Who do you Love, I Wish you Would – Drum Solo – Mona | Midnight to Six | LSD
Encore: Rosalyn | Roadrunner
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Linda Dunjey Photography
