‘Tommy’ – Iconic, dark, and an album that pushed boundaries and tackled topics we shouldn’t talk about. The Who created a monster in a masterpiece and the 1969 album left its mark on rock ‘n’ roll for ever. Roll forward fifty four years since its inception and Australian rock legends You Am I decided to take it out on the road nationally with a couple of special guests, The Superjesus’s Sarah McLeod & Jezabels front woman Hayley Mary.
Tonight is the final performance of the tour and a generous Perth crowd have come out to see ‘Tommy’ at the Astor Theatre. It’s an eclectic gathering; the older generation who would have been there when it was released, remembering the times, the music, the fashions… then there is the younger crowd. Those who’s parents & grandparents would have shared this musical legacy with.
Striding on to the stage all dressed in white, You Am I kick things off – this is going to be a long night as it is being played in it’s entirety, from start to finish (with a few classics thrown in at the end we are led to believe). Tim Rogers stands like a giant with acoustic in hand, flanked by You Am I cohorts Andy Kent (bass) and Davey Lane (guitar). We are taken on a trip through the life of Tommy Walker, and it is an emotional ride.
Sarah McLeod is made for these songs, with her anarchic, punk-like rock n’ roll approach, whirling and wheeling around the stage, climbing on the drum riser & amps and causing controlled mayhem, whilst belting out some of the better-known tracks from the release. Her Daltry-esque moves have her swinging her microphone high into the air and catching it before continuing on.
Special guest Hayley Mary has the tough job of singing some of the more emotionally challenging songs and she does this extremely well, whilst adding a bit of colour to the white-dressed band mates. Songs like ‘Cousin Kevin’, who sadistically tortures Tommy and ‘The Acid Queen’, who introduces Tommy to LSD, have Mary dressed in shades, reflecting the darkness and depravity that Tommy’s life has taken on. Rogers takes time between songs to talk to us about the story and the direction it takes, whilst engaging with the audience in his softly spoken way. ‘Underture’ takes us to the break – it’s instrumental, long and brilliant.
The second half builds as Hayley Mary introduces us to her ‘Uncle Ernie’ (‘Fiddle About) with Hayley in flat cap and long coat, flashing and fiddling in a deeply unsettling way. Her costumes & colour adds depth to the performance, and one that works well. ‘Pinball Wizard’ raises the roof with McLeod back up top, brimming with energy (hard to believe in less than 24hrs she will on stage in Sydney for the opening night of The Superjesus Tour). Drummer Russell Hopkinson was mesmerising with his awkward stick throwing… he must have lost around 30 drumsticks tonight, but his drum work was outstanding capturing the energy of the late, great Keith Moon.
‘I’m Free’ got some of the audience to their feet as we closed in toward the end, with ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ finishing Tommy and getting a standing ovation from many. But we weren’t finished yet as we were treated to a barrage of Who classic’s with McLeod & Mary re-joining You Am I to belt out ‘I Can’t Explain’, with Lane taking over the vocals. “We were sitting out the back earlier and wrote a load of new stuff,” Rgers informs us. “They may sound similar to songs by another bad you may know!” Yes, subtly familiar as ‘Substitute’, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ and ‘My Generation’ take the show to another level before we are treated to the wonderful ‘Baba O’Riley’, closing a memorable night of British rock history.
This was a night of celebration of a rock opera that some view at the jewel in The Who’s crown. The album, for me, drags. But performed like this I appreciated its brilliance a lot more and with Tim Rogers acting as story tell, it finally made sense. Bravo!
With thanks to Nicole at Revolutions Per Minute and to Live Nation for the media access
GALLERY by Mark Diggins
