Eagle and the Worm - 22 October 2010, The Troubadour

w/ Ball Park Music, Blame Ringo

With such a freaking good line up, of cause I already have locked in plans.... *sigh* But it on the plus side, I did make it in time to see half of Ball Park Music's loose-as set, and the Eagle and the Worm. While unfortunate that Blame Ringo had to take a bench seat, I am sure I will see more of this band, because what can i say, they also are pretty sweet.

Ball Park Music. They always play a fun set. Tonight they were all drunk. They played a fun set with a heightened sense of of the word loose. I didn't think they could get much more entertaining, but tonight, I ended up spending most of the songs I saw in hysterics. As they almost always do with "iFly" stopped mid song and had a bit of a chat amongst themselves and to the audience. Tonight however, it seemed longer and more irrelevant. Again with the hysterics. Till Sam get on with it casually inputting "So I called up my mum and I said, 'I Fucking Love You...." Such an incredible band. Even when drunk they can still rock the hell out of the Troubadour.

So, everyone has been telling me about Eagle and the Worm. I keep hearing about them wherever I go. "You should really go see them." "They are incredible." I believe these people hence the reason I am here. And holy SHIT! They weren't even kidding! From song one they stared a party like none other. If Ball Park Music are fun onstage, these guys top it ten fold. You just can't help but move and dance like an idiot. I'm not usually one for the "dancing like an idiot" kind of thing, but when surrounded with the Ball Park kids, it's hard not to get into the spirit of things. (Man those guys know how to partae). So the frontman has an interesting sort of a guitar. The bottom two strings are bass strings, while the upper three are guitar stings. I would have loved to have a play with this guitar, coz that's just cool! Not only was he playing this guitar, but also a normal bass, resulting in the bad having two playing bass! So apart from this interesting guitar lineup, they also have a member solely playing the trumpet and tambourine. The last thing I have to mention is the fact that they use a kazoo in one of their songs!! Pretty sure that tops the cool things about this band's instrumentation. Joining them on stage for their last song (my personal favourite in their set) was Paul on trombone. Oh my, the set was good, this song however just lifted it up to that next level. So amazing! EatW's singles were definitely some of the highlights of set and with their album release early next year there are going to be way more good sets from these guys.

I more than anything wish I could have been there for the entire night of music. The atmosphere in the room was absolutely buzzing by then end, and I know Blame Ringo would have put on one hell of a set also. Another time :)

Sarah Blasko - 21 October 2010, Concert Hall (QPAC)

w/ Seja

Its been a while between gigs, but I bring you now something a little more classy. At the QPAC concert hall we were witness to two beautiful sets of lungs. One in Seja, the other in the beautiful Sarah Blasko.

In arriving late, we were not let into the theater until a break in Seja's set. Ah the cost of classiness. The number of times I have performed on the concert hall stage I can not even count, but I think this is one of the first times I have actually sat in as an audience member. And oh my, how that stage can be transformed. Covering the choir stalls behind the stage was a such a simple backdrop, with Blasko's themed circle design. It was like a completely different venue. Enough on venue, Seja took us through a set that, and I won't lie, could have been so much better. The songs themselves could have been much tighter with ends of songs just not ending well. A song performed with a solo voice and guitar (while the other two chilled over wine) for me was one of the highlights "if I was born in a different century... I'd already be history". I also found it fascinating to see all three members come to the three synths out the front to perform one song. Visually quite strange. Regardless I did quite enjoy her set despite some "awkward silliness" on stage.

After quite a long "interval" we returned to a slightly redesigned set and men with capes. However It was still some time before Sarah Blasko graced the stage with her presence. It was quite a sight though when she did. She was wearing a white dress with a quite over the top beaded necklace and headpiece to match her set. Her band also dressed in white completed the visual aesthetic. she captivated me from her very first note, yet as the set continued, to me it just all started sounding the same... There was not too much variation between songs. The start, amazing, the end, equally as brilliant, however the middle of the set lost me a little. Easily the highlights were "Hold on my Heart" which was absolutely stunning, and showed off just what this singer is all about, and "Flame Trees". Oh my. Her cover of Flame Trees (the last time she would ever play this in Brisbane apparently) was actually moving. As much as I love a good joke between songs, I think she should stick to the singing. Whenever she stopped to talk, it was just awkward and I felt a little embarrassed for her because it was to awkward...

So despite lots of awkwardness on stage between songs, the music both acts presented to us was something pretty special. I don't know if the Concert Hall was the right venue for this gig though. Being in the theater subdued the audience ten fold. But then, ah who know, put Sarah Blasko in any venue and it could have been the same. Her music isn't exactly the type to get your dancing shoes out to. Not that this is a bad thing whatsoever. Sometimes it is wonderful just to sit back and let the sound of a stunning set of lungs wash all over you.

Hungry Kids of Hungary - 30 September 2010, The HiFi

w/ Big Scary, Ball Park Music

On the eve of their debut album release 'Escapades' Hungry Kids of Hungary kick started their national album tour with a home town show at the Hifi. The Album is bigger than Ben Her, and pretty much as awesome as the Knights who say "Ni". And with them on this national tour are two stellar acts in Big Scary and newcomers Ball Park Music. I couldn't imagine a greater tour to promote a brilliant album.

Opening the night were the crazy kids from Ball Park Music. As soon as the curtains opened, the fun began, and did not stop until those curtains closed, or at least until everyone was back on stage and behind those curtains. As of right now, Ball Park have a stellar set. They go from one hit to the next with no time to catch their breath. And tonight, as always, Sam was on fire. The group mourned the absence of Dean who was off travelling the world (The Brisbane tour date had been changed since the original planning apparently). As sad as this absence was, they played stupidly well. 'iFly' is always a hit, and each time I hear it, the band takes it to another level of crazy. Such talented little mofos.

Big Scary was up next, and while I love a handful of their songs, their other songs really don't do much for me. And while I really tried to stay enthused for the entire set, they lost me about half way. 'Falling Away' by far my favourite song of theirs is not typical of their style, but was easily the best song in their set. The drummer in that band is phenomenal. While they lost me with their music, she captivated me with how much presence she has on stage. The frontman, moved from guitar to keys, and back again. I know the set list they had enforced that, but it was a little messy at time, going from one side of stage to the other every song. I don't know. I really liked them the first time I hear them live, and I still love almost everything they've released, but live, they lose me, and I hate myself for saying that because they are just so talented.

By this stage in the night, the Hifi was filling up, and where the balcony wasn't open before, t'was open now. Kudos! But now, the moment we had all been waiting for, Hungry Kids of Hungary, and oh my, they absolutely killed it! The stage, now laced with fairy lights and blow up palm trees just set the scene for this album promo. Their set list was flawless, moving thought their singles to songs from their new album, to a sensational covers. Standing right in front of the sound desk is the place to be in the Hifi, and they sounded so so good. Their new hit 'Coming Around' was a crowd favourite, as was 'Scattered Diamonds'. I don't know what else to say. Last I heard them at The Zoo, they were awesome, but this was something more. For their encore they played their cover of Weezer's 'Buddy Holy'. And it went down a treat. By this stage, they had invited the Ball Park kids on stage and everyone was going nuts. They finished with 'Two Shoes' which I have to say, could quite possibly be my favourite tune. As they played this extended play out, Sam from Ball Park
jumped off stage with one of the inflatable palm trees decorating the stage and ran, battering ram style around the room, winding any and all who got in his way.

I have no more words, apart from brilliant, stellar and frigginsweet!