Review: Barnes makes sure it was a ‘Hell of a Time’ at the Regent

The Regent Theatre was sold out for an evening with Jimmy Barnes and his "Hell of a Time" tour with whanau and very talented band on Wednesday night.

It was indeed one hell of a time, and Barnes made it all about aroha and respect. The only niggle is that alcohol-fuelled sections of the audience forgot to show respect for these talented musicians. When they could hear themselves talk they did.

The evening opened with Wellington-based singer-songwriter and photographer Ebony Lamb all wrapped up in silver. Her songs such as Salt Sand Sea and Come Put A Record On are all highly memorable. Though she confessed to a few ‘eff-ups’, the audience loved her all the more.

Barnes opened with a tribute to a joyously exuberant Martin Phillipps and his seriously talented soul.

Barnes followed that with his own tribute to the Working Class Man with the audience joining in spontaneously. His delivery remains as energetic as always, slowed only by lengthy tales of some 50 years in the business and his future plans to resurrect Cold Chisel.

Numbers such as It Will Be Alright With Me, Still On Your Side, Missing a Girl and Guilty rained out, with tributes to Joe Cocker and Diesel.

The evening closed with a long-awaited performance of Flame Tree.

Familial banter with wife Jane and renowned daughter EJ and a brief guest appearance of a grandson on muted maracas were as entertaining as Jane’s studied playing of the bagpipes.

Barnes’ six-piece band receive scant notice on Barnes’ numerous websites and only a general callout on stage. These consummate musicians over numerous instruments deserve individual recognition. Michael Paynter on acoustic guitar was highlighted and roundly applauded for his stunningly beautiful rich tenor voice.

A totally spirit-lifting evening.

 - Review by Marian Poole