tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338720242024-03-14T15:59:35.105+11:00oceans never listenWayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.comBlogger1578125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-11740904749230238872024-03-08T15:09:00.002+11:002024-03-08T15:09:26.378+11:00Black Country, New Road @ Sydney Opera House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xL7_tOsCrbbRfqmEhAqlmmecwN-nIuS7x9mlze3TjTwEOa_TwpIQiD4KzARULhGbWUU-HePNGHJCdEOuOOYeBYoeZWFVEIbdBCTIj4G58OrS-zUDZHstNXEIDnTr2H-LH9N8RbDHHAW2FazEqUI0ywmgV_iu4rSXRRvwiI_PbogHqJdW3GTq/s1440/428691099_10163907820418508_8816926191888029348_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xL7_tOsCrbbRfqmEhAqlmmecwN-nIuS7x9mlze3TjTwEOa_TwpIQiD4KzARULhGbWUU-HePNGHJCdEOuOOYeBYoeZWFVEIbdBCTIj4G58OrS-zUDZHstNXEIDnTr2H-LH9N8RbDHHAW2FazEqUI0ywmgV_iu4rSXRRvwiI_PbogHqJdW3GTq/s320/428691099_10163907820418508_8816926191888029348_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Thursday night marked the first ever Sydney show for exciting young UK band Black Country, New Road. As part of their maiden Australian tour, they had the pleasure of playing the Sydney Opera House. The show was long sold out and the crowd was enthusiastic to say the least. Black Country, New Road are a fascinating band. They released two highly acclaimed albums, but on the eve of their second album release in early 2022 band leader Isaac Wood left the band. But the other six members decided to carry on, but not play any of 'his music' live. Eventually they would release a live album named 'Live at Bush Hall'. So they came to Sydney and I wasn't actaully sure what would be played. In the end they played about half of the live album and quite a few new songs. So it was a slightly surreal experience to be witness to so much fresh music. I also felt that since Wood left the band's music has changed a bit. It still has post-rock influences but is even more orchestral and floral now. The band use a number of instruments. Not just guitar, bass and drums. But saxophone, flute, violin and even banjo. It makes for a heady mix, even if some songs work better than others. They use four main singers, so there is a lot of variety and variance through out the set. The absolute highlight was 'Turbines/Pigs', which was epic and massive. It even received a standing ovation, something I never seen before. So all in all a very interesting night from a very exciting band.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />For the Cold Country<br />The Boy<br />24/7 365 British Summer Time<br />Socks<br />Geese<br />Laughing Song<br />Horses <br />Across the Pond Friend<br />Nancy Tries to Take the Night<br />Turbines/Pigs<br />Dancers<br />Up Song (Reprise)</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-4219963727957086992024-03-06T16:08:00.000+11:002024-03-06T16:08:21.649+11:00MJ Lenderman @ Howler Melbourne<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEiRSWqX3NrnnB5MZe1r0DJVB8OOZ6uH9IvvF10o9KZ5QwbRHpb_y8lrHSdPATZb2R_XPTGMkB1PSS2Sw0QHNCxGhKqyI2NUjHaCGglFOeWNC5EBYYx4_Hywtw1raCP7myIxUIViCYZkYG427mvZ05WSPkiBfrhRW-fmRO4MWzdjIdEJqjHVz/s1440/428706108_10163903482138508_6629299148381964627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEiRSWqX3NrnnB5MZe1r0DJVB8OOZ6uH9IvvF10o9KZ5QwbRHpb_y8lrHSdPATZb2R_XPTGMkB1PSS2Sw0QHNCxGhKqyI2NUjHaCGglFOeWNC5EBYYx4_Hywtw1raCP7myIxUIViCYZkYG427mvZ05WSPkiBfrhRW-fmRO4MWzdjIdEJqjHVz/s320/428706108_10163903482138508_6629299148381964627_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tuesday night in Melbourne I was very lucky to see MJ Lenderman for the second time within a week. I was in Melbourne for work and the incredibly talented musician was playing a show at the very cool small venue, Howler in Brunswick. And what a show it was. It was a longer show than Sydney. So we got all the favourites plus some extra content. New songs were played and let me tell you they were all great. Especially 'Wristwatch', a spectacular song. MJ announced his new album is finished and is coming out this year, so it was great to hear some previews of what is to come. MJ and his band are really tight and full of energy and great musicians. A bonus was that Wednesday singer Karly Hartzman joined the band too for the entire night. Songs like 'Hangover Game', 'Knockin' and 'Tastes Just Like It Costs' have quickly become crowd favourites and were received with rapture. And as mentioned the new songs were very exciting too. Lenderman is a serious talent. Great musician. Great singer. Great lyricist. A sound that feels like crossing Neil Young, Pavement, Jason Molina and Drive-By Truckers. Speaking of Neil Young, we received an encore. A cover of Young's classic 'Powderfinger', which was fantastic to say the least. A superb way to end a super night.<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Hangover Game<br />Knockin'<br />Rudolph<br />Toontown<br />Wristwatch (new song)<br />Joker Lips<br />You Have Bought Yourself a Boat<br />TLC Cage Match<br />Under Control<br />SUV<br />(new song)<br />(new song)<br />Catholic Priest<br />Rip Torn (new song)<br />Live Jack<br />Someone Get the Grill Out of the Rain<br />(new song)<br />Tastes Just Like It Costs<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Powderfinger (Neil Young cover)</p>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-52295507546654546392024-03-02T15:21:00.003+11:002024-03-02T15:21:32.701+11:00The National & Fleet Foxes @ Aware Super Theatre<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJajAtC5KC599Wu38nqm3WyW-2Jco8M0IMNNYjn9owYctiTbTSTSizOb-LpWs-DgmiYc5otRS9ajCq0oQADdkAGXWDO5BPKZMLz9bYApUiGVxckZMBjENCOld6La-OaMr533fQEV5Ti-n6Bu8Um6rzXhUpR6SWd7vzn4lRVQxjgJRBfVS321t/s1440/428680692_10163896330748508_6397729417319486412_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJajAtC5KC599Wu38nqm3WyW-2Jco8M0IMNNYjn9owYctiTbTSTSizOb-LpWs-DgmiYc5otRS9ajCq0oQADdkAGXWDO5BPKZMLz9bYApUiGVxckZMBjENCOld6La-OaMr533fQEV5Ti-n6Bu8Um6rzXhUpR6SWd7vzn4lRVQxjgJRBfVS321t/s320/428680692_10163896330748508_6397729417319486412_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>With rising costs everywhere we are now seeing quite a few great international acts teaming up for Australian tours. I presume to save costs. But what a bonus for us. Friday night was a huge double bonus for those lucky to be present at the Aware Super Theatre with The National playing supported by the incredible talents of Fleet Foxes. What a night it was. The National were set to tour here in early 2020 but the tour was cancelled because of that pesky pandemic. They have been regular visitors over the years so it was great to welcome them again. They truly are an incredible live act. They entralled us for nearly two and a half hours. Last year they surprisingly released two albums. Both were good but not really truly great. Obviously they played a good selection from those two and they actually presented well live. Especially 'Eucalyptus', 'Tropic Morning News' and an epic 'Smoke Detector'. Although they did clump them together and that perhaps slowed momentum slightly. There were also some older tracks they played that I was surprised by, such as 'Lit Up'. Especially as they didn't play live favourite 'Conversation 16'. But mere quibbles as it was still a spectacular show. 'Don't Swallow the Cap' was an early highlight. This song was also the first of three times that leadman Matt Berninger well fully into the crowd. He seems to really enjoy it and sets the crowd alight. Of course the band were great in support. The Dessners are remarkable guitarists. The night climaxed with a thunderous encore. 'Terrible Love' and 'About Today' are just modern day classics and an unplugged 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' is always special. The National. A great band, always welcome anytime in Australia.<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Once Upon a Poolside<br />Eucalyptus<br />Tropic Morning News<br />New Order T-Shirt<br />I Should Live in Salt<br />Don't Swallow the Cap<br />Bloodbuzz Ohio<br />The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness<br />I Need My Girl<br />Mistaken For Strangers<br />Humiliation<br />Murder Me Rachael<br />Lit Up<br />Alien<br />Grease In Your Hair<br />Laugh Track<br />Smoke Detector<br />Day I Die<br />Pink Rabbits<br />England<br />Graceless<br />Fake Empire<br />Space Invader</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Light Years</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr November</div><div style="text-align: left;">Terrible Love</div><div style="text-align: left;">About Today</div><div style="text-align: left;">Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fleet Foxes are truly one of the greatest bands on the planet. That's a pretty great support act in itself. I was very excited to see them and they were expectedly great. Last here in 2017 they gave us an hour of the 'hits'. It was just a beautiful set of six part harmonies led by the impossibly pure voice of Robin Pecknold. They gave us a good cross section of favourites, even delving way back to their debut EP in 'Sun Giant'. So many wonderful songs played such as 'Montezuma', 'Ragged Wood', 'Your Protector' and many more. Then closing with the classic in 'Helplessness Blues' was a major treat from a major band indeed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sun Giant</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sunblind</div><div style="text-align: left;">Can I Believe You</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ragged Wood</div><div style="text-align: left;">He Doesn't Know Why</div><div style="text-align: left;">Your Protector</div><div