Tag: Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Snow Patrol Announce Sydney Show

Snow Patrol will play a very special show at Sydney’s Metro Theatre this Wednesday, November 19.

Except for the fans lucky enough to win passes to the Max Sessions, this is the only chance Aussie Snow Patrol lovers will have to see the lads play live during their promotional visit.

So how do you get tickets? Simple – get yourself to the Metro Theatre, call them on (02) 9550 3666, or log on to The Metro’s website. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9 am sharp, and they are sure to sell out. There is a limit of two tickets per credit card holder, and they can only be issued to folks over 18. You’ll need to show photo ID so don’t even think about trying to sneak in kids!

Good luck everybody!

Image source: Yellowlinephoto @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Newton Faulkner and Sara Bareilles @ The Enmore, Sydney – 8th September 2008

Ordinarily when I see a show it’s one that I couldn’t pass up. I may be a music writer, but I won’t go and see just anybody. So when I attend a concert I tend to be a real fan, one of those people who knows all the words to all the songs.

It wasn’t the case last night when I ventured out to catch Sara Bareilles and Newton Faulkner at The Enmore. My wonderful friend Jaime found herself on the guest list and I was lucky enough to be her plus one. We only knew the singles, but we’re both such music fans we were thrilled to see these talented newcomers.

We might have scored comp tickets, but don’t think we were hob-nobbing with the industry elite. They were general admission, a thought which initially made me groan. You know how much I hate standing for an entire show. So it was a pleasant surprise to walk in, find a comfortable position, and stand there happily for the rest of the show. Where was the pushing and obnoxiousness I remember from my general admission days of old? It seemed these punters would much rather listen to the music, dance a little, and not bother anyone else. I’d like to whole heartedly thank the audience for being so brilliant.

With Old Man River a late scratching from the bill, Sara Bareilles was up first. I was utterly transfixed by her. It takes a certain kind of performer to captivate while sitting at a piano, but she pulled it off. There’s a lot more to this girl than “Love Song.” Her songs are accessible yet quirky, a real breath of fresh air. And her personality is so warm. She endeared herself to us all when she said how much she loves Strictly Ballroom, and how starstruck she felt meeting Sonia Kruger. The set was an opportunity to showcase her debut album Little Voice, so it was an unexpected treat to see Sara step away from the piano for an amazing cover of The Beatles “Oh! Darling.” Sara was only the warm-up act, but I was so sorry to see her leave the stage! I may not have known much about her before, but I made sure to grab a copy of her CD from the merch stand.

Sara may be a big star, but Newton Faulkner was clearly the man everyone came to see. The enthusiastic audience joined in singing his songs from the start, embracing this talented Brit and his debut album Hand Built by Robots.

There was a lot that I didn’t realise about Newton Faulkner. I knew he was a good guitarist, but I didn’t realise he was a great one. He uses his instrument as both a melodic and rhythmic one, tapping out the beats while his fingers pluck the notes. He knows what his guitar is capable of, and pushes the envelope to create something amazing. Newton’s not content with just playing a regular acoustic guitar though. He also brought out a child’s guitar for a few songs, including a fun cover of “Blue Shadows” from cult comedy The Three Amigos.

This cover hints at the sort of unexpected comedy I experienced at the show. I had no idea how funny this British star is! He loved playing the unexpected, including a rollicking version of “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” and a Latin-inspired take on “Uncomfortably Slow,” complete with a nonsense language! But it wasn’t all fun and games. I appreciated the stories behind the songs, a touch many artists forget but one that brings a live show beyond simply hearing the CD.

Last night I was given the opportunity to experience two of the hottest new names in the music industry. If this is what these artists can produce at the start of their careers, their futures look very bright indeed.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jason Mraz @ The Enmore, Sydney – 9 August 2008

Last night I headed to Newtown to catch Jason Mraz at The Enmore. The theatre was cleverly organized so all the fans could experience the concert their way. The seats in the floor section were cleared out to make way for those enthusiastic young girls who wanted to dance and sing along with their idol. Up in the dress circle the vibe was a lot more mellow, with seats allowing us older folks to properly relax to Mraz’s laidback grooves.

But before all that we were treated to a set from Melanie Horsnell. I’d heard her name before but never any of her music, so I was keen to see what she could do. I was impressed with her instantly accessible lyrics and rich country-tinged voice. Although, as seems to be a common complaint with me, I really could have done without the chatter in the room. Am I the only person who listens to support acts any more? The audience did seem to take a little more notice when she performed a breathtaking acoustic version of Bernard Fanning’s “Songbird,” but this focus was short lived. It’s a shame because she was really very good.

