Live Review: Under The Southern Stars

The Getaway Plan performed diligently in the early afternoon as Hart's Mill slowly filled up, with a clear gap between the diehards standing on the barrier and the rest of the audience scattered around on lawn chairs. Bringing solid energy to their performance, the band and crowd seemed unfazed by the whiplash weather - an overcast sky offering respite after Adelaide had suffered its hottest day on record the day prior. The band closed on their huge hit Where The City Meets The Sea, energising the few punters pressed against the barrier.

British India took the stage next. The band has been touring and writing frequently over the last few years and it shows. Frontman Declan Melia set the tone for the casual set with opening remarks, “It's always nice to play in a port. I don't know what I mean by that,” before they launched into Black & White Radio. Standout moments from the set were the guitar solos, sonically cutting through and giving insight into the broad appeal of the group.

The Superjesus were returning to Adelaide on a high for Under The Southern Stars, following a sold-out major show as well as a secret show less than six months earlier for the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Sumo. They made a dramatic entrance despite minor technical difficulties and launched straight into Enough To Know, Sarah McLeod wasting no time getting the audience engaged in a call and response for the chorus. The band, all in black, ripped through the set with the confidence of a group once again at a high point. McLeod’s vocals were as strong as ever, alternating from soaring highs to growling lows whenever needed. She split her pants partway through the set due to "singing too hard" with tape quickly applied to the ruptured area. Despite rocking too hard for her pants, McLeod could not be stopped, powering through the rest of the set with no less vigour.

Eskimo Joe hit the stage not wanting to lose any momentum. Opening with the soaring Sarah, their signature emotive rock flowed through the set. Kav Temperley was in an earnest mood, sincerely thanking the crowd for continuing to follow the group as well as paying tribute to bands like You Am I for bringing them on tour. Highlights came with the heartfelt London Bombs and classic track Black Fingernails, Red Wine, which was topped off with dramatic red lighting that sent the crowd into a near mosh.

You Am I’s set started with Tim Rogers announcing that bassist Andy Kent had a family emergency and that guitarist Davey Lane would be taking over bass duties for the duration of the show. They then launched into How Much Is Enough, showing that a missing member wouldn’t slow them down. Rogers and Lane coordinated in matching kimonos, playing into their rock star image, and smashed through their set with the considerable swagger. Unfazed by being one band member down, Rogers threw out quips between songs and swigged white wine from the bottle. The peak of the set, in a set full of high points, was arguably Heavy Heart, which was reverb-heavy, noodly and sparse like you've never heard it before.

Hoodoo Gurus took the stage to the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme before rocking straight into A Place In The Sun. They threw in rarities like Gene Hackman thanks to a request from the crowd - after a short meeting to remember which key it starts in, showing they’re happy to roll with the punches. The sun set on the band as they ripped through tracks like Poison Pen, with wailing harmonica solos cutting through the air, and 1000 Miles Away, where the stars of the stage lighting matched those above. Closing on Like Wow - Wipeout!, it was the perfect finish for a day full of Oz rock classics.