Communion with The Church

By MIKE GEE

The Church's light show is stunning. Photo by Mike Gee

Greatness is hard won. It is a battle long fought and the title well earned. I have been a fan of The Church for 45 years. I’ve lost count of the number of shows I’ve seen. Singer, songwriter, raconteur, Steven John Kilbey, is The Church. He has had a remarkable number of stunningly talented compatriots over the years in this wonderful band but make no mistake this is HIS group.

We first met at a motel at the bottom of Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia, way back in 1981. He was as cocky then as he is confident now. He gave good interview. Always has. Once upon a time, over dinner, we discussed in depth the classic years of prog - bands such as Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and Jethro Tull, in particular. Albums like Nursery Crymes, Trespass, Fragile and Close To The Edge a lot. Sometimes his Church of today has such epic and complex music at its roots. And sometimes it doesn't because Kilbey has always listened far and wide. He is opinionated, sometimes a little surly, but a man who knows his stuff.

Tantalized, indeed. Photo by Mike Gee

He talks a lot. And did this night as The Church played its fourth Enmore Theatre show on its Singles Tour. ‘Tell Iva Davies (of Icehouse)’, Kilbey quipped. It was also his last show as a Sydney resident.

He’s moved to Forster. I’ve no idea why, other than it’s a nice place on the mid-North coast of NSW, full of clean sea airs, and Sydney is too bloody busy and endlessly full these days (in my opinion). It spills over itself.

The latest incarnation of the band is stunning. Perhaps the best ever. The core quartet of Kilbey (bass), guitarists Ian Haug and Ash Naylor, percussionist Tim Powles, is outstanding and further enriched by drummer Nick Meredith (now a full-time member), and their tour manager filling in for Jeffrey Cain on guitar.

The classic material still sparkles. Kilbey is a brillant songwriter and has penned a formidable list of Australian classics some of which aren’t singles and don’t appear this night. That said the set list is epic, a testimony to a continuous stream of top-class songwriting over the years: The Unguarded Moment (have we have ever stopped dancing to it!), Columbus, Electric Lash, Block, Metropolis, Reptile, When You Were Mine, Ripple, It’s No Reason, Constant In Opal, Tantalized, the latterday gems The Hypnogogue and Sacred Echoes (Part 2), and, of course, the anthem, the one that is most celebrated, Under The Milky Way.

Steve Kilbey in the spotlight. Photo by Mike Gee

The Church are as good as any band in the world. Internationally recognised with a worldwide congregation of dedicated worshippers.

Their greatness is deserved. They, he, toughed it out and deserve all the plaudits and much more. Which brings us to the final stanza, Kilbey’s greatest song, Almost With You, a piece of guitar pop rock perfection from 1982. From the classic Church album, Blurred Crusade, it - like most of his work - never ages. Steve will disagree about it being his best song but I reckon that changes in his head on a monthly basis anyway. Well played, mate, you are a frikkin’ genius. Full gallery: https://mike-gee.smugmug.com/Performances/The-Church-06022026 What they played

Set list courtesy of setlist.fm