Live Review: Tex Perkins

Two Dark Horses rode into town on a subzero wind, lighting much needed fires in the hearts (and loins) of the lucky ladies of Perth. These untameable creatures, known as Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen filled the cavernous Charles Hotel with some of the best gravelly vocals and twanging guitar the states have to offer.    

Local bluesy beast Bret Mosley commanded the stage with his silent gaze, causing even the rowdiest of patron to submit before his fiery slap guitar and powerful vocals which soon pierced through the hush. Mosley’s stirring resonator guitar and incredible vocal range, accompanied by a storytelling flair, made for the perfect mix of imposing yet vulnerable. 

There were miniature trees named ‘Bruce’, raucous outbursts from the crowd, and of course one hell of a razor sharp wit to keep everyone on their toes. Anyone would think this was a young person’s game, but the permanently sprightly Tex Perkins made it look a breeze. Perkins dealt with the rowdiness like a pro, even throwing in the rather tongue in cheek number Hard For You, after several pointed quips went down exceedingly well with the loud yet hospitable crowd.   

Cautionary Tale and crowd favourite Fake That Emotion simmered down the mob - with their perfect harmonies and haunting resonator guitar scratchings, Perkins and Owen were certainly on a roll now. The more sombre atmosphere continued through the Wuthering Heights-inspired Kathleen, complete with audience participation and with Owen cleverly creating ‘sweet lazy rain’ drops on the keyboard. 

Following the fastest restring in the west - yes let’s hear a shout out to the roadies - the time had come for Beasts Of Bourbon classic Psycho, a bone chilling cover of a Leon Payne song made even creepier with an ad-libbed ending. 

After enjoying the humorousness of the Australian pronunciation of the word “can’t” before throwing himself into The Dark Horses song Can’t Say No, Perkins had well and truly riled the crowd back up again. But there was even more to come - finally just to “shut you fuckers up,” Perkins and Owen burst into The Cruel Sea classic Anybody But You. Facetiously faking “adjustments” whilst waiting for the mid-song silent interlude to finish, Tex certainly gave the crowd their money’s worth with his entertaining antics, while Owen absolutely wailed on guitar, clearly enjoying the high energy levels once again. Keeping up the energy til the final song Still the Same, Owen “...made it all spooky n shit,” piling on the reverb and sawing on the strings with his slide, the resulting sound like that of a rattlesnake.  

An unexpected, but well received choice of encore - Willie Nelson’s Take This Opportunity To Cry saw Owen leave the stage with as much humour and satire as when he’d arrived - while fake crying. And the crowd felt like shedding a tear or two.

Originally published in X-Press Magazine