INXS
W/ Brian Byrne, Juice
Nov. 14, 2006
GM Place, Oshawa

Alright, I’m coming out, I am a reality show junkie, not all the dancing, survival shit but definitely the Rock Star series and hell I’ve even caught the odd American/Canadian Idol gig. I guess it’s the rags to riches story, the whole “I was living in my car before all this” crap.

I’m also a sick INXS fan. I know, they’ve been around forever and yes, they are certainly passed their prime rock star days but there is a glimmer of hope for these senior rockers. His name is JD Fortune. But how long can a reality series winner really carry a band out there in the wickedly erratic world of rock’n’roll?

Juice, Fortune’s former band, got a call to open for INXS, from the man himself about a month ago and didn’t disappoint. Being seasoned performers themselves (they opened for Motley Crew) and well known in Oshawa, Juice had more than a handful of devoted fans upfront complete with signage. Dave’s brawny pipes led the band through heavier tracks like “This Time” and “The Machine” from their latest compilation CD In Retrospect. Roars from the crowd came as they ripped through the Fortune penned “Moviestar.” Things got frantic as JD and Darren Smith (another former frontman) ran on for an impromptu sing-a-long of everybody’s in a trance, comatose is my romance from “E.” Phew…what a way to start!

Slowing things down a bit with his soothing sexy vocals, Brian Bryne, former lead singer for I Mother Earth, hit the stage. A little more pop than rock, Bryne seemed to please this mostly female thirtyish crowd. This is more the opening act I think all were expecting. Bryne delivered, playing radio friendly hits like “Oscar Thomas Finn” and “Far From Good” from his latest Tuesdays, Thursdays and If It Rains. Little by little the empty seats around me filled as Brian had us all quietly toe tapping and nodding in our seats. Coming to the end of his set and the end of his run with INXS, Byrne thanked “INXS for these five nights. They didn’t have to be nice to us but they are. I’d like to dedicate this song to these guys, INXS, a rock song.” With that, Brian proceeded to kick our asses with an in your face cover of Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Holy shit, this guy can sing and rip up a Jimmy Page solo too…hot, hot, hot!

When the black screen came down and a switch shot up, those “in the know”, knew INXS were on their way. The five minute countdown began and all were up to shout out the last ten seconds, as AC/DC’s “TNT” blasted through the arena. The charismatic JD, looking sharp in his dark suit, skinny tie and sixty’s hat exploded onto the stage to the sharp harmonic intro of “Suicide Blond.” The guys looked and sounded tight. And as Fortune welcomed “Oshawa to the fucking party,” they blew right into their latest single, “Devil’s Party.” From tousling Garry Beer’s hair to throwing his arm around the usually reserved Andrew Farriss, JD’s mischievous stage banter solidifies how he has melded into this group.

The set included loads from their back catalogue like, “Devil Inside,” “Original Sin,” “Kick,” “What You Need,” “By My Side” and “New Sensation.” Newer tracks, “Hungry” and “Never Let You Go” got a decent response. By far their biggest hit of the night “Pretty Vegas,” penned by Fortune, which pretty much earned him the lead gig, had JD enter the stands…very cool. Inserted throughout the night were not so cool moments of Fortune’s rapping, it’s just not INXS and it’s incoherent to those women over forty, who, unfortunately, are INXS’s strongest fan base. Those fans were treated to lots of sexy sax playing by Kirk Pengilly, front stage guitar riffs by Tim Farriss, and a hot drum solo by Jon Farriss. And JD did redeem himself with an emotional rendition of one of my faves “Never Tear Us Apart.”

When you can predict almost every move from the hip thrusts to the mic stand sex act…shudder (I hope that thing gets sterilized), either I’ve covered too many INXS gigs this year, or maybe I’m just over it. Hey, I still love the guys and kudos to them for surviving and pulling off a reality show come back successfully, for now. Switch is a great CD but mine has collected some dust lately. Overplayed? Maybe. Or maybe just over, period.

Time will tell if JD can hang in there for another album and see his aging bandmates through another knee surgery. But with another Rock Star reality band hitting the road in 2007, INXS better have a lot more to give. Either way, it’s been a great ride and it beats living in your car.

- Lisa Kerr 
All Photos by Jeff Gunn

© 2006, All Rights Reserved