First day back at work today. It was good. Good to see everyone (though some lucky people are still holidaying).
I knew it'd be painless because my favourite Crowded House song came on the radio somewhere between 6.00 am and 7.00 am.
And even though I had a hearty breakfast of a fruit smoothie (one banana, a punnet of frozen berries, half a cup of oats, a tablespoon of yoghurt and a cup of skim milk), I was hungry by 9.30 am. I think it was because of the energy expended trying to recall my computer password. So I ate two whole wheat biscuits with nut butter (almond, Brazil and cashew). I think I get hungrier at work, because during the past few days at home, my food consumption equaled my output - not much at all.
This is how I dressed today. I am still loving this cooler summer. It means I can wear opaque stockings and dress like I do in winter. People said I wear yellow well. I thanked them. I don't wear yellow often.
Getting dressed for work makes me really excited. I think about it more than I should. I think about it as much as I think about food. And that's a lot.
You see I am carrying a Temt bag. Temt was speaking my language. 30 percent off everything. My favourite sentence after 'I love you'.
I have a new photo taking buddy. She understands my need to photograph my outfits for my blog at lunchtime. Yay! I find it hard to ask colleagues to take photos of me for the blog. As I said to a passer by, interrupted by my posing, 'serious vanity in progress here', and waved her through. S, my new photographer, is a very fashionable dresser. She wears dusky and muted tones, lots of layers, and fabulous jewellery. We had a laugh at my poses. Especially this one. When I look like I am busting for the toilet. I didn't need to wee. For the record.
I survived the work day without an afternoon nap! (But I sure felt like one, post 3.30 pm cheesecake.) And to reward myself I put this chicken in the oven. It's got lemon rind, mixed herbs, salt, pepper and olive oil. And there's a chunk of butter under the skin. Underneath the chicken there is potato and sweet potato. It smells delicious.
Crowded House Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday 5 November 2010 Crowded House are a band I thought I'd never see live in my lifetime. I have only been a fan for around 10 years, but after their Farewell to the World performance at the Sydney Opera House in 1996, I thought I'd missed the boat to see them live. I thought they'd gone forever. After the tragic death of Paul Hester in 2005,I think Neil Finn and Nick Seymour were inspired to reform the band, make more music and tour with a revised lineup (currently Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod on drums). And as a result, last night was the fourth time I've seen Crowded House live. And like every other time, I marveled that I was really seeing these beautiful, classic songs played on stage.
The concert opened with Oh Mercy, a young Melbourne band. I liked some of their songs after hearing them on Triple J a year or so again, so I was pleased to see them live. They were good. Big sound, melodic, and lyrics that told a story. They complemented Crowded House's sound. I was so impressed I bought their album.
Here is Alexander Gow from Oh Mercy. He admitted most songs were about 'chicky babes'. Cute.
Crowded House opened with I Feel Possessed. It was energetic and clearly showed how excited the band was to play. The crowd was reserved for most of the night until the song before the first encore. There were three ladies in the front row, dancing and jumping, but otherwise, the crowd stayed seated until Something So Strong.
The second song was my favourite, When You Come. I find this song lyrically amazing - passionate and sensual. Here are the first two verses and chorus.
When you come across the sea Me like a beacon guiding you to safety The sooner the better now And when you come the hills Will breathe like a baby Pulled up heaving from the bottom of the ocean The sooner the better now When you come to cover me with your kisses Fresh like a daisy chained up in a lion's den I'll know you by the thunderclap Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions And that is why I stumble to my knees And why underneath the heavens With the stars burning and exploding I know I could never let you down When you come.
And here is a small recording I did of last night's performance of When You Come.
Crowded House played many songs from their current album Intriguer. But they played so many greatest hits too. Something So Strong, It's Only Natural, Private Universe, Chocolate Cake. They admitted they have so many songs and could play all night. I wished they could. I went to the concert with my die-hard friend A, who has a fan club membership so we got seats eight rows from the stage. I felt a bit of a fraud sitting there given I only knew the lyrics to their greatest hits. It was good to see passionate fans singing along to every word.
