dinner, we dashed off to see Juliette Lewis and her band at The Forum.
The Forum is a venue I always associate with dance parties and more of
your 3D World set, and the 3 hire cars which pulled up in front of our
cab almost proved that by disgorging Eve and 50 Cent who were (along
with Juliette Lewis) performing at the MTV Awards the following night. I
was more than pleased to note that we had only missed the support band
(although I don't know them, and don't know what they sound like) and
not missed the start of Juliette and the Licks. I was also please to see
that the merchandise table contained not only T-shirts, but also both
CDs from the band - as well as T's and CDs from the support band...
maybe someone's reading this and passing it on - I wish - as the more
recent bands are actually supplying CDs and DVDs at their merchandise
tables - again something I recommend. Still, Juliette [Lewis] and The
Licks. I must say that I knew nothing of this band until I read that
they were coming here in Drum Media a few months ago - which is when I
quickly bought tickets. I have to admit that I was initially (as I am
sure others have been) attracted to the band because of Juliette Lewis
herself, and the fact that she had eschewed acting to pursue a music
career about 5 years ago. Of course we all assume that to some degree
she will be like any other actress-cum-popster and be over-produced,
over coiffed and quintessentially fake. I was VERY happily proven wrong
by pre-listening to her music before the gig, and it was absolutely
disproved by her performance onstage. The woman is a performer who is
one part Chrissie Amphlett, one part Suzie Quatro, one part Bjork and a
whole chunk of talent. She's theatrical, she rocks, she emotes, she
works WITH her band (not just fronts them), she connects intimately and
almost viscerally with her audience, she obviously not only enjoys but
is totally into what she is doing, she is humble enough to look happily
embarrassed when the audience cheers her on, and did I mention that she
is remarkably talented as a singer (as well as an actress)? With
material gleaned from her two albums, she hit the stage running and,
even though she took the odd 15 seconds to catch her breath, did not let
up for the entire set. 2 costume changes in the set, with her
trademarked 'Amerindian' persona starting the gig (they had
feather-headdresses for sale at the merchandise table), stripping off to
a one-piece cut-out leotard and yellow jeans about a third of the way
through, and briefly donning a sequinned cocktail dress for 3 numbers.
She (like Rollins 2 nights before) did not let up and won the 300
audience over easily. She even gave us a very rock-chick rendition of
'Dirty Deeds' by AC/DC with the apology of ("I'm sure everyone does this
when they're here..."). Actually, Juliette, no-one does and it just went
to show where her music roots come from. They come from here. I'll be
happily buying tickets for her next show which, according to her, will
be in about 18 months.
Thank the gods for sleep - although it was a relatively early night
after Juliette. The following day was the day after ANZAC Day - meaning
that it was Saturday, even though it felt like it was a Sunday. Brunch
was had at Il Vizio and then a quick trip to the shops to ostensibly buy
food, and end up with some DVDs as well. Thankfully nothing was due to
happen until the evening - which was good seeing as the sleep-in was
until about 3pm. With Barbara now door-biatching for Shallow Nation, I
went off to see/hear Porcupine Tree at The Enmore Theatre. Now many
people may not know Porcupine Tree, as progressive Rock is not something
you hear a lot about these days (along with the term 'concept albums').
My first advice is to go and listen to some tracks and be entranced...
or if you want some history listen to Tangerine Dream to begin with as
you go off to sleep one night. Then you'll be ready for something a
little more epic, perhaps heavier, like Pink Floyd, and perhaps
eye-opening. I was (as is the way of things these days) running a tad
behind this evening due to various reasons to do with a leaky roof,
people getting ready to go out, me being internet-saddled and
flu-ridden, etc... and so I did miss most of the support band, Sleep
Parade, which is a shame as I had caught up with them (online) to check
out how they would mesh with the crowd there to see Porcupine Tree. I
was lucky enough to get in to hear the end of one of their songs and I
DO mean the end- I think it was the epic Weeping Walls... Sleep Parade
are a three piece Melbourne band whose roots also lie in with Pink Floyd
and Tangerine Dream. The nice thing is that they also like to explore
the fact that music does not have to be confined to radio-slots of 2.5
minutes and unlike the more recent self-fellating of Billy Corrigan at
Soundwave, their 5+ minutes of music is good and not self-important.
Give them perhaps another year and they will be awesome (they are very
damned good now - but they will only get better, compare the 1st album
and this more recent tone - they're on their way. Of course after a
quick explosion of roadies all over the stage, and people jamming the
merchandise stand (which ran out of Tour T-Shirts my size..dammit... and
I didn't see any CDs either - they must have gone [or were never there])
the lights went down and porcupine tree entered to (what I can only
describe as) a thunderous welcome. The Enmore Theatre is a nice venue
but there are times I worry that the mezzanine floor will collapse under
the stamping feet of those who want more from encores, and who can't
applaud loudly enough with their hands. What I liked about Porcupine
Tree was their extended use of visuals. For a Prog Rock band, IMO, I
think the use of these is an essential part of the performance. As a
quick aside, some EBM bands would do well to perhaps make some
film-clips to play alongside their tracks as this would add to the
overall show. All throughout the 12 main set songs the visuals were more
than complementary to the numbers, windswept landscapes melded with
kaleidoscopic capsules and dancing metal automatons - each clip
supporting the song and mood - not just random 'pretty' visuals, these
were filmed for the numbers specifically, some even lifted specifically
(and expanded from) their DVDs. From 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' (their
most recent album title-track), through the show-stopping
'Anesthetize'[sic] (which had pretty much all people in the audience
spellbound), 'Blackest Eyes' which had all of us bouncing off the walls,
to their closer 'Sleep Together' - with the requisite dancing automata
on the screen. They are gracious effluvious in their thanks to their
fans and left the stage. This is when I thought the mezzanine floor
would collapse and maim hundreds of fans. I have rarely heard such an
audience response - especially to something which is not that regularly
heard live. It almost rivalled the Alice Cooper Concert of a couple of
years ago. The (as expected) encore was only three songs long, but what
songs! Two of the more anticipated numbers and one surprise instrumental
('Mother and Child Divided') which I thought was a nice segue into the
last 2 numbers for the night. We apparently got Mother and Child whereas
Melbourne didn't(?) but I heard the same from Paul Stanley at KISS (no
offense, but it's a nice way to give the fans a little local intimacy
with the band). However, as I said, this segue into the final two
numbers was a very good choice and the real closer 'Halo' was awesome. I
hung about with the crowd for a little while afterwards... as there was
this persistent afterglow which everyone was sharing, perhaps that along
with the promise of a speedy return to Australia by the band. Then I
grabbed a cab and headed off to Lewisham to partake in Shallow Nation
for the rest of the night.
