would love to have heard golden state, i'm sure anyone who's been to a PJ show in australia would have heard 'throw your arms around me' before.
can't help but feel like if the few dickheads that constantly yelled out songs he was never gonna play in a solo set had of just shut the fuck up a bit, we might have got an extra half hour or so...
Yeah I think it may have been illegal pants that said it wasted about 45 seconds between each song....
theres 25 songs so thats would be a few songs extra for sure.... If Ed could just roll with the flow..
Instead of being interrupted by boguns..
I was expecting it to be a little mellower but I think Ed has a little lead guitarist in him , he really got into the guitar playing. As for bogans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogan ) some of the yelling came from some with a good PJ knowledge. I was sitting a few seats down from the Dirty Frank requestor, Eddie was on stage with EJ Barnes at the time and I think given the subject of the song swore at him there was a tinge of humor in Eddies abuse.
A few anecdotes Ed was very impressed when on arrival in Canberra he walked out onto his hotel balcony with his guitar and he was welcomed by a large firework display. He then said there is a psychological term for someone who thinks the world revolves around them ....... an asshole. (Fireworks were for Canberra Day).
Highlights
1) Immortality, awesome really higlighted Ed's Vocals, his voice is still amazing I wish it was more outfront in PJ.
2) One Country, great choice of an Oils song and not one that most overseas would be familiar with (man can't Garret quit politics and go back to writing some great music).
3) Hard Sun, Wishlist and Guaranteed were also great
As for poster there was one with EV in a tube holding a guitar and case, but no mention of Canberra specifically on it.
Cheers
PS Darcy if I was on stage there is no way I could hold a book so still!!!
trust me the legs were going a hundred miles an hour specially when Ed nodded me to start singing
holy crap u had to sing.... :shock:
Just between me and him but he smiled when i got a bit louded.
Was in Brissie last week and was speechless after those shows but man, this is one hell of a set list. It's all been said so no need to repeat but on the basis of the reviews, the Sydney gigs are gonna be something different again.
And Ed, play what ever the hell you want mate!
TenVsRhys
1995 - Sydney Mar 10th, Melbourne Mar 18th, Brisbane Mar 21st and 22nd
1998 - Melbourne Mar 3rd, Brisbane Mar 14th and 15th
2000 - London May 29th and 30th
2009 - Sydney Nov 22nd
2011 - EV Brisbane Mar 12th, Sydney Mar 18th and Mar 19th
2014 - Gold Coast Jan 19th, EV Sydney Feb 11th, 12th and 13th
2016 - Fort Lauderdale Apr 8th, Miami Apr 9th 2017 - EV London Jun 6th and 7th
Unbelievable set! Initially, I was a little upset at being 14 rows back with my 10C tickets for the only show I could go to, but I was just blown away by Eddie's presence and wasn't going to let our seats worry me - I'm sure plenty missed out altogether.
I was choked up for about half the set! :oops: My wife walked down the aisle to Just Breathe last March so that was special for us.
And Darcy, I am as green as St Patrick's Day with envy! You handled it much better than I would have
The bogans were frustrating/embarrassing/rude, but then Immortality might not have been played without them, and my god that version sent shivers down my spine! It does make me wonder what we could have got instead, though. For the record, I'm in no way supporting those stupid ignorant fuckers. Eddie handled the situation with good humour.
I also loved Sleeping By Myself - he sounded so lonely when he was introducing the song that he had written 10 nights ago - I could just see him holed up in some hotel room with his uke penning this. I think there was a bit of an "awww" moment when he was describing this.
I wish I had the funds to have gotten tickets for more shows :(
Very special night, thank you so much, Eddie. I wish I could have found room 420 in whichever place you stayed so I could thank you in person, but we can't have it all!
Unbelievable set! Initially, I was a little upset at being 14 rows back with my 10C tickets for the only show I could go to, but I was just blown away by Eddie's presence and wasn't going to let our seats worry me - I'm sure plenty missed out altogether.
I was choked up for about half the set! :oops: My wife walked down the aisle to Just Breathe last March so that was special for us.
