Live Review: Bernard Fanning & The Black Fins, Sahara Beck

When Powderfinger disbanded, frontman Bernard Fanning made it clear that his solo career would be about doing things on his own terms. Nearly ten years on, it's apparent this is still the case with Fanning and his backing band, The Black Fins, putting on a knock-out show for a sold out Factory Theatre.

Sahara Beck was a fitting start to the evening. With songs like My Baby Gets High, she brought along a crowd-pleasing soundtrack for the early arrivers.

Bernard Fanning & The Black Fins were prompt; you have to give them that to start off with. They kicked off with Shed My Skin from his latest album, Brutal Dawn, with a huge cheer from the crowd. Fanning has become quite renowned for this on-stage humour and it was no different at this show. "Shame on you, Sydney" he joked after telling the crowd he and the band heard them singing Starship's We Built This City from backstage. "We were laughing at you."

It wasn't all that long before Fanning pulls out some more familiar material, Tea & Sympathy's Songbird. It was here that Fanning backed away to allow violinist Salliana Campbell to really shine during a stellar rendition of the solo.

Not Finished Just Yet, Reckless and Tell Me How It Ends all played through, leading to America (Glamour & Prestige) which finished to a cheer of "we love you Bernie". The topic quickly turned from one of love to one of contempt with Belly Of The Beast, dedicated in part to the politicians that were ousted from their seats the day prior. "If you've travelled down from Armidale, tell Barnaby Joyce to get fucked" told Fanning to a cheering crowd.

Hope & Validation followed, which then led to Fanning's band leaving the stage while the man himself took to the piano for a stunning solo version of Powderfinger's Already Gone.

The band returned after the huge singalong to join Fanning in tribute to the great Tom Petty with Learning To Fly. Soon after, Fanning explained the band's anti-encore policy — they prefer to just stay on stage and play another song for the crowd — qualified by saying "we would still like to enjoy your applause so if you wouldn't mind doing some clapping" to a huge laugh.

They wrapped the night with Wish You Well, some State Of Origin jibes and Which Way Home? which turns into an extended jam that included Black Sabbath's Iron Man and Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill.

Time and time again Bernard Fanning has proved himself to be one of Australia's finest musicians and entertainers and this show was no different.