There is something pretty special seeing Australia’s own Rock and Roll Royalty and Friday Night at Her Majesty’s in Adelaide was just such an occasion.

An audience of 50 plussers talking about their grand kids and rocking away – all a bit incongruous but that was how it was.

From the first song to the last, it was a walk down memory lane for the audience who just like me lapped it up.

The first set was a history of Australian Rock which was no surprise given Brian Cadd and Glen Shorrock feature so heavily in it. Covers demonstrating their influences, The Rolling Stones, Beatles and Everley Brothers and then into their own early bands, The Twilights and The Group. With a backing band that included the other two members of Axiom, a lazy 40 years on, we were treated to Arkansas Grass, Ford’s Bridge and to end the set Little Ray of Sunshine.

The stories

bought back memories of Hoadley’s Battle of the Bands, The Yamaha Song Contest and a reminder of how many great singers, Shorrock included, as well as bands that came out of Elizabeth in the early 60s. Cadd’s story of wanting to take Russell Morris to Japan to perform his Yamaha Song Contest winning Don’t you know its Magic makes you wonder whether it would have been the hit that John Farnham made it if it had been given to Morris.

The Second Set opened with a couple of songs that Cadd and Shorrock recorded a number of years ago including Tear Down the Barricades and then a short solo set from each. Cadd’s Mama Don’t Dance and then Gingerman which was the highlight of his set. Shorrock’s set was a selection Little River Band songs that included Home on a Monday, Reminiscing, Help is on its Way and Cool Change.

When it comes to covers their version of Get Back as the last song before the encore was sensational. The encore of The Band’s The Weight was a great way to end.

They may be in their late sixties with a band similarly aged but their voices are still strong.

It was infectious fun. A night to savour.