Live Review: Diesel, Howie Morgan

It’s rare you come by a venue that ticks all the boxes for a good show: character, intimacy, ambiance fitting to the artist.

Diesel’s Thursday night set at the Ellington  however, seemed to do all of those things, as Mark Lizotte – better known by his moniker Diesel – himself described it; the atmosphere of the Ellington felt like “when the bath is just the right temperature, and you slide right in”. This in itself is a statement that is difficult to contend with for most regular and non-regular patrons of the Ellington ­– however, the statement extends beyond the venue; Lizotte’s words described the entire night perfectly.

Opening act Howie Morgan got the show started, quickly drawing the audience in with a strong rhythm and pace – clearly skilled with a guitar, it was easy listening without falling into the easy listening trap of being so easy it’s boring. He was a wise choice for a warm-up; heating up the room at just the right pace, joking with the crowd, sharing stories, asking questions and even putting on impressions of early ‘90s musicians, it was clear the crowd was impressed – a reaction that was just going to increase as blues heavyweight Diesel followed.

First gracing the audience with his 1993 hit Masterplan, Lizotte set the scene for the night ahead; his performance, much like his body of work, was sensitive and electrifying, showing off his flair for vocals and guitar at just the right moments without being over the top. It was this skill, as well as the personal touches throughout the night that made it clear how Diesel has paved his way through 13 studio albums and made a mark on the Australian music scene.

Shortly before playing clear crowd favourite Since I Fell For You, Diesel talked about the personal experience of crafting the song, speaking of old vinyls and his Dad’s attic. The story – much like his entire set – gave the audience more than just a performance to watch and listen to; it was an intimate experience to remember. Whatever thermometer Diesel is using, he’s got it set just right because the self-described Ellington ‘bath’ was both flowing and comforting.