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Post by shimmery on Jun 7, 2008 0:54:25 GMT 10
lol only up to the 2nd song  Can't wait to read it all Kami!! Love your reports  (Might go clean out my wardrobe and then come back in a while, it looks like I might have time  ) |
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Post by Mi chiamano Kami on Jun 7, 2008 1:14:06 GMT 10
Never Meant To Fail acoustic was everything everyone else has already said about it. A fantastic one to start with because it got the audience hooked from the start, and it really showed off the power in Damien's voice. And he's just fantastic at those songs that have a hint of melancholy in them. Minor keys, and all that. Poo Poo Head Of Security Staff was marching up and down in front of the stage all through the song like it was his own personal *censored for reasons of excessive creativity*, so unfortunately it was hard to concentrate as well as I would have liked, but nothing gets in the way of Damien and his power notes, ha! Oh, and as awesome as the big songs are, I love the ones where he gets to rock out on stage and have fun. He looks more and more natural every time I see him. We had some gorgeous lighting effects for this show, too. Lovely subtle colour changes and shadows across the back wall. Brilliant.  Leading into Catch The Wind he told us how his father was a Donovan fan, and he wasn't as a child - but he eventually got caught out playing the records. (Haven't we all been there with some artist or another? ) The song isn't a favourite favourite of mine on the album, but it's been a grower, and Damien captured the sweetness and the wistfulness of the song perfectly. To be honest, I didn't think a live rendition would add anything to it but I was wrong! You can see it in his face that he really has some idea of what he's singing about, that it means something to him, and that makes all the difference. At this point he introduced Eric, there was some increasingly wrong banter about his modelling career and edible underwear. He talked about his history with Eric and how they used to do Irishman In New York, and he launched into a bit of the song. About half of the audience was all, "Oh, that song!" I think I know it too, no idea where from. It was great to hear him put his voice to something we haven't heard a thousand times already. Although I'd like to hear it a thousand times, for sure! After that he introduced his violin player (I'm sure there's a better word for the instrument but heck, it's after midnight) and it was time for Guitar Man, which I was looking forward to. Two guitars can sound pretty loud all right! I noticed straight away how brilliantly the three of them worked together. I might have to wait until I've slept some to explain this one, but the three of them came up with something really magical together. It was like... you know, the equivalent of a religious experience for a music lover, knowing with complete confidence that you're in the presence of great music. And all through the show I thought it was great how Damien was just 'one of the band' and played with them, although obviously he couldn't help but shine on his own. The Stairway To Heaven interlude was stunning, even though I was expecting it after reading other reports. My sister whispered to me that it was the best version she'd ever heard, and even I have to concede he beats Rolf Harris. He confessed he didn't really know the words the first time he did it, and still wasn't sure now (what consistency! ), but he did pretty darn well if he didn't! It was a nice contrast between the boppiness of Guitar Man and the power he put into Stairway To Heaven - and then effortlessly back into Guitar Man. He got a big cheer for that. Showmanship, pure class. Oh look, this is me going incoherent with glee!  Oh wow, I'm sure I have a million more things to say if I could just work out what the heck this random THUD!! in my notes is supposed to mean. I knew I shouldn't have written my notes in Damieniteish! |
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Post by shimmery on Jun 7, 2008 1:26:36 GMT 10
Leading into Catch The Wind he told us how his father was a Donovan fan, and he wasn't as a child - but he eventually got caught out playing the records. (Haven't we all been there with some artist or another? ) The song isn't a favourite favourite of mine on the album, but it's been a grower, and Damien captured the sweetness and the wistfulness of the song perfectly. To be honest, I didn't think a live rendition would add anything to it but I was wrong! You can see it in his face that he really has some idea of what he's singing about, that it means something to him, and that makes all the difference. Oh Kami, totally agree about the live rendition of Catch the Wind - I heard it live before ever hearing the recording (which I also love) and from that first time hearing it live was totally captivated by Damien's version.  CTW was my fav song from the Vanguard shows, Damien does it absolutely beautifully doesn't he  Damieniteish - now there's a word! I think Never Meant to Fail sounds like the perfect opening song - just loving reading all this, thank you!! |
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Post by Mysterri on Jun 7, 2008 1:32:04 GMT 10
Loving all of your sweet recollections of the show Kami. It sounds like a brilliant night once again for both Damien and his audience.  |
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Post by 12ktina on Jun 7, 2008 1:34:42 GMT 10
Wow! Damien is now in Tassie, how exciting!  Ange, I can't describe how sorry I am for you that you are so unwell that you can't go to these concerts, if I remember you weren't too well during the last concert series either! I can only imagine how this must be for you,  hope you get better soon!! KAmi, how exciting that you had such a lovely night, looking forward to reading all your memories as they come tumbling in!! |
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Post by thebraff (Braffy) on Jun 7, 2008 2:48:43 GMT 10
 Ange I was totally   reading that you are unwell and unable to attend either of the concerts. I know how you were so pleased that Damien was coming to your 'home town'. Tina is right. You were sick last time too. I do hope you get better soon.  Kami, I love reading about the concert. Thank you for what you have posted so far and I am looking forward to reading the rest of it when you get it posted.  Security men. Did you have a meet and greet?
