10cc's live show is perfection

Adelaide Advertiser 21 september 1977 rock section
by Ian Meikle

AT APOLLO: 10cc in concert. Again tonight.

Dust off the cliches, it's been so long since there's been a show to come near 10cc's.

10cc, the thinking man's pop band, thrives on perfection. Its recordings have always been tagged too clever by half. But now its live show — the new and improved lineup's first to Australia — is proving that what's done in the studio comes as easily on stage.

An awesome achievement, as anyone familiar with 10cc's particularly intricate blend of pop-rock knows.

Not only are the six outstanding on stage, but songwriters and founder members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman are two of England's finest pop tunesmiths. Unsung heroes, if you like, of some of the '60s finest songs.

Their distinctive, articulate turn of phrase and commercial flair straddles a fine line between cynicism and sympathy for the believable characters and real-life situations their songs portray.

On stage they spearhead one of the most technically conscientious rock shows to come to Adelaide.

It's a polished, well rehearsed concert that doesn't flinch from detail, be it the precision of the lighting cues or Stewart bothering to thank the support band Scandal (who were quite good, actually).

The music was pretty incredible, too.

Dual drummers, Stuart Tosh and Paul Burgess don't overwhelm. Instead, their combined power is used more to underline the rich percussive qualities of the music.

Tall, talented guitarist Rick Fenn and keyboard player Tony O'Malley — like Tosh, a former member of lightweight British pop band Pilot — swell the vocal power, leaving Gouldman, in general, and Stewart, in particular, free to shine.

Which they unhesitatingly did on highlights such as "The Things We Do For Love," "I'm Mandy, Fly Me," "Wall Street Shuffle," "Marriage Bureau Rendezvous" and the all-time 10cc great "I'm Not In Love."

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