Seeing You Am I play to a packed house at the Enmore Thursday night was like seeing a band of adventurers returning home after a long journey of exploration and discovery to a welcoming parade where all the inner city Sydney townsfolk that saw them off in the early ‘90s came back to show their love and appreciation.
There were no openers just two solid sets of all You Am I all the time.
The albums that brought us all back were staples for me and the majority of the crowd judging by the singing, smiling and swaying going on by all those around me. Starting with Hourly Daily it was a faithful representation of all that made it so dear to all. From the opening track, complete with mournful cello through to the brass explosion on Soldiers and Baby Clothes, it was all there. The band was tight and looking dapper and playing like they were celebrating and relishing this event as much as the people who were lapping it up in the crowd.
Tim Rogers made the comment that these shows weren’t about nostalgia for them; they were about being a band and playing together for over 20 years sometimes to 3 people and sometimes to 3000 people but something that they never took for granted. That this is something they do for 365 nights of the year and in essence are part of who they are. If we the audience found comfort in reminiscing about old times and our formative musical years, he was happy but that wasn’t why they were doing it. It was evident in the way these guys connected that they were doing it because they loved it and loved playing together. From the solid rhythm section of Andy Kent and Rusty Hopkinson to the blistering guitar of Davey Lane (the young newcomer according to Rogers) these guys have that unique chemistry that only happens when playing together as a unit.
The second half of the show brought about a shift in both the crowd and the band. The first half was the slow build; the second half was the rock explosion. They were essentially in 3-piece formation. The stage positions changed to make the rock triangle of Tim, Rusty and Andy. Tim came out in velour trousers and a Les Paul Jr and was ready to rock. Hi Fi Way is personally my favourite You Am I album but it’s kind of like having to choose a favourite child, I feel bad for saying it but it’s true. The crowd became rowdier and the band was now creating a fire so hot that it was barely containable. Jewels and Bullets, Purple Sneakers and Punkarella were standouts for me but it was each album performed as a whole that made each set special in it. It was honest, raw and sophisticated all at the same time but most of all it was fun and it was an event that I’m sure will be reminisced about for another 20 years.
The encore digged deep. It took me back to 1989 at RMIT’s Storey Hall where I first saw You Am I. Cool Hand Luke from the Coprolalia EP, Adam’s Ribs the first single from their debut album Sound as Ever and the closer Berlin Chair were just icing on the cake. During the second set, Tim Rogers thanked Andy Kent for saving their band. I too thank you Andy as I’m sure the thousands who stayed until the final note was played and we salute you rock‘n’roll adventurers and wish you a safe onward journey.
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