ABBA Voyage

 

ABBA Voyage – London

17 July 2023

 

Does this count? Was this really a concert? 

 

ABBA performing as digital versions of themselves (self-styled ABBA-tars) was always going to be a unique experience. While it was not perfect, it was almost like going back in a time machine and seeing ABBA in their heyday. They could easily have put on the CD of ABBA Gold and everyone would have been happy, but they didn’t do that. It flowed like a concert, it had audience interaction like a concert. It felt like a concert.

 

The best part of any concert is if you have an emotional connection with the performer. But can you really have an emotional connection with a performer if that performer is an avatar? It turns out that you can.

 

When the ABBA-tars were human sized they worked well. When they were blown up and projected on the large screen (as happens with every modern concert) it was a bit like watching a YouTube video. There were a couple of animated parts (I mean the whole thing was animated… but this was like a cut scene from a CGI film) that felt like filler and using footage of Waterloo from Eurovision in 1974, while a cute nod to their past, dragged me out of the performance. However, two of my concert companions particularly liked that part of the show, so clearly this view is not universal.

 

There was a live band on stage playing the music, while ABBA provided the vocals via tape. For one song the band took over and did a song by themselves while ABBA “walked off stage” and that’s when the concept actually came into sharp focus. With the ABBA vocals removed, it was exactly like seeing a good covers band. As talented as the band was, it was nothing special.

 

But with ABBA performing it was mesmerising – revealing the melancholy heart to these songs. Few bands perform such sunny melodies with such (bleak) heartbreaking lyrics. You have to go a long way to find finer songwriters and the vocal harmonies are unsurpassed.

 

For the more popular songs (SOS, Dancing Queen, etc…) I definitely had a physical and emotional response to the songs. That was completely unexpected. That’s more than can be said for some “real bands”.

 

So yes, it definitely counts.  This was a real concert.

 

Highly recommended.

Depeche Mode - Berlin Olympic Stadium

Depeche Mode

Olympic Stadium – Berlin

7 July 2023

 

“God, I wish that guy wasn’t so tall”.

 

It’s a different feeling when “that guy” blocking the view of the stage is your son and you’ve dragged him halfway around the world to see your favourite band. 

 

The last time I took my family to one of my favourite bands (U2 in Sydney) their response was polite at best, so I was a little nervous. “it was like seeing a bunch of old men on stage” “they were running out of breath”. Those were some of the comments. It felt a bit like U2 didn’t quite reach top gear. Not that they were phoning it in so much as they were keeping something in reserve if they needed it. It kind of felt a bit like they were cruising.

 

It turns out I had nothing to fear.

 

Seeing Depeche Mode in their spiritual home is definitely a bucket list item. They’ve got quite a history in the city (recorded 3 albums here) and I think the Berliners have taken them to heart.

 

To be fair, it took the band a little while to get out of first gear. They had a bit of a slow start by playing a couple of tracks from their (admittedly very good) new album but the crowd mostly tolerated those songs, rather than give them a euphoric reception. 

 

However, the crowd really lifted when they started playing their hits. It certainly felt like both the band and the audience went up a gear or two. Dave Gahan must surely be one of the greatest front men ever and you can see how the death of Andy Fletcher last year has brought him and Martin Gore closer together.

 

For a band that have has a career of 40 years they played something for everyone - 80s pop (Everything Counts and Just Can’t Get Enough) their black goth phase (Stripped), 90s classics (I Feel You, It’s No good) their big hits (Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Never Let Me Down) and more recent songs (Precious, Wrong).

 

One of the highlights might have been Violator album track “Waiting for the Night”. Martin and Dave’s voices combined beautifully and the harmony was carried by the crowd for minutes after the song was over. We would still be there singing if they hadn’t put on the afterburners (Sorry, I’ve taken this “gear analogy” a bit too far) and came home with a wet sail (now I’m mixing metaphors). Anyway, the closing trio of songs (Just Can’t Get Enough, Never Let Me Down Again and Personal Jesus) were more than enough to leave everyone happy.

 

They left nothing in the tank and certainly weren’t cruising.   

 

But never mind all that. What did that tall guy think about the concert?

 

Before the concert I was pretty confident I could predict my family’s reactions.   

I anticipated my “grow your own concert buddy” daughter would be very excited. She was. One down. 

The “tall guy” is the only proper musician in the family and is hard to please. He’s got very high standards. I was fearing what he would say.  But I saw him sing along to the songs and it looked like he had a great time.  That’s two!

My wife? I feared that she would probably not be happy having to stand for hours and complain about having a sore back and not being able to see. This also proved to be true. So, three from three for my predictions, but probably I’d need to work on the last one. 

