Well time to get back into it, but first I thought I would wrap up my PJ09 adventure.
One of the things that is a must when on tour is security and planning. We had our tour manager KC with us, so getting organised was never going to be a problem. But security issues always pop up.
Getting a feed post gig can be a problem, people are pumped up, we seem like ordanary guys...But were on tour...were the Touring Party...
Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder belting out Under Pressure at Adelaide Oval. Wasn't the best rendition for the tour, but very good all the same...Ben seemed more interested in singing with Eddie than he did with his own band....Maybe the name "Relentless 7" has more to it than meets the eye.
Main act was Pearl Jam....Duhh! and while to some of the newer members not the best setlist, to me it was a great setlist sung with passion and a love of our state. No better outdoor arena in Australia than Adelaide Oval... Obviously a better place when it is finished, but still a fantastic place...
These young ladies made the flag....I thought, what a great idea!
Seems this guy thoughts so too....
Great to be alive...
Brain of J!
Eddie and Ben pump out Red Mosquito;
Watched from the window, with a red mosquito
I was not allowed to leave the room
I saw the sun go down,and now it's coming up
Somewhere in the time between
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
Letting me know, he's a-waiting... oh
Red man's your neighbor, call it behavior
While you're climbing up slippery hills
Two steps ahead of him, punctures in your neck
Hovering just above your bed
Hovering just above your bed
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
And letting me know, he's a'waiting, he's a'waiting...
Up there... yeah
If i had known then what i know now...
If i had known then what i know now...
If i had known then what i know now...
If i had known then what i know now...
Reasonable review in the
local rag seems the journo enjoyed the show too...
Melbourne!
The Touring Party get a fantastic send of to Melbourne...With the great sunrise coming over the Estern Hills. We left Adelaide early to put the fans off a touch, as you can see it worked a treat and soemthing we will keep in mind for future tours.
One of the
Touring Party still required a personal minder, just for this leg, Getting out of his home state can be a tough gig at times and this was merely a minor precaution so early in the trip. Still a
long road ahead.
First casulty of the tour...The dipshit who was meant to organise the limo! We dont wait!!!
It finally showed..."Thats how we roll!"
They dont look as spacious from the outside, but man, inside, upstairs, downstairs...Massive viewing rooms..Very Nice.
There is a show in Melbourne somewhere, but I was sooo way back I had no choice but to just sing along..along with every other drunken tard at the place...well near me anyway...It was good to get back to the people to be honest..Keeping me real so to speak!
Sometimes ot's just nice to get back woth the people that helped me get to where I am today.
These pictures are from Mattew Eygenraam..He likes to be close to the action. If you can see yourself in the shots above, please give me a shout and I'll try and give you a big cherrio! Especially if your the forehead bottom right..Damn dude, get a tan, I wondered what the reflective lighting was when I was watching the show from the back....Now I know!
Not sure why so many men in Melbourne had Moustaches, but they seemed very catchy. By end of tour I had to grow one just to fit in with the "Normal" people...God it feels good to fit in finally!
Liam Finn and Eddie Vedder..One pumped up mofo to say the least. Liam that is. I think we know who stole Mike's weed???
Eddie playing Air guitar!
Last year I was this tall, now look at me.
Mike McCready has the improbable task of playing lead whilst being asleep. He does it so often that it has now become the norm. If I see a show where he is awake, I know something has gone wrong back stage...Read...the drugs didn't show!
Mike, asleep again! I think The Verve summed it up!
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
And I hope you're thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
But I know I'm on a losing streak
'Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
But if you wanna show, just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
It was a quick 24 hours in Melbourne, but when your on the road, you know some stops are going to be a blur!
Big "HELL YEAH" to our local when in Melbourne
James Squire for the great hospitality for the 2 hours while we waited for the show to start.
Also to the Asics Netburners that went from one side of Melbourne (Smith St) to the other and had a concert chucked in too. Hope you enjoy them B!
Big shout out to the Chinese restuarant in ChinaTown. Not sure of your name, had some funny symbols going up and down, back to front...Clem0 thought it said "We welcome the Touring Party!" hence why we popped in for the feed. Uncertain why we had to pay for the meal, but we did and we were more than happy with the upsized Lift's you keep pumping out at us.
Sydney hosts the Touring Party.
"The Winna is SYDANEEE" Juan wasn't wrong when he said that! Not the same city as Melbourne, but holy smack my forhead Batman, when we say, it is a great place to go too.
At all the cities we had to do interviews, You can see below we are heading to do the one in Sydney, Nice set up really, with a great back drop of the Opera House. Later were told they used out interview "tent" to host some
"Australian Idol" on?? We had never heard of it...Altho our Tour Manager seemed to be up to date with most things and said something about some gay guy called Stan!
Anyway, by the time we left the interview tent it was dark, and all hell broke lose, we needed a diversion and well, I'll let the pictures do the talking there....
You can see the crowd right? Thats me bottom left being chaired out by security! Crazy...But, "Thats how we roll!"
Then we hit the streets running. We do "The Chair" all farkin 15km's of it!
Why is it called "The Chair" if I have to freakin walk everywhere?? I didn't get to sit down once.
Dropped our gear of at the hotel. 3 Bed's so thats good as our tour guide was a touch sick of sleeping on the floor. He said it was a defence mechanism just in case we were stalked. I belveied him and was happy for him to have the floor.
