Tag: Lizotte’s

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ian Moss @ Lizotte’s, Mulubinba/Newcastle – 25 May 2024

As I stepped into Lizotte’s on Saturday night, I realised that it’s been far too long. It’s the kind of venue that welcomes you back like an old friend, no matter how much time has passed though. It may be under new management, but other than the hosts wearing more sequins and the décor receiving a few more fairy lights, little has changed. The rotating menu still features old favourites like the salt and pepper squid with passionfruit sauce and classic fish and chips. If anything, the dishes were even better than we remembered. With bellies and glasses full, we settled in for a fantastic night of music.

Lachlan Edwards hit my radar back in 2020 with the release of his EP Once More, and I relished the opportunity to discover his new music. He was just 17 back then, a teen showing great promise but certainly green. He’s blossomed over the last few years, with European travel under his belt and a bunch of songs inspired by it set to be released later this year. While love songs dominated his EP, this set revealed some heartbreak. Never easy to navigate, but if you can come away from it with some great songs, so much the better. I loved hearing all this new material, stripped back and raw. Although it’s made me pretty excited for the new EP to come.

Lachlan warmed up the stage for Ian Moss, who delivered a similarly stripped-back show. I’ve seen Mossy more times than I can count now, and he never disappoints. This kind of acoustic show is my favourite. The set list can change on a dime, so you never know what’s coming, and he has the space to chat to the crowd. It’s so loose, easy, and lovely. We heard about his frustrations with his Apple Watch always wanting to give advice; it ended up on the floor after the first song. “Rivers Run Dry”, the title track from his new album, was so much more poignant after learning about the decades-long friendship that inspired it. We laughed hearing about the generous steak meal he enjoyed after volunteering to get a flat tyre fixed and leaving the rest of the Cold Chisel boys freezing in the middle of nowhere. It was one of those special nights where you didn’t feel that traditional divide between artist and audience; we were all just there to have a good time.

It almost goes without saying that the music was stellar. Mossy has a voice and presence that fills the room, and he’s one of the best guitarists we’ve got. The set was a rare treat, littered with songs from the fantastic new album Rivers Run Dry, hits from Matchbook and the Chisel days, and some unexpected treats. “Message from Baghdad” from Six Strings! A stunning cover of “Cry Me a River”! What a joy. And of course, there were those classic singalongs. Nothing makes me feel like I belong more than being in a room of Aussies belting out tracks like “When the War is Over”, “Flame Trees,” and “Tucker’s Daughter”.

After a pretty stressful week, this show was exactly what I needed. Two fantastic artists, one near the start of their journey, the other a seasoned veteran showing no signs of slowing down. Mossy wraps up his Solo & Acoustic Rivers Run Dry shows next weekend but he’s got gigs all through the rest of the year, including a few in the United Kingdom. If you can see him anywhere, make sure you do. You will not be disappointed.

1 June 2024 – Tanks Arts Centre, Yidinji Country/Edge Hill
2-4 July 2024 – Big Red Bash, Wirrarri/Birdsville
10 July 2024 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
12 July 2024 – Bush Hall, London
15-17 August 2024 – Mundi Mundi Bash 2024, Wiradjuri Country/Bruie Plains (SOLD OUT)
17 August 2024 – D’agfest @ Dag Pub, Jinibara Country/D’aguilar
19-26 October 2025 – Rock the Boat, Eora/Sydney

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jack Jones @ Lizotte’s, Newcastle – 9 June 2019

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes @ Lizotte’s, Newcastle – 4 December 2018

I always feel special being one of the 200 guests at a Lizotte’s show. But when the show is a Jimmy Barnes gig that sold out within minutes, as it was on Tuesday night, the word special doesn’t seem to cover it. Jimmy Barnes is a performer who can and does sell out large venues. In just a few short months he’s headlining the Red Hot Summer tour, taking top billing on a line-up featuring such talents as Joan Jett, Richard Clapton, and The Living End. Seeing him in a much smaller space lets Barnesy perform a different kind of show, one that’s more personal and less mainstream. It’s one I feel privileged to have witnessed.