The stage was decorated with childrens' lights - bears, deer, geese, rabbits and toadstools. It was quite cute. Crowd members brought along small animal lights and one handed Neil Finn one. Here is the deer light.
This is my other favourite song, Don't Dream its Over.
Apologies for such brief recordings - on the only night at Rod Laver Arena that I have gotten away with recording, my memory card was full. On a side note, I was impressed with Rod Laver's lax security rules last night. Bottle caps were allowed, no bag checks so I took an opened drink in. Alcohol allowed on the floor area. And 'not a security guard in sight', to quote Neil Finn. He was impressed with the fun we were allowed to have, saying he wants to raise the roof of the arena!
The band played like it's their first gig, like they wanted to be there. I love this - I appreciate seeing how happy a band is on stage, despite the enormous and hectic touring schedule. Nick Seymour smiles so much. Often he looks at Neil Finn, adoringly. They brought Neil's wife Sharon on stage to sing two songs. It's nice to see a band do it for the love.
The band also loves and encourages a crowd singalong. This happened in Four Seasons in One Day ('This is your song, Melbourne', Weather With You (complete with parts of Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax thrown in) and Better Be Home Soon. The crowd also led Mean to Me, of which the band started half way through. It was magical. Audience participation at its best.
This is the crowd singing to Four Seasons in One Day. Beautiful.
In the song before the first encore, we walked to the front where we were around four people from the stage. Here are some of the photos taken there.
Last night's concert was amazing. The band showcased how many timeless songs they have - both in their back catalogue and new music. I hope to see them play many more times. They've still got it.
A funny thing happened on the way home. There was a guy on the train, with his partner, who had a setlist. I commented that it was so cool he got the setlist, assuming it was from Crowded House. They'd actually seen Ed Kowalczyk (from Live) at The Forum. I told them I'd seen Crowded House. The guy asked if they played Private Universe. I said yes, and then said last time I'd seen them at The Forum, the band asked people from the crowd to play with them on stage, and that I had just said to my friend A that I thought that was one of my favourite things I've seen at a concert. The guy said that he was one of them that played on stage! What a small world!! Here is the video from The Forum.
I was flicking through my iPod the other day, considering making a playlist of women with powerful voices. Like Florence and the Machine. I didn't get much past her because I am in currently deeply love with the song The Dog Days Are Over.
I have heard this song a few times before but didn't take much notice until I heard it in the trailer to the Eat Pray Love film. I started to read the book by Elizabeth Gilbert but couldn't get into it. Maybe it's because I'm not in my 30s, married and wanting out, and looking for a higher being. The film, starring Julia Roberts, looks quite good, and not as boring as the book. I think The Dog Days Are Over as a backing song makes the film seem more exciting than it probably is. Undecided about seeing it.
Moving on.
I thought about what other women with powerful voices I may have on my iPod. I immediately flicked to D.
D for Dido. Then I saw, with great disappointment, I didn't have her No Angel album loaded.
Dido was literally the music I've been missing. (Note to self - add No Angel to iPod.)
I love this album, and I think that I played it non stop in 2001, seriously. Sadly for me, Dido's an artist where I much prefer her first album to her subsequent ones.
Some say her music is bland and depressing. I'm a believer in giving things a go. At first I didn't really like No Angel. I thought it was a little boring. But after hearing it played at the department store I worked in, I grew to love it and bought a copy for myself.
Sometimes her music made me sad. She sung of the same yearning and betrayal I felt at times in 2001.
I adore this song. Here With Me. Australians, particularly Victorians, may know it from the WorkSafe ads.
Her green eyeshadow captivates me. I wish I could rock green eyeshadow like that. And also rock a long cardi like she does. She's stunning. I consider her as one of the most outwardly beautiful women in history.
Here With Me features in one of my all time favourite films Love Actually. I watch this movie over and over, never getting bored of it. I laugh, cry and recite lines as they're about to be spoken, all while drinking moscato and eating cheese in my pyjamas. I do that about four times a year. That's how much of a low-brow romantic sap I am.
