Live Review: Joey Cape & Brian Wahlstrom, Jud Campbell, Matt Hoara

Brisbane stalwart and Army Of Champions frontman Matt Hoara is flying solo tonight, performing a set of acoustic renditions of his band's songs. It's a testament to the quality of Hoara's songwriting that these tracks work so well in acoustic mode, with highlights including Burning Alive, Shining Through and Day Away.

Jud Campbell wastes no time on formalities, plugging in and launching straight into his set. Despite being relatively subdued on stage compared to when he's fronting Disables, Campbell still possesses a confident stage presence and his voice, backed only by his own acoustic guitar and harmonica, soars on songs such as I'm One and Going Home.

Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape has teamed up with keyboardist Brian Wahlstrom for this acoustic tour, and from the outset it's clear the pair are in a playful mood, teasing the crowd by playing the intro to Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer before launching into their set proper, which kicks off with The Contortionist, one of the highlights from Lagwagon's most recent long-player Resolve. Considering the usual frenetic pace of most of his back catalogue, it's pleasantly surprising to hear how well these songs translate into the acoustic guitar/organ arrangements. Wahlstrom proves to be a perfect pairing for Cape, with his keys and backing vocals breathing new life into his songs without drowning out his vocals or guitar. Lagwagon tracks such as After You My Friend, Wind In Your Sails and Violins in particular benefit from the new arrangements. After some ribbing from Cape, who asks the audience if they want to hear an opera song, Wahlstrom obliges with an unexpected, stirring and almost pitch-perfect rendition of the Italian opera track Con Te Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye).

This tour was billed as a tribute to former No Use For A Name singer Tony Sly, who tragically passed away last year, so it's not surprising that songs by Sly – who also toured regularly with Cape as a solo artist – feature heavily tonight. Justified Black Eye, originally a frenetic Bad Religion-esque number, sounds surprisingly poignant in acoustic mode, and leads to a touching sing-along from the audience. Reworked versions of NUFAN's See You On The Outside and Friends With The Enemy also get a rousing reception, as does a fairly accurate reproduction of Discomfort Inn, originally a Sly solo track. Cape and Wahlstrom wrap up proceedings with International You Day, which results in a massive sing-along – making what could have been a morose end to the evening more of a celebration.