CARNIVAL'S NOT OVER FOR THE SEEKERS

The Seekers charmed and inspired in a two-hour show of old and new classics at the Concert Hall last night. They were in sparkling form from the outset, in this, the first show of their Australian tour, celebrating 30 years in the business, and a new triple gold album to boot. The four-piece harmonies of Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley and Keith Potger wound effortlessly around the opening song, a calculated crowd-pleaser, Another You. Durham's vocals, particularly, shone early in the set, elevating the band's lyrical agenda of positivity and hope to its proper place. A rollicking, gently tribal version of Red Rubber Ball followed before the band tackled new material from last year's "Future Road" album. The plaintive "Guardian Ange"l, one of the stronger, acoustic tracks from the new LP was a thoughtful lead-in to a medley of new songs including the rousing Circle Of Love and Amazing. The second half of the show provided an avalanche of the Seekers classic back catalogue including "Georgy Girl" and "The Carnival Is Over".

(Herald-Sun, 24 February 1998)

NOSTALGIA WITH ROOM TO MOVE

There was a point, just after interval, on the first of five home-town concerts on their first national tour, when The Seekers showed not only why they remain close to the hearts of so many Melburnians who grew up with their music, but also how they have become tangible symbols of an Australian ethos politicians talk about but rarely understand. Sitting close together in a corner of the stage, they invited us to forget we were in a large concert hall and return to 1963, when three strapping, ex-Melbourne High School lads and a diminutive lass with a huge voice got together at a smoky South Yarra coffee lounge to play a blend of gospel and folk that would quickly conquer world music charts. It was, and still is, an uplifting experience listening to them - at times rather like a revivalist meeting - with Judith Durham keeping time on tambourine as her high, powerful vocals fronted the three-part harmonies of Athol Guy (double bass), Keith Potger (12-string guitar) and Bruce Woodley (guitar), plus backing trio ono drums, discreet electric guitar and keyboards (Mark O'Connor). There were many nostalgic moments in a concert filled with past hits (they faithfully covered just about all of them in the 30-plus songs), but this impressively staged concert tour is about a new lease of musical life for the 50-something quartet, with a new CD to promote, Future Road, and an EMI record deal promising several more. So, bracketed by the familiar opener I'll Never Find Another You and the final,. Obligatory encores of The Carnival Is Over and A World Of Our Own, they sang a swag of fresh material that blended in almost seamlessly with the old. Among the latter, Woodley's superb adaptation of Henry Lawson's The Bush Girl and Durham's wistful It's Hard To Leave stood out (although both are from previous solo recordings), as well as the CD' s jaunty title song. The crowd, which included a fair sprinkling of young gold among the silver threads, was on its feet, clapping and cheering animatedly for more, until the auditorium lights came on. They needn't worry - the carnival is far from over.

The Age (Melbourne), 25 February, 1998

THE SEEKERS - MELBOURNE CONCERT HALL

Say Goodbye? With The Seekers, from the night's first sung note, displaying vintage form that triggered a flood of yesteryear memories, no way, Jose. These cool, folky cats will surely keep their unique musical carnival going - if only occasionally - beyond this 30th anniversary tour that has had a barnstorming start in the city where the global phenomenon-to-be started in 1968. And a re-enacted salute to that beginning -four fresh-faced young Melburnians entertaining patrons at the Treble Clef coffee lounge in South Yarra - is one of the real treasures for 1998 patrons. The year's have inevitably lined faces and greyed follicles (except Judith Durham's, that is) but the musical magic remains undimmed by time. At no time was this more strongly emphasised than in the Treble Clef segment, when the three backing musicians took leave of their instruments, leaving Athol Guy, Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and little Judith intimately assembled under a couple of lamps at the side of the stage. Backed only by Guy's big bass and the guitars of Woodley and Potger, the produced pure Seekers' sound with a bracket of songs as diverse as When The Stars Begin To Fall, their calypso classic, Myra, and gospel goodies such as Open Up Them Pearly Gates and We Shall Not Be Moved.

On stage more than two hours, nobody could complain of poor value for money, but some people might reasonably have expected the fab four to sing more golden (and platinum) oldies and fewer songs from last year's Future Road album. But then EMI wants to build on the three gold records Future Road has achieved, and the most effective way to do that is to showcase the best of it to an adoring audience.

Sunday Herald-Sun (Melbourne), 1 March 1998

Seekers Bring Back Nostalgic Memories

Saturday night, said one concert-goer was nostalgia. It would have brought back many memories for the hundreds who filled the Trafalgar Centre. I remember lying out under stars on the grass at the Bowl of Brookland in New Plymouth 30 years ago, listening to the Seekers' music wash over me.

When the Seekers went to Britain, by boat said Judith Durham, the Animals' House of the Rising Sun was No. 1. It wasn't too long before they made it there too with the Tom Springfield hit I'll Never Find Another You.

What was it that made the Seekers so popular? That their music was uncomplicated? Easy to whistle-hum-sing along with? Perhaps just right for the era. Certainly we had no problems joining in whether invited to or not; and when Durham confused the verses of Morningtown Ride, it made no difference, we carried the words for her.

The Seekers mixed their repertoire. Old favourites including Georgie Girl, Some Day One Day and Love is Kind Love Is Blind; cover versions of My Lord What A Morning, the Buddy Holly hit, It Don't Matter Anymore and Myra. There was new material as well - The Shores of Avalon based on a Celtic tune, Keep Your Dreams and Speak To The Sky.

Keyboard and percussion gave variety to the familiar backings subtle backdrop lighting altered the mood of the song and pace.

Words and harmonies were crisp, and it was wonderful to hear Durham's clear, distinctive voice along with Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley.

For the Seekers, thirty plus years on, the carnival is far from over. I thought Saturday Night was just great.

The Nelson Mail June 8th 1998