Looking back on all this life it's funny how the time goes by...
While Human Nature was my first official concert back in 1997, Matchbox Twenty was my first true concert experience the following year. GA; wristbands; front row centre (after waiting at the door for hours); squashed up against the barricades; close to enough to touch and interact with support act, The Feelers, and the main act themselves. And because it was filmed, we got to relive every fantastic moment on VHS!
So, even though ticket prices rivalled that of Prince earlier in the year, we couldn't justify not being there. Especially when the venue, date and our tickets so closely replicated our teenage experience; Sydney Entertainment Centre, late October, second row, just off centre.
Returning to their former stomping ground for the second time in as many nights, Matchbox Twenty donned Halloween masks and kicked off an electric midweek show with Parade, from their new album North. They quickly backed it up with a song from each of their three previous studio releases, assuring the audience that the evening would be a mix of new and old.
In the solid two hour set that followed, each of their five albums was represented, the latest being the most prominent, followed by third release, More Than You Think You Are, and crowd favourite, Yourself Or Someone Like You. It made for an interesting contrast to their 1998 show, in which they relied solely on the latter, with several covers and unreleased songs to fill it out.
It was so odd to see former drummer Paul up the front with Kyle, Rob and Brian, in the role of rhythm guitarist (vacated when Adam Gaynor left the band in 2005). He alternated his guitar with backing percussion during the set and even hopped behind the drum kit for a couple of songs, then onto piano for another.
Even though I've always had a soft spot for singer/songwriter Rob, Kyle has been my favourite since the release of Push. I don't know if it was the guitar or the cute/funny/quiet factor, but seeing him unleash onstage with a rockin' Beatles cover (Don't Let Me Down) cemented him in the top spot over a decade ago.
I've spent the last year poking fun at my former teen crush (for suddenly going grey and looking old), but as soon as he was standing before me, wailing on that axe, I reverted to the prepubescent girl who alternated between excited screams and slack jawed gazing.
Especially when he sat on the edge of the stage, just to my right, and plucked out a sweet little solo during Bright Lights, exchanging faces (and chords) with Rob - who walked over and put an arm around his shoulders, before reclaiming the spotlight to finish the song.
The backing screen was predominantly used for streaming live footage of the concert (intermittently showing video clips and album covers), as Rob proved his frontman prowess. His distinctive vocals tore through 24 songs from their back catalogue, between stints on guitar and piano, holding the undivided attention of everyone in the near-capacity venue and making full use of the stage.
He even climbed down to the front row for sweaty hugs and high-fives at one point! Draping himself in an Australian flag towards the end of Push (their closing song of the night), he seemed genuinely moved and sincerely grateful for the constant support they've received here, "right from the beginning".
While the band never disappoints in a live capacity (they are brilliant musicians with great showmanship and can certainly play to a crowd), I was selfishly hoping for more left-field choices. They predictably performed almost all their singles to date, with a showcase of their latest album. No covers or b-sides or new versions, and I was disappointed with the lack of Mad Season inclusions.
I loved that they performed Radio live for the first time, but really wish it hadn't been at the exclusion of Our Song - I would have happily taken that over English Town or Sleeping At The Wheel. And I could have sacrificed Back 2 Good for another YOSLY ballad - namely Hang, Shame or Damn.
Having only missed one tour in the last fifteen years, I get quite wrapped up in all the nostalgia that these guys evoke. Anything from Yourself Or Someone Like You takes me right back to high school; More Than You Think You Are brings back days at Sanity; Exile On Mainstream is a constant reminder of living in Melbourne.
But as a devout listener, in my fifth time seeing them, I yearned for songs that we hadn't already seen countless times. I understand the hypocrisy - less than two months ago, I was expressing my disappointment that previous Hanson sets excluded popular choices - but it was the only thing that could have made a fantastic night a flawless one.
I realise my ranting makes it seem like it wasn't a great show - it was. Or that I didn't have a great time - I did. I just expected more ingenuity from the band who are responsible for my all-time favourite cover (Time After Time). Who brought me to tears with a piano version of 3am and an acoustic version of If You're Gone. Who did a brilliant mash-up of Long Day, Fame (Bowie) and Gone 'Til November (Wyclef).
Still, it didn't stop me from gushing a little afterwards on Facebook...
[SET-LIST]
Parade
Bent
Disease
How Far We've Come (love this song!!)
She's So Mean
3AM
Real World
All That I Need
Overjoyed
If You're Gone
All Your Reasons
Long Day
Back 2 Good
I Will (Kyle on ukulele, Rob on vocals, Paul on piano - just beautiful. It's Rob's favourite from the album and I haven't been able to stop listening to it since)
Unwell
So Sad So Lonely (love this song!!)
