Dave McCormack / Gentle Ben / The Imperials Live Review
In a review published a couple of weeks back (possibly
written by some hack who’s too fond of bracketed comments),
Mr McCormack was lauded as one of Australia’s greatest
singer songwriter types. His brilliant live performances
were neglected their rightful dues.
The Imperials’ first gig got the night started. Lead by
former Custaro Youth Orchestra member Paul Medew, the band
also features Tim Campbell from Mrs Pinkwhistle on bass and
a drummer whose name I missed but who made the other two
nervous by running late. Campbell, smartarse that he is,
sported a t-shirt with “Paul Medew and the Custardroids”
written over a picture of the Titanic.
Next up were the interestingly titled Gentle Ben and His
Sensitive Side. These guys kick some serious arse. With Ben
Corbett (no relation, dangnammit) from Six Ft Hick on vocals
and general dead sexy lead man duties, the crowd was theirs
in a moment. Corbett, sporting a pencil moustache and
jumping between English and a bit of Spanish, looked like a
mix of Hugh Jackman and Richard Fidler being invaded by the
spirit of Mike Patton (get your mind’s eye wrapped around
that, ladies). All swagger, gyration and booming voice, it’s
tempting to say he’s the really Australian Nick Cave…. His
Sensitive Side also features Polaroid Dylan McCormack.
The mood was set, and The Polaroids took to the stage. David
McCormack was forced to call upon all his charm and wit just
to wake the ladies out of a post-Ben daze. Bringing out an
old Custard song early in the piece did the trick, as did
newbie Hypnotist of Lady. Cameron Bruce’s keyboard work did
its part too.
Most of the set list came from the album being launched, The
Truth About Love. Tracks from the first Polaroids album were
sadly few and far between, but the McCormack back catalogue
got a decent look in. The near-obligatory cover of Your
Woman (wonder if White Town know this song doesn’t belong to
them anymore?) got some very special synchronised guitar
work and even morphed into Eye Of The Tiger for a while.
The gig looked set to finish with The Titanics’ Millionaire
Adventurer Balloonist, until a last minute decision brought
Gentle Ben back to the stage to take vocals on a very rockin’
cover of I’m Bored. This is why we love live music.
DANIEL CORBETT