Live Review: Mondo Rock

Mondo Rock may have disbanded in the early 1990s after a decade of churning out hits, but thankfully they reform every so often for nostalgia tours. Tonight was the band’s debut at The Gov, the first of two nights, and it was fabulous to see these icons perform in such an intimate venue for their Hits! Baby! Hits! tour.

For opener Dark Secrets the band members took to the stage individually and commenced playing one at a time. This tour’s line-up featured key original members Eric McCusker on guitar, Paul Christie on bass, Kerry Jacobsen on drums and Adelaide alumni James Black on keyboard (perhaps better known for his time with the RocKwiz Orkestra).

Singer Ross Wilson, however, was the star of the show. Although most famous for writing the Aus rock classic Eagle Rock with his short-lived former band Daddy Cool in the early 1970s, it was with Mondo Rock that he had a truckload of chart hits through the 1980s. Masterfully, the second song played tonight was the top ten hit Cool World, an amazing song that instantly lit up the mood in the room, and things barely dimmed for the next hour and a half.

Chemistry was next, another huge hit. Wilson was highly engaged with the crowd, although maybe not as energetic as in his younger days. A quick Google search later revealed that he is 71 years old, although he looks 20 years younger. His voice showed little sign of wear and tear and the group were well-rehearsed.

First single The Fugitive Kind, which “flopped in Adelaide”, got an airing (Wilson clearly didn't hold a grudge). Primitive Love Rites saw a shoutout to former drummer JJ Hackett, who co-wrote the track and lived in Adelaide, but who sadly passed away early this year.

There were so many hits offered up, with some a few of us didn’t even know that Wilson had written – including songs John Farnham made famous, like A Touch Of Paradise (in a segment they dubbed "song wot we wrote wot Farnesy done").

Heckling from the front row saw Wilson retort with comments that playfully suggested the elderly offender go off and enjoy his franking credits. Wilson also showed his social conscience with a song about the plight of Indigenous peoples, Living In The Land Of Oz, and of our need to live in houses full of junk, Trash.

The band really hit their stride in the latter half of the set with Summer of ’81, the rocker Baby Wants To Rock and the top 10 hit State Of The Heart. Of course, the group’s mega-hit Come Said The Boy was left until the end of the main set, complete with audience participation. Our shouts for more during the encore break echoed its singalong refrain.

This was a brilliant night of great songs, stories and laughs. Ross Wilson is a king of Australian music. Long may he reign.