This was one of those gigs. There was anticipation well before the date of the show. After the band experienced tragedy in the early stages of their ‘The Good Life Tour’, with a band member injured and a crew member killed, there was doubt whether the tour would continue and this show would actually happen.
Bravely, the band continued the tour, rescheduling missed dates and honouring those already in place, including this show.
Finally the date arrived and there was more anticipation as a good portion of the crowd gathered at the front of the room waiting for the band to take the stage. Back in the dressing rooms, the band were relaxed, enjoying the pre-show rituals and the fact that they were playing a new room. They gazed down the long list of artists who have performed at Belmont 16s on the club’s Wall Of Fame and maybe this added some extra fuel to the pre-performance energy.
Lights dimmed, and the crowd animated, all eyes on the stage. The band walked on to huge cheers and lead vocalist/guitarist/pianist Rai Thistlethwayte launched into “Understanding Love” from the band’s new album Shifting Gears.
From there Thirsty Merc took us all on a journey through their impressive repertoire, including more tracks from the new album, “Touch And Go” and the rocking “Sweet Talker” as well as faves from their self-titled debut, “My Completeness” and the eloquently titled “I Wish Somebody Would Build A Bridge (So I Can Get Over Myself)”; from Slideshows – “20 Good Reasons” and the brilliant “The Hard Way”, a nod to a father’s advice and guidance (Thistlethwayte’s father was in the audience) and the perennial favourite “Tommy And Krista” from Mousetrap Heart.
The show was building nicely to a crescendo as the band broke into the new single “The Good Life”. Guitarist Matt Smith attacked the opening chords (and his ample effects set-up) and the crowd responded with audible delight as Thistlethwayte urged them to scream the ‘na-na-nana-na –na na na’ refrain. They responded willingly and, with the audience already at fever pitch, there was only one song to take it home. As ‘The Good Life’ closed, drummer Tim Firth counted the band in to “In The Summertime” and everyone went nuts! It seemed as though every voice in the room sang along with Thistlethwayte as he delivered those idealistic lines ‘I don’t have a job, I never liked them. I just wanna play in the sunshine’. As the song built to its final choruses, bass player Phil Stack bounced pogo-style across the stage, caught up in the energy from both band and audience, at once stage playing keyboards and bass at the same time (see photo).
The crowd response was massive and everyone would have been satisfied at that but, of course, we all wanted one more. The band obliged with a great version of “Someday Someday” and it was over.
It was clear throughout the show that the band has a special relationship with their audience and, as a reward, they came out front after the show and signed autographs (see photo) and Thirsty Mercandise for a long line of devoted punters.
There is little doubt that every single person at the gig walked away more than happy with what they witnessed tonight – a great Australian band at the top of their game. Thistlethwayte is a natural musician and showman and, quite simply, this was one of the best gigs that has ever graced the expansive stage at Belmont 16s. And given the list on the Wall Of Fame, that’s saying something. This was one of those gigs.