And Darcy, I am as green as St Patrick's Day with envy! You handled it much better than I would have
The bogans were frustrating/embarrassing/rude, but then Immortality might not have been played without them, and my god that version sent shivers down my spine! It does make me wonder what we could have got instead, though. For the record, I'm in no way supporting those stupid ignorant fuckers. Eddie handled the situation with good humour.
I also loved Sleeping By Myself - he sounded so lonely when he was introducing the song that he had written 10 nights ago - I could just see him holed up in some hotel room with his uke penning this. I think there was a bit of an "awww" moment when he was describing this.
I wish I had the funds to have gotten tickets for more shows :(
Very special night, thank you so much, Eddie. I wish I could have found room 420 in whichever place you stayed so I could thank you in person, but we can't have it all!
"thru extensive negotiations we managed to get the curfew moved back..... we still don't have any time to fu&k around...."
LA II 06, SB 06, SF III 06, Kokua 07 Ed and Jack, Grant Park 07, EV Berk1 & LA 1 (nice job 10c), 08 DC, MSG1 &2, VH1 rocks, EV Bos II, EV NYC I & II, Milwaukee, EV Maui, EV Hono I & II, Chicago 09 I & II, LA 09 I & II & IV, SD 09 (my girlfriend hit the lottery, best concert of my life 10C rocks)KC 2010, STL 2010, Hartford. Boston, and MSG I & II "who goes around skinning cats anyway", PJ 20 2011 , Portland, Spokane, Seattle LA 2013, Home Shows + Missoula (fatal 👌)
What a great concert. What is it about Eddie's voice? it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. there aren't enough superlatives to describe seeing him live in this format. All i can say is thankyou Ed and see you again in Melbourne (where i'll definitely consume less alcohol before the show so i don't have any pee breaks)
I was at the Canberra show and expected morons to yell out after reading the Brisbane reviews. I didn't expect it to be as bad as it was. What compells someone to shout out ridiculous comments and song requests during every break?? It was embarrassing and cringe worthy! These drunk bogans turned up expecting to hear pearl jam hits they hear on commercial radio, when really they belong at a Nickleback concert. We probably missed 3 or 4 songs from Ed's setlist, as you could see by the end he was clearly frustrated. I'll be at the Sydney shows, and the first stupid comment or request will be getting a swift Shut the fuck up and let Ed play!!
On a brighter note there are not enough superlatives to describe how awesome it was!
Here's an idea...How bout 10 club only shows next time...might keep away some of the dipshits. See you in Sydney
Quick post just to say *hand up* *hand up* I was there & it was FAB!!!!!!! Will read & post more when am back with full internet access when home next week!! Meanwhile VIVA LA EDDIE!!!!
<hr>
PJ - Auckland 2009; Alpine Valley1&2 2011; Man1, Am'dam1&2, Berlin1&2, Stockholm, Oslo & Copenhagen 2012; LA, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle 2013; Auckland 2014, Auckland1&2 2024
EV - Canberra, Newcastle & Sydney 1&2 2011
Finally a chance to log on and write my thoughts...
Firstly, the calling out... yes it annoyed the f*ck out of me (particularly when Ed was talking) but the upside was it created some banter with Ed and the crowd and definitely some laughs.. and from it we got the request from someone about Immortality... I want to hug the guy that yelled that out!
Now with regards to the show.... I actually can't sum it up into words how moved I was, how amazing Eddies voice sounded and how sublime the show was.. The yelling and requests will never take away anything from me and my experience. I thought I was going to be in for something special, but it really was everything I wanted and a million times more.
Immortality was epic
Just Breathe reminds me that I have to as it takes my breath away
Master of War... brilliant
and a personal highlight was Wishlist... One of my most favourite songs..
I walked out spellbound, speechless and like I couldn't breathe.. I had tears and a smile on my face at the same time through the entire concert. Like the fan that wrote the review about the Brisbane concert, I feel like it was a religious experience... and Eddie has once again confirmed and sealed his place as my god...
