After waiting virtually 20 years to finally have STP visit Australia, the decision to see my favourite band was out of my control.
Problem number one; of the 5 mainland capital cities in Australia guess which one STP/the promoter chose to skip? I was gutted. Adelaide, a city of well over 1 million people and smack bang in the middle of the continent was overlooked and I struggled to contain my disappointment. I emailed the promoters to no avail, (there is a precedent when Foo Fighters were lobbied and added a date to their tour some years ago as a result) so I was left with no choice but to cough the spondoolies and travel interstate.
I then looked online at tickets for both Melbourne and Sydney only to discover that both shows in Australia's 2 major cities were sold out. Typical. I let it fester for weeks and weeks before then deciding this was too big to miss out. I got on Ebay and paid nearly double face value, booked flights and accom and I was set. A trip to my old home town of Sydney with my wife pursuing the divine experience. That's 1415km (880miles) or further than Chicago or Atlanta to New York!!
Fast forward to the night. We arrive at the venue and it's wayyyy too early. We cruise the precinct, have a drink. While sitting outside, I notice the separate queue for VIP members. Seemed an average deal to have to get there earlier than anyone else just get in first for the front row but then be unable to move for fear of giving it up but each to their own? At this early point it was obvious the type of crowd that was drawn to the show. Under 30's were in the minority so clearly it was children of the nineties here to see the band meaning a setlist of Core and Purple would be most popular. We slowly head in once the gates open to the venue at 6.30. Brief look at the merchandise, nothing of interest and feeling good that the chances of me seeing anyone else wearing a No4 t shirt are nonexistent while there are plenty in the 2 finger tour shirt.
Another drink and we watch the first support act from a seat knowing we can move down to the front after for a good spot. Out they come and the lead guitarist blows and amp before he's even played a note. A quick swap with the next support and on we go. Not bad but young and making their way.
Next up Grinspoon. Kicked arse. Aussie band who've had success in their own right over many years and are a well established live band. Lead singer Phil shares much in common with Scott, having had his own personal battles with ICE and as a performer he's similarly extravagant and a real showman. Great show from a band perfectly suited to this tour. They've had moderate success in the US so google them up and check them out.
Next up STP. Their intro music was nothing recognisable and there was no announcer as they walked on stage and snapped straight into Crackerman. From there followed Wicked Garden and Vasoline and after these few I began to expect some sort of hello/introduction/audience acknowledgement -not unusual a few songs in. It never came. The band sounded great, performing brilliantly together, sound quality fantastic in a perfectly suited venue and the crowd lapped up every moment with an incredible level of audience participation. The audience singing along was noticeable and it seemed the majority knew all the words.
At one point 4 or 5 songs in Dean gestured to the crowd sharing his happiness and excitement and egging the crowd on and Rob was similarly demonstrative. All the while nothing from Scott save for "This song is..." while his back was turned at the drum dais.
Perhaps it's just me, but I went to this show with a feeling or expectation that this tour (Asia & Aust) was making good on mistakes of the past so far as the band is concerned and so I went to the Sydney show thinking that it would be something special for the band to be finally playing in one of the worlds iconic cities and for the De Leos (Scott has been across Aust with VR) it would be a great time for them away from the shows themselves (the Bridge, Opera House etc etc). In light of that, the fact that Scott said absolutely nothing all night surprised and disappointed me. Yes, they're there for the music, yes they delivered but he really, literally only said "This song is..." all night long. At VR in Adelaide in 2005, he was superb with an artistic monologue aimed at the audience which was highly entertaining.
Having said that, his performance was completely upbeat . He moved continually and his voice was spot on. Sounded great and body language was motivated. He and Dean did their usual stuff together throughout. The band together at the end, showed genuine warmth and comraderie.
How could I complain when my favourite album is Purple and you look at that setlist!! Silvergun, Still Remains.....all it needed was No Way Out and another half hour and I'd be forever contented.
Surely though we must count our blessings. This is a tour I never considered possible, after an album I regarded as unlikely while holding the faintest hope. Thank you to STP for the fact you made it and for those of us who don't have the luxury of counting the number of shows seen on 2 hands, we appreciate the opportunity to finally share the music of our youth.
Bring on the next album....and a supporting tour!
Crackerman
Wicked Garden
Vasoline
Between the Lines
Hickory Dichotomy
Heaven and Hot Rods
Still Remains
Big Empty
Dancing Days (Led Zeppelin cover)
Silvergun Superman
Plush
Interstate Love Song
Huckleberry Crumble
Down
Sex Type Thing
Encore:
Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart
