The Beasts of Bourbon

The Beasts of Bourbon
Reviewer Martin Boulton
August 15, 2005

http://www.theage.com.au/news/reviews/beasts-return-with-menace/2005/08/14/1123957943758.html

Hi-Fi Bar, city, August 13

To celebrate the release of their live album Low Life, the Beasts of Bourbon's show on Saturday night was typically menacing and crammed with tunes they have written or made their own over 20 years of delivering scowling, intimidating rock'n'roll.

Dressed in a black T-shirt and looking ready for a fight, Tex Perkins prowled around the stage, glaring at the audience during Bad Revisited, most of the time looking like he would rather be anywhere else than having to entertain a full house of fans.

But Perkins is no ordinary performer, and years of strutting on stages here and overseas has taught him and his buddies how to build a performance.

After breaking his back last year, Brian Hooper looked comfortable with his bass guitar slung low. Guitarist Spencer P. Jones went about his business, puffing away now and then on a ciggie, while Charlie Owen (guitar) and Tony Pola (drums) looked and played like they had been in the band since day one.

By the time Jones was strumming the opening to Ride On, AC/DC's classic tale of broken promises and broken hearts, Perkins had spotted a bloke in the crowd who must have looked a little hot, so he emptied his beer on the guy's head.

For a moment or two the area around the front of the stage was a tinderbox as Perkins gestured to the slightly soggy punter to climb up and do something about it. The band played on, Hooper grinning at the sight of it all and clearly glad to be back.

Just Right and Black Milk sounded as good as ever, Perkins showing he has lost none of his enthusiasm for songs born out of what was originally a side project.

Drop Out, from 1984's Axeman's Jazz album, likewise has lost none of its appeal over the years with its lazy, this-song-could-fall-over-at-any-second guitar sound drooling off the stage with the same appeal it has always had.

After a short break they swaggered back. By this stage Tex looked like there was nowhere he would rather be, and punched out Let's Get Funky, Saturated and Hard For You before leaving the crowd battered and better for the experience.

Even the guy wearing the beer would be happy with that.