Joe and I went to see the Angus and Julia Stone concert on Tuesday night at the Enmore Theatre. I love their current (and debut) album titled “A Book Like This”. It is a fantastic album with some catchy tunes, great vocals and a real sensitivity to from these vocals. Sure the lyrics are a bit ordinary, however the sum of the parts that make up the song are a treat.
So with a bit of anticipation we rocked up to the theatre after having some pretty delish (and only $2.00) Za’atar Man Oosh at the appropriately titled Man’oosh shop – yep, had to get a plug in for that Man’oosh. The support act was a gent by the name of Victor Valdes. His gig – a solo act that played the electric harp and sung apparently “Mexican” tunes. There is just something inherently wrong about this and it has completely bastardised my love of the harp.
This is the first time I have ever seen a male (man)handling a harp and it felt so….wrong. Thank gosh it won’t scar me and I can tune in to my Marisa Robles CD of Harp Concertos to flush out the dregs. The 80 minute set lasted maybe 78 minutes too long, however it kept the crowd of mostly teeny-boppers entertained. This was another thing that surprised me – I certainly was not expecting a great proportion of the audience to be on the young to mid teenaged side. Felt like I was at an under-18’s gig that still had parents chaperoning their kids. Cripes!
Well back to the main act then….finally, finally at around 9.15pm, the dear headline act decide to show up on stage. By this time, I was anticipated-out and ready to get the hell out of the venue from overkill of bad-harp, and an excessively long wait. It just compounded the fact it was a Tuesday night, that much more.
Into track one (of which I cannot remember) and off to an ok start. I was waiting for something a bit rockier to kick off the restlessness after such a long wait for the start. Track two came and went and it was at this point I felt that I may as well have stayed home and listened to the album as there was not much being sung that differed from playing the disc. Not much noticable variation in the live versions and not much of an engaging act either.
Song three rocked around and introduced by Julia as a song inspired by her friend who at the time had a “baby in the oven”. After realising the friend was not trying to kill her child, rather was pregnant (with a bun in the oven), I almost gagged at the fucked-ness of the lyrics of Wedding Song. It immediately too my thoughts back to my grade 10 English teacher who despised bad lyrics and poor attempts to rhyme…for example:
“We’re gonna build a life together
you and I forever and ever
And we’ll make babies on a beach under the stardust
And I’ll hear your voice come through the door
A thousand times, maybe more
And I’ll smile inside to know you’re mine completely
Do you know how lovely you are
in the starlight, in the starlight of my heart?
Do you know how lovely you are
in the moonlight, in the moonlight of my heart?”
Gag worthy. By the time tracks 4-6 came along, it was just getting less lively – if this were even possible. I may as well have been at a Sarah McLachlan concert as it had that morose, “I want to suicide from all this sad music” feel. Fuck! During this song, Joe and I decided at the end of the song to bail for a while and get some coffee.
We ended up at Corelli’s and were fronted by the anti-biker scene. Usually at the pub across the road from the cafe, one would experience the mass line up of Harley’s and Triumph’s and their tatooed, dope smoking, beer swilling, piss stinking bikies. The anti was a group of approx 15 latte-quaffing motor-scooter owners. Just so delightful to take in, and sucking in the mosquito like “roar” of the mass of lawn-mower engines heading off into the night. This was no doubt the least intimidating biker group that I had ever witnessed.
One ordinary coffee and a good chat later, we headed back to see where the show was up to. Caught the last song which SHOULD HAVE been the one to open the show, for it rocked the place. I suppose though that given Angus and Julia only have source material from one album, their range is limited to date. Perhaps as their career progresses, they will make some further entertaining albums with a few more upbeat songs.
Overall, this concert has to go in the Cat Power (when supporting Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds in 2006) pile…i.e. the not so good shows that I have seen. Thankfully this bad-show experience is accountable on a few fingers across the many, many live shows I have been to.
It will not scar me to the point that I will struggle to listen to their music again, it will mean I will just be more cautious of ever buying tickets to one of their live shows in future.
Hahaha re: Sarah macLachlan and I want to kill myself sad music….
Why would you go to the show if you wanted upbeat music? There album is the opposite to upbeat. Give Victor a go, something different isn’t wrong. If you really loved there music enough to buy a ticket then you would have been pleased with the act. And to leave half way through well that isnt even giving them a chance, as for the teeny boppers? im sure they loved the show, we dont buy a 40 dollar ticket to just go if we don’t like the music.
