Cold Chisel Live: Five Biggest Takeaways From the Band’s Melbourne Show
Ahead of their headline performance at the 2024 VAILO Adelaide 500, we caught Cold Chisel live in Melbourne at Flemington Racecourse on Friday, October 25 as part of their The Big Five-0 Australian tour. Here are our five biggest takeaways from their epic two-hour performance under the big top.
Image by coldchisel.com
1. Barnesy’s Still Got It
It’s been a tough couple of years health-wise for Cold Chisel talisman Jimmy Barnes. Last year bacterial pneumonia knocked him for six, forcing him to undergo open heart surgery. This year he suffered a hip injury requiring more surgery and six weeks of physical therapy.
Many fans wondered whether Chisel’s hotly anticipated 50th anniversary tour would even go ahead. Not Barnesy though. Adhering to doctor’s orders, the grizzled frontman rested and rehabbed to make sure he was fighting fit for The Big Five-0 tour.
On stage for almost two hours, Barnesy ripped through the hits like a man possessed during Chisel’s first Melbourne performance under the big top at Flemington Racecourse. The hair might be greyer and his movements a little slower, but there is no doubt Barnesy still has the fire inside him.
His trademark scream was in full effect throughout the night, reverberating around the big top like a shotgun during renditions of ‘Merry-Go-Round’ and ‘Shipping Steel’. It’s fair to say few possess a scream like Jimmy, and despite looking like he might pop a blood vessel several times throughout the night, the rock icon delivered a vocal masterclass in melodic screaming that whipped the audience into a frenzy. A true man of the people.
2. Chisel have Hits for Days
Common knowledge, sure, but it’s not until you catch Chisel live that you truly appreciate just how many top-notch tunes they have in their arsenal. From the opening guitar lick of ‘Standing On The Outside’ to the joyful pop twang of ‘My Baby’, Chisel’s setlist was chock full of Aussie anthems you’ll hear daily on Triple M.
A few deeper cuts like ‘Plaza’ and ‘One Long Day’ also got a look in, but it was the Chisel staples that had the beer and Jim Beam-guzzling fans in full voice. ‘Choir Girl’ had the couple standing in front of me, who looked barely old enough to be at the gig, singing arm in arm. ‘Breakfast At Sweethearts’ highlighted the chemistry between Barnesy and Ian Moss. A group of bearded blokes fist-pumped the air during ‘You Got Nothing I Want’. At times the punters in attendance were louder than the band themselves, belting out the lyrics as Jimmy watched on in awe with a smirk on his weathered face.
The crowd really got their money’s worth during the final stanza of the main set when Chisel launched into the triple threat attack of ‘Flame Trees’, ‘Khe Sanh’ and ‘Bow River’. Arguably the band’s three most well-known tunes, the bogan-heavy crowd lost their collective shit. Beer was spilled, grown men hugged and this writer even lost his voice. Good times all round.
3. Mossy Loves a Solo
If Barnesy is the fire and brimstone of Chisel’s sound, Ian Moss is the soft and caring underbelly, his warm vocals a welcome contrast to Jimmy’s guttural screams. Not only does he provide a great juxtaposition to Barnes, but Moss’ finger plucking is on another level. An accomplished guitarist in his own right, Mossy really let loose throughout the gig, knocking out solos like they were going out of fashion.
He went to town during the aforementioned ‘Flame Trees’ and ‘Bow River’, while his solo during ‘Forever Now’ was a joy to behold. Rocking back and forth in front of his mic stand, shirt open and sweat dripping from his curly mop, Mossy put on a show within the show.
Even Barnesy was impressed, occasionally strolling over to Moss mid-solo and resting his arm on the guitarist's shoulder, marvelling at his intricate fingerwork. It was like watching a master a work.
4. Strange Choice of Encore
After finishing their set with the holy trinity of Chisel tunes, the band returned for a rather subdued three-song encore. There were no complaints about their first choice, ‘Saturday Night’, a delightful ode to late nights and new beginnings, but the following two tracks were questionable.
‘You’ve Got To Move’, Chisel’s new recording taken from their 50 Years – The Best Of compilation is decent but didn’t really move the needle. The crowd were half interested, with only the die-hard Chisel fans grooving along. They followed with another so-so tune, ‘Houndog’ from Circus Animals. It’s a song that often finds its way into Chisel setlists, but is one of those tunes you want to hear mid-set so you can take a piss break or grab another tin, not for an encore building towards a rapturous climax.
Looking at the setlists from across the tour, the first encore has differed with each show, so there’s a good chance Chisel will whip out a few more crowd pleasers when they hit Adelaide, especially as it’s their homecoming show.
5. ‘Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)’ Is the Perfect Closer
Taken from Chisel’s sophomore album Breakfast At Sweethearts, ‘Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)’ was written as a barnstorming closer for the band’s live sets. A fast and frenetic blitz of pub rock incorporating the harmonica and saxophone, ‘Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)’ brings the crowd together as one and gets fans singing along like it’s the last time they’ll ever see the band, which is understandable considering the sporadic nature of Chisel tours these days.
Written about a man leaving his wife, the song didn’t bother the charts when released in 1978. It wasn’t until Chisel began using it as a finisher during gigs in the 80s that audiences reacted, with ‘Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)’ fast becoming a fan favourite. It acts as a wonderful tribute to the band and their fans, with the “Goodbye, goodbye / I won't be comin' back for long” refrain a fitting way to bring Chisel’s incredible Melbourne gig to a close.
Catch Cold Chisel live at the 2024 VAILO Adelaide 500 After Race Concert on Sunday, November 17. Tickets still available via Ticketmaster.