Elly-May Barnes played support act, Jimmy’s youngest daughter and a real talent in her own right. She supported Jimmy the last time I saw him at Lizotte’s two years ago, although at that show she was flanked by Reece Mastin, Sarah McLeod, and Kara Jayne. She was a lot more exposed here, sharing the stage with only a keyboardist and her sister EJ for a few numbers, but I felt she was much stronger than last time. Clad in an LED covered cape and tight-fitting black outfit, she looked every inch the sassy rockstar. Her voice was strong from the start in a set of covers celebrating songs from David Bowie, Neil Young, Dionne Warwick, and more. Her song choice was spot on, her stage presence fierce, and her voice soulful. What a wonderful way to start the night.

Jimmy Barnes was the first musician I ever saw live. I’ve seen him countless times since then. I always enjoy his set, but I’m most excited when he delivers something new. Bigger shows don’t let you do that. Crowds of fans demand to hear the hits, to sing along from the start. Get together a much smaller group, a more select audience, and I find they’re much happier to experience something different. So we heard covers of songs from artists you might not expect Jimmy to cover like Nat King Cole and Mahalia Jackson. There were incredible new songs yet to be released. There was time to tell stories which made our experiences hearing these songs so much richer, because there were no hecklers telling him to get on with it and sing.

Jimmy doesn’t leave audiences without hearing the songs they came to hear though. While this was a set with fewer hits, we still enjoyed chances to sing along with old favourites like “The Weight,” “Khe Sanh,” “Flame Trees,” “Working Class Man,” and “When The War is Over.” His more poignant, understated take on “Working Class Man,” a world away from the pub rock number released, was especially moving.

Jimmy might have been the headliner, but this was really a Barnes family show. Elly-May and EJ both served as backing vocalists alongside their mum Jane. Son-in-law Ben Rodgers had lead guitar duties while son Jackie on drums kept the beat. EJ slayed a solo performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Seeing the members of the Barnes clan all up there supporting and admiring one another was beautiful to witness.

Beautiful isn’t a word that typically springs to mind watching a Jimmy Barnes performance. His shows are typically rocking, bold, ballsy affairs. But I feel so thrilled to have seen the softer side of one of Australia’s most enduring and iconic musicians in Newcastle this week.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thirsty Merc @ Lizotte’s, Newcastle – 16 November 2018

I first saw Thirsty Merc way back in 2004, when they supported Maroon 5 at the Gaelic Club. Incidentally Maroon 5 were bland, failing to excite me the way their debut album Songs About Jane did. I became an instant Thirsty Merc fan though. I’ve seen them countless times over the last 14 years, but I think last Friday’s show at Lizotte’s might just be the best.

Owen Campbell warmed up the stage, delivering a stellar set of swampy blues. Brian Lizotte had given him a big wrap before he stepped out, and he certainly lived up to that hype. Originals made up the bulk of his set, but they were so good that it didn’t matter that we couldn’t sing along. While the originals slayed, a cover of Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” was a real highlight for those of us in the know. As I listened to Owen play I noticed there was none of the murmur that normally hums in a room while support acts play. I think most of us were as transfixed as I was on his set. Either that or they were just too busy filling their face with some of Lizotte’s legendary food.

I might not have used my voice much during Owen Campbell’s set, but I made up for it during Thirsty Merc’s. What a treat it was for long-time fans like me. “Undivided Love,” a personal favourite my husband and I can’t remember hearing live, came out early. Another favourite we never expect to hear, “Build A Bridge” was delivered with such passion. A crowd request for “Tommy and Krista” was another highlight. A slowed-down version of “My Completeness” revealed the tenderness of the lyrics. Not that there wasn’t anything for casual radio fans though. Thirsty Merc delivered hits like “In the Summertime” and “20 Good Reasons” with just as much gusto as the more obscure numbers.

