The Brewster Brothers are Australian musical treasures. The Angels are one of Australia’s greatest live bands. Dave Gleeson is a perfect frontman to take this band forward. The Angels band in 2016 is as powerful as it ever was.
While AC/DC get the accolades for Australian rock internationally it should be noted that The Angels were the most successful of the two at the time. That consistent run of hit albums from ‘Face To Face’, ‘No Exit’, ‘Dark Room’, ‘Night Attack’, ‘Watch The Red’ ‘Two Minute Warning’ Howling’ and ‘Beyond Salvation’ over a decade generated some of the greatest rock ever produced in this country. Songs from those albums sound as pertinent today live as they were on the day they were released thanks to John and Rick Brewster, the genius songwriters team who together with Doc Neeson, created these classics and today still drive this historic band.
These days Dave Gleeson shares the spotlight between The Angels and The Screaming Jets but in fronting The Angels pays a respectful tribute to the band’s former frontman, the late Doc Neeson. In place of the other deceased member, the brilliant bass player Chris Bailey is Sam Brewster, the son of John. Drummer Nick Norton rounds out the line-up. Nick has been responsible for the musical timing of the band in recent years and the past two studios albums with the band and Gleeson.
To understand the relevance to 2016 you only have to stand in the middle of an Angels crowd in a suburban Melbourne pub. The Angels began in this environment and they own it still today. To watch this audience mouth every word to ‘No Secrets’, ‘After The Rain’, ‘Shadow Boxer’ and ‘Take A Long Line’ is one thing but when the anthem ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ starts and the audience-participation chant ‘no way, get fucked, fuck off’ begins it is truly a sacred moment in Australian music. Dave Gleeson can’t wait to hear it stadium style when the band performs at a Grand Final event in coming weeks.
I’ve seen The Angels dozens of times over the years. Gleeson has made the job his own, Sam and Nick have merged into the band to the point where the unit operates as one and the two Brewsters, as co-founders of this remarkable operation, once again have the musical platform needed to just be themselves.
This was my best Angels show in years.
The Angels 19 August 2016 Chelsea Heights Hotel Melbourne SETLIST
Rick Brewster solo
Talk The Talk (from Talk The Talk, 2014)
No Secrets (from Dark Room, 1980)
After Dark (from No Exit, 1979)
Shoot It Up (from Watch The Red, 1983)
After The Rain (Tour EP, 1978)
Call That Living (from Skin and Bone, 1998)
La Grange (ZZ Top cover)
Be With You (from Face To Face, 1978)
I Ain’t The One (from Face To Face, 1978)
Coming Down (from Face To Face, 1978)
Fashion and Fame (from Night Attack, 1981)
Face The Day (from Dark Room, 1980)
Shadow Boxer (from No Exit, 1979)
Take A Long Line (from Face To Face, 1978)
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (from The Angels, 1977)
Marseilles (from Face To Face, 1978)
Mr. Damage (from No Exit, 1979)
Can’t Shake It (from No Exit, 1979)
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