1995: Perth
2006: Sydney x 2
2009: Philly, Sydney
2013: San Diego, LA1 & 2, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle
So many things I could comment on but it's all been said before. Just AMAZING! Ed's guitar playing is fantastic in this context... great sense of rhythm (Porch, Millworker and IMMORTALITY!) and some amazing fingerpicking (Just Breathe and You Can Close Your Eyes). Add his voice, so clear and open, and you have someone who is absolutely master of their art form right in front of you for 2 hours.
Spectacular songs, crowd not too bad as far as yelling etc (considering it got us Immortality) and some great Ed banter (I liked the bit about not being able to hit high notes when there's a low ceiling... "That's why Mariah Carey sings Outdoors... and Tom Waits sings in the Basement").
Finally a chance to log on and write my thoughts...
Firstly, the calling out... yes it annoyed the f*ck out of me (particularly when Ed was talking) but the upside was it created some banter with Ed and the crowd and definitely some laughs.. and from it we got the request from someone about Immortality... I want to hug the guy that yelled that out!
Now with regards to the show.... I actually can't sum it up into words how moved I was, how amazing Eddies voice sounded and how sublime the show was.. The yelling and requests will never take away anything from me and my experience. I thought I was going to be in for something special, but it really was everything I wanted and a million times more.
Immortality was epic
Just Breathe reminds me that I have to as it takes my breath away
Master of War... brilliant
and a personal highlight was Wishlist... One of my most favourite songs..
I walked out spellbound, speechless and like I couldn't breathe.. I had tears and a smile on my face at the same time through the entire concert. Like the fan that wrote the review about the Brisbane concert, I feel like it was a religious experience... and Eddie has once again confirmed and sealed his place as my god...
How could I have forgotten Betterman? :roll: Amazing version of this song.. absolutely loved the new version..
1995: Perth
2006: Sydney x 2
2009: Philly, Sydney
2013: San Diego, LA1 & 2, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle
I fucking HATE THE BOGANS who were rampant, noisy, yelling bad requests, yelling during songs, yelling during Ed's banter, standing and blocking views when not invited, fucking et cetera.
By the end, there were hundreds of people yelling requests and you couldn't hear anything else or anyone. Ed finished a song and it was like no-one really appreciated the song because the requests started immediately.
Ed was very polite, just nodding and smiling. He handled it well. These idiots have just about ruined the evening. I can't imagine how Ed must have felt, but I almost wish I didn't go. Fucking bogans.
So dissapointed to read this. You must of had crappy seats in the Foyer.
I loved it.
And as part of the Bogan crowd, I think we conducted ourselves quite well ......it was those devilish 'Nerds' who lost their composure..... ,
......thank God.
I have to say that it was worth the drive down to Canberra to see Eddie, I would have driven much further even with the chance of death by fog/kangaroo on the drive back to Sydney at 1am in the morning.
Eddie was amazing. As soon as he greeted the crowd with that voice, I was so alert.
Yes, the crowd was a bit "bogan" and it made me cringe at times but there was only one point when I felt Eddie was really annoyed. I think mostly he was amused and bantered back consistently. It was pretty funny when Eddie said he was going to do a romantic number and the guy at the front yelled out Dirty Frank shortly afterwards. It's no wonder Eddie told him to fuck off, but it was done in good spirit :-)
I have to say my two favourite songs of the evening were the ones that resulted from the crowd shouting requests...so I can't be too pissed at people even though the rest of the set was awesome. I really wanted to see Eddie cover Throw Your Arms solo as I had never seen it live before and PJ's cover is brilliant. One of my favourite Australian songs. I almost had a heart attack when he started playing it instinctively after a person yelled out the name. Then he just kept playing it. *melts* He is one of the few performer's I have seen that can turn a "mistake" into a magical live moment. It's nice to see he was willing to change the setlist with the moment so to speak.
Immortality and Better Man were the other highlights for me. I especially liked that Eddie kept staring down the person that requested Immortality, leaning over his guitar..."I just need the fist line!" cracked me up. He kept playing the intro and everyone was shouting it out and he said "he knows it, everyone else shut up." lol
His voice is still a pure force but I was actually impressed by his guitar skills too. He played that ukulele so hard I thought it would break at some points.