style="text-align: left;">Third of May/Odaigahara</div><div style="text-align: left;">Blue Ridge Mountains</div><div style="text-align: left;">White Winter Hymnal</div><div style="text-align: left;">Phoenix</div><div style="text-align: left;">A Long Way Past the Past</div><div style="text-align: left;">Featherweight</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mykonos</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grown Ocean</div><div style="text-align: left;">Montezuma</div><div style="text-align: left;">Helplessness Blues</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-11517038452971590172024-03-01T11:54:00.002+11:002024-03-01T11:54:35.794+11:00Wednesday @ Factory Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVD4vD7AzpYZCSy_MJNWayP40WUzRBrzZgMdNH-m_OzmsvMqEoNp4nr7RhC6ELLqdi0HkKAziz3L5Ry_j9zMjTGRU3-TootjB9ANkxNREuwjtNNBpkhmUNFlRDV01Ed8kNuFY0GcGrs0Gm-bJMvEJUXFmkSB5gi5Cf3I7h1_jBKo0hRecCKxVI/s1440/428713080_10163894349718508_3222761841955927038_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVD4vD7AzpYZCSy_MJNWayP40WUzRBrzZgMdNH-m_OzmsvMqEoNp4nr7RhC6ELLqdi0HkKAziz3L5Ry_j9zMjTGRU3-TootjB9ANkxNREuwjtNNBpkhmUNFlRDV01Ed8kNuFY0GcGrs0Gm-bJMvEJUXFmkSB5gi5Cf3I7h1_jBKo0hRecCKxVI/s320/428713080_10163894349718508_3222761841955927038_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wednesday released my favourite album of 2023. Easily. Rat Saw God was a phenomenon. Ten tracks of perfect rock, with some country thrown in. In a short space of time I have become a huge fan. So I was super excited to seem them Thursday night on their first Australian tour. For a little over an hour they played a blistering set, with eight songs from their great album of 2023, plus a few old ones thrown in. They also played two new songs which were both great. The band were really great, playing seemlessly together. The lap steel of Xandy Chelmis was a particular highlight. But most focus was on wonderful front woman Karly Hartzman, who was both charming and ferocious. Many highlights of the set but one song soared above all. 'Bath County' was just a monster live. But 'Quarry', 'Chosen to Deserve' were not far behind. The crowd were really enthusiastic and the the fervour kept building until the blockbuster closer in 'Bull Believer'. Wednesday are truly a great and hugely talented band. I can't wait to see what they do next.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Ghost of a Dog<br />Hot Rotten Grass Smell<br />Wound Up Here<br />Toothache<br />Formula One<br />Chosen to Deserve<br />Elder Berry<br />Bath County<br />Billboard<br />Turkey Vultures<br />Quarry<br />Gary's<br />Got Shocked<br />Fate Is...<br />Bull Believer </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The support act was no ordinary one, that is for sure. MJ Lenderman is an incredibly talented performer. He actually plays guitar in Wednesday, but now has his own successful solo career. His album in 'Boat Songs' was one of my favourites of 2022. He played an hour long set that was both euphoric and beautiful. His band, The Wind, also included two members of Wednesday, so naturally they were great too. HE has touches of Neil Young and Bruce Sprinsteen, with a North Carolina flavour. The set was mostly made of 'Boat Songs' tracks, but he also had time to play three new songs as well. It was especially great as well to hear so many of the crowd singing along to many of his songs. What a double bill this was. A fantastic night of music indeed. </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-51834551484628493432024-02-22T13:47:00.008+11:002024-02-22T13:48:53.954+11:00Dinosaur Jr. @ Enmore Theatre<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VPVDQW6YdARrN2NnAqC6ajWJqEFhhwXLDIggSYg2MwkQXSlnt_5rzaZz9PUa4P0Eds3d4ozWlKKcbsobniCznzDFpfWpi4V_Fuj5ZJIhZn8JrIb4Q2MHt_yzjvJBKX6Vf4En56u8ZNMSFg7eoUyop5j1woY8I2Rw6NULpOx3bh2yZmdCScHz/s1440/428671653_10163880277853508_5732330412990291824_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VPVDQW6YdARrN2NnAqC6ajWJqEFhhwXLDIggSYg2MwkQXSlnt_5rzaZz9PUa4P0Eds3d4ozWlKKcbsobniCznzDFpfWpi4V_Fuj5ZJIhZn8JrIb4Q2MHt_yzjvJBKX6Vf4En56u8ZNMSFg7eoUyop5j1woY8I2Rw6NULpOx3bh2yZmdCScHz/s320/428671653_10163880277853508_5732330412990291824_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dinosaur Jr. are true survivors in the Indie Rock world. Not just surviving but thriving. This is evidenced by the fact that they are not just going throught the motions. All of their albums have been excellent since their hiatus. But this latest Australian tour, first since 2017, was a celebration of an album released 30 years ago in 'Where You Been'. So this latest tour has been focused on that excellent album. They play the album in full before meoving onto a few classics to finish off the night. A sold out Enmore Theatre received all of the songs with enthusiam. The band are men of few words but they let their songs do all the talking. J Masic shreds like most can't and his effortless vocals float across the huge riffs and melodies. Lou Barlow plays a mean bass, full of vim and vigour, whilst drummer Murph is a strong and reliable drummer. Many great songs were played, but I especially enjoyed 'Little Fury Things' and also 'Feel the Pain'. They saved probably their most well liked songs for the encore. The incomparable 'Freak Scene' and the great Cure cover 'Just Like Heaven' finished off a great night. <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Out There<br />Start Choppin<br />What Else Is New<br />On the Way<br />Not the Same<br />Get Me<br />Drawerings<br />Hide<br />Goin' Home<br />I Ain't Sayin'<br />Garden<br />I Met the Stones<br />Been There All The Time<br />Little Fury Things<br />Feel the Pain<br />Gargoyle </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Freak Scene<br />Just Like Heaven<br /></div><p></p>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-60561512629022810792024-01-22T13:57:00.006+11:002024-01-23T15:35:41.443+11:00Best Songs of 2023<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/3GKMEwtplGM?si=VzcbTtoIvI8YLJm6" width="480"></iframe> <div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Alley Light by Squirrel Flower was my favourite song of 2023. From the first that I heard it, it sunk deep into my memory. I loved Squirrel Flower's album and there were many great songs but Alley Light was my absolute favourite. Just a great combination of vocals, guitar and melody. It felt classic and yet modern. Destined to be timeless. But there were many great songs released in 2023. And to be honest, the very best were released by women or women fronted bands. This of course includes the great Wednesday who had many great candidates for this list. Lana Del Rey released one song which was absolutely stunning, whilst Mitski had an album full of wonderful songs. Ratboys, Slow Pulp and Palehound were others to give us great music. All in all I thought it was a pretty great year.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">1. Alley Light-Squirrel Flower</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">2. Quarry-Wednesday</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">3. A&W-Lana Del Rey</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">4. Star-Mitski</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">5. Black Earth, WI-Ratboys</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">6. The Clutch-Palehound</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">7. My Blood Runs Through This Land-Black Belt Eagle Scout</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">8. Baby-Purling Hiss</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">9. Broadview-Slow Pulp</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">10. Yes! Yes! A Thousand Times Yes!-Home Is Where</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">11. Anyway I Find You-The Men</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">12. Borrow Trouble-Feist</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">13. Bath County-Wednesday</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">14. The Sling-Youth Lagoon</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">15. Floral Organs-Home Is Where </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">16. Driving Through Heaven-Cory Hanson </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">17. Ten Billion People-Explosions in the Sky</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">18. Haunted Mountain-Buck Meek</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">19. Vampire Empire-Big Thief</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">20. I'm Your Man-Mitski</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">21. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Chosen to Deserve-Wednesday</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">22. Defeat-Animal Collective</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">23. Sinker,Sinking-Will Johnson</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">24. Will Anybody Ever love Me?-Sufjan Stevens</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">25. Highway 72-Jolie Holland</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">26. U R The Reason-Current Joys</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">27. Full Time Job-Squirrel Flower</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">28. