Baby Animals @ Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong Beach – 8 February 2019

The quality gigs are coming thick and fast on the Central Coast. It’s rare that I can see two great shows back-to-back without travelling to Sydney or Newcastle, but it’s a sign of the buzz around the Coast at the moment. I only hope the music industry’s enthusiasm for my local area continues.
Ettalong Diggers is booking so many quality acts of late; the Baby Animals are the latest in a long line. The band room in Diggers is fairly unassuming, but it’s the kind of place where a rock band like the Baby Animals feels right at home. I’d previously seen the band play Red Hot Summer. I was impressed, but there was something that felt a little off about catching them in the harsh light of a summer’s day. They seemed more at home here, with enthusiastic punters with beers in hand happily singing along to more than just the hits.

Shows like Red Hot Summer give bands limited time, so the hits always come out early. I thought I might be left waiting at this extended gig, but instead the band wanted to fire us up from the get go. “Rush You” and “One Word” got us all singing along. I must admit, I’m not as familiar with the songs that didn’t make the charts, but it matters not with a woman like Suze deMarchi on stage. She’s such a compelling frontwoman, a force of nature that has the audience in the palm of her hand from the start. The natural chemistry she has with her bandmates is a joy to witness.

This was my third Baby Animals gig but in some ways Friday night’s show felt like an introduction. This was the way I was meant to see the band. Now to explore the back catalogue so I know a few more of those killer cuts for next time! I’ll get my chance when the Baby Animals kick off their greatest hits tour, supported by Killing Heidi, in May.

3 May 2019 – Revesby Workers Club, Revesby
4 May 2019 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
10 May 2019 – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
17 & 18 May 2019 – The Gov, Adelaide
24 May 2019 – Astor Theatre, Perth
25 May 2019 – Metropolis, Fremantle
31 May 2019 – Southport RSL, Southport
1 June 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane

Image source: own photos

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