If you have seen many live shows you should know what real music is and there musical skills were amazing so dont post blogs saying how bad they were. i bet you couldnt do any better.
Keep listening to your music at home if you dont appreciate live sounds, that by the way dont have to sound different.
Your probably the least romantic person if you gagged over the ‘Wedding Song’ lyrics. Next time dont waste space at concerts.
Hi Linda, thanks for the comments. I will address them inline and broken down.
***Why would you go to the show if you wanted upbeat music? There album is the opposite to upbeat.
Len: I know the album very well and it is not entirely downbeat. I don’t think you read my comments properly as I never stated I went to this show expecting uplifting music. I was actually really looking forward to this concert otherwise I would not have purchased tickets, however the long, long wait for them to get on stage unfortunately killed off the anticipation. Sometimes there’s no better way than an upbeat start before moving into the slower, moodier, more melancholic music. They book-ended the show well though with upbeat songs.
***Give Victor a go, something different isn’t wrong.
Len: I did give him a go and for quite a while as well. I didn’t like it. I tried to, but just couldn’t. Have you ever tried to listen to something and then decide you didn’t like it? Is there a style of music that you do not like? How large is your country music collection? These are not rhetorical questions. I stand by my comment of the electric harp to Mexican music concept being inherently wrong…could you imagine someone like Mariah Carey attempting heavy metal? She could try it, but it just wouldn’t sit right.
***If you really loved there music enough to buy a ticket then you would have been pleased with the act.
Len: Not necessarily. I have loved much music and been to many, many live shows…unfortunately some have been ordinary. It happens. If you go to enough shows, you are bound to find some that just (for whatever reason) do not please you and your expectations.
Could be caused by any number of factors from the band themselves, their energy, the atmosphere created by the audience, how the ticket holder is feeling etc. I would have to assume that you don’t go to many live shows, or that you may not ever think a show by one of your favourite music artists is bad…that is fair enough. Even some of my favourite musicians have played ordinary shows. It happens. I would also suggest you pick up a copy of Drum Media on a regular basis and read the concert reviews, and reader letters. They’re not always favourable.
Also note: Rufus Wainwright is one of my favourite singers. I went to both his shows in January this year. The first night was fantastic and had a real energy to it. The second night – as I also noted in my blog entry for it – was somewhat flatter and more subdued. If you saw how tired he looked by the second night, it certainly explained a bit. At R.E.M. a few years back, the performance was great, yet the huge audience was really mellow and subdued, and this had an impact into the overall experience. The 1994 INXS show I went to where Michael Hutchence performed the set sitting on a stool (nursing his broken leg) was one of the most charismatic, energetic shows I have ever seen and they played quite a number of “slower” songs too.
***And to leave half way through well that isnt even giving them a chance, as for the teeny boppers? im sure they loved the show, we dont buy a 40 dollar ticket to just go if we don’t like the music.
Len: Actually, if I left at the start of the show, that would not be giving them a chance. I gave it a go, found it wasn’t working for me and decided I didn’t want to be there anymore. I made a choice to leave and I am still not fussed about doing so. I paid my $40.00 as you did too and can assure you that I didn’t buy my ticket because I dislike their music. Again, I will re-iterate (as it appears that you only read what you wanted to in my post) that I like their music. Refer my opening paragraph: “I love their current (and debut) album titled “A Book Like This”. It is a fantastic album with some catchy tunes, great vocals and a real sensitivity to from these vocals. Sure the lyrics are a bit ordinary, however the sum of the parts that make up the song are a treat.” Really Linda, get over yourself and your inflated, self righteous ego.
***If you have seen many live shows you should know what real music is and there musical skills were amazing so dont post blogs saying how bad they were. i bet you couldnt do any better.
Len: Gosh, you seem to be getting quite upset now. I never stated that Angus and Julia are not talented and have no musical skills. Quite the opposite. The show just didn’t work for me that night. I never said they themselves were bad either so please don’t suggest that I did…I found the show somewhat boring and uninspiring as explained above and in my post. Sadly for you, I will continue to blog my thoughts as it is my opinion, not yours. Clearly as you enjoyed the show, you are only wishing to read positive reviews and you’re not willing to be open to anything that is against your opinion, so perhaps go and read those blogs instead.
