Mr Collette.
Mr N. Collette.
Mr Ned Collette.
Mr Ned Collette with his band.
Mr Ned Collette with his band, three guitars, a delay pedal, and some bloody good songs.
Ned Collette is one of most talented musician/singer/songwriters in Australia. Well, he is in my fair and unbiased opinion anyway. The man and his band shouldn’t be filling the Hoey, he should be selling out the Metro, or a similar sized venue. But maybe playing at the Hopetoun Hotel, only adds to his charm, because Ned Collette, whatever his level of popularity is, still comes across as a real unknown genuine find to first time listeners.
I didn’t get a set list, but since everything was off Future Suture, I can safely say that he did play the following in a particular order that isn’t listed here:
Ned’s Dream
Sell Your Life
Turning Turning
The Country With a Smile
Race
First Love
Winter Holiday
Forty Children
Show Your Hand
And that he didn’t play Lost and Found! Sorry, I’m slightly bitter about that. Seeing as it is my favourite song off Future Suture and it’s got awesome sounding backwards guitar at the end, which I’m informed he does LIVE.
But gig grudge aside, a round of applause must go to his band. Joe Talia on drums, and Ben Bourke on bass, who are a pair of talented musicians in their own right, and only add to the magic. And I will say that while Ned and his band may sound slightly sedated and poppy when coming through speakers, this in fact bares no actual resemblance to them live, with Ned and his cohorts doing their own fair share of whistling and rocking out in true Guitar Hero fashion.
Supporting Ned + Band was Jamie Hutchings, which when compared to the fact other cities are getting Pikelet was to be honest, a bit of a let down. I mean Jamie performed an ok set, but I’m more a fan of his band Bluebottle Kiss rather his solo stuff. The Hoey was hot inside as ever, but then it wouldn’t be the Hoey if it wasn’t, and the crowd were really good, a real nice mix of people who were there it seems to enjoy the music, giving the place a relaxed vibe.
Ned Collette is wonderfully layered on record there’s not denying that, but make no mistake hearing him live, isn’t just listening to the same songs only louder. With his band fully behind him working the magic, three guitars, prowess with the delay pedal, and his heartbreaking voice…Ned’s songs come alive, becoming all the more real, and interesting in the process.
The rest of Ned Collette’s dates are as follows:
16th Nov 2007 Roxanne Parlour, Melbourne
23rd Nov 2007 Karova Lounge, Ballarat
24h Nov 2007 Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff ,Vic
27th Nov 2007 The Front Cafe, Canberra
28th Nov 2007 The Cambridge, Newcastle
30th Nov 2007 Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba
1st Dec 2007 Hanger, Brisbane
6th Dec 2007 Rocket Bar, Adelaide
7th Dec 2007 The Norfolk, Fremantle
8th Dec 2007 78 Records- Instore All Ages, Perth
8th Dec 2007 The Rosemount, Perth
14th Dec 2007 Meredith Music Festival, Meredith
18th Jan 2008 Corner Hotel, Melbourne
19th Jan 2008 Corner Hotel Melbourne
