Tim Freedman has become a seminal part of Australian music history, a place he rightfully deserves. His voice has narrated many of us through the highs and lows of loves won and lost. Whilst some only know him for the big hits, such as “No Aphrodisiac,” and “Blow Up The Pokies,” this alone is enough to cement his place. Everything else is just a bonus, and there is so much else.

The night was opened by Perry Keyes. Whilst one has found fame, fortune and recognition, it is clear that both Keyes and Freedman are performers cut from the same cloth. Keyes delighted the audience with his own brand of pop music, the songs so infused with heart and soul that one cannot help but devour them. As Keyes sang his songs about love and lust and the local pub, his soulful melodies and nostalgic stage banter helped bring his stories to life. At times it seemed his songs were just a means to an end, and the story was what Keyes really wanted us to hear.

From the moment Tim Freedman sauntered onto the stage, the audience was hooked. Before he had opened his mouth the room had hushed itself in quiet expectation, an expectation that Freedman both met and exceeded. From the first notes of his opening number-Little Cloud- Freedman’s ease with both the piano and the crowd were evident. As he breezed his way through his set, the crowd continued to watch in silence. Freedman in no way demands our attention, but receives it in abundance.

After claiming his recent shows had been too dark, Freedman decided to lighten the mood with a love song, “Fall for You,” but even his love songs can be laced with the most melancholy verses, which Freedman delivers with well practiced perfection, not that he’d know. His seminal tune “No Aphrodisiac,” was introduced simply as part love song, part break up song. And though one cannot expect that it will deliver the same sting after all this years, Freedman reworks to give it new life; to showcase a different part of the story. Tonight the emphasis was on the plea to not be left alone, a plea which Freedman makes in all earnest even though it’s probably been quite some time since he’s felt that pain.

Like Keyes, Freedman mixes his songs with his stories, from matters as trivial as dressing appropriately for the weather, to more personal stories about his daughters first year of school. This helps to create the relaxed atmosphere which makes the audience feel they are a seminal part of what’s going on. Whilst Freedman doesn’t seem quite at ease with the idea of being a celebrity, he does what he loves and seems genuinely grateful that the audience has allowed him to do it for so long.

But the audience are not the only lovers of music, as Tim Freedman covers songs from Neil Young, Nancy Griffiths and his favourite songwriter Randy Newman. These covers highlight Freedman’s modesty. Though his back catalogue could more than satisfy this audience, he wants both to share his passion and give tribute to those who have inspired him as he inspires others. And this inspiration is evident when he plays his own songs including Blow Up The Pokies, Breathing You In and Charlie No 1, and closing with the only song which the audience were brave enough to sing along to, Thankyou (For Loving Me At My Worst.)”

Not one to disappoint, Freedman performed an encore. Opening with the somber track “The Curse Stop Here,” which brought goosebumps and few tears, Freedman then lightened the mood with a tribute to his favourite prime minister “Gough.” For the final song of the night, Freedman was joined onstage by Perry Keyes, and they performed one of Keyes’ songs, “The Day Johnny Sattler Broke His Jaw,” a ballad which examines the way we remember both the good and the bad, as the protagonist remembers all that happened on the day John Sattler broke his jaw.

The show was a delight, start to finish. Both Tim Freedman and Perry Keyes brought to the stage a beautiful mix of story-telling, song writing and musical ability which captivating their audience, and showing that both these performers are simply getting better with age. Not that you could tell them, as both still seem grateful that they are able to do what they love for a living. Perhaps Freedman said it best with his last official song for the night when he sang, “I was relieved and full of love for the people, I said “Thank You.”