Great report Braffy!
Talk about making an
"offer too good to refuse"!
The Nuffys, B/f & I all decided last minute to go to this one and once again the (fabulously named) Rooty Hill RSL was such a fantastic and fun experience
- only been there twice and totally enjoyed both! Have been back home a little while but am wide awake so have Rage on tv and will write a bit of love for the brilliant night.
Was great to see Kazza & Michelle after a very long time and meet up with the Nuffys & Braffy. We were all in different parts of the audience but found each other and had a great catch up!
By good luck I was able to enjoy the show from the front row for the 2nd half as a few seats weren't used! Kazza was in fine form, lots of fun moments as she answered some of Damien's comments on stage
they have a great double act going as do Eric and Damien, many laughs between them tonight too
The Set list was INCREDIBLE!!! Just loved it, we were so lucky to have some rare songs and it was a dream to hear
TENTERFIELD SADDLER live for the first time.
I loved the new version of
CRAZY LOVE too, with Damien on guitar with the guys. Love the keyboard version too, but this was divine.
Was worried for Damien when he said at the start he had "the lurgy" and it was touch and go if tonight's show would go ahead. He did a beautiful show though and can cover any discomfort so well, it must be such a strain on his voice to do so many songs beautifully in those conditions. What an absolute pro
OMG
CRYING is a great example. He was saying on stage that he knows it disappoints many if he doesn't do it so he was going to give it a go even though he wasn't too well. He changed the key at the high points and dropped it down, and it was
exquisite!!! As much as the high note version is pure heaven, we all without exception LOVED tonight's version too and I'd love to hear it that way again anytime too!!
Another massive highlight of the show for me was
ALONE. I've seen Damien sing this a couple of years back and it has evolved again, such a powerful and beautiful version!! He did it so beautifully and the the solo by Eric
Absolute knockout, I was there in complete awe loving it all! Eric said later that he had written a whole special long solo for that song, and that wasn't all of it! Would love to hear the rest one day!
Funny moment too, Damien mentioned that he wrote that song as a gift for someone, and it was a stage he went through giving songs as gifts, to which Eric said that he gave him one once too - and Damien said straight back ,yes, was a special song devoted to him called "I Love Eric's ponytail"
Tonight another highlight for me was
ANNIE'S SONG. Best version I've ever heard of it with this arrangement with Cesar on charango. Have heard that arrangement previously but tonight it was magic +++.
I was so happy when a lady up the front requested
SONGBIRD as that's defintely one of my faves and it was so gorgeous hearing that one again.
LOVED the acoustic version of
SORRY to start the show. That's b/f's fave on RJ and he was loving that too.
I was in complete raptures by
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (during GUITAR MAN) - the guys rocked out and Damien was just so in the music, it was such a joy to see. Eric did a brilliant solo and Damien's vocal sealed it all as an incredible whole. I felt so lucky to be able to see these amazing musicians all together, wow, was fantastic.
After the show Damien stayed back for a signing, so fantastic of him when he wasn't feeling the best. I met a lovely lady during the show who said she had all his CDs and his books and this was her very first show seeing him! She was thrilled there was a signing and chance to say hi. Was a great happy atmosphere in the foyer where Damien was doing the signings and pics and lots were buying the books and CDs.
When we had a chat with Damien he said that the Katoomba show had been brilliant and he'd had a great night there. That gorgeous photo from inside a car on the tour poster was taken in King's Cross, he said that the big Coca Cola sign was just out of the shot behind his shoulder. It has that great inner city feel, love it!
Damien was saying things are coming together really well with the album, finishing touches going on now! Really exciting, not long now til the album is out and we can all hear what he's been working on!
Wardrobe report - the first half of the show Damien had on a beautiful platinum grey shirt of hawtness with epaulets and lovely unbuttoned buttons
& chest hair
as key accessory
Looked absolutely gorgeous! 2nd half was the nice stripey t-shirt.
I never got any good pics the first half of show but a couple of ok ones 2nd half. Kazza & Braffy have some great ones. I'll put up my little collection later when I get them done.
After the show we stayed back for couple of hours for a brilliant Hut! (There may have been a little Blackjack action too
) There was a band playing in the club and they did Celebration! Great stuff and perfect end to things!
We didn't have a picture of Damien to put on the table (as is tradition so he can be in the Hut, lol) so Braffy put her rolled up poster on the table. It was rolled up in such a way however as to have his face looking out, and it was absolutely hysterical - Damien's eyes were bearing right down the length of table onto Kazza and as soon as we realised we were all in stitches
Had to get a pic on my phone, LOL!!!
"Behave Yourself" Will upload the pics from my camera later and add to the gallery
Oh yes, and though we got there ok - we lived up to Damienite reputation too & got totally lost in the wilds of Rooty Hill North on the way back
- an occasional sign of how to get back onto the M7 would help!!
Just can't say thank you enough to Damien and the guys for the beautiful show they always give.
Thank you for creating a space where the cares of the world disappear for a precious while, where there is nothing but this moment, these friends and this brilliant music
(with Eric and Cesar)
but that is not set in stone and Damien is still working on some tracks.
so I will the others there tell you more and talk about the pretteh and the wardrobe report. In case they forget, he had grey connies on.
as key accessory 
) There was a band playing in the club and they did Celebration! Great stuff and perfect end to things! 
Oh yes, and though we got there ok - we lived up to Damienite reputation too & got totally lost in the wilds of Rooty Hill North on the way back 
Sounds like a fantastic night was had by all. ;D 
