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Actually it doesn't
seem that... But it is indeed seven years ago now, that our superstar from
Down Uunder was here last ime in Germany. And Of course I aksed him
immidiates, what hte reason for this long break was. Yeah well, you can't
call it a creative break. It's more or less a matter of request. And
there was something else happening in the life of the 52 year old. This was
a heartattack about 18 months ago, where he needed surgery. But Jimmy rather
goes for a long live, and you can't pull down a working class hero like
Barnsey.
For everybody who is not so familiar with the name, I just wanna mention,
that he's one of the very big names in Australia for the past 3 decades. He
can look back on 14 top 40 albums with Cold Chisel and 12 Soloalbums, which
charted as well.... but Australia is far away. And we here on the other side
of the globe ain't really familiar with the Down Under hitlists.
Although Jimmy Barnes has never neclected Europe, and has alway returned,
though the venues here are not half as big, as the one's he's playing in
Australia. It's a fact, that he is the act with the hightest chartpositions
in Australia ever. Also the current release 'Out In The Blue' has also been
a no. 1. It came out last year. The music now is more calm and laid back.
But it's still Jimmy Barnes.
And he is happy to play also the small clubs here in Germany. Other artists
wouldn't do so, because they fear about their status. Barnsey thinks
differently. He's is pleased to be back again, and not just him but also
half of his family. His youngest daughter Elly May Barnes, just about 19
years young, is handling the support, accompanied by some of Daddy's
background band.
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Well, she
is very pretty and attractive with this slight asian touch (her mum is from
Thailand) and she has inherited some ot Daddy's talent, no doubt about that.
She's presenting us mainly cover versions in a half acoustic way without
drum beat.It still sounds a bit thin. Though she receives quite a bit
applause, some of it from the male spectators in the audiance. But everybody
has to start from the beginning, and most of it is a matter of
selfconfidence, practice and stage dominance. Originally Jimmy's other
daughter Mahalia should have don the job, but she got sick, so Elly May
jumped in.
Later on, she also takes over some background vocals at her dad's set.
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Son Jack
sits behind the drumkit. And last but not least, also Jimmy's wife Jane is
here, handling some off stage jobs and cheering up her family up on stage.
Jimmy Barnes is also the first act, playing the new Alabamahalle here in
Munich. It's a nice middle size venue, fitting in aprox. 1.200 people
according to the promoter. I can't really believe it, but if so, then it
must be really crowded. Tonight there are about 400 fans, most of them
musiclovers, who own every Cold Chisel album and Barnes release from the
past. And some of them, like myself, have seen this classy musician live on
stage before.
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For me it's
the fourth time over many years, I'm checking out this australian artist.
And of course I draw automatically some comparison to past concerts. Jimmy
has always been and still is the working class here, who develops into an
animal on stage and spreads all his sweat and water around and screams the
hell out.
He still screams, but not as loud as he used to and with justhaf the power.
Maybe it's his age now, or the illness, which doesn't allow him to be too
enthusiastic. Maybe it's also the more quiet tunes on the current Album 'Out
In The Blue' records. But despitge of all these facts, it's not bad at all.
Exspecially when 'Good Time' comes up (an Easy Beats cover he rerecorded in
1986 with Michael Hutchence from INXS and had a big hit ) people finally
jump up for joy.
To keep the
average mood, the next song is 'Merry Go Round', another smashhit and
classic tune. And of course he's doing a song together with his daughter.
Yes
and of course we get 'too Much Ain't Enough Love' (it's the encore and not
shown on the setlist - but watch videoclip).
No you really can't complain, what you get here for your money. The Lion is
roaring again, only not as loud as he used to, like I said before. And
the chilli spice has lost a bit of it's heat. Yes and of course
there could have been a few more people. And though I've been told, that
Munich has been one of the best sold places on this tour, I can't avoid the
feeling, that we might have seen Jimmy Barnes for the very last time over
here in this country and in Munich. The future will show....
http://www.jimmybarnes.com/
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