You know you’re getting old when buildings that were newly erected in your lifetime are already considered obsolete and are being torn down. The 13,000 seat Sydney Entertainment Centre, completed in 1983 is earmarked for demolition in December with Cold Chisel and Elton John to be the last acts to perform there.
On the other hand the 5,500 seat Hordern Pavilion, built in 1924, is going as strong as ever. Within the Fox Entertainment Quarter which also houses AFTRS, the old barn, originally designed to display farm produce, was converted into a music venue in 1972 to replace the appalling tin shed and flea pit known as The Sydney Stadium.
Among the first acts to play the venue were Manfred Mann, Jethro Tull and Cat Stevens. From Sinatra to Santana, they all played the Hordern. Megadeth did a concert just two weeks ago. And last Saturday night a dozen Australian acts, mostly from the ‘80s, each played a few of their hits to a packed house of WSFM listeners and perhaps a few smoothfm interlopers as well.
It was the first time I had set foot in the place in perhaps 35 years.
Much has changed since the days I went there as a pimply faced youth doused in Brut 33 with a mop of wavy long hair to see my favourite acts. Both the pimples and hair have long gone and the Brut’s been replaced by Issey Miyake. While the building has undergone extensive renovations, the audience is decidedly worse for wear.
Like me, many were grateful for the remodelled and extended toilet facilities that could easily be accessed before, during and after the concert. Unlike the events of yore, security wasn’t running around telling people to extinguish their cigarettes or the odd joint. The modern sound rig was a huge improvement until they turned it up to 11 and forced it to distort.
Below: 1927
WSFM’s long serving Breakfast duo Jonesy and Amanda were on hand to fly the station flag, appearing to fill every break as the roadies rushed around in the background to change bands. They were given a warm reception – as were Jonesy and Amanda.
The acts included Ross Wilson, The Choir Boys, John Paul Young, Rose Tattoo, Dragon, The Badloves, 1927, Pseudo Echo, Deborah Conway, Steve Kilbey, Wa Wa Nee and Sharon O’Neill.
Below: Deborah Conway
Each act was allotted two or three songs – except Ross Wilson who got four. Let’s face it, Eagle Rock is in a category of its own and deserves special dispensation.
While some acts stuck to the time constraints others found ways to string their 15 minutes of fleetingly rekindled fame out to 20 or more. Pseudo Echo did the longest version of Funky
Town I’ve ever heard or would ever want to hear.
Below: Rose Tattoo
Worse though is the tedious practice of pointing the mic at the audience and getting them to sing the songs they came to hear you sing. If I wanted to hear myself sing Run to Paradise, I would have stayed at home and had long shower. There should be a law that compels artists to sing at least 90 per cent of each song they’re paid to perform.
John Paul Young, though, was the seasoned professional belting out the biggies, Love is in the Air and I Hate the Music. For me, it was he who summed up the night as he sang Yesterday’s Hero. They were heroes 30 or so years ago… and to the crowd at the Hordern, on Saturday night, despite this old curmudgeon among them, they were heroes still. Pure Gold.
Peter Saxon