Live Review: Jimmy Barnes

When Jimmy Barnes entered the Entertainment Centre stage on Saturday night, it was obvious he intended to take the crowd to church (not hard, his former hometown is full of them). Opening with the soulful gospel numbers Is My Living In Vain and Wade In The Water, he whipped up some mid-winter spirit in the chilly crowd, seated in the Centre's theatrette.

Being the Flesh And Wood tour, most songs performed were from the 1993 album of the same name. With a backdrop of red velvet drapes — and a chandelier seemingly made from mattress springs — there was a vaguely cabaret air to the affair early on, with Barnsey often perched on a bar stool.

He let loose a few ripping yarns about drinking and fighting between tunes Guilty (originally performed with Joe Cocker) and Stone Cold (written with Cold Chisel band mate Don Walker). Punters lapped it up, while Barnes sipped an unidentified beverage from a stainless steel travel mug. It takes a brave soul to pull off that look at a rock show.

This tour is a family affair, with Barnes joined on stage by his wife Jane, daughters Elly-May and Eliza-Jane on backing vocals and his son Jackie on drums. This was nicely complemented by Barnes' chat about growing up in Glasgow, and later, the northern Adelaide suburb Elizabeth. It really brought home songs like I'd Die To Be With You Tonight and Largs Pier Hotel, the latter even featuring a guest appearance from an old local acquaintance.

For many, the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly hearing Flame Trees. The song's stomping-ground references really resonated with the hometown crowd, in a very Meta way. Even the Kiwi next to me shed a patriotic tear before interval. Comparatively, the second set felt a little deflated, but featured notable renditions of The Band's The Weight and the Cold Chisel deep cut Four Walls.

By the fifth song of the encore, which included mandatory bangers Working Class Man and Khe Sahn, we were wondering if he'd go or if he'd stay. Barnes has enviable stamina for a guy who's previously undergone open-heart surgery. Putting a ribbon on things with Love Me Tender, there was no doubt that, after all this time — over 40 years of performing, in fact — his voice is just the same: ravaged, ravenous and inimitable.