Live Review: Tim Rogers

Expecting a Tim Rogers solo show when we entered the bowels of "the best pub in the world", to quote Rogers himself, it was a surprise to see drums and other equipment set up in The Grace Emily Hotel. Escaping You Am I for the night - bar Davey Lane who was also part of the four-piece - Rogers was in fine form. He chatted in between each song, talking about his love for The Grace Emily Hotel, jokingly retorting to punter call-outs and regularly shouting, "This is dance music, people". The sold-out crowd got right into the 90-minute set comprising a mix of You Am I songs, solo tracks and covers.

He had the crowd on his side from the minute he stepped on the stage holding two stubbies of South Australia's finest brew, Coopers Pale Ale. We felt transported back to the '60s with all four members wearing retro button-up long-sleeve shirts but, boy! Did they rock them well!

The night started off as a duo - Rogers and Lane - singing a couple of down-tempo songs including One Drink At A Time, a You Am I track from 2016. Their voices complemented each other well, especially in this small venue. Side by side, Rogers' raspy voice and Lane's soft vocals are well-suited. But that was it for the softer songs.

When the other two members joined the pair on stage, it turned into a rock show! Rogers and Lane are clearly buddies outside the band as their chemistry is great to watch as they exchange glances and laughs throughout the set. Lane sang lead on a couple of tracks including a punk-as version of Nick Lowe's Heart Of The City — a big highlight of the night.

Another cover — well, more of a tribute — was Chuck Berry's Memphis Tennessee, a fitting salute to the recently passed rock'n'roll pioneer. This was followed by a glut of great rock'n'roll with a few more You Am I tracks getting an airing, including Guys, Girls, Guitars; Top Of The Morn' & Slip Of The Day; and Australian classic Jaimme's Got A Gal. Rogers jokingly mentioning after Top Of The Morn'... that he got laid a lot at the ARIAs back in the late '90s. In between these songs was Stray Dog Bruise, a brilliant Tim Roger & The Temperance Union track from 2004's Spit Polish. Rogers sang this song with utter conviction ("why did you give up on me so fast") - another clear highlight.

A very different Heavy Heart (or "Heavy Art" as on the setlist) followed. It was rockier than the version that has been ingrained in our brains. The final song of the evening was Beautiful Girl, during which Rogers kindly ad-libbed some Adelaide references into the lyrics.