Sydney was treated to an outstanding rock show last night when American band Daughtry joined Brisbane’s Small Mercies at The Gaelic Theatre. It took me some effort to drag myself to Sydney for the show, as I’d been feeling unwell all day, but I’m so glad I did.
The tiny Surry Hills venue was crowded with hundreds keenly anticipating Daughtry’s first Sydney appearance. The upper level, usually the place to be for a relaxed concert experience, was reserved for VIPs, leaving the average punters packed in like sardines. I really didn’t think I was up to standing all night, but a lovely security guard took pity on my poor health and promptly found me a stool and water. I may not have lasted til the end of the show without him!
Now comfortably sitting and a little more hydrated, I was feeling pretty good when Small Mercies took the stage. I’d never seen these guys before, but they’ve been big in Queensland for years. After seeing their set, I’m glad the rest of the country appears to be catching on. The four-piece showed real diversity in their half-hour slot. Their heavy tracks pleased the rock-loving crowd, who also enjoyed singing along to the new single “Innocent.”
Daughtry were up next, with a blistering set that matched the anticipation in the room. They made it clear they were there to rock, opening with “Crashed.”
Chris Daughtry is such an engaging frontman. He didn’t take his foot from the throttle at any point, delivering each track with maximum intensity. And there’s no denying that he’s sexy as all get out.
But I also appreciated the way he engaged with the audience. Yes, he encouraged the crowd to sing along and clap their hands, but his efforts went beyond that. He’d only been in Australia for a few days, yet he managed to weave some of our more colourful terms into his banter. He called us “mates,” asked how all the “sheilas” were, and even admitted that he was a “bogan.”
The concert was billed as an album showcase, so it was little surprise to hear most of the tracks from Daughtry’s self-titled album. Their killer cover of Alice in Chains’ “Nutshell” was an unexpected treat. The hour-long set was over far too quickly and soon we were hearing the last song of the night, the frantic “There and Back Again.”
Chris said they’ll be back next year, and I look forward to doing it all again then. Of course, next time they’ll play much larger venues than this, and the tickets will be more expensive. Knowing this just makes me appreciate last night’s gig that much more.
If you couldn’t make it to the show, or you’d just like to relive it, here’s a video my husband took last night during “It’s Not Over.” Unfortunately he realised he was filming side-on a little too late, but he does right it during the first chorus!
Image source: own photo