see more live music

Ani’s coming back to Canberra in February. Tickets purchased. Should be a great night. Of course I’m longing for Serena Ryder to return: now that is a woman who’s voice can bring tears to your eyes. Second on my list Sarah McLachlan. But Ani’s up there, and the other two aren’t anywhere near Australia any time soon as far as I can tell…

one word to describe Serena Ryder in concert—and really I’m not exaggerating here. For anyone that has seen her live at a small intimate venue you will know what I mean—‘At Last’, and ‘Sing, Sing’—damn that girl’s got lungs. And once again the support act was excellent—Hawksley Workman—and we bought another new CD… his hip swaying, half hat on, moody ‘Autumn’s here’ brought tears to my eyes.

Funny that I was introduced to Hawksley as the support act for Serena as the support act for Missy Higgins…

Bought two tickets today to see Serena Ryder. She was one of the – very impressive – support acts at the Missy Higgins concert earlier this year. She’s a bit wacky in a cool kinda way and I imagine it will be even better seeing her at the lovely intimate venue that is Tilley’s Devine Cafe.

What an amazing jazz musician—my dream concert would be a 1960s tour of the Kind of Blue album.

One of the few times I wish I was born a generation earlier!

and – believe it or not – I’d love to see him, but it doesn’t look like Australia rates up there high enough to be included in his touring schedule.

If only to see the opening song at a concert when he stands head down, feet wide, tapping his right foot, with the mic stand between his legs in true rock style singing perhaps Sweet Caroline or Holy Holy – I’ve done this myself at home when getting carried away pretending to be him (it is quite convincing, really!) – of course, the Neil Diamond I imagine is in his 30s, has huge hair, and is very cool in a 1970s rock star kinda way (see Hot August Night album cover above!).

Mike was at the ANU on the weekend and saw a promo poster for the Sarah Blaskco concert and promptly called me to let me know, I met him later for lunch and he’d bought two tickets (a pretty good deal I think!)—looking forward to it, she was great at the Falls Festival earlier this year, and let’s face it she’s a pretty cool looking chicky too…

from uni and I used to say in life you only need a few things: good food, good company and good music.

And live music - it has to be said - is the ultimate. I’ve been lucky enough to see quite a lot of live music over the past few years, and each time I do I realise just how damn good it is.

I don’t know if it’s just me becoming a big wuzz (sp?) but I’ve found myself with tears in my eyes at quite a few concerts lately: Billy Bragg singing The Power of the Union at Falls Festival, Ani DeFranco’s Next Bold Move, Gillian Welch’s amazing un-miked last song at the Playhouse, Sarah McLachlan’s Push & Answer, Missy Higgin’s Special Two (I would have been worse if she sang Any day Now, but she didn’t did she!). Sometimes it’s the lyrics, sometimes it’s understanding why the song was written in the first place, but then sometimes it’s just because the music itself is so beautiful… but it’s all the more powerful because it’s live.

Another good thing about going to concerts is you get exposed to other artists; after all if someone’s been chosen as a support act by an artist you like there’s a pretty good chance you’re gonna like their music too. Serena Ryder was one of the support acts at the Missy Higgins concert last week—and all I can say is you go girl. M bought her CD (or did I?), regardless we ended up with CDs of both the support acts…