***Keep listening to your music at home if you dont appreciate live sounds, that by the way dont have to sound different.
Len: You are really showing your age with this comment. I can really feel your bitterness here. As you get older and have a choice (and more money) to go to whatever (and as many) shows you wish to go to, you will most likely have a different expectation of a studio album vs a live performance.
***Your probably the least romantic person if you gagged over the ‘Wedding Song’ lyrics.
Len: Again, you are really showing your age with this comment. I can really feel your bitterness here. I appreciate you judging me on the fact that I don’t like the song lyrics that make you go all mushy.
***Next time dont waste space at concerts.
Len: Next time don’t waste time on reading blog posts that are anti-your-thoughts / opinions and posting comments on them telling other folks what “you think” they should do.
My final thoughts:
1. Perhaps ask your English teacher to teach you the difference and appropriate use of their, there and they’re. You may come across as a little more intelligent and educated if you do so. Perhaps ask them to teach you about the use of apostrophes too.
2. To quote a line you wrote “something different isn’t wrong.” If so, then apply the same thought to my blog entry. Perhaps practice what you preach.
thanks Sir, yur a grate teecher. i have learnt THEIR r many difrent thoghts in mussikk. aJs have lots of THE’RE own talentt, they wer grate THERE sure to be back soon so dont by a tiket. ANY MORE LECTURES?
You will be pleased to know i’m in my 4th year at university and don’t have an english teacher anymore. Don’t judge people’s level of schooling you don’t know anything about.
Well that is wonderful to know Linda…I am pleased to know that my English tips certainly helped you along and I like your deliberate mis-spelling in the above comments
I really do wonder though – and not with any other intent than curiosity, as to why you would comment with such glaring grammatical errors, particularly given that you are aware of the differences in their, they’re and there.
Clearly you didn’t like me judging your schooling level based on perception of your comments…however it seemed perfectly ok for you to somewhat judge me based on my comments.
As for judgment of your schooling and age, this comment based on two reasons:
a) the terrible grammar – fundamental and very junior like errors.
b) the following sentence, in the manner it is written and flows, suggests that “we” is inclusive of the teeny-bopper group. Who knows, you could be akin to Doogie Howser in being one very young uni student
“And to leave half way through well that isnt even giving them a chance, as for the teeny boppers? im sure they loved the show, we dont buy a 40 dollar ticket to just go if we don’t like the music.
Anyhoo, thanks for the reply and the comments overall.
Cheerio, Len
Hi, after reading your completer load of utter crap, Im now thinking maybe you needed to see spice girls or pussy cat dolls rather than a unique act that brings many different things to the table.
Your so full of negative feedback I think that maybe you need to spend nights at home alone to avoid any further disappointments.
Their act thoroughly impressed me along with the rest of the audience.
Overall evaluation: you boring nerd!
Hey Chrys,
So much for people being allowed to have their opinions without being sacrificed for it in your holier-than-thou thoughts. Perhaps I should ask your permission the next time I think of listening to music, or attending a concert to see if I am allowed to have a difference of opinion with you AND continue to be a social butterfly….oh please Lord, let it be so!!!
So big deal if I didn’t enjoy this show and some of my comments are scathing – boo hoo for you. Not the first time I have been disappointed by a musician / band that I have longed to see – as it was with Angus and Julia – and spent a lot more money on a ticket for….and this certainly will not prevent me from going to one of their future shows either – again, please refer to the fact that a portion of my lack of enjoyment on the night was losing all anticipation from the excessively long wait for the show to kick off.
By the same token, I have been to many good shows as well of artists that I like and artists I’ve never heard of previously. I am glad the the sun shines out of A&Js arses for you. It just didn’t for me on that night. Maybe the next time it will and I will love whatever magic I find in their albums in a live show.
Again as with the previous commentor, it would be nice if you paid due attention to my comments rather than hammer me for only the “negative” thoughts that you saw in there. Sadly for you – as much as you would dearly love me to – I don’t care for your alternate musical suggestions. I still love my Angus and Julia CD and play it to bits. Just because I like a musician doesn’t mean that I will be myopic in my thoughts about their music.
Run along and put on Mirrorball or Surfacing.