Live Review: The Whitlams, Philharmonia Australia

Celebrating 25 years of breaking hearts and uplifting spirits, The Whitlams rocked the QPAC Concert Hall, with the help of the Philharmonia Australia, on the first leg of their Australian tour.

It was a packed house that greeted lead singer and pianist Tim Freedman, guitarist Jak Housden, bass guitarist Warwick Hornby and drummer Terepai Richmond when they all strode out onto the stage. Accompanying them was the men and women of Philharmonia Australia, led by conductor Guy Noble.

It's been a few years since The Whitlams have done a show like this, playing with the backing of an orchestra. You'd never know if Freedman hadn't pointed it out though, these guys have been doing this for long enough to have it all down to a carefully choreographed routine.

The Whitlams gently glide into the first song of the set, Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No 2). The ode to addiction is one of those heartbreaking songs they do so well. It's also the only song in tonight's repertoire that doesn't fit with Philharmonia Australia's arrangements. Charlie No 2 is such a personal, intimate song that the bigness of the accompanying arrangement tends to jar. Nevertheless, the accompaniment is beautiful and Freedman's piano helps bring back that sense of intimacy. The first mini-set is rounded out by Charlie No 1 and Charlie No 3.

Addiction is the theme of the first half of the first set, with the pairing of God Drinks At The Sando and Blow Up The Pokies, both from the Love This City (1999) album.

The pace picks up for You Sound Like Louis Burdett, and it's obviously an audience favourite, in fact, the crowd is at their best when the happier more upbeat songs pop up. The same reaction happens at the tail end of the second set when I Make Hamburgers and Thankyou (For Loving Me At My Worst) get an airing.

For the most part, the crowd is happy to just absorb the pure musicianship on stage, letting the lyricism and shifting sands of Philharmonia Australia's arrangements wash over them. The peaceful atmosphere is accentuated by the lighting choices of blues, reds and oranges, which evoke a feeling of sundown. The folky songs of earlier albums like Happy Days are contrasted with the more jazzy, piano-driven rock of No Aphrodisiac. It's in the more rock-driven songs where the rest of The Whitlams really shine, Housden taking centre stage under a bright spotlight. Losing himself in the performance is a sight to behold, but it's just as good with your eyes closed, absorbing the music through your ears and your bones.

Philharmonia Australia are mostly left as background accompaniment, but they get a couple of chances to shine. The best is their interlude to Out The Back, which was composed by famed Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe after he and Freedman struck up a friendship at the 2001 APRA Awards. This is the first time it has been played live since Sculthorpe's death in 2014. It's a beautiful string interlude that matches the ebbs and flows of the original laconic song about sitting peacefully in the ocean, absorbing the calm from the top of a surfboard. 

After a brief rest, following Thank You (For Loving Me At My Worst), the only possible encore song for The Whitlams, Gough, sends people back out into the chilly Friday night in Brisbane.

"Get home safe," Freedman croons. It's placid, comforting and filled with great care, just like his band.