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Independence Day-Palehound</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">29. State Line to Eagleville-Labrador</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">30. Hard Livin'-The Men</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">31. Prizefighter-Youth Lagoon</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">32. Sideways Skull-The Hold Steady</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">33. Doubt-Slow Pulp</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">34. Modern Mind-Bry Webb </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">35. Smalltown Stardust-King Tuff</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">36. Meant To Be-Wilco</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">37. Fallout-Yo La Tengo</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">38. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">The Musical-Avey Tare</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">39. Between The Past-Woods</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">40. Moving On-Explosions in the Sky</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">41. Stride Rite-Animal Collective</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">42. So You Are Tired-Sufjan Stevens</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">43. Salmon Stinta-Black Belt Eagle Scout</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">44. Bug Like An Angel-Mitski</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">45. Satanist-Boygenius</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">46. Angelcover-The New Pornographers</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">47. Cigarettes-Current Joys</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">48. Sinatra Drive Breakdown-Yo La Tengo</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">49. In Lightning-Feist</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">50. Haunted Mountain-Jolie Holland</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">51. Wasteland Companions-Mutual Benefit </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">52. Morning Zoo-Ratboys</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">53. Wings-Cory Hanson</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">54. Tropic Morning News-The National</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">55. Chaos Heart-Osees</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">56. Dare Me-Beach Fossils</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">57. Bananas-Bonnie Prince Billy</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">58. Suffer Debt-Truth Club</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">59. Along The Runner (No Ordinary Crown)-Will Johnson</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">60. The Habsburg Jaw-Califone</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">61. The Store-The Lost Days</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">62. Tantor-Danny Brown</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">63. Skin Meadow-Home Is Where</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">64. Cry All Day-Spencer Krug</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">65. Alarm-Lifeguard</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">66. Freak-Feeble Little Horse</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">67. Cyclades-Buck Meek</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">68. Shit Talk-Sufjan Stevens</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">69. Gold-Sigur Ros</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">70. Life's A Joke-Islands</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">71. Evicted-Wilco</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">72. Fight Clean-Roadside Graves</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">73. Easier-Jonathan Rado</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">74. Weep-Woods</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">75. Elevators-Kevin Drew</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">76. When A Plant Is Dying-Squirrel Flower</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">77. Desert Snow-Local Natives</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">78. Wear It Like A Badge-Labrador</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">79. If The Wheels Are Coming Off, The Wheels Are Coming Off-Ulrika Spacek</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">80. God Is a Circle-Yves Tumor</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">81. Lwonesome Tonight-PJ Harvey</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">82. Bull Believer-Wednesday</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">83. Sixers-The Hold Steady</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">84. Steamroller-Feeble Little Horse</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">85. Goon-Osees</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">86. Sawgrass-Josh Ritter</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">87. Psychos-Jenny Lewis</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">88. Salad-Blondshell</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">89. Maria-Greg Mendez</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">90. Queens of Sorrow-Bonnie Prince Billy</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">91. Aselestine-Yo La Tengo</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">92. 14-Water From Your Eyes</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">93. Anti-Curse-Boygenius</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">94. Centurion-Sluice </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">95. Elohim-Tommy Prine</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">96. Summer Windows-Slaughter Beach,Dog</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">97. Carolina-The Natvral</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">98. Lowland Trail-Margo Cilker</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">99. The Stuff-Allah-Las</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">100. A Ghost-Shana Cleveland</span></div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-78852800689779434022024-01-16T15:29:00.015+11:002024-01-22T13:55:38.127+11:00Best Albums of 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-ZGJCw35gY73piF9Vbk7aKRE11Tjwy_CPJ-RMVcocfkBvf7T-_KtqfEa7juCGA80H1nIJ2FLhv8KSgzEOemUn0jzOgOwSAaMREsj35H3tjRI7NZrYeFqcSTStbIKGd3HasDamn16G6oKN5gS_Pzn8xoqSBy8AqTnrH4BZdXJkazBT3vce94/s1280/Wednesday-Rat-Saw-God.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-ZGJCw35gY73piF9Vbk7aKRE11Tjwy_CPJ-RMVcocfkBvf7T-_KtqfEa7juCGA80H1nIJ2FLhv8KSgzEOemUn0jzOgOwSAaMREsj35H3tjRI7NZrYeFqcSTStbIKGd3HasDamn16G6oKN5gS_Pzn8xoqSBy8AqTnrH4BZdXJkazBT3vce94/s320/Wednesday-Rat-Saw-God.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I find every year to be an exciting discovery in music. I try to listen to each new album released weekly, within reason. And I buy each album I really like. For mainly the reason of supporting artists I love, streaming just doesn’t give enough to artists. Anyway I found plenty to love in 2023. Some by new acts, some by veterans. But one artist stood head and shoulders above the rest. North Carolina band Wednesday made a record full of spark and beauty. It leant on rock, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">country and folk and I loved every song. They had been on my radar before but this new album really was a breakthrough. And in great news they are touring Australia next month!</span></span></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was great to see several Indie stalwarts make great albums in 2023. Mitski and Sufjan Stevens both made unbelievably beautiful music, whilst Explosions in the Sky, Wilco, Yo La Tengo and Animal Collective proved that being veterans is no barrier to making great music. Lots of young artists made great music too. Even if they weren’t new I felt their new albums were their best yet, such as Squirrel Flower, Slow Pulp, Palehound and Ratboys. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>1. Rat Saw God-Wednesday <br /></span><span>2. The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We-Mitski<br /></span><span>3. Javelin-Sufjan Stevens<br /></span><span>4. Tomorrow’s Fire-Squirrel Flower <br /></span><span>5. The Land,The Water,The Sky-Black Belt Eagle Scout<br /></span><span>6. End-Explosions in the Sky<br /></span><span>7. This Stupid World-Yo La Tengo<br /></span><span>8. Heaven Is a Junkyard-Youth Lagoon <br /></span><span>9. Isn’t It Now?-Animal Collective<br /></span><span>10. Yard-Slow Pulp<br /></span><span>11. No Ordinary Crown-Will Johnson <br /></span><span>12. Cousin-Wilco<br /></span><span>13. Perennial-Woods<br /></span><span>14. The Whaler-Home is Where<br /></span><span>15. The Price of Progress-The Hold Steady<br /></span><span>16. Villagers-Califone<br /></span><span>17. New York City-The Men<br /></span><span>18. Western Cum-Cory Hanson <br /></span><span>19. Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You-Bonnie Prince Billy<br /></span><span>20. Hold the Door for Strangers-Labrador <br /></span><span>21. 