 

Let’s chalk this down as a success.

 

But maybe next time we’ll get seats…

Archie - Live at the Polo

 

Chicago - Tim Murray Theatre CGS

 

Phoenix Collective - Tribute to Coldplay - All Saints Ainslie

 

Groovin the Moo

 

Fatboy Slim, Ball Park Music, Amy Shark (and Russell Crowe) and Confidence Man.

Groovin the Moo
23 April 2023
EPIC Showground Canberra

Cover songs can often tell you more about a band than their originals. While not all bands did covers at GTM, the ones that did gave a quick shorthand into the character of those bands.

The Chats did a cover of “Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss.  Kiss are, let me remind you, a band that wear make up, breathe fire and spits blood. Not a band known for its subtlety. The Chats made Kiss look like a band full of nuance and deft touches. They blasted through the song, like the rest of their set, at breakneck speed with little room for detail.

Amy Shark had added star power in her set with Maximus himself, Russell Crowe, helping sing one song. I’m still not entirely convinced by the singing skills of the Gladiator. As a singer he makes a great actor. He didn’t sing on her cover of “Mr Brightside”, but while the crowd loved the song, her version, much like the rest of her set, felt a step off the pace. All the elements were there except the magical x factor.  

Ocean Alley’s cover of “Baby Come Back” by Player was note perfect. Note perfect but impersonal. Six professional musicians playing professionally. Flawlessly. Efficiently. But not much else.

Ball Park Music are almost the perfect festival band. I know this sounds obvious, but I think their secret is that they have lots of really good songs in their catalogue that lots of people know. That’s easier said than done. I think part of the reason can be found in their choice of cover “You’ve got a friend in me” from Toy Story. It’s a little bit twee, a little bit clever, done un-ironically and a song that everyone knew and had an attachment to. Much like the rest of BPM’s set. You were in safe hands with them. A highlight of the festival.

Other bands that didn’t do covers but are worth mentioning were Nothing but Thieves from the UK.  They were great. BBNO$, a rapper from Canada, was really good doing an early afternoon set. He also had a guest on stage, but a drunk punter doesn’t quite match having the Gladiator as your guest. Confidence Man… super entertaining. Bordering on Milli Vanilli territory with their music but they provided something to watch at every moment. They put the show into show business.   

I could be a smart arse and say that Fat Boy Slim had a couple of covers in his set. But he’s a DJ and that’s the whole point… he sent us all home with a set of classics. Some his own, some borrowed. 

Harry Styles - Sydney Olympic Park

 

Harry Styles

Sydney Olympic Stadium

4 March 2023

 

 

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

 

The question came from my daughter.

 

She repeats it.

 

“Is that what you’re wearing. I can’t go to a concert with you if that’s what you’re wearing.”

 

Shouldn’t that conversation be reversed? Shouldn’t I be saying that to her?  But she looks fabulous. 

 

I don’t want this to be all about me, but I don’t think I’m too unstylish. It’s not like I wear the clothes that my dad wore (socks and sandals are a fashion crime. Let me just leave it at that).  Anyway, I think my outfit is fine.  

 

You know that you hear people say that things were better in their day? But what if we are wrong? Maybe (and don’t say this too loud) maybe the kids are right? They view their attendance at a concert as a vital part of the show. And you know what? They’re right. On Saturday night they came dressed the part. Feather boas, cowboy hats, sequins, costumes. The whole place was buzzing. There’s no doubt that the atmosphere was fantastic. 

 

When Harry himself made an appearance the excitement level went up a notch or two. I mean, of course he looked fabulous and you might bristle if I call him a singer-songwriter (isn’t he just an escapee from a boyband?). But his songs really speak to the current generation. There are modern concerns such as depression and anxiety mixed with timeless topics like heartbreak, love and loss.

 

The current king of pop (Grammy for album of the year no less) is an old school performer. I don’t know if he cut his teeth in the working clubs in the UK, but it sure feels like it. He can dance, sing, do some comedy and act a little. Yes, he’s your all round entertainer.  

 

The gig really had it all. Aside from "All singing, all dancing" Harry, it featured a duet with Daryl Braithwaite on Horses, a psychic reading and a gender reveal! No, I'm not making any of that up.

 

Special mention should go to Wet Leg. It was great seeing an indie band support such a major pop star.  But the star of the show was definitely Harry. And the crowd. They were singing along to the intermission music. I needed ear plugs not for the band, but for the crowd. 

 

So what was I wearing?  It turns out that I was the most underdressed man in Olympic Park. My daughter was right. Next time I’ll have to lift my game.