English Town
The Way (Kyle's solo was gorgeous, especially with Rob on piano: "I will show you The Way ... like Peter Frampton")
Bright Lights (against the odds of a ballad, this song always goes off live)
Sleeping at the Wheel
[Encore]
Put Your Hands Up
Girl Like That (this surprise inclusion definitely didn't go unappreciated)
Radio (great song on the album, but infinitely better live)
Push
So, even though ticket prices rivalled that of Prince earlier in the year, we couldn't justify not being there. Especially when the venue, date and our tickets so closely replicated our teenage experience; Sydney Entertainment Centre, late October, second row, just off centre.
Returning to their former stomping ground for the second time in as many nights, Matchbox Twenty donned Halloween masks and kicked off an electric midweek show with Parade, from their new album North. They quickly backed it up with a song from each of their three previous studio releases, assuring the audience that the evening would be a mix of new and old.
In the solid two hour set that followed, each of their five albums was represented, the latest being the most prominent, followed by third release, More Than You Think You Are, and crowd favourite, Yourself Or Someone Like You. It made for an interesting contrast to their 1998 show, in which they relied solely on the latter, with several covers and unreleased songs to fill it out.
It was so odd to see former drummer Paul up the front with Kyle, Rob and Brian, in the role of rhythm guitarist (vacated when Adam Gaynor left the band in 2005). He alternated his guitar with backing percussion during the set and even hopped behind the drum kit for a couple of songs, then onto piano for another.
Even though I've always had a soft spot for singer/songwriter Rob, Kyle has been my favourite since the release of Push. I don't know if it was the guitar or the cute/funny/quiet factor, but seeing him unleash onstage with a rockin' Beatles cover (Don't Let Me Down) cemented him in the top spot over a decade ago.
I've spent the last year poking fun at my former teen crush (for suddenly going grey and looking old), but as soon as he was standing before me, wailing on that axe, I reverted to the prepubescent girl who alternated between excited screams and slack jawed gazing.
Especially when he sat on the edge of the stage, just to my right, and plucked out a sweet little solo during Bright Lights, exchanging faces (and chords) with Rob - who walked over and put an arm around his shoulders, before reclaiming the spotlight to finish the song.
The backing screen was predominantly used for streaming live footage of the concert (intermittently showing video clips and album covers), as Rob proved his frontman prowess. His distinctive vocals tore through 24 songs from their back catalogue, between stints on guitar and piano, holding the undivided attention of everyone in the near-capacity venue and making full use of the stage.
He even climbed down to the front row for sweaty hugs and high-fives at one point! Draping himself in an Australian flag towards the end of Push (their closing song of the night), he seemed genuinely moved and sincerely grateful for the constant support they've received here, "right from the beginning".
While the band never disappoints in a live capacity (they are brilliant musicians with great showmanship and can certainly play to a crowd), I was selfishly hoping for more left-field choices. They predictably performed almost all their singles to date, with a showcase of their latest album. No covers or b-sides or new versions, and I was disappointed with the lack of Mad Season inclusions.
I loved that they performed Radio live for the first time, but really wish it hadn't been at the exclusion of Our Song - I would have happily taken that over English Town or Sleeping At The Wheel. And I could have sacrificed Back 2 Good for another YOSLY ballad - namely Hang, Shame or Damn.
Having only missed one tour in the last fifteen years, I get quite wrapped up in all the nostalgia that these guys evoke. Anything from Yourself Or Someone Like You takes me right back to high school; More Than You Think You Are brings back days at Sanity; Exile On Mainstream is a constant reminder of living in Melbourne.
But as a devout listener, in my fifth time seeing them, I yearned for songs that we hadn't already seen countless times. I understand the hypocrisy - less than two months ago, I was expressing my disappointment that previous Hanson sets excluded popular choices - but it was the only thing that could have made a fantastic night a flawless one.
I realise my ranting makes it seem like it wasn't a great show - it was. Or that I didn't have a great time - I did. I just expected more ingenuity from the band who are responsible for my all-time favourite cover (Time After Time). Who brought me to tears with a piano version of 3am and an acoustic version of If You're Gone. Who did a brilliant mash-up of Long Day, Fame (Bowie) and Gone 'Til November (Wyclef).
Still, it didn't stop me from gushing a little afterwards on Facebook...
[SET-LIST]
Parade
Bent
Disease
How Far We've Come (love this song!!)
She's So Mean
3AM
Real World
All That I Need
Overjoyed
If You're Gone
All Your Reasons
Long Day
Back 2 Good
I Will (Kyle on ukulele, Rob on vocals, Paul on piano - just beautiful. It's Rob's favourite from the album and I haven't been able to stop listening to it since)
Unwell
So Sad So Lonely (love this song!!)
English Town
The Way (Kyle's solo was gorgeous, especially with Rob on piano: "I will show you The Way ... like Peter Frampton")
Bright Lights (against the odds of a ballad, this song always goes off live)
Sleeping at the Wheel
[Encore]
Put Your Hands Up
Girl Like That (this surprise inclusion definitely didn't go unappreciated)
Radio (great song on the album, but infinitely better live)
Push