Canberra Theatre Centre — Attraction in District of Canberra Central

Review - Eric Burdon & the Animals, Canberra Theatre, 13 May 2016

Dave's Review (some of which is very tongue in joking cheek!)

I hear concert and theatre performers putting on a show in Canberra have some trepidation about what they can expect from the audience. Staid, conservative sophistication, (whether it be true or not), can be a tough nut to crack. But Eric didn't need to worry about cracking nuts - the average age of this crowd was about 70 years of age. Wheels chairs and walking frames abounded - it was pro-lapse city. If Wally was a fossil he'd be easy to spot.

Of course I was nervous about the concert being interrupted by paramedics coming in to wheel out corpses, (as I had mentally tagged loads as, 'expiry imminent'). Luckily the 9 corpses taken out during the gig was done discreetly. Accompanying me was the youngest person in the crowd - I think she's 19 years of age. Anyway, Mary & I had a hoot kicking out walking canes to annoy some of the relics limping by.

Eric, who at 75 years of age is a corpse waiting to happen also, (and a keg-on-legs now), came out about 8.30 PM. He was joined by the Animals - 6 cool looking dudes who are now all under 40 years of age - I suspect a Vet must have put the original Animals down. Anyway, they were a tight, accomplished unit - saxophone, trombone, keyboards, percussion, bass & electric guitar.

Eric's lead singing was solid - he still has a very strong voice. He didn't really appear very comfortable though, like may be he was feeling a heart attack could take him away at any moment. He did manage a smile now and then. May be he's a hard task master - and busy internally assessing the band's chops? Still, the rest of the band seemed to be happy to be playing so many classic songs for us. It seemed clear that they were all very familiar with the material, loved it and were big fans. Their enthusiasm invigorated us.

Bless them, they conveyed the songs with earthy professionalism. The guitar work was faultless. Eric did Space Oddity in a tribute to David Bowie, and merged into it the Animals great 'Sky Pilot'. It was really well done. A major treat was a powerfully delivered 'House of the Rising Sun'. We were all keen for that one and were not left wanting.

Some other song highlights for me were: 'It's My Life', 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood', 'See See Rider', 'Monterey', & '27 Forever' - Eric's commentary on all the rock stars who died at 27 years of age (e.g. Hendrix, Cobain, Jones, Morrison & Joplin, etc). Let's face it, Eric has outlived David Bowie, Prince & Glen Frey this year - maybe they'd still be alive if they had taken the keg-on-legs approach?

At the end of the encore at 10.00 PM, the crowd were happy to give a standing ovation - a significant arthritic effort for most of them. Mary and I shoved our way out of the theatre happy with our pleasant dose of good old fashioned rock and roll.

DjMayhew,...

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