Canberra is weird. It's the capital, there are only 350,000 people living here and the whole place looks like a huge university campus. Which it is, really. It's a kind of post-50s concrete-and-trees nightmare, there's a similarity with Milton Keynes in England if that means anything to you. I don't know what the US equivalent would be.
The venue tonight was in the University bar; it's pleasantly surprising how small these places are, maybe 300 or 400 capacity tonight. Tickets were $75. And the beer was even more expensive than yesterday. Weird, considering this is a university... Kylesa played here last night, missed them by a day, damn.
Helmet had a shit-ton of fans this evening. Every other shirt was Helmet and I could be wrong but it looked like there at least as many people there for Helmet as Melvins.
The sound was astonishing tonight. Much better PA and no limiter. Helmet played their little hearts out and there was a lot of fun being had on stage, goofing around, in-jokes, that sort of thing. Melvins played the usual set but maybe there was a curfew, I don't know. There was no Shevil after Lysol - but Jared walked through the crowd and hugged EVERYBODY individually while Dale and Coady made magic on the drums. :D
Coady has become Chopper Read with his tache. :D
After the show, Dave Curran hinted we might meet Neil Hamburger in Sydney. He's out there to meet a friend of his who's a magician or something. Cannot wait!
It's Friday 13th out here now.
Canberra is pretty much just all public servants due to Parliament House and a number of federal agencies like ASIO (spy agency) being there. It's the most liberal (as in left-wing) place in Australia and recently legalised same-sex marriage which has just been over turned by the a court challenge from the new right-wing federal government.
All the ACT is really known for is all the public servants/politicians and legal porn, all X rated pornos are sold out of a big warehouse there but X rated movies can't legally be sold anywhere else in Australia. Supposedly housing prices there are astronomical because they know everyone can afford to pay outlandish prices.
I have a friend who moved there to take up a job with a govt agency who has invited me to come visit a few times but unfortunately I don't have the money but would like to visit what is basically a govt created city.
Spent a couple days there visiting friends once ... good times. While it was a very brief visit and I was new to the country as well; it did strike me a very sterile and almost faceless locale. Like an artificial city, man made but not made by men ... as in an organic process reflecting history and culture. It seemed to be all museums, libraries, conservatories, historical monuments and what not. Populace as a generalization seemed either white collar stiff or plastic trendies. Seemed a strange vibe due to the liberal laws/attitudes concerning various things. You'd think the place would be more swinging and vibrant. Still it was good fun. Would've been more so with the Melvins.
75? Damn. What's that in amerobucks?
$67.22
Hah, didn't know anyone else was going to be here from this site! Weird to see this thread already exist. Yeah Canberra is odd as fuck, the main part is designed to be "institutional" as it is...well...the Capital I guess...maybe they had a different ideas in early 1900's but it is unique because it was only built for one purpose. By far biggest problem, is not the trees or brutalist buildings....it's the massive amount of money wasters that is the Australian Public Service. :lol:
This was the only show I could get along too, unfortunately missed out on Sydney. Bah. Anyway Helmet were okay, grew up on Betty and to somewhat a lesser degree, Aftertaste. But I couldn't help but feel that Helmet's best days are with Stanier and co. No disrespect to the new guys because it would always be hard filling in shoes and replacing most of the band like that. Having said that, they were pretty good. Enjoyed Iron Head, Wilma's Rainbow and In The Meantime. I'm not the biggest Helmet fan though and couldn't really identify the others but they had some decent riffs on what I assumed were the newer songs. I noticed a lot of Helmet fans too.
Melvins...well time hasn't slowed them down one bit. Last saw them in 2009 Sydney for the Houdini secret show with Dunn. And once before that with Kevin in 2002. Melvins were as good as ever, every incarnation so different so it's pointless comparing.
I can't understand how much enthusiasm they bring to the stage after 30 years of touring and like this tour night after night....they love it! Buzz is like a teenager with a guitar in his hand. He caught me having a laugh when he did one of those dumb face poses he usually reserves for photo shoots but this time in between a guitar part, he had a chuckle at that. Good thing about a small venue shows I guess.
Every song was a highlight for me personally, especially Lysol. I enjoy Cows and Melvins the most out of any bands, so obviously since I can only see one of those two bands, I appreciate every song they do.... You American's are lucky! Man....Lysol, I've been waiting a long time to hear that live. Having such a massive back catalogue the odds weren't high!
Want to hear Boris live one day too and Lovely Butterflies and With Teeth and well... more! Hopefully they come back to our shores again. It seems they come out for sideshows of festivals.
You're a lucky man Jules, I only read now you've been following them across the country. What an interesting trip.
From memory pretty sure this was the setlist:
Hag Me
War On Wisdom
We Are Doomed
Sweet Willy Rollbar
A Growing Disgust
YOA
Let It All Be
Your Blessened
City Dump
Mr Rip Off
The Water Glass
Evil New War God
Hung Bunny
Roman Dog Bird
Water Glass was pretty funny, a lot of people didn't really know Melvins so must've been strange to hear that. Saw Helmet on the side chanting away to it.
Got a hug from Jared too at the end of the show. First I was like "who's this stoned fucker on drugs trying to hug me". Turned around, oh shit! Jared! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: (the) Razor on December 19, 2013, 02:50:01 AM
Water Glass was pretty funny, a lot of people didn't really know Melvins so must've been strange to hear that. Saw Helmet on the side chanting away to it.
It was good to see the two bands taking so much interest in each other. Buzz watched most of Helmet's set in Newcastle and Coady spent a good deal of time during the three shows I was at watching Kyle Stevenson. Stevenson is an awesome drummer, by the way. Those aren't the easiest songs in the world.
And yeah, was great to see all of Helmet rocking away to Melvins in Canberra, too!