"You'll think all your summers have come at once!" blared the billboards. Well, maybe not quite, although the heat might have been enough to make you think so. For anyone who didn't hear about it (was there anyone??), 'Australian Made' was a national tour through Australia, featuring our major 'international' acts - namely, Mental As Anything, I'm Talking, The Triffids, The Saints, The Divynls, The Models, Jimmy Barnes, and of course, the hottest band in Australia at the moment - INXS.

By 9am the line outside Cronulla's Endeavour Field was far back enough to make it a few minutes walk to the entrance. At 10am when the gates were supposed to open and didn't, the crowd - which was growing by the minute - began to get really restless. For some reason which was never actually explained to us, the gates didn't open until 11am, and by then there was enough pushing and shoving to make you wonder why you'd even bothered in the first place.

Deciding that it was going to be front row centre or die, I managed to be about the second person through the turnstiles, and in the mad rush that followed, I overcame all odds and actually landed a position alongside the front barricade!

Showtime was 1pm, and there was an almighty roar as the Mentals came onstage (although by then and in that heat I'm sure we would have welcomed just about anyone!). To be fair though, the Mentals weren't half bad. They played most of their better-known hits for just over an hour, and the crowd, although not exactly ecstatic, seemed to enjoy the set.

Next on were I'm Talking (with Kate Ceberano). Maybe it was the heat, which we were all beginning to feel by now, but it seemed to me as though I'm Talking were playing as though it were an effort just to be on stage. The audience liked the established hits best, songs like 'Lead the Way', 'Do You Wanna Be', etc. The biggest cheer they got was when Kate Ceberano admitted to the audience something along the lines of, "I'm scared shitless!". Overall they were okay, and it was good to see Kate make her way down past the front of the stage.

After another break of about fifteen minutes or so, on came The Triffids. And oh how I wish they hadn't! Why oh why couldn't we have had someone like Boom Crash Opera or Crowded House instead?? The Triffids, put quite bluntly, sucked. Their songs sounded exactly alike and they soon bored the audience. We were all relieved when they finally quit the stage about an hour later.

Seminal Aussie punkers The Saints, were up next and in contrast, they were great. It was refreshing to be able to listen to some real music after being so bored for the previous hour or so, and the crowd really let loose when Jimmy Barnes appeared on stage to join them for a song.

Following The Saints were The Divynls - who were, well, not bad. I guess things would have been better if Chrissie Amphlett could have restrained herself from exposing her underpants every few minutes or so - not exactly a pleasant sight when you are front row and have to look upwards to see the stage! They sang most of their well-known songs - 'Boys In Town' by far the standout.

Only three bands left to go, and it was at this stage that the crowd really began to get pushy. The Models proved to be the most popular of the bands so far, and they were worth the wait. Decked in coats and wearing sultry expressions, they gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, with hits such as 'Barbados', 'Outta Mind, Outta Sight' and 'Let's Kiss'. In fact, at this point of the afternoon, they were matched in popularity only by 'Dogs In Space' director, Richard Lowenstein, who got cheers and screams from the audience every time he crossed the stage.

Chants of "Barn-sey! Barn-sey!" heralded the arrival of Jimmy Barnes and band, who hit the stage just as it was beginning to get dark. The audience went wild, and it wasn't too hard to understand why. Jimmy Barnes is like a powerkeg onstage - pure energy! Seeing him live is like seeing an explosion happen - it's incredible! After hearing songs like 'Daylight', 'I'd Die To Be With You Tonight' and 'Working Class Man' live, the records just don't compare. Jimmy Barnes is one hell of a live act!

Finally it was time for INXS. By now the crowd were exhausted after about eight hours of standing. Then just when we thought we could take no more (trust me, life at one of these things is cruel, make no mistake!), INXS were announced, and on they came - Tim, Garry, Kirk, Andrew, Jon, and last of all, Michael - finally onstage, and didn't the crowd know it!!

INXS proved brilliant as usual, although the height and size of the stage made it impossible for anyone near the front to see Jon Farriss or anything that was happening at the back. Michael was his usual self, prancing and parading across the stage - and got an amazing cheer from the crowd when he, uh, grabbed himself at the beginning of 'What You Need'! Michael, did you have to do that??! INXS pounded their way through the set with charm and brilliance, and when they finally departed about an hour later, the crowd went truly wild with appreciation. Roars of "More! More!" managed to pull them back onstage, this time with Jimmy Barnes, Sean Kelly, and numerous others in tow for the finale of 'Good Times'. Nobody could believe it was all over when the stage finally cleared.

Such was Australian Made - the aching legs, the parched throats, the grumbling tummys, the incredible sunburn (ouch!) - it was all worth it in the end. A real back to the basics rock concert, and a fitting tribute to the summer of '86/'87.

© 1998 Underneath The Colours