Sydney, Australia (Everest Theatre - Seymour Centre), November 8, 2014 (Show #1) Options

[dangum]

Ed Kowalczyk solo
November 8, 2014
Sydney, Australia
Everest Theatre - http://www.seymourcentre.com/venues/

Ex-LIVE Frontman Ed Kowalczyk Announces ‘I Alone’ East Coast Acoustic Tour

Celebrated singer-songwriter and former frontman of earth-conquering Christian rock band LIVE, Ed Kowalczyk, has announced a solo acoustic tour, which he’s playfully dubbed ‘I Alone’.

The multi-platinum selling artist will take in two stops in Sydney and Melbourne this November, performing a solo-acoustic set spun from his entire LIVE catalogue, as well as gems from his solo releases, 2010′s ‘Alive’ and 2013′s ‘The Flood And The Mercy’.

It seems the tunesmith can’t get enough of Australia, after celebrating the twenty-year anniversary of the release of LIVE’s seminal album ‘Throwing Copper’ with Aussie audiences, earlier this year.

“I’m so very excited to be performing down under again this year!” Ed says. “I absolutely adore my Australian fans, and look forward to being with you all in Sydney and Melbourne for these intimate, acoustic performances. See you soon!”

Tickets go onsale from 10am next Friday, October 3, with an exclusive pre-sale for Live Nation members kicking off from midday, Tuesday September 30.

To get your hands on tickets, head to www.livenation.com.au

http://sfmedia.com.au/ex-live-frontman-ed-...-acoustic-tour/

[dangum]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152789933213081

[dangum]

The show sold out on the first day.

[dangum]

Review

Ed Kowalczyk - Seymour Centre
Nov 8th 2014 | Shane Hernandez

Ed Kowalczyk has come back for the second time this year, and with a loyal following of fans it’s no wonder that Kowalczyk loves Australia and vice versa.

If the name rings a bell it’s because Kowalczyk was the front man and songwriter for one of the most underrated bands of the '90s — Live, whose songs have become radio staples and Kowalczyk filled his heavy two-hour set with plenty from the past and present.

The former Live singer cast wonderful waves of nostalgia for the fans who were around since the beginning with classics like Selling The Drama, I Alone, Dolphin’s Cry and Heaven. Kowalczyk even brought back a song he first wrote when he was 19 years old – Pain Lies On The Riverside, which brought many cheers.

Unfortunately the show was partially ruined by a stage invader who made her way up to the stage to dance (badly) around Kowalczyk. It was an embarrassing display but Kowalczyk, being the consummate professional, took it all in good stride and carried on.

The show not only displayed Kowalczyk’s resilience but the songwriting talents of a continuing remnant of one of the last great rock'n'roll bands from the '90s. Kowalczyk’s solo songs in the set included The Great Beyond, Seven, Angels On A Razor, All That I Wanted and Grace. With an acoustic flare these tracks became intimate and it revealed the bare bones of these great songs.

The last number was perhaps the most powerful and appropriate song. Lightning Crashes paints a heartbreaking tale about the cycle of life and death. Ed Kowalczyk - you deserved a better audience but thank you anyway for revisiting our shores.

http://themusic.com.au/music/livereviews/2...hane-hernandez/

[dangum]

Some videos from 666boltz

I Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8TZ_0ufGWc

Shit Towne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pCa2dl9hRc

Selling the Drama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtF0nglkVGY

The Garden / Lightning Crashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQhIaluRWFs

Pain Lies on the Riverside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyUj4LuHi0

The Beauty of Gray (partial)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyUA2Km9Lyk

All Over You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphiZqM6cKs

[dangum]

Review

Ed Kowalczyk, Sydney – Gig Review

Ed Kowalczyk + Bec Sandridge
The Everest Theatre, Sydney
8 November 2014
Review by Matt Bolton

After a few punk rock shows and a lot of metal gigs it’s nice to unwind and relax, getting back to your childhood roots. LIVE being the first band I ever saw in concert for ‘The Distance to Here’ Tour in ’99. I don’t think I have ever been to a concert at a Theatre before, the word does sound pretty classy. The Everest Theatre is a nice venue and I just know that I’m in for a treat. This is going to be an intimate show with the one and only ED KOWALCZYK.

First to get things rolling we have a stellar set from a very polite and pretty young girl from Sydney. BEC SANDRIDGE warms things up nicely for what is sure to be an unforgettable night with her indie folk influenced guitar playing and soothing vocals.

I am new to SANDRIDGE’s music and it didn’t take long for me to get into it. The way she strummed away at her acoustic and the use of her finger picking style was captivating. In between songs SANDRIDGE had a certain charm about her talking to the crowd and came across as being very polite, thanking the crowd, being very grateful for ED choosing her as support. I’m sure the crowd would have also been happy with ED’s choice.

After first song SANDRIDGE made the crowd laugh by thanking them for getting there early to the show, so that she didn’t have to feel awkward playing in front of a small audience. We were told that this was SANDRIDGE’s largest crowd, the Everest Theatre is sold out tonight and a lot of seats are filling up.

‘Red Jumper’ was a nice song; SANDRIDGE tells us it is an old song about a “twat” which gets another chuckle from the crowd. Some hard strumming gets the crowd cheering and a nice rendition of ‘Stand by Me’ was mixed into the song. This song seems to be a crowd favourite as did ‘Wild Heart’.

