I'm back! And can I say, the trip was 100%, 1000% worth it. I'm so glad I went. I feel like a new person after spending 4 days on my own, in a city I love, catching up with people I haven't seen, in some cases, for over 20 years.
I wrote a really super-long blog post about my trip, then re-read it and realized no one else would be interested in it but me. So I'll summarize instead. With photos....
This is what I went to Melbourne for. They have been my favorite band since I discovered them in about 1987 and until last Sunday, I'd never seen them play live. That has now been remedied, and I saw them twice this week. I'm a huge music fan and have been to some pretty awesome gigs in my time. The Cramps on Halloween 1991 comes to mind. Kristen Hersh when she was touring Hips and Makers. NIN supported by The Wolfgang Press. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the Forum. All great shows, but nothing like as powerful and crazy as EN on stage.
I know their songs really well, but until now, I've had to imagine how they make the insane noises they make. Now I've seen it and it's even more impressive than I imagined. These guys are so innovative and crazy and talented. Not to mention funny....
The added bonus of this trip was the opportunity to see another of my favorite bands, Crime & The City Solution. Here's a picture of Alex Hacke and Mick Harvey who came and played on a few songs. Which was really awesome because he was in one of the early line-ups of this band. I'd been a little worried that I might be disappointed by them. It's been 22 years after all... But they were fantastic and played almost all my favorite songs along with some new ones that made me all the more excited about their upcoming album. It's called American Twilight in case you're interested... Out in March.
Tell me about your favorite bands. Have you ever been to a live show that has been transformative?
I think I'm a minority that I don't really enjoy going to concerts. I know, I'm weird. I will say that I saw Audio Adrenaline in High school and that was a super fun concert to attend just because of the energy level there.
ReplyDelete@Sara, I dont really enjoy concerts either. But when u say live shows does theater count? I love plays.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about bands because that's what I love the most, but theatre is great too. I'll never forget some of the plays I saw back when I was a drama student.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a live gig, it doesn't really appeal to me! But I may try one if it's for writing research :)
ReplyDeleteI love trips to the theatre and cinema, and if I could drum up any interest from my friends and family I'd give the opera a try too...if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I always remember that scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts says "I nearly pissed in my pants" and Richard Gere translates it into "Nearly as good as the prince of penzance"
The opera is fun! Expensive, a lot of the time, but you can sometimes get really cheap tickets at the last minute if the show hasn't sold out. I did that a few times when I lived in Berlin and got to see some wonderful productions.
DeleteJonny Lang, a young blues/rock singer is the BEST I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteI've seen him live twice.
Other landmark shows? My son's old band, The Tangents; Miles Davis, Stanley Clarke when he danced on the table as he played bass; hanging out with John McLaughlin backstage; Marc Anthony; James Brown (4 times); Velvet Revolver and on and on. I've seen at least 50 live concerts.
SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love traveling - especially by myself. Very empowering and freeing and happy and all those things...
Thanks! Me too. And the last time I traveled on my own was when I went to Berlin 10 years ago to meet up with the EN guys. So there's a certain symmetry there...
DeleteGlad you enjoyed yourself! I've been to a Japanese concert that was very eye opening. It was very casual (right down to the apparently rude jokes being made with the crowd) and I can't believe how much energy and enthusiasm she gave throughout the entire show, including the encores... she even came out to do an encore because the audience was still chanting while she was busy getting changed (t-shirt & tights). That's the most I've seen an artist give for the crowd.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been really fascinating.
DeleteThis is so cool! I used to go to tons of shows, but writing and book stuff kind of replaced it for me. Seeing U2 live was pretty great because I'd worshipped them for so long (even though the tour I saw wasn't that awesome; I really wish I'd seen them in the '90s). I loved seeing Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Chicago's Metro; they're a 3-piece garage rock kind of band but their sound is HUGE. I love pretty much any show at Metro though.
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