In a perfectly setup main hall of Perth's The Rechabite, the audience buzzed in anticipation to hear the stories of Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison (The Doors), Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Robert Johnson – music legends who left us far too early, all dying at the age of 27.
With a sound system capable of being turned up to eleven and a big screen behind the band providing an immersive audio-visual experience, it was perfect for the killer artist quotes, samples, and voice-overs to come (22 January).
The show started with Dusty Lee Stephensen (Wanderers) and the house band. They played a haunting blues intro from Robert Johnson, giving the audience a moment of calm before the upcoming whirlwind of a performance.
They launched into the Nirvana monster track 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. They exuded energy and were a tight, well-oiled machine, unlike the raw early days of Nirvana.
A drinking story about Robert Johnson (can you have too much?) with samples and quotes from and about the artist was next, before transitioning to his music.
It was clear 27 Club was more than a music performance; it was a storytelling journey, exploring what made these incredible artists such legends.
Carla Lippis (Mondo Psycho) entered the stage with a super smooth transition into the Amy Winehouse classic 'Rehab'.
Carla brought energy and enthusiasm and continued the intriguing stories about the artists, leaving the audience to ponder: Are they true or are they rumours?
Read our interview with Carla.
Sarah McLeod of The Superjesus fame was next to the stage, bringing the power of Janis Joplin's 'Cry Baby'. The performance was infectious and had the crowd moving.
The band's onstage chemistry and true passion for the music were highly evident. A deep story of Jim Morrison's early days and a superb rendition of The Doors' 'Break On Through' followed.
As the stories intertwined with a reminder of how incredible the music was, the status of these legends grew in my mind.
The band leaned into grunge with another Nirvana classic, 'All Apologies', incorporating an 'MTV Unplugged' feel. The ladies were chair-dancing on the right of the stage, creating an awesome house-party vibe.
A Janis Joplin/ Doors mash-up followed with 'Roadhouse Blues', 'People Are Strange', and 'Mercedes Benz', to name a few tracks that brought the crowd interaction to a peak.
For the musicians in the room, the band skilfully delivered some of Hendrix's signature guitar moves with a rousing performance of 'Foxy Lady'.
A driving Nirvana medley came next with 'Come As You Are' and more. Finally, there was a breather from the intensity of the performance with the pace slowing for Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black'.
A 27 Club story and track super-medley closed the evening, including 'About A Girl', 'All Along The Watchtower', and 'Valerie', to name a few.
The band's passion for the music continued to shine through in the quality of the performance; they could have played through the night and into the next morning.
This was one of the many amazing quotes from the evening: "It's better to burn out than fade away." Even better is to leave a legacy in music that will never fade.
The 27 Club performance did that legacy proud and should be at the top of your list for Fringe World attendance.
27 Club plays as part of 2026 Fringe World at The Rechabite (Perth) until 15 February (except Mondays).