7s-Avey Tare<br /></span><span>22. Haunted Mountain-Buck Meek<br /></span><span>23. The Window-Ratboys<br /></span><span>24. The Record-Boygenius <br /></span><span>25. Multitudes-Feist<br /></span><span>26. Eye on the Bat-Palehound<br /></span><span>27. Haunted Mountain-Jolie Holland<br /></span><span>28. Aging-Kevin Drew<br /></span><span>29. Drag on Girard-Purling Hiss<br /></span><span>30. First Two Pages of Frankenstein-The National <br /></span><span>31. Girl With Fish-Feeble Little Horse<br /></span><span>32. Growing at the Edges-Mutual Benefit <br /></span><span>33. Bunny-Beach Fossils<br /></span><span>34. Quaranta-Danny Brown <br /></span><span>35. I Just Drew This Knife-Spencer Krug<br /></span><span>36. I Won’t Cry Alone-Roadside Graves <br /></span><span>37. For Who the Bell Tolls For-Jonathan Rado <br /></span><span>38. Love + Pop-Current Joys<br /></span><span>39. Time Will Wait For No One-Local Natives<br /></span><span>40. Less-Deathcrash<br /></span>41. Running From the Chase-Truth Club<br />42. In the Store-The Lost Days<br />43. Spectral Lines-Josh Ritter<br />44. The Rise & The Fall-The Rural Alberta Advantage<br />45. Run With Me-Bry Webb<br />46. I Inside the Old Year Dying-PJ Harvey<br />47. Valley of Heart's Delight-Margo Cilker<br />48. Continue As a Guest-The New Pornographers<br />49. Intercepted Message-Osees<br />50. Atta-Sigur Ros </span></div></div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-80270011665820984412024-01-12T16:05:00.003+11:002024-01-13T16:06:38.524+11:00Favourite Films of 2023 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bXdvhnb-hA2zJKNGtHTGu2RaEo3z08ZqEUpKQAT7W6QTIkJegUqs0aBAVvWKzVfefYK0SsiDO1eJraP2XiTTR96XUc043WGgofztF8WXKTEHIpSsOGGTAMGvQZib-6JlIiEO8UibbVD_vC9eBs6mVXh5bxLEEjIiFkx6TUau7udv0OxPwiMe/s1200/s-l1200.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bXdvhnb-hA2zJKNGtHTGu2RaEo3z08ZqEUpKQAT7W6QTIkJegUqs0aBAVvWKzVfefYK0SsiDO1eJraP2XiTTR96XUc043WGgofztF8WXKTEHIpSsOGGTAMGvQZib-6JlIiEO8UibbVD_vC9eBs6mVXh5bxLEEjIiFkx6TUau7udv0OxPwiMe/s320/s-l1200.webp" width="213" /></a></div><p>Two films dominated 2023 and they opened on the same day. Barbie and Oppenheimer were true phenomenons when they hit cinemas in July. Both were incredible successes and they seem to feed off each other even though they really had nothing in common. I loved Barbie and it was a lot of fun. But from the moment I saw Opppenheimer I knew it would be my favourite film of the year. An immaculate three hour journey helmed by the master in Christopher Nolan. Just a near perfect film. It also looks set to dominate the upcoming Academy Awards. I think it deserves to get as many awards as possible. 2023 was also a year for great masters. Scorsese gave us the great Killers of the Flower Moon, whilst David Fincher gave us the very enjoyable The Killer. We also received new films from Ridley Scott, Michael Mann and Wes Anderson.</p><p>The year began with Everything Everywhere All At Once dominating the Oscars. I really enjoyed this film but thought there were better. Such as the incredible Babylon, which didn't do well with critics but I absolutely loved. Tar and Women Talking were other films I loved that I saw early in 2023. Still can't figure out how Cate Blanchett didn't win for Tar, a real mystery. Some exciting films coming up soon too at the cinema such as The Holdovers, The Iron Claw, All of Us Strangers, Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest amonst others. I think they should all be in the Oscar race, but as said Oppenheimer is set to dominate. </p><div style="text-align: left;">1. Oppenheimer<br />2. Babylon<br />3. Tar<br />4. Killers of the Flower Moon<br />5. Women Talking <br />6. Close<br />7. Aftersun<br />8. Past Lives<br />9. Poor Things<br />10. Asteroid City</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-55345008420933614252024-01-09T11:45:00.004+11:002024-01-09T11:45:51.478+11:00Best Live Shows of 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGsp-p2GbadLFHcm1Ev-YjRrxZbb9Fnikv7MCWcS5U5JyWW-88Egz8IlGen3jGh9Qv9jZwdiJG2pWNt8nnOebTo4Hx7ECBfzHsyXI-Ms2jKZQaCsFZ2M09asY8ziI6yH2pwTQg8M95bN6q87yQaielz8qC14cf6LUrVemn8sLcQTm7y2VVhyphenhyphens/s320/328110718_247686797596211_3827413596030332454_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGsp-p2GbadLFHcm1Ev-YjRrxZbb9Fnikv7MCWcS5U5JyWW-88Egz8IlGen3jGh9Qv9jZwdiJG2pWNt8nnOebTo4Hx7ECBfzHsyXI-Ms2jKZQaCsFZ2M09asY8ziI6yH2pwTQg8M95bN6q87yQaielz8qC14cf6LUrVemn8sLcQTm7y2VVhyphenhyphens/s1600/328110718_247686797596211_3827413596030332454_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>If 2022 was a return to normal in the live music scene, post pandemic, than 2023 was a welcome extension of that. Live music was in full overdrive, with plenty of shows to experience through out the year. In 2022 I ventured to Los Angeles to see the iconic Pavement, little realising that they would actually tour Australia in early 2023. I managed to see them twice, at a small theatre in Thirroul and also at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. Both shows were great but it was the Enmore show that would be my favourite show of 2023. The joy and energy in that room was something I will never forget. The year began brilliantly too with my hero Ty Segall finally returning to our shores after seven long years. I actually flew to Melbourne to see him, as well as going to his Sydney show. Both were great. Lots of other wonderful live music in 2023 too. It was a pleasure to see the icon Paul McCartney late in the year, as well as the incredible double act of The War On Drugs and Spoon at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. That was my last show of 2023 and it was definitely a great way to send the year. </p><div style="text-align: left;">1. Pavement @ Enmore Theatre<br />2. Ty Segall @ Metro Theatre<br />3. Pavement @ Anita's Theatre<br />4. Paul McCartney @ Allianz Stadium<br />5. The War on Drugs & Spoon @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt<br />6. Built to Spill @ Manning Bar<br />7. Ty Segall @ Forum, Melbourne<br />8. Osees @ Metro Theatre<br />9. Interpol @ Hordern Pavilion<br />10. Mount Eerie & Black Belt Eagle Scout @ Volume Festival </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-84460058149120393972023-12-05T11:22:00.006+11:002023-12-05T11:22:44.927+11:00The War On Drugs & Spoon @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTbzpWjNgNzHo0meFGEArjwJHSVPZqKqWN5nUkfUM9qg3ONtPpPr2IUra266qyyrd9yCgnwJLW14EwHArfDApO3ABhCrvJLa8qorHquez8MQmWNHcC1AVgd7YeAN7kY5wkipv_04c8m_2m5Q_pvNHBuWveOQZS6UvutZV-Ef1eenLWXYCTDIH/s1440/408058844_10163743704753508_1939334441096319000_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTbzpWjNgNzHo0meFGEArjwJHSVPZqKqWN5nUkfUM9qg3ONtPpPr2IUra266qyyrd9yCgnwJLW14EwHArfDApO3ABhCrvJLa8qorHquez8MQmWNHcC1AVgd7YeAN7kY5wkipv_04c8m_2m5Q_pvNHBuWveOQZS6UvutZV-Ef1eenLWXYCTDIH/s320/408058844_10163743704753508_1939334441096319000_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Monday night in front of the Sydney Opera House was just a spectacular night of music. In front of an iconic building, two incredible American bands gave us close to three hours of truly superlative music. The War on Drugs were the headliner but when Spoon is your support I guess it's close to being a co headliner given the stature of both bands. It was the first time since 2018 that The War on Drugs have been to Australia and it was a great reminder that they are truly one of the finest bands on the planet. For a band that has no discernible singles and a lot of jammy songs that extend to eight minutes, they have truly connected somehow. Their sound is hard to pin down but it's really magical. They are extraordinary musicians and the guitar riffs and tones just overwhelm and envelop you. From the opening strains of 'An Ocean in Between the Waves' they had an enthusiastic crowd spellbound. Song after song of pure magic. 'Red Eyes' and 'Under the Pressure' were probably the highlights of an extraordinary set.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />An Ocean in Between the Waves<br />Pain<br />Arms Like Boulders<br />I Don't Wanna Wait<br />Strangest Thing<br />Harmonia's Dream<br />Old Skin<br />Red Eyes<br />Slow Ghost<br />Under the Pressure<br />I Don't Live Here Anymore<br />Occasional Rain</div><p>Then Spoon were the support. Pretty great to have perhaps the finest band of the last 20 years or so as a support. Spoon can do no wrong in my eyes and even though it was a truncated 50 minute set I loved every minute. For Spoon this was their first visit to Australia since 2017. They played a solid set list that covered a good spread of their stellar career. Britt Daniel is just the ultimate frontman and he and the band seemed to having a great time. 'I Summon You' and an incredible John Lennon cover were perhaps the highlights of a wonderful set. </p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Wild<br />My Mathematical Mind<br />The Way We Get By<br />Don't You Evah<br />The Underdog<br />I Summon You<br />Got Nuffin'<br />Isolation (John Lennon cover)<br />The Hardest Cut<br />Inside Out<br />I Turn My Camera On<br />Rent I Pay</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-46202733036325440732023-11-19T20:33:00.001+11:002023-11-19T20:33:17.375+11:00Interpol @ Hordern Pavilion <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOhbV8vnV7YoR7QAwdMu3Lv-afo066J46dpsUN5HBLePHYddfQEkmfy70FqvQXr5BZmkDBXcZJUdyOu_Ccc4QZCZHEBer0CrFdtxCpN9Hd8yqzsh0g1tukXulxdX1m9s326LfJglv1iPR9FdfykPfmFov11GL3r_eUefGbHkVn6oFaqB0jy2Y/s4032/IMG_0385.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOhbV8vnV7YoR7QAwdMu3Lv-afo066J46dpsUN5HBLePHYddfQEkmfy70FqvQXr5BZmkDBXcZJUdyOu_Ccc4QZCZHEBer0CrFdtxCpN9Hd8yqzsh0g1tukXulxdX1m9s326LfJglv1iPR9FdfykPfmFov11GL3r_eUefGbHkVn6oFaqB0jy2Y/s320/IMG_0385.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Over the years I’ve been very lucky to see Interpol a few times. They are a reliably great live band. No real surprises in their shows or even spontaneity. But an effortless style and grace. A swirl of guitars and pounding rhythms. This show was actually a double bill with their contemporaries in Bloc Party. Bloc Party opened and even though I’ve dropped off their music over the years their set was quite good. <p></p><p>But it was Interpol I was really excited to see. From the opening bars of ‘Untitled’ they had a sold out crowd in raptures. It was a really well paced set with a good selection across their now extensive catalogue. Lots of old and new. ‘Toni’ was one new song I was excited to hear and it was great. But it was classics like ‘Evil’ and ‘Obstacle 1’ that received the biggest response. The band were in fine form. Lead man Paul Banks is just irrepressible cool and the rhythm section was just a pounding joy. A great night from a band that always delivers.