Gig review: The Cruel Sea at Anita's Theatre, Thirroul

By Timmy Maxwell

The Cruel Sea's performance at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul for Great Southern Nights on March 22 marked the 30th anniversary of their seminal album The Honeymoon is Over.

They began by luring us in with a few mesmerising instrumental pieces, showcasing their roots in surf-style guitar instrumentals, highlighting their unique musical chemistry honed over decades.

Then the unmistakable silhouette of Tex Perkins came strutting from the shadows, his deep, brooding voice and magnetic stage persona effortlessly commanding attention. His banter was laced with humour and wit, demonstrating his prowess as one of Australia's finest frontmen.

Ken Gormley and Jim Elliot's tight rhythm section provided a solid foundation for Dan Rumour's cool and casual guitar style. It’s a unique and purely Australian summer coastal sound, a canvas painted with hues of surf, sand and the grime of city streets. The new addition of Matt Walker on guitar and organ seamlessly filled the void left by James Cruickshank, who sadly departed this earthly realm in 2015.

Perkins led the band through a catalogue of hits, classics like Black Stick, The Honeymoon is Over, This is not the way home and Better get a lawyer, and they all sounded amazing, better than ever! His stories about the early days of going to watch The Cruel Sea perform as an instrumental band at the Harold Park Hotel invoked nostalgia before the band launched into Down Below and Blame it on the Moon.

The Cruel Sea demonstrated why they are such a special Australian band; they were always a good band, but with Tex they became a truly great band.

The Honeymoon ain't over.