Les is more: everyone is searching for the meaning of life - TISM at Sydney Opera House!

The last time I saw TISM was in 1994 at The Big Day Out (Soundgarden, Ramones, and Bjork headlining!) They played on The Horden stage and I had no idea what to expect and they blew my mind! It was a wild show, I stayed near the back, my bf at the time right up front grabbing the guys as they surfed the crowd and mucked about with everyone! I loved their costumes, all black in this instance with the classic face mask. 

I was thrilled when the Opera House show was announced. Andrew is also a huge fan, but those first tickets sold our fast and we missed out. We were amused by the venue, Sydney Opera House seemed a little high brow for TISM but that added to the attraction, when the second show came up we were lucky enough to get seats...phew! Friends also got tickets to the same show, so this added to the excitement.

Leading up to the show we were talking about it, but couldn't believe the amount of blank faces when we mentioned TISM. Some people immediately were wow that's amazing, whilst most needed who they were to be explained...which is not difficult but you do sound a little odd.

After a great meal at Circular Quay, Whalebridge - highly recommend - we headed to the Opera House. We had already seen a huge group of the TISM fanclub walking towards the venue, dressed from tuxedos to TISM masks and tracky daks, they were shouting and clapping, 'TISM are wankers' - this perfectly set the tone for the evening.

I love shows at Sydney Opera House, it is always a thrill that never wears thin. It is a stunning venue. We had good seats, the final row of the first section towards the middle. Andrew did very well with these. The anticipation of a show, watching everyone file in is another thrill I will never tire of. The crowd was a mix of young and old, hip and bogan, such is the pull of TISM.

After the wonderful Welcome to Country that the House does so well, things started.

Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber played, we were at the Opera House after all including some TISM songs, and then a choir walked on to the stage - The Sydney University Madrigal Society and sung a beautifully executed operatic version of Philiip Glass's Arse. They were accompanied by Eugene de la Hot Croix Bun on the Opera House organ!

As they were finishing the boys (well they would be in their 50s and 60s now) came out in the most spectacular outfits. Large black smock type dresses with a tall pointy silver hat looking a little like the sails of the Opera, or a bishop or the KKK...so you know, on message!

And we went straight into (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River - or as it is also know, I'm on the drug, I'm on the drug...that killed River Phoenix.

It's a fave and it has one of the most prophetic lines in musical lyrics:

"Now I'm bored and there's no stopping

I need another celeb to fill a coffin

Where'll I get my next drug action?

Odds on it'll be Michael Jackson"

With this we were on our feet and dancing and singing/shouting. The crowd were loving the night, it was a buzz. Probably one of the best crowds we have been in for a long time.

During this Ron Hitler-Barassi 'fell' into the crowd and seemed to struggle to get up and when he finally surfaced he was only partially dressed and his hat was gone, and now placed firmly on the head of a happy punter - this happened the night previous, so part of the gig, but still fun!

There was plenty of crowd surfing, antics, hilarity, and everyone was just loving it.

Punk, rock, political, silly, quirky and utterly mesmerising. With them doing their usual dance moves for each song, they always had stamina, but at their age, they were fighting fit!

About halfway through large puppet sized versions of their outfits came out and added to the spectacle on stage.

On more than one occasion Humphrey B Flaubert crowd surfed all the way to the back, and we got to get up close and personal with him.

For such an anti-establishment band, playing the Opera House was laden with a lot of irony. They had a huge crew looking after them as they moved throughout the audience.

After playing Machievelli and the Four Seasons, we got best hits and deep cuts until the show ended after 80 mins. Exactly as you wished and hoped!

We danced, we laughed, we sang!!

This was a concert for the ages, and we all left on a high! 

Setlist

Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 - Samuel Barber

Into with Jung Talent Time, Garbage, All Homeboys are Dickheads

Philip Glass's Arse - Sydney University Madrigal Society

The Art/Income Dialectic - Eugene on the Opera House organ

(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River

Russia

Diatribe

Garbage

Lose Your Delusion II

All Homeboys Are Dickheads

!UOY Sevol Natas

What Nationality is Les Murray?

Saturday Night Palsy

Strictly Loungeroom

Play Mistral for Me

How Do I Love Thee?

