Melbourne’s Memo Music Hall hosted the very first I’m Talking gig in 30 years on Monday night.
The I’m Talking show was a secret gig for invited guests and fans from the Memo Music Hall database in attendance, so it truly was very special.
and they’re back. The first I’m Talking show in 30 years @memomusichall pic.twitter.com/S0cGGgwG66
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 11, 2019
I’m Talking was (and now is again) the ’80’s Melbourne funk band featuring Kate Ceberano before her solo career launched her onto household name status in Australia. Founding members Zan Abeyrante on vocals, Robert Goodge on guitar, Barbara Hogarth on bass and Stephen Charlesworth on keyboards played like they had been away for 30 days, not 30 years.
The 2019 I’m Talking line-up was padded with Miles Henry on drums and Brodie Everist on saxophone, who both managed to replicate the exact sounds we remembered from the one and only I’m Talking album ‘Bear Witness’ and various singles, released from 1985-1988.
I’m Talking had an incredible chart record for a band that only had one album. They clocked up five Top 40 hits in their short time together, including three Top 10 hits. ‘Bear Witness’ was a Platinum selling album in Australia.
The I’m Talking secret show Holy Word @memomusichall pic.twitter.com/0z0aNK3BWd
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 11, 2019
The Memo Music Hall show was a warm-up for the Bryan Ferry Australian tour. I’m Talking will open for Ferry’s arena and A Day On The Green shows in Australia.
The Memo Music Hall show previewed an impressive live music event for A Day On The Green and served as a warning to Bryan Ferry that he better be good because his opening act sure will be on fire.
The dynamic of the Kate and Zan voices backed with an incredible funk pop band is what makes I’m Talking so exciting live. The show is simply ‘fun’. Kate and Zan juggle lead vocal duties but mostly blend their voices to create one lead vocal. The band, however, hails from a time where you played well or you got the funk out off stage.
The Memo Music Hall show featured 12 tracks with the entire ‘Bear Witness’ album cleverly inserted into the set, first as a four song cluster of Side One of ‘Bear Witness’, then another four song cluster of Side Two (with ‘Love Means Everything’ and ‘Disaster’ reversed from the original tracklisting).
Hit singles ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anyone’ and ‘Lead The Way’ were inserted between the sides. The remix album track ‘Disko’ opened the show and their debut hit ‘Trust Me’ sent the audience off smiling.
It would be great to see more shows after the Ferry tour ends. That might difficult with Kate about to head out solo on the Apia Good Times tour of 2019. The Ferry shows may just be your only chance to see I’m Talking. There are no immediate plans for this band after the Ferry tour so catch it if you can.
The I’m Talking secret show. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore @memomusichall pic.twitter.com/we8XiFfKfd
— Noise11.com (@Noise11Tweets) February 11, 2019
I’m Talking Memo Music Hall setlist
Disko (from Dancing remix album, 1988)
Do You Wanna Be (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Holy Word (from Bear Witness, 1986)
How Can It Be (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Baby Baby Baby (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (single, 1985)
Lead The Way (single, 1985)
Stay with me (from Bear Witness, 1986)
It’s Over (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Love Means Everything (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Disaster (from Bear Witness, 1986)
Trust Me (single, 1984)
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