We arrived in Melbourne yesterday, sharing a plane with Rage Against the Machine and Arcade Fire. I have never seen the Rage before, but I studied them when we were waiting for our luggage on Melbourne Airport. They look intense.
Sydney was really lovely. I wasn’t much of a tourist, but I did take a number of long walks around the city.
On the last night a few of us went to the Joanna Newsom concert in the opera house. It was amazing, one of the best concerts I have been to. Such incredible music and poetry! She started with two guys playing a lute and drums, as well as the Sidney Symphony Orchestra. In the second half she had only the two guys accompanying her, and the final song she performed just herself. I am not familiar with her songs so I can’t name any of them, but her music really transcended me to another world.
There was a party backstage, but I didn’t stay for long. Arcade Fire was there, markedly in a more festive mood than us. Björk only stayed for a few minutes for obvious reasons, she has to take good care of her voice.
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January 28th, 2008 at 3:57 am
love joanna newsom, harp is such a lovely instrument to listen, and she has such an interesting singing voice. Sounds like a rejuvenating concert to go to, glad to here you enjoyed.
peace christopher
January 28th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Joanna Newsom is one of the most innovative artists of our time. My boyfriend gave me her Ys CD last year and I have been hooked ever since. “Only Skin” is by far my favorite song…the way she puts words together is amazing for someone her age. The lyrics to Only Skin are only one example….”Toddle and roll. Teeth an impalpable bit of leather while yarrow, heather and hollyhock awkwardly molt along the shore.”…then you add the music and it is like you are being transported to another world. She is definitely on my list of people to meet before I leave this earth.
You said that you don’t own any of her CDs. I recommend Ys. It has more depth than Milk Eyed Mender. The orchestral arrangements are surreal.
My aunt really enjoyed the concert. She sent me an email where she said “One young man yelled out “GO GRANDMA!” She said she danced the night away watching the fans, dancing with them, and pulling her ear plugs in and out lol. She is also a singer and described Bjork as “a very pretty girl and my what a voice!” I would say that pretty much sums it up in a nutshell.
I hope you are having fun. Please take more pictures of the bats. I really like them.
Kayleigh
January 28th, 2008 at 4:18 am
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading this blog. I’ve been following it since the Volta tour started and I have such respect for you and Björk and the whole band from reading your posts. Thanks for the insight! You all put on an incredible show last year in New York at the Apollo and MSG!
January 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I was there too, Jónas! And I saw you. You are really tall.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
glad you had a good time Jónas and another wonderful experience with Ms. Newsome. Rage are quite intense put i do know the guitarist Tom is a really cool dude. Glad you got to say hello to the Arcade Fire again. I wish Björk a quick and easy recovery and plenty of time to chill.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Jónas, as intense as Rage appears, I think you could take em!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hey Jonas, I am so Happy you are blogging again! Your warm and refreshing style was so missed!
I love Joanna Newsom too, I actually learned about her by reading a glowing review in the Grapevine while I was on my 2006 Wedding Vacation in Iceland. ( While I was there, I missed shows by Ladytron, Sigur Ros, Aminaa, and Joanna Newsom!!! =( by just 14 days on either side of my trip., but it was still the best trip I ever took.) I really hope she comes to Vancouver soon, it would be great to see her live. My favorite album by Ms. Newsom is Milk Eyed Mender, if you ever want to pick it up.