You can view several of my favourite scenes edited and featuring Here With Me on YouTube. The bit when Dido plays is heartwrenching. As is the carols scene where Marc resolves to give up Juliet.
Other times Dido's music has made me feel uplifted. Though I'm not into dance music, the beats and vocals made me feel elated. This song in particular. Take My Hand.
In some points of the album version, I can hear sounds that remind me of whales under the sea. There's an amazing, soaring part towards the end of the song - amazing.
I have seen Dido live twice - once in 2001 at The Forum and once in 2004 at Rod Laver Arena (both Melbourne).
I rate The Forum gig 11/10 better than at Rod Laver. Musically they were both high quality, but there was something about being at the front at The Forum and seeing the musicians do their thing. Take My Hand was my absolute favourite song that she performed live. The energy and sound rushed through me.
I remember her female percussionist being inside a 'beat contraption', if you like, banging, tapping and tinkling on lots of different instruments to make beautiful sounds. I also recall never seeing a bead of sweat on Dido. I believe she sang solo the whole time. It was an astounding concert - an experience I have not forgotten.
My friend and I bought tshirts. She thought she lost hers in the taxi, but it had fallen out of her bag and she found it in the gutter in the morning. I still have mine. I don't (read: can't) wear it now. It was a once size fits all number - it was about a size four, and at that time I was about a size seven. It was such a struggle to wear! Not sure how I got it over my boobs come to think of it!
We made a weekend of that concert. Went shopping, stayed up late, slept on another friend's couch. I loved the concerts back in those days - the act of traveling from the country to Melbourne made it a real event. Now I sometimes go to concerts after work, and go to work the next day, so it's a bit of joy sandwiched between the routine, with a high dose of exhaustion!
Here is another of my mementos from the show. It's a Dido guitar pick.
I think it was thrown from the stage and fell near me, but I may be mistaken. It may have been handed to me by security. Either way, it was my first taste of souveniring from a concert. From that concert on, I tried to get near the front and get a setlist or guitar pick. I've succeeded on many occasions - I actually have Darren Hayes' water bottle!
Here is Dido's guitar pick next to Neil Finn's. I saw the roadie take it off his mic stand at the Crowded House concert at Rod Laver in 2005, and I asked for it.
Once again, this music I've been missing entry has taken many tangents, and mentioned artists beyond Dido. It's a lot of fun writing these and recalling the various experiences I've had and journeys I've taken because of the music I listen to.
I am quite a big live music fan. 2009, though, has been quite sparse for me in terms of the gigs I've seen.
As it's nearing the end of the year, I'm going to think back on my most memorable gigs I've been to. This is pretty much in order of my favourites, and may not include all gigs.
1) Sound Relief - 14 March, MCG
In support of the Black Saturday bushfires, a massive concert was held in Melbourne and Sydney. Jet, Kings of Leon, Bliss n Eso, Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Crowded House, Coldplay, Midnight Oil and Hunters and Collectors were a few of the acts. My favourite acts of the day were Kings of Leon, Paul Kelly, Crowded House and John Farnham with Coldplay. It poured with rain the whole day in Melbourne, apart from when Crowded House played Four Seasons in One Day. It was brilliant to see Hunters and Collectors live as I'd not seen them before. All of the bands got into the cause, giving it their all. And the spirit of Australia was in force - I loved how we banded together to support such massive tragedy. When John Farnham and Coldplay's You're The Voice was screened from Sydney, the whole MCG were up dancing and singing. One of the other things I recall was when Paul Kelly sang Leaps and Bounds and he sang the line ín the MCG''and the crowd roared. We were IN the MCG!! It was an amazing feeling. I felt so proud to be Australian and to be supporting the bushfire appeal.
