Live Review: Phil Jamieson, Scott Russo

Rowdy, raucous, featuring a giant Christmas penguin and acoustic pop-punk – not a typical Thursday night in Hobart. Flaunting that rare combination of office party inebriation and dedicated old-school fans, Scott Russo of Unwritten Law and Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon didn’t really know what had hit them by the end of their sets at the Republic Bar.

Brad, the giant inflated Christmas penguin that is the unofficial start of the show, on the other hand, set the tone for the evening. Nothing should be taken seriously. Looking very demure in his “pastel blue sports coat”, Phil Jamieson took to the stage first, sans the heavy guitar riffs of Grinspoon but still at times keeping his trademark growl. He busted out Grinners favourites galore including No Reason, Better Off Alone and pure classics like Funk Stripe and Just Ace. Jamieson even managed to sport his trademark look from the video to Just Ace, a carefully placed ladies’ hair clip to keep his well-groomed look under control. No evidence to suggest this was intentional. He performed each song with the effortless ease of someone who just enjoys not only reflecting on his musical past, but loves to tweak it and turn it into something entirely unexpected. The bluegrass-esque version of A Thousand Miles had everyone in stitches and really getting into it at the same time.

Scott Russo began his set almost like a nervous teenager, not the seasoned professional. He just didn’t know what Hobart had in store as Unwritten Law had never quite made it this far south before. He needn’t have worried. In spite of the hipster wide-brimmed hat and black singlet combo (or perhaps because of it) the crowd instantly warmed to his kind of haphazard banter but beautifully imperfect song performances. He opened with Teenage Suicide and the crowd responded by showing it knew every lyric, much to Russo’s delight. It was Russo’s daughter Cailin’s 21st birthday, so the song Cailin, written about her as a child, had everyone feeling sentimental and very old.

The night hit full tilt when the two hit the stage together. They admitted they only knew six songs they could play as a duo, and between hecklers and hilarious banter the best moments were the ultimate singalongs – Grinpsoon’s Black Friday and More Than You Are.

The whole night felt like everyone was in on the joke. We’re not too old for this. Also, when punk is stripped back to its bare bones it’s just great pop songs sung with passion. A great way to commence the silly season.