I Went "Home in the Back of a Divvy Van" - The Painters & Dockers in Adelaide

With the Teddy Bear’s Picnic blasting from the in-house PA out strode the shyest member of the Painters and Dockers.  Garbed in muso black jeans and singlet Paul Stewart was adorned with lipstick that only he and Robert Smith (the cure) can get away with.  By this stage the ever-growing crowd had made it’s polite way to the stage area.  This is how we do things sometimes in Adelaide, polite and obliging.  

The Painters & Dockers Erupt onto the stage at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel

From there it was musical mayhem from the opener “Eat Shit Die” all the way to “We’re Going Home in the Back of a Divvy Van”.  Throughout the event, as it was no ordinary pub gig, a plethora of audience members joined the 7 piece band on stage.  Encouraged by the leader of mayhem to do so, they danced and sang along with all the familiar “All Men Are Bastards” and the Dili Allstars song “Nothing Tastes Better Than The Neighbour’s Chicken”.  

Lead singer Paul Stewart

Lead guitarist Colin Badger and Paul Stewart

I’m sure social media was abuzz from the moment “Nude School” began and a portly gentleman dressed in his birthday suit burst onto the stage and into our faces.  True to Docker’s form, and perhaps our city’s, he wasn’t crashed tackled by security.  Instead many pics were snapped and videos taken to ensure it would be forever etched on the internet whilst he danced around with Paulie Stewart as David Pace took lead vocals.  

"Nude School" as only could happen at the Gov.
L-R Michael Badger (bass), Nude guy from the crowd, Paul Stewart, David Pace (V & trumpet), Mick Morris (V & saxophone), Vladimir Juric (lead & rhythm guitar)

Requested to “cry, laugh, or get pregnant” in the opening of the show, by the end of the night I’m sure that two out of three were carried out.  Much love and laughter til we cried was the order of the night and I’m sure most people went home on their own personal hovercraft of joy and happiness, including me.

A more quirky career start you couldn’t have asked for either.  This band’s debut gig was supposed to be a “one off” to help out a mate with parking fines (back in 1982).  The name was taken by the guys from the Union who drank at the hotel the gig was.  Their notoriety over the years has come from a mix of “no police policy” in a union hotel, a disgruntled neighbour with an axe, a smashed up PA and, a riot.  All this happened on their debut gig and suddenly the legend of Painters and Dockers band was born.  They say that any publicity is good and it proved the case once the Dockers (as they are affectionately known) were allowed to book into a venue.  Word had spread and suddenly they were playing to crowds of people who were curious to see what would happen next. 

See I told you Paul Stewart was shy...in his sleep lol

"hovercraft" dancing by Paul Stewart

Twenty years after the first time they played at the Gov they delivered a most enjoyable and random event/show/night of entertainment that has this gal smiling and giggling almost 24 hours after.  The sheer energy and joy emanating from the stage gave the audience a buzz that money just can't buy.  If you can, find some live video footage.  You might just find yourself enjoying them as much as all the people who’ve been to their gigs across Australia recently.  Personally, I can't wait for them to come over again.

love Susan xx

ps thanks to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painters_and_Dockers for some background info, to Paul Stewart for an awesome interview on WOW FM last thursday morning, and to all the great guys in this wonderful band who gave their time to chat with me about life etc last night.