My last SY gig was at a Brisbane club, the Arena, on June 19, 2004, not long
after Nurse was released.
It was a sellout but my partner and I managed to squeeze within six or seven rows of stage left, closest to Lee.
The beginning was special. Jim came on first and began layering ambient
notes, followed by Steve with shimmers and low-flung rhythms, then Lee,
Thurston (both building a sonic movement) and finally Kim, at which point
you could tell they were about to start with I Love You Golden Blue. I've got
goosebumps, now, recalling the scene.
Yet there was a weird kinda vibe which came to the surface later on. There
were some predators lurking.
About the third song, two bouncers marched a tiny punk girl out of the
venue. As she was being shifted, she stopped in front of me, wild-eyed and
deliberate. She looked right through me and made a gesture ... as though she was flicking invisible money in my face. Then she was gone.
Mariah Carey And The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream isn't my fav track on
Nurse, but when they played it live, sheeeeit, I don't think I've heard a band
evoke such power ... it ripped through my chest and forced air from my lungs.
Just after New Hampshire (thank God!), I felt someone tug my sleeve. My
partner had collapsed on the floor, in convulsions ... I was so involved in taking photos and on another plane that I hadn't noticed. I managed to carry her outside. There were about 8 other girls lying around, being sick. It didn't take long to figure out that some lowlife had spiked drinks in the club.
Weird and wonderful night.
pics from the night:
I Love You Golden Blue
Schizophrenia
Pattern Recognition
Stones
Unmade Bed
Paper Cup Exit
Empty Page
Dude Ranch Nurse
Mariah Carey And The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream
Mote
New Hampshire
Drunken Butterfly
--
Brother James
Rain On Tin
--
Making The Nature Scene