With such a healthy and vital live music scene in this city, there are nights when we’re ridiculously spoilt for choice. Not only was reggae legend Mr Jimmy Cliff doing his thing, you could also see Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and Iggy Pop. Melbourne truly does have one of the best live music scenes in the world, and it’s not uncommon to meet people who have travelled from overseas destinations to see a particular artist.
Jimmy Cliff (born James Chambers) is, along with Bob Marley, one of the true instigators and originators of modern reggae music. Having his first hit single at the age of 14, he is a genuine original and shares a lot responsibility for introducing the Western world to music that is primarily Jamaican in character and flavour.
Ably supported by Larry Maluma and his band, the packed crowd at The Corner literally erupted when Cliff and his nine-piece band took the stage. The experience was something akin to what Catholics might feel if they had a personal audience with The Pope, such was the fervour and incredible response.
Kicking off with “You Can Get It If You Really Want It”, the energy and positivity that emanated from the stage could have powered a small city.
Still recording today, with last year’s Rebirth his most recent offering, Cliff and his band proceeded to cajole, charm, inspire and, at times, deeply move recent converts and die-hard fans alike.
This was a well-chosen set list, running the gamut from old favourites like “Miss Jamaica”, “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and the iconic “The Harder They Come”, right through to more recent material such as the anthemic “One Word”.
The band also deployed some rather effective cover versions of song, illustrating how reggae found its way to the Western world via the interpretations of other. “Wild World”, the classic Cat Stevens track, had complete strangers throwing their arms around each other and singing along.
Cliff’s original material remained the most well-received of the night. “Vietnam”, a powerful anti-war song, became even more so with a simple lyrical update when the band substituted the title with the word ‘Afghanistan’. A compelling example of how unfortunately some things change while some stay the same.
By this point, the crowd could have happily torn the roof off the place, such was the joy flowing through the room. The magisterial “Many Rivers To Cross” sounded more pertinent than ever, with grown men openly weeping, deeply moved by this timeless track.
The set closer was a real ‘hairs on the back of the neck’ moment, as Cliff, in his late ‘60s but with the energy of a teenager, lead the band and audience through what he called the ‘religious part’ of the gig. With the band playing hand drums and other percussion instruments, we were given a spine tingling version of “The Rivers Of Babylon”.
Ending with lots of handshakes and kisses between audience, Mr Cliff and his sensational backing band, this was an absolute gem of a night.
