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17th March Adelaide -Seven Stars (with Liquid Blue and Dial) |
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We arrived at the venue just as Liquid Blue took to the stage. It was a good set with some great catchy songs. A very young band but the songwriting would suggest older heads on those young shoulders. My one criticism would be that some of the songs seemed longer than they should have been making them drag a little. Only my opinion though. Next on were Dial fronted by a lanky and energetic frontman, who bounded around the stage like a demented puppy. There were some very cool songs in the Beasties / American Skatepunk type thing. They even did a cover of Tone Loc's cover of Wild Thing ( I think that's what it was anyway). Enthusiasm aplenty, youthful exuberance, highly entertaining. After the boys had played their last song and had come of stage, it was time for me to panic and try to get the guitars n tune. Eve with the aid f a tuner, I still find tuning up guitars a stressful experience, especially when it is against the clock. I have been spoilt by years of efficient roadying. When eventually were ready and clambered unsteadily on-stage. The first half of the set was shambolic and difficult due to a poor mix on-stage (not the engineer's fault, I haste to add). I had Richard's acoustic guitar to play on Rose and Birthday, but unfortunately didn't have a strap for it so it had to be playing in sitting down stylee, I think the first time that I had sat down on-stage to play since my bad back days back in '95. After those songs, we did Queen Bitch and suddenly it all hung together, in fact the version off Shut Up was pretty impressive, in my opinion. I began to relax and finally I felt at home and begun to really enjoy myself. It all bodes very well for the rest of the tour. After the gig we did some serious drinking and ended up at a party somewhere in the suburbs. The host was Paul, but he was asleep already. We had a lovely time scavenging the last of the beers and having deep and meaningful discussion on just about every subject imaginable. I expect that it was 99% drunken bullshit, mind;-) We got back to Jason's place about 4am and slept the sleep of the drunk. |
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18th March - Adelaide - Austral (with King Krill) |
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After last night's success we were all looking forward to playing the Austral, I have heard great things about the venue and I wasn't to be disappointed.. We turned up at the venue at about 10ish unloaded the Tarago and stacked the gear up at the side of the stage. We watched King Krill do a quick soundcheck and then launch into 40 mins of great punk rock. They were excellent, such great songs played with a ferocity that haven't heard for while. They were also very loud and had my ears singing in sympathy. I kind of wish that I had my Grand Prix earplugs with me. So there you are King Krill louder than a formula one car and almost as fast! Nice one. We had a bit of a drama getting ready for the gig. Richard little handbag with all f his guitar bit had gone missing and was only found once he had legged it to the Tarago, parked a few blocks away. Also, we had organised a sound engineer for the gig and he was late turning up, though at one point that I was going to have to do the sound myself (a scary prospect). Luckily, Will, the engineer turned up in the nick of time and all of that worrisome adrenalin helped to make a top set from Abdoujaparov. Right from the very first chord of Nobody Less Rock n Roll through to the big cod-rock ending on Baby Food, it all felt right, Ozdoujaparov Abdoujaparoz was open for business and we rocked the house. The gig was augmented by some great dancing from the audience. Lot's of familiar faces from previous Adelaide gigs and some new smiles, at first hiding at the back of the venue but gradually edging forward and joining in the party atmosphere. I should mention that it was also the last night of Adelaide's festival. I felt as if we were unofficially performing the last night concert, accompanied by select and very important dignitaries. Yes, a very good night was had by everyone, thanks to everyone that came to the gigs in adelaide, see you next year, credit cards allowing ;-) Back To Australia 2000 Diary Index
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