Review: The Tea Party @ Hindley Street Music Hall 15/02/26
The Tea Party turned up in Adelaide, putting on an exhilarating showcase of Moroccan roll that had the crowd grooving along.
Words John Goodridge // Images Henry Maurin
The Tea Party w/Nathan Cavaleri @ Hindley Street Music Hall 15/02/26
The Tea Party brought their Elements Tour to a close in the City of Churches over the weekend. Consisting of three rock shows and two orchestral concerts, Adelaide got the rock and roll end of the stick, with the Moroccan roll trio proving why they are so beloved in Australia with a captivating performance.
The evening began with a high-energy blues and rock set from Nathan Cavaleri, which included his latest single ‘Tilba’ and concluded with an impressive extended solo. A blues guitar prodigy, Cavaleri has been performing for more than 30 years, and his opening set was highly appreciated by the growing crowd who nodded along in appreciation while knocking back their beers.
When it came time for the headliner to take to the stage, the crowd was in a boisterous mood and ready to rock out with the trio of Jeff Martin, Jeff Burrows and Stuart Chatwood, the driving force behind The Tea Party since the band’s inception in 1990.
The Tea Party delivered a relaxed and intimate performance, with lead singer Martin noting his excitement to connect with the audience after their recent symphonic shows. Rather than a standard “greatest hits” set, the band delved deep into their catalogue, opening with the scuzzy alt-rocker “Writing's on the Wall” and taking the audience through tracks like ‘Bazaar’ and the rarely played ‘Mantra’, which went down a treat.
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There was a cover of Daniel Lanois’ ‘The Messenger’, which was an uplifting surprise, along with a rendition of ‘Heaven Coming Down’ that featured INXS’ ‘Never Tear Us Apart’.
The musicianship was exceptional, featuring a variety of instruments including the oud, mandolin and an electric guitar played with a violin bow. Burrows on drums and Chatwood on keyboards rounded out the sound, while the band's long-standing chemistry created a great atmosphere within the venue.
The show concluded on a high note with ‘Temptation’, followed by a medley of ‘Sister Awake’ and ‘Paint It Black’.
It was a truly satisfying experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Want more pics of The Tea Party? Check out our full photo gallery here.
