I am so glad we found out about this show. Often in the past few years we have seen Roger deliver commercial material in bands like Secondhand Spacesuits or in his distinct role with the enormously popular Stars.

So to see him in his own show Past, Present & Future at Fyrefly on Friday night gave us a much broader picture of him. He performed songs from the last 50 years: songs that influenced him, songs he had performed including one from the time he was in jazz band Pyramid who played at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Roger enjoys telling stories & over the night he told us lots. When he spoke about Pyramid he noted that it was the band that changed his life.

Roger (right) & Steve Wade

He had a great band Friday night that included Ric Formosa (who was in an early line-up of Little River Band with Roger) and two vocalists: Mick Pealing from Stars & Steve Wade who was lead vocalist in Little River Band (LRB) from 1996 – 2000. Roger’s keyboard player for the night, Richard Tankard was a stand out.

They played songs from both the eras Roger was with LRB (1975 – 1976 & 1998 – 1999) & he gave us a selection from the Stars catalogue. His version of Your the Voice as a duo with Steve on acoustic guitar (& Roger on bass) was stunning. For anyone who doesn’t know it already, Roger was bass player on the John Farnham recording of this song that is now an Oz anthem. They played Sorry to Bog You (from Roger’s CD); the song he wrote with sax man Greg Clarkson who was in the band on the night.

Fyrefly is a small venue under the Newmarket pub in St Kilda. It has a nice atmosphere & great sound. It was full & Roger was clearly pleased with the turn out. Wouldn’t it be wonderful he does another gig there in the future.