Ed Kowalczyk's Australian Tour, Oct/Nov 2010 (Dates inside) Options

[dangum]

According to Ed, the Sydney Enmore show is being filmed for a possible DVD release.

[LivesMeltdown]

According to Ed, the Sydney Enmore show is being filmed for a possible DVD release.

Awesome!

[SJN1279]

According to Ed, the Sydney Enmore show is being filmed for a possible DVD release.

Where did you see that Dan?

[dangum]

Where did you see that Dan?

Interview on New Zealand radio. linky.

[dangum]

Some footage from Auckland, NZ - 28 October 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnwoK9uS8TY - The Dolphin's Cry (good quality!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZluQ2UjAJ8 - Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF7n9VvJe8s - All Over You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6NKljECVjU - Lightning Crashes

[SJN1279]

Revuew of New Zealand show:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Ed-Kowalczyk-gig-re...59/Default.aspx

By Emma-Joy Andrews

:: Ed Kowalczyk
:: The Powerstation, Auckland
:: October 29, 2010

The first time I saw Live (ironic throat-clear) live, lead singer Ed Kowalcyzk appeared on the stage in a haze of smoke and a large black cowboy hat, like something out of a wicked Western.

I was a teenager; he was an intense, spiritual, musical genius; and I was light enough to ride around on my skinny teenage boyfriend’s shoulders, convinced that Ed was staring straight at me as he crooned out the lyrics to The Distance to Here’s ‘Dance with You’.

The second time was just as intense; Kowalcyzk shouting the names of prominent world leaders as the crowd chanted the chorus of ‘They Stood Up for Love’. It was inspiring stuff.

The third time, he seemed to have stepped out of the role of brooding rock-shaman and into that of Complete Rockstar Wanker – drinking red wine from the bottle, spitting on stage, and running around making lewd gestures like a naughty child. And so my love affair with Live waned and petered out, as did the band’s success in the years to follow.

So it was with some trepidation that I went along to the Powerstation to see Ed Kowalcyzk play last night, promoting his solo album, interestingly named Alive. Part of me wanted to keep the magic of those heady early performances (louder ironic throat-clear) alive in my memory; the other part wanted to see him again through adult eyes.

A broken microphone, a less than warmed-up crowd and Kowalcyzk’s self-confessed jetlag contributed to a somewhat stilted start to the gig. But as he growled out the opening lines to ‘The Distance’, older fans (distinguished by remaining silent during any songs preceded by “Here’s another one from my new solo album”) lit up, and the subsequent series of hits from Live’s two most popular albums kept them alight.

Ed’s an earnest fellow, but the right balance of brooding and pure rock in his earlier songs always keeps crowds engaged. I can’t claim to really know any of his music post-Birds of Pray (barring the hideously overplayed ‘Heaven’), but it seems to be rather song-by-numbers.

Unfortunately he’s lost his ability to hit the high notes, and as someone who still, it seems, knows every in and out of each of those earlier songs, it showed.

The earnest spiritual moments and politics certainly haven’t been lost at all, though. Since marrying and having two children Kowalczyk seems to have swung further towards the cheesy, chintzy end of American idealism, talking between songs of the sunrise “speaking peace and strength”, and pointing out the World Vision stand over the back (next to the merch table, he told us nonchalantly) where the crowd could sign up to sponsor a child “for just $1 a day”. The glib intensity, ‘commercial’ charity bent and constant plugs for his new album did get a bit tiresome.

To be fair, Kowalczyk’s been at it twenty years. He’s got a family to support. And he is no longer ‘frontman of Live’; he’s trying to forge himself a career as a solo artist. It’s just that Live’s stuff is heaps better.

All in all though, he was endearing. Despite evidence that he may be a bit of a greedster (reportedly why Live are on a ‘two year hiatus’, which is rumoured to actually be a permanent split), he really seems to believe in his causes and be genuine in his slightly over-the-top spirituality. And when he burst into ‘All Over You’ with all the fervour of his younger self, I felt like a teenager again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the wee blast from the past.

But I didn’t dare ask if I could ride on my fiancé’s shoulders.

3 News

[jayda]

good one. enjoyed her honesty.

[Dahlheimer Fan]

A few videos from the Newcastle show:

http://www.mediafire.com/?th64cq9oci5hz

[Dutchie]

Went to the Sydney show and all i can say is AMAZING!

The energy from the band was great especially from Adam. Ramy looked like he was really into it, big smile on his face the whole time. I have a new found respect for his new songs. My partner is not a huge live/ed music lover (the music isnt her style but she doesnt mind the songs) and she even commented that his newer songs are great played live.

I really loved the new take on Overcome. Hearing the drums pounding and then the guitars joining in was an amazing feeling. It added a whole new dimension to the song. I noticed other unique touches added to the other Live songs aswell.

One thing i didnt like was "Dance with you". Only because it signals the end of the concert. As soon as the opening chords were played i knew the night was coming to a close. Dont get me wrong i love the song, i love the ending "we all wanna dance with you" etc but i feel as though (like mentioned above) it was a live way of ending the shows. I would have prefered a different song to finish off, because at least then it wouldnt have been expected for the show to end.

All in all i had a great time and both my partner and i really enjoyed ourselves. I cant wait to see the band next time they tour our great land.

[dangum]

Went to the Sydney show and all i can say is AMAZING!

Was the show professionally filmed?

[Wambangalang]

hmm, if it really was that good im again undecided about attending the perth show. Had written it off completely due to a real lack of interest. decisions

[+Ed+]

Go, i say if you have spare money

[SJN1279]

Go, i say if you have spare money

Ed's show at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne this Friday has just sold out.

This post has been edited by SJN1279: Nov 2 2010, 8:07 pm

[Dutchie]

Was the show professionally filmed?

Yes, im not sure how many vid cams they had going but i could see a guy on stage to the left (looking at the stage) filming and moving about behind Ramy. I did see photgraphers in the front, not sure if any where videos (didnt really pay much attention to that, was only noticable seeing the guy on stage)

[jayda]

Hey, is anyone going to the Forum tonite? I've got seating numbers on the receipt but on the tickets it says standing...so is it all standing?