Shallow Nation (being the newest 'alternative' club on the block) seems
to have taken over the 'Live House' (read: Lewisham Hotel) on every 4th
Saturday of the month, but unfortunately suffers from the same thing
that other alternative/Rock night there suffers from. Location. With the
venue being on Parramatta Rd, yet having a myriad of back streets to get
to REAL transport (trains) it makes attendance difficult (except for
those who drive, can afford cabs, or live close). This is a pity because
the venue is great and the people are good. There has to be a way to get
more people to the venue - and that's apparently in discussion for the
next one. One wonders though of the viability of an alternative
Goth/indie club that far out of the main drags (and transport). I hope
the concerns are groundless, though. We were there until close and
thence immediately to sleep once I got into the house ;)
Sunday was a day of rest, though it felt like a Monday... and in a way
that was good as the entire weekend I was staving off a progressive flu
like no-one's business, which (of course) came to a head on Sunday
afternoon/Monday morning. Suffice to say that Sunday/Monday were not
good days, and we'll leave it at that OK? Details do NOT need to be
passed on.
Monday evening I was lucky that I was watching WWE Backlash along with
Nic Gaut and (briefly) Donna and Kate. Suffice to say that if you've not
seen it now, you'll hate the spoilers - it's TV... c'mon! We all know:
HHH won, OK? Good now let's move on. :)
Tuesday night (after a day of catching up with work) was a show I was
looking forward to: Jason Alexander's 'Comedy Spectacular' as part of
the Cracker Comedy Festival. Firstly, I went in with Donna as a
congratulations for her getting her promotion and new job (well done!).
Secondly, Jason Alexander was brilliant. He is a consummate professional
and mixes (what amounts to) stand-up with simple story telling. Yes he
DID address some questions from the audience, and as host he had the
time and ability to pad the show or move it as he wished. This was a
good thing as when something didn't quite work out with the flow, he'd
come on afterward and fix it with impressive timing, with and humour.
The man seems to be a very gracious host and his overall performance was
masterful. I fully recommend seeing him on May 3 & 4 (at the Enmore
again) if you get a chance. In the first half Jason was supported by
Australian comedians Mick Molloy, who was as acerbic as ever, though
seemed to amply demonstrate why he's not doing radio or TV at the
moment. Whilst he was a little funny, he was also somewhat flat. I
caught myself noting how long he's been onstage. This was one of the
instances that Jason Alexander used to move the show along, re-lifting
the flow and tempo into Russel Gilbert's spot. At the risk of courting a
law-suit... did he have a quick gram of speed before coming onstage? I
mean he was very damned funny and also moving and speaking at 300kph.
Robin Williams (of the 1980's) would be proud of the pace - and I was
exhausted (and a little tingly - you know what I mean - in sympathetic
vibration) after his set. The show was in 2 parts (with 20 min interval,
though one person behind me was amazed that an interval would be 'as
long as 20 mins' - something to do with the movement in and out of the
seats of 1,200 people I guess ;)). The second half of the show blew me
away as Jason launched into a medley of Broadway numbers which showcased
an amazing singing voice. One must remember that he did win the 1989
Tony Award for best actor in a musical for Jerome Robbins' 'Broadway',
and has appeared in other Broadway shows/musicals such as 'The
Producers'. From his excellent singing we moved through to Kitty
Flanagan who was the other excellent professional on the bill (not that
the others aren't, just that both Kitty and Jason both obviously stood
out). Her brand of self-deprecating with is always a joy. Thence to the
brilliant physical stylings of The Umbilical Brothers, who I think the
world of - but if you've seen the (much lamentably cancelled) 'Sideshow
on ABC, you've seen many of their gags. Live they're brilliant of course
- and the Sideshow 'bears' made a surprise appearance in a big-screen
interaction which was brilliant and hilarious. Finally, an Improv
session with one of my favourite artists (who I have a very soft spot
for) Rebecca De'unamuno (who I have been onstage with a few times and
can attest to her genius). This brought the entire cast onstage for a
'Whose Line Is It Anyway-inspired 'newscast' show with two random
audience members selected to give prompts. One was great (I thought he
must have been planted in the audience) and the other was cringe-worthy,
making it hilarious. A great way to end off the night... along with the
Umbilical Brothers coming into the lobby and signing DVDs for the
patrons.
Gosh! That's been it until today which sees me off to watch Charles Ross
perform his One-Man Star Wars Trilogy. People have either seen it (and
loved it) or heard it on the radio, which is rather stupid as his show
is reportedly audio/VISUAL. I'm very much looking forward to it.
Now... back to work... yes yes I have been working whilst writing this
thank you - just putting bits and pieces into this from ... er... the
weekend.
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