THAT RADIO CHICK CHERYL LEE REVIEWS 27 CLUB @ THE ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL

27 CLUB MEMBERS SOLD THEIR SOULS TO THE DEVIL FOR ROCK & ROLL IMMORTALITY, THESE MUSIC LEGENDS ALL DEAD AT AGED 27

^{JOPLIN, WINEHOUSE, HENDRIX, MORRISON, COBAIN}

There are 54 tragic members of the 27 Club, representing over a century of music-making, all dying devastatingly young, leaving behind so much unfulfilled potential.
This show, 27 Club, winner of the ‘Best Music Award’ in their first year 2021 at The Adelaide Fringe, concentrates on the big five.
Every artist a legend, every song a classic.

Theories and cause of deaths of the artists range from murders, syphilis, car wrecks, drug overdoses, drowning (Brian Jones), asphyxiation (Jimi Hendrix), plane crashes. alcohol poisoning (Amy Winehouse), suicide (Kurt Cobain) and ill-health.

27 Club cast members Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus) and Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah), CARLA LIPPIS, Cam Blokland, Dusty Lee Stephensen and the Wanderers perform the eternal music of artists of the 27 Club.

Here’s my attempt at a set list because sometimes I was too busy singing along (apologies if anything missed)

Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Cry Baby – Janis Joplin
Break on Through – The Doors
You Know I’m No Good – Amy Winehouse
Lithium – Nirvana
Roadhouse Blues – The Doors
Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
Foxy Lady – Jimi Hendrix
Come As You Are – Nirvana
People Are Strange/Light My Fire – The Doors
Bobby McGee/Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin

The songs are interspersed with with short stories about the ill-fated artists of the 27 Club, reminding us of the tragic stories of their lives cut way too short.

It’s very difficult to pick a highlight because of the calibre not only of the legendary songs, but also the calibre of the predominantly South Australian cast. We punch so far above our weight in this state and these talented individuals prove it again.
Forced to chose, I’d say the Bobby McGee/Piece of My Heart medley was one of the best. Plus Carla Lippis blows you away every time she sings a note.

What made the show even more amazing was that Sarah McLeod performed the entire show with a broken foot AND went on to The Gov afterwards to play with The Superjesus on their ‘The Money’ Tour ….. talk about “the Show Must Go On”!

The Girls with the Band – Debbie Mitchell, Cheryl Lee Crabtree, Dusty Lee Stephensen, Sarah McLeod, Carla Lippis, Jodie Michelmore

The Boys with The Band – Barry ‘Father of Five’ Crabtree, Sarah McLeod, Chris Michelmore, Carla Lippis

Father of Five and I went with friends, this was the third year we’ve attended this show and we’ll be back again next year ….. do yourselves a favour!!

’27 Club’ runs at Gluttony’s The Fantail at Adelaide Fringe 17 February until 5 March. Costa Hall (Geelong) 23 March, Castlemaine State Festival @ The Capital 24 March, Princess Theatre (Brisbane) 31 March and HOTA (Gold Coast) 1 April.