The Cairns Review

The Backsliders brought the very best of Australian 21st century blues to Cairns on Friday night playing in one of their favourite venues Tanks.

The Backsliders with vocals by Newtown lad Dom Turner and drummer dynamo Rob Hirst, formerly of Midnight Oil and soon to be part of Midnight Oil and join by Harmonicist Ian Collard.

The tanks live venue has come along way since its early days, with a full stage ste up and lighting, curtaining around the whole tanks and a new bar...it looks absolutely fantastic and with airconditiong it could soon be a year round live venue....

The crowd in attendance were treated to a selections of songs from there extensive catlogue but the special treat of the night was hearing a number of tracks from their new album due out in October....

They rocked the tank and Rob Hirst even played parts of the infrastructure but the most impressive part of the night was a three set acoustic unamplified jam at front of stage...it was magic.

The world class working musicians gave the crowd a great time and looked like they were having so much fun too.... there Rolling Stones cover Gimme Shelter was a reimagining of this classic song...pure magic.

No word on whether The Oils will be headed this far north in 2017 but I wouldnt bet against it.

Setlist

99 Years

Emmett Till

Gonna Get Hurt

You Are Not Alone

Shock Jock

Feeling Blue

Dark Side of Newtown

Flannelette Border

House on The Corner

Dickhead

Godspeed

Campfire

Light on Tonight

Relax your Mind

Gimme Shelter

I Wish You Would

You Three