First things first – Henry Wagons is the Wagons.
Whimsical, crass and unremorseful, he’s a front man’s front man. Beneath his fur vest and oversized spectacles is a presence most acts would shoot a sheriff for. Heck, they’d even knock off the deputy as well. While the rest of his band might be as tight as a hanging noose, it is Mr. Wagons that the pundits pay their hard-earned to see.
Tonight’s gig at the Forum marks the final leg of the band’s ‘Rumble, Shake and Tumble’ tour. Having hitched their (ahem) wagon all the way from Texas to Tasmania, the boys look happy to be finally home. And it is clear from the packed-house that their homecoming is appreciated.
The band wastes little time in cranking out tracks from their latest LP. ‘I Blew It’ and ‘Save Me’ instigate an instant reflex of synchronised foot-tapping and head-nodding. ‘Drive All Night Till Dawn’ drums up the first clap-a-long of the night, while an impromptu rendition of ‘Believe It Or Not’ from keyboardist Matt Hassett provides some relief from the onslaught of country-rock.
To his credit, Wagons (singer) gives some of his entourage a chance to soak up the spotlight. Longtime collaborator Cornel Wilczek joins the band onstage, so too does former member Steve ‘Harmony’ Hassett. With the cavalry now in full force the band decides to take things up a notch with ‘Willie Nelson’. It sends the flannelette-loving crowd into a frenzy. Within a matter of minutes the gig turns from gentle barnhouse rock to certified hoedown.
As their set draws to a close, the boys pull out one last surprise by blending their smooth country sound with Aussie skip-hop. Ordinarily, country and rap mix together about as well as oysters and ice-cream. Yet somehow they manage to make the tune sound half convincing. It may not be the direction the Wagons take with their next album, but it sure doesn’t deflate the vibe of the night.
Things return to normality with perennial fan favourite ‘Goodtown’. By this time, Henry Wagons has already journeyed into the mosh pit, read out a woman’s number from a launched bra and advised that real men steer clear of their best friend’s sister/s. It may be odd to some, but it’s all in a night’s work for one of Australia’s most charismatic – and many would say most talented – country stars.
– Paul Bonadio
