While the crowd wasn't huge for the arrival of the Commonwealth Games baton, Antipodean Rock Collective - comprised of Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Kram (Spiderbait), Davey Lane (You Am I) and Mark Wilson (Jet) - played like it was a full house.
Held on the plaza of the prestigious Adelaide Oval, the four-piece supergroup tore through an hour-long set of Australian classics. Kicking it off with a song from the heart and soul of Australian rock, AC/DC, Kram did his best impersonation of Bon Scott during TNT. So much so that, if you closed your eyes, you'd swear it actually was Scott. Lane, looking every inch the rockstar in his sunglasses and open shirt, also ripped through the guitar licks like it was his own song. They later included another AC/DC song (as if you could ever have enough) in High Voltage.
Up next they chose a more sombre moment with Almost With You by The Church (1982) with Middleton taking over lead vocals. Then they rewound to 1981 for a summery song - despite the rain - with The Sunnyboys' Alone With You.
All the band members were generally having fun and had great chemistry. They continued through the Australian songbook with tracks by INXS, Crowded House and Paul Kelly. Middleton got his moment with not one but two Powderfinger tracks, (Baby I've Got You) On My Mind and a solo performance of the band's big hit My Happiness. This performance displayed Middleton's amazing vocal range. Bernard who?
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After just over an hour of Aussie classics, Antipodean Rock Collective finished with stellar versions Midnight Oil's Power And The Passion - complete with drum solo by Kram - and The Eastbeats' I'll Make You Happy, with Lane showing off what a great vocalist and guitarist he is.
