Edited to correct an error in a name....Gisela's references to "Alan Doyle" should have read "Darrin Percival." It has been corrected.

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I live in Wellington, New Zealand and went to my first TOFOG concert at the Ilott Theatre here in Wellington on 1 April.

Doors didn't open before 7.30pm, i.e. 30mins before showtime, but as a true TOFOG fan I decided to get there early and maybe catch a glimpse of the band before the show. 

When I got there around 5.30pm security at the venue was still light and so I could take up a position just outside the door and listen to the band doing the soundcheck.  I was even treated to Russell warming up his voice and singing 'Weight of a Man' , 'Painted Veil' and 'Land of the Second Chance' to name but a few.  Man, I was delighted!!!

After a little while Darrin Percival came into the foyer and said something like 'wow your're early' to me and so we started talking and I told him that I had been a fan for years but never had had the chance to attend any of the concerts overseas or in Aussie and how delighted I was that the band had decided to come to NZ.  In return Darrin told me about the recent concerts at the HoB and we had quite the conversation going! He is a really nice man, he was very patient and happy to answer all sorts of questions from this nosy little fan.

Sometime later Dean stepped out of the theatre for a cigarette break and I walked up to him and just asked him for his autograph.  I wasn't sure whether the band would give autographs either before or after the show but I had taken my BLOC CD with me just in case. Dean very graciously signed the CD and asked if I was coming to the show.  I said yes, and he wanted to know where I was from, if I liked the BLOC album and if I had been listening to TOFOG for a long time.  I couldn't believe my luck.  Here I was talking to 'the Reverend' and he was so easygoing, relaxed and friendly and even gave me handshake before we went back inside the theatre.

At this time not may fans had arrived at the theatre, but closer to 7.00pm more security turned up and they decided that they now didn't want any fans in the foyer and made us leave.Well, we weren't too bothered, I had already had an autograph and had talked to Alan for at least half an hour.  My husband and I decided therefore to just pop across the road for a quick beer before we went back inside and while we were sitting in the window of this little cafe just opposite the theatre, IT happened.  Russell himself came walking out of the theatre, accompanied only by one bodyguard, still dressed in shorts, a light jacket and a ridiculously huge baseball cap.  They actually went for a stroll around the block and Russell almost went completely unnoticed.  I'm saying 'almost' because I noticed him, and so did my husband.  When Russell passed by our window I gave a little smile and a discrete wave and he responded in kind.  He even turned his head again and smiled once more before he disappeard around the corner. I think he appreciated the fact that we didn't storm out of the cafe to bother him but just let him go his way.

Anway, we finally went back into the theatre, found our seats and awaited the start of the show. 

Darrin came out  at 8.15 and opened the show.  He was so great and entertained us so well, I think he had the whole audience captivated in less than a minute.  Halfway through his performance he grinned at us (we had front row seats right in front of the mike and the stage is level with the first row) and then thanked hubby and myself for coming and he also told everyone that we were the first ones there and what great fans we were.  He even got to get the audience to give us a round of applause.  It was so sweet and shows what a nice character he is.  It wasn't part of the performance, there was no need for him to do it but he did it anyway. WOW.

After Darrin had finished we had to wait another 20mins while a roadie taped a few lose cables to the floor but then, finally at 9.10 the band, all wearing dark suit came in and took up their instruments.  Russell followed a minute later , now also in a dark suit, accompanied by cheers from the - mostly female - audience. He launched straight into the first song 'Weight of a Man' while I tried to come to grips with the fact that he was standing less than two metres away!! 

The first song was followed by 'How did we get from saying I love you' before he paused and greeted us and told us how glad he was to be back in Wellington, the city of his birth.  I noticed that there was a slight problem with his mike, it was just a bit  too high and couldn't be lowered so Russ had to stand on his toes and tilt his head up awkwardly whilst singing.  It frustrated him quite a bit and he mouthed a 'F#ck' to Stu at some stage.  It was also very very cold in the theatre.  Russ then went on to perform 'Land of the Second Chance', 'Mickey', Raewyn' and most other songs from My and My Heart and BLOC and he introduced most of the songs, told little personal stories (about his auntie Raewyn etc), put on various accents and was just so sweet, funny and entertaining.  He seemed to really enjoy himself and the audiences cheered, clapped and sang louder after each song. Halfway through the show he strapped on his guitar and said 'Ladies and Gentleman, don't hold yourself back from now on'.. Well, we didn't!!!!

Russell also thanked his wife Danielle who was with him that night for being there for him and got a big applause for it. 

All I can say is, it was a phantastic night, Russell's voice was in great shape, the band seemed to work together really well and they all looked and sounded just amazing.  They performed with so much passion and seemed to be truly happy to being able to put on a great show for us.

I could go on and on... but well, I think you got the picture.

 

Just one other thing, contrary to some articles that you might have read, Russell did NOT smoke in front of the audience and he also did NOT smoke continously.(And I would know as I was closer to the 'action' than the paparazzi!!)  Yes, he did smoke two or three cigs during the second half of the show, however, with his back to the audience and in a 'dark' corner.  I talked to a few ladies afterwards and they told me they hadn't even noticed him doing it.

Unfortunately the band didn't give autographs after show. I had brought my Rabbitoh shirt along to be signed but it wasn't meant to be.. Oh well, I'll just have to go to another concert, won't I?

 

Russell, thank you so much for coming to Wellington, we had a great time! Mate, you rock and GO RABBITOHS!!!

 

Here's the setlist

 

1. Weight of A Man

2. How did we get from saying I love you to...

3. Land of the Second Chance

4. Mickey

5. Memorial Day

6. Swept away Bayou

7. Raewyn

8. Painted Veil

9. Worst in the World

10. One Good Year

11. What Do you want me to forget

12. I mis my mind the most

13. Testify

14. Mr Harris

15. My hand my heart

16. Breathless

17. Full Length of the River

18. Barry Kable

19. Folsom Prison Blues

 

Gisela