Sunday, August 30, 2009

Anberlin/The Academy Is... - August 28th 2009

It's not secret I will line up early for concerts because I want that barrier spot! However, running a bit late for this one (if by late I meant we got there at 4.15 to line up rather than 3 or 3.30....for a 7 pm start =I) there was a good 30-40 people already in line. Oh well, as long as I can see at the end of the day that's all that matters.

As I sat down, ready to sit out the wait, I listened to the convos going on around me. After an hour or so a guy came up and asked Renae and I who the line up was for. Renae replied 'The Academy Is... and Anberl....' before she got cut off by some loud girls in front of us 'IT'S FOR ANBERLIN! God!' Chill out girls. Don't get your panties in a twist...she was just about to say Anberlin as well. Settle down.

Lining up I remembered why I wasn't a fan of underage gigs. Generally in an over 18s concert/line up you can meet some rad people, and have decent convos about the music rather than have to listen to the girls in front of you talking as though no one else is allowed to be a fan of the band, and because how they met the band once, it must mean they own them. Clearly...

Wherewolves were first to kick of the night. The band from Brisbane, previously known as 'A Year To Remember' performed well, and although I didn't know many of the songs that well, it was enough to convince me to buy their music. Their energy and presence on stage was good, and they seemed like genuine guys, just out there doing what they love. I would recommend checking them out, if you don't know them already.

After a wait, and a lot of pushing from one side to the other, it was time for The Academy Is... to enter. Pretty much the moment I have been waiting for, for 3 years now. Although I sometimes feel the urge to hack off tall peoples heads in mosh pits, I instead just resorted to standing on my tippy toes. The mood in the air was infectious, and all I had to do was see the 5 silhouettes of the boys on stage, before a massive grin broke out on my face. This grin soon vanished when the girl in the wheelchair STOOD up in front of me. Ok um thanks.
I am all for people in wheelchairs being able to attend concerts - they deserve to yes. But in the middle of a mosh pit, I just think is ridiculous - it's not safe for them or for others. Example - before TAI came on, I was exhausted enough trying to hold back from hundreds of people pushing on me, just so I wouldn't fall on this girl and her wheelchair. This is no easy feat when you weigh 45kg, and you have people pushing you from all directions. My sister was nearly in tears as she kept being repeatedly shoved in the wheel of the chair, injuring her legs. Yes moshpits are always going to be this way and you are going to be pushed, I understand that. But if the option is there to be able to watch from somewhere else, then people should take it up at the time, rather than wait halfway through The Academy Is... set before knowing that it couldn't be done anymore, and both girl and wheelchair had to exit the mosh. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it was a very frustrating situation - I don't blame the girl in the slightest, she did deserve to see the concert as much as anyone else, i just don't think the middle of a mosh is the best place to do this.

Anyway - The Academy Is... opened with Almost Here, a song I had an absolute obsession with a couple years back. I was excited to see it live. Williams vocals were near perfect throughout the whole show, and he played with a massive smile on his face as he took in the crowd. His energy & charisma on stage as a frontman is amazing. He had the crowd wrapped around his finger completely.
The setlist was a great mix of the old and new stuff. The chanting of the crowd back and the energy all up in the mosh, took me by surprise with everyones crazy enthusiasm, but all in all it was a great environment to be part of.
Our favourite Aussie Michael Guy Chislett, showed off his incredible guitar skills, particularly with a little solo at the end of After The Last Midtown Show.
The energy of both band and crowd were still high, as they finished off with 'About A Girl,' to thunderous cheers and screams, with William promising to see us next year.
During one point of the night, my face squashed between the arms of two other people, I had a little eye sex with Chislett. (Sorry couldn't resist)
Anyway, I made slight eye contact, and he went to throw his pick, but it did a weird swerve mid air and I have no idea what happened to it. I wouldn't have been able to catch it anyway because I was quite clearly in an awkward position. Fave songs of the night were Checkmarks, We've Got A Big Mess On Our Hands, Slow Down and After The Last Midtown show. Every song performed however, was amazing - I would go back and see them live again and again faster than you could say 'Santi'

I exited the mosh after The Academy Is... honestly I only went to see them. So I dwelled near the back for Anberlin, concentrating on the music and vocals rather than having to worry about not falling over. Always a bonus.
Stephen Christians vocals were spot on - he does have a strange voice in some ways - well it's unique. But man does he have some pipes on him.
I enjoyed Anberlin live, musically and vocally they were fantastic. However I don't know if it's because i am not a huge fan, but halfway through their set, all the songs seemed to blur in together, and it just didn't sound diverse or exciting.
Feel Good Drag and Paperthin Hymn were the standout tracks for me. I personally feel they should have ended on Feel Good Drag --> The audience seemed to pick up again for that song, and it would have been an awesome way to end the night.
Anberlin fans may disagree, but the general consensus I heard from people (myself included) is that The Academy Is... stole the night. However after seeing Anberlin live, I do have a lot more respect for them. I did enjoy their live music/vocals more than I did on the CDs.

All in all it was a great night musically, with all bands impressing. Now having fulfilled my 3/4 year dream of seeing The Academy Is..., I am just counting down till they are back again. Who agrees with me in that they should come back and HEADLINE a tour? I think it's about time!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Katy Perry - 17/08/1990

On Monday, 17th of August, I travelled to Sydney to witness Katy Perry in her Hello Katy tour. The cutesy singer, made famous and propelled into international stardom by her hit single 'I Kissed A Girl' has been touring extensively for last 7 months or so, and finally brought her show to the land down under.