</p><p></p><div>Set List<br />Untitled<br />C’Mere<br />The Rover<br />My Desire <br />Take You On a Cruise<br />Into the Night<br />Roland<br />Pioneer to the Falls<br />Obstacle 1<br />All the Rage Back Home<br />Rest My Chemistry<br />Toni<br />Evil<br />NYC<br />PDA<br />Slow Hands</div><p></p>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-192975669443666152023-10-29T22:29:00.002+11:002023-10-30T09:30:30.380+11:00Paul McCartney @ Allianz Stadium <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoui-KRpkAy6Irw257NSJt3wqsLsdyEf4Ms9uyGJVax3SwsUwJwcrenl57UESLweb8Kvuby51LTPIFde8qSTCG9B-gSq4kX1Kh-n7XQBvZc-TMQmPx4N-N27-p4pk49WhQ_Ly5Z3BqZv-JMCoBuH_Ol3gIHkFIHVSjd27fkT88lBBimMuN3J1S/s4032/IMG_0240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoui-KRpkAy6Irw257NSJt3wqsLsdyEf4Ms9uyGJVax3SwsUwJwcrenl57UESLweb8Kvuby51LTPIFde8qSTCG9B-gSq4kX1Kh-n7XQBvZc-TMQmPx4N-N27-p4pk49WhQ_Ly5Z3BqZv-JMCoBuH_Ol3gIHkFIHVSjd27fkT88lBBimMuN3J1S/s320/IMG_0240.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Paul McCartney is an icon. A legend. A true music giant. No need to explain his contribution to music. My mum used to tell me that I was born in 1964 when The Beatles toured Australia. So I was ‘around’ when the legendary band conquered the world but obviously I was too young to appreciate them. But when I got older I became intoxicated by their genius. Their story was full of mysticism and wonder. After watching the Get Back series my wife and I pledged that we would see McCartney if he ever toured Australia again. We rarely do stadium shows but we decided to make an exception for him. And boy was it worth it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday night was the first of two sold out shows at Allianz Stadium. We had reasonable seats on the floor and even Paul was hard to see we could spot him on the big screen. And we could hear him. Man could we hear him. For close to three hours he tore through Beatles, Wings and solo songs. It was a glorious time. Countless highlights. Too many to mention. But some were the amazing ‘Let Me Roll It’, the iconic ‘Let It Be’, the serene ‘Blackbird’ and of course the crowd singalong’Hey Jude’. ‘Something’ was begun on ukulele with beautiful photos of George Harrison. ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ was mesmerising and ‘Band on the Run’ was euphoric. The encore was perfection, with a virtual duet with John Lennon and the emotional trio of Abbey Road sings to finish an ecstatic night. Paul is now 81, but his voice is still intact and his energy is boundless. An absolute true privilege to witness this magical evening. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List</div><div style="text-align: left;">Can’t Buy Me Love</div><div style="text-align: left;">Junior’s Farm</div><div style="text-align: left;">Letting Go</div><div style="text-align: left;">She’s a Woman</div><div style="text-align: left;">Got to Get You Into My Life</div><div style="text-align: left;">Come Onto Me</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let Me Roll It</div><div style="text-align: left;">Getting Better</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let ‘Em In</div><div style="text-align: left;">My Valentine </div><div style="text-align: left;">Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe I’m Amazed</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’ve Just Seen a Face</div><div style="text-align: left;">In Spite Of All the Danger</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love Me Do</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dance Tonight</div><div style="text-align: left;">Blackbird</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here Today</div><div style="text-align: left;">New</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lady Madonna</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fuh You</div><div style="text-align: left;">You Never Give Me Your Money</div><div style="text-align: left;">She Came In Through the Bathroom Window</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jet</div><div style="text-align: left;">Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Something</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da</div><div style="text-align: left;">Band on the Run</div><div style="text-align: left;">Get Back</div><div style="text-align: left;">Let It Be</div><div style="text-align: left;">Live and Let Die</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hey Jude</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I’ve Got a Feeling</div><div style="text-align: left;">Birthday </div><div style="text-align: left;">Sgt. Peppers’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Helter Skelter</div><div style="text-align: left;">Golden Slumbers</div><div style="text-align: left;">Carry That Weight</div><div style="text-align: left;">The End</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-19155345850406318042023-10-22T12:11:00.001+11:002023-10-22T12:11:25.212+11:00Built To Spill @ Manning Bar<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD1o8KPGziW0YgVpvW2wzQSP_iMbuY79-_efxiwQEsjS-3AEPtGCyinRxvlbYZs3g43HHU3Xw5DpakICjVv5X1DyK5n5zSVBacNgNiHUCQq2HF8nW-KZ6oMOmsKkkNEfY1iQCn2c4ilR_478hmEr4NYSal38fx65DvOunz6jTi6LNbU6VDLru/s4032/IMG_0213.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD1o8KPGziW0YgVpvW2wzQSP_iMbuY79-_efxiwQEsjS-3AEPtGCyinRxvlbYZs3g43HHU3Xw5DpakICjVv5X1DyK5n5zSVBacNgNiHUCQq2HF8nW-KZ6oMOmsKkkNEfY1iQCn2c4ilR_478hmEr4NYSal38fx65DvOunz6jTi6LNbU6VDLru/s320/IMG_0213.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Built to Spill run deep into my heart. Since the 90s I have loved their melodic guitar wizardry. I would be very happy to say they are close to my favourite band of all time. I have been very fortunate to see them live a few times over the years too. Both here in Sydney and in the US. But Friday night at the Manning Bar was their first Australian show in seven years. I am happy to report that they are still as great as ever. Just a sensational night of thrilling guitar heroics. For a veteran band they are still making wonderful music too and their album of last year, 'When the Wind Forgets Your Name' was one of my favourites of 2022. Surprisingly perhaps they only played one song from that record. But not complaining too much as they opted to give a good taste from across their illustrious career. So each song they played was invariably a highlight. But the absolute standouts were the beautiful 'Reasons', the incendiary 'I Would Hurt a Fly' and the epic 'Stop the Show'. But the biggest thrill of the night was closing the main set with the perfection of 'Carry the Zero'. Just sublime. The band are now a trio too. Of course Doug Martsch is still the centrepiece. The unassuming frontman with no artifice just plies his trusty Stratocaster with perfect skill. The band is now rounded out by bass player Melanie Radford and drummer Teresa Esguerra. They were both fantastic, backing Doug to from a tight and very clean sound. Melanie even took lead vocals on a great Heartless Bastards cover. I'm here to tell you Built to Spill are still perfection personified. Fact.<br /><p style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Goin' Against Your Mind<br />Center of the Universe<br />Strange<br />Hindsight<br />I Would Hurt a Fly<br />Gonna Lose<br />So <br />Reasons<br />Virginia Reel Around The Fountain<br />Liar<br />The Mountain (Heartless Bastards cover)<br />Stop the Show<br />Else<br />Big Dipper<br />Carry the Zero<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Conventional Wisdom</p><p></p>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-39212876756606245242023-10-15T14:04:00.002+11:002023-10-15T14:05:15.564+11:00Camp Cope @ Sydney Opera House<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyzS391Ib3DJVIRsjWMVBp8mF2-Srdy6QSMbQ_Me6aLg6f0zy-iL8gGp_mkZJy5EaKob91O0UVl36wL8Zp-TxUecjN3xJC4oIyRNCgAxgSXRE9chPU_1Lvchsv_lFVe163coV793B5f5JSiskYoyqSkkrKMCCbnqtki06YjwdPo-yoQqt-VYH/s4032/IMG_0190.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyzS391Ib3DJVIRsjWMVBp8mF2-Srdy6QSMbQ_Me6aLg6f0zy-iL8gGp_mkZJy5EaKob91O0UVl36wL8Zp-TxUecjN3xJC4oIyRNCgAxgSXRE9chPU_1Lvchsv_lFVe163coV793B5f5JSiskYoyqSkkrKMCCbnqtki06YjwdPo-yoQqt-VYH/s320/IMG_0190.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Friday night at the Sydney Opera House was a bittersweet night. For it was the final and farewell show for one of Australia’s finest bands of the last decade. Camp Cope, after three albums, decided to call it a day. They ended with a show full of joy but also tears. A fierce band that did it in its own way without regrets or compromise. Passionate, personal and political to the end. It was a set full of career highlights and favourites. And special guests too with Julia Jacklin joining them on two songs. But ultimately it was three strong women. Georgia, Kelly and Thommo. They copped unwanted criticism but never wavered and remained strong to the end. Fittingly they closed with their signature song in ‘The Opener’ which was elongated into a ten minute version which ended a night and a career in the best way possible.