SANDRIDGE also told us about writing a song on her backpacking trip playing guitar and singing on a 5 hour bus ride trip in Europe, hoping the crowd liked it better than the other passengers. Something tells me the passengers would have enjoyed it too. BEC SANDRIGE is a great young Aussie talent with a lot of promise. Taylor Swift wannabes look out ’cause BEC SANDRIDGE is in town!

What a nice way to warm up. The lights soon go off and some cool bluesy music is played through the P.A. The crowd erupted as ED took the stage. All this man needs is a six string and once that voice is heard and taking over the room, it sends shivers down your spine. ED has to have the most unique, beautiful voice. Lyrically speaking the man is a genius.

I was surprised and excited that ED opened up with ‘Gas Hed Goes West’ the last song from my personal favourite ‘Secret Samadhi’ album from ‘97. I wear this album cover on my chest literally as a tattoo. I was soon singing along to every word. “Let him come into the city, let him find his lucky penny, let him put it in his pocket and shake it all around,” sang ED as he did a great version of ‘The Distance’ with the song still stuck in my head today.

Back to another song off ‘Secret Samadhi’ being ‘Turn my Head’ another crowd favourite. The guitar playing in this song makes the song stand out. From the first guitar note the crowd knew what is going to be played. This song, as do all ED’s songs came across very powerful as ED is a very spiritual performer, always singing straight from the heart, always giving his all.

ED mixed it up a little with a beautiful song off his first solo album ‘Alive’ with the track, ‘The great Beyond’ and then the crowd cheered as ED strummed along with those chords and those famous words; “Our love is like water, pinned down and abused for being strange…”. Ed encouraged the crowd to sing along as he belted through ‘All over you’ off the seminal ‘Throwing Copper’ album. ED even encouraged the crowd to get up and wiggle but realises that we are in a “theatre” and the crowd chuckled.

ED continues to release great music and the next two songs are off his latest solo release ‘The Flood and the Mercy’; being ‘A bottle of anything’ and ED’s personal favourite off the album, ‘All that I wanted.’ This really is a beautiful, soothing song. ED explained how like a child every song is his favourite, as children cannot decide.

Probably LIVE’s most famous song off ‘The Distance to Here’ being ‘The Dolphin’s Cry’ was played next and the crowd seemed to love it. It’s amazing how well ED’s solo material mixes in with his well-known songs, such as the aforementioned. Obviously due to the fact that ED was the sole song writer with LIVE. ‘Angels on a razor’ is one of the highlights for me off his latest album and the live version surpasses the recorded version, which in itself is breathtaking.

“And to love: a god. And to fear: a flame. And to burn: a crowd that has a name. And to right, or wrong. And to meek, or strong. It is known; just scream it from the wall” are sung along by all with ED’s lead. It may be a big call but this would have to be the best written song, to be there cannot be explained. Spine-tingling; in a good way. ‘Selling the drama’ another crowd favourite went down well.

‘Seven’ sees another new song that has come to grow on me, even more so after tonight’s show. It is the next song however that was my highlight. ‘Pain Lies on the Riverside’ from the ‘Four Songs’ EP and LIVE’s first album ‘Mental Jewellery’ which ED wrote when he was just 19. 20 years later now, ED’s still young he tells us and I’d have to agree. The man sounds amazing, like he hasn’t aged one bit. ED was strumming away with his chant and keeping to the infectious groove of the song. What a great rendition of the song, impressed is not the word.

Another song off ‘The Distance to Here’; ‘Face and ghost’ (The Children’s song) was played to perfection and next song ‘Heaven’ written about ED’s daughters excites the crowd as ED says this song is for all the mothers and daughters. One crowd member got a little too excited maybe a little too many drinks and thinking she’d look good up on stage with ED. After a few attempts the big fan pulled herself up and was soon escorted off by security and later kicked out. This didn’t seem to phase ED, I’m sure he would be used to the crazed fans, mostly girls. Many shouting out “I love you Ed” and another shouting “I love you more” It was funny. ED just smirks.

Another old song off ‘Mental Jewellery’; ‘Beauty of Gray’ received a good crowd response. This song has a great foot stomping beat to it and ED mastered the song that night. ED let us know of his residents in Pennsylvania with a little number entitled ‘Shit Town’ that fans in the crowd were not long ago shouting out requests for. I shouted out requests to ‘Lakini’s Juice’ which I now realise was probably not the best request for an acoustic performance.

Hit single ‘Grace’ from the ‘Alive’ album is sung pun intended with ‘grace’ and the mellow ‘Overcome’ is a sing-a-long for fans. ‘Run To the water’ and ‘Dance with you’; both from ‘The Distance to Here’ were played back to back and ED ends the night with a breathtaking version of ‘The Garden’ and ‘Lightning Crashes’.

ED thanked the crowd for coming and fans for helping out with World Vision, handing out packages of kids to sponsor, saying Brisbane took the lot, to encourage more to sign up. ED is a real humanitarian and there are not many like him.

Overall this was a night to remember and ED’s solo material lives up to his older material. Anything written by ED is gospel to me, I’m looking forward to the new album, and many tours to come!

http://sfmedia.com.au/ed-kowalczyk-sydney-gig-review/

[dangum]

Photos



A full set can be found at the link below:
http://maytherockbewithyou.com/mtrbwy/2014...ovember-8-2014/