Back In ADL is simply a performance of original songs about Adelaide, but not so much about current Adelaide, but people, places and things that have taken their place in the Adelaide landscape over the years. So it serves as an informative and entertaining history lesson – some songs covering little known or forgotten events, such as the 1931 Adelaide Beef Riot, other songs jogging the memories of many in the audience. They also discuss the riddle of why Adelaide CBD street names change when you cross King William St.

It has been a feature of the Adelaide Fringe for a few years now, having thankfully lost the title SWT_HM_ADL and now adding new songs to arrive at simply Back In ADL. The show has been presented previously as anything from a duo format to six piece band, but tonight we have the trio of Fergus Maximus on vocals and saxophone, Doctor D on vocals and electric guitar and harmony queen Marta Bayly adding acoustic guitar and finesse. Tim Seeley provides  bass and backing vocals from the mixing desk, and Greg Brown throws some images on a screen to give context to the songs. A photo of the department store John Martins, for example, gives an explanation of the song Johnnie’s Gone Away not immediate from the title.

Some standout songs amongst a strong bunch include St Vincent St, about Annie Ross, one of the first two (with Kate Cocks) female police officers in SA, and Four Trees (Mirnu Wirra), recalling a time when Unley and Adelaide were separate settlements! The show concludes with the title track Back in ADL, a parody of The Beatles’ Back In The USSR, itself a parody of Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys.

For the purpose of making a Fringe show the songs are currently saddled with a time travel concept in which we leave the safety of the dining room to travel back to the 1800s and then move chronologically through time until we arrive back in the safety of the present, yes, Back In ADL! It’s difficult to assess whether this concept adds value to the songs and the performers seem a little uncomfortable with it. The songs are strong enough to stand alone without it.

But all in all, a very enjoyable and informative presentation.