Roxette - live at Rod Laver Arena

Roxette
Rod Laver Arena Melbourne
22 February 2012
Concert and meet and greet

I was incredibly excited to win tickets to see Roxette and meet them last night. My friend Joel and I (you may remember Joel from when he rubbed nipples with Steve Poltz way back in January last year) had dinner (Mexican) and drinks (Sangria) at the night markets and then excitedly made the walk to Rod Laver Arena.

On the way we saw a bagpipe playing bird - Joel posed for photos - and this set the scene for a fun night ahead.

Before the meet and greet, I bought a program, and then we waited for the tour representative to fetch us and the other winners to enter the stadium.

One of the reasons I have been slow in posting this review is because I wasn't sure how I would write about the meet and greet without sounding resentful. I'll try my best. The chance to meet Roxette was an amazing opportunity. They're a huge band. The meet and greet was very brief, and very impersonal. I understand that there were time constraints and they were there to perform a show. But there were only 10 of us there to meet them, and some of the people seemed like HUGE fans. Two members of the Roxette crew advised us that we were only able to have one item signed, and that we weren't able to take individual photos with the band or of the meeting. When we did take photos, we weren't allowed to have flashes on. Someone volunteered their camera for the crew to take some candid shots and one group shot at the end. That person will email the pictures around the group. I have not yet received these pictures, I hope to soon.

We waited around 15 minutes to meet the band as we waited in the corridor then the green room. We were all really excited - I know I'd been counting down the days.

When they entered the greenroom, it was an exciting moment. I met Per Gessle first. Here's the only photo Joel took on his phone - I ran it through Instagram and like it this way.

 

I said hello and he signed my CD cover. That was it really. It was so quick that I don't remember what else I said to him or what he said to me, other than hello. He was very happy and smiley.

Before I met  Marie Fredrieksson I took a couple of photos, but they're not that great I am sorry. 

Marie had the nicest leather jacket on that I've ever seen. Soft white, with a Beatles tee underneath. She is tiny. I said hello, gave her the blog post I wrote about Crash Boom Bang, and she signed my program. I asked for a quick photo - looking at the camera - as Joel was there posed with my camera, but she said we'd take one at the end. 

And I managed to get this one of Joel and Marie, but very little of them on screen! 

And that was that. They were both so nice, and I am really grateful for the wonderful opportunity, but I wished it was a little longer.

Unfortunately we missed the support act 1927, but we heard them sing their biggest hit If I Could. A lot of the women at the meet and greet said they wish they could have seen 1927!

Our seats were great - all the meet and greet winners were in Row H on the floor.

The concert was amazing. Really! Roxette have bgeen a band that I've loved for a long time but thought I'd never see. They played all their hits - a very extensive catalogue - plus some new songs.

The show opened with Dressed for Success and continued with Fading Like A Flower, Spending My Time, Almost Unreal, Sleeping in My Car, Joyride (where bouncy balls were released, see my picture above!), Listen To Your Heart, Dangerous and more, ending with The Look. 

Despite the song with the sad lyrics, Per was happy all the time. At times it reminded me of a Eurovision concert, in a good way. It was fun! He danced around the stage, smiling and playing guitar. And he could sing!

Marie's voice wowed me. So very powerful. She seemed to have limited movement, perhaps due to illness in 2002, but she gave it her all.

The best bit - like the Cold Chisel concert - was that we all sang along. The audience sounded amazing.

One of the guitarists did a solo of Waltzing Matilda, which was Joel's favourite part. My favourite was Crash Boom Bang, which I recorded.

It was a really fun night. As I wrote, the opportunity to meet the band was fantastic, I only wish it was longer and more personal. Thanks so much to Mix FM for the tickets.

A funny (and special) story about the Kings of Leon Melbourne concert (and their crew)

So I had another blog entry scheduled for this morning, but in my excitement, I need to tell you this story. It is A funny (and special) story about the Kings of Leon Melbourne concert (and their crew). It's not really a review. One will come.

I went to the Kings of Leon gig at Rod Laver Arena last night. I went on my own, so it simply wasn't safe enough to be in the middle of the mosh. But then, I want to be able to see the band on stage, and being five foot one, it's difficult standing any further than three rows back. So I positioned myself in a safe spot with good airflow on the left side of the stage, in the front row against the barrier. I was the last person in the front row.

Before the show, I figured out this side of the stage was near the backstage section. There were lots of security guards and official VIPs standing around and going through a door. At one point, the door was open enough to see Jared Followill putting his jacket on, and Caleb Followill's red check shirt.

1. 

So I was dancing and singing my heart out to Closer, when a VIP with a lanyard walked out of the audience, and came back in to slip me a signed guitar pick! That was pretty cool. I had a look at his lanyard, and thanked him. Turns out, he is Doug Chabbott, Jared Followill's bestie, according to google.

Then, a burly yet friendly crew man with a headset tapped me on the arm after Fans and slipped me another guitar pick! This one is a bit worn, maybe just used.

I have a guitar, should I start playing it?

A bit later, the same crew member walked by and I smiled at me. He went up to the side part of the stage and came back down with a drum stick. He gave this to me too! All these instrument tools! He told me the drum stick was from Nathan Followill's stash on stage.

The show went on, I was really enjoying it! The band played well and there was a lot of energy in the audience. I was especially pleased for the amount of songs played from Because of the Times.

Another crew member gave two setlists and a guitar pick to a very excited girl on the balcony who was cheering the whole time. She was so overwhelmed and happy she cried!! It was a lovely gesture to see.

The show ended and I stood waiting to go out. Doug Chabbott smiled at me telling me I did pretty well during the night! Another crew man gave me another drum stick. So that's two drum sticks and two guitar picks.

And as I was getting ready to go out, a ruffled mohawk guy walked off stage, gave me a setlist, and said in his gorgeous American accent, "thanks for coming out tonight".

It was so lovely to be treated special by the crew. Really nice guys! And I couldn't figure out why I was getting such special treatment. I showed no boob, and was really just having a good time!

Now, if only I got a member of the band, I'll be set!!

Thanks Kings of Leon crew for making my night! This has certainly been a great fortnight of music!!

Muse concert - a visual review

Muse
Rod Laver Arena Melbourne
15 December 2010

Muse are amazing live. I didn't realise this when I saw them at the Big Day Out in 2004.

Bold, flamboyant, colourful, dramatic, orchestral, falsetto, loud, rocking, fast, loud, blinding, egotistical.

Podiums topped with revolving stages and light shows spectacular. I thought the stage and lighshow was more appealing than U2's claw.

A silver glitter suit was worn by Matt Bellamy, reflecting all colours of the lights. He played guitars, a keytar and a glass topped neon keyed piano.

Giant bouncing (eye) balls were thrown into the crowd. Representations of the corporation were lit up on the sides of the podiums, resembling buildings. Laser lights projected at all angles into the crowd. And the front man threw his guitar.

The crowd was energetic and dedicated. Moshing, air punching and singing in every song. Being at the concert was like being in a whirring, flashing machine. It was so amazing.

I can't write about music well enough to do Muse's show justice. There are plenty of other reviews of their Tuesday night Melbourne gig:
And Pluck Your Strings
Undercover
The Age/SMH
Herald Sun


And of the gig I saw:
Take 40

Here is the setlist.

And here is a short video I took of Time is Running Out.

Enjoy my photos. It was such a brilliant concert.

Crowded House concert review

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.

The set list can be found here.

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.