The Whitlams are one of Australia’s most eclectic bands, bringing a quintessential 90s Aussie music sound to their discography. For their 25^th anniversary album tour, they brought their show to the City Recital Hall, which has quickly become one of the most beautiful musical venues in Sydney since its grand relaunch. 

The show opened with a stunning performance from Melbourne duo Charm of Finches, whose harmonies pierced through the City Recital Hall and showcased the beautiful acoustics of the venue. Their sound was considered and assured and provided a fantastic start to the evening. 

When The Whitlams hit the stage, the near capacity crowd was on their feet and pumped for the show. The band commenced by playing their Love This City album in its entirety. The album provides a soundscape of Sydney, with many songs deeply rooted in Australian history and Australian culture, with songs about everything from the Olympics to Newtown in the 90s. Lead singer Tim Freedman was fantastic from the get-go, bringing a presence and charisma to the songs which kept them alive, even if the contextual framework has shifted over time.  The songs are historical epithets but also remain relevant to modern day Australian culture and this is what allows the band to continue to connect with the audience so many years later.

The musicianship of the band was stellar and a primary reason why the show was so strong. Freedman’s voice was strong and versatile, managing the variety of songs and styles across the album with ease and his piano was superb to back it up. Guitarist Jak Housden and drummer Terepai Richmond also did a fine job throughout the night, backing up Freedman exceptionally well with top-quality music. 

After working through the Love This City album, the band moved into the greatest hits portion of the night. Although the night was perhaps a little long, this is where the crowd really got going. With slower tunes like “Keep the Light On” contrasted with more jumpy numbers, this section struck the perfect balance that showcased all that the Whitlams had to offer. 

When it came for the encore, the band played two of their biggest numbers, “Charlie No.2” and “Gough”. Both numbers were executed perfectly, with the latter having the audience on their feet and singing as the band closed out the show in the perfect way. Overall, this was an excellent concert, albeit slightly too long, which showed off the band’s versatility and skill as a unit. A great concert in a superb venue. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

The Whitlams – City Recital Hall – 11^th October, 2024

All photo credits: Jess Gleeson (@jessgleeson)