The band members of Cold Chisel are everywhere at the moment. After last year’s record-breaking tour to commemorate the band’s 50^th anniversary, Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes have both embarked on solo tours to satisfy the ever-pervasive appetite of Chisel fans to see the duo in action in any form. 

The State Theatre may seem like an incongruous venue for Barnes, but the building was rocking as the Glasgow-born singer took to the stage in front of a sell-out crowd. After a rollicking performance of “Flesh and Blood”, Barnes launched into the Cold Chisel classic “Choirgirl”, which had the whole crowd singing along from the outset. 

Barnes then took the audience through 9 songs from his latest album, Defiant, which he introduced to the audience as if he knew he was pushing the envelope a little bit. 

“I know Sydney is a discerning crowd,” he said to laughter from the audience. “Besides, f**k it, I’m going to play [the new songs] anyway.”

While the new songs obviously do not have the same familiarity or the magic of some of Barnes’ earlier solo work and, of course, the Cold Chisel classics, there was still something about the songs that gelled nicely, especially in the more intimate State Theatre venue. 

Some of the music had a clear Chisel vibe to it with “Damned if I Do, Damned if I Don’t” getting the crowd going with its rocking hook and catchy chorus. However, other songs were more reflective, with “The Long Road” reflecting on some more of the struggles in the singer’s life before he moved into “That’s What You Do For Love” which showed off Australian piano legend Clayton Doley on the keys with a beautiful leading piano part. 

Barnes’ vocals are iconic, and the acoustics of the State Theatre amplified him well. His band was largely a family affair, but they supported him very well, with strong vocals and instrumental support. The family theme was continued when Barnes launched back into the Chisel classics with his granddaughter Ruby Rogers taking centre stage for a heartfelt rendition of “Flame Trees”. There is always a risk that these kinds of things become awkward for the audience but Rogers has a fantastic voice which suited the song perfectly and she blended in well with her grandfather when they sang together, meaning that the crowd was very appreciative of the special generational moment that they were witnessing. 

Barnes closed out the main set with a rousing rendition of “Working Class Man” which had the whole crowd up on their feet and singing along as the rocker belted out the song with characteristic fervour. It was the moment that the crowd came for and it did not disappoint. 

By the time Barnes returned for his encore, the crowd was absolutely raucous having formed a dance floor at the front of the stage. At one point, security even intervened (perhaps overzealously), with Barnes having to tell them to leave audience members alone. Security aside, the atmosphere was as joyous as could be and the crowd were bouncing up and down as Barnes sang “Khe Sanh” with a choir of several thousand behind him. Doley got another keys solo, which he executed flawlessly and Barnes knew exactly how to play the room, engaging with many of the crowd members to lift the atmosphere even further. It was a wonderful way to close out the night. 

Even if last year’s Cold Chisel shows had already proved that Barnes still has the voice and the persona to put on a fantastic show, this solo show certainly reinforced that notion. While his new material may not have the same gravitas as the classics, it was still well-received and when he kicked into the crowd favourites, those in the audience responded with unbridled joy. There’s no doubt that Barnes puts on a different show as a soloist to those with Cold Chisel (and a vastly different show to that of bandmate Ian Moss), but there is something very special about the energy he brings. A night that no-one in the audience will forget. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Jimmy Barnes – State Theatre – 27^th June 2025

All photo credits: Jordan Newton