Friday night in Perth, I am heading to Lyric’s Underground – a venue in Maylands purposely built to entertain and to provide musical sanctuary for those wishing to accept it. The artist(s) in question is Vdelli, a three piece that has a ton of experience and an engagement factor that is second to none in live music. I had seen this group before “pre-covid” and was eager to see what they would be bringing to the stage prior to their massive 50+ gig tour in Europe in just a few of weeks.
I walk down the two flights of stairs and I am about to enter the main room, I can hear the distinct hum of punters already in the room talking, the nervous conservation laced with anticipation of when will this gig start – the normal chit chat that everyone does before seeing the set that they have waited so eagerly to see.
Tonight’s gig is a “sell out” – no surprise there…… Vdelli has a massive following here in Perth, Australia and all over the world and being before his first post covid European Tour punters wanted their fix before they left. I make my way from the back of the room to the front of the stage like a rogue “bumper car” nudging and bustling, trying to find space to exploit and get closer to where the action will be. I have shot so many gigs in the last few years so my skills of “spacial navigation” where on point and likened to a “cave diver” looking for a crevice to temporarily inhabit.
The house music drops, the lights illuminate the stage – like moths to a flame, the punters move in, attracted to what is about to happen. Michael Vdelli (lead vocal and guitar), Ric Whittle (drums) and Leigh Miller (bass) saunter onto the stage and assume their positions to the applause of the crowd – they are relaxed but ready to go!. They open up gently with “Soon As I Get Paid”, a cheeky song from one of his earlier albums back in 2010. The crowd reacts to the song choice with a gusto and a reaffirmation that they are in safe hands for this lyrical adventure and there are smiles all round.
It is a massive adventure over the night, three sets spanning from earlier works to some great new music (written during covid times). Every now and then they slip in a cheeky cover like another cherry on top of the “cherry covered sundae” to get the crowd guessing as to what is going to happen next. There was some great interaction with the crowd with conversations and stories that almost felt personal like having a chat at a dining room table with a few hundred other people waiting to be seated. It was a great calculated balance of story telling and music to carefully hide the numerous guitar swaps and allowing the band to grab a “sneaky” gig time beverage. You could see that all three had walked this path before and had it down pat.
Ric on drums is something to behold – I have never seen a drummer play with so much intent but look so relaxed. I swear I thought I saw him a few times playing with his eyes closed almost feeling the skins like a “jedi”. He did not miss a beat, controlling the tempo from start to finish and feeding off the energy of the room. It takes years to get to that level – something I will personally never attest to but I was extremely glad to be there to capture it.
I feel sometimes that the “bass” can be almost under appreciated at some gigs – this was not the case at this gig! I can say that Leigh made that instrument dance, there was one particular song in the night (please excuse me as I could not remember it by name as I was just awe struck) when Leigh played virtually solo for at least a minute and a half – for me time stood still. His baseline wandered throughout the set and was an intricate piece to the puzzle that everyone was putting together.
Michael with his cheeky banter, engages the crowd with his ability to sing, play those strings and play the crowd. So humble in his approach he treated every single person in Lyrics like they were his personally invited guest. He was excited and nervous all at the same time, but it never showed once in his delivery. I would have to say that he would have to be up there with one of the best guitarist I have every seen live in my life – I know it is a big call but you need to see them, then you will understand.
Highlights for the night for me must be “Going to hard” (for too long) – one of my personal favourite Vdelli tracks, “Could be good” – another cracker from Vdelli, “Downtown” one of the new ones from Vdelli and all three band members coming into the crowd after the gig to chat with the punters – very cool.
Plus the few sneaky covers slipped in from Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison. All in all an amazing gig, make sure you catch them live in Australia before they hit Europe in September through to October (dates are on their website). You can grab their latest offering on Vinyl, it will not disappoint. Europe is in for a treat but just remember we want him back when they are finished – their ours!
Check them out you will be better for it!
GALLERY by Hunter Brothers Media
