Review: Jim E. Brown @ The Golden Wattle 27/06/26
19-year-old pop sensation Jim E. Brown played to a packed crowd that was ready for some exclusive musical memories, and boy, did they get some!
Words & Images Brad Pine
Review: Jim E. Brown w/Andy Burns @ The Golden Wattle 27/06/26
My name is Brad Pine, and this is the beginning of my review of Jim E. Brown. The self-described obese alcoholic who suffers from various degenerative conditions returned to Australia on the back of last year’s I Urinated On A Butterfly. For those unaware of the aura around this man, he has been known to repeat his own name in songs, forget his lyrics and drink heavily on stage. After reading a little of his backstory, I needed to see Jim E. Brown for myself.
On entering the Golden Wattle, there was a large table set up with everything a Jim E. Brown follower could want – memoirs, CDs, vinyl, t-shirts and more. As someone new to Brown, I grabbed a copy of the first volume of his autobiography.
As I waited for his support, Andy Burns, I perused the book: “When I was five, I looked 20. By the time I was 13, I looked over 30 years old.” Brown reminisces about his childhood, his loves and his introduction to music. “From peas to unrequited love, I had a lot to say as a singer-songwriter. So, I went about recording an album.” This was 2021, and now, Brown is a musical force to be reckoned with.
Burns was dressed in a tan trenchcoat and filling up on beers, as was Brown, who casually walked through the expanding crowd and straight to the bar. Eventually Burns, with a laptop, guitar and a melodica-type instrument, took to the stage with the opener ‘DUMPSTER DIVA.’
In an instant, he transformed into an ‘80s new wave balladeer, sounding at times like Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet – however, Burns’ voice fluctuated, cracked and howled. At times, Burns seemed to hock up lyrics instead of singing them. He danced without fear and like a man possessed. He closed with a cover of ‘You Got It’ which he believed would have “Roy Orbison rolling in his grave…Sorry, Roy.” A truly unique performance to complement what was to come.
My name is Brad Pine, and this is where I talk about the start of Jim E. Brown’s performance. The cheers were deafening as the crammed crowd sighted Brown’s entrance. “Hello, Southern Australia,” Brown announced before proclaiming the first song ‘I Urinated On A Butterfly’.
The front of the crowd shouted praise and suggestions to Brown, to which he replied that he could not understand the Australian accent. During ‘I Want To Get In Touch With Me Inner Child’, Brown encountered a technical issue, which he defeatedly asked, “Should I fuck off?” The crowd disagreed and Brown continued until he forgot the lyrics.
“I’m nineteen…I have various degenerative conditions…I AM OBESE!” Brown was not one to shy away from his perceived afflictions. But even as an obese alcoholic, he refused the wishes of some in the crowd to do a shoey. But Brayden, a lucky member of the audience, stood in as tribute to take one for Jim E. This was swiftly followed by a poem, ‘I CAN SMELL THE MICE HAVING SEX BEHIND THE WALLS’. His Mancunian brogue played perfectly into the words, with some in the crowd reciting the poem along with him.
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Even being a few beers in, Brown was still able to pick up the guitar for ‘I Know I'm Going to Die of a Stroke.’ However, his talent as a singer-songwriter and guitarist was really on show during what was the highlight of the night: ‘RAT IN BIN’. Taken from his latest album, this song has become a fan favourite, especially in a live setting. Why? Because it gets repeated plays at his gigs. After his fourth rendition, we asked for it one more time. And another. And another. Seven times in total. He could have played ‘RAT IN BIN’ all night and a majority of the crowd would have left happy.
My name is Brad Pine, and I am still writing about Jim E. Brown at The Golden Wattle. The vignettes Brown created with each song were unique. Before ‘The Queue At Greggs’, Brown attempted to talk about stumbling into some guy called Greg, who lured him to the basement with sausage rolls. But the crowd kept talking. “No talking…I’ll wait for everyone to be quiet.” He did so, and he told the story again. Even later in the set, Brown tried to read a lewd excerpt from the upcoming fourth volume of his autobiography; however, some at the back kept talking, which annoyed Brown once more. Eventually, he regaled us with the unpublished story and continued with the music.
Alongside his original songs, Brown was no stranger to covers. Minnie Riperton’s ‘Loving You’ got a distorted short tribute, as well as The Cranberries ‘Linger’ and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’, until once again, he forgot the lyrics. Nevertheless, his guitar playing in ‘Purple Rain’ was commendable for a nineteen-year-old. After forgetting the lyrics to ‘I’M A PRE-DIABETIC’, Brown left the stage, maybe to refuel.
The encore began, of course, with ‘RAT IN BIN’ – now for the eighth time of the night. Brown ended the night with ‘I'm Not Perfect (I Am Pure Shit)’ and took his count of saying “My name is Jim E. Brown” to twenty.
There are so many moments in a Jim E. Brown gig that it is hard to put into words on a page. He may not be everyone’s tall glass of vodka, but he is definitely a unique experience. Coupled with the eccentricity of Andy Burns, this was a night that will be etched in my mind for a while.
My name is Brad Pine, and this is the end of the review.
