Both Fraser A. Gorman, and his band Big Harvest, and second support act Ezra Lee with ensemble, provided a nice symmetry to the headliner, Ms Wanda Jackson.
Gorman and co. had a nice style to them, with an old school country twang, no doubt influenced by Ms Jackson’s early career in country music.
Things kicked up a notch with the piano playing Ezra Lee and his band had a fine line going in boogie woogie style rock and roll, strikingly influenced by a man many simply know as ‘The Killer’, Mr Jerry Lee Lewis; a warm and inviting welcome to those arriving to see the main act.
One of the first women to make a strong impression and name for herself in the heavily dominated milieu that was the early days of rock and roll, Wanda Jackson is both a pioneer and a true feminist icon.
A recording artist for 58 years of her life, she was greeted by the assembled crowd with a cheer that wouldn’t have sounded out of place at an AFL match – the crowd remaining warm, respectful and loving, throughout her performance.
With Ezra Lee and his band pulling double duty as Jackson’s pickup band while she is in Australia, she delighted and charmed the audience no end during her wonderful hour and a half set.
At 75 years young, Jackson is still sharp as a tack, with energy to burn, and in fine voice. One of the aspects of seeing her live that was both enriching and entertaining was her between-song banter.
She regaled the crowd with stories and anecdotes about her career, really giving the audience a sense and feel of the life she has lived.
A great moment was when she talked about her first professional engagement, playing in Elvis Presley’s band, painting a warm and loving picture of the man, a million miles away from the caricature and shadow of his former self he would become in the latter part of his career.
She followed this highly illuminating story with a potent version of one of Presley’s best known songs, “Heartbreak Hotel”, which had the crowd smiling and singing for all they were worth.
Providing an entertaining yet personal musical journey, Jackson showed what women have contributed to popular music.
From songs such as “I Gotta Know”, indicative of her country music origins, to her own material when – at Presley’s suggestion – she moved to what we now know as rock and roll, at a time before this genre even had a proper name.
She made some very astute choices, such as “Right Or Wrong” and “Mean Mean Man”, in cherry-picking from her long and illustrious career.
It was also wonderful to hear selections from her past two albums, The Party Ain’t Over and Unfinished Business.
The former, produced by Jack White, had a truly stunning version of the Amy Winehouse track “I’m No Good”, with the second verse altered somewhat due to Jackson feeling it was too explicit and not “age appropriate,” as she eloquently described it.
The night wrapped up with what has become her signature tune, the still inspiring “Let’s Have A Party”.
Called back by a gleefully loud and excited crowd, she finished up the night proper with a fantastic take on the Jerry Lee Lewis track “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On”.
It was a special pleasure to be holding audience with a woman best described as a true originator of music, one who continues to enthral and inspire.
