I have mentioned in a previous review for Killing Heidi just how special the Twilight at Taronga concert experience is. With its incredible view of Sydney Harbour just adding to what is a unique and unparalleled concert going experience.
As twilight kicks in the stage lights dim to create a beautiful glow. The harbour lights up in the background and I think to myself how lucky those of us in attendance tonight are as we get to witness not only the spectacular view but have The Living End perform for us. Sharing the stage with them is the legendary Jimmy Barnes, this shall be a night to remember.
The Living End take to the stage but this will be no ordinary start to a Living End concert as they have with them a string quartet and Chris has brought out his acoustic. The opening track is Moment In The Sun. Following that, there was no time wasted waiting for tonights special guest to join them as Jimmy steps on stage to perform a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revivals’ Lookin’ out My Back Door. This wouldn’t be the only cover song we get tonight as The Living End delivered a superb rendition of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby accompanied by the string quartet. Also in the first part of the set they performed Raise the Alarm and West End Riot and Chris and Scott showcased their instrumental skills with E-Boogie.
I really enjoyed the first part of the set, hearing the stripped back versions of their songs really shows what accomplished musicians The Living End really are. I have always known they were awesome, but tonight I think they stepped it up a notch and gave us something really special and very unique.
It was time to get down to business and bring out the heavy artillery and really electrify the crowd in typical Living End fashion. They come out with guns blazing opening up with new track Monkey, from then on its hit after hit with tracks like Second Solution, Staring Down The Barrel, Roll On and All Torn Down.
When tonights special guest Jimmy Barnes returns to the stage we are treated to four tracks back to back of Barnesy and The Living End goodness. First up its the Barnesy classic Lay Down Your Guns and then the Living Ends’ How Do We Know, followed by another cover. This time its the rockabilly classic by Bill Haley and His Comets, Rock The Joint, and they finish the joint set off with Cold Chisels’ Rising Sun. The songs they sung together were a perfect fit for each other with Jimmy’s belting vocals and Chris’s guitar skills you could tell these guys were having fun and one day I hope we see more of this kind of concert sets.
Tonight’s weather wasn’t so great but that didn’t stop anyone from having a rocking good time as the ever faithful would gather down the front of stage and we would all press on. If the wind picked up we picked up, the rain may have came and went but we stayed, families on picnic blankets and overly loved up couples acting like its mating season were all enjoying themselves as the set list came to a close. First with White Noise and then ending it with Prisoner Of Society, you could just sense that no-one really wanted to leave and that just reaffirmed what I already knew. One, The Living End are an awesome band and two, there is something really special about a Twilight At Taronga concert. You never want it to end and it truly is a great way to get outdoors and experience live music.
Review – Chad
Photo Gallery – Christian Ross