Venue: Rochford Winery, A Day On The Green
Date: 9th November 2013
Reviewed By: Lyn
As I stepped onto the grassy knoll that takes me to a plethora of loving fans for music and a great day out, I am reminded that it really doesn’t matter if the rain starts falling today. A Day on the Green is one of those events where you will always have a great time (okay, if fires or torrential rain start then that would clearly suck, but you know what I mean), and the music that is presented is usually of fantastic standard but you always gets moneys worth with an array of bands performing on the day.
Due to commitments, I didn’t get up to today’s event till later on but that was okay as my highlight was always going to be The Cruel Sea. I am absolutely stoked they are playing today’s event. With a stunner of a back catalogue, they always impress people, even those who don’t know all the songs. Today’s set list was more about the newer songs and boo, not the older songs. Songs such as No Choice, Daylight, Black Stick, Better Get A Lawyer, Honeymoon Is over and This Is Not The Way Home
(which ended the set). It’s such a freaking pleasure to watch these guys play. They put everything into the music, and fully get into the songs when on stage together. Jim White on drums shows pure adrenalin, Kenny G on bass guitar caresses that guitar like it’s a long lost girlfriend, James Cruickshank on guitar divinely melting each song with such pure talent, Dan Rumour on guitar who presents himself as someone with a bit of caution as well as a bit of gusto and of course the front man, Tex Perkins, who never fails to make me laugh with his banter. His vocals have the right stuff to have what it takes to entertain the crowd and they don’t falter throughout the set.
As the sun dropped, The Cruel Sea head up to the merchandise tent for autographs to the happy punters whilst on stage Bernard Fanning enters and into darkness the valley goes as the sun says goodbye for the day, it was time for the light show
on stage to take effect and it looks amazing. Into the music from the last two albums Bernard sang, the rain held off and people were getting up on their feet and soaking in the music with their bottle of wine in hand. The set list included songs off both albums from Battleships, Wish You Well, Watch Over Me and Songbird.
An amazing amount of talent today. Kudos to the other musicians who played, Sarah Blasko, Bob Evans and Whitely who would have been just as amazing to watch and listen to.
