Live Review: Tim Rogers, Catherine Britt

It's sometimes uncomfortably compelling to witness an industry elder share anecdotes, lament past relationships and possibly drink too much. But enough about me. This night, it's Tim Rogers who does that – on stage. Sure, he makes many of the same mistakes as we mere mortals, but makes them more stylishly – and then writes a song about it.

Catherine Britt even referenced one of those songs of his by way of introduction: “Hi, I'm the support band.” She proved her country credentials by having Bill Chambers – Dead Ringers, Kasey's dad, etc – alongside, plus songs that seemed she'd lived a 100 years rather than the less than 30 she has. Plaintive, honest songs of growing up on Charlestown Road listening to the gears shift all night, to trying to love a Troubled Man. The gangly guy whose name's above hers joined her to add to that duet.

Tim Rogers' audience lets him build his performance around the new Rogers Sings Rogerstein album, which few would have heard. All Or Nothing, as the opening song had it. From that, to the bittersweet Part Time Dads – and on. He doesn't just wear his heart on his sleeve; it's up on his shoulder, letting you count the scars on it.

There were other snippets of his solo canon, the family thread strong. Rifling through the old Creem magazines in My Brother's Room or Goldfields Blues' flying back to the hometown. And his other families: “That band that saved my life, and this band that affirms life.” This one is quite a combo: drummer Gus Agars, keyboardist Cameron Bruce and just-simply-best guitarist Shane O'Mara.

They followed as Rogers switched through country laments to chugging glam and the big theatrical flourish that full-stopped The Songs They Played As I Drove Away. They pisstake The Doors, do Dave Edmunds' and/or Elvis Costello's Girls Talk and a snippet of The Band's Don't Do It country funk. O'Mara and Rogers later run at Dylan's Boots Of Spanish Leather just a glory.

Timmy informed us he considered himself “ugly as a boot”. Yep, I've got a pair of battered Blundstones I love and couldn't live without either.