Apr 11 2010
Rory Strums up a Storm
The following article is taken from the June 25, 1980 edition of the Australian newspaper, “The Sun”. Rory is in the middle of his 1980 Australian Tour and played the Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Australia on June 24, 1980. Click on the image to enlarge. Special thanks to Glenn Shambrook for digging up this great review!
IRISH guitarist Rory Gallagher hit the Palais Theatre last night with more force than an IRA raid.
The Palais was left numb after Gallagher filled it with high-power music for 2 1/2 hours. Although more famous for his blues numbers, Gallagher concentrated mainly on brutal rock at his only Melbourne concert. aided by ferocious rumbling of Gerry McAvoy on bass and Ted McKenna, drums, Gallagher left the audience reeling if not battered by his fiery performance.
Gallagher changed the pace when he took an acoustic guitar and sang amusing country blues ditties about cowboys and alcohol. Bouncing around on stage in jeans and red sneakers, Gallagher then produced his mandolin and mercilessly thrashed it.
The Palais was packed with foot-stomping Gallagher addicts from late teens to middle age. They demanded three encores from him and Gallagher’s playing seemed to improve each time.
Gallagher, who plays in Hobart tomorrow night and Brisbane on Friday, was supported by Broderick Smith’s Big Combo. The former Dingoes lead singer helped prime the audience for Gallagher in delivering a couple of long-buried rock favorites.
Kim Trengove — The Sun, June 25, 1980
It was an epic night. Does anyone remember the brawl outside after the gig? That was pretty epic too.