I joked to my husband as we left that it’s almost as if the band had intel on exactly what he’d want to hear. A killer set takes you a long way towards a great show. But there was something more at play. Rai told us how much he loves Lizotte’s, so maybe the joy that comes from playing a favourite venue played a part. Perhaps the lads are simply enjoying playing a bit more now they’re not touring as relentlessly as they used to. Whatever the case, I’m so glad I caught the show. If you haven’t seen Thirsty Merc before or it’s been a while between shows, check them out on their Summer 2018 tour. Right now it seems they’re better than ever.

23 November 2018 – SS&A Club, Albury
24 November 2018 – Mulwala Ski Club, Mulwala
25 November 2018 – One Electric Day Festival, Werribee
30 November 2018 – O’Donoghues, Emu Plains
1 December 2018 – Bathurst RSL, Bathurst
7 December 2018 – Moruya Waterfront Hotel Motel, Moruya
14 December 2018 – Days of Summer, Chelsea Heights (with Daryl Braithwaite)
15 December 2018 – The Palms @ Crown Melbourne
Southbank (with Daryl Braithwaite)
28 December 2018 – Laurieton United Services Club, Laurieton
29 December 2018 – Moonee Beach Tavern, Moonee Beach
30 December 2018 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
31 December 2018 – The Ville Resort-Casino, Townsville

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kav Temperley @ Lizotte’s, Newcastle – 20 October 2018

A night at Lizotte’s always feels like coming home. I don’t get to visit as often as I’d liked, since the Central Coast arm folded, but it’s a venue worth making the trip up the Pacific Highway for. The musicians are always first-class, but many venues can claim that. Add in delicious food, friendly and attentive waitstaff, and quality beverages though, and you’ll start understanding why Lizotte’s has a special atmosphere that’s all its own. Music fans love being here, and musicians love playing here. If you’ve ever caught one of the live streaming videos the venue posts on Facebook, you’d understand that all those good vibes help magic happen at Lizotte’s. So not even the thunderstorms could dampen my enthusiasm for a road trip to Newie for Kav Temperley’s Lizotte’s show on Saturday night.

Kruger James played violin on Kav’s new solo record, All Your Devotion, but he got the chance to step into the spotlight in his support slot. I’m sure his blend of rapping and electric violin wasn’t to everyone’s tastes, but I was transfixed. His tracks were soulful, with clever rhymes and positive vibes. I would have loved to hear him with a band rather than a backing track, but I understand support acts have budget constraints. His own electric violin really elevated his work. A freestyle rap referencing the desserts people were enjoying near the stage, the fantastic venue, and his music got everyone on side. Even if rap isn’t your genre of choice, it’s impossible to be unimpressed by such clever spontaneous rhymes.

Kav was the man we all came to see, and he appeared every bit the star as he stepped on stage in his leather jacket, with an acoustic guitar strapped on. He might have been on tour to promote his new album All Your Devotion, but he wasn’t going to ignore the fans who’d been with him throughout his musical journey. Opening tracks “From the Sea” and “Older Than You” made me wonder why I’d left it so long to catch him live. The stripped-back performances helped me appreciate these radio-friendly hits just a little more.

After a little trip down memory lane, it was time to celebrate Kav’s new solo record. I absolutely love this album. While I always enjoyed Eskimo Joe music, this album has converted me from casual listener to real fan. So I was thrilled to hear those songs and the stories behind them. Since he played on the record, it was only fitting that Kruger joined Kav for a few numbers, including one of the night’s standouts, “Queen of My Heart.” I’d questioned the inclusion of “Christmas Lights,” feeling a festive song was a little out of place on this album of songs about love lost and found. However, being involved in the call-and-response chorus of this modern Christmas song, it made total sense. Even in October. What great fun.

Stepping out solo when you’re part of such a well-loved Australian band must be daunting. There’s no one else to hide behind, and since you’re the only one making the music, it often comes from a more intimate, personal place. But if there were any nerves, Kav Temperley didn’t show them. His set at Lizotte’s was wonderful, a celebration of this fantastic new collection of songs he’s created which didn’t forget the music that thrust him into the spotlight. There are just a few dates left on the All Your Devotion tour. If you’re near one of these Western Australian venues, trust me: get yourself a ticket. Just like the album they’re promoting, these shows are sure to be something special.