2) Kings of Leon - 13 March, Rod Laver Arena
After loving Because of the Times, and then Only By the Night, I was so excited that I had a chance to see Kings of Leon live. I was a latecomer to their music, and it was only after this concert that I began to listen and love their first albums. I was fortunate enough to win tickets from Nova 100 radio and the tickets were in the general admission area of Rod Laver. My friend and I were lucky enough to get a view from the second row. I've been in the front mosh before (Placebo and Screaming Jets were the roughest) but wasn't sure what to expect with Kings of Leon. It was exhilerating and exhausting at the same time. Some girl, possibly high on drugs, was throwing herself around and pushing and hitting people. I was very annoyed the security were more interested in stopping me from taking photos than getting this girl out of the crowd. It took me and others around me four songs to get her out. After that I had a much better time, but I was overheating so I wasn't able to stay in the front of the mosh for the last two songs - my favourite - Knocked Up and Manhattan. Other songs that were great were Black Thumbnail, Charmer, Closer, and Taperjean Girl. However, the next day was Sound Relief and I was very tired in mind and body after those two gigs.
3) Steve Poltz - 20 June, Northcote Social Club
I was first introduced to Steve Poltz at a Bob Evans gig in May. He is a brilliant storyteller, comedian and generally all round nice guy. Did you know he's written songs for Jewel? He wrote You Were Meant for Me. On this particular night he played for almost two and a half hours, and the concert was recorded. I purchased the CD at the end. He was amazing. The crowd was enthralled! a busload of people came from Flowerdale, they were survivors of the Black Saturday fires. He got some of them up on stage. It was brilliant. His ability to tell stories is a gift - if you ever get the chance to see him, do so. He's playing on 2 January at Northcote Social Club and I will be seeing him! Can't wait.
4) Bob Evans and Steve Poltz - 21 May, Corner Hotel
This was the night I was introduced to Steve Poltz. He played five songs before Bob Evans and I was captivated. I remember giving him a note saying he was my favourite support act ever.
Bob Evans was amazing too. I love his charisma, his passion for music, and his song writing. There was one point where he got down in the crowd during Pasha Bulker and he did a guitar solo. I helped wind his guitar lead back on to the stage. It was a great night, but I think I had something on early the next day!
5) Bob Evans - 26 May, Billy Hyde Music instore
Bob Evans played a short set at Billy Hyde promoting his album and Gibson guitars. It was beautiful - acoustic and heartfelt. I was the first audience member there and Kevin (Bob Evans) was there warming up and we had a bit of a chat. They got me sme water and I got a good spot. Disappointingly (but lucky for my friends and I), there weren't many people there to support Bob Evans. But it was personal and intimate. After the show, he signed a poster for me, I asked him for the lyrics to my favourite song - Hand Me Downs. He didn't remember the words, so I offered to play it on my iPod, but he asked me to sing them - hahaha. The lyrics are 'Í got nothing darlin', all I got are broken wings, and I need you more than ever now...'. Steve Poltz was there looking on and he recognised me from the May Bob Evans gig, so he said hi. And then when he parked behind my car, we had a laugh.
6) Pink - 22 June, Rod Laver Arena
Is there anything this woman can't do?! She sings, she dances, she does acrobatics! Wow! A couple of years ago I won some tickets (thanks again, Nova 100) and was quite hesitant in going to see her as I wasn't a huge fan of her music. But I was in awe and became a fan. When 2009 shows were announced, my manager asked me to get tickets for her as well, so I booked some for both of us. I was so excited to be going with her! This year she didn't disappoint - the costumes were amazing, the set list was satisfying and her acrobatics were thrilling. I loved it! So glad I went! I had won some more tickets in addition to the ones I purchased (again from Nova 100), but unfortunately due to my operation, I was too unwell to see Pink a second time this year. She is amazing. If ever you get the chance to see her - do it!!
So those are a few of the gigs I have been to in 2009. The most memorable ones. Other honourable mentions were - Bertie Blackman at the Toff in Town, Bob Evans for Myspace Music and Paul Kelly at the Melbourne Writers Festival.
In 2010 I'm booked for Steve Poltz, The Temper Trap, and Angus and Julia Stone. Long live the live music and I hope in 2010 there will be more of it!
