JANUARY ROUND UP

Hello 2014, one month down (and a bit) already and what a splendiferous month it has been!!!

 

I spent more time in Sydney this month than I have spent in years. When I was much younger I was in and out of Sydney all the time, enjoyed it, had fun, shopped even...but then I discovered Melbourne and it kinda paled in comparison. I still went and there is nothing like driving over the bridge and seeing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and hanging out around those areas, but it's all a bit splashy with no soul, money but no sense if you will!

But Melbourne, ahhh, there is something that makes me feel at home immediately, the art, the ease of moving about, the later starts, the trams, I even shop in Melbourne (not normally a fan of shopping) mostly as you feel like you are exploring and not shopping at all, the food, the laneways, the architecture and the people...it's very European and cosmopolitan in a way Sydney just never will or can be.

 

Nonetheless I went to Sydney three weekends in a row.

 

First up was to see Sgt Peppers and Abbey Road played Back2Back by a range of Australian musicians at Sydney Opera House. We travelled down via Bobbin Head, had a wander and a meal at Circular Quay and loved the show.

 

The following weekend, we stayed overnight for Amanda Palmer's Sydney Festival Show, taking up the atmosphere at Hyde Park, before and after.

 

And then back the next Saturday for the Yoko Ono Exhibition and to see David Sedaris at Sydney Opera House, with a bit of chillaxing in between at the Garden Party just outside the Opera House.

 

The Australia Day weekend was relatively quieter, but the month was rounded out by a visit to Melbourne. I went with my good friend C and we had a blast. We saw shows and exhibitions, ate very well, and explored the streets and took photos.

 

Being the lead up to The Academy Awards, I have been also soaking up as many nominated films as I can.

 

I also saw The Secret life of Walter Mitty, which was lovely and sweet, I much prefer Ben Stiller in what I call his melancholy roles, it suits him better. Also two French Films as part of the Summer of Film Festival at The Towers, A Lady in Paris (starring Jean Moreau as a formidable older Estonian lady living in Paris but needing live in help, a black comedy with the usual French flair) and Looking For Hortense (another comedy with melancholy longing, affairs and double crossing was Tres Francais!).

 

As usual I've been out and about eating and being with my fabulous friends. We said hello to S with a group at Bar Petite, lunched at Beaumont Street with C, ate fish and chips in the mall, entertained B at Club Cathy, and had the most god awful meal and service at Pippis with M - thank goodness the company and alcohol was good - but won't be going back there in a hurry!

 

I also spent some time with my family, hanging with my niece and nephew, dinner with my parents.

 

The start to the working year has also been good, hectic in the right kind of way with many exciting projects that I am working on plus the usual stuff and all rather enjoyable.

Also managed a few walks and started a little photography project...more on that in weeks to come.

 

AND IN THE END THE LOVE YOU TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE

When my friend C mentioned going to see Sgt Peppers/Abbey Road Back2Back at the Sydney Opera House I had to think about it.

 

I am a HUGE Beatles fan.

 

(You can read about my love for them here: http://reviews-vyv.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/beatles.html )

 

But I was curious, knew C had never been to the SOH and wanted to go plus knowing Russell Morris was involved eased my mind a little.

And then I was gloriously gifted the ticket!

 

So the premise is playing Sgt Peppers and Abbey Road back to back.

 

Hmmm, albums even The Beatles never played live, how would this be?

 

Abbey Road was my favourite Beatles album for a long, long time until The White Album took over, so not only were they playing the tunes, but favourite tunes.

And whilst some have managed to cover their tunes well over the years, I have seen many people come unstuck in their attempts. They are not easy to cover, not just because of their immense historic legacy but many of their songs are not easy to play or sing. 

So I was eager to see how this would come across!

 

We had a lovely drive to Sydney via Bobbin Head, ate at Circular Quay, wandered the festive January crowds on a warm, windy afternoon, and finally settled in the main concert hall in very good seats!

 

About 10mins prior to the commencement, two hippy looking dudes came out and sat on a rug and tuned and played their Bongos and Sitar.

 

A SITAR!!!!

 

Suddenly I was aware I may be in for a tremendous evening, I hadn't even thought about HOW these seminal albums would be replicated!?!

 

But a Sitar was serious man!!!

And soon we were on the most magical ride, a ride of sheer, utter musical joy. 

 

As a Beatles fans into your fifth decade you know you'll never hear the songs live...it's that simple. Only my Dad has had that pleasure, and even then, as he says, it was just a lot of girls screaming! And I have seen McCartney who was magnificent, but this is different.

 

And suddenly Sgt Peppers was being played live by the most remarkable individuals, working together to create a Beatlesque sound, and it was freaking awesome!!!

 

The band was large and tight, multiple instruments including a string and brass section and for the songs that required it, and Indian instrument section! Among these musicians Rex Goh (the musical director and a familiar face in Australian live music) on guitar, Lindsey Field (vocal arranger and session musician for just about anyone who's anyone in Australian music) on backing vocals, and Paul Gray (Wa Wa Nee...such a fan, I recognised him immediately!) on piano and backing vocals.

And the singers were remarkable, when Doug Parkinson is the weak link in the chain, you know you are in good hands! Doug sung on Fixing a hole and Golden Slumbers. He also dueted with others on Good morning Good morning, A day in the life, Because, and She came in through the bathroom window. 

 

Jon Toogood (Shihad) was remarkably jiggy. He handled all the 'fun' tunes and was brilliant, such a joy in his performance and a great young John AND Paul voice!!! He sung Being for the benefit of Mr Kite, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Polythene King. His handling of the Lennon vocals on A day in the life was spine tingling.

 

Tim Morrison (the only unknown, apparently he was on one of those 'singing' shows), was rather fetching and had a great voice, particularly youngish Paul. He sung When I'm Sixty-four, Something, and You never give me your money, and Dueted on Getting Better. Something was a show stopper on the teary type!

 

Of course Russell Morris was Superb, that was always going to be a given. He got the biggies, Within you without you, Lovely Rita, Oh Darling, and Here comes the sun. He killed Oh Darling, which is a favourite and a hard song to cover.

But the jaw dropper for me was Jack Jones. He sung in that awful Southern Sons thing from the 80s, I would never had rated him at all....how could I be so wrong? He was a gobsmackingly brilliant performer, what a voice and guitar playing! Underrated they said, I would agree. Jack just killed it every time he was on stage, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, She's leaving home, I want you, Sun King, and Her Majesty. When he squeezed his nose to replicate the funky sound Lennon makes on Lucy I gasped...why!?! But it worked...I can't even... And I want you was most possibly the most astonishing vocal and guitar performance I have EVER seen.

 

The remaining songs, Sgt Peppers and reprise, With a little help, Come together, Octopus's Garden, and Carry that weight/The End were sung as a group.

About halfway through I get all emotional thinking, imagine how good it would have been to see The Beatles do this...

These were gifted musicians, who obviously loved the material, you could hear in their voice and instrumentation, and see in on their faces. 

 

I am still reeling in a remarkable performance that had the entire audience on their feet at the end, if you get a chance and you love The Beatles or are just a music lover (cause really, if you love music, how can you NOT love The Beatles!?!?!) this is a must. I could easily see it again tonight!!!!!