Thanks for the Memories.
Something magical happens the moment John Schumann opens his mouth on stage. We stop what we are doing and stare, wide eyed – he sounds exactly as he always has.
My older brother introduced me to Redgum in the mid 90’s, smoking Peter Jacksons out the window of his hotted up V8, speakers booming with his favourite cassette as we drove the streets of Alice Springs. ‘I Was Only 19’ is an Aussie staple, and looking around at the crowd at the Ski Club tonight, it’s clear it still is. There are people who’ve been listening to Schumann since the early 80’s, others like me who discovered him a little later, and – wonderfully – young people, whose parents have made his music part of their family soundtrack. We’re all here to experience it live.
We are in for a treat, as they put on a phenomenal show, playing for over two hours and giving us a three-song encore, all the while creating a joyful and poignant atmosphere that has people both smiling and crying.
Schumann is a master storyteller, both in song and in speech. His banter between songs is finely tuned from years of performing – I can’t help but wonder how many times his bandmates have heard his anecdotes, and whether they ever get weary of them! He has a wonderful way with words – witty, honest and emotional.
The Vagabond Crew are exceptional – tight, talented and versatile. Highlights include the violinist playing the Saw during ‘The Last Frontier’, and crowd favourites ‘Poor Ned’ and ‘I’ve Been to Bali Too’. I’m sat next to a guy who’s quietly sung along to almost every song – it’s delightful experiencing his fanhood vicariously.
The finale is the iconic ‘I Was Only 19’, introduced by Schumann with the ‘hope that one day, as humans, we learn to settle our differences without pointing guns at each other’. The crowd is entranced – still, over 40 years since it was first released. I Facetime my brother, we don’t speak; I just hold the phone up so he can watch. At the end, I whisper, ‘Love you bro’ and hang up. Around me, couples lean into one another, holding hands, arms curled around shoulders. There’s love in the air, or perhaps nostalgia, old memories. It’s a good feeling.
We give them a standing ovation and they return for a mighty encore. I’m torn between watching the band perform their magic and staring at the crowd, soaking in the lovely energy. I do both, and leave feeling sated by music and people, stoked to have seen this much-loved musician, still in his element.
JOHN SCHUMANN & THE VAGABOND CREW PERFORMED ‘REDGUM YEARS’ AS PART OF DARWIN FESTIVAL, AT THE DARWIN SKI CLUB ON AUGUST 21, 2025.
BY CLARE BIZLEY