{"id":238,"date":"2015-07-10T02:53:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-10T02:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/greatgigs.com.au\/?p=238"},"modified":"2019-12-14T22:05:40","modified_gmt":"2019-12-14T11:05:40","slug":"the-church-170-russell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greatgigs.com.au\/index.php\/2015\/07\/10\/the-church-170-russell\/","title":{"rendered":"The Church @ 170 Russell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How do you even begin to describe the excitement of seeing a favourite band revisit a landmark album live \u2013 as a once off? What\u2019s more, it\u2019s an album that has weathered incredibly well after 43 years \u2013 no betting person in their right mind would have ever considered these numbers would come up\u2026 but for just one night, they have\u2026 the band is The Church<\/strong> and the album in question is their quite brilliant sophomore release, The Blurred Crusade.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The queue outside 170 Russell on Friday night runs around the block and as it nears the performance time of 9pm, there are a few hundred, understandably anxious, punters still trying to get in. It\u2019s a massive turnout, and deservedly so. Long-time fans realise that as a band intent on always moving forward, it\u2019s not often that the Church are prone to revisit past glories and as such fans have been quick to pounce on this hen\u2019s-tooth opportunity\u2026
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If reports are to be believed, we largely have new recruit, Ian Haug<\/strong> (ex Powderfinger) to thank for this current state of affairs. Apparently, when he took up the post as second guitarist \u2013 after the much loved Marty Willson-Piper<\/strong> departed \u2013 Ian was sent away with the complete Church discography to listen to. Reportedly he came back to Steve, Peter and Tim with a huge list of songs he was keen to play\u2026 material Kilbey concedes they hardly remembered writing \u2013 let alone even performed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So here we are\u2026 The band have considerately conceded a later start time so thankfully everyone is comfortably settled in plenty of time.
The stage is bathed in deep blue as shadowy figures enter stage left, through knee-deep smoke, to rapturous applause\u2026 I spot Church regular Craig Wilson<\/strong> on Keyboards and third guitar on the riser so tonight the Church are a 5 piece…A momentary pause as instruments are checked in the half light and then powerful side lights flatteringly profile Steve Kilbey<\/strong> at the microphone in two-toned crimson and cyan, perfectly echoing the aesthetic of the gorgeous tour poster\u2026. Pure class on the lighting guys behalf. We\u2019re off to a great start.
“Good evening Ladies and Gentleman…We\u2019re called the Church… and we give you \u2018The Blurred Crusade\u2019 \u201c.<\/em>
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Tim Powles<\/strong>‘ drum roll slides us straight into the gorgeous lilt of \u2018Almost With You\u2019, the sole top 30 single from \u2018Crusade’\u2026 Peter Koppes<\/strong> and his compadre are instantly aligned, eyeing each other off for interplay cues. Kilbey stands fixed to the spot, head back, eyes closed, channelling the vibe\u2026 rumours abounded before the gig that Steve had a case of laryngitis, but happily, for now, that velvet voice is right on mark \u2013 it\u2019s all systems go\u2026 Five giant overhead cinematic spots warmly pulse along the back wall behind the band and insistently mirror Powles’ tempo… I look around to gauge the audience reaction and notice many punters silently mouthing all the lyrics, subconsciously not wanting to break any spells or ruin the magic for those around them\u2026 The song’s iconic flamenco-styled solo is fully electric tonight, as Peter \u2013 in his characteristic nonchalance \u2013 flawlessly lays it down, just as he has thousands of times before. At song\u2019s end, the cheers are deafening and Kilbey smiles wryly\u2026 there are obviously a fair few here as excited to see this as I am!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Squalling guitar feedback builds, eclipsing the audience\u2019s applause. The driving backbeat of \u2018When You Were Mine\u2019 elicits a huge “OH YEAAAAAAH!” from someone just behind me. Over a couple of minutes, the band have slowly built the tempo and we now find ourselves in a full canter \u2013 the impetus of the track is massive \u2013 seemingly unstoppable \u2013 the duelling guitars implore each other on: shimmering, stabbing, even scratching their parts in brilliant counterplay to Steve\u2019s propulsive baselines. Even as he sings “…a hundred lifetimes ago..\u201d \u2013 I reflect the song may be old and mystic \u2013 sure \u2013 but it\u2019s lost none of it\u2019s impact\u2026 all the hallmarks of The Church are on full display at this moment and we’re at once reminded WHY this band is so great\u2026 I spot all the familiar faces from the Church Army right up the front with heads flailing about… losing themselves in the rapture\u2026 We\u2019re only two songs in, and it\u2019s already heady stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘Field of Mars’ is next, and as I listen to Steve sing his old friend\u2019s vocal part I am at once reminded how much I miss Marty Willson-Piper… But hey, this is life, and change is inevitable. I reason to myself that this very same change brought us Richard Ploog AND Tim Powles, so \u2013 on the whole \u2013 it\u2019s no bad thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018An Interlude\u2019 follows with more of Steve\u2019s mystic lyrics: “They’re going to send you away” she said \/ Psychic angels spread on the top of her head \/ And in the compartments of my dread \/ The rush hour crush travels home to bed\u201d\u2026 Potent lyrical imagery indeed. As before with \u2018When you were Mine\u2019 earlier, in the instrumental break, the pedals are pushed squarely to the metal and the band fairly screams along at a breakneck pace.
The short and quite saccharine ‘Secret Corners\u2019 is seemingly over in a blink of an eye and then we hear the familiar acoustic intro to ‘Just For You\u2019\u2026

(Those familiar with the original recording know we hear Steve practicing alone in his room, when he is interrupted by a knock on the door. We hear the sound of his footsteps walking over, the door creaks open and the song proper floods in.) It is a wonderful sonic moment on the original vinyl \u2013 and they honour its integrity tonight by having Haug play the acoustic intro and then knock on the body of his acoustic\u2026\u201dHark!\u2026Hark!… Come on in!\u201d, Kilbey grins as the band kick in and the full bodied warmth of the song rushes in. The vibe is unanimously joyous among those down the front and smiles of contentment abound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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