Live Review: Ed Kowalczyk

Ed Kowalczyk has come back for the second time this year, and with a loyal following of fans it’s no wonder that Kowalczyk loves Australia and vice versa.

If the name rings a bell it’s because Kowalczyk was the front man and songwriter for one of the most underrated bands of the '90s — Live, whose songs have become radio staples and Kowalczyk filled his heavy two-hour set with plenty from the past and present. 

Kowalczyk cast a solitary figure under the headlights strapped with a guitar and nothing else.

As a result of Live’s split, Kowalczyk has carved for himself a fine solo career with two respectable albums under his belt and a third one on the way. Kowalczyk cast a solitary figure under the headlights strapped with a guitar and nothing else. He presented his Sydney audience with his own favourite songs stripped back to the bare essentials.

The former Live singer cast wonderful waves of nostalgia for the fans who were around since the beginning with classics like Selling The Drama, I Alone, Dolphin’s Cry and Heaven. Kowalczyk even brought back a song he first wrote when he was 19 years old – Pain Lies On The Riverside, which brought many cheers.

Unfortunately the show was partially ruined by a stage invader who made her way up to the stage to dance (badly) around Kowalczyk. It was an embarrassing display but Kowalczyk, being the consummate professional, took it all in good stride and carried on. 

The show not only displayed Kowalczyk’s resilience but the songwriting talents of a continuing remnant of one of the last great rock'n'roll bands from the '90s. Kowalczyk’s solo songs in the set included The Great Beyond, Seven, Angels On A Razor, All That I Wanted and Grace. With an acoustic flare these tracks became intimate and it revealed the bare bones of these great songs.

The last number was perhaps the most powerful and appropriate song. Lightning Crashes paints a heartbreaking tale about the cycle of life and death. Ed Kowalczyk - you deserved a better audience but thank you anyway for revisiting our shores.