One Night Lonely, Powderfinger’s first performance in nearly ten years, was a foremost example of the live stream’s unifying potential.
The longer lockdowns have continued, the louder the criticism has been of live streaming events. We keep hearing the complaint that they’re just not the same as the real thing. It’s a strange snipe – we can’t get the real thing, that’s the bloody point, so why not attempt a simulation?
Throughout the decade before they broke up, Powderfinger were simply everywhere. And while initially a fan, I’d started to avoid them at festivals like Homebake and Big Day Out. But ten years of separation meant I was one of the many eager punters who tuned into the YouTube live stream on Saturday night.
There were close to 100,000 people watching live and the video has now amassed more than 400,000 views. It was a high-grade production directed by Marty Moynihan and Jeremy Hancock. The setlist contained just seven songs, which means there’ll be plenty of disappointed fans out there. But as soon as the show began with the 2004 single ‘Bless My Soul’, you got the sense the Bernard Fanning-led group might actually be fortifying with age.
Check out ‘Bless My Soul’ by Powderfinger:
The Brissy lads played three songs from Odyssey # 5, which turns 20 this year. ‘My Happiness’ and ‘These Days’ were expected, but ‘Thrilloilogy’ was the surprise of the bunch. I bought Odyssey # 5 on the day it came out, but still don’t know how to pronounce that song title. Regardless, it’s a fan favourite and the addition of various atmospheric jam sections turned it into a seven-minute epic.
The set also included one song from Internationalist (‘Already Gone’) and two from Vulture Street (‘Sunsets’ and ‘[Baby I’ve Got You] On My Mind’). They notably skipped their two most recent LPs – 2007’s Dream Days at the Hotel Existence and 2009’s Golden Rule. I guess we’ll have to wait until Falls Festival for ‘Burn Your Name’ (eh, eh).
The five members performed from separate locations. Drummer Jon Coghill was in the Sunshine Coast, guitarist Darren Middleton was in Melbourne. Singer Bernard Fanning was in northern New South Wales and guitarist Ian Haug in Brisbane. Meanwhile, bass player John “JC” Collins performed on stage at Brisbane’s 3000-cap Fortitude Music Hall.
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Never mind the physical distance, however, as it all sounded slick and definitely warrants a live album companion. It was pre-recorded a few weeks in advance, but there were enough idiosyncrasies to make it feel live. “Wasn’t too bad for the third time I’ve ever played that on piano,” remarked Fanning at the end of ‘My Happiness’. “This is a hard one,” said Coghill before Fanning introduced ‘(Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind’.
Collins’ decision to play to an empty Music Hall was purposive. He’s one of the venue’s owners, and knows first-hand how the live industry’s been devastated by COVID-19. “The industry’s going to take a battering from this so the best thing you can do – apart from looking on Support Act – if you can afford to keep your ticket if you’ve got one for a show, that’d be really helpful for the industry,” he said.
“And when this is over we want to have a big party. Let’s get behind and see some live music.”
Middleton reiterated the request for donations (to Support Act and Beyond Blue) a couple of songs later. But Fanning’s opening comments were the most apt. “Look, we’re here to put some smiles on faces. Get close to the telly, turn it up, enjoy yourselves.” Easy.
Check out Powderfinger One Night Lonely:
