Sparkadia at the Metro

Pop music at its best. A strong performance of some really catchy, IMHO, tunes. I love Talking Like I’m Falling down Stairs and China. Even the semi-religious Mary is deadset dancey and infectious. I had a very cool albeit solo night out.

Here's a review from FasterLouder.

The videos

PULP

I've wanted to see PULP for, I dunno, forever. Jarvis toured solo last year but that only whetted the appetite. So it was nice surprise when this current tour was announced. I think the last time they toured Australia was back in 1998. Actually I think the last time they toured at all was 2002. Jarvis proved he was the consummate performer last year and only enhanced his reputation this time around. All the classics were here but it was a pity they couldn't get the Shatner out to do his cover of Common People (see bottom video below - great for Lulz). PULP were in a word awesome. In two words, fucking awesome. Brit pop at its finest.









The Videos

Disco 2000


Common People


Shatner covering Common People

Grinderman at the Enmore Theatre

This is the first gig I've been to PG. Post Georgia that is. She has only been in the world for four weeks so it hasn't been that much of a drought. I did have to ditch the Big Day Out two days ago though because it wouldn't have been seemly to leave Michelle and Georgia home alone for 12 hours with Georgia only being four weeks old n'all. Most of the bands at this year's BDO I'd put in the nice to see bracket anyway. Except, that is, for Grinderman. They're in the I've been champing at the bit for a couple of years to see them bracket.

Grinderman is Nick Cave's other band. They did a show or two a couple of years ago at All Tomorrow's Parties at Mt Bulla but not at the Sydney show so I missed them then. I got a ticket to this show just in case of the off chance I'd miss them at the Big Day Out this year. And I did. Miss the BDO. So lucky eh? Almost didn't make it to this show though. Georgia wasn't settling before I left and it was only when she started to feed and Michelle was happy I was comfortable enough to leave. As it was I only missed the first 4 or 5 songs.

What I did see was pretty bloody good. Grinderman are definitely not Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds even if there are a couple of familiar faces in both line-ups. Most notably Nick Cave, the strutting rock god himself, and Warren "Rasputin" Ellis. When I say definitely not I mean that is a good thing. Nick Cave at ATP was just about the best gig I've ever been to. That is a hard act to follow. Grinderman was almost as good though. They are still in a class of their own. They're brilliant. The worst thing about the show? I missed the first 4 or 5 songs. The second worst thing? I missed the support act. Ed Kuepper. Dammit. I like Ed too. Georgia if you're reading this in years to come it wasn't your fault daddy missed some of the show tonight. He would've given up the whole show if you needed him. Thankfully that wasn't the case and I was treated to something special.

Setlist here. Or there will be a soon as somebody who isn't me updates it.

Gig of the year? Possibly according to fasterlouder.com.au. Click here for review.

Lots of photos below. Click 'em to embiggen 'em.





















Here's a little video taster of the gig. Palaces of Montezuma. Currently one of my very favourite songs. The sound in the video is very very distorted though.

Big Day Out 2011

Ticket to the Big Day Out. $155.
Big Day Out Android app downloaded to phone. Free.
Ear plugs. $2.
Spending the day with my new daughter instead of going to the Big Day Out. Priceless.

Looks like new daddy duties win out over day long music and booze fest.

Oh well. Maybe next year.

The Gorillaz

It was a long time coming but it was certainly worth the wait. The Gorillaz were, to use an overused word, awesome. Definitely up there with some of the best gigs I've seen. Ever.

This is the first time The Gorillaz have performed in Australia and the first time front man Damon Albarn has been here since 1996 with Blur.

I didn't really know what to expect as far as the live show goes. I'd heard years ago the band performed behind a screen while their animated alter egos were projected on the screen. True there was a big screen where some fantastic videos were played but it was behind where Damon and the other performers strutted their stuff.

Guest performers on stage included De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Rosie Wilson, Yukimi Nagano and the Syrian National Orchestra. On video only we had Shaun Ryder and Snoop Dogg.

Setlist here.
Sydney Morning Herald review of the gig here.
Gorillaz wiki here.
Gorillaz website here. According to an interview with Damon on Triple J The Gorillaz will be giving away their latest album on their website on Christmas Day.

The Gorillaz played at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.