27 October 2018 – Mojos, Fremantle
2 November 2018 – River Hotel, Margaret River
3 November 2018 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes @ Lizotte’s, Newcastle – 13 September 2016

Jimmy Barnes is the type of singer who can sell out entertainment centres, so it’s always a thrill when he decides to put on a more intimate show at a venue like Lizotte’s. It’s been far too long since I’ve made the trek down the Pacific Highway to the only remaining Lizotte’s venue, but the promise of “hits and rarities” was too appealing to resist.

Jimmy’s daughter Elly-May Barnes warmed up the crowd with her star-studded band, The Ragged Company. With The Superjesus’ Sarah McLeod on tambourine and The Art’s Kara Jayne and X Factor winner Reece Mastin on acoustic guitars, this act was always going to impress. Their set was made up of covers destined to please the mostly baby boomer crowd, including cuts from David Bowie, The Everly Brothers, and Neil Young. I was a little concerned at first, with Elly-May’s vocals clearly showing nerves. However, a couple of songs in she seemed to find her feet and sing with sweetness and surety. The band’s harmonies were gorgeous and their organic arrangements of these classics allowed them to shine. The quartet seemed to be having such fun together, and the crowd responded in kind.

While Elly-May and her crew were well received, her dad was the man we were all here to see. The atmosphere when he took the stage was electric. We hung on his every word as he delivered an empassioned version of “Trouble of the World,” a song Mahalia Jackson sang in the classic film Imitation of Life. After he was done Jimmy told us about watching the movie with his dad as a young boy, thinking little of the film but being so blown away by Mahalia’s performance that he decided to bestow the name upon his daughter. She was there to his left, supporting his rich, raspy voice with her own throughout the show.

And what a show it was. I’ve seen Jimmy Barnes so many times over the years. He was actually my first concert all those years ago. Most times I’ve seen Jimmy he was rocking out with the sound turned up to 11, delivering the kind of hits that have become Aussie radio staples. This was a different kind of show, one that allowed Jimmy to celebrate favourite songs from his own back catalogue and the world of music that wouldn’t fit at those other gigs. I never would have expected to hear Nat King Cole’s “Around the World” at a Jimmy Barnes gig, but he performed it beautifully. Flesh and Wood was a favourite album when I was growing up, and I loved hearing cuts from it like “Brother of Mine” and “You Can’t Make Love Without a Soul” that rarely make the live set. No doubt with the stories contained in his upcoming book Working Class Boy fresh in his mind, Jimmy punctuated his songs with tales of his childhood and relationship to music.

I heard a few grumbles about the notable absence of hit singles, but I didn’t mind doing without them. While a ballad like “Flame Trees” made sense on a night like this, Jimmy’s more raucous numbers would have seemed incongruous. I’ve heard those songs so many times before anyway, so getting the chance to hear other tracks provided a welcome change of pace. Where he might ordinarily close the night with “Working Class Man,” we heard a flawless rendition of “Love Me Tender” instead. It was the perfect way to close this very different and very special Jimmy Barnes show.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thirsty Merc @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 16 October 2014

It was bittersweet driving to Lizotte’s last night. As I sat in my car outside the train station, waiting to collect my husband, I heard the news on the radio that “The Cubbyhouse” would close its doors in April. Long-term readers will know how much I adore this venue. A night out at Lizotte’s always feels like a treat. The food is amazing, the wine is good, the service friendly, and the entertainment top notch. I’ve been lucky enough to see artists like Jimmy Barnes, Amos Lee, Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Clapton, and Darren Percival there, in surroundings that are so beautifully intimate. The Newcastle arm will remain, and I’ll look forward to attending shows there, but I will miss this place terribly. How wonderful it was to have a venue which could attract such stellar talent and bring it to music lovers in such relaxed surrounds just 15 minutes from my home.

