Talking to James Morley before the show we reckoned it was 13 years ago that we saw the first Bon But Not Forgotten show in Perth, a couple of years after the Rockpit was launched, and we’ve not missed a show since. Tonight sadly saw the second last Perth date we will see as rising costs make it prohibitive to bring the show West again. It’s a sad day therefore down at The Ravo, but also a glorious celebration of the great man Bon Scott, without whom none of us would be here battling a cold Perth night by the River.
Tonight there’s a real feeling of anticipation in the air, and the beers are flowing! Bon’s birthday is of course on Tuesday 9th July so we got in a few days early to celebrate what would have been his 78th. With his band AC/DC playing Wembley the other side of the world tomorrow night, and Bon But Not Forgotten playing the iconic Charles Hotel in Perth it’s a real weekend of celebration. The crowd tonight at The Ravo is as raucous as ever and it’s great to see the room full of 18-80 year olds!
Tonight a real treat for punters is three visitors from Omaha Nebraska, in the shape of The Midnight Devils as the opening act. If ever you want to see a band that knows how to entertain and get the crowd on their side then these guys could give a masterclass. There’s so much energy as the band explode onto the stage and no warming up – these guys have great chops, charisma by the bucketload and are brimming with the kind of enthusiasm that is infectious. Playing a mixture of originals songs and setting up set pieces like their version of ‘Panama’ they are a force to be reckoned with and by two songs in they have enticed the crowd to the edge of the stage: no mean feat at the Ravo for a support act.
Midnight Devils also have a new album to launch tonight (their fourth) ‘So Hard It Hurts’ and we get a snip from that tonight as well as classics like ‘Highway 69’ and ‘Get Laid’, With a headliners set, and a good number of teh crowd wearing their green glowing devil horns, there’s fake dollar bills thrown into the crowd, Paul Stanley-banter and a final song seeing Sam play from the middle of the crowd, it’s a real Rock and Roll show that ends in a flood of pink balloons. If you love a high energy show that’s a mix of Kiss, Poison and New York Dolls then you have to get there early.
The anticipation for Bon But Not Forgotten, the celebration of Bon Scott’s birthday that visits every year is off the charts, and the turnout is great leaving no front of stage space unfilled, and no beer undrunk in the interval . Its also great to see both young and old here to celebrate the music of AC/DC and the legacy of Bon Scott.
This year James Morley has, I think, put together possibly the finest set of musicians to play these shows. With the ever-present Skenie taking vocals for the first few songs, there couldn’t be a better fit for a Bon Scott show surely? The man, a legend in his own right was made to sing these songs, and everyone here tonight knows it. Backed with the incendiary guitar of Rohan Moran taking Angus lead, James Morley playing Malcolm’s chords and bassist AJ and drummer Greg Aldridge laying the rock solid foundations, this is as close as you get to the raw power and legendary sound of the original line-up.
One thing you don’t need to do with AC/DC’s catalogue of course is to warm up the crowd because from that very first chord they are with you. And tonight there’s so much love in the room, so much singing and so much fist pumping it feels like the celebration is was designed to be. The trump card though just might be when Cynthia Gallie takes the stage for ‘Bad Boy Boogie’ , ‘Jailbreak’ and ‘Back in Black’ – man she’s got some pipes and the combination of her and Skenie are perfect.
It’s a great setlist that I won’t ruin for you, but let’s just say it has it all including some numbers from Back in Black that may have seen the hand of Bon in them. Highlights for me were too many to mention but I loved and always have loved ‘Downpayment Blues’ whilst ‘High Voltage’ lifts the roof and ‘If You Want Blood’ sees Skenie and Cynthis trade verses as they do to close with ‘Let There Be Rock’.
We close with a couple of slices of Rock and Roll heaven in the form of ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ and of course ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ and at the end of the show there’s only one question to ask “Have you no homes to go to?” If this and tomorrow night’s show at The Charles are the last ‘Bon’ shows we see in Perth then we just might have seen the best. Over the years I’ve totted up seeing 17 AC/DC cover bands from the terrible to the spectacular. I honestly think of them all these guys have put on the very best I’ve seen. And of all the years I’ve seen this show I think tonight was the most entertaining.
Don’t miss a chance to catch the show when it hits a venue in your City.
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