I haven't seen a concert or live performance since TWJ tour at the beginning of last year, so I feel like I've been 'reintroduced' to Damien tonight
Some thoughts:
I thought that maybe the one thing I
would miss about the big venues was the atmosphere of all the fans and the huge standing ovations we are all used to seeing...how wrong I was!! I don't think there will ever be a setup that will top Damien and his guitar, Eric and Indie, and a room of 100 or so entranced fans. It is, IMHO,
the ideal setting.
And let me tell you, a standing ovation in a small room is just as sweet, if not sweeter
I really enjoyed sitting at the back of the room and not only watching Damien, but watching the crowd too. Lots more men in the audience than I expected, and not just husbands being dragged along. Many enthusiastic and vocal male fans! You could feel the manly love there
.
There was of course plenty of swooning
laydees, we were surrounded on all sides! (They were also very....
vocal 
). I took much pleasure in seeing one particular table fall in
teh coma - they were very sweet ladies, and having such a good night. It really brought home the fact that we on this forum really are the smallest tip of the iceburg - there are just so many people out there still lovin' D
I feel embarrassed to admit it, but my favourite performances of the night were the old Idol songs! Yes, Winter who Demands!Originals! was all misty eyed and gooey upon hearing her 3 favourite Idol classics.
Hallelujah was of course loverly, with an Eric guitar break in the middle (Trilly, what was that song in the instrumental part?) Twas so very
Arcade Fire to change it up like that!.
Wicked Game gave me chills, and brought back amazing memories of watching it on the night - the comeback of all comebacks! It was in this number for me that Indie really shone - her 'fiddle' solo was awesome and unexpected and just....freakin perfect. She is a wonderful addition!
However it was Crying that really struck me tonight. It is quite simply the most perfect song for Damien and his voice, and his arrangement and execution (to me) is just faultless. It. Is. Perfect. Bottom to the Top, baby, its PERFECT. It just reminded me what an amazing contestant he was on the show - there has never been anyone like him on that show. A lovely lady in front of us remarked that he is still the only contestant she has ever been moved to vote for. I imagine she is in good company! A standing O from the crowd too
And now...a not so little gripe:
The sound 'guy'. I would call him an engineer....but, nah, that would be overstating it a tad.
It must be very tempting for the sound operators to play with the reverb on Damien's vocals. They probably don't get to mix pipes like that everyday, and I will confess that I don't mind a little reverb now on then when it comes to D. In Melbourne on TWJ tour, they got it just right on Crying, and maybe a couple of other numbers...they were, from memory, subtle and selective. It suits the style and the period.
This guy, at Wellers.....it was like he had the Spinal Tap of mixing boards. Thats right, reverb all the way, every number...all the way up to ELEVEN!! ZOMG!!11!CHECK DA REVERB MAN!!!11!!. Except,er, no. It was not cool. Very not cool.
Every vocal on every song it was kicking in. So much so YOU COULD HEAR THE FULL ECHO AT TIMES. No, I am not kidding. Even D was aware of it, he paused at one stage to let his echo finish a big note
Now to me, the joy of an acoustic style tour is just that - it feels
acoustic. These are small rooms, and for me a great advantage of small rooms is that you can hear a nuanced performance. And, quite frankly, Damien is
the last person that needs production on his vocals. Really.
Apart from the reverb trauma, it frustrated me that in a room that intimate, the sound was very loud and sounded so 'amplified'. Surely...its not necessary?
That being said, the sound is going to change in each venue....and I still had a wonderful night and enjoyed Damien's performance immensely. Just had to say it.
Sound guy, sleep with one eye open tonight.
Damien stayed behind afterwards and signed merchandise for pretty much THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE! I really cannot fathom his generosity to his fans sometimes, it was really touching to see all these dedicated fans getting to meet and talk with him for the first time
I saw him briefly with Trilly - we had no merchandise and just said a quick hello. Because I am the shy retiring type (
) I didn't say much or get a hug, but definitely appreciated the care Damien took in making eye contact with me, making sure I enjoyed the show and saying goodbye - he really does take care with every single person. I think his parents should be very proud, they have raised a very thoughtful, generous and empathetic man
Oh, and anyone who cares to emply otherwise that this isn't the case, can go get stuffed. A lot. ;D
It sounds like a wonderful night and the set list is great. I'm hoping for more songs from CTW in Canberra especially Longer, Time In A Bottle and Everybody's Talking, well just all of the songs from CTW actually. ;D OMG La Bamba! Did Damien throw in any wild dance moves? 
I'm still intrigued as to when he's going to throw in the two new Orbison songs he apparently mentioned recently. 
We have to wait 24 hrs till we get the pretteh??? That was very 
How could you think so clearly? I'd be torn between taking really crappy shots or just to enjoy the whole experience... just so sad to admit it!
"Cheap drunk"
)
However, as you pointed out, D's voice is freakin mesmerising live, the gilding of the lily is just so unecessary.
morning lovelies