I was also amused by three or four security guards sitting on chairs up the back just blatantly watching the show, not even pretending to be working. Everyone ran forward for the Hard Sun encore and it was pretty great but even after two hours, the show felt so short!! It's already been mentioned that Eddie joked that if he played every song he knew we would have been there a long time, but only 3 more if he had to play the ones he knew well. Such a humble talented guy and I only wish his voice knew no strain and the night could have kept on going.
His new song was simple and melodic and I enjoyed it a lot. As much as the crowd was being a bit loud and obnoxious at points, I don't think it detracted from the intimacy of the show.
A couple of my friends refused to make the trip with me for Eddie without PJ...they have no idea the special show that they missed.
so, finally home after 4 shows, and i'm only going to town with a review for my own town.
16 years ago, i finally got to see what had become my favourite band at that time. They played a dirty little show in Bruce Stadium, and basically pissed all over Canberra all night between songs - how boring it was, what did people do, it was filled up with shit .... ed got a cheer with every rant, because it is boring!! it was then, and it is now, and for this new show i expected to hear - well, not the same blunt ranting - but a fair bit of talking about the state of things, the governments of the world .... just stuff like that.
Driving over to Canberra that morning, I had eds solo studio & boots playing, to get me in the mood for my first show. Anyone knows, driving along, listening, singing before a show, you mentally hope to hear particular songs or two or three, which I did. Some of the songs i thought i prob would get to hear, some not so much.
As it turns out, ed was obviously sitting in my backseat, singing along with me, and ticking off requests on his notebook, because almost every single song i hoped to hear i got too - they fired off almost one after the other.
Beautiful row 3 aisle seats, with ed looking almost directly at us - sometimes was my first highlight. He sounded fantastic and it rose to a great end. Straight into just breath, elderly woman, parting ways! by then i was sitting in slight disbelief. yea, the bogans were doing their thing - but the crowd was also roaring in general - everyone was enjoying the set - ed was relaxed and happy, he was generally bantering back and ignoring the majority.
Unthought known, which was beautiful for me, because I had my beautiful son Riley with me – and this song really reminds me of both my boys. I spent a lot of this song singing & looking at Riley, but he turned to me and beamed in the middle of the song – as it turned out, ed had given him a big smile as Riley sang along, and it made him so happy.
Then im open, and millworker, again both hoped for ... mow, no ceiling – (by this stage, I realised that ed had that telepathic backseat action going on) ... one country – which I can’t believe more people didn’t scream the chorus out to – perhaps they were in disbelief – porch, which riley proceeded to rock to – and immortality!!! ffs – by now I was in ecstasy – every song I could wish for – all done amazingly!!!
Riley didn’t exist when they played in 95 – ed made a joke about males of the species and females of the species going away & creating a baby after that show – me & the guys with me started pointing straight at riley, he started cringing, everyone around us started laughing – and ed went on to say that you could tell the story of how you were created from pj music – riley was by now really telling us to f off, and batting the pointing fingers off his head – so ed said yea you’d say just fuck off mum ... mumble mumble – I was laughing at riley, along with a lot of people in our area so im not sure if that was directed at our scene or not, but it was a funny moment – riley isn’t just quite a live show pj baby, he’s a just couple of months off but .... chances are they were on the cd player anyway
Congrats to darcy – you did a fine job holding that book – and the sideways smiles you kept dishing out to the audience were fantastic - *well fuckin look where I am will you*
Overall it was a brilliant show, with a totally brilliant setlist, that would be really hard pressed to better. Ed was in a wonderfully laid back, happy mood. The crowd should have behaved themselves – but ... it certainly didn’t take anything away from the show in general. So glad he finally made the journey back, and so very glad I got to share it with my son – nearly pj baby or not
Great reviews! I was in absolute 7th heaven the whole show, being my 1st, beaming from ear to ear + tears of absolute rapture & joy!
