Live Review: Jebediah, Red Jezebel

Celebrating 20 years together, awesome foursome Jebediah are on the back end of their near sold out 20th anniversary tour. Having ridden the nostalgia train across the country playing beloved classics and their ’97 debut Slightly Odway in full, the Perth quartet finally hit Adelaide and didn’t disappoint. 

Perth act Red Jezebel scored the highly sought after support slot for this leg of the tour. Floating between indie-pop and alternative rock, they impressed enough to keep the notoriously boring Adelaide crowd interested.

While witnessing Slightly Odway played in full was the main drawcard, the opening stanza demonstrated how solid Jebediah’s back catalogue actually is. Triple j hits Animal, Fall Down and She’s Like A Comet mingled with fan favourites Trapdoor and Control, showcasing Jebediah’s Aussie rock pedigree and penchant for quirky lyrics and catchy choruses. 

When they launched into signature tune Leaving Home mid-set, signalling the beginning of Slightly Odway, the crowd finally got excited and started making some noise. The front of stage transformed into a mass of moshing, sweaty bodies as the seasoned crowd reclaimed their youth for one more night. Benedict and Military Strongmen burst with energy, while slower numbers Harpoon and Jerks Of Attention had everyone singing along.

A solid album when played in the comfort of home, in the live arena Slightly Odway truly shines, which says as much about the venue’s sound as it does the band’s chemistry. Although it took him a few songs to warm up, Kevin Mitchell excelled in his front of stage role, the crowd swooning over his whiny Aussie twang. Ample support was provided by Chris Daymond’s rhythmic guitar work, Vanessa Thornton’s thumping bass and Mitchell’s brother Brett’s pulsating drumming, with the collective putting on a vintage Jebediah performance.

They might not be making music regularly these days, but Jebediah proved they’re still one hell of a live band who can match it with Australia’s best.