1st Sydney Show Review...

[stoliboy]

Hey guys...

Just got back from the concert. It helps that I live in Enmore and am back at the house about 10 minutes after the gig finished. Others can expand on this...

This is what I can remember of the gig...

Bit 4
Now & Then
A100
Mina Loy
Camera Eye
... after this is is a bit of a blur but songs like Walking Shade, To love Sombody, Pretty Pretty Star, Dia, Never Too Young, + one song I did not recognise (perhaps new).

Encore was

A Long Way to the Top
+ Some other new song (not sure)

Near the end of Mina Loy one of the side lights fell over and nearly landed on the crowd. The gig was help up for about 10 minutes whilst a group of roadies tried to get it back up and working. In the meantime the gig was put on hold and Billy used the time to talk to the crowd... a few Crocodile hunter references, he talked about how he meets Aussies all over the world who keep asking "When are you coming to Australia MATE"... and that Aussies are really upfront with him everywhere on his career i.e. what music he should be playing, when he should be playing it... Some guy was calling out for 1979 and the crowd booed. Another guy yelled out something and Billy said it was the guy who he slept with last night wanting attention... he was working the crowd well.

After the encore was finished Billy annoucned the second show at the Marquee tomorrow night. He said it was an acoustic show, $15, forst come first served. He said there was no excuse that in a few years you could say you did not know about it.

He also said that there would be no protective barrier between the crowd and him, so he could kick people's arses if they yelled out stupid things like 1979

He then asked where the guy was who yelled out 1979 so he could kick his arse now They guy actually came up and Billy pulled down his suspender staps like he was going to have a spar ... the guy took the microphone and went, "how ya going Billy"... was pretty funny. They then shook hands.

He also said that it was a special one of and hinted (in my interpretation) that he might play some Pumpkin songs... I hope so. Although I could have misinterpreted this.

Anyways... that's what I can remember for now.

Others can expand... if I remember anything else I'll add it on.

Ben

[stoliboy]

Actually one more thing... after the encore he made a joke about the album sucking He also said that fans like us made him continue to have faith in music and stuff... very nice.

[kingy]

Yeah was awesome show.
I thought the solo at the end of To Love Somebody and Sitting on top of the world were the highlights. He looked like he was really enjoying himself in Sitting on top and he seemed generally happy.

He didn't let the few people calling out for pumpkins stuff get to him.
I almost got a guitar pick that he chucked into the crowd... it fell on the ground and we were looking for it and this kid next to me picked it up just as we both saw it. The banter was great too.

I was suprised he didn't play I'm a King Bee, probably fearing pumpkins request repurcussions. He played a song I didn't recognise around mid way.. it was pretty soft and Linda sang along with him. Something about goign through airport security. It was pretty good song.

Overall a great show. ;D

[stoliboy]

Kingy... looking of SPFC I think it is 'Just A Song Before I Go' by Crosby, Stills & Nash.

I remember the lines "Travelling twice the speed of sound, It's easy to get burned."

www.spfc.org/songs-releases/song.html?song_id=822&song_type=6

[neverchange]

loved the show... amazing... dream come true for me... 1st time seeing him after 7 years of idolising the SP... worth the damn wait. Yes, annoying idiots screaming out stupid things.
2 bad i cant make it tomorrow... rock on guys

[jubjub]

It was indeed a great show IMO.

The light show was great! The band was great too. The drummer guy was cool the way he really got into it. And the girl (Linda Strawberry right?) was pretty hot. The songs all sounded great live.

At first when Billy came onstage he looked unhappy and as I had never seen him live before I was a bit down about that. But then they got into it, at first he seemed abit out of it but got more into it as the show progressed. I actually think the lighting screw up after two songs was a good thing, because it made billy talk to the crowd. This allowed for a more relaxed atmosphere for both him and the crowd I think.

The show was one of those great ones for me where it just went by like a dream, I was watching intently the whole time. I fear that alot of the rest of the audience didn't know the album well though, to their own detriment. I was sitting in the chairs just behind the dancefloor and had a great view (everyone stood). But I was one of the few people actually nodding my head up and down, getting into it, and singing along in parts). Maybe it was just trendy for some people to be there?

In regards to his getting angry about people calling out pumpklins songs, I still dont get that. They are his songs, he wrote them, he shouldn't get angry if people request them! Other solo artists such as Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and others all play the hits of their former bands when playing solo. Billy doesn't have to play pumpkins songs if he doesn't want to, but shouldn't get angry if songs that HE WROTE are requested.

When Billy announced that the secret gig would be at the 'marquee' I was like shit wheres that? So were a few others walking out. Luckily at the bustop I asked a guy with a billy corgan t-shirt on and he showed me one of those bits of paper with the info, so I put it in my phone. I'll probly go tonight, but maybe not. Im wondering if i'll be able to rock up at 6:55 and get tickets? Or will I have to line up from like 12 midday?

On another note, Long way to the top was a great cover.

[stoliboy]

Hey jubjub and all... I am getting to the Marquee at about 5:00pm. I'll be wearing a lanyard so look for that.

[closer]

there are allready about 70 ppl queued @ the marquee, some of which camped there overnight..

but im thinking if you get there in the next few hours you are guaranteed tickets

[stoliboy]

closer said:

there are allready about 70 ppl queued @ the marquee, some of which camped there overnight..

but im thinking if you get there in the next few hours you are guaranteed tickets

damn I have work... won't finish until 4:30pm

[rocket]

The man himself was awesome last night-the way he interacted with the crowd. He actually came across as a nice person-people don't see that enough! And thanking us a the end for keeping his faith in music-that was just phenomenal.

As for the "secret" gig at the marquee, I think I'll just wait till the pumpkins reform, because that's really what I want to hear. I just couldn't connect with the songs on TFE on nearly the same level as Pumpkins Songs-and I have given them quite a fair go. During the enmore gig, I really felt quite flat in most parts-the only parts I really enjoyed were Corgans Solos, the light show and his interaction with the crowd.

BTW Linda Strawberry's pretty hot!