Live Review: Tim Rogers, Catherine Britt

Spending a stormy night in a warm Lizotte's Newcastle with shitloads of wine is a pretty perfect way to end the weekend. Therefore, with mention of a homecoming, her Aussie-come-Nashville twang and a few “go the Knights!”, Catherine Britt easily has everyone on side. The Novocastrian's angry title track, Always Never Enough, is received with a cheer – a song that she hopes we like, because her “ex doesn't”. The Newcastle-inspired Charlestown Road distracts patrons from their dessert or glass of red to mouth “holy shit” at her perfect alt.country vibrato. A surprise guest (spoiler: Tim Rogers) takes the stage, tripping over equipment, to sing the beautiful Troubled Man duet with Britt, the peaceful atmosphere transforming to Rogers' self-confessed “creepy old drunk uncle” mood. A perfect, contrasting opener.

Tim Rogers is backed by Cameron Bruce on keys, drummer Gus Agars and potential show-stealer Shane O'Mara on guitar. Rogers and Bruce begin the set with the Piaf-inspired new track, All Or Nothing. A “merci” to the audience as Agars and O'Mara take the stage. The show is a type of organised disorganisation. Rogers leads the boys with ease as their musicality meshes flawlessly, before awkwardly and hilariously conducting stage banter with horny female fans. Improvisation is the flavour of the evening, with the rock legend delivering a spontaneous a cappella Happy Anniversary at a patron's direct request. His comedic timing is always present, delivering the final punchline. From jokes about his 11-year-old daughter, to alcoholism, drug taking and semen, what else can fans really expect?

The band ventures through a range of new tunes from the Rogers Does Rogerstein record, as well as a few solo and You Am I classics (most notably, the toe-tapping Doug Sahm). Just as the frontman begins to lose his voice, Britt rejoins for another harmonic duet, this time Rogers' Walking Past The Bars. However, Rogers' voice isn't sorely missed. During a placid cover of Bob Dylan's Boots Of Spanish Leather, audiences are too busy being in awe of O'Mara's guitar brilliance.

The night ends with an impromptu Instant Karma (We All Shine On). Rogers shrugs and bids the crowd adieu. “This is the shittiest tour ever,” jokes the band. On the contrary, it's a night to enjoy Rogers for who he is: a man who adores music and speaks his mind.