Saving the North Shore from a Rock & Roll Drought

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You Am I Frontman, Tim Rogers

You Am I
Dee Why RSL
22 July 2006
Review by Suzanne Leigh
Photos by Joanne Baxter

I am a clean slate when it comes to You Am I’s music. I have heard of the band, and I know who Tim Rogers is (mainly from his memorable and hilarious appearance on The Micallef Programme in 1999). But I had never actually listened to them before. So it was with a complete lack of baggage or preconceived notions that I walked in to the Dee Why RSL to see them.

The 2^nd floor auditorium of the Dee Why RSL doesn’t exactly scream “rock and roll” but after a successful booking with the Whitlams a few months prior and now the sold out You Am I show, it seems to be an unlikely saviour of North Shore inhabitants craving decent home-grown live music. The call to arms began with the bluesy tortured wail of The Vasco Era’s lead vocalist Sid O’ Neil, performing a solo exorcism with his guitar on stage. The curious timidly gathered on the open floor to investigate. Bandmates Ted O’ Neil (bass) and Michael Fitzgerald (drums) soon joined him, and the three played as if their very lives depended on it, beating their instruments into submission with a ferocity akin to tribal warfare. The masses gathered closer and joined in the ritual, uproariously calling for more. Dang, if this is just the opening band, what the hell is You Am I going to be like?

...I would have been more than happy to have taken him home after the show and nailed him after watching him strut and command the stage...

Tim Rogers

The calm appearance of Tim Rogers (lead vocals and guitar) , Dave Lane (guitar) , Andy Kent (bass) , and Rusty Hopkinson (drums) on stage belied the ragged, raucous show that was to follow. This wasn’t an RSL show you safely tap your foot to and nod your head somewhat; this was, sweaty, panting, gasping for breath; all capital letters ROCK AND ROLL that demanded the audience put as much work into enjoying it as the band did performing it. Neither party disappointed the other. Many old favourites such as “Heavy Heart”, “Mr Milk”, “Soldiers” , “Cathy's Clown”, “Purple Sneakers”, and “Berlin Chair”, were played as well as newer barnstormers from Convicts, such as “It Ain’t Funny How We Don’t Talk Anymore” and “By My Own Hand”. Previously, I had never thought Tim Rogers was a particularly handsome fellow, but I would have been more than happy to have taken him home after the show and nailed him after watching him strut and command the stage with absolute rock stature and sexy confidence. Here is someone who understands what fans want at a concert – supreme showmanship, backed up by incredible, genuine talent.

Dave Lane

I always love it when something very unique happens at a concert, because you forever can claim the glory when recounting to friends, “Yeah, I was at that show when….” Well, I (as well as 500 You Am I fanatics) were at that show when Dave felt ill half way through the set. He valiantly tried to persist through one more song, but then gave his doctor’s note to Rogers and departed the stage. You Am I soldiered on as a power trio in what seemed to be effortless fashion, not losing a single jolt or punch and still sounding as high octane as the first half of the show. “We’re going to make this up as we go along,” announced band leader Rogers, and he lead Hopkinson and Kent in an improvised set list that kicked off with the Who’s “Can’t Explain”.

Lucky Punter

At one point, Rogers pulled an impromptu band member substitute out of the front row, and the lucky You Am I fan got to live the ultimate rock and roll fantasy for half a song. Rogers gave him his guitar and Uber-fan devoured the opportunity to play with his heroes. Rogers actually looked a bit stunned that he had randomly picked someone who could actually play the song. Uber-fan milked it for all it was worth, stalking the stage with the same sexy swagger and charisma, hamming up with other band members, and gesturing to the wildly enthusiastic audience. Eventually, Uber-fan relinquished the guitar back to Rogers and embraced his hero. It was rock and roll gold, and made the point ever more clear – there was absolutely no difference between the rockers in the audience and the rockers on stage. There is no bullshit about these guys, just pure passion and love for the music, and giving people their money’s worth. If anyone wonders why You Am I endures despite a lack of commercial popularity, the answer was in that gig and that particular moment.

Some notes to the Dee Why RSL: Continue to book the rock gigs. The people want them and will come. But take out the tables, sell another 300 tickets, and don’t let glasses go into the venue or sell beer only in cans like they do at the Metro. Too many OH&S hazards going on that room with shattered glass everywhere after the show. Because with You Am I at the helm, the last thing it’s gonna be is safe.