Contemporary singers and bands performing with orchestras seems to be truly in vogue at the moment, with audiences connecting with the unique arrangements of their favourite tracks and the richness that an orchestra can provide. The Hoodoo Gurus would not be the most obvious choice for an orchestral collaboration as one of the foremost rock bands in Australian folklore and yet, it was a treat for Melbourne to be able to witness a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between the band and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a reimagination of the band’s biggest hits, B-sides and everything in between at the Myer Music Bowl under the stunning backdrop of Melbourne’s city skyline. 

After the MSO, led by Nicholas Buc, commenced proceedings with an overture of some of the band’s biggest hits, the Hoodoo Gurus took to the stage, revelling in the generous applause they received upon their entry. The band commenced with some lesser-known numbers with “The Stars Look Down” and “The Wedding Song” being favourites of the band while interspersing some of their bigger tracks like “Zanzibar” and “Come Anytime”. It was a fairly balanced start to the set, although it felt as though it took the audience a little while to warm into the collaboration as the band and the orchestra found their synergy. 

There are generally two types of pop (using the term broadly) and orchestral collaborations. The first involves a largely symbiotic relationship, with the lead performers and the orchestra playing off each other to really reimagine and reinvigorate the tracks. The second is more subtle, with the orchestra taking more of a supporting role as the headliners play as they usually would, with a little more depth and texture by virtue of the accompaniment. This performance was much closer to the latter, which did mean in the first half of the show, there were points where it was actually quite hard to pick up much of the orchestra, with the amplified guitars of the band doing much of the heavy lifting.

This changed after the intermission where the show really began to pick up its pace. A beautiful rendition of “My Girl” really allowed the band to shine, with the richness of the orchestra beginning to shine through while the interspersion of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” into “Death Ship” was a nice touch which began to put the spotlight on the orchestra. There were a few slightly less polished moments throughout the set, with Dave Faulkner’s solo rendition of “I Was The One” with the orchestra showing a lot of heart but also some intonation imperfections but overall, the vibes on display were incredibly high, especially as the band began to perform their biggest hits. 

Unsurprisingly, the band closed the night with “What’s My Scene” which was executed superbly with the interplay between the orchestra and the band being just right. Credit must go to composer Alex Turley for superb arrangements of all the pieces throughout the night. The sound was also clear, which was a huge plus for an outdoor venue where sound (especially of that magnitude) can often be inconsistent. It was also lovely to see David Hudson out on the didgeridoo in the first part of the night, bringing an extra dimension to “Chariot of the Gods.”

@musicaltheatre.au

What a night at the Myer Music Bowl! The Hoodoo Gurus performed “What’s My Scene” with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for an audience of their biggest fans!! @Hoodoo Gurus @Melbourne Symphony Orchestra #melbourne #livemusic #orchestra #hoodoogurus #whatsmyscene

♬ original sound – MusicalTheatre.Au

Overall, this was a wonderful night filled with unique arrangements and beautiful music. The band were in fine form and were well supported by the orchestra. A special night for all in attendance. 

Rating: ★★★★

Hoodoo Gurus – Sidney Myer Music Bowl – 29 January 2025

All photo credits: Mark Gambino