| Author | Message | ||
     Austin Member Username: Bruegelpie Post Number: 77 Registered: 09-2004 |
I'm glad the timing worked out so well such that I could be at this great show! Wonderful to see some old friends from the Message Board and to meet some new ones. The 15 songs turned into 16 songs because Robert couldn't decide what song to cut, so he left the extra one in. The big surprises of the night was not only seeing Glenn, Adele, Matt and Karin perform with Robert, but seeing this skinny figure walk on stage in the dim light as the encore started and then have it dawn on us all - "Hey, that guy looks just like Robert Vickers.......It is Robert Vickers!!" Here is the set list (as I was able to capture it) 1) Lee Remick 2) Don’t Let Him Come Back 3) Love Wasn’t Made for You and Me 4) Your Turn My Turn 5) Part Company 6) I’m Alright 7) Love is a Sign 8) The Circle 9) I Can Do 10) Snake Skin Lady 11) German Farmhouse 12) Born to a Family 13) You’ll Get By (John Steel Singers cover) 14) I’m So Happy For You (New Song) 15) If it Rains 16) Pandanus ENCORE 17) I Wish I was Like Everybody Else 18) I Can’t See Nobody (Bee Gees cover) 19) Head Full of Steam | ||
| E Weidermeier Member Username: Eweidermeier Post Number: 12 Registered: 05-2006 |
Robert had some great stories to tell during the show, as he usually does. As memory serves, here are some of them. (Welcoming us to the venue, which was a wonderful outdoor stage by the Powerhouse, that didn’t have a top over it for either the performers or audience): “We have a strict curfew. We must end by 11. People move to an arts precinct, but they want it quiet by 11. “ “It might rain, but I don’t think it will.” “Grant was playing the bass and came up with this riff” (plays “Don’t Let Him Come Back” riff). He played it for me and said “what do you think.” I said I thought it was great. Grant would walk around the house playing the riff for hours on his bass.” “Grant and I were casting the band. I cast Grant by inviting my best friend to join the band and he learned to play bass. The Mod Squad was a big influence. We saw women in films, women in TV shows, so we naturally thought that we should get a woman in the band. There was a girl who we saw at one of our shows, and we would see her at other University events. She looked like Patty Smith’s younger sister. She wore Snake Skin Pants and danced by herself at shows, even though she had friends nearby. We saw her at a show dancing and decided to ask her to join the band and learn to play drums. It was decided that I would go and ask her to join the band. I went up to her and said to her, “I think that you have seen us play and we are looking for a drummer and you can practice the drums for 6 months and then join the band. Will you do it?” She said “NO!!!” I walked back across the auditorium to Grant, who said “What did she say.” “She said “NO.” “Grant named the “Spring Hill Fair” album”. “In November 1987 I moved back to Australia from London. We were going to record a new album in January, so I needed to write some songs. The rest of the band lived in Sydney. I came back to Brisbane. I moved back to the Gap with my parents. I weighed 6 stone 10. My parents went off to work and I was home alone every day. I’d wake up in the morning, have my muesli, put on Jeans and a flannel shirt. I had two records that I played each morning. One was “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen. The other was the second Jesus and Mary Chain Record “Darklands.” These are the two songs that resulted from time. Maybe you can hear the influence of those albums (laughter)… or maybe you can’t. (“I’m Alright” and “Love is a Sign”).” “In 1992 I came back to Brisbane. I wanted to come back to studio in Australia to see if the studio where we recorded Lee Remick and Karen still existed. I didn’t know anyone. I was disoriented and needed to find a band. So I did what every person who is in Brisbane and in that situation does, I went to Rocking Horse Records (laughter). I talked to the owner ____, who put me in touch with a band called Cow and I recorded songs including this one with the man I am going to introduce. I want to introduce Glenn Thompson.” | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 2473 Registered: 03-2005 |
Wow, thanks both. Great info and stories. Wish I was there. And Robert's so right about what happens when $$$$ people move into a formerly arty district. I never knew he stayed in Brisbane for any of the run-up to "16 Lovers Lane." Lordy, listening to those two albums he chose would have given me writers block! | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 326 Registered: 02-2007 |
Great to meet up with you Austen and Padraig. Robert seemed quite tense at first, prowling around stage before show started. Only took a coupla songs for him to exude all his charm. Cant add much to what has been said above, but show was very intimate. BeeGees cover was brilliant, as was meeting Adele and Robert Vickers after show (thanks Austen). The rain stayed away just in time and i felt young again. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 3659 Registered: 05-2005 |
It was great to catch up with you and Austin too David! Robert F came out not long after you were gone. He was in great form. One small correction to Austin's list above; track 17 was called The Prisoner. It's the Saints song. I think the highlight of the night for me was I'm Allright. I'm pretty sure it is not one he often plays live. Lee Remick was also great, and I really liked the cover of John Steel Singers' You’ll Get By (Robert produced their forthcoming album). Robert's wife Karin played violin and sang with him on You'll Get By. Oh, Love Is A Sign was also fantastic, as was Born To A Family. Mostly it was Robert on his own with an acoustic guitar but Glen and Adele came on for a couple of songs. For the last two songs of the night, as I said to the man himself afterwards, it was Robert Forster presents The Last Waltz. Karin, Glen and Adele came back, joining Robert Vickers on bass (still young, slim, handsome and with a great Monkees haircut) and Matthew, the young guy who has played drums with Robert at various points over the last few years. For The Prisoner it had been just the two Roberts and Matthew as far as I can recall. It was a wonderful occasion and a great show. The previous night I drank five months worth of liquor in eight hours in the company of Austin. We were in Ric's bar and another nearby joint. Despite a mighty hangover, Austin and I walked over the Go Between Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It's rather beautiful, as bridges go. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 259 Registered: 05-2005 |
Great! Wish I was there... "I'm alright" is one of my favourite song. I think Robert played it at every concert I attended, even during his solo Warm Night tour. The last time I saw RF, the song was sequenced just after Demon Day. Something unforgettable... | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2005 |
I'm jealous... Time for that Stockholm show. (While recording the new album?) | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 592 Registered: 04-2005 |
And a fuller account of the evening http://www.collapseboard.com/robert-fors ter-15-songs-about-brisbane |