- Died Pretty hold a special place in the hearts of Australian music lovers, their flawless live shows are always highly anticipated by fans, and this long awaited live album is the perfect example of why.

Recorded at the Forum in Melbourne in 2008, before Ron’s illness and COVID put the brakes on performing, this particular show was part of the “Don’t Look Back” series of classic album tours and for Died Pretty there could be no other album they could take on this tour but Doughboy Hollow, one of the band's most loved albums, presented here as a live album it absolutely does not disappoint.

I sometimes find that live albums can be a little too heavy in the adulation from the audience, and while that is noticeable in this recording it’s not overpowering and neither is the banter between songs. Instead, it is a pitch perfect serving of the album with the unmistakable vibe of a Died Pretty performance that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Ron Peno’s unique vocal style is showcased perfectly while taking nothing from the performances of his bandmates. 

If you’ve never been to the Forum, it is a huge, high auditorium, acoustically perfect for the atmospheric sound of Died Pretty and it suits the recording of this album so well that without the applause between songs one would be forgiven for thinking this was recorded in a studio. From beginning to end it is as singalong perfect as the original album, and if you close your eyes you can almost see Ron dancing like a whirling dervish in front of you. After performing Doughboy Hollow the band give us a few of their other classic songs, including Everybody Moves and Stoneage Cinderella, also performed to perfection.

I honestly cannot fault this album. It will make your heart soar and cry, beautiful from one end to the other.

- Judy Jetson.