This is my third Go-Betweens gig. I've seen them touring their last three albums - a tired end-of-the-road band plugging 16 Lover's Lane (though don't get me wrong, they were still very good); a slightly phased reunion playing everything you hoped for in 2000; and this, the Bright Yellow Bright Orange tour. I missed them once too - when Spring Hill Fair came out and there was kudos in already knowing the score - I won't be letting that happen again.
When Robert and Grant played three years ago, it was fantastic. Rachel Worth isn't one of their 80's albums, but it still finds its way to my CD player often. The set was sensitive to the fan base - plenty of new songs, but there was Cattle & Cane, Part Company, Bachelor Kisses, most anything you could think of, all worked out for that lineup. I wasn't sure what to expect this time - a greatest hits would be too crass; also, the good reviews Bright Yellow Bright Orange has received seemed to be from Travis fans - people extolling the virtues of great songwriting within a rock lineage, rather than fun and mystery.
But what I forgot (even though I was anticipating it) is what it is like to be in the same room as Robert Forster. He looks searchingly into the audience, he wants you to listen and be included. He's singing to you - or checking you're listening to Grant. Sometimes on record, you can be forgiven for thinking Grant makes more stuff happen, but that's a mistake. The two have a chemistry so clearly made from their friendship, and Robert happens to be the focus for what they do live.
Tonight the songs mainly come from Rachel W and Bright Yellow. They dip into 16 Lovers Lane as well, and cherry pick from Tallulah and Liberty Belle, but the new songs get the attention, giving you the feeling that these people are in it for the long haul again. I doubt there'll be a Streets Of Your Town type lunge for the charts ever again, but there is the intent to make something of it - we are informed the new single (was it Caroline?) will hit the charts at no. 7...!
The musical focus - normally on Grant, is today on Robert. It's hard to tell if this is wholly deliberate - Grant is playing an acoustic that the sound guys aren't getting high enough in the mix. Robert is playing his guitar in a James Kirk style, chiming, bright and adding something great to his solos by being loose and not always note-correct. The bass player is the same as last time they played - she's really into it and it's disappointing that her vocals aren't mixed loud enough. The drumer is good (both the hired hands were introduced, so I apologise for not remembering their names), but behaves like a wayward nephew some of the time - however he also adds backing vocals, and this makes for a good sound.
All the good new songs are here - Mrs Morgan, Caroline, Old Mexico, Make Her Day - to be honest, I'm not sure there's a bad one (though I'm not sure about Too Much Of One Thing). The Rachel Worth songs grow in stature - it seems Surfing Magazines is destined to become a sing-along favourite (and why not!). The lineup also suits the 16 Lovers Lane and Liberty Belle songs.
Tallulah seems to be seen as the weak album in the Go-Betweens' catalogue (everyone discounts Lullaby - but there are five or six brilliant songs on that album, so it's a mystery to me why!), it could be my favourite (I alternate it with Hollywood) - so I am extremely pleased that Right Here and especially Bye Bye Pride are so well received. Some of the loudest cheers (and singing) greet Bye Bye Pride - it seemed to me there were women in the audience singing Amanda Brown's parts. Even without the embellishments it has on record, it is a fine song.
So that's it... Alan was right, there were too many encores, the band should just have continued to play. But they were great, and I hope they continue forging ahead with the new stuff.
Neal - 2/05/03