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Done<br />Blue<br />Stove Lighter<br />Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams<br />The Mountain <br />The Screaming Planet<br />Caroline<br />Lost (Season One)<br />Anna<br />How to Socialise & Make Friends <br />Keep Growing<br />Jealous <br />Sing Your Heart Out<br />Running With the Hurricane <br />The Opener</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-19327960253262041872023-10-08T12:11:00.003+11:002023-10-09T09:45:54.068+11:00Volume Festival @ Art Gallery of NSW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW8ZWfR6cEWMgAGPs5RTRXt8SF42Tkv4HzhyphenhyphenSTExb55HldiEyTWFyxgEymLl0hcSA3ihr47PNg69At_vab7iJMVP3d2FfditU7us-k9V-DuZGm82Dwq4ix31E8tlM65XwCHLEdNtK3UO8bX0ImrsPQ0LTfudJtynSZ9UbEcDv42lUbD2qZgsK/s4032/IMG_0167.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW8ZWfR6cEWMgAGPs5RTRXt8SF42Tkv4HzhyphenhyphenSTExb55HldiEyTWFyxgEymLl0hcSA3ihr47PNg69At_vab7iJMVP3d2FfditU7us-k9V-DuZGm82Dwq4ix31E8tlM65XwCHLEdNtK3UO8bX0ImrsPQ0LTfudJtynSZ9UbEcDv42lUbD2qZgsK/s320/IMG_0167.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The Art Gallery of NSW gave us a brand new exciting festival this year, namely the Volume Festival. It was an eclectic lineup covering many different genres. Even better it was to be held in the brand new North Building. So last Thursday night we ventured along, excited to see two acts. One new and one old. The new one was Black Belt Eagle Scout, which is essentially a one woman show. That being Katherine Paul. She played an hour long set of atmospheric and melodic rock, pulling material from her three excellent albums. She is both an excellent guitarist and songwriter. I really loved her set. <p></p><p>The older act was none other than Mount Eerie, the genius that is Phil Elverum. He actually played two sets. The first was downstairs in The Tank. It was an unusual set where he mainly conducted an hour long drone set that was experimental and brave. And was probably not enjoyable in the true sense of the word but probably suited the setting. He then played a more traditional set in the Atrium, with Paul joining him on stage. It was duelling electric guitars with two extremely talented artists giving us a magical hour of music. I really loved this festival. I hope they can do it all again next year. </p>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-27252174370269586132023-10-04T15:46:00.002+11:002023-10-04T15:46:33.677+11:00Kevin Morby @ Factory Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEgWmLGfJVJyHEnlQ6z8_8UYR29C-PFT1PCbZMelzdbnoZpnrXBX9sQPQ1nTIS-hAN2_uSWPhOXhk85TXSdQh97XiP0UkzunnlAe6TSSz-Vhyphenhyphenn7gX3ERAOEQgX3SKnpra2_WdnPh39jsiEV7gT9eiU24o5jzwqaPE_o1AqZ7yEY_81v1d7RsU/s4032/IMG_0136.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEgWmLGfJVJyHEnlQ6z8_8UYR29C-PFT1PCbZMelzdbnoZpnrXBX9sQPQ1nTIS-hAN2_uSWPhOXhk85TXSdQh97XiP0UkzunnlAe6TSSz-Vhyphenhyphenn7gX3ERAOEQgX3SKnpra2_WdnPh39jsiEV7gT9eiU24o5jzwqaPE_o1AqZ7yEY_81v1d7RsU/s320/IMG_0136.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>What an absolute pleasure it was to welcome back the great Kevin Morby to Australia last Saturday night at The Factory. I've been fortunate enough to see Kevin a few times over the years and his first Australian show in about four years was an absolute delight. In the last year or so he has released two 'Photograph' albums so it was a given he would lean heavily on that material. And they were superb to hear live. But there was plenty of room to hear a good cross section of his career, with Kevin dipping into various albums over the night. I think though the thunderous 'Wander' might just have been the highlight. Not farr behind was the ever great 'City Music' and the the epic 'Piss River'. My favourite song of his is 'Dorothy', so I was delighted to hear that song again. 'Beautiful Strangers' was indeed beautiful to hear in the encore, with a enthusiastic crowd singing along. Kevin seemed in great form. It was a very lively performance and he seemed to be enjoying every minute. And yes Kevin, so were we. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />This Is a Photograph <br />A Random Act of Kindness <br />Bittersweet, TN<br />Rock Bottom <br />Five Easy Pieces<br />Campfire<br />Wander<br />Destroyer <br />Piss River<br />City Music<br />I Have Been to the Mountain<br />Dorothy<br />A Coat of Butterflies <br />This is a Photograph II<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Crybaby (snippet after fan request)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Beautiful Strangers<br />Harlem River</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-39648518163792565282023-06-01T16:01:00.001+10:002023-06-01T16:01:02.482+10:00Cat Power Sings Dylan @ Sydney Opera House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbikqNjR72Mqhh7dC7LN0F-yR7WhIz05D26aErNoteahrS6WYaz-HmYkAdHwQpYTp9sZ8VXZ8p-fPY7Q1DNMCV6a7eWML0GEzZCGf96XA5n8MV3D2_04sJcM6wB5OqTSiMR0Y5Tp4F-WoX8ZkCeEQilKZ-CZsHr2tIlZFPZvK8E0-ziEM2PQ/s1440/350665259_290592163402483_6865053955143411492_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbikqNjR72Mqhh7dC7LN0F-yR7WhIz05D26aErNoteahrS6WYaz-HmYkAdHwQpYTp9sZ8VXZ8p-fPY7Q1DNMCV6a7eWML0GEzZCGf96XA5n8MV3D2_04sJcM6wB5OqTSiMR0Y5Tp4F-WoX8ZkCeEQilKZ-CZsHr2tIlZFPZvK8E0-ziEM2PQ/s320/350665259_290592163402483_6865053955143411492_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>To state the obvious Bob Dylan is an icon of music. A solid argument could be made that he is the greatest songwriter in modern music history. When he hit in the 60s he hit like few others. Starting as the young hope of folk music he morphed into a giant of rock music. In 1966 he toured the UK and controversially, to some, his gigs would start with acoustic songs before he brought his band onstage for a supercharged electric show. For some traditional fans they felt he was betraying them. 'Judas' was even yelled at him once on stage for going 'electric'. One show became iconic, a performance at London's Royal Albert Hall. He did perform there but ironically the famous bootleg was actually recorded in Manchester. Either way it became a legendary show. So in 2022 the great Cat Power performed the show in full at the Royal Albert Hall. Then she was invited to Vivid to do the same. So it transpired, that Wednesday night at the Sydney Opera House we witnessed said event and it was truly special.</p><p>Cat Power has been an Indie great for many years. Chan Marshall's voice is as good as it gets. So what a pleasure it was to hear her cover Dylan. She stayed true to his music. Of course her voice is different so still adds another layer, but the renditions were faithful. Seven acoustic songs opened with Chan aided by an acoustic guitar player. 'Visions of Johanna' is one of my favourite Dylan songs so that was a definite highlight. As good as the acoustic songs were I think I loved the electric section even more. Eight wonderful songs with a great full band. The songs swooned and ached with glory. I just love that classic 60s sound, especially the organ sound. Closing with 'Like a Rolling Stone's capped a great night indeed. </p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />She Belongs To Me<br />4th Time Around<br />Visions of Johanna<br />It's All Over Now, Baby Blue<br />Desolation Row<br />Just Like a Woman<br />Mr Tambourine Man<br />Tell Me, Momma<br />I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Have Never Met)<br />Baby, Let Me Follow You Down<br />Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues<br />Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat<br />One Too Many Mornings<br />Ballad of a Thin Man<br />Like a Rolling Stone </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-68914647316183970542023-05-01T15:40:00.003+10:002023-05-01T15:40:33.227+10:00Daydream Festival @ Hordern Pavilion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT1y3462Z4wqs-CwKI2Kjgxxg139pr7wOAZasTJKT-aGMu0CiTiEI0PQCE8CvcqmpphfzKKfm-apE0TDPIevfGZyV8PZPY7iF_ELocSfaZo7mgdVuMWwU-HRFqwLJxq3j9bn7Qw78ZEZ3u-23qyioEkYMhi3Q6thI5j0wWBcT3qjGp90H9w/s1440/343938968_797660221732683_7340589993257609871_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT1y3462Z4wqs-CwKI2Kjgxxg139pr7wOAZasTJKT-aGMu0CiTiEI0PQCE8CvcqmpphfzKKfm-apE0TDPIevfGZyV8PZPY7iF_ELocSfaZo7mgdVuMWwU-HRFqwLJxq3j9bn7Qw78ZEZ3u-23qyioEkYMhi3Q6thI5j0wWBcT3qjGp90H9w/s320/343938968_797660221732683_7340589993257609871_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>2023 saw the birth of the Daydream Festival. Classic Indie Rock travelling around Australia. Modest Mouse was the headliner and that was enough to get me along. Sadly for many fans Slowdive were a late withdrawal, although not for me. So I ventured to the Hordern Pavilion on Saturday night to check it out and I came away very pleased. Cloud Nothings were the first band I saw and the Ohio band as usual absolutely shredded. Just huge power and phenomenal drumming. Closing with an epic 'Wasted Days' was near perfection. Next up was New York band Beach Fossils and I was very impressed. First time I have seen them and was pleasantly suprised by the power they generated for a band known for their melodic stylings. They have a new album coming in June, so definitely keen to hear it now. I took a break during Tropical Fuck Storm as I am definitely not a fan of that band.</p><p>Then Modest Mouse closed proceedings and I was super excited as they are one of my all time favourite bands. I have seen them before but it's a been a while. They started spectacularly with the opening two songs from their classic debut album. Of course being a veteran band they have a large catalogue, which also means that their later albums are a bit inconsistent in quality. So even though it's expected they would play latter day songs I though the set list was a little lacking with not many classic songs played at all. It was all still pretty enjoyable though and the band sounded great, but I was just hoping for a bit more variety. 