After a year of postponements, the sun has finally set on By The C in 2021. Coming full circle, the festival concluded in its home city of Perth, Western Australia over the weekend.
City Beach Oval was positively picturesque for the return of live music festivals. It’s been touch-and-go in Western Australia since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many rescheduled concerts unable to go ahead. By The C was lucky enough to be given the green light and they certainly delivered with the original line up that was promised. Around 8,000 people gathered for an afternoon of Australian rock and acoustic music with many eager fans setting up camp as soon as the gates opened. With sunny skies and a cool ocean breeze, conditions couldn’t have been better for this highly anticipated event.
Killing Heidi perform at By The C festival in Melbourne, 14/03/21. Photo by Darren Chan.
Perth locals Coterie opened the day and earned themselves some new fans as they warmed the crowd with their easy listening, indie beach vibes. When Killing Heidi took the stage many found themselves jamming in their seats to early 2000’s hits “I Am”, “Mascara” and “Weir”. Tex Perkins–who ages like fine wine–charmed everyone with a mixed set of songs made famous with Tex, Don and Charlie, Beasts of Bourbon and The Cruel Sea including “This Is Not The Way Home” and “The Honeymoon is Over”. Then it was You Am I’s turn and they made the biggest impact on the daytime crowd yet. From the melancholic sing-along during “Heavy Heart” to the indie anthem “Berlin Chair”, Tim Rogers had fans begging for an impossible encore.
You Am I at The Gov, October 2019. Photo by Kerrie Geier.
As the sun began to set and the crowd started to cool off after You Am I’s explosive set, Pete Murray strolled on stage and offered a relaxing, hip swaying set with his warm familiar vocals and acoustic melodies. In between songs like “So Beautiful” and “Better Days”, Murray chatted with the crowd, taking the time to thank the promoter John Zaccaria and Zaccaria Touring for all their hard work for getting them across the country in these difficult times. At this point, a small group of dancers had congregated around the outskirts of the stage, abandoning their chairs for the night in the lead up to the headlining act: Icehouse.
Pete Murray sings acoustic songs at By The C in Melbourne, 14/03/21. Photo by Darren Chan.
With 40 years of touring under their belts, Icehouse are an iconic Aussie act. The stage was doused in a dark blue light as the band opened with the song from which they took their name. Following was “Electric Blue” which coaxed more people up on their feet than ever before. Their set was a showcase from their glittering back catalog which could have gone on all night. Davies then handed the microphone over to specialist vocalist Michael Paynter, who gave two emotional acoustic performances of “Street Cafe” and “Man of Colours” with guitarist Paul Gildea (Davies bringing out the oboe for the latter).
Icehouse at By The C in Melbourne, 14/03/21. Photo by Darren Chan.
There was plenty of banter between the band members and the audience. Davies affectionately chastised the crowd for staying in their seats, noting that “we have only travelled 2,500kms to be here tonight, but if you want to stay seated, that’s fine.” One of the stand out moments of the night then came with the sax solo in “I Don’t Believe Anymore”. It wasn’t until they started playing their instantly recognisable anthem “Great Southern Land” that the majority of the crowd finally stood up. Two awesome covers of David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie” and The Sex Pistols “Pretty Vacant” were a nod to their pub band cover version days. Finally, “I Can’t Help Myself” and “We Can Get Together” had the appreciative crowd making the most noise of the evening. For encore, rocky numbers “Fatman” and “Nothing Too Serious” were a great way to cap off an excellent day of quality home grown talent.
Icehouse in front of the crowd By The C in Melbourne, 14/03/21. Photo by Darren Chan.
