Immortal idols get rockstar treatment in 27 Club

Although it’s been debunked as conspiracy hype, the legend of the “27 Club” endures. Whether it’s coincidence or curse doesn’t matter, for most people, it just means that fans of rock music can celebrate a handful of the greatest performers ever as a posthumous supergroup. And that’s what 27 Club, the show, does. 

27 Club is made up of an absolute powerhouse of Australian musicians in a rotating line-up: Sarah McLeod, Kevin Mitchell, Carla Lippis, Dusty Lee Stephenson, Justin Burford, Virginia Lillye, and Bek Jensen, plus a consummate back-up band.  

The opening night show featured McLeod, Lippis, Stephenson and Burford, and if it’s in any way representative of a typical 27 Club show, then you can expect fireworks any night you attend. 

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain are celebrated in a dynamic, raw, thrilling re-imagination of their greatest hits, while honouring the core of what made them all unique. There’s also a special nod to blues legend, Robert Johnson, who was the first to hang up his guitar at age 27. 

For a tribute band with an alternating line-up, the band is extremely tight and clearly have great rapport, not only with each other but with the audience. There’s a lot of infectious energy on stage. 

They don’t imitate, but they respectfully reference each of the legends in their performances. Stephenson gives a very impressive homage to Jimi Hendrix, playing his axe like an absolute demon, and even doing the Hendrix trick of playing with the guitar held behind his head. 

McLeod flies around like a bat out of hell and kills it with a roaring cover of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart”. Lippis does an utterly breathtaking, slowed-down, pared down version of Nirvana’s “Lithium” and Burford, unabashedly a Cobain fan, manages to channel his inner tortured torch singer in a stunning acoustic ode to Any Winehouse.   

In between each song, the various band members give a brief biographical anecdote about one of the legends being honoured. They perform solo, in pairs and as a whole band and the whole show is rippling with electricity which transfers to the audience. 

Do not miss this show. Be warned, though, it is very loud! 

Playing as part of Sydney Fringe.

Until September 29
Spiegeltent Festival Garden, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
sydneyfringe.com/events/27-club/