All those thoughts of how much I’d miss it ran through my head last night as I did my best to soak it all in. I savoured my wine, the crispy tempura prawn entrée, and the always impressive battered flathead and chunky chips. The combination of seafood and pinot grigio put me in a chilled space for the appearance of support act Simon Meli. I didn’t even mind that I was sitting behind a pole which prevented me taking decent photos. I was just excited to see this Voice alum stripped back with just an acoustic guitar, and performing the originals we didn’t get to experience on the show. I’m not sure if he’s improved since his time on the show or whether the TV didn’t do him justice, but his voice blew me away. There’s such a rich, warm quality to it. On The Voice I was impressed by his showmanship, but I didn’t feel he was one of the program’s strongest vocalists. After seeing what he can do just sitting on a stool, playing a guitar, I think perhaps I underestimated him. I loved his originals, but his closing cover of “Ramble On” was the highlight.

Then it was Thirsty Merc’s turn to take the stage. It’s been such a long time since I saw them play, and they took me on a real trip down memory lane with their set. It was so cool hearing how they breathed new life into their material. So often an acoustic show delivers the same songs with quieter instruments, but Thirsty Merc took the opportunity to play around and make those early songs something new. I won’t lie, it wasn’t always successful. I felt the slowed-down version of “My Completeness” was sleepy, with none of the spark of the original. But with great risk comes great reward. “Katie Q” was a bit of a filler track on the band’s first album, but the jazzier live version had me tapping my feet. “Emancipate Myself,” the song that turned me on to the band all those years ago, and “Build a Bridge” were also real highlights.

This show had me feeling nostalgic, but it was about so much more than rehashing the past. Thirsty Merc might be closing the door to the first ten years of their life, but the inventiveness they showed in this set prove there’s still plenty of life in this Aussie band.

Image source: Thirsty Merc Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melanie Safka @ Lizotte’s Newcastle, 22 June 2014

When I was a kid, we didn’t have massive children’s acts like The Wiggles and Hi-5. Children’s entertainment wasn’t really a thing, so we sought out our own songs that resonated. For me it was “Butterfly Ball” by Roger Glover, “House on Pooh Corner” by Loggins and Messina, and perhaps most importantly, “Alexander Beetle” by Melanie Safka. There were no convenient CDs or digital version in those days either. Playing it was a bit of a production. We’d beg Dad to bring out his copy of Candles in the Rain and he’d remind us that we had to stand still so the stylus didn’t jump. So we’d keep our feet planted while we made those little beetle noises and sang along to the beautiful tale of a runaway bug. As I grew older I discovered more Melanie music, but that song was always one I held a little bit closer to the rest. And it was that song that took me to Lizotte’s, Newcastle, on 22 June.

I’d told myself that “Alexander Beetle” was such a small song really that I wasn’t going to hear it. I was going to be happy with the big hits and whatever else she decided to play. And I probably would have been. There’s a wonderful aura about Melanie. She’s so warm and giving, and her voice has lost little over the years. Her band is stellar, especially her son Beau. His incredible guitar talents might only be matched by how sweet he is looking out for his mother.

I was so happy just soaking it all up in the intimacy of Lizotte’s, and then she asked us what we’d like to hear. “Alexander Beetle!” yelled out a voice from a few tables away, and a few other voices joined the chorus. It seems I wasn’t the only one so touched by that little song. A hand flew to my mouth in surprise, and my heart soared as I realised it was going to happen. I was going to hear that song live that had meant so much to me. Do you know what that feeling’s like? I sang along as I fought back happy tears and decided it didn’t matter what else happened; this was already an incredible show.

I told myself I didn’t care what else happened, but I guess there was a part of me that would have been disappointed had I not heard the hits. They were all there, “Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma,” the delightful “Brand New Key,” her incredible cover of “Ruby Tuesday,” and the jubilant “Candles in the Rain,” sounding so perfect. I gained a new appreciation for these songs as Melanie told us tales of their history.