After lining up for an hour or so, counting how many times the girl and her mother in front of us felt the need to stare at us (which was over 30 times within about 10 minutes or so...I mean really c'mon. Take a photo?) we entered Enmore Theatre, with a variety of people of all different ages, ethinicites and sexualities...this included some Drag Queens (who later joined Katy on stage for 'Hot N Cold')

Opening band 'Kid Confucius' burst onto the stage...and I counted down the minutes until they'd run back off again. I never thought it was possible to daydream in the middle of a set...well guess what... it is. The lead singer, alternated between singing and attempting to make some weird growling noise like he was about to cough up phlegm from the back of his throat, while managing to continue shaking his shoulders and upper body (including slight man boobage and tummy) in some supposed 'I am so feeling my music right now' which really came across as 'I look like I am about to have a seizure.' During one song, his hand travelled to his groin repeatedly - he wasn't so much feeling the music as feeling himself. I mean C'mon, it's a Katy Perry concert, there are little kids in the crowd!

After what seemed liked ages, it was time for them to leave. Kthnxbai. I hope I never have to witness that again.

Throughout the half an hour or so wait for Katy Perry to make her entrance, the crowd chattered amongst themselves, before screaming loudly whenever another stage prop was brought on. Eventually a crowd chant of 'Katy Katy Katy' went up, before dying, and then repeating itself. The enthusiasm in the air was contagious, and the excitement levels continued to rise as it the 9pm mark passed.

The lights dimmed, and Katy's band filed onto stage, all wearing pink suits of some sort, soon followed by the woman of the hour, Katy Perry, dressed in a sparkly little red outfit, slightly similar to a wonder woman looking costume. She opened straight into Fingerprints, with a great deal of energy from the get go. She looked genuinely pleased and happy to be there, a big smile of her face, as she danced around the stage.

Katy sang every song from her album, while also covering 'Please Mr Postman', 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and 'Don't Stop Me Now.' Crowd pleasers were definetely her hit singles - Hot N Cold, Waking Up In Vegas, and I Kissed A Girl - with the crowd dancing and jumping crazily, the energy in the place electric when these hits were played. Katy showed off her talent and versatility when she slowed things down with 'Thinking Of You' - a performance she did entirely on her own playing acoustic guitar, and which was successful in showcasing her unique voice.

All in all - Katy is a great entertainer. Her banter with the crowd was natural and effortless, and she is also quite funny, not mention stunning. Guys and girls alike fell in love with her dynamic personality. While the show may have hit some small slumps, she was quick to pick up performances again with her great energy on stage. Her voice is really quite powerful, which she demonstrated when singing her softer songs.
To end the night, Katy brought down the house with her catchy hit single 'I Kissed A Girl' while dancing around stage with an inflatable 'cherry chapstick.' She promised the crowd a new album very soon, and with one last huge smile and wave, the petite singer ran off stage to numerous high pitched screams and squeals from her adoring fanbase.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Rom-coms - can be a singles nightmare

Like any other girl I like watching a good romantic flick, whether it is a rom-com or a romance of a more serious nature. But like any other single girl, sometimes these movies leave us feeling wistful and maybe with the slightest feeling of sadness, rather than feeling fulfilled and satisfied at the ending.

I just finished watching 27 dresses - While an enjoyable film, it's hardly a masterpiece. The good kind of one to watch on a rainy day, when you want a bit of mindless entertainment. Through watching this movie, I went through a bit of romantic-comedy bipolar. Romantic movies, with that sweet, happy ending can be a single girls enemy.

We were raised on fairytales and false beliefs - prince charming will come along one day and rescue us all. As we grow up we meet reality - Finding your prince charming is not quite an easy take....if it even happens at all.

We all desire that happy ending - the one we first discovered in fairytales, and the ones that are played out for us in numerous movies. We want to find that man that will sweep us off our feet, that makes us smile without even having to say a word, that is our protector and defender. We watch these movies with smiles on our faces when the romance between the two central characters work out, trying to ignore the pang of jealousy in our stomachs as we inevitably think of ourselves and our own personal situation, wishing it was as simple as the movie.

These leads us to the concept of fantasy man. As I watched 27 dresses, I fell in lust with James Marsdens character - Good looking, charismatic, intelligent, with that little bit of cynical sarcasm. And this is what we females tend to do - at the end of the day, are we too caught up in finding that fairytale ending, and missing what's right under our noses?

Because while these films make us start the wishful thinking and make us ask those questions - Why can't I find a man like this? When will romance come into my life? Am I really just an ugly, pathetic single girl who has no chance of finding anyone? - Ultimately we are forgetting the bigger picture and the REALITY behind all this.

Sure romantic comedy movies tend to use the happily ever after approach - Because let's face it, if we watched 27 Dresses, only to have James Marsdens character killed in the end, and left Katherine Heigels character to wallow in self pity and ended it there, we would come away from the film complaining about the ending - How it was unfair, why couldn't it just end happily? rah rah rah. At the end of the day, we can't have it both ways.

And at the end of the day, happily ever after isn't an easy concept - While it's fine to end a movie like that, realistically we have to realise that
a) we probably won't find a man that we consider perfect and;
b) a relationship will always take hard work, and you have to give and take in order to make it flourish.

Because while 27 Dresses has a lovely ending, realistically a few years later down the track, Katherine would be shouting to James to pick up some milk on his way home from work, while she attempts to get in her workclothes and feed a crying child at the same time. James would be stressing over another newspaper deadline and massaging his temples near his receding hairline.

So when watching movies like this, it is important to remember - it is just a movie. Not a guideline to how our lives should play out. While meeting prince charming and living happily ever after may not exist, it is possible to fall in love with the right person for you, accepting flaws and all, and still live happily, if you put in the effort.