Live Earth Sydney and Live Earth globally was a good intentioned series of concerts that hopefully will raise the consciousness of some about the precious nature of our home. The entertainment and political value of using a concert series may be heading to extinction like the T-Rex though. The legitimacy of a large worldwide event like this and the meaning it has to the youth of today is certainly something that needs to be discussed before someone ever decides to plan one again.
Our planet is a much smaller place, the World Wide Web has made it that way, and the delivery of music and media and messages over a 24 hour period via concerts, well, it may have had its day. And based on the passively standing crowds noted in most stadiums, I don’t see what the point is any more as it looks like most of these people would have had as much fun on the lounge watching the show.
When the world was a ‘larger’ place, the trek to the event and the sense of community created was real, because you had to be there to ‘be there’. Today, the on-line community seems to have a greater pull and focus then a gathering of the tribes. The event has probably set some sort of record for the number of hits or streams and we will hear more on that I am sure!
The biggest negative of the day was the poor planning around adequate food and drink stalls. These events happen all the time and not having any food stall or drink stands open in the stadium proper and making people trek to long queues for 45-60 minute waits was shocking. I don’t go to gigs to get pissed but I do like to have the option of having a beer or 3 if I am locked up in one place for 10 hours or more. I heard tales of the sound being average far from the stage, but fortunately I had some front section tickets available to me.
At Aussie Stadium, on 7-7-07, we had on display a wide range of acts. The funky and talented Blue King Brown with Natalie Paapaa on vocals were vibrant and fun; the mum to be Toni Collette and her band The Finish sounding a bit like Patti Smith at times; Wolfmother rocking the house (and the youth of today) were some of the acts that passed the day away trying to drum up awareness about the plight of our earth.
We were treated to some remarkable short films, clips from bands playing in other parts of the world later in the day and MCs like Adam Spencer, Ian Thorpe and the not so well received Peter Garrett. But what did he expect when he talked party politics at a concert! Peter Garrett should really have jumped up with the Ghostwriters on the day, but it appears he has hung up his rock and roll shoes and missed a golden opportunity to woo some younger voters. Bad timing, Peter!
Some of the highlights were Paul Kelly with the Boon Companions playing with Kev Carmody, John Butler and Missy Higgins on ‘From Small Things, Big Things Grow’; the entire John Butler Trio set and John asking the crowd to do the Mexican Wave for him; a short and groovy set by the much loved Jack Johnson; and the magic of a Crowded House reunion 11 years after they played the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
Sparkling and shining like your favourite lost then found piece of jewellery, Crowded House bounded onto the stage to the loudest cheers of the day. Neil, Nick Seymour, Mick Hart, new drummer Matt Sherrod (formerly played with Beck) and Liam Finn made up the line-up for a short, but neat, selection of their hits. ‘Fall At Your Feet’, ‘Distant Sun’, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ were all rolled out. ‘Silent House’, from the new release Time On Earth, was warmly received and a tip of the hat to their deceased band mate Paul Hester. I kept looking at the drum riser thinking Paul should be back their playing the fool. He is missed by us all.
But the boys did have some jokes in them as Neil gave Nick a serve about how long his morning was due to his all day hang over. Seems Nick may have been celebrating being back on the “old sod”, as the turf of Australia was referred to.
The end of the gig served up the sing-alongs and the cold Sydney night was warmed by the love and memories in the stadium. ‘Something So Strong’ blasted the stage lights off for the rest of the gig (the PA kept working!), ‘Weather With You’ (with Missy and John Butler and many others dancing and singing in the dark) and the obligatory ‘Better Be Home Soon’ completed the closing hat trick. Even though Neil seemed a bit off with his vocals at times, Crowded House as a unit sounded fine and with their energy they proved they did not need the spotlight to glow. Bring on their full concerts later in the year!
Let’s hope that we can make a difference and that our children and grandchildren ad infinitum can enjoy what we have during our lives on this beautiful planet. Love the Earth! Car pool, turn off those lights (now!!) and ride a bike when you can, it’s the least you can do for the future of our race.
D-money
said ages ago