Living Colour, who have returned to Australia to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album 'Vivid', played The Triffid (Brisbane) last night (20 December), with Sydney's Flickertail and locals Osaka Punch on support duties.
A healthy crowd greeted Flickertail, who leapt onto the stage with little fuss and made the most of their half-hour set ripping through a selection of their own material, including a refreshingly different take on the festive season with their own ode to Christmas.
Highlight of their set was a cover of 'Heroes' by David Bowie, with vocalist Liam Whelan showing all the vocal chops and moves of a seasoned campaigner leading his charges into battle.
Brisbane funk-metal maestros Osaka Punch followed and such was the anticipation for their performance, the venue filled close to capacity by the time they sauntered on stage to the smooth tunes of 'Thank You For Being A Friend'.
After the obligatory fist pumps and well wishes the boys exploded into their set and from the first note had the crowd moving and swaying, drawing them in with an eclectic mix of music and vocals that sets Osaka Punch apart from the pack.
Vocalist Jack was resplendent in his shiny, red jacket and owned the stage switching from keys to vocals seamlessly and displaying a vocal range that allowed the transition between genres to run smoothly. Each band member played to perfection, doing their own thing but also playing as part of the team with their timing changes and stop/ starts a feature of the set.
Rather than go all out on their anniversary tour, Living Colour walked on stage with little fanfare, minus usual stage props such as banners or backdrops. There was no individual adulation, more a collective band effort that has been a feature of their success over three decades.
Opening with 'Middle Man' from 'Vivid', Corey Glover and co. were on song from the outset with their almost casual approach to their craft striking a chord with their fans who were singing along from the outset.
Guitarist Vernon Reid didn't take long to get into the action, starting second song 'Desperate People' with a typical precision solo that set the tone for the remainder of the evening. Corey showcased every range of his impressive vocal range on fourth song 'Open Letter (To A Landlord)' adding a sense of joy and sorrow that was as impactful as it was sensual.
Although the night belonged to debut album 'Vivid', Living Colour also played a selection of hits from 'Time's Up', 'Shade' and 'Stain', with highlights of the night being 'Which Way To America', 'Glamour Boys', 'This Is The Life' and of course a scintillating rendition of 'Love Rears'.
Each band member had their time in the limelight, with Corey happy to step back and let them take centre stage for their special moments. The beautifully eerie and haunting bass solo that Doug Wimbish dedicated to family and friends back home was the musical highlight of the set, with his bass guitar making sounds and expressions that would have been impossible in the hands of a less accomplished musician.
By the time Living Colour closed the night with a medley of 'Time's Up', 'What's Your Favourite Colour' and James Brown's 'Sex Machine' the crowd had been treated to that elusive, perfect Christmas gift with a sensational night of music across all three bands.
When Corey proclaimed: "Thank you so much, this is why we come back and why we're gonna keep coming back" you could sense it was more than just words. Living Colour has an affinity with Australian fans and may it be one that long continues.
