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In what could be described as one of the biggest comebacks in Australian history, well, since Harold Bishop was discovered alive and well after being swept out to sea in Neighbours, INXS are set to play their third sell out gig at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire. It would seem that most of West London’s antipodean population have turned out to witness the latest incarnation of Australia’s favourite band. But the big question is will they be any good? Yes the band’s founding members are all still there but crucially the face and voice of INXS has changed. The unenviable job of front-man is now in the hands of J.D. Fortune, a Canadian, former Elvis impersonator and the winner of the 2005 CBS reality TV show, Rock Star: INXS. Which ever way you look at it, there’s a lot to live up to and a lot to prove.
And there’s not long to wait, a five minute countdown is projected onto the black stage curtain with AC/DC’s ‘TNT’ playing in the background and as soon as the clock reaches 10 seconds the audience join in as if it were New Years Eve. And it’s begun, with ‘Suicide Blonde’ effortlessly being pumped up and out with a reaction to rival an Australian Ashes win. A timeless song and one expertly executed. Right from the off the crowd are in the palm of INXS’ hand and you can practically feel the place shake with the amount of jumping and dancing going on. It’s full on stuff and as Fortune swaggers and swirls his way across the stage with a big “London how the fuck are you?” it’s immediately obvious that he’s carved his own place out of a band nearly 30 years old. Dressed in jeans, shirt, jacket and bowler hat, he looks a mix between Justin Timberlake and Robbie Williams, and not to be outclassed has put in the vocal practise to hold his own in that league as well.
After handing out empty plastic cups to the throng of girls at the front…they don’t seem too sure why either…we’re treated to a new song from the latest album ‘Switch’. ‘Devils Party’, a cracking effort, but it’s hard to be sure coming off the back of one of their most famous standards. But not wanting to spoil the party the crowd go along with it and reserve judgement for later. Meanwhile it’s back to memory lane with ‘Mystify’, ‘Disappear’ and ‘By My Side’ which is described to a younger member of the audience, in J.D’s own personable way, as a song that “Get’s ‘em every time.” The crowd are also told to never loose track of and to “follow your dreams” and despite the great vocals it’s apparent that J.D likes the sound of his own, and why not. ‘Afterglow’ is another new one and goes down better than the first but this is INXS and the discovery that they’ve been writing new material and that this isn’t just a greatest hits tour (isn’t it?) is a revelation to many.
So far it’s all been about J.D’s self-assured sexiness and multiple clothe changes, the mark of a true front man, but it’s now time to share the wealth and get the rest of the band involved, even though it looks like these semi aging rockers have been attacked by Trinny and Susannah, and ‘Taste It’ provides the perfect platform. Introductions, freestyling, sensual dancing, strange on-stage lunges and (remember the empty plastic cups?) wine pouring a plenty. ‘Never Let You Go’ is another new single taken from ‘Switch’ and the more new releases they play the more the crowd warm to them. But for all intents and purposes this is nostalgic reminiscing at its best as ‘Need You Tonight’ and a modern take on ‘Devil Inside’ go to show. But the big group drum smashing, air jumping, guitar blasting finale is reserved for the groups third UK single to be taken from ‘Switch’, ‘Gods Top Ten’. But as you might expect it doesn’t end there. An encore is called for and to be fair deserved for a group who’ve released more songs than most people have had hot barbies. ‘New Sensation’ and ‘Never Tear Us Apart’, which is “I swear engraved in my DNA” get the recognition they rightly deserve, which is more than can be said for a puzzling cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues’.
And the night draws to a close with mic stand throwing ‘Don’t Change’. All things considered it’s a great show and something that you can’t take away from them. It was never going to be easy attempting to take on Hutchence’s legacy but it’s a damn good effort and damn good fun. What a belter.
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