Julia, Dom, Annika and my good self went to see the big gig in Melbourne last Sunday night. The support act (Dan and the Ukes) only get about 35 minutes so, if you're going, don't be late. The brief set was very well received although I think Dan could do a bit better with his song selection. If you're going to a gig, loudly request the "Catholic Leader", my favourite in his current repetoir. We paid for two tickets and were "on the door" for the other two - thanks Ukes. Amanda took me backstage in the break and introduced me to the Augie March band members. WARNING: the boss guitarist and singer, Glen, has a VERY WEAK handshake. As you can see from the puffed-up right hand in the picture above, I may have overdone it. If you meet him, Joe, it might be better if you hug him. Augie March is a world-class band but the Melbourne venue acoustics weren't perfect - hope it's better in Brisbane. It was a great night, though, and Amanda, the Ukes and Dan have clearly benefitted from a month on the road. It's all very tight and a pleasure both to watch and listen to. Any reports from the Sydney gig?
Tuesday, November 18
Ukes slay Melbourne
Julia, Dom, Annika and my good self went to see the big gig in Melbourne last Sunday night. The support act (Dan and the Ukes) only get about 35 minutes so, if you're going, don't be late. The brief set was very well received although I think Dan could do a bit better with his song selection. If you're going to a gig, loudly request the "Catholic Leader", my favourite in his current repetoir. We paid for two tickets and were "on the door" for the other two - thanks Ukes. Amanda took me backstage in the break and introduced me to the Augie March band members. WARNING: the boss guitarist and singer, Glen, has a VERY WEAK handshake. As you can see from the puffed-up right hand in the picture above, I may have overdone it. If you meet him, Joe, it might be better if you hug him. Augie March is a world-class band but the Melbourne venue acoustics weren't perfect - hope it's better in Brisbane. It was a great night, though, and Amanda, the Ukes and Dan have clearly benefitted from a month on the road. It's all very tight and a pleasure both to watch and listen to. Any reports from the Sydney gig?
5 comments:
The Basement in Sydney is a brilliant venue. I could actually see the show, which doesn't happen too often. I may have told Dan that his show needs less him and more Ukes but that’s just the cousin in me. It was a very entertaining set and very well received by the mixed bag audience.
Shauna Forrest, Brendan, Kimi, Neil and Ann Siege, and their lovely kids, and Daniel and I made up the family contingent of the audience. Shauna and the Sieges timed it perfectly to arrive just before the gig started at 10.30pm so we didn’t really get to catch up for too long. Daniel and I arrived a fair bit earlier to make sure we didn’t miss out on tickets and to take advantage of the well stocked bar. Everyone is definitely looking forward to Christmas in Lismore.
Dan Kelly and the Ukeladies created such a beautiful atmosphere that Daniel managed to get a girl’s number. However, the girl’s friend has mowed some grass and scored herself a date with Daniel and our Redfern Trivia team on Thursday. How very romantic.
I can’t remember much more than that so Daniel and Brendan will have to pick up the slack.
thanks so much for coming everyone!!! i can't believe all the lovely support we have received from family on this tour, its so great! As well as being lovely to see everyone, it has the added bonus (for me) of making dan quite nervous- most enjoyable!
The late Adelaide review is that the bands played a little bit better than at Sydney and Melbourne because they likes us better. This was despite Glen mentioning he recently had lockjaw?? ("If you have rabies you'll understand!"). We were also outraged by Dan's stage hogging! Uke's solo already!
Furthermore it also featured the debut of Andrew's new broad. Very friendly but she is studying law so if she ever turns up for dinner I'm out.
And for the record, Daniel could have picked up at a Smith's concert. He's a predator!
I blame all parents for the mispellings of their children.
My (late)report on a night of Ukeladies is not much to report:
1. I donned some Samoan clobber as I expected a league of groupies. Apart from the Ukeladies I was a lone bro'. The Ukeladies looked ravishing. I looked like a geek in a Samoan shirt.
2. Mick Seage was there with his girlfriend Jodie. Mick was backing up after the launch party Thursday night of his band's latest release 'realisation' check it out at Rough Cut Records http://roughcutrecords.com.au/artist_rossco_james.htm ) He may have been scouting for artists to sign. Catch Jodie on drivetime Wednesdays on 2-SER if in Sydney.
3. Anne was backing up minus half her wisdom teeth, which explained some strange whistling from the bar. Jenny and Stephen were trying to work out their complement of cousins. Neil recalled his youth and House of the Rising Sun.
4. 10:30 start? Hmm, not b my watch. Kimi and I had to bail early to get the last ferry to Paradise and put the penguins to bed. Such are trials of Sydney transport, but heaven forbid we should be so cool, burning up the fossil fuels, going to a Dan Kelly concert in our S.U.V.
5. So was the glass half full that we got to see half the concert? or half empty that we didn't?
6. Dan Kelly is quite the wordsmith, as the Basement venue and acoustic nature meant I could actually understand what was being sung, profanities and all. But the ladies were mid-first song (of their set?) when we left, so we had to take images of harmonies, ukelele strums and Samoan shirts and the dream of the ferry setting off for the islands.
7. Yes we did enjoy the show. Just not enough of it.
8. For those interested in Indian music, Zakir Hussein played the Oprah House on the Sunday before. Sensational comes to mind. It was a musical week. Too rare.
9. Mudgee this weekend - the apricots have fruited. Anybody welcome.
10. Meshuggah! (from a recent text I have been reading)
Post a Comment