Even Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey was pleasantly surprised that, after starting out in small, rowdy Melbourne bars 20 years ago, the unique rock trio are still going strong.
An attentive crowd of Gen X-ers, Y-ers and even a few Boomers flooded into a sold-out Tivoli (Fri Jul 11) to wish happy birthday to one of Australian music's most unique products. The night really was all about Something For Kate — no supports, a short film chronicling the band's career and two huge sets of back-catalogue goodness.
The short, by filmmaker Callum Preston, kicked off the evening and provided a great insight into SFK's early years, especially for the younger fans who weren't there for the band's mid-'90s beginnings, and included rare interview footage (but a tad too much Molly Meldrum). One humorous screen moment was bassist Stephanie Ashworth admitting that when she first saw the band — and future husband Dempsey — play a particularly volatile gig prior to her joining, she said to her friend that she'd hate to play in Something For Kate.
As the film faded out, the trio — plus able touring multi-instrumentalist John Hedigan — launched into early thumpers ‘Subject To Change’ and ‘Picards Lament’ to much fanfare.
Often portrayed as something of a difficult, morose enigma, Dempsey looked to be revelling in every moment of the evening, stopping occasionally to exchange humble banter with the crowd. He even gave a shoutout to one punter who were attending their 50th SFK gig. Such gems as ‘Beautiful Sharks’ and ‘The Kids Will Get the Money’ kept the first set entertaining before ‘Survival Expert’ closed it out.
Paul Dempsey © Lachlan Douglas
After a brief interlude, where gig-goers clamoured back to the theatre's bars in droves, Dempsey returned to play two solo tracks: ‘Back To You’ on piano and ‘All The Things That Aren't Good About Scientology’ on acoustic guitar.
Tighter-than-ever rhythm section Ashworth and longtime drummer Clint Hyndman, along with Hedigan, then rejoined for ‘Star-Crossed Citizens’ and the night was once a gain in full swing. Mid-career hits ‘Deja Vu’ and ‘Monsters’ were among the crowd favourites, before they closed with ‘Working Against Me’.
Stephanie Ashworth © Lachlan Douglas
An official 20th-anniversary tour show wasn't going to get away without an encore and before long Something For Kate were back with ‘Captain (Million Miles An Hour)’, off debut ‘Elsewhere For 8 Minutes’, and then bowed out with ‘Pinstripe’. The tracks brilliantly rounded out an emotional, entertaining yet perhaps slightly-too-long gig (hey, who can blame 'em on their birthday!).
Clint Hyndman © Lachlan Douglas
The show could also have benefited from a little more audience interaction, such as when Dempsey gave insights into the lyrical inspiration for a number of tracks.
On the whole, good on SFK for being themselves — successfully, too — for 20 great years. An incredible milestone in an industry of pretenders.
