Access All Ages at the Factory Theatre 21.03.2008

A few word from the venue's website:

"The Factory Theatre is Sydney’s newest, most exciting live venue. Purpose built, the Factory hosts an array of live music and performances, from international rock concerts to intimate cabaret shows, film and dance. The Factory brings a breath of fresh air to Sydney's entertainment scene and a commitment to nurturing emerging performers and acts."

With all the hype surrounding this event that finally kids have a place to experience good live music. A great initiative from the Factory Theatre. Its all nice and beautiful you would think but its not. If you commit to something you got to do it right. And theres no excuses. I don't want a heart surgeon that has good intentions i want a heart surgeon that wont kill me.

Because of my commitments on Good Friday I missed Cassette Kids and Bridgemary Kiss. The show was running late so i managed to see The Holidays. First they were fighting with equipment for 30 min, then they fought with the sound mixing guy for the rest of the show to no avail. He fucked their sound just like any other band that was on stage that night. The Holidays sounded to me a bit like Arctic Monkeys without the Newcastle accent without which the monkeys would loose all the appeal. But I wont go further into judging the music of the Holidays because I'm sure they didn't sound like they wanted, because of the venue's incompetence. Between every song Simon Jones the vocalist was complaining about feedback and the sound. He wanted to do something but the sound guy either didn't care or didn't know which valve to turn. At First i thought it might have been the bands laziness not getting everything right at the sound check but then came the next band Bridezilla. It was the first time i saw The Holidays so i didn't exactly know how they should sound. With Bridezilla i saw them 4 times before and from the first notes i knew something was wrong.

Holiday Sidewinder also tried to point the sound man in the right direction between songs and guess what no success. For someone who heard these songs at Enmore they were really bad.For most of the songs I heard mostly Holiday's guitar and a little bit of Daisy. Milly was blowing that saxophone like crazy but most of the time i couldn't hear nothing that she was playing. With each song i just got angrier. A band is spilling their guts out there and all this effort is being wasted because the venue hired someone who hasn't got a clue what sound mixing is about.
Then came the British India of course not before someone tried to setup the feedback for 30 minutes for them and I didn't think it worked perfectly as Nic Wilson the lead guitarist was working with the valves on the amp between each song. The sound was to loud even for my camera as you can see below.

All i could hear is the base guitar. If the low sound wave can destroy internal organs this is the time it was possible. The building was literally shaking. As I have Donor A written on my driver's license those organs may still be useful for someone well maybe they cant use the liver but nevertheless all the other organs should be fine. To protect them after a few songs i decided to retreat to the back. As it was even to loud over there i decide to head home. The credit goes to the band though they gave it all. For me i would like to see them again in a more band friendly venue.
Now to sum up the show i purposely quoted Factory Theatres website at the start of this review to show all the bullshit that they claim. Every time i go there there is always a stuff up. So much for purpose built venue. The architect must've been drunk. Why the hell would you put a wooden floor in front of the stage. Hello people having drinks and jumping around. At the end of the night the floor is so sticky you can barely walk there. It might work for intimate seating concert but not for a rock gig. The air conditioning is not existent even though it was cold outside inside it was stuffy and plain hot. The managers incompetence is just to much to handle if they really cared about "commitment to nurturing emerging performers and acts" they would hire a person who complements those bands music not one that wrecks it. A monkey would've done a better job at that console. I feel sorry for all the kids that came there. They don't have much opportunities to listen to those bands live. They were having fun yes but they didn't experience the bands as they should. Maybe the organizers thought that they don't have to do the best for the kids. Well I'm a staunch believer in free markets. And free market works like this someone gives you $15 and you should make sure he is having fun no matter who he is crippled stupid lesbian tall short fut ugly. There's no discriminating in free markets. Maybe some of those kids believe they got their value for money i did not. It would be ok if the bands were shit as you cant blame the venue for a poor band. But if you cant hear the band because of venues incompetence theres no excuses for that. I'm boycotting this venue for at least 6 months no matter who's gonna play there. After that i might go and see something there but if its shit like it was this time another period of them not getting my money is imminent.

Cat Power at the Enmore Theatre 09.03.2008

I was late like always. Every time i go to a gig I'm late. Well could've been more late as the first act was so bad it doesn't even deserve a mentioning even on a blog like this one. You know what I'm not even gonna take the effort to find what was her name if she didn't put any effort in while she was performing. She was more busy fixing up her dress than actually singing and she looked drunk. No excuses.
Lets go to the next one Mr Jim White (Dirty Three) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three). Jim of course on the drums and Mick on guitar and various other instruments which i cant recall as i was to lazy to write this earlier. Well the highlight of the evening would have to be Jim White his drumming is just excellent so much complexity in playing what well a rhythm instrument. His hands were just flying through the air hitting the drum with a huge rate per minute but it wasn't just banging the drums those were the touches of a true master knowing when to nibble the thing and giving a huge spanking when the percussion deserved it. First time i saw him live and i was really impressed with this great muso. Just letting himself go and letting the music just fly. Judah Bauer played the guitar and various other instruments putting them in loops just creating a backdrop to Jim's drumming doing a great work of it.

Now comes the main act. While i see great reviews around i just did not dig it. First time i saw Chan was at her worst (thats not my opinion i explain soon) supporting Nick Cave & Bad Seeds at Big Top Luna Park and she was this scared little vulnerable woman who was scared of even the smallest applause. Now she was with a band a band of great musicians Jim White (Dirty Three), keyboardist player Greg Foreman (Delta 72) guitarist Judah Bauer (Blues Explosion), bassist Erik Paparazzi. She couldn't hide behind the piano so she was out the in front of the stage in the center with a spotlight brightly shining on her, but in my opinion thats not where she belongs. Its not the Cat Power I knew. I just don't dig the new cat power. Her stage antics just scream to me "I'm dancing yes but I'm not here. Its as if she's not there there is no public therefore theres nothing to be scared. I always adored her voice but i just saw a constant battle between the band and her voice. A few years back in an intimate settings when it was only her and the piano her voice sounded as if every note had a meaning. At this gig i think she just overdone it She showed a great range yes but it sounded as a show of more than trying to cause an effect on the audience with each note. It got to a point where i just got tired with it and i just wished she would shut up and let Jim take over.

Well everyone said that shes the worst live performer ever. But you know what i loved that bad performances from her i wish they come back cause they work better for me than the new GREAT Cat Power.