Long few days (music)
As usual, work is busy.
I have been to a number of concerts recently:
- Korn with Fear Factory (Claremont Showgrounds, 10/02/04)
Fear Factory kind of sucked - their show was heavy but without any of the melody I'd actually come to like them for. The electronic double kick drum, where the guy just holds down the pedal, started to get really annoying after a while. Korn, however, more than made up for this - completely to my surprise as I'd been expecting a far less interesting gig. I had great fun and Korn played well, and even the notoriously bad sound system inside Robinson Pavilion (Boiler Room during Big Day Out) failed to spoil it. They played pretty much a greatest hits retrospective, starting with Right Now and Break Some Off, and including the song Faget off their first album which genuinely surprised me.
- Jewel with Christine Anu (acoustic only, Kings Park, 22/02/04)
Was pretty good, although Jewel isn't usually my style, her acoustic performance (just her and the guitar) was pretty amazing and her sense of humour was impeccable. Most of the music, though, I couldn't imagine working well in the studio. It was good finally getting to see Christine Anu live and acoustic with two amazing guitarists, although I was a bit disappointed by the setlist. Word of warning - if you're ever parking at Kings Park, do not park on the sand, even if it is closer than the next grassed area. The RAC was our friend.
- A Perfect Circle (no support, Claremont Showgrounds, 27/02/04)
Quite disappointing really. Between the most anal security I've ever seen at a gig (full patdown searches, no cigarette lighters etc), poor sound quality, the no-notice cancellation of the support act Karnivool, and a clear lack of interest by some members of the band in the music they were playing for us, it detracted from what was otherwise a good but not exceptional set. The drug-addled climber in the rafters made for some amusement and trepidation (especially when he climbed right over Maynard during Judith). It was an education if not an experience I'd repeat.
- Whitlams with WA Symphony Orchestra (Kings Park, 06/03/04)
Great set - Steven and I had seen the Whitlams before at Fly By Night last year, but seeing them with the symphony orchestra added an extra dimension to their music. It also made me realise how much orchestration there already is in the Whitlams' studio music - most notably Melbourne, No Aphrodisiac and Blow Up The Pokies. The song 'Buy Now Pay Later' reinterpreted with the orchestra, the ending of 'Melbourne' and a song dedicated to Stevie Plunder were the definite highlights of the evening. The death of Steven's car battery was a definite lowlight. The RAC was our friend again.
- George "secret gig" (Paramount, 12/03/04)
Seeing George up close in an acoustic setting in a small bar (non-smoking, thankfully) was an experience indeed. Although we felt somewhat let down by the timing (the ticket said 6pm-8pm and it was actually 7pm-7:55pm), we certainly didn't lose out. Two people called Ross and Naomi were invited onstage by Katie and the former proposed to the latter. Afterwards, Steven and I met the band, and Katie was stunned that I asked her to sign their "You can take what's mine" EP and that we'd been to both the orchestral concerts last year.
- George normal concert (Sunset Cinema area, 13/03/04)
I got within 10m of the stage and saw the Hamdens(sp?) and Honeyriders before George came onstage. George did not play a full set as Katie's voice was not in good shape (she coughed occasionally and couldn't power her voice), but it was still great seeing Nick play seemingly impossible guitar sequences with ease, the drummer held time even in their oddest signature mixes, and, as always, Katie and Tyrone were a sight to behold. I got to meet the band again, they all recognised me from the previous night and remembered my name! I was pretty stoked for the rest of the night after that.
I'll write about the rest of recent goings-on when I'm at *my* computer instead of at a friend's place. Friend situations (especially those involving their relationships, ex-relationships, or complicated sexual triangles) are often messy and I really should be providing them with the sane company they need.
I have been to a number of concerts recently:
- Korn with Fear Factory (Claremont Showgrounds, 10/02/04)
Fear Factory kind of sucked - their show was heavy but without any of the melody I'd actually come to like them for. The electronic double kick drum, where the guy just holds down the pedal, started to get really annoying after a while. Korn, however, more than made up for this - completely to my surprise as I'd been expecting a far less interesting gig. I had great fun and Korn played well, and even the notoriously bad sound system inside Robinson Pavilion (Boiler Room during Big Day Out) failed to spoil it. They played pretty much a greatest hits retrospective, starting with Right Now and Break Some Off, and including the song Faget off their first album which genuinely surprised me.
- Jewel with Christine Anu (acoustic only, Kings Park, 22/02/04)
Was pretty good, although Jewel isn't usually my style, her acoustic performance (just her and the guitar) was pretty amazing and her sense of humour was impeccable. Most of the music, though, I couldn't imagine working well in the studio. It was good finally getting to see Christine Anu live and acoustic with two amazing guitarists, although I was a bit disappointed by the setlist. Word of warning - if you're ever parking at Kings Park, do not park on the sand, even if it is closer than the next grassed area. The RAC was our friend.
- A Perfect Circle (no support, Claremont Showgrounds, 27/02/04)
Quite disappointing really. Between the most anal security I've ever seen at a gig (full patdown searches, no cigarette lighters etc), poor sound quality, the no-notice cancellation of the support act Karnivool, and a clear lack of interest by some members of the band in the music they were playing for us, it detracted from what was otherwise a good but not exceptional set. The drug-addled climber in the rafters made for some amusement and trepidation (especially when he climbed right over Maynard during Judith). It was an education if not an experience I'd repeat.
- Whitlams with WA Symphony Orchestra (Kings Park, 06/03/04)
Great set - Steven and I had seen the Whitlams before at Fly By Night last year, but seeing them with the symphony orchestra added an extra dimension to their music. It also made me realise how much orchestration there already is in the Whitlams' studio music - most notably Melbourne, No Aphrodisiac and Blow Up The Pokies. The song 'Buy Now Pay Later' reinterpreted with the orchestra, the ending of 'Melbourne' and a song dedicated to Stevie Plunder were the definite highlights of the evening. The death of Steven's car battery was a definite lowlight. The RAC was our friend again.
- George "secret gig" (Paramount, 12/03/04)
Seeing George up close in an acoustic setting in a small bar (non-smoking, thankfully) was an experience indeed. Although we felt somewhat let down by the timing (the ticket said 6pm-8pm and it was actually 7pm-7:55pm), we certainly didn't lose out. Two people called Ross and Naomi were invited onstage by Katie and the former proposed to the latter. Afterwards, Steven and I met the band, and Katie was stunned that I asked her to sign their "You can take what's mine" EP and that we'd been to both the orchestral concerts last year.
- George normal concert (Sunset Cinema area, 13/03/04)
I got within 10m of the stage and saw the Hamdens(sp?) and Honeyriders before George came onstage. George did not play a full set as Katie's voice was not in good shape (she coughed occasionally and couldn't power her voice), but it was still great seeing Nick play seemingly impossible guitar sequences with ease, the drummer held time even in their oddest signature mixes, and, as always, Katie and Tyrone were a sight to behold. I got to meet the band again, they all recognised me from the previous night and remembered my name! I was pretty stoked for the rest of the night after that.
I'll write about the rest of recent goings-on when I'm at *my* computer instead of at a friend's place. Friend situations (especially those involving their relationships, ex-relationships, or complicated sexual triangles) are often messy and I really should be providing them with the sane company they need.