INXS Live Review from Day On The Green

Band: INXS with support from Baby Animals, Train and Sean Kelly

Venue: Rochford Winery for Day On The Green

Date: 6th February 2011

Reviewed By: Espylyn

After much debate and chatter about the weather the day promised some sun and gave us some cloud as well. This didn't deter the thousands who turned up at Rochford Winery to witness INXS with support from Baby Animals, Train and Sean Kelly (from The Models) at the Day On The Green habitat.

I missed most of Sean Kelly - I did manage to hear Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight which took me back to grade 6 and us girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other, ahh such fond memories. Up next is Baby Animals and we all welcomed them back into our hearts. Singer Suze DeMarchi has been living in the US and is back in Australia with her family to give the kids an Aussie upbringing, hence why all the comeback Baby Animals shows. Naturally all their top songs were sung and the band rocked like they'd never left gigging.

I didn't see Train so lets move onto the main act of the night, INXS. All band members except singer JD Fortune, came out and gave us a quirky start with just percussion which was kinda interesting, they were all dressed in suits which didn't really suit the band. Then out came JD dressed in suit and top hat (mmm...top hat) and off with a bang they went. Suicide Blonde opened the night and up the punters yelled and screamed. It was kinda cool to witness a band that was so big with its original singer still retain popularity with the punters and JD. I however, felt like I was watching a cover band to a small degree, but in saying that, the band playing like they were on fire and JD is ever the front man. Lets not get into comparisons and focus on the INXS of now. Songs from the album Switch include Dirty Vegas and Afterglow and the band played music that plummeted the sky and almost made the moon come down to check them out. Older songs were more of a hit, Devil Inside, Bitter Tears, Mystify and Original Sin held the crowd throughout the two hour set.

Garry Beers held onto that bass and brought some major riffs to the set whilst Andrew, Tim and Jon Farris held the band together with Kirk Pengilly who took to front of stage lapping up the luxury of a sold out crowd who were singing along and almost bowing to their hero's who still gel the band together.

The rain held back and the moon shone bright tonight as it looked upon many drunken sods dancing and screaming for a band that may not shine as brightly as it once did, but a band that will shine forever more.

Sia and the Magic Cardboard Ride

Band: Sia with support from The Holidays

Venue: Palais Theatre

Date: 1st February 2011

Reviewed By: Espylyn

A hot and sweaty night preceded an outing at the Palais Theatre before a cool change blessed us, but I was not with too much hesitation in getting to the theatre because I was interested in seeing the flamboyant Sia in action in a large theatre and I was therefore expectation-less in how the night will unfold having not seen a solo show from her before.

The Holidays opened the show and gave us a bright and rocking set. A four piece Sydney band that showed a lot of front and a sound which was...well, a bit of everything (that is good) really. The crowd had pretty much filled up to watch the band and the age group was a little bit of older and a lot of younger audience.

Once the support finished a lot of people left to no doubt claim some fresh air and they flounced back about five minutes before Sia was to start and start she did in a rather eclectic ensemble that consisted of a large piece of cardboard which was painted black and strapped to her body (that was the similar size to her) and Sia was in all black, including painted skin, and a pink tu-tu. Yes, rather amusing and a rather fitting tribute to the show for the night. The stage was colourful with coloured lines aplenty all over the instruments, back drop and even the band wore clothing with coloured stripes. I had to give Sia points for creativity.

Adelaide's enchanting daughter didn't give in to the warm weather tonight, she provided flare, chatter and humour all night and a voice that didn't falter. Sia didn't leave her cardboard ensemble yet continued to sing with it strapped to her body for song after song. At one point she asked punters to yell out a few words to which she put together in a song much to the delight of those whose words were chosen (love, seven, spaghetti). The youthful crowd managed to stay in their seats for the night but when Clap Your Hands was sung it proved too much for a few and up they were. This song gave up the cardboard and in its place was fairy wings with a bubble machine on both sides and a fan behind her so the bubbles headed toward the punters, a rather effective result.

Sia thanked many people for being there tonight and she proved to be a singer that will have longevity in a field that can be so fought over and won by too few.