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 Photo: Justin Edwards
Robert Forster’s experiences in Brisbane are documented within the lauded Go-Betweens albums of the 1980s. Tonight, Brisbane’s undying love affair with Robert Forster is demonstrated by the thunderous sound of the hundreds of stomping feet that demand three encores.
The man in the dark suit strides onto stage before a full Powerhouse Theatre and performs a handful of solo tracks, while noting that “the band are very excited backstage”. Thus begins a two hour-long nostalgic trip across the breadth of Forster’s still sparkling career. In the case of Born To A Family, it’s “my life in a two minute, forty-six second pop song”. Moments later, his microphone fails and he stops the band. “This is the story of my life!” He wonders aloud whether this happens when The Grates play, before thieving another mic and prompting Glenn Thompson and bassist Adele Pickvance to “do a Paul and George” during Head Full Of Steam.
Material from Forster’s most recent solo album, The Evangelist, is tenderly recreated: If It Rains, Pandanus, Demon Days and the title track appear amid his characteristic, often amusing between-song stories. While leaning toward later Go-Betweens albums – He Lives My Life from 2000’s The Friends of Rachel Worth, and Darlinghurst Nights from 2005’s Oceans Apart are simultaneously touching and thrilling – Forster sneaks in classic 16 Lovers Lane tracks Clouds and I’m All Right, before an exuberant performance of 1979 single People Say comprises the final encore. Regardless of each song’s age, the experienced musicians onstage are constantly invigorated by the youthful presence of 21-year old Flamingo Crash drummer, Matthew Harrison.
The strength of the McLennan-Forster songwriting partnership has always been the attraction of The Go-Betweens. While one is no longer with us, the other remains focused in his pursuit of the perfect pop song and steadfast at the forefront of this city’s array of musical talent. Stay golden, Mr Forster.
ANDREW MCMILLEN
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