'Tiny Cities Made of Ashes' was great to hear though and the encore gave us two from their all time classic album in 'The Lonesone Crowded West', with closing song 'Teeth Like God's Shoeshine' a total highlight. A great way to end a very enjoyable night.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Modest Mouse Set List<br />Dramamine<br />Breakthrough<br />We Are Between<br />We're Lucky<br />Satellite Skin<br />Invisible<br />Ice Cream Party<br />Gravity Rides Everything<br />Dashboard<br />King Rat<br />Fuck Your Acid Trip<br />Tiny Cities Made of Ashes<br />Lace Your Shoes<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's To Now<br />Float On<br />Doin' the Cockroach<br />Wooden Soldiers<br />Teeth Like God's Shoeshine </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-59526114804593532652023-04-02T10:57:00.002+10:002023-04-02T11:16:03.725+10:00Kurt Vile @ Sydney Opera House<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp9KtPS8w7l6efVfAhA9iaMVwYp7D3E6GoGx6fs5VWvcJ1Tt3PR0dNv2Etaz1U-cIAtbDDLVzVoKZkKrAz0WjweEm5t664hgAElCtqI5bsu4VGEIkCtBq4J4vXEAjOSRNL9uXiY_dqkJHcR1r8M0vdpXKC-RxYmTI1iaBurlYffuLbr0iOA/s1440/338882071_213505221318266_4696977104634110811_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp9KtPS8w7l6efVfAhA9iaMVwYp7D3E6GoGx6fs5VWvcJ1Tt3PR0dNv2Etaz1U-cIAtbDDLVzVoKZkKrAz0WjweEm5t664hgAElCtqI5bsu4VGEIkCtBq4J4vXEAjOSRNL9uXiY_dqkJHcR1r8M0vdpXKC-RxYmTI1iaBurlYffuLbr0iOA/s320/338882071_213505221318266_4696977104634110811_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></blockquote></div>Kurt Vile has been a welcome visitor to Australia for seemingly many years now and Friday night was another opportunity to see the great Philadelphia guitarist in action. He was playing the Sydney Opera House for the second time with his band of Violators and I can tell you it was a pretty great show. He is a supreme guitarist and this was in evidence yet again. As you might expect he played a great deal from his wonderful 2022 album in (watch my moves) and they all sounded pretty great. But he also gave us a few older tunes such as a simply epic 'Wakin on a Pretty Day' and the greatness of 'Pretty Pimpin'. His band of three are really great musicians but it was nice to hear Kurt play a couple of tunes solo such as 'Runner Ups' and a great John Prine cover. Kurt doesn't say much. A couple of brief 'Heys' and that's about it. But he has a very goofy charm that is quite endearing. It was also a great surprise and highlight to see him close with a Silver Jews cover in the encore. A great end to a wonderful night.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Palace of OK in Reverse<br />Loading Zones<br />Bassackwards<br />Hey Like a Child<br />Check Baby<br />Runner Ups (solo)<br />How Lucky (solo) (John Prine cover)<br />Flyin (Like a Fast Train)<br />Say the Word<br />Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone)<br />Wakin on a Pretty Day<br />Pretty Pimpin<br />Hunchback<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like Exploding Stones<br />Cool Water<br />Punks in the Beerlight (Silver Jews cover)</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-54700481639210551562023-03-29T11:02:00.001+11:002023-03-29T11:02:32.826+11:00Black Midi @ Metro Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOYMfNqLaE9Fe79EncvUb3xXud1-TSHX7FeBc1MuWm9sQmqhM_pqIus9JosGsKwe6dch5HnfCCc0p6-iAVUAsn_AMQb8ysGsAWHG_Jb0icGkkYij8Amu60fCy4b7dd-kaykCKp2_IWQuVOdq_lbk8q_7eocL5yF49QcGGNiSgS_E7Q5yUQ/s1440/338421568_918799402646909_8929732315755032794_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOYMfNqLaE9Fe79EncvUb3xXud1-TSHX7FeBc1MuWm9sQmqhM_pqIus9JosGsKwe6dch5HnfCCc0p6-iAVUAsn_AMQb8ysGsAWHG_Jb0icGkkYij8Amu60fCy4b7dd-kaykCKp2_IWQuVOdq_lbk8q_7eocL5yF49QcGGNiSgS_E7Q5yUQ/s320/338421568_918799402646909_8929732315755032794_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 2019 Black Midi hit the music scene like a meteorite. The young London band was fresh and inventive and really sounded like no other. Their music was a mesh of rock, prog, jazz, math rock and much more. Their debut album 'Schlagenheim' received immense acclaim. You could see why. I'll admit though I liked it but didn't love it. Although some songs on it were quite incredible. In the following two years they have gifted us two more inventive albums in 'Cavalcade' and 'Hellfire'. Similarly I was intrigued but not fully won over. But when they announced their debut Australian tour I felt compelled to go. I htought they could actaully be very exciting live. And so it proved on a Tuesday night at the Metro Theatre, their first ever Australian show. They started by playing 'Down Under' in the room and the show never let up. 'Speedway' started the show with a rocket and we were off and running. It was truly an awesome night. Loud and thunderous, intricate and mysterious. The band don't say much but they let their music do the talking. Geordie Greep on most lead vocals is passive and eccentric. Cameron Picton takes lead vocals as well and is good at screaming. Seth Evans fills in the cracks on bass and keyboards, whilst Morgan Simpson is just ferocious on drums. I loved it all, a couple of covers, a good range from all three albums. 'John L' was magical. 'Near DT, MI was incredible and closing with '953' was a perfect way to end. I also loved the epic 'Magician', an unreleased song that I'm excited to hear on their next album. A great night all round from a hugely talented band. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Speedway<br />Chondromalacia Patella<br />Riff Raff (AC/DC cover)<br />Talking Heads<br />Lumps<br />Sugar/Tzu<br />Still<br />Eat Men Eat<br />Dethroned<br />Hogwash and Balderdash<br />Can't Stop (Red Hot Chili Peppers cover)<br />Welcome to Hell<br />John L<br />Slow<br />Near DT, MI<br />Magician <br />953 </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-17833440600231422942023-03-27T15:07:00.006+11:002023-03-27T15:08:56.796+11:00The Smith Street Band @ Metro Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY9FdK6MDgJMou0_XwBLVH6ykDB4C9rG6jyjuRkokSnloxU5KDarLw4Z1wb8wee0OQGYZl6exL0KEURcUFpI3SNw5AcCs0EjGsMXYDnWrOszuDT01gxST-3XlfBRHIxvFsP9bNqlu7vreruYn9edk3ss76qczFZh2pSag7-5w0KNv7kWkOw/s1440/337869230_5900889713291884_3379686868145210031_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY9FdK6MDgJMou0_XwBLVH6ykDB4C9rG6jyjuRkokSnloxU5KDarLw4Z1wb8wee0OQGYZl6exL0KEURcUFpI3SNw5AcCs0EjGsMXYDnWrOszuDT01gxST-3XlfBRHIxvFsP9bNqlu7vreruYn9edk3ss76qczFZh2pSag7-5w0KNv7kWkOw/s320/337869230_5900889713291884_3379686868145210031_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I don't know if there is a finer band in Australia than The Smith Street Band. And live I believe there is certainly no doubt. Bucketloads of passion is delivered to an adoring audience. Each of their shows are just huge chambers of love and passion. I missed their last tour which got postponed several times due to the pandemic. But I wasn't going to miss Saturday night at the Metro Theatre. Especially on the back of their excellent 2022 album in 'Life After Football'. Obviously they played a fair bit off that record. But they also gave us a very good slice of their now extensive catalogue. Happily old and new songs were greeted with equal glee. Frontman Wil Wagner leads the band ably. His voice booms across a crowded room. There was much singing and dancing, especially for songs like 'Birthdays', 'Ducks Fly Together' and 'Young Drunk'. As always an absolute pleasure to see this wonderful band again. </p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />I Don't Wanna Do Nothing Forever<br />Birthdays<br />When I Change My Name<br />I Still Dream About You<br />Big Smoke<br />I Can't Feel My Face<br />The Arrogance of the Drunk Pedestrian<br />Song For You<br />Don't Fuck With Our Dreams<br />Ducks Fly Together<br />Shine<br />Surrender<br />Chips & Gravy<br />A Conversation With Your Old School Friends About Negative Gearing<br />Elvis<br />Young Drunk<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hand in My Pocket (Alanis Morisette cover)<br />Passiona<br />Death to the Lads</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-47049697070910973172023-03-03T10:35:00.009+11:002023-03-03T10:48:43.408+11:00Pavement @ Enmore Theatre<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksH6cNocJvYS23f4J7vyHE8vHmrPPtwfEPsqo26eQ0xksSsEhRBIUxKrOFtVxpwl7lvql1bGbzuq_SrAJTUTjyeVP_M_Nt6yK-0l_42OISl81iTGMFTw5Q_WRzmCQnwgXt99USz0u3knWXyJrXKSR8n48Xn-XPx8m9Y-CN_FDwBhOheKUsw/s1440/328110718_247686797596211_3827413596030332454_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksH6cNocJvYS23f4J7vyHE8vHmrPPtwfEPsqo26eQ0xksSsEhRBIUxKrOFtVxpwl7lvql1bGbzuq_SrAJTUTjyeVP_M_Nt6yK-0l_42OISl81iTGMFTw5Q_WRzmCQnwgXt99USz0u3knWXyJrXKSR8n48Xn-XPx8m9Y-CN_FDwBhOheKUsw/s320/328110718_247686797596211_3827413596030332454_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So night two of Pavement was simply spectacular in every way possible. Wednesday night at Anita's was very special but this Enmore show just took it up a notch. It felt like a full on rock show with me down the front standing, singing, dancing through out. And thankfully the crowd was great. Just people here to have a great time and listen to the greatest band of all time. I loved every single second and a great thing about Pavement shows is that you will get a diffrent set list every night. So I heard probably ten songs that I didn't hear Wednesday night. I was especially excited to hear 'Silence