“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine…” spoke Adalita with careful precision. This was after all, a cover of Patti Smith. The audience wanted her to take all the time she needed.
Adalita was joined by Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher and The Drones’ Gareth Liddiard for a start to finish tribute to Patti Smith’s debut album Horses. After announcing a single evening show, ticket sales were so popular that an earlier afternoon show was added. Despite the nocturnal activities of your average Patti Smith fan, a line of black clothed individuals stretched out of Melbourne Town Hall all the way to Little Collins Street at a quarter to five.
After a perfect rendition of Rowland S Howard’s Shivers at last year’s festival, Adalita’s Gloria/ In Excelsis Deo was a larger and more lavish performance. Thanks in part to the natural theatrics of the Town Hall and some choice lighting work, the punk heart of Smith’s work was given a little AC/DC hard rock style.
As the lights dipped darker between songs, Courtney Barnett emerged on stage almost undetected. The opening chords of Redondo Beach played just as the audience’s eyes adjusted to the dark, sending a collective spine tingle around the room. Known for her rambling performance style, Barnett’s earnestness helped with the pleading tone of the line “Are you gone, gone?”
Gareth Liddiard’s Birdland broke the string of relatively straight Smith impressions, but re-interpreting Smith was all part of the celebration. Heartfelt lyrics aside, getting to sing a Patti Smith song made the performers nothing but ecstatic and there was no hiding it. Liddiard still kept some anger and danger to his performance, and the respite was welcome.
That is, until Jen Cloher emerged on stage. If doing your best Patti Smith impression was the mission objective suggested to the artists, Cloher took that a step further and became Smith. Snarling, mean, Cloher near hissed Free Money at the audience who lapped it up.
BY HANNAH JOYNER
Photo by Tony Proudfoot
Loved: Courtney playing with her flannel like a feather boa.
Hated: The lack of instruments being destroyed.
Drank: Somebody’s sins, but not mine.
