Crazy name, hey? 'Capretto: A goat-based dish that has exotic spices and local ingredients.'
The front stage displayed every one of those ingredients. Jack Jones. Joe Camilleri Wendy Matthews. Dave Gleeson. Rai Thistlethwayte.
Brisbane's The Princess Theatre (1s August) had hungry patrons lined up to feast on The Fabulous Caprettos menu. A sold-out event and the second last show of the tour.
The mood of sheer, unadulterated freedom after a long, cold week was palpable. No holding back. Decades came rushing back when these voices first belted out what were to become Aussie national anthems of sorts.
Image © Michelle Cop
It was as if someone had wheeled the Great Australian Jukebox in, with the clarity of The Princess Theatre's sound and lighting displaying these revered artists.
Rai from Thirsty Merc, Jack from Southern Sons and other collabs, Wendy as her own dynamic Canadian-born Australian icon, Joe Camilleri – well, pick what your favourite is here, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons or The Black Sorrows; and Dave Gleeson, frontman for The Screaming Jets who also did time with The Angels.
This was a night of our mates and their music. Unscripted to the point where even their practiced ad-lib didn't know what was coming next – funny, friendly and sometimes unrepeatable.
Image © Michelle Cop
Sure, we could have stayed home and dragged some vinyl or CDs out and listened to perfect recordings. Could have yeah, but no. It'd be all a bit sterile. The inclusive banter between songs was what putting the 'i' in 'live'. 'I' was here on the night, not at the original recordings. All human on this Friday night, and all a bit brisky.
Rai's voice was failing due to some bug that he acquired. Road touring does that. Jack was still recovering himself. The audience urged Rai to press on. They all supported each other. We loved it anyway.
Huge kudos to these talent-burdened guys: Gerry Pantazis on drums and Jason Vorherr on bass for holding the timekeeping and full bottom-end thumping along – apart from singing as well.
Throw in songs including 'Harley And Rose', 'Hold Me In Your Arms', 'Someday, Someday', 'I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You', and 'Shivers' – there was a stack more – and you have some idea of the breadth of rock talent onstage.
Image © Michelle Cop
The Fabulous Caprettos is possibly the third reincarnation of this franchise. This is a powerful Australian supergroup concept – words chosen meticulously and accurately.
It identifies mateship and a party atmosphere where they sing each other's songs and fool around, but invited us in on the fun. This is why they sell out shows. It's simple really.
- written by Stu Robertson
More photos from the concert.
