| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1971 Registered: 05-2005 |
It was wonderful. It was my first time in the State Theatre; what a beautiful venue. Kev and all the musicians walked through the theatre to the stage at the start, joined by his children and grandchildren. Kev introduced his family and said the musicians were his family too. It was a grand and fitting entrance. After an introduction from Kev, Dan Kelly did a great version of I've Been Moved, as he does on the Cannot Buy My Soul album. That was also the title of these shows. Then there was a video clip with a voiceover from Kev about his life in Queensland. These were shown between all the songs and were very informative and touching. Next was Sara Storer with her take on Moonstruck. What a great voice she has. I know nothing else about her though. Alan and Stephen Pigram then joined Kev at his seat on stage and all three played Eulogy For A Black Man. The Pigram brothers are also Aboriginal. Paul Kelly, Glenn Richards (Augie March) and Missy Higgins then sang Droving Woman. I don't have any time for Missy Higgins' own work (insipid AOR masquerading as indie folk), but she does have a nice voice and this was lovely. Kev then spoke about how he moved to the city for work when the farm work dried up as the land was opened for mining. He couldn't believe what white society threw away and he loved going to the dump to see what he could find! One day he fortuitously came across a how to play guitar book. It was damp so he dried it by a campfire. The rest is, literally, history. Next was Tex Perkins singing/speaking Darkside while standing on stage holding a newspaper with Kev sitting at a table to his left. Next up was the rather brilliant Aboriginal hip hop troupe Last Kinection. I think the song they did was Young Dancer Is Dead. Whatever it was it was radically changed from the original. This was obviously done with Kev's blessing as he said beforehand that before publishing this was how songs got handed down from generation to generation, through being embellished and updated by whoever next did a version of it. It was the most moving moment to that point. After that Kev spoke of a group he was involved with in Queensland in the 70s which was mobilising against the redneck Bjelke Petersen government. They met in a pub and sometimes punk bands played there too. Cue The Drones. Their version of River Of Tears was an excoriating exorcism, every bit as brilliant a remake as that of Last Kinection before them. On The Wire was next, sung by Sara Storer, Clare Bowditch and Missy Higgins. It reminded me of the scene with the sirens in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. That beautiful. Before singing Blood Red Rose Clare thanked Kev for the honour of playing with him and for him calling the musicians his family. It was a very nice, spontaneous touch. Kev then sang Cannot Buy My Soul, dedicating it to Archie Roach, the Aboriginal artist who covered it on the album of the same title. Next was Steve Kilbey of The Church doing a fantastic version of Images Of London. Boy does he get that song. After that was hip hop group The Herd, with a great take on Comrade Jesus Christ. Kev's introduction to the genesis of the song was hilarious. Pauk Kelly came back on to do an amazing version of This Land Is Mine (which he co-wrote with Kev) with Dan Sultan playing monumental guitar. The finale featured all the musicians back on stage to sing From Little Things Big Things Grow (also a Paul Kelly co-write). It was like the end of The Last Waltz, only better because I was there, not just watching it on TV. The whole show was very tight and obviously brilliantly rehearsed. It was a night I will long remember. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 410 Registered: 05-2005 |
Sounds like a wonderful night Pádraig. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 307 Registered: 05-2005 |
I was wondering whether "Killer" would make an appearance. He produced on of Kev's albums but wrote on his blogg that he didn't get on at ALL with Tex Perkins!!!(cue various snarling cat noises!) I can't believe you hadn't been to the State Padraig - it's one of my favourite city venues. The Crowdies used to LOVE playing there, I guess you now know why! When are you seeing the Triffids? Do you agree with me that the Sydney Festival is getting better and better? I could have shelled out a thousand bucks easily (if I had it) to see what's on this year. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1974 Registered: 05-2005 |
That's what happens when you get an Irish guy to run the Sydney festival - the music aspect improves beyond all recognition! Who is "Killer" Geoff? Is it Steve Kilbey? I tried to buy a ticket for The Triffids Friday show but was told I couldn't buy a single ticket! I was stunned as it's a stand-up venue so there is no issue with singles seats. The guy said they had sold out their allocation of single tickets, but I could buy a "multi-pack". I left without a ticket. I will make it to one of the shows though Geoff. Pete Azzopardi who used to be a regular here is coming up from Melbourne and going to all four nights. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 308 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've heard you can get tickets IF you line up on THE DAY at the Ticketek office in Martin Place at 8am, although I hear you might have to be there well before 8am! I'm tossing up whether to line up for Bjork tickets for the 23rd. Would be an awesome show on the steps of the Opera House. Kilbey has nicknamed himself "Killer" on his blogg. I agree the music has improved beyond recognition. Now if we can get them to properly ADVERTISE I might even go to more shows instead of finding out 3 weeks later! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1975 Registered: 05-2005 |
There was a program of events which came with an edition of The Sunday Telegraph before Christmas Geoff. But most of the events are aimed squarely at SMH rather than Telegraph readers. Yes, I heard about the booth in Martin Place from the guy who wouldn't sell me a ticket at full price! I heard from someone else that there is a queue there at 7 each morning for a booth that opens at 8. |