Live

The Teskey Brothers: Brighton Dome, Brighton & Hove 24/4/23

Forty-nine years to the month after the Brighton Dome witnessed Abba conquering Europe with "Waterloo", the venue had another musical invasion. This time it was the Australian soul/blues band The Teskey Brothers, who have come a long way from the bars of Melbourne in 2008. Post-pandemic brings them a six-month world tour with an 8-piece band including a horn section.

You can tell a lot about a gig from the warm-up music. Joe Cocker, Ray Charles and Nina Simone set the scene.

The Teskey Brothers have built up an organic following over the years and this Brighton Dome gig was sold out several months in advance. In 2020 they sold out Brighton's Concorde 2 so it's probably the Brighton Conference Centre for them next time.

Playing a 14-track, 100-minute set the band included material from their forthcoming June album release "Winding Way". The familiarity of "Carry You" immediately had the crowd whooping and hollering. The brothers are the star of the show, backed by a tight-funk band. Sam on lead 'singing' guitar and Josh, astounding on vocals. Imagine Otis Redding meets Anderson East with Joe Cocker in the wings - and a healthy helping of Motown and Muscle Shoals.

Raw, yet refined, standout tracks included the slow and gentle "Take My Heart", a soul classic in the making. "Rain" stole the show with its gorgeous brass harmonies and vocals right out of Otis' "Cigarettes and Coffee". The cover of The Zombies' "This Will Be Our Year" was impeccable and the rip-roaring blues of "What Will Be" with Sam's extended guitar solo à la Pink Floyd a big crowd pleaser.

"Hold Me" ended the show with a perfect audience sing-along, the crowd carrying the tune with Josh giving one last glimpse of his awesome vocal talent.
  
Then, with the walk-out music of Sinatra's "That's Life" it was out into the bitter Brighton wind.

PHOTOS: CHAZZ BROOKS
Words CHAZ BROOKS