The music of Mushroom, its mighty roster, and the chutzpah, power and x-factor of its late chief Michael Gudinski was on show Sunday, Nov. 26 for Mushroom 50 Stay, an all-star live performance celebrating the unbiased music firm’s half century.
Billed as a “once-in-a-lifetime occasion,” the present at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Enviornment was a conveyer belt by means of a musical time machine, taking the viewers for a non-linear stroll by means of the historical past of Mushroom, glued along with interviews, tributes, classic reels and photographs of MG.
When Jimmy Barnes delivered a fiery efficiency on the prime of the present, an announcement was made — strap in.
Barnes, the rock legend who boasts extra No. 1 albums on the ARIA Chart than another artist, and who fronted Chilly Chisel, the quintessential Aussie rock band, carried out two of his signature songs, “No Second Prize” and “Working Class Man.”
“It’s so good to be right here celebrating 50 years with Mushroom,” Barnes informed the group. “I used to be singing with Mushroom for 40 of these years. The opposite 10 I used to be watching Mushroom and watching the bands they had been creating. It’s such an honor to be right here. We’ve received quite a lot of associates on this room, quite a lot of associates right here I can really feel them, even those who aren’t right here, I can nonetheless really feel them,” Barnes famous, a nod to his outdated mate MG. “They’re in my coronary heart.”
The hits saved rolling. Vika & Linda carried out “I’m Residing within the ‘70s,” a basic from Skyhooks, the glam rock band that gave MG and Mushroom its breakthrough. Amy Shark spun a recent interpretation of Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” DMA’S turned their consideration to “Silver” and “Lay Down,” Frente returned to “Extraordinary Angels,” Paul Kelly hit “Earlier than Too Lengthy” and a canopy of Sunnyboys’ “Alone With You,” Christine Anu sang “My Island House.”
Anybody who has signed to Mushroom “will inform you that that it appears like a household, and tonight appears like an extension of that household” defined Missy Higgins, who made a number of journeys to the stage.
Goanna’s Shane Howard, a late addition to the lineup, had the viewers on its toes early with a rousing efficiency of “Stable Rock,” an announcement track that sounds as related now because it did on its launch within the early ‘80s.
Mushroom’s recognition of the good artistry of Australia’s Indigenous music group was in full view as Yothu Yindi received the room shaking with “Djäpana (Sundown Dreaming)” and “Treaty”, then Dan Sultan orchestrated a pin-drop second together with his rendition of the late, nice Archie Roach’s “Took The Youngsters Away.”
Each of MG’s children, Kate and Matt, spoke on the night time. “He created a household surroundings that prolonged to artists in addition to his workers and the entire music business,” Kate enthused. “Dad was extremely proud {that a} track which was written in our household dwelling at Mount Macedon by a Melbourne band grew to become a world hit.” That track was The Mood Entice’s “Candy Disposition,” and, naturally, Dougy Mandagi and Co. had been available to ship the products.
On paper, and with 36 artists doing their half, Mushroom 50 Stay appeared like a logistical nightmare. Little doubt it was, although the manufacturing workforce and the artists, the bulk acting on a rotating foremost stage, with a number of others on a second stage within the spherical, pulled it off.
The night reached its climax with Mark Seymour’s mini-set, which included Hunters & Collectors’ “Throw Your Arms Round Me.” Seymour carried out the much-loved, often-covered track in a digital duet with Ed Sheeran, whose personal solo rendition of the track leads-off the recently-released Mushroom tribute album, 50 Years Of Making Noise. Gremlins did their sneaky work on Sheeran’s video hyperlink. No biggie. The viewers lapped it up, each within the room and again dwelling.
The free-to-air Seven Community hosted the marathon, four-hour particular occasion and received the night time. Mushroom 50 Stay was the most-watched leisure present of the night, capturing 557,000 metro viewers, in accordance with OzTAM knowledge, with 490,000 tuning in for the late session and 350,000 caught the finale. Throughout the nation, some 830,000 folks tuned in, in accordance with Mushroom.
“We’re one of many nice music international locations of the world and Melbourne is the music capital of Australia,” Matt Gudinski, chairman and CEO of Mushroom Group, stated as he appeared down the barrel of the Seven Community’s cameras. It’s a enterprise that was “created to nurture and promote Australian expertise.” And at the moment, “we’re passionate as ever about discovering new expertise that may be embraced by the world.”
Mushroom 50 Stay was a part of the ALWAYS LIVE 2023 program, a 17-day statewide celebration of up to date dwell music supported by the Victoria Authorities by means of Go to Victoria.