Melanie plays those songs because she knows we want to hear them. She’s such a generous, giving performer. But she’s also quick to tell you that she hasn’t been idle over the last few decades. Her set included a smattering of new songs too, with lyrics so thick with wisdom. She lamented the way radio is only interesting in playing young shit, and listening to her new material I had to agree with her. She’s an artist that still has so much to give to anyone willing to listen. Who needs radio though? Hearing her incredible songs, new and old, come alive in such a small venue was so much sweeter.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Freedman Does Nilsson @ Lizotte’s Newcastle, 6 June 2014

I think it’s a good indication that a concert review is well overdue when you’re preparing to head out to another show and you still haven’t put your thoughts about the last one down. So a day before I venture back to Newcastle, I’m finally sitting down and casting my mind back to July 6 when I saw “Tim Freedman does Nilsson” at Lizotte’s.

Ordinarily, unless the venue forbids cameras, I take a photo to share with you. However, I decided not to this time around. What you would see is Tim Freedman, lead singer of The Whitlams and sometimes solo artist. A camera couldn’t capture the way that Tim channelled Harry Nilsson for this very special show. And so it felt more fitting, more in keeping with what Tim was trying to achieve, to post an image of that singer-songwriter instead.

What I didn’t realise when I stepped into Lizotte’s that night was that Tim Freedman wasn’t simply doing the songs of Nilsson. He was properly doing Nilsson, complete with a Brooklyn accent and the nervous presence of a man who was never comfortable up on the stage. He humbly told tales of his famous friends and life, and I found myself hanging on his every word. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about music history, but I found myself learning plenty about his relationships with John Lennon, Mama Cass, and Keith Moon. Clearly Tim’s done his research.

And clearly he’s got a deep bond with Nilsson. He gave stunning performances of the hits and the lesser known tracks, even ones I didn’t realise Nilsson wrote like The Monkees’ “Cuddly Toy.” His voice was never quite going to hit the same heights, but a smart arrangement of “Without You” didn’t make me want more. It had the right emotional core, unlike that terrible Mariah Carey interpretation. “Everybody’s Talking” was another real highlight.

Tim could have left after performing Nilsson’s material and everyone would have been happy, but he took a brief intermission before returning with highlights from his own catalogue. My dad commented that listening to these songs again made him realise just how much Tim’s songwriting has been influenced by Nilsson’s music.  Tim spoke about how he was still perfecting his Nilsson show in preparation for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. If he can get it better, Adelaide’s in for a real treat, because I thought it was already a stunning homage to one of the world’s greatest songwriters.

Image source: Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mitchell Anderson @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 8 November 2013

While the rest of the country was fawning all over Harrison Craig, I was falling for one of The Voice’s more seasoned contestants. I was captivated every week by Mitchell Anderson, and when he was given the boot I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next. Thankfully those plans included a show at my favourite haunt, Lizotte’s Kincumber, last Friday night.

That voice that was so powerful on television gave me goosebumps in an intimate venue like Lizotte’s. The bio on the menu claimed that Mitchell is one of the best white soul singers, but I don’t think we need that qualifier. Few voices anywhere drip soul as much as his.

But there’s more to Mitchell than just a voice. He oozes positivity out of every pore. It’s just so much fun to see him perform. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as he treated us to a set that paid tribute to the world’s great soul and blues artists. He treated us to a few originals, but it was those covers that got the place on their feet. Many of them were featured on The Voice, but there were many more than didn’t make it on the show. I loved hearing him take on a few BB King and Joe Cocker numbers. That Voice cover of “Dear Prudence” though is still one of the best things I’ve ever heard.

One of the best things about a show like The Voice is that it gives a guy like Mitchell, and the talented musicians he’s played with for years, exposure. They certainly didn’t play second fiddle to their now famous frontman. Every one of them has the musical chops to play with the best in the Australian business. Together their sound was so tight. What a wonderful thing such experience is.

People like to find fault with shows like The Voice. However, after witnessing a concert like Mitchell’s, I’m really glad it exists to introduce me to artists of his calibre and help him attract the crowds he so richly deserves.

Image source: own photo