A standing ovation before they'd even opened their
mouths set the tone for the evening. It was touch and go if they'd squeeze any
tunes in between the applause.
But we soon settled down to a feast of hits, memories,
smiles and - let's face it - a concert to give goosebumps to anyone with a
heart.
If someone ever sang Morningtown Ride as a lullaby when
you were a babe in arms this Golden Jubilee event was an extension of that. It
was one huge hug of a show, with reassuring harmonies from the boys and a perky
vocal from singer Judith Durham.
Transporting us back to when every day was warm and
sunny, the Australians reeled off hits including Georgy Girl, I’ll Never Find
Another You, A World of our Own, and the wonderful Morningtown Ride.
We could
instantly feel the world becoming a safer, friendlier place once again as the
band reached out - no longer the innocents setting out on their long journey of
musical stardom but still retaining a freshness as their thoughts were set to
music.
Their upbeat
folky arrangements and melodies have not dated in those 50 years and the band are looking good. Athol
Guy on bass and Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley on guitars kept things moving
while Judith looks
to have made an amazing recovery from a brain aneurysm a year ago.
Her voice has not
suffered in the slightest and the evening was a genuinely uplifting experience.
Perhaps this reunion
tour was imply meant to be.
Genuinely warm towards their audience, it was something of a 60s
love-in – and with Judith, Bruce and Keith taking centre-stage for solo slots
giving
us the chance to
show our appreciation.
These guys have
sold 50 million records. On the strength of tonight’s show, it’s going to be a
whole lot more as we raid the back-catalogue.
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Nottingham is full of fun, according to the traditional football chant. It's full of a few other things, too, so while I welcome comments, don't bother adding anything that won't get published...