Julia and myself are just back from three days in Perth/Freemantle where we attended the Blues n' Roots festival. In case you're wondering how we could afford it, think frequent flyer points and my 60th birthday present. We stayed in a hotel in Perth and caught the train down to Freemantle for the music.
We had lunch with Elizabeth on the Saturday and apart from having a throat condition and all her family being overseas, she's in good shape. She was a little annoyed with Andrew who was also in town for the festival but declined to join us.
"What Andrew has to realise is that family comes first. His so-called "friends" who he thinks are important now won't be there to support him when his life is engulfed by the kinds of scandals and corruption that characterised his father's career. How does he want to end up - enveloped in the affection of his extended family or having to do penance walking with Saint Glenn in the god-forsaken mountains of South America? When you think you're too cool for your family, you've got it all wrong!"
I think that's what she said - my memory isn't great and, as you can see from the picture, it was very crowded and noisy in the restaraunt.
My personal view is that Lizzy was a bit harsh. We hooked up with Andrew at the festival and he shared plenty of his time with us. He even bought me a can of cider.
We were there, of course, to see Bob Dylan. Before he came on we saw a really good local band named Breakthrough, Ruthie Foster (excellent blues), Megan Washington, Elvis Costello (great set), Michael Franti and The Cat Empire (best musicians of the night). Bob didn't address the crowd, played for an hour or so and was very "professional". Those who knew what to expect (me) really enjoyed it but others may have been a little surprised. He was criticised in the WA papers today for murdering the lyrics on some of his best songs (Tangled Up in Blue and Like A Rolling Stone) but there's no evidence he didn't do it on purpose.
We missed Mavis Staples and the Blind Boys of Alabama but, overall, we couldn't complain. It was a great weekend.
7 comments:
That sounds like Liz - she's harsh, but fair.
Cat Empire rank as the best concert I've ever been to. Joe once drove 10 hours to Chicago to see them, and claims it was worth it (he ended up drinking with them afterwards 'cause nobody in the states knows who they are...)
Very sad we weren't in Perth to see you Grant and Juls, or Aunty Bet and Uncle Ken - hope much fun was had by all...
Viva WA!
Kate
Anyone one could mess up Tangled up in Blue. Its like memorising a book. No pencils? Tell Lizzy I wont hear a bad word about Andrew. He's alright!
I agree with Lizzy!
How could Lizzy say things like that about her cousin? Lucky mild mannered Grant was there to offer a balanced opinion.
Also Damian seems to have missed a golden opportunity, so allow me... Top 3 concerts:
1) The pixies supported by Jarvis Cocker supported by Phoenix supported by New York Dolls (yeah that was all in a single night in a mid-sized venue in Adelaide).
2) Mars Volta
3) Dinosaur Jr supported by Leader Cheetah.
R-Diddy's best ever concert is obviously fictional. Those bands have never heard of Adelaide. Here is a real top 3;
1. Nirvana at the Reading festival 1992
2. The Breeders - London Astoria 2002
3. Dan Kelly and the Ukeladies - Brisbane Tivoli - 2008
1. Ukes with the full band at the Marquis of Lorne in March 2011.
2. Bushman's Axe at the Cambridge hotel in Newcastle any week between 1978 and 1982.
3. Leonard Cohan at Hanging Rock, 2010.
Good call Rowan.
1. Loose - UNE Bistro
2. Bob Dylan - Tamworth Ent Centre
3. George Thorogood - Central Coast Leagues.
Can I have 3 more?
4. John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - Newcastle Workers
5. Vince Jones - Armidale Bowlo
6. Midnight Oil/INXS - Noosa Showground.
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