It has been a while since Del Amitri last graced our shores, but we’ll let Justin address that a little later. Tonight in Perth at the first of two shows in the West, the audience was treated to witness a band that has lost nothing over the decades, but rather gained an awful lot sonically. Perth laid on a very partisan crowd by way of reception, and the Scotts in attendance got more than a taste of home, they got a musical treat that spanned a 5 decade career. The band too was on fire with Kris Dollimore (ex-Godfathers) and Iain Harvie laying down some fiery guitars whilst Justin and new drummer Jim McDermott hold down the backline, leaving the wonderful Andy Alston to weave his magic with keys and squeezebox.
Tonight’s support comes from local Perth act Vancool who have grown again in stature since we last saw them as support for UK legends The Animals. They do a great job of warming up the crowd and Dion and Co’s slick brand of guitar fueled Garage Pop goes down a treat early doors. They seem genuinely pleased to be on the famous Astor stage a put on a great show.
Some bands just have the ability to transport you back in time and it’s been three and a bit decades since I last saw Del Amitri way back in 1989 and 33 years since they last ventured Downunder. Some bands age well and these guys, well let’s just say musically Dorian Grey has nothing on them. And from the off they have the crowd – opening with the evergreen ‘When You Were Young’ from the ‘Change Everything’ album they know how to work a room, and whilst Justin remains largely quiet between songs at the start of the night he is soon regaling us with his understated wit and charm.
Early on though we’re reminded that the new material is just as compelling as the old when ‘Musicians and Beer’ surfaces from 2021’s ‘Fatal Mistakes’ which opens drenched with feedback and some tasty guitar. They immediately double down after the warm reception with another from the latest ‘All Hail Blind Love’ which has an almost early Eagles meets The Beatles vibe.
In a beautifully paced set Justin’s sweet vocal comes to the fore on ‘Always the Last to Know’ before the wonderful melodies that really stand out tonight elevate ‘Not Where It’s At.’ The biggest applause so far though comes with the opening chords of ‘Waking Hours’ ‘Kiss This Thing Goodbye’ which sees some in the all seated audience get to their feet for the first time. The low key ‘Close Your Eyes and Think of England’ underlines a band not afraid to play the new and reveals that at least half of us present own that 2021 release. Justin quips “It’s another new one, feel free to go to the bar” but no one takes up the offer! It’s my favourite from the new record next, and when the ‘Rag’ as Justin describes it, of the folky ‘Mockingbird, Copy Me Now’ rings out you know the crowd feel they’ve already had their money’s worth.
