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In the dressing room some hours before the last ever Paul Colman Trio show, Paul Colman was showing some reluctance at leaving home to start his new career as a solo artist in the States, despite being clearly excited that his new solo status will provide him with new avenues of expression. Fair enough, as tonight the focus was to be on closing this chapter--the rise of PC3--and on the people who witnessed it and supported them.

To the fans crammed onto the floor of Camberwell's Civic Centre and the VIPs (family, friends, and media hangers-on) in the balcony, it was obvious the band was intent on making this hometown gig a celebration rather than a sad farewell. And why not? This is a band at the height of their power. They have recently cracked America big-time, and they have a swag-full of clever and simple songs that fire up both the charts and the live crowds.

The show did start a little stiffly; perhaps everyone was a bit awed by the fact that this really was the Trio's final gig. But the first few songs, mainly from the new album, rocked splendidly. Phil sat behind a full drum kit, plus they had guitarist Irwin Thomas (a long-time friend) and a guest keyboardist on board, highlighting their evolution since the days of the acoustic trio.

There is no substitute for excellent songs like theirs that can be either cranked up or softened without losing any of their power to connect. The set included "Run"--with the lovable daggy actions, "Sweet Voice," the ode to surfing, "Dip"--and so much more. And of course "Fill My Cup," which spent some staggering amount of time at the top of the Australian Christian music charts, and, written at a low point in Paul's life, seems like one of the best prayers we can make. "Turn" saw some fans doing the hands-up-and-spin-on-the-spot routine that spontaneously emerged at one of their gigs and has since been a tradition. This version, with Thomas's monumental power chords, left the studio version for dead.

Irwin Thomas (aka Jack Jones, John Farnham guitarist during the "Chain Reaction" era, and Southern Sons vocalist and guitarist) almost unrecognisable with his Mr. T haircut, was indeed a "monster of sound," as Paul described him. Although the Jeff Buckley-isms of his solo support act were too complex for a crowd that were eager for the more straight-forward sing-along fun of PC3, he is a talented singer with an amazingly agile voice, and a wizard on the fretboard. He tore it up during an extended solo in "Turn" and the rapid-fire wah breakdown during "Dip," and slyly inserted the atmospheric intro from one Southern Sons hit into the set.

Half way through Phil emerged from behind the kit to do their acoustic bit, harking back to the band's beginnings. They are such competent performers and so attuned to one another that the music seems to have a life of its own. They literally don't miss a beat, even when, in the process of one of their synchronised routines, Grant inadvertently unplugged his bass.

There were plenty of jokes. And there were plenty of thank-yous, the biggest going to the band's long-suffering wives, who, during the acoustic set, received champagne and strawberries. By now the gig was feeling like an event, much like some of those legendary Crowded House shows.

The band were back in full rock mode for the encore, racing through "Solution," with the crowd yelling along to the "hey, hey, hey" of the chorus. Paul asked everyone to sing along as they finished the evening with the warm, lullaby-like "Into Your Arms." The other band members kept the song ticking over as Paul talked at length about tearing down the walls of the Church and taking Jesus to the people, a topic he has always been on about, and which he had also explored in the dressing room earlier. Then he strolled off stage and returned to parade his two week-old baby daughter. A mushy moment perhaps, but it was touching, and a reminder--as if we needed another one--that this was more than a regular show.

Paul exited stage left, holding his baby. Phil and Grant exited stage right, holding each other. This was nicely indicative of the changes the future holds. Tonight was a great farewell for a band that, while they lasted, endeared themselves as one of our favourites, but for Paul, Grant and Phil and the Australian fans who have embraced their songs and savoured the experience, life goes on.