Presented by: Frontier Touring
Reviewed: 4 October, 2022
When you’ve been playing together as a band for 25 years, you tend to get pretty good at it. On 4 October, Eskimo Joe proved that they are the epitome of this. To an almost capacity-filled Thebarton Theatre, they showed exactly why they are one of the most beloved and endearing Australian rock bands of the last two decades.
First though, their support act, Adalita (lead singer of Magic Dirt). Quite obviously playing to a crowd who weren’t largely familiar with her solo work, she quickly had them on side with her use and mix of quiet and loud intensity. I’m sure we’ll all come to know Adalita as a solo artist much better in the coming years.
Back to Eskimo Joe, it could have been considered a bold choice to play two of their albums in full in a concert setting. However, the Thebby was full of Eskimo Joe fans who knew nearly every word to every song from their Black Fingernails Red Wine and A Song Is A City album releases. The fans got what they came for, and the band loved giving it to them.
Not surprisingly though, it was their big hits From The Sea, Sarah, and Black Fingernails Red Wine that really got the crowd going. An excellent front-man with a great presence and an even better voice, Satyam Kavyen Temperley let us see that he is an excellent storyteller too. His stories wove the album songs together in a way that was interesting for fans and non-fans alike.
Eskimo Joe has a sound that is all their own. They don’t sound like anyone else, and no-one sounds like them. They know how to put on a great show, and their fans are loyal and dedicated. With two shows left, and their final show being in their hometown of Fremantle, this tour will be finishing up strong.
Reviewed by: Doug Phillips
Photo Credit: Caroline Tan
Venue: The Thebarton Theatre
Season: ended
