29 November 2024 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi – pictures by Nino Lo Giudice
The Church played a brilliant show at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall as they brought their Already Yesterday Tour with a career-spanning 28 song setlist to their fans. The Church were going to deliver as Steve Kilbey put it an: “artery clogging evening of nostalgia. That’s three hours of music and songs – Are you ready?” And we were ready and they did it. And, it was stupendous.
But it wasn’t all nostalgia, as earlier this year, The Church released their 25th studio album, Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars and the band are as vital as ever with their new music. At this point in time, The Church comprises of: Steve Kilbey (bass and lead vocals), Tim Powles (percussion and keyboards), Ian Haug (guitar), Jeffrey Cain (guitar, bass and keyboards), Ashley Naylor (guitar) and Nicholas Meredith (drums).
But, this Already Yesterday tour, was a trip to yesterday and a chance to really celebrate the group’s seminal first four albums: Of Skins And Heart, The Blurred Crusade, Séance and Heyday. So, it was going to be a night of nostalgia and as Steve Kilbey put it: “Well. You asked for it!”
The Church – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Nino Lo Giudice
Well, I knew things were not going to be normal at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall when I turned up an hour before The Church’s gig and I was the first person there in line by myself (strange?); there was a sign with information on it (a thing?) stating that there was to be just one act The Church playing two sets with an intermission (crazy!?); the venue was full of chairs (what!); and there was no barrier with the nice security guards (huh?); and the beautifully appointed merch stand was full of gear: shirts, vinyl and CDs which was mostly sold out half way through the gig. It was also not as noisy and there were actual ordered lines of people queuing at the bar – the older people had taken over The Fort!
The Church took to the Fortitude Valley Music Hall stage pulpit at 8.30pm and delivered an amazing first set of 11 songs. The music was played with such structure and discipline that it was a visceral experience from the opening song ‘When You Were Mine’. The following songs were ‘Tear It All’ from their first EP Too Fast For You and the tour’s headline song from the 1985 Heyday album ‘Already Yesterday’ and these three songs set the musical tone for the evening and put Brisbane music lovers and fans under The Church’s spell.
The power in Steve Kilbey’s bass playing and his vocals was so real and authentic. I was taken back to an earlier time of watching them play live as a teenager. Steve Kilbey was in fine form throughout the night chatting throughout the songs and sets: sharing stories and anecdotes about life in Canberra – Steve went to Lyneham High and Dickson College and Canberrans are very proud of that connection – with his Mum telling him to “shut up his racket” as he was writing his first fully formed song ‘Belair’. And, when The Church played it, the song was wonderful to hear. This track was the sonic foundation of The Church.
The Church – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Nino Lo Giudice
From this point in the set, the stage felt like it became so big: there was a change in the sound of the band as they totally filled out the venue with coloured soundscape and there were lots of lights and accompanying visuals auras and shades – mostly in a yellow, red and purple hues. The Church played their more “rock n roll” and psychedelic leaning music such as: ‘Life Speeds Up’, ‘Just for You’, the just wonderful ‘Disappear?’ and the twelve-string glory of‘Fly’ from 1983’s Séance. Then, came ‘One Day’ followed by the iconic and “first major hit”, as Steve Kilbey recounted it, ‘Electric Lash’ and the “new romantic jobby” the lovely ‘She Never Said’.
The Church, paused, and then delivered the searing, ‘Almost With You’, and the crowd were bouncing in their seats and it was so good! The first set ended with drug references, nods to cannabis, with one fan really getting a serve as The Church played ‘You Took’ and took the crowd down the eight-minute epic psychedelic wormhole from The Blurred Crusade and it was a complete guitar rush.
The band performing these songs was epic and powerful. The six musicians on stage were a tight and complete unit. It was a joy to listen to and to watch: a masterclass on how to be a real rock ‘n’ roll band should play. The skill level and musicianship of each band member was so impressive as were the instruments being played. Real class!
Then, came the moment when we realised, we are not so young anymore – the intermission – 20 minutes for some rest and recovery.
The band returned to the stage in fresh clothes and Steve Kilbey had to call The Fort to order: “Okay everyone. We’re about to begin. Are you ready to rock for another hour or so? Good.” The Church opened the second act with a stirring rendition of ‘It Doesn’t Change’, followed by ‘Myrrh’, ‘Secret Corners’ and ‘Columbus’.
The Church – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Nino Lo Giudice
Before playing ‘Tristesse’, Steve Kilbey told the crowd about his encounter with a fan in Melbourne who had named his daughter Tristesse after the song. The fan then asked him what the word meant: “Well, I told him. It’s the sadness after love making” and that left the crowd laughing. The next song the band launched into was the fabulous ‘Is This Where You Live’ from Of Skins And Heart.
By mid-set the songs were following fast. ‘It’s No Reason’ and ‘Travel by Thought’ from the Séance album were played together. As Steve Kilbey recounted that a famous rock critic had written that the music from this album sounded like “Puff, the Magic Dragon on bad acid” and I had to admit there was a bit of truth in that statement. There were more jokes about Tamworth and mind-bending experiences. Then, The Church, took as back to 1981 and that first track from Of Skins And Heart: ‘For A Moment We’re Strangers’ and it was such a joy to hear it played live.
It was at this point that the crowd just got up out of their seats and started to dance or headed down to the front to be with The Church. And, security let it go. The Church played ‘An Interlude’ from The Blurred Crusade as we all bopped out down the front. Then, the peal of the electric guitar from the Fender Stratocaster called to those worshiping as the opening chords of ‘The Unguarded Moment’ from Of Skins And Heart was played and the Brisbane crowd broke into its best singing voice (they did the backing vocals so well) and Steve Kilbey was genuinely shocked by the love from the crowd had for that song and how well everyone could sing it. It is such a wonderful thing about Brisbane crowds – the ability to know their music and sing so wonderfully in tune.
The Church were starting to wrap up the evening and played ‘Tantalised’ from Heyday and ‘Don’t Look Back’ from The Blurred Crusade before leaving the stage. It was at this point, that older people needed to be more vocal – more noise and demands for encores – really people! However, The Church returned to the stage and played ‘Metropolis’ from 1990’s Gold Afternoon Fix and then the heavenly ‘Under the Milky Way’ from 1988’s Starfish.
The Church wove the 28-song set in a way that seemed utterly natural. It was great to hear the old songs again even though I know that new music is always front of mind for Steve Kilbey. It was a generous gift to his old fans and to new ones to revisit the past and those overlooked albums that can bring back both positive and negative thoughts and feelings. These early albums and their songs were just perfect (well in my eyes anyway). It is important to keep The Church’s back catalogue alive as there is nothing better than the tactile rush of live music beautifully performed.
I was glad I took that deep dive into The Church’s Already Yesterday Tour. It was magical.
