(no subject)
Well, now. What's this? A music post? From me, master of all that is flaily and TV-related? How about that.
Hamish and Andy were totally fangirlboying over briefly interviewing Nicole Kidman at the ARIAs on Sunday night, hee. For those who don't know, the ARIAs are like the Australian equivalent to the Grammy's. Keith Urban was up for Best Country Album (which he won) and everyone was wondering if Nic was going to be there as well, since she's in Sydney doing Australia. I love the fact that it's a music awards night yet Nicole just stole all the attention. ;)
And I fangirled over a picture of her and Delta Goodrem together more than should be deemed necessary considering I can't stand looking at the latter anymore. HER NOSE. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER NOSE WHAT'S WITH AND HER OVERTANNEDNESS.
But Missy Higgins won Best Female Artist. *chucks streamers and party poppers*
Speaking of music, it seems like a lot of my flist are going to concerts.
This is a long and flaily post mainly for the benefit of summersunshine0 who unfortunately couldn't be there. *squeezes*
Basically: It. Was. Incredible. I wish I could have taken photos but some venue employee told me off for my camera - although I think that was only 'cause I'd accidentally left it on flash - but I was too scared to take it out again. So I've scoured the internet for photos because they tell it better than I do. Even they don't give the whole effect of the night, but I guess you know that already.
So, to be noted: none of these photos are mine. Moving on.
Anyway, it was held at Hamer Hall, which is a hall normally for symphony orchestras, that kind of thing. So the acoustics and sounds were awesome, to begin with. We were up on the balcony on the side, but as the sides dipped towards the front, we were quite physically close. And at the front of out little balcony section, so FULL VIEW AND IT WAS AWESOME.
It was fantastic. I'd read things about it beforehand (can't help it) and all the reviews were gushing, but seriously, it was that good. It wasn't a concert. It was a theatrical show.
The Time Machine Tour
When the stage opened, this is what we were presented with:
[click thumbnails for full picture]
Cool, yes?
That platform he's on was joined by a long staircase, which was later pushed to the edge of the stage so when he was on top of it, he was hanging over the audience. Like so:
The view that was obviously from someone who was directly underneath the staircase overhang:
The backdrop pictures were constantly changing to suit different lines and themes of the songs, which was good fun to watch, kinda like a slideshow.
Then the lasers came on, which itself is fairly normal to happen, but these ones went off in 'pairs' of lasers, so it looked like cones were shooting out of the stage. And they let out smoke, so the 'cones' had smoke swirling through them and it felt like you could touch them when they went over the audience. It's hard to describe, gah. You can kind of see it here, but it doesn't show up properly in the picture.
At the same time, the lasers shone pictures onto the audience - namely origami cranes, which is the "theme" of Darren's tour and album.
Anyway, the centrepiece. At one stage when the stairs and platform had been moved, the diamond-shaped middle of the backdrop was rolled forwards. And when it moved into the middle of the stage, it unfolded into this giant white crane. This thing was about four times the height of a human, it nearly hit the top of the lights. In fact, Darren had to cancel some of his other shows because the venues weren't big enough. It had a staircase running up the back of it, and then he appeared at the top and sang from the middle of the crane - totally amazing.
Later he climbed down from it and the white sheets covering the crane's frame came off, and the frame had all these lights flashing off it.This mechanical bird was seriously the most awesome thing. I want one!
As for the music - well, it's Darren, man. Even with a throat infection plaguing him the last few days, his voice was absolutely flawless. He truly does sound the same as in his recordings. It was a perfect arrangement of ballads and electronic songs. One of my favourites was "The Best Thing", which is one of my favourite Savage Garden songs - WHICH ARE MY MOST FAVOURITE BAND IN THE WORLD AND THEY WILL NEVER BE REPLACED. Hearing him sing that (and "I Want You" and "Affirmation") the closest thing I'll ever get to a non-existent Savage Garden concert, so it was awesome. At one stage the backdrop changed to a huge picture of him and Daniel Jones (the other SG guy) and he turned to it and made the peace sign, it was really touching to see some sort of acknowledgement like that.
Shit. I've used the same description words too many times. Give me a thesauras, someone. ;)
Him singing "Insatiable" with just a guitar was spine-chilling. And when he sang "Words", there was just this echoing stillness throughout the theatre. The only thing I'm a tiny bit miffed at was that he didn't sing "Sing To Me" which I adore, but oh well. It was a decently-lengthed concert - 21 songs, two hours, no intervals. Don't know how his voice held out.
In all seriousness, words don't express how much I love this man. Not as a performer, not as an artist, but just for being the way he is. He is the most beautiful human being. So honest, hilariously funny, and the kindest soul - it pains me to think of those allegations against him a few months ago. When he sang "Affirmation"'s line, "I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality", the audience just erupted and that tugged at my heartstrings. I don't think there's another artist that has touched me the way his songs have. (And who doesn't love someone who is famous as all hell and yet still spends hours on the net everyday like an interweb nerd?)
Ah, Darren Stanley Hayes. ♥
Oh hell, this entry is FAR. TOO. LONG. No one would have made it this far, but hey, at least I have a record of it! So gonna buy the concert DVD when it comes out.
And now we're on the topic, Savage Garden holds the record for winning 10 ARIAs on the one night, back in 1997. Booyah!
Right, you've talked enough, Cec. Shut up. Kthx.