Diesel - The Forever Tour

The Studio, Sydney Opera House - 12 April 2024

The intimate setting of The Studio in the heart of the Sydney Opera House set the stage for an unforgettable evening with Diesel. Known for his versatility and timeless talent, Diesel took the audience on an amazingly soulful, sometimes Jazzy and certainly bluesy journey through a back catalogue, (which as he suggested - has outlasted most Tupperware!) and some more recent and equally impressive material - leaving a lasting impression on all who were fortunate enough to share the intimate experience.

A striking collection of electric and acoustic, six and twelve-string guitars, along with an array of foot pedals, a pair of Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb amps, an upright bass and a lone mic all sat on the stage bathed in dim red light - beckoning Diesel to come and work his magic. The simplicity of the setup, marked by his distinctive “D” symbol, underscored the focus on Diesel’s raw talent and emotive vocals.

Diesel explained how during the Covid lockdowns, whilst most people were trying to track down an active starter for their new sourdough obsession, or making horrendous ‘renovations’ - Diesel wrote two albums. The aptly named ‘Alone With The Blues’ and ‘Bootleg Melancholy’. The opening song of the first set drew from the former - taking his upright bass in hand, Diesel treated us to Lost & Lookin’, before sharing a childhood memory of a song he heard his father play - Since I Fell for You. Summertime stood out for its haunting simplicity, accompanied only by the resonant warm tones of the double bass. Spoonful came next, before Diesel shared how when he was 4-5 years old, he first heard a song, and remembered needing to know ‘what was going on’ - he'd clearly figured that out over the years, as evidenced by his powerful rendition of Muddy Waters’ Hoochie Coochie Man, and some impressive harmonica. Work Song wrapped up the first set - giving the audience opportunity to exchange their many highlights.

Woz, Diesel's fantastic sound engineer, seamlessly resolved a slight technical glitch - and then the second half of the show was underway. The second set picked up from the first and continued to deliver even more of Diesel’s precision and passion - opening up with Forever from Bootleg Melancholy before seamlessly transitioning to more familiar territory. A driving and percussive beat on the face of a twelve-string took us into Soul Revival - the audience needing no further encouragement to clap and sing along. From one great, straight into another with Masterplan - beautifully showcasing Diesel’s incredible mastery of his twelve string.

As he plays through Pasadena and All Come Together, the audience is becoming increasingly more confident with their vocal abilities! A flamenco-style introduction to Fifteen Feet Of Snow, which included whistling and some incredible falsetto. The momentum continued to build with 'I Don't Need Love' and 'Come To Me'. His skilful guitar work breathed new life into old favourites. The energised crowd struggled to contain themselves when they recognised the final song of the set Tip Of My Tongue - the perfect end to an incredibly strong set - the crowd applauding Diesel off the stage, on their feet.

Throughout the night, Diesel shared anecdotes and reflections, infusing the performance with warmth and humour. From joking about his prolific album output to expressing deep sincere gratitude for the audience’s presence, his genuine connection with the crowd added depth to an already remarkable show.

Much to the appreciation of the audience - Diesel came back out to deliver an encore. He explained how as a child, when you wanted something - you had to pick your time: a Saturday morning, maybe when he heard his father playing his sax - or he saw that G&T’s were being enjoyed. He shared that another ‘good time’ was when he heard I Only Have Eyes For You playing on his father’s record player. Paying tribute to his roots, Diesel picked up the double bass - and delivered a sensational rendition of the song, before unleashing yet more vocal emotion in Cry In Shame - by the end of the song, Diesel was channelling Hendrix-like guitar prowess, and was down on his knees - quite simply, he brought the Opera House down - perfectly ending a night filled with soul-stirring music, sensational vocals and masterful musicianship.

Overall, Diesel’s performance was nothing short of triumphant. Stripped back to its essence, his one-man show was a testament to the enduring power of great music. From the intimate confines of The Studio, Diesel’s talent shone brightly, leaving an indelible mark on all who were fortunate enough to bear witness.

Review & Photos by Andy Kershaw (@andy.kershaw.photography) for Music Kingdom Australia

Full Photo Gallery: https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/Diesel%20-%20The%20Forever%20Tour