Wendy Matthews was a constant fixture on the Australian music landscape in the 1990s. She may be an ex-Canadian, but with each new hit song she released during this time, Australians definitely claimed her as our own. Matthews may not have been as visible on the charts in recent years, but with new material on the way, she made a welcome return to the stage at this year’s Sessions series at the Adelaide Festival Centre.
The simply set Space Theatre was transformed into a dimly lit piano bar, even if the ‘candles’ on the two tall candelabras were LED lights, as Matthews later revealed, rather than slow-burning flames as she would have preferred. Cabaret style seating meant everyone had a great view and could just sit back, relax, and enjoy what was to come. Accompanied by piano and a guitar, Wendy Matthews strode on to stage raring to go and launched straight into her first song of the night.
It wasn’t until the third song in that a collective smile grew around the room as she introduced one of her more iconic songs, ‘Friday’s Child’ showing it’s still a crowd favourite. The show was dotted with these well-known and much-loved songs: ‘Token Angels’, ‘What a Beautiful View’, and ‘The Day You Went Away’ all found a place on the set list, and in the hearts of the audience, who snuck in a quiet sing-a-long to themselves as Matthews belted out each note.
Matthews regularly acknowledged the long history she has had in the music industry, referring to some songs like ‘T.K.O.’ and ‘Face of Appalachia’ as songs she decided to pull off the shelf for tonight’s performance. A cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Cherokee Louise’ not only paid tribute to her Canadian heritage, but one of the women who influenced her over the years. Matthews also previewed a song from her upcoming album The Welcome Fire. ‘Little Boy’ paid tribute to the animals she tends to on the quiet country farm she now calls home.
The only drawback of the night was the occasional use of a percussion backing track for the more upÂbeat numbers. While it was great for tapping your toes to, all it really did was show how talented the two musicians on stage were; they easily outshone the simple two-step beat emanating from the computer.
Matthews rounded out the night with a couple of definite classics: ‘I Don’t Want To Be With Nobody But You’, and ‘Standing Strong’ – which saw much of the audience swaying their arms in the air; one couple even got up to dance.
Wendy Matthews left the stage to rapturous applause, with many loyal fans even providing her with a standing ovation. It seems her place on Australia’s music scene is still as solid as ever.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Wendy Matthews
Sessions 2013
Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
1 February