A few shitty pics I took on my phone(which it seems to be letting me upload this time....):
<hr>
PJ - Auckland 2009; Alpine Valley1&2 2011; Man1, Am'dam1&2, Berlin1&2, Stockholm, Oslo & Copenhagen 2012; LA, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle 2013; Auckland 2014, Auckland1&2 2024
EV - Canberra, Newcastle & Sydney 1&2 2011
not sure if anyone else has mentioned that most of the 'non-floor' crowd ran down the stairs to rock out to the last song of the night, 'hard sun'. i saw one of the ushers (a petite girl) look across to one of the other ushers and just shrug as if to say 'oh god, what am i supposed to do?' as loads of people streamed past her. the feeling i got at that moment really made my night, as if it hadn't already been awesome...
Comments
Yeah I think it may have been illegal pants that said it wasted about 45 seconds between each song....
theres 25 songs so thats would be a few songs extra for sure.... If Ed could just roll with the flow..
Instead of being interrupted by boguns..
Just between me and him but he smiled when i got a bit louded.
And Ed, play what ever the hell you want mate!
1995 - Sydney Mar 10th, Melbourne Mar 18th, Brisbane Mar 21st and 22nd
1998 - Melbourne Mar 3rd, Brisbane Mar 14th and 15th
2000 - London May 29th and 30th
2009 - Sydney Nov 22nd
2011 - EV Brisbane Mar 12th, Sydney Mar 18th and Mar 19th
2014 - Gold Coast Jan 19th, EV Sydney Feb 11th, 12th and 13th
2016 - Fort Lauderdale Apr 8th, Miami Apr 9th
2017 - EV London Jun 6th and 7th
highlights for me were "immortality", "elderly woman" and "sometimes" i also loved all of he covers he did!!
It was awesome to be nice and close to the stage couldn't have asked for a better set list!!!
Bring on Sydney and Adelaide!!!!!!
I was choked up for about half the set! :oops: My wife walked down the aisle to Just Breathe last March so that was special for us.
And Darcy, I am as green as St Patrick's Day with envy! You handled it much better than I would have
The bogans were frustrating/embarrassing/rude, but then Immortality might not have been played without them, and my god that version sent shivers down my spine! It does make me wonder what we could have got instead, though. For the record, I'm in no way supporting those stupid ignorant fuckers. Eddie handled the situation with good humour.
I also loved Sleeping By Myself - he sounded so lonely when he was introducing the song that he had written 10 nights ago - I could just see him holed up in some hotel room with his uke penning this. I think there was a bit of an "awww" moment when he was describing this.
I wish I had the funds to have gotten tickets for more shows :(
Very special night, thank you so much, Eddie. I wish I could have found room 420 in whichever place you stayed so I could thank you in person, but we can't have it all!
LA II 06, SB 06, SF III 06, Kokua 07 Ed and Jack, Grant Park 07, EV Berk1 & LA 1 (nice job 10c), 08 DC, MSG1 &2, VH1 rocks, EV Bos II, EV NYC I & II, Milwaukee, EV Maui, EV Hono I & II, Chicago 09 I & II, LA 09 I & II & IV, SD 09 (my girlfriend hit the lottery, best concert of my life 10C rocks)KC 2010, STL 2010, Hartford. Boston, and MSG I & II "who goes around skinning cats anyway", PJ 20 2011 , Portland, Spokane, Seattle LA 2013, Home Shows + Missoula (fatal 👌)
2011 ~ Canberra (EV)
2011 ~ Melbourne 2 (EV)
2014 ~ Melbourne BDO
2014 ~ Melbourne 1 (EV)
"Pearl jam are not just a band, they are a choice, and if you make that choice, you become one of the few lucky people on this planet to have your life enriched by the greatest gift that music ever gave" -- substitute
<a href="http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/157/3/7/Do_the_Evolution_by_ragnarok2k3.gif"</a>
<img src="http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/157/3/7/Do_the_Evolution_by_ragnarok2k3.gif">
On a brighter note there are not enough superlatives to describe how awesome it was!
