The mythical Zimmer frames were placed in an orderly fashion as an abundant audience shuffled into the Melbourne Zoo to relive memories of a misspent youth at Bombay Rock, Bananas or The Venue.
The Sports were tasked with warming up the crowd in the warm conditions. Unfortunately Stephen Cummings was battling an ailing voice. Original Sportsmen Martin Armiger and Andrew Pendlebury were joined by similar veterans, Models’ Mark Ferrie and Mondo Rocker’s James Black to flesh out the sound. Despite the vocal issues, they battled manfully through a strong set featuring Boys (What Did The Detectives Say), Suspicious Minds and Strangers On A Train. Who Listens To The Radio was a highlight and exemplified that runs cannot be taken off the board of feisty rockers who know their chops.
The average age of the audience was approaching pensions but this didn’t unnerve their desire to boogie. As the full-bodied Joe Camilleri and Wilbur Wilde led out The Falcons with Jeff Burstin and John Power in tow, it seemed like a bipartite desire to please was commenced. Duelling horns, splashes of good rhythm and blues and some old school boogie enthralled the patrons. Urging the audience to get up from their blankets and give their feet a go,The Falcons ripped through the likes of The Honeydripper, So Young, Hit And Run, Shape I’m In, Security and Dancing Shoes. The latter may not be correct to describe some of the less than coordinated moves on show, but everyone left a considerable dose of ennui at the gates of the Zoo. The individual tracks throughout the concert were engaging but the show didn’t seem cohesive as things seemed to resemble a loose jam threatening to reach a climax of cataclysmic proportions. Sadly, it did not.
The Falcons no longer appear to be as weird as they did in the ‘70s as their arcane musings sound distinctly fresh in the current climate. The songs definitely found a resonance with the audience while avoiding a backlash from the puritanical style police. They stomped and squawked along with breezy abandon to the great delight of those present. Perhaps not a gig for the ages but an enjoyable jaunt to yesterday’s heroes, who still pack a punch despite the paunch.
Words by Bronius Zumeris
Image by Ian Laidlaw
Highlight: Boogying like it’s 1978.
Lowlight: As above.
Crowd Favourite: The trip down memory lane.
