Cold Chisel

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 8

Cold Chisel

Cold Chisel, at the Christchurch Town Hall auditorium last evening. Reviewed by Nevin Topp. “It’s hard to be humble when you’re Australian,” was the punchline of a cartoon: about the present America’s Cup yachting series in the “Australian” newspaper last Saturday. The same would apply to Cold Chisel, which provided such irresistible musical energy and visual excitement that it was hardly the same group that played here more than a year ago. ■ ' The early part of the concert appeared . > quite tame compared with what happened later. Billed as “The Last Stand,” because, after a decade, the band is quitting, the approach to last evening’s concert was totally different. The sound better.. and the band - more relaxed . " - through th£-j

motions.” This time the rhythm and blues background to many of Cold Chisel’s songs stood out, whereas in last year’s show there was no chance of hearing that because the sound was formless. But it was more what happened off-stage than onstage that made the concert a success. The lead singer, Jim Barnes, was upset that people in the upstairs auditorium were not allowed to dance and he persuaded one person from upstairs on stage to dance. A fight also broke out on the floor of the auditorium, ironically during the song, “It’s Only Make Believe,” and the audience almost unanimously applauded Barnes's condemnation of the contenders. But the show really began to swing literally when Barnes first hoisted himself .Off-stage on' to the auditorium floor during" Don’t Let

Go,” then clambered up the speakers and on to the upstairs seating and exhorted everyone in this section to get up and dance. They did. To cap it off Barnes threw out a few cans of Fosters beer, followed by the water and ice from the bucket, which had contained the cans, followed by the bucket, and then, somewhat dangerously, a microphone stand.

This time around the solid sound of Chisel was much better, old favourites like “Star Hotel,” got the treatment, although the material from the unreleased new album was not striking. Barnes was as energetic, as ever, but lan Moss was much more restrained on lead guitar, and the drummer, Steve Prestwitch, was excellent. In the row behind me a through it all.