Hey, Tour managers got to do what the tour manager's got to do!
Big Irish G'Day to
P.J OBrian's for the
Coopers Pale Ale on tap. Three Maori Security guards were also on tap for the
Touring Party. So that was a nice surprise. Certainly made the night pleasurable to have a quiet drink with the posse.
Touring Party hits Manly!!
It didn't take long for the Touring Parties cover to be blown in Manly. The HYPE was everywhere. Plain clothes security were everywhere. Random guy as we called this guy, was making arrangements for our lunch at Crystals.
At Crystals, we needed to security to be beefed up somewhat...Local Bikie gangs were more than happy to help out. I mean they knew we were just out fir some prviacy...
Looks quiet, Dont let that fool you...Mini Rundle Mall only with a beach backdrop...
What you cant see in this picture with the Manly beach at our backs, are the beefed up security in the water. Ther guys on the surf boards are with the Touring Party. Then just behind our "Tour Photographer" is NSW's finest.
We really didn't get to enjoy all of Manley's beach due to the large crowds that would mass...Icognito was the word for the day..Hence why the Tour Manager and X went for the quietest shorts they had in the luggage! Clem0 just wore the brightest band he could find, incase he was kidnapped we would be able to find him in the dark..
They were set up in Vantage points, and then on the Ferry ride back....Navy Seals pop out and escort us Home...As I said to one of the young fans, lucky enough to get close to the Touring Party..."Thats how we roll!"
We used the Peace, Love and Ice Cream shop as a front to have ease of movement. It was a great cover for us, as Clem0 just about ate Sydney out of Gelati! They are probably only now restocking the freezers now.
Clem0 post the Peace, Love & Ice Cream front!
NO, not the young lass at the PC, the guy walking to the right...Everyone gets that one messed up....
After the hectic day Manly, the ol' girl was a welcome sight to say the least. Big "Thanks for the protection" to NSW's Police dept, The Finks Motorcycle Club, & the Navy Seals. It was very much appreciated for our little day out. Certainly helped make the day run smooth.
You may be wondering as the Tour Manager did what those 3 guys are doing bottom right in this picture.... Snipers!...Just making sure we get home safe and sound. Thats how we roll.
The Sydney Pearl Jam concert was one hot day. 40 plus if i recall. Stood in line from 11 AM and met some great jammers. BIGWAVE grabbed Clem0's spare TenC tix so we finally got to put face to name. Hell of a guy and would become one of the Touring Party on the Brisbane leg.
Steve McQuarrie and his lovely Fiancee (Is that out there yet?) Kirralee (Nearly didn't make the show after spending the day in the hotel room with a severe bout of Food poisoning) joined the Touring Party for the Sydney sing along, and sing we did.
Crowd control was great, handed out water as needed. Pity they didn't hand out toilets. We lost the Tour Manager when he knicked of for a quick one. He started crying and security brought him back to his Dad. Even got a mention on the overhead...."Anyone lost a 4'2" child wearing a red shirt!" He made it back...
Notice the "Twins?" Seemd like everyday they would dress alike. I struggle to tell them alike at the best of times and now they want to dress the same...please!
Just a random picture I grabbed from the PJ forum, you can see we were being stalked. The Tour Manager is in there...Bottom right...Why are they stalking him is the question I need to ask???
Steve, a Sydney local with his dedicated Pearl Jam Sleeve...What started out as a Stick Man tattoo has turned into that. We tried to keep this dood's spot in the line, but when the crowd sppoked and Steve was still abck in his hotel taking it easy...He missed the boat..Clem0 seen him at the end of the show tho so he did make his way to the front...
More Gerrycan70
Happy B'Day to Joni-Lee
Then of all things we get some crazy doing a run thru of the Arena...as you can tell by the crowd it is only early in the show so lucky no one was hurt.
Brisbane........
Brisbane welcomes the Touring Party;
Chris aka BIGWAVE had joined the Touring Party by now.
The now infamous Early Morning Arrivals list. Supposedly this list sets up who can get in 1st thru to 100..You would never guess this isn't run in conjunction with Pearl Jam would you? I mean with all the professionalism that has gone into setting it up, it looks like it is part of the tour....NO...It is run by dipshits who think they own Pearl Jam...
I can tell you now, they will never get on the Touring Party EVER!!!
Blood
Setlist found over at the Pearl Jam forum, some lucky Jammer scored well. Good luck to them, Pays to stick around sometimes...Sometimes up there at the top scribbled out...OMG, that would have been sweet to hear...and PILATES!!! Blood was great tho....
Massive Shout out to Gerrycan70 or Gerry 2009 again over at the PJ forum for his excellent photography. Next time we go on tour he may get a gig as Touring Party Official Photographer...Maybe!
Matt Cameron
Pearl Jam after the Brisbane show...
Last day on Tour and were holed up like
Rats , the net provided us with a way out...Clem0 required the window bed, something to do with his chainsaw needing more O2...
So after 4 shows in 4 states in 9 days the tour comes to an end. Back to the grind, but thankfully back to the family too. To all the people we met on tour, cheers, to the dipshits...good luck on dipshit island..
Big Cudo's to Pearl Jam's security for making our trip safe when we were in your care, and look after us all.
KC and Clem0, til we rise again..just keep rollin!
