It's been almost ten years, and well over ten thousand miles since this reviewers last flirtation with Whitesnake as a live band. That was on the Restless Heart tour but here in Australia in 2008 Whitesnake is a totally different beast, new members, new stage show and a new album about to released. For this show in Brisbane Whitesnake were holed up in the Tivoli, a venue that holds round about 1,500 people and, for what is likely be one of the most intimate shows the band will play on their latest jaunt round the world, surprisingly it wasn't sold out.

One thing you can guarantee about a Whitesnake show however is the command that David Coverdale will have over an audience, and Brisbane was to be no exception as the evergreen frontman cajoled the audience, female members especially into being his "love slaves" for the night. It's all about subtle, and not so subtle, suggestions, gestures and lyrics for Coverdale and even nearing his sixtieth year he still has the ability to seduce an audience. Actually he's aging pretty well given all the miles under his belt and vocally he was pretty much at a peak  as the band delivered some of Whitesnake' greatest hits from down the years: Fool For Your Lovin, Here I Go Again, Give Me All Your Love, the list is endless. Of course as with previous tours the set is based predominantly around latter day Whitesnake but that is what the audience wants and that is exactly what they get.

Aside from his vocal skills one of Coverdale's other great knacks is to surround himself with the best musicians around, and this incarnation of the band is no exception. With Doug Aldrich and Winger six stringer Reb Beach handling guitar duties this is arguably the best frontline attack the band has ever had and both handle the Whitesnake catalogue with ease and look relaxed and comfortable on stage alongside Coverdale. Of course what will be of most interest to long time 'Snake fans is how the new material, from the yet to be released Good To Be Bad album, fits into the set alongside the more traditional offerings. Well Best Years hints at the earlier blusier Whitesnake and sits easily alongside the outstanding A'int No Love In The Heart of The City acting as bridge between the new and the old.

Another new track the band included was the more up-tempo Lay Down Your Love with it's typical mid-80's feel, all big guitars, drums and vocals and a perfect foil to set closer Still Of The Night which rounded out the night with only We Wish You Well airing over the PA to usher the fans from the hall. UK fans will have to wait until June to see how Whitesnake, on tour with Def Leppard, incorporate the old and the new but if Brisbane is anything to go by then it should be one hell of a show....

Nic Dawson