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Post by SJ on Jun 7, 2008 4:44:59 GMT 10
Ange, I know how totally shattered you are - I can't describe how sorry and upset I am for you ... I know how much you were looking forward to this. Massive - Get well soon! |
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Post by dmac on Jun 7, 2008 5:32:14 GMT 10
Aaahh Bugga Ange that so sucks!!! I'm really heartbroken for you. I can't believe you're sick again for D's Tour Saying sorry doesn't help, but I hope you have a really speedy recovery  Kami thanks so much for all you've recalled and love the set list. Looking forward to more of your adventures |
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Post by princess1 on Jun 7, 2008 7:07:17 GMT 10
Kami thanks for posting your report, I wish I was able to recollect my thoughts on Damien's appearances so well. Its such good reading and I can't wait for the rest, I wondered too, did you get a meet & greet? Ange I hope you're getting better, I'm really sad for you that you are too unwell to go to the shows you have been sick for quite a while now, Get Well Soon |
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Post by Smiley on Jun 7, 2008 8:08:42 GMT 10
Kami  you're a legend! at scribbled notes, overrun with love hearts and OMG!!!!!s and demented smiley faces....you got it bad!  Can't wait to read the rest of the report......*insert pacing smiley.... ;D ....Hey Elvis was only fat in the last couple of years of his life....no-one seems to remember that!  For the majority of his life he was SOL!!  Bloody hell! Ange X 1000 |
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Post by KrisLovesDamien on Jun 7, 2008 10:18:29 GMT 10
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Post by KrisLovesDamien on Jun 7, 2008 10:25:59 GMT 10
YAY KAMI Loving your report ;D Now tell me...did you let out a few squees?  . Come on don't let me down now Jokes, glad it was a good night ( i mean of course it was! ) I really love the stairway to heaven bit...even since Damien did when i went to the concerts i havent stopped playing it on my guitar OMG!, were you swooning in unchained melody? ....i had to request it 3 times for Damien to sing it at Capers , i was desperate bwahaha Anyways i don't know why i told you that but i imagine your a bit ;SHGKJSDGHSDKFBGLKDSFBGSLKDFBGS at the moment?, well thats what i call it anyways |
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Post by Mi chiamano Kami on Jun 7, 2008 10:47:28 GMT 10
Sorry everyone, I crashed last night! Where was I... He talked a bit at some point about how he got into musicals, complete with a snippet from Oliver and a line of 'Oh What A Beautiful Morning'. He lives up to Gordon MacRae for sure. I think I was just mesmerised during Annie's Song - as soon as he said, 'you'll all recognise this one', I had it written down before they started playing it. I remember this song as just being beautiful all over - they had this gorgeous lighting effect that made the whole room feel like we were spending a night in the forest. I think the instrumentation was particularly beautiful, I honestly couldn't tell you anything else about it but I know it was all just perfect. Before If, he commented that what really impressed him about the singer of the song was his versatility, and how he could do soft songs and harder rock ones and sound great. A bit like someone else we know, eh? They do say that people love and admire in others the qualities they possess themselves - must make us a darn talented and handsome lot! But back to the song - If is a favourite of mine and I just love singing it, and there was this beautiful moment near the end, around 'one by one...' where he was singing with this dreamy smile on his face, and it was just so moving to think he was singing that with his family in mind, and that he has similar feelings about the song to me. Then it was a story about unrequited love... and you probably know what song is coming up next (well, of course you do, I already gave you the set list ). He informed us that he didn't have much luck with the ladies as a kid, despite his handsome appearance (the female portion of the audience degenerated into salivation and wolf whistles at this point), and there was this one girl in particular who he took up Irish dancing for to impress. He didn't get the girl, but he got lots of awards for the dancing. And then it was 22 Steps - the stalker song, according to Eric. 'There's a fine line between unrequited and stalker'. Ah, you know you're an obsessive fan when you have the live version stuck in your head rather than how he does it on the CD. I hereby dub the live version the 'Sexy Version' - in a very professional way, mind you . The alternative croon works beautifully, and I swear that at one point during the song Damien looked right in my eyes, so we had a moment, eeee! Introducing Beautiful he talked about how it was really daunting coming down from the Idol high and working out what to do next, and how he just got back to basics and wrote a song about what was most important to him. Already had it down before he started. It was a beautiful, intimate rendition, and I loved how he changed things around and left off a few words of a line in the first verse - those of you who've seen it live probably know what I mean. He doesn't even have to sing the whole song to be brilliant. Last song of the set, Everybody's Talking At Me, and he had us all making train noises. I love the original arrangement of this song and it was difficult getting used to the slightly more funky version, but live it was just brilliant. It was one of those songs where the guitar playing got as much attention as the singing. Again, it was wonderful to see Damien as just 'part of the band', showing that he's more than an exceptional singer. Except Damien kept doing a cute little dance while we were supposed to be making train noises, that threw about half the audience off. His train noises were better than any of ours, anyway - the things he can use his voice for! And about half of you probably have no idea what I'm babbling on about now... Oh, man! I've got to stop rambling! I'm not sure if this is more for my benefit or for you guys, but hey, if you can't make a tl;dr post or five after a Damien concert, when can you? No, Kris, I didn't actually squee during the concert - I was so mesmerised, every time Damien was singing I'd start leaning forward in my seat and nearly tumble onto the people in the front row! (Elevated seating is the best - we were right on level with the stage! ) |
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Post by princess1 on Jun 7, 2008 11:13:04 GMT 10
Oh Kami, I'm loving your report and its bringing back so many memories from the Melbourne shows, just about everything you have said has happened to us too  its wonderful |
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Post by Smiley on Jun 7, 2008 11:18:30 GMT 10
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reading that you are unwell and unable to attend either of the concerts. I know how you were so pleased that Damien was coming to your 'home town'.
For the majority of his life he was SOL!! 
aka @just_Leithal on Twitter 
