Boney M.
I left the house!
And I was invited to a concert!!
This felt like a new experience, as it's been so long... it almost felt like a date!
I've known Ian for easily 23 years or so. He and his partner Jim would always dress up for the big Sydney parties, like Sleaze Ball or Mardi Gras, but sadly, Jim passed away in 2020. Ian is a bus driver, and he's a lovely gentleman, and I've had quite a man-crush on him for a looooooong time - which he is quite aware of. The poor man. LOL
So I kind of pretended tonight was a "date". I even told him that. He thought it was sweet.
I should have caught the train in, but as usual, I was out of bed very late - not until 3.30pm, so by the time I showered and dressed, it was a bit too late to catch the train to Central and then change to Newtown, so I drove in. Found a 2 hour spot on King Street, and then walked to the station to our pre-arranged meeting spot at 5.30pm. We then walked up, with plans to go to a Vietnamese restaurant, but our favourite one - that had been in Newtown for DECADES - (Pho 236) - had permanently closed down. We then thought we'd go to the Chinese dumpling restaurant nearby (well, one of them), but THAT was closed as well, so we ended up having Thai, and dining at Thai Riffic . As always, it was DELICIOUS, and as Ian had bought the concert tickets, I shouted him dinner.
We then strolled back to the car, to arrive JUST as the 2 hour limit was running out, but it wouldn't let me buy a new ticket (it's based on entering your license plate details), so I had to move it. And now, being 7.00pm in Newtown on a Saturday night, it was CRAZY busy. It was already surprisingly busy when I arrived at 5.30pm, but now it was just absolutely buzzing. It probably took us about 25 minutes of driving around until we found a new parking spot, so after getting a ticket, went and got an ice cream at the IGA, then headed up to the Enmore Theatre.
Apparently, when the tickets had been on sale, there was no mention of a support or opening act, but on ticket delivery, it showed Mark Williams performing. He's original from New Zealand, and was in a band called Dragon (when they reformed in the early 200s), who were pretty big in New Zealand and Australia in the 80s. We caught the last 4 tracks, and he was actually really good. And his keyboardist AND bass guitar were both rather lovely looking bearded bearish men!
And then, after about a 25 minute break, right on 9.00pm, the band for Boney M. appeared on stage. The only original member of the lineup from the 70s/80s is Maizie Williams (no relation to Mark!), and she looks pretty darned good for 73! But she actually never sung on any of the studio recordings - only in their live shows, so it kind of gets a bit confusing really!
But... it was a pretty good show. Fairly short - coming in at a little over 90 minutes, but lots of energy, and the crowd was lapping it up. What is amazing is that there are quite often big indie / alternative bands that play at the Enmore, who might sell out 1, or possibly 2 shows - but this iteration of Boney M., had sold out FOUR shows at this theatre - which has a capacity of about 2,500 standing / 1,700 seated. It is a gorgeous old Art Deco theatre too, and they make sure to keep it looking good.
After the show, we walked back to the car, and I drove Ian home, and then headed back to my place.
A rare outing for me (at the moment), and just about 8 hours out of the house, but a jam packed few hours, that's for sure!
Pride Square, Newtown
Ian's beard is impressive!
Such a gorgeous old theatre!
And I was invited to a concert!!
This felt like a new experience, as it's been so long... it almost felt like a date!
I've known Ian for easily 23 years or so. He and his partner Jim would always dress up for the big Sydney parties, like Sleaze Ball or Mardi Gras, but sadly, Jim passed away in 2020. Ian is a bus driver, and he's a lovely gentleman, and I've had quite a man-crush on him for a looooooong time - which he is quite aware of. The poor man. LOL
So I kind of pretended tonight was a "date". I even told him that. He thought it was sweet.
I should have caught the train in, but as usual, I was out of bed very late - not until 3.30pm, so by the time I showered and dressed, it was a bit too late to catch the train to Central and then change to Newtown, so I drove in. Found a 2 hour spot on King Street, and then walked to the station to our pre-arranged meeting spot at 5.30pm. We then walked up, with plans to go to a Vietnamese restaurant, but our favourite one - that had been in Newtown for DECADES - (Pho 236) - had permanently closed down. We then thought we'd go to the Chinese dumpling restaurant nearby (well, one of them), but THAT was closed as well, so we ended up having Thai, and dining at Thai Riffic . As always, it was DELICIOUS, and as Ian had bought the concert tickets, I shouted him dinner.
We then strolled back to the car, to arrive JUST as the 2 hour limit was running out, but it wouldn't let me buy a new ticket (it's based on entering your license plate details), so I had to move it. And now, being 7.00pm in Newtown on a Saturday night, it was CRAZY busy. It was already surprisingly busy when I arrived at 5.30pm, but now it was just absolutely buzzing. It probably took us about 25 minutes of driving around until we found a new parking spot, so after getting a ticket, went and got an ice cream at the IGA, then headed up to the Enmore Theatre.
Apparently, when the tickets had been on sale, there was no mention of a support or opening act, but on ticket delivery, it showed Mark Williams performing. He's original from New Zealand, and was in a band called Dragon (when they reformed in the early 200s), who were pretty big in New Zealand and Australia in the 80s. We caught the last 4 tracks, and he was actually really good. And his keyboardist AND bass guitar were both rather lovely looking bearded bearish men!
And then, after about a 25 minute break, right on 9.00pm, the band for Boney M. appeared on stage. The only original member of the lineup from the 70s/80s is Maizie Williams (no relation to Mark!), and she looks pretty darned good for 73! But she actually never sung on any of the studio recordings - only in their live shows, so it kind of gets a bit confusing really!
But... it was a pretty good show. Fairly short - coming in at a little over 90 minutes, but lots of energy, and the crowd was lapping it up. What is amazing is that there are quite often big indie / alternative bands that play at the Enmore, who might sell out 1, or possibly 2 shows - but this iteration of Boney M., had sold out FOUR shows at this theatre - which has a capacity of about 2,500 standing / 1,700 seated. It is a gorgeous old Art Deco theatre too, and they make sure to keep it looking good.
After the show, we walked back to the car, and I drove Ian home, and then headed back to my place.
A rare outing for me (at the moment), and just about 8 hours out of the house, but a jam packed few hours, that's for sure!
Pride Square, Newtown
Ian's beard is impressive!
Such a gorgeous old theatre!