“F#&%! Yeah” both articulately and succinctly describes the Magic Dirt experience, in particular to the night of November 6th at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel.The Annandale Hotel is the Geelong garage/grunge/rock band's home away from home and tonight’s concert was always going to be something special and spiritual. The band came together to pay special tribute to their fallen band mate and co founder, Dean Turner, who passed away from a rare form of cancer a few months earlier, the night was completely sold out . This however did not for one moment mean that this special occasion was going to be a sombre affair, the band rocked, charged, blazed and owned the stage from the opening song, that’s what Dean would have wanted and the only way he knew to deliver a Magic Dirt performance.
Front women Adalita Srsen , as I have always maintained, is the most energetic, entertaining, enigmatic and charismatic female lead
singer in Australia (and among the very best within the international music industry) if there is a better woman then she must be so indie, alternate, independent and underground that she’s playing a nomadic cave somewhere in the vast Australian wilderness. Adalita, rocked the stage, traversed the Annandale bar and, in a noble gesture to her hard core fans, jumped off stage into the mosh pit floor for a “meet and greet” and for a period of 5 minutes played lying on her back flanked by her adoring fans and to her credit, she never missed a chord!Drummer Adam Robertson was totally in his own zone, watching him pound those skins with complete abandon at times he looked like he was channelling late great “skinsmen” Keith Moon and John Bonham. Sweat pouring out of him, almost in synch with the beat, his handy pack of Becks ensured a source of quick liquid replenishment. Guitarist Raul was amped for a huge night, from the time of warming up he was ready to give all and he did, enjoyment personified, rock jamming guitar licks a plenty and he didn’t wane for a second throughout the hour and a half set. Matt Sonic, who replaced Dean, did so with much grace and conviction, a long time friend of Dean’s there was no one more fitting and capable to fill that role, he was solid and did Dean proud.
The setlist, handpicked by the band, primarily consisted of songs that were special to Dean, which meant that they pretty much spanned Magic Dirt’s entire back catalogue and also resulted in the band playing songs like “Snow White”, which by their own admission, had not been played in a long while. For die hard fans this was a definite bonus and they lapped it up with complete insatiable gusto, which drove Adalita into a further rock inspired frenzy. Other Deans favourites that were cranked to the max were ”Dirty Jeans”, “Vulcanella”, “White Boy” and “All My Crushes”, to name just a few.
There was a brief pause about a third of the way into the night where the band stopped to honour Dean. In a hearted felt speech by Adalita, which had the crowd applauding for several minutes before she could continue, she was openly moved by this gesture, then continuing in an emotional epilogue honouring her cofounder and dear friend. A beautiful moment complemented by an ambience and an audience that was engaged in the moment.
As Adalita eluded to earlier on, the night belonged to Dean and the incredible legacy he left behind, through Magic Dirt, his music will live for a considerably long time, an amazing band, an unforgettable night and a heartfelt goodbye… Dirty Jeans forever.
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