Jack Jones insists he isn’t a nostalgic person. But on the 30-year anniversary of the reformation of his breakthrough band Southern Sons, he admits he’s looking back on their body of work with fondness. That affection he has for his early work and so much great music of the past made Sunday’s show at Lizotte’s a celebration of what could only be called nostalgia.
Decades have passed since the Southern Sons hey-day, yet the rapturous reception to the opening strains of “Always and Ever” are a testament to the place those songs still have in the hearts of the packed-out Newcastle venue. Stripped back and acoustic, Jack’s incredible voice really came to the fore. He’s lost nothing over the years. It wasn’t just the big hits that earned applause though. Album tracks like “Something More” and “Wildest Love” were received just as rapturously. I marvelled at the way the human mind works. These songs aren’t on Spotify and my cassettes have long since given up the ghost, so at least 20 years must have passed since I heard these songs. Yet I still found myself singing along to every word without missing a beat. I guess the music you listen to in your formative years really doesn’t leave you.
Jack punctuated the songs with tales of his own formative years in music and caught us up on his what he’s been doing since the band parted ways. He joked that there’s never a quick story where he’s concerned, and I sensed some of the crowd getting restless as he reminisced, but I hung on his every word. I’ve always felt like if you simply want to hear the music, you could stay home with a CD. Lizotte’s has always given audiences a little more than that, and I relished the opportunity to learn more than those Smash Hits magazines of my youth ever taught me.
While Southern Sons’ music was the focus, Jack also took time to celebrate the classics. “Norwegian Wood” and “Blackbird” were a nod to his recent Beatles tribute shows. Covers of over iconic songs including “Stairway to Heaven,” “Dear Prudence,” and “Satisfied Mind” were less predictable and greatly received.
I was just 10 when Southern Sons released their debut album, so I was too young to join in when they played the pubs and clubs in the ‘90s. This show gave me a chance to experience the music I loved, and then some, as I couldn’t before. Thankfully, I’m not done. When Southern Sons announced their reformation for the upcoming One Electric Day shows, I snapped up tickets for Sydney in the presale. Seeing Jack at Lizotte’s on Sunday put on such an amazing show has made me only more excited for the band’s return.
Image source: own photo