Kid' and 'Here' and 'Debris Slide'. It was truly all simply magnificent. And that encore, truly as good as it gets. And I wondered after the show would I get to see them again. They have a few random shows coming up this year but that might be it. They will probably then go on hiatus for a while longer. Who knows? But if that was the last time, then what a way to go out. <br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Motion Suggests Itself</div><div style="text-align: left;">Gold Soundz<br />Kennel District</div><div style="text-align: left;">Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse)<br />Silence Kid</div><div style="text-align: left;">Transport Is Arranged</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stereo</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grounded</div><div style="text-align: left;">Father to a Sister of Thought</div><div style="text-align: left;">Shady Lane</div><div style="text-align: left;">Serpentine Pad</div><div style="text-align: left;">Harness Your Hopes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Spit on a Stranger</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfair</div><div style="text-align: left;">Type Slowly</div><div style="text-align: left;">Perfume-V</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here</div><div style="text-align: left;">Trigger Cut</div><div style="text-align: left;">Debris Slide</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Hexx</div><div style="text-align: left;">Painted Soldiers</div><div style="text-align: left;">Range Life<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the Mouth a Desert</div><div style="text-align: left;">Summer Babe<br />Cut Your Hair</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fillmore Jive</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-35220472848437191462023-03-02T11:32:00.004+11:002023-03-02T11:32:52.150+11:00Pavement @ Anita's Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynkg2hPf7W5cgyMqjJl4dS9fGYe3oOZTnd-HOyfqiWPX-reNY02KyCnQSMSUlU5gjwVisviKwut0zzye_lUBIlGog9nLckz5xlA_9VJlUI9ctGmxmqP__D6f--Kj3hCoAS9kpQtGS0F8C57Mk5TL848yj03JHb_L87bIsmQsus_y7pIjlJQ/s1440/334553070_941951123907749_3161749035005918227_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynkg2hPf7W5cgyMqjJl4dS9fGYe3oOZTnd-HOyfqiWPX-reNY02KyCnQSMSUlU5gjwVisviKwut0zzye_lUBIlGog9nLckz5xlA_9VJlUI9ctGmxmqP__D6f--Kj3hCoAS9kpQtGS0F8C57Mk5TL848yj03JHb_L87bIsmQsus_y7pIjlJQ/s320/334553070_941951123907749_3161749035005918227_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Does perfection exist? At a gig? If it's Pavement then yes is definitely the answer. I have a long history with Pavement stretching back to the 90s when I bought Slanted and Enchanted and fell in love with them. They toured Australia and made four more albums and they became my favourite band of all time. They still are. Then they quit. But a return in 2010 was hugely exciting. We managed to see them not only in Sydney but also New York. Then they disappeared again, only to return in 2022. They had some US dates so I organised a trip around them to seem them play in Los Angeles. I was unsure if an Australian trip would eventuate. But it did. And two shows in NSW! So Wednesday night we drove to a small town on the south coast named Thirroul to see them play at a small venue named Anita's which was small and intimate and truly beautiful. And the show? Well yes it was spectacular. </p><p>Every Pavement show has a great set list. Their plethora of songs see to that. But I love how each show is different to the previous. They change it up nightly so you never know what you might get. I mean you know you will receive the 'classics' like 'Cut Your Hair', 'Gold Soundz', 'Unfair' but the rest is a mystery. But I was hoping for 'Trigger Cut' (first Pavement song I ever heard) and 'Summer Babe' and 'Box Elder'. And I got all of them. So I was one very happy fan. But there was more. Classic song after classic song. It was all sheer perfection. Opening with 'Frontwards' started the night perfectly and it didn't let up. The band are so in sync too. For all their slacker reputation they are seriously good musicians. Of course they have no intention to make new music and they'll probably go on hiatus again very soon. But after last night's show it was all very much worth it to see my favourite band one more time again. And I'll see them in Sydney tonight! </p><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Frontwards<br />Stereo<br />Kennel District<br />Heckler Spray<br />(Linden) Lions<br />Trigger Cut<br />Two States<br />Embassy Row<br />Zurich is Stained<br />Fight This Generation<br />Grounded<br />Gold Soundz<br />Summer Babe<br />Black Out<br />Fame Throwa<br />Type Slowly<br />Box Elder<br />Date w/IKEA<br />Harness Your Hopes<br />Shady Lane<br />The Hexx<br />Range Life<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fin<br />Grave Architecture<br />Unfair<br />Cut Your Hair</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-88604580645576384932023-02-20T09:39:00.005+11:002023-02-20T09:39:59.237+11:00Bon Iver @ Aware Super Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMJULYSw0Y9ZbIMI0a-CPdIxQ3AKowUTodv-BH7yDfjSA9zBkt_wdXyTgaJbz7eg9tv0kX6E-x2nOGKU70sKC2gef_dhmbl-Owr0RiQIrcI36w_b8x6IwodZVTwBce04XttUVXg71LtZzhGMGAcBd-t2kLergNioJoq4ecyImihLs2FUIIg/s1440/331137381_712339263691969_6564441918975285406_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMJULYSw0Y9ZbIMI0a-CPdIxQ3AKowUTodv-BH7yDfjSA9zBkt_wdXyTgaJbz7eg9tv0kX6E-x2nOGKU70sKC2gef_dhmbl-Owr0RiQIrcI36w_b8x6IwodZVTwBce04XttUVXg71LtZzhGMGAcBd-t2kLergNioJoq4ecyImihLs2FUIIg/s320/331137381_712339263691969_6564441918975285406_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bon Iver is a must see whenever he visits your town. So Friday night at the Aware Super Theatre was clearly a case in point. Seen Justin Vernon and his band a couple of times previously but not for a while. Missed his last tour and then a 2020 tour was cancelled because of the pandemic. So Friday night was much anticipated and let me tell you it was all pretty great. Bon Iver is quite a show these days. Far removed from the quiet acoustic days. But it all comes together beautifully with a very talented band playing several instruments, backing up the wonderful vocals of Vernon. Across four albums he delighted a sold out crowd. Obviously leaning more on the last two. From his latest I was especially excited to hear 'Naeem' and it did not let me down as the very last song played. But my absolute favourites were older classics. 'Skinny Love' obviously but especially 'Re: Stacks' which was just superb. 'Holocene' was also wonderful and was hugely received. All in all a wonderful night from an extremely talented artist.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Speyside<br />666<br />Faith<br />U (Man Like)<br />Jelmore<br />Perth<br />RABi<br />PDLIF<br />Heavenly Father<br />10 dEAThbREasT<br />715-CREEKS<br />Hey, Ma<br />Skinny Love<br />Re: Stacks<br />___45___<br />33 "GOD"<br />Holocene<br />The Wolves (Act 1 and 11)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Flume<br />Naeem</div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33872024.post-22292515200952773442023-02-16T11:10:00.005+11:002023-02-16T11:10:53.880+11:00Osees @ Metro Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8WR4QyY_u5I0l1HKpfIlKXwO5U5fneB11586yCdGSyn3QbpmnNmH7YLoSfE1zTtzLAoxtoczEri_v8ZD44a6577ToC-ah0Y7XqCzNLzkcbUbVIbwaTx2GrHIq476U0-ifkumXjhkMINc36pvqUZnm3RQ8YnEU0iYd-zvwUgZL1QM1e-akw/s1440/329127432_5879739805450186_6532527335182185254_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8WR4QyY_u5I0l1HKpfIlKXwO5U5fneB11586yCdGSyn3QbpmnNmH7YLoSfE1zTtzLAoxtoczEri_v8ZD44a6577ToC-ah0Y7XqCzNLzkcbUbVIbwaTx2GrHIq476U0-ifkumXjhkMINc36pvqUZnm3RQ8YnEU0iYd-zvwUgZL1QM1e-akw/s320/329127432_5879739805450186_6532527335182185254_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Is there a better live band on the planet than Osees? I seriously doubt it. Wednesday night at the Metro in Sydney proved it again I think. There is an undeniable and ecstatic energy to their shows that is impressive and infectious. This show was the last on their much anticipated Australian tour and they went out with a bang. Close to two hours of orgasmic rock. They played a good selection of songs from across their vast catalogue and the energy truly never let up. John Dwyer is a singular figure on stage. Holding his guitar high up on his chest he grooves and moves to every note. His energy bounces off to the crowd and back to him. And the bedrock of the band is the ferocious rhythmn section. Their famous two drummer set up of Dan Rincon and Paul Quattrone underlines everything and bassist Tim Hellman ably aids this sound. And for a band that rocks really hard they are also quite groovy. They are definitely a band you mosh to but also dance to. They can go hard and fast in songs like 'A Foul Form' or go long and trancy on songs like 'Sticky Hulks'. It all adds up to a memorable night yet again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Set List<br />Withered Hand<br />Ticklish Warrior<br />Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster<br />Animated Violence<br />Chem-Farmer/Nite Expo<br />Tidal Wave<br />The Static God<br />The Dream/The Daily Heavy<br />Sticky Hulks<br />I Come From the Mountain<br />Gelatinous Cube<br />Funeral Solution<br />Fucking Kill Me<br />A Foul Form<br />Encrypted Bounce<br />Web<br />Rogue Planet<br />Jettisoned<br />Scramble Suit II<br />I I Had My Way<br />Terminal Jape<br />C </div>Wayne Massinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16479257741364996537noreply@blogger.com0