Despite being dumped by record label Sony-BMG this week, INXS have been proving their worth in the only true place it matters for a band ... on stage.
Let's be honest, new lead singer J.D. Fortune probably has the most difficult job on the planet. He has not only replaced one of the world's most charismatic performers ever in Michael Hutchence but Fortune also has to make his role sound convincing.He has managed to do so by not straying too far from the formula. His vocal inflections on the original Hutchence songs pay homage to the late singer and his moves likewise mirror that of a younger Michael. That's a good thing because behind him is the most close knit band to ever come out of Australia, if not the world. It took the death of Michael to bring about the first ever line-up change for INXS.
With that solid backing of decades of musical experience and friendship standing behind him, Fortune did best to stay within the lines. The sound of INXS is exactly in tact with the line-up, so it only makes sense to keep the vocal on track as well. To that end, there were no surprises, nor would their want to be. Fortune held ground as the shows MC and contributed the occasional rap between songs but it was the classic hits that the audience came to see.
It was a wise move for the band to spread the new album across the night. 'Switch' tracks were evenly placed amongst the classics. From the moment they opened with 1990's 'Suicide Blonde', the audience rose to its feet and stayed there for the entire show.
The band played the songs just as you remembered. The funk of 'Need You Tonight', the groove of 'New Sensation', the soul of 'Original Sin', the beauty of 'Never Tear Us Apart' and rock of 'Don't Change' were not tampered with.
This left the audience patient while the new songs played but all in all 'Perfect Stranger', 'Pretty Vegas' and 'Afterglow' stood up strong against the classic hits.
The INXS Australian tour ends tonight in Melbourne. Next week, they tour New Zealand and then take a break while guitarist Tim Farris undergoes knee surgery.
The band will play London and Glasgow from October 12 to November 7 and then dash across Canada and the USA for selected dates in November.
As for the future of INXS after that, only they know. Without a US record deal it is unlikely we will see another album in the short term. The timing is right to J.D. to launch as solo career which he will probably do in 2007.
Setlist for INXS at The Palais, St Kilda September 18, 2006
Suicide Blonde (from X, 1990)
Devils Party (from Switch, 2005)
Mystify (from Kick, 1987)
Perfect Stranger (from Switch, 2005)
By My Side (from X, 1990)
Afterglow (from Switch, 2005)
Taste It (from Welcome To Wherever You Are, 1992)
Original Sin (from The Swing, 1984)
Hungry (from Switch, 2005)
Never Let You Go (from Switch, 2005)
Need You Tonight (from Kick, 1987)
What You Need (from Listen Like Thieves, 1985)
Kick (from Kick, 1987)
Devil Inside (from Kick, 1987)
Pretty Vegas (from Switch, 2005)
New Sensation (from Kick, 1987)
Hot Girls (from Switch, 2005)
Never Tear Us Apart (from Kick, 1987)
Don't Change (from Shabooh Shoobah, 1982)