All the chatter was replaced with rapturous applause once Jason Mraz stepped out. He drew everyone in with his easy personality and warmth and didn’t let go. This was my third time seeing him live, but with the first with the full band set up. It’s something I wasn’t sure about as I tend to prefer acoustic sets, but in the end I needn’t have worried. The set was lush and varied. Some songs utilised all the instruments and they were richer for it, while for other songs he knew all they needed was an acoustic guitar.

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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Howie Day @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney and Northern Star, Newcastle – 16 and 17 May 2008

I’m here feeling a little sad and sorry for myself, after taking in three gigs in three days. I’m clearly not as young as I used to be. The first was Chris Murphy. The second two were Howie Day.

You might remember me gushing about this Boston native’s first trip to Australia when it was announced some months ago. In fact, I was so excited by it that I couldn’t restrict myself to just one show.

Firstly, if you’re a Whitley fan reading this review hoping to hear what I thought of the headliner, you’re not going to find it. I had the best of intentions of catching his set. But as I drove to Sydney’s Annandale Hotel for the first show on my own, I figured I was better off leaving once Howie was done and seeing it the following night. My husband made the journey to Newcastle’s Northern Star with me, and we were shocked to find Howie wasn’t playing until 10:30 or so. The way I felt after his set was another glaring reminder that I’m just not as young as I used to be, so we ended up leaving to catch some sleep. I’m sure he was brilliant nonetheless.

But he was perhaps not as brilliant as Howie, although I’m completely aware that I’m biased. Howie Day is the kind of guy who can inspire me to drag my butt to a pub and stand for hours in a throng of largely obnoxious people. These aren’t the kind of gigs I like at all. But once that man took the stage I managed to (mostly) block out the people pushing me and the folks talking too loudly and just focus on the music.

As a support act his set was short, but he made sure to cram as much in for the fans who’d eagerly awaited his first Aussie shows. Both nights began with a slowed down version of “Sorry So Sorry.” This paired down acoustic arrangement was markedly different to the version which appeared on his debut album Australia, and it brought a new resonance to the lyrics.

It was that album that made me fall in love with Howie, so I was thrilled to hear two of my favourites, “Ghost” and “She Says” make the sets both nights. “Ghost” was a real highlight, with a frenetic guitar jam created by Howie’s trademark loops. I was also thrilled to hear “Collide” on both occasions, especially in Sydney where the crowd surprised me by launching into an enthusiastic sing-along. I’d clearly underestimated Howie’s popularity here, as most people I meet have never heard of him. We were also treated to some new songs which I hope to see on an album soon.

I was so excited the first time I saw Howie Day on a holiday the United States, I wasn’t sure whether these Aussie shows could possibly live up those memories. They did. I can’t wait to see him back in Australia really soon.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Santana @ ACER Arena, Sydney – 28 February 2008

Last night I headed out to ACER Arena to catch living legend, Carlos Santana. Before entering the venue I had one big question on my mind: “How would he handle the duets?” There’s no doubt that Santana’s recent star-studded duets album are the key to his latest wave of popularity, but without the likes of Rob Thomas, Chad Kroeger, and Steve Tyler on the tour I wasn’t sure how they’d work, or indeed whether they’d make the set at all. I didn’t have to wait long to find out.

As is typical when you’re contending with Sydney traffic, we were running late and missed most of Blue King Brown’s set. I’m not sure it was a great loss though. They’re clearly accomplished musicians, but the three songs I heard tended to sound the same. I can imagine how the early part of the set sounded based on that.

Anyway, Carlos was the main event, and after a confronting look at the pain of war on the big screen, we were ready for a concert of hope. Carlos was clearly the star of the show. I’ve seen a few brilliant guitarists in my time: John Mayer, Tommy Emmanuel, Pete Townshend, and more. But as good as those guys were, Carlos is in a completely different league. The sounds he gets from that instrument are phenomenal. Dad said he heard somewhere that he has the fastest handspeed of any guitarist, and I think that could be true. Wow.

Carlos mostly lets his guitar prowess speak for himself. He’s a man of few words, but what he did say resonated. He received thunderous applause for his comment that Australia has “high moral leadership,” and his endorsement of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the stolen generation. And we all laughed when he said we could have America’s constitution because they weren’t using it.

While Carlos was the main attraction, he was backed up by one of the greatest bands I’ve ever witnessed. Three drummers, another two guitarists, the brass stylings of a trumpet and trombone all led to one hell of a big sound. Often times I felt like I was witnessing a private jam session as these guys launched into extended solos, improvised and natural. Out front we had two stellar male vocalists in Tony Lindsay and Andy Vargas. Their rich soulful voices skillfully delivered Santana’s English and Spanish lyrics.

