Yes, it's still Darren Hayes Day - Nova interview

Darren did an interview on Nova today, with Carrie Bickmore and Charlie Pickering. I'd gone to work by then so have just watched it tonight.

(source)

 (source - and more pics here)

I seriously listened to Talk Talk Talk 30 times today. Can you believe his music has been in my life for 15 years? Half my life! I can't explain the feeling I get when I listen to his music.

His new album Secret Codes and Battleships is out in October. He hints at a tour here.

Hayes said: "I'm touring a really tiny number of dates this year. I'm doing just four dates in the UK in October.

"I'm doing two dates in America - an LA and New York show - and then in Australia I'm doing just Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in November. All of that will be announced in a couple of weeks, but that's what's happening."

Music I've been missing - Lo-Tel, Teenager of the Year

Every morning my alarm goes off at 5.54 am. My alarm is my stereo which is tuned to Nova. Not all music Nova plays is to my taste. But sometimes they play gems (gems according to me, anyway!).

They have sadly increased the amount of ads played, but perhaps to compensate, there are less of right-this-minute songs and more songs that I haven't heard in a while. I like it.

Yesterday morning I heard this one.

Teenager of the Year by Lo-Tel.



Teenager of the Year was featured on the soundtrack to the book-turned-movie Looking for Alibrandi (by Melina Marchetta). I loved this movie. I remember watching it at the cinema in my first year of university and could relate to a lot of things the characters went through. I was always amazed that Pia Miranda was 26 or something when she played an 18 year old. I preferred Kick Gurry's character to Matthew Newton's.

So I dug out the brilliant Looking for Alibrandi soundtrack and had Teenager of the Year on replay. I also relished songs by Killing Heidi, Spiderbait, Hamish Cowan and one of my favourite bands ever, Stella one Eleven.

It's nice to be reminded of music you've been missing.

I find with my iPod I listen to the same artists over and over - I don't explore new bands as much, and I don't rifle through my extensive CD collection for treasured songs.

I think I am going to start a new blog 'segment' exploring the music I've been missing. I have a few artists in my mind to revisit.

What music have you been missing?

Rob Thomas concert review

Rob Thomas
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Friday 5 February 2010

Last night I went to the Rob Thomas concert that I won tickets for. Thanks Nova 100!

I was really excited about seeing Rob Thomas play solo. I've been to four Matchbox Twenty concerts before, and LOVED them so much. I'd also watched Something to Be tour live on DVD and enjoyed it. Matchbox Twenty is one of my favourite bands, and their album Yourself or Someone Like You is a high played, high loved album for me.

But I found out last night, a Rob Thomas concert is much different to a Matchbox Twenty concert.

It's not that I didn't enjoy it.

And it's not that it wasn't great.

I just expected to hear some familiar Matchbox Twenty songs. Honestly, the only Rob Thomas songs I know are the ones played on radio. I like the singles he has released, but don't identify with and adore them as I do Matchbox Twenty songs. At last night's concert he ONLY played his solo stuff. Fair enough because he has had so many singles from his two albums, plus Smooth. But of all the songs played up to the last two songs, Smooth was my favourite. The songs just didn't gel with me. I expected to hear more. I wanted to sing along with his songs.

Bent
Push
If You're Gone
Disease
Bright Lights
Rest Stop
How Far We've Come
etc

(And Darren Hayes performs Savage Garden songs in his solo shows - I just thought Rob Thomas may, too.)

Rob is a great performer - heartfelt, charismatic, sexy, brilliant singer and beautiful songwriter. I love the way he punches his chest. The way he leans over the piano when he plays it. The combined aggression and passion in his eyes when he sings. He is great. But I didn't buzz as much as I have at a Matchbox Twenty concert.

I admit though, hearing some of the lyrics to the songs that I'm not as familiar with was great - it does amaze me that he consistently writes heartfelt, beautiful lyrics. I think the song lyrics that touched me the most was Ever The Same.

A friend told me yesterday that INXS would play with Rob. I was really looking forward to this. And the collision of the two acts was amazing (aside from seeing/hearing some fracas behind us because a drunk guy in the corporate box broke a glass on the head of a guy sitting in front of him).

If INXS needs a new frontman, Rob Thomas is it. Yes, I am a supporter of leaving INXS be with Michael Hutchence, and no further songs coming from them under the name INXS. Michael was fantastic, irreplaceable and god-like. But Rob Thomas brought a real flair to INXS, and could easily slot in as a believable, quality frontman, 'covering' the songs made famous by Michael.

They played Never Tear Us Apart and Don't Change.

It was a privilege to see INXS play live, even if not in their original form. Those two songs of the concert was my highlight.

I could have easily watched a whole INXS gig fronted by Rob Thomas, singing INXS songs.

We sat very far from the stage (second row from the back) and my photos aren't that great compared to others I've taken. But they are better than I thought they'd turn out.