Here's an idea...How bout 10 club only shows next time...might keep away some of the dipshits. See you in Sydney
2011 ~ Canberra (EV)
2011 ~ Melbourne 2 (EV)
2014 ~ Melbourne BDO
2014 ~ Melbourne 1 (EV)
"Pearl jam are not just a band, they are a choice, and if you make that choice, you become one of the few lucky people on this planet to have your life enriched by the greatest gift that music ever gave" -- substitute
<a href="http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/157/3/7/Do_the_Evolution_by_ragnarok2k3.gif"</a>
<img src="http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/157/3/7/Do_the_Evolution_by_ragnarok2k3.gif">
PJ - Auckland 2009; Alpine Valley1&2 2011; Man1, Am'dam1&2, Berlin1&2, Stockholm, Oslo & Copenhagen 2012; LA, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle 2013; Auckland 2014, Auckland1&2 2024
EV - Canberra, Newcastle & Sydney 1&2 2011
Firstly, the calling out... yes it annoyed the f*ck out of me (particularly when Ed was talking) but the upside was it created some banter with Ed and the crowd and definitely some laughs.. and from it we got the request from someone about Immortality... I want to hug the guy that yelled that out!
Now with regards to the show.... I actually can't sum it up into words how moved I was, how amazing Eddies voice sounded and how sublime the show was.. The yelling and requests will never take away anything from me and my experience. I thought I was going to be in for something special, but it really was everything I wanted and a million times more.
Immortality was epic
Just Breathe reminds me that I have to as it takes my breath away
Master of War... brilliant
and a personal highlight was Wishlist... One of my most favourite songs..
I walked out spellbound, speechless and like I couldn't breathe.. I had tears and a smile on my face at the same time through the entire concert. Like the fan that wrote the review about the Brisbane concert, I feel like it was a religious experience... and Eddie has once again confirmed and sealed his place as my god...
2006: Sydney x 2
2009: Philly, Sydney
2013: San Diego, LA1 & 2, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle
EV Solo - Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney x 2
Spectacular songs, crowd not too bad as far as yelling etc (considering it got us Immortality) and some great Ed banter (I liked the bit about not being able to hit high notes when there's a low ceiling... "That's why Mariah Carey sings Outdoors... and Tom Waits sings in the Basement").
Thanks Ed
See you in Adelaide
How could I have forgotten Betterman? :roll: Amazing version of this song.. absolutely loved the new version..
2006: Sydney x 2
2009: Philly, Sydney
2013: San Diego, LA1 & 2, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle
EV Solo - Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney x 2
So dissapointed to read this. You must of had crappy seats in the Foyer.
I loved it.
And as part of the Bogan crowd, I think we conducted ourselves quite well
......thank God.
Eddie was amazing. As soon as he greeted the crowd with that voice, I was so alert.
Yes, the crowd was a bit "bogan" and it made me cringe at times but there was only one point when I felt Eddie was really annoyed. I think mostly he was amused and bantered back consistently. It was pretty funny when Eddie said he was going to do a romantic number and the guy at the front yelled out Dirty Frank shortly afterwards. It's no wonder Eddie told him to fuck off, but it was done in good spirit :-)
I have to say my two favourite songs of the evening were the ones that resulted from the crowd shouting requests...so I can't be too pissed at people even though the rest of the set was awesome. I really wanted to see Eddie cover Throw Your Arms solo as I had never seen it live before and PJ's cover is brilliant. One of my favourite Australian songs. I almost had a heart attack when he started playing it instinctively after a person yelled out the name. Then he just kept playing it. *melts* He is one of the few performer's I have seen that can turn a "mistake" into a magical live moment. It's nice to see he was willing to change the setlist with the moment so to speak.
Immortality and Better Man were the other highlights for me. I especially liked that Eddie kept staring down the person that requested Immortality, leaning over his guitar..."I just need the fist line!" cracked me up. He kept playing the intro and everyone was shouting it out and he said "he knows it, everyone else shut up." lol
His voice is still a pure force but I was actually impressed by his guitar skills too. He played that ukulele so hard I thought it would break at some points.
