There was no Wayne Burt, who “was not invited”, the fashions were no longer op-shop chic but High & Mighty and bank managers would have been salivating about the prospect of mortgage defaults given that the mortgage belt was out in force celebrating Step Lively. And surely Gary Young is more than an adequate sticksman without the need of a second drummer.
It was a sight to behold when the leprechaun like Camilleri took his spot behind the mic and was overshadowed by the hulking Wilbur Wilde to belt out So Young. Dynamic sure, but for many here youth was something their grandchildren had. And the underlying virtues of the song were just slightly creepy. But heck, if the song is given given the okay by Elvis Costello then it is okay by any measure. The haphazard nature of The Falcons demise was forgotten as the band performed many of their early standards. The Honeydripper or Crazy Mixed Up World, which was belted out by Power with style and drenched with the blues, to the expected Hit And Run and Shape I’m In. Expected yes, but no less memorable. And on the subject of suspect sentiments, there was The Girl Across The Street Just Turned 18. But then Camilleri once appeared in a poster giving the bird to the world, so singing worldly about birds is not a quantum leap.
Just how well Burstin, Faehse and Young played was almost obscene. All l Wanna Do remains remarkable and just cause why they released eight albums. Credit also rests on the band because they ignored the later, synthesiser atmospherics, in favour of stompers like Boogie In The Barn. And it was all about the boogie when it came to this audience. No manicured hairstyles or sounds, just excellent playing and strong tunes. With all the fashion cred of a mythical Ian Dury & The Blockheads gig at an RSL, The Falcons stand testament to the fact that even when pushing retirement age, some people are just born to rock. Keep a pushin’ and a runnin’…
Loved : John Power’s voice, Joe Camilleri… what’s not to love?
Hated : Feeling that a life insurance policy was the first thing to attend to on Monday
Drank : From the fountain of youth
