The Animals wound up the WA part of their ‘Greatest Hits’ tour on consecutive nights at Mojos in Freo on the 2nd November and on the 3rd at the Rosemount Hotel. It goes without saying that it’s a show not to be missed and after a 3 year covid absence they were their usual excellent selves and shame on you if you didn’t make it. For those not in the know John Steel, one of the bands founder members plays drums, Danny Handley is on guitar and vocals, Roberto Ruiz bass and vocals and the replacement for Mick Gallagher on keyboards being Barney Williams who plays in a more ‘honky tonk’ style very well suited to some of the Animals tracks.
At Mojos apart from the hits we also got ‘Outcast’ the ‘b’ side of ‘Inside Looking Out’ and an explanation from John about the way HOTRS was recorded and how in the middle of the night they went to a little single track basement in Holborn, London, and quote ‘put the kit together. Played a few bars. Played it once. Once only’ He later wrote to his wife saying ‘…..and we went into the studio and did something and we did ‘Rising Sun’ and we did it in one take’. Brilliant. For reference Mojos is also a great little venue if you want to get up close and personal.
And so on to the Rosemount where ‘It’s my Life’ was an excellent start and then a personal favourite Jimmy Reeds ‘Bright Lights Big City’ which gave us a taste of how well Barney‘s keyboard style adds to the band with an extended organ break. Ray Charles ‘I Believe To My Soul’ followed and then ‘I’m Crying’.
Danny then let Barney take the vocals on ‘I’m Gonna Change The World’ with a brilliant boogie woogie style extended break and then Danny, not to be outdone, did a great guitar break as well and the number then going in to ‘Red Dress Baby/ HiHeel Sneakers / Big BossMan’.
Danny then decided there should be audience participation with ‘Bring It On Home To Me’ with which we duly obliged. It was then good to hear one of their lesser hits ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ before Danny again got the audience to ‘assist’ with ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’. ‘Hey Bo Diddley’ followed and then another personal favourite ‘Inside Looking Out’ again showcasing both Barney and Danny’s excellent musicianship. The same from both was again highlighted in extended solo breaks during ‘Night Time Is The Right Time’ with the assembled motley ‘choir’ giving it their all in all three words of ‘night and day’ !!!!!
And so to the penultimate ‘We‘ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place’ which saw the band leave briefly for a finale with the track that remains one of the all time great singles ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’. No request for assistance here though from Danny this time and what another excellent job we all did as the animalistic choir!!! How can you not sing along to it anyway!!!
A mention here to the excellence of Roberto on bass and back up vocals, as well as the man who helped set the Animals on their way in 1963 having morphed from previous years through from The Pagans and the Kansas City 5 (and even 7 or 9 on occasions), Mr. Cool Dude John Steel one of the most affable and down to earth guys your ever likely to meet who at 81 is as enthusiastic today about ‘his’ band as he ever was in the early years.
Will they be back? Well yes hopefully in 2023 so be sure not to miss out on one of the best music nights out you could ever wish for.
