Billy Vincent From Mackay To Melbourne
The far queues stretched from Flinders Street station and Young & Jackson’s to the historic Forum theatre for more than an hour before former Mackay rugby star Billy Vincent hit the stage as opening act for Texan tourist Koe Wetzel.
It was a sure sign there would be no empty seats for the three hours of music and mirth under the gargoyles way above the massive mosh pit.
There was way more than a quorum at the Forum as fans rushed inside to catch Vincent on his solo guitar entrée.
It seemed like smoke arising from the stage but that was an illusion before Vincent performed his entrée Close Your Doors and The Story.
“Four months ago I was in my bedroom. I never dreamed I would be here on stage before Koe Wetzel,” Vincent told fans.
“Some of these songs are pretty new. Wish me luck.’’
Vincent performed Burning and The Curse.
“Ever since I was twelve years old, I always had a special connection with music. I never admitted it to myself as I was chasing my dream of being a football star.”
“This song is one of the reasons I’m here today. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Koe for bringing me here.”
Vincent finished his entrée with new song Fly Away.
“This is one more song for you guys. It’s coming out in a couple of weeks. I’ve got to get my oxygen back. Thanks for coming out on a Sunday. That’s me for the night. Get ready for Koe.”
Koe Wetzel Honours David Allan Coe
“I'm a take the high road, maybe get stoned/ have a little too much of something terrible
I'm let you cool down while I walk out
you ain't messing me up like the times before
I don't need a ticket to your shit show
knock yourself out and hit a new low
Well I'm take the high road, take the high road, take the high road.” - High Road -
Carol Karpinen, Amy Rose Allen, Koe Wetzel, Josh Serrato, Gabe Simon, Jessie Murph, Laura Jeanne Veltz.
Texan headliner Koe Wetzel honored recently deceased fellow Texan outlaw David Allan Coe as the late star’s Long-Haired Redneck hit burst from the sound system before Koe’s stage entree with his Lone Star state band.
“We lost an icon today, David Allan Coe,” Koe, now 33, told his audience as he hit the stage with his keyboard player, drummer, bassist and fellow guitarists.
‘‘We’re from Texas,” Wetzel shouted in front of videos of pick-up trucks and swamps to illustrate his soulful outlaw country music as he emulated Coe with prolific profanities throughout his sizzling set.
Koe, who adopted his Christian name as a reference to Coe, also celebrated his hometown of Pittsburg that declared February 28 as Koe Wetzel Day.
“April is over and it’s May now,” Wetzel declared with a vengeance before offering advice to fans.
“If you are using drugs go to the loo to avoid the cops. God bless you for coming out and spending your Sunday night with us.”
The singer, brandishing his guitar like a lethal weapon, roamed the stage with his fellow guitarists and bassist throughout more than 20 songs from his catalogue.
“Thanks so much for making us Texas boys feel like home here,” he repeated, ‘‘Australia feels just like Texas to us down here.”
The capacity crowd responded with gusto as they filled the mosh pit and reserved seating behind the sound desk.
It was a night to remember as Wetzel’s warriors backed him on his hits from his albums and unreleased songs from his seventh album The Night Champion out on June 12 via Columbia Records.
They included classics from his debut disc Out on Parole released under the name of Koe Wetzel And The Konvicts on January 10, 2015.
Wetzel co-wrote eight of the 13 tracks on his 2024 album 9 Lives that featured Sweet Dreams and High Road – his first two songs to chart on Billboard Hot 100.
High Road featured Jessie Murph and debuted on the Billboard country chart at 54 on July 27, 2024.
Wetzel punctuated his own songs with a cover of the Oasis hit Supersonic.
The show finished with fans throwing hats, scarves and other clothing onto the stage that were returned with Koe and his band members autographs.
When the Forum lights switched on after the show there was a belated rush by fans through the foyer onto Flinders Street and Federation Square.
I followed and headed to Flinders Street station to board the Camberwell and Alamein train to Burwood.
Wetzel had other Australian concerts scheduled before his return home and his Fort Worth, Texas bar – Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room.
Review by David Dawson – Producer – Nu Country TV
Photos – Cam Brown
Here is the Wetzel song list for the memory banks of concert attendees and other fans.
- Fuss & Fight
- 9 Lives (Black Cat)
- Forever
- April Showers
- Good Times
- Sundy or Mundy
- Good Die Young
- Ragweed
- Austin
- You Never Even Call Me by My Name
- Damn Near Normal
- Twister
- Feel Better
- Supersonic (Oasis Cover)
- February 28, 2016
- Sweet Dreams
- Surrounded
- Hurts Like You
- Time Goes On
- Something to Talk About
- High Road
- Creeps
