Live Review: Rodriguez, Russell Morris, Stephen Pigram Trio, Melody Pool

Melody Pool opened the evening with her smooth, delicate voice, offering a soulful render of Leonard Cohen’s beloved Famous Blue Raincoat. Mingled with originals including her latest single Love, She Loves Me, Pool delivered a palatable peek into her recently released Deep Dark Savage Heart album. This perfectly set the mood for the WA leg of Rodriguez’s tour.

Saltwater Country locals, Stephen Pigram Trio seemed right at home on the Kings Park stage, transforming the over 6,000 capacity venue into an intimate folk rock affair. Strumming out favourites like Crocodile River and World Is Turning, lyrics poured into the warm summer air like a welcomed breeze. “I wrote this little song to keep warm,” Pigram notes the irony of the Adelaide winter-themed ditty.

Get It Right upped the tempo, motivating the standing crowd to dance and bop along while Aussie icon Russell Morris happily played through his first track. “I’m going to play three blues albums... and then I’ll play my father’s songs,” Morris comically highlighted his lengthy rock career.

Whistles and cheers saluted tracks from his new album Red Dirt Red Heart, followed by classic Aussie anthems like The Real Thing. A wailing guitar solo received deserving hoots and hollers. “We’ll bring Santa Claus if you sing louder!” Morris playfully teased the crowd.

Cheeky stage banter segued each song; “We’re going to go back in time... to the '60s... when I looked like a little girl... when my hair was long.” Morris then plucked into his classic cover of Bob Dylan’s It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.

Crimson drapes and soft, violet lighting sat still in the background, patiently waiting for the Detroit native to appear. A quick intro and the legendary Rodriguez was carefully escorted centre stage, enveloped in applause. Observably fragile, every heart in the venue stopped at his first inaudible strums. A flick of a switch, then Doors' Light My Fire reverberated over the grassy amphitheatre. He’s still got it! The show had officially begun.

A brilliant mix of classic covers and celebrated originals propelled the fabled songwriter’s performance. I Wonder, Sam Cooke’s Chain Gang and Cause were sung as passionately as if it were the first time.

Overwhelming love streamed on stage the moment the famed words of Sugar Man escaped Rodriguez’s lungs. “Sugar Man is a descriptive song, not a prescriptive song... stay off drugs, lots of hugs,” Rodriguez insightfully explained, while fielding shouts of admiration. “I love you back,” he politely responded.

An excellent performance all 'round with a standing ovation to close the historic show. Every soul in attendance knowingly bared witness to the poetic justice of a true legend.