:: The Baby Animals - Prince Of Wales, St.Kilda - January 2008

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

In the middle of 2007 I heard on the grapevine that the Baby Animals were going to reform for the recording of an acoustic CD of their best known hits plus go back on the road for a series of shows early in 2008. It was kept under wraps as this was a momentous decision for the Perth band to get together approximately fourteen years after terminating their previous career. Much anticipation then surrounded the confirmation that the band had booked several dates in January across Australia. This was so because the Baby Animals was at the forefront of Australian rock & roll in the early 1990s and seemingly had the world at their feet. Circumstances led the band members on different paths for the ensuing years.

However, at the Prince Of Wales the big comeback gig was on show. The venue was packed to capacity and comprised many who would have seen the band at their best fifteen years ago. It would have been quite an emotional moment for the four band members as they walked on stage. As it was the band were in great form, reliving all those past glories with their great hits like One Word, Rush You, and Painless, in particular, igniting the crowd into rapturous excitement. Suze DeMarchi still ranks as one of our country's best rock vocalists of the last twenty years and she was in top form and in good shape, interacting with the band and audience with charisma. A couple of acoustic numbers were thrown in, where the delicate artistry of guitarist Dave Leslie came to the fore beautifully. The whole band worked energetically and tightly to produce a terrific show, which must give the band confidence and satisfaction to know that their great support from the fans has remained. The crowd sang along with Suze throughout the show and demonstrated their support with a rousing closing applause. We can only hope that this will spark the Baby Animals back into full time action and future recordings.