It was a smorgasbord of fresh Australian talent at The Forum. The venue was packed out with fans keen to celebrate the life so far of headliners Ball Park Music, and were also treated with support from up-and-coming acts Eagle and the Worm, and Jeremy Neale. A fantastic show of support for these first bands, the room was almost full from the start and the crowd was dancing along to Neale’s hits A Love Affair to Keep You There and In Stranger Times as well as the Eagle’s Give Me Time, all favourites from the radio play they’ve been receiving of late via triple j’s Unearthed.
Then it was onto ABBA – sorry, Ball Park Music. With the help of Abba. An entire song from Abba. At first, a little confusing but soon obvious to the tour’s Thank Ewes theme that Thank You For the Music would open their set. First song to welcome fans back to the BPM catalogue with that killer riff from Bad Taste Blues Pt. 2. Frontman Sam Cromack’s vocals were crisp and clean, to the point and on key. A fine example of musicianship.
Straight into song number two and it was another favourite, Surrender off 2012’s Museum album. A laidback, wistful track, it swept the audience back into the balmy nights of summer. It was either that or dance just a little harder on this slightly cool evening. And dance the next song promoted – dedicated specially to a fan called Cam, the track saw BPM get fresh and funky before dropping the Mmmbop bomb – yes, the Hanson one. An unusual choice, if you weren’t at all familiar with the fun-loving tomfoolery of BPM.
The hits kept coming with All I Want Is You, older track Happy Healthy Citizen of the Developed World Blues, a vulnerable and striking solo piano rendition of Coming Down, sing-a-long favourite Sad Rude Future Dude, feel-good crowd favourite It’s Nice To Be Alive and Fence Sitter.
There were a couple of newies thrown in for good measure – Teenager Pie or Don’t You Know That This Is Love and This Is All You Get (name TBC) and The Next Life Already” – and it felt like they could have played forever to this crowd. Behind Cromack, the rest of the band proved their worth with some awesome solos and stellar backing vocals from bassist Jennifer Boyce. The crowd felt the love and gave it right back – a suitable state of affairs of the “Thank Ewes” tour.
BY JEN WILSON
LOVED: Hit after hit after hit.
HATED: Remembering the words to Mmmbop.
DRANK: Wine.
