Cabaret Festival

Cabaret Festival Review: Tex Perkins And The Dark Horses

Tex Perkins is the jobbing musician’s jobbing musician. He is never not making music, and refuses to stay in any one mould

 

 
tex-perkins-900x600Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 11 June 2015

Tex Perkins is the jobbing musician’s jobbing musician. He is never not making music, and refuses to stay in any one mould. Surrounding himself with A list musicians in the Dark Horses, Perkins continues to write and perform some of the most honest and haunting songs in the Australian rock canon.

There is little point arguing about whether they are “cabaret” or not. The Dark Horses came. They played. They were fantastic. Six musicians, all working together with humour and respect, put aside ego and paid the music, and the audience, full respect.

This outfit delivers a country/blues/rock-ballad mulatto, underpinned by tight musicianship and driven by sharp lyrics.

Last night’s show was a mixture of old and new songs, including She Speaks a Different Language, Won’t Last Long and Tunnel at the End of the Light. Sadly, there was only one chance for Charlie Owen to pick up the lap-steel, and only one chance for Steve Hadley to do likewise with the double bass. It would have been nice to hear some more from those instruments. Gus Agars drove the rhythm section with subtle drumming, while Joel Silbersher and Murray Paterson gave great guitar. At many points in the show, there were four guitars happening at once. Again, the egos didn’t get in the way of some beautiful guitar dialogue.

Not renowned for covers, Perkins chose mid-show to do a cover of the old Racing Cars one-hit wonder, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? A great choice for the Dark Horses, and remarkably well-known to the audience, which was solid Gen X.

Main disappointment of the evening was having them perform in the Dunstan Playhouse. This is Tex Perkins.  The audience should be able to move; have another bourbon; get jiggy with the person next to them. Not sit there applauding politely.

If you miss him during the Cabaret Festival, Tex is back in Adelaide on August 22nd at The Gov, with One Velvet Evening: The songs of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood.

Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten

Rating (out of 5): 4

Venue: Dunstan Playhouse
Season: 10-11 June 2015
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: $39.90-$59.90
Bookings: Book online through www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au or phone BASS on 131 246

www.texperkins.com.au

 

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