So back to the question of those duets. If you were a new fan and attended the show based on the strength of those songs alone I think you would have been disappointed. It took until halfway through the show for us to hear a track from Supernatural, the smouldering “Maria Maria.” We certainly weren’t let down by The Product G&B’s absence here. But it was a different matter later in the show when they took on “Smooth.” I know I may be biased as a major Rob Thomas fan, but I really missed his rock and roll rasp. The only other duet that made the cut was the new single, “Into The Night.” It was a sweeter take on this song, but I think I preferred it.

While I love those duets albums, I’m glad most of those songs didn’t make the show. Yes we had Santana, but I think without the added star power of their original singers they would have been a let down.

What we did hear was a whole lot of Santana’s earlier material, which made my dad pretty happy. It was the perfect showcase for these musicians, and ultimately the way this show should be.

Image source: Bsoist @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bon Jovi @ ACER Arena, Sydney – 22 January 2008

I grew up in the 1980s. It was a decade of big hair, big shoulder pads, and big power chords. And if you were a young girl in the 80s, you probably had a dirty big crush on Jon Bon Jovi.

That was more than twenty years ago, but walking into Acer Arena last night it seemed some things never change. While I spotted quite a few mullets, the hair was a little smaller. I didn’t see anyone wearing shoulder pads. But chunky chords are alive and well. And if the deafening squeals were anything to go by, the very same girls still have the hots for Jon.

The music wasn’t much different either. Sure Bon Jovi are still releasing albums and their newer sound has a more country edge, but that didn’t stop them busting out classic cuts from New Jersey, Slippery When Wet, and Keep the Faith.

Considering their massive back catalogue, opening with “Great Balls of Fire” was an odd choice. But the crowd screamed their approval as they watched Jon gyrate like a yesteryear teen idol. You can only imagine the way the already frenzied stadium erupted when they began their next song, “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Hit after hit followed, punctuated by new songs which allowed us to catch our breath a little.

I’ve often wondered how Jon stays looking so svelte, but now I know. He bounces around like he has springs attached to his feet, jumping around the stage with an energy that would impress men half his age. I think I lost a few kilos dancing along last night, so it’s little surprise he stays so slim.

Just when I was sure I couldn’t stand any more Jon moved from the main stage to a smaller one, right in front of me. OK, four rows of fans separated us, but this was so much closer to my childhood crush than I ever imagined I’d be. I got my second wind as we were treated to an amazing acoustic set, starting with “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” and moving into “Blaze of Glory.” Richie joined him on the small stage then for “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night.” I was having such a good time, which only got better when they launched into two of my favourites “Never Say Goodbye” and “Blood on Blood.”

Then it was back to the main stage for more rapid-fire hits: “Keep the Faith,” “Sleep When I’m Dead,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The crowd wasn’t letting them off that easily, and it didn’t take much encouragement before the lads were back for an encore. I struggled to think of the songs they hadn’t played yet, but of course there was more to hear.

We were all back on our feet to enjoy the final three tracks: “Have a Nice Day,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and the obvious closer “I Love This Town.”

Sydney loves Bon Jovi too. They gave us three solid hours of entertainment, and we were all thankful for it. My feet hurt, despite me discarding my high-heeled boots early in the night. My throat was sore from the singing and screaming. Sweat dripped from every pore of my body. I had a brilliant time.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sir Elton Loves Sydney

Sir Elton John has given the city of Sydney a big thumbs up.

“Sydney has always been a special place for me,” Sir Elton said in this week’s Time Out Sydney mag. “It is one of the most vibrant and magical cities in the world.”

In fact, Elton loves Sydney so much that it was his base for his entire Australian tour. While other artists tend to stay in the cities they play, Elton took a private jet to each show.

In his down time, Elton has reacquainted himself with his favourite Sydney cafes, galleries, beaches, and the meat pies at Harry’s Café de Wheels.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydney Celebrates Strummer

It’s amazing to think it’s been five years since the late great Joe Strummer of The Clash passed away. Sydney fans can pay their respects at a tribute concert at the end of the month.

On December 22, The Gaelic will host Revolution Rock – A Joe Strummer Tribute Night. The Living End’s Travis Dempsey will take to the stage with his new band The Currency, alongside The Hard-Ons, Waiting for Guiness, Steppin’ Razor, and Gambeta.

It’s not just an opportunity to hear some great music, it’s also a way to help a great cause. All proceeds will go to Strummerville, a charity which creates new opportunities for struggling young musicians.

Tickets are available through Moshtix for $20 plus booking fee.

Image source: John Coffey @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daughtry Showcase @ The Gaelic Theatre, Sydney – 25 September 2007

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