I was also amused by three or four security guards sitting on chairs up the back just blatantly watching the show, not even pretending to be working. Everyone ran forward for the Hard Sun encore and it was pretty great but even after two hours, the show felt so short!! It's already been mentioned that Eddie joked that if he played every song he knew we would have been there a long time, but only 3 more if he had to play the ones he knew well. Such a humble talented guy and I only wish his voice knew no strain and the night could have kept on going.
His new song was simple and melodic and I enjoyed it a lot. As much as the crowd was being a bit loud and obnoxious at points, I don't think it detracted from the intimacy of the show.
A couple of my friends refused to make the trip with me for Eddie without PJ...they have no idea the special show that they missed.
16 years ago, i finally got to see what had become my favourite band at that time. They played a dirty little show in Bruce Stadium, and basically pissed all over Canberra all night between songs - how boring it was, what did people do, it was filled up with shit .... ed got a cheer with every rant, because it is boring!! it was then, and it is now, and for this new show i expected to hear - well, not the same blunt ranting - but a fair bit of talking about the state of things, the governments of the world .... just stuff like that.
Driving over to Canberra that morning, I had eds solo studio & boots playing, to get me in the mood for my first show. Anyone knows, driving along, listening, singing before a show, you mentally hope to hear particular songs or two or three, which I did. Some of the songs i thought i prob would get to hear, some not so much.
As it turns out, ed was obviously sitting in my backseat, singing along with me, and ticking off requests on his notebook, because almost every single song i hoped to hear i got too - they fired off almost one after the other.
Beautiful row 3 aisle seats, with ed looking almost directly at us - sometimes was my first highlight. He sounded fantastic and it rose to a great end. Straight into just breath, elderly woman, parting ways! by then i was sitting in slight disbelief. yea, the bogans were doing their thing - but the crowd was also roaring in general - everyone was enjoying the set - ed was relaxed and happy, he was generally bantering back and ignoring the majority.
Unthought known, which was beautiful for me, because I had my beautiful son Riley with me – and this song really reminds me of both my boys. I spent a lot of this song singing & looking at Riley, but he turned to me and beamed in the middle of the song – as it turned out, ed had given him a big smile as Riley sang along, and it made him so happy.
Then im open, and millworker, again both hoped for ... mow, no ceiling – (by this stage, I realised that ed had that telepathic backseat action going on) ... one country – which I can’t believe more people didn’t scream the chorus out to – perhaps they were in disbelief – porch, which riley proceeded to rock to – and immortality!!! ffs – by now I was in ecstasy – every song I could wish for – all done amazingly!!!
Riley didn’t exist when they played in 95 – ed made a joke about males of the species and females of the species going away & creating a baby after that show – me & the guys with me started pointing straight at riley, he started cringing, everyone around us started laughing – and ed went on to say that you could tell the story of how you were created from pj music – riley was by now really telling us to f off, and batting the pointing fingers off his head – so ed said yea you’d say just fuck off mum ... mumble mumble – I was laughing at riley, along with a lot of people in our area so im not sure if that was directed at our scene or not, but it was a funny moment – riley isn’t just quite a live show pj baby, he’s a just couple of months off but .... chances are they were on the cd player anyway
Congrats to darcy – you did a fine job holding that book – and the sideways smiles you kept dishing out to the audience were fantastic - *well fuckin look where I am will you*
Overall it was a brilliant show, with a totally brilliant setlist, that would be really hard pressed to better. Ed was in a wonderfully laid back, happy mood. The crowd should have behaved themselves – but ... it certainly didn’t take anything away from the show in general. So glad he finally made the journey back, and so very glad I got to share it with my son – nearly pj baby or not
A few shitty pics I took on my phone(which it seems to be letting me upload this time....):
PJ - Auckland 2009; Alpine Valley1&2 2011; Man1, Am'dam1&2, Berlin1&2, Stockholm, Oslo & Copenhagen 2012; LA, Oakland, Portland, Spokane, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle 2013; Auckland 2014, Auckland1&2 2024
EV - Canberra, Newcastle & Sydney 1&2 2011