I'll 'ave Ya

Jung Talent Time

Greg! The Stop Sign!

Aussiemandias

I'm interested in Apathy

Whatareya?

Encore

Old Skool TISM

Defecate on MY Face

Give Up for Australia

The Year in Music: 1995

1995 was all about Britpop, and Oasis versus Blur.

 

I liked them both, but Blur never had a hope once (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was released. One of the greatest British albums ever released and a huge favourite of mine, then...and still.

The singles in 1995 were Some might say, Roll with it, Wonderwall, Morning Glory. Wonderwall is a stunning tune that was everywhere that year and covered instantly, over the years the song became a bit played out for me, but I heard it for the first time in ages recently during an episode of Girls and it got me a little undone, sometimes lyrics touch a part of you that you thought you had forgotten.

 

 

So Blur had Country House, Pulp had Common People, and Supergrass thought it was Alright. I love the filmclip, it reminds me of The Goodies!

 

 

Annie Lennox had a huge hit with the stunning No More I love You's, while Chris Isaak's Baby did a bad bad thing, and the Pretenders had I'll Stand by you. And Nine Inch Nails released Hurt, now almost redundant after being covered by the late great Johnny Cash in 2002. Reznor himself prefers Johnny's version. 

Other popular hits I didn't mind were I'll be there for you by The Rembrandts (you would think constantly hearing it on Friends each week would dampen it, but no!), TLC's Waterfalls, and the biggies were Alanis Morrissette with You Outta Know and Gangster's paradise by Coolio. I admit these two were not quite to my taste at the time but have grown on me over the years.

 

The indie scene was still pumping with Misery by Soul Asylum, Sick of myself by Matthew Sweet, A Girl like You by Edwyn Collins, I can dream by Skunk Anansie, Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub. But my personal favourites were Carnival by Natalie Merchant, Underground by Ben Folds Five, Zombie by The Cranberries, and Buddy Holly by Weezer

 

Australian music was on fire. Everyone was gobsmacked at the hit duet of the year by Kylie and Nick, at the time going through an anti-Kylie period I was thrilled to see her smashed in the head by a rock and wondered what the hell was going on with Nick! Of course it gave her instant cred that even cynical ole me couldn't fight! Funk and dance were happily covered by Regurgitator and Blubber Boy, Apple Eyes by Swoop and Up to our necks in it by Skunkhour. Rebecca's Empire had Empty and Christine Anu released the seminal My Island Home. The Whitlams had their first hit with I make Hamburgers and of course You Am I released Hi Fi Way, how could I not love Cathy's Clown, but the angsty Tim singing Purple Sneakers did it for me...sigh...

 

And then there was TISM!!! God I loved these guys, if you don't know them, the only way to explain is to watch their seminal song and biggest hit, (He'll never be an ol') Man River. They wore the costumes to protect their identities, rumour had it they were prominent Melbourne business men! I saw them live at the Big Day Out and was amused and amazed.

 

My Top Five for the year are (in no order)

 

Apartment by Custard

Custard were huge favourites, a catchy pop/thrashy guitar band from Brisbane and in my mind totally underrated. The filmclip is so Dave, astronauts and the Opera House. I never saw them live, but saw Dave play a solo show about 8 years ago, he was spectacular!

 

It's oh so quiet by Bjork

This is such a catchy tune, almost a 30s show tune, but with Bjork sensibilities, great clip too! Another Spike Jonze, he was the hot music clip director at the time.

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something

This is a sweet pop song and it references a favourite movie, how could this not make my top five!?!  Plus fab video shot in NYC!

 

Better Man by Pearl Jam

My favourite Pearl Jam song ever, love this for many, many reasons, there is nothing more to say. It means more to me now than it did then though. The fact Vedder wrote this in high school only makes its appeal stronger. What a remarkable heart.

Lightning Crashes by Live

A haunting song with stunning vocals...that is all...

 

AND THIS:::

 

Miss Sarajevo by Passengers (U2 and Pavarotti with Brian Eno)

And I don't even know where to include this...a piece of history and perfection.

I saw this performed live by U2 the last time I saw them, Bono sung the entire piece, and whilst he is no Pavarotti, it was a remarkable performance, one that sent shivers up my spine. That aria within brings me to tears...every...single...time...