From
Cathy: My best friend, Shirley, has seen every incarnation of
Tofog since 2000. Although she would best be described as a ‘fan
by way of friendship’, she sweat in the heat and stood
more than once in the dirt of Stubbs, went to Chicago in two
different years and last week trekked to LA with me just because
I told her we would enjoy a life experience as well as a kick
ass concert together! Like
me, she doesn’t claim to be a music aficionado, but here
are her thoughts on the concerts: Before life overtakes us, I wanted
to thank you yet again for inviting me to join you in LA. I
have to say I wasn't that impressed with LA but then what can you
expect from someone from a small!!!!! town in Since going to my first concert in
Austin of 2000 and then again Austin and Chicago 2001 and
Chicago 2003 as well as listening to several of his CDs I
was impressed with how much better he sounds and well as his band. He
seems stronger in voice, more confident with himself and his band. When
you first mention there had been some changes I wasn't sure how
that would work but IT WORKS !. The band came across as
professional, cohesive, relaxed and having a good time with the
music. The drummer I remember in Last but not least thank you so much
for standing down front with me even though I knew your foot was
not only swollen black and blue but killing
you. What we endure
for our friends. Take Care |
From Carrie: House of Blues LA, March 9th and 10th… This was my first time seeing TOFOG and as impressed as I am with My Hand, My Heart and the earlier albums, I was totally blown away by how great this band is live! Words can’t do them justice, but here are a few random thoughts about the experience… The shows were very crowded both nights with a mix of locals and those who came from various parts of the USA, Canada and overseas. The opening act was a young singer named Kara Grainger from Sydney. She’s very talented and I hope to hear more from her in the future. The band looked and sounded great as they opened the night with Weight of A Man (Darby’s Castle on Friday) and How Did We Get From Saying I Love You. I loved hearing songs I haven’t heard before like Darby’s Castle, Another Girl, Molly Malone and Easy and Free. I hope they’ll turn up on a CD sometime. They did songs from MHMH, including my favorite (if I have to choose just one) One Good Year. I Miss My Mind also was fantastic, as were Russell’s comments before the song. They performed some of my favorites from earlier CDs like Barry Kable, Memorial Day, What You Want Me To Forget, Full Length of the River and others. Wow!!! What can I say...they just keep getting better and better, if that’s possible!!! The Preacher….you’ve gotta love him. He’s an absolute riot! I think he needs his own Sunday morning show. The ratings would be huge. Where does he come up with this stuff? :) Russell told a very interesting story (complete with a perfect Irish
accent) about the first time he met Richard Harris and how they talked
about rugby. Testify and Breathless were completely amazing! I’m so happy they’ve added them to the MHMH CD. (BTW, they sounded wonderful on the Tonight Show!!! I watched the tape last night) Raewyn and The Land of Second Chance are both lovely songs with very personal stories behind them which Russell very eloquently tells beforehand. When you hear songs like these two, that have so much depth and substance, it’s such a contrast to generic songs you hear on the radio where lyrics are strung together just because they happen to rhyme. All of the songs on MHMH are at another level. I can go on and on, but if you’ve heard the CD, you already know what I mean. Near the end of the show, we got an unexpected surprise when Elvis Costello came out to sing a few songs with the band!! The crowd went crazy and they did Molly Malone and a few other songs together. TOFOG’s version of Folsom Prison Blues is incomparable! They totally rock on this song and I’ve never heard it performed better by anyone! What a way to close the show. If you haven’t been to a show yet, all I can say is you just have to go. I see why there are fans that travel half way around the world to see this band. They’re just that amazing! It was fun to get to meet so many fans from around the country and finally put faces to names. Finally, thanks to Russell and TOFOG for the unforgettable shows in
LA. |
From Cath:
Late to the party, but I thought the concert on Friday was one of the best I’d ever seen! By that I mean it’s been fascinating to watch this band evolve into the confident unit of musicians that showed up at the HOB the other night. After foolishly wearing out my already injured foot by standing in the front the first night, I had to skip the lines on Friday and stand in the back. From my vantage point the band that took the stage never seemed to be ‘asking’ for acceptance from the crowd, but they just assumed it and gave a totally solid, supremely self assured performance that the audience responded to with enthusiasm. I loved how they changed the set list from what they had done in most of the Oz concerts. The mix really worked with people having enough patience to listen to the ballads but everyone was more than ready for the rockers when they came. I didn’t see as much restlessness as I’ve seen in the past among the general audience who was unfamiliar with the music. I heard a great many comments about how good the whole band was – kinda like “Who ARE these guys??”. Since I was looking like a dork in the back singing along, people around me assumed I knew a bit about the band and I fielded many questions. Like in Oz, the biggest reaction was one of ‘surprise’ as to how good the band sounded. I found it interesting that unlike in the past when those unfamiliar with the music would drift away to the bar area in the latter parts of the concert, most stayed on the floor to the end. I loved “Full Length of the River” and I think to include an extended band solo at the end was brave but shows just how secure and confident the guys are of the music they are doing. I hate to keep repeating ‘confident’ but the assuredness and conviction with which theses guys went about their business really was evident and accepted. I have to say that this mostly American audience really ‘got’ the true spirit of Testify! In Oz I would say the crowd gets the broad strokes of the song as a rocker but in the HOB we understood and embraced the subtext. No instructions were necessary for many to raise their arms in unison when we were taken “Down to the river…”! And the Preacher came across loud and clear and was embraced for his honesty and emotion. I’m so lucky to
have seen this band in the intimate Vanguard, in a raucous bar in Buderum
and now a place like the HOB. I’m amazed that in these diverse
venues this band still can give an audience a great night out and a
bit of entertainment that can be in equal parts fun, poignant, as well
as irreverent wrapped in some kick ass good music. |
g'day
i am aussie....was an extra in" master and commander"...and was
@ the SD concert................i thought it was fantastic.............and
so representative of him............mellow, laid back crowd......typical
SD i guess (i've been living here since '79).............when i worked
with him on the movie in mexico, he was absolutely adored by everyone
on the set....and pretty well kept it together....althought peter weir,
the director...was incredible too!
i spoke with russ twice, once on the set...we talked about his band...........and
another time at his watering hole called "ricks place" south of the
studio........he was great both times.........very friendly..............and
i didn't even see a flash of his famous " temper"
i personally think that his passion is working...whether..acting
in movies or live on stage..............i believe he is TRULY happy
on stage.......and his lyrics are second to none!
jimmy buffett could only dream of being half as entertaining...........make
that a quarter!
thank you
bryce -- san diego
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| Just in case you haven't heard yet,
my friend and I spotted Ridley Scott and Ron Howard both at the show
last night. They were in the V.I.P. section up in the balcony. (Where
we were stationed on the sides, trying to escape the crush downstairs,
oh and I just always prefer the balcony period!) Both Ridley and Ron
were intently listening to TOFOG's set. Howard especially seemed into
it, leaning with his head on his hands on the edge of the balcony, concentrating
on Russell's performance for a good deal of the concert.
Dani was there as well looking extremely lovely as usual (she must be glowing <w>) looking like the perfect adoring wife watching her man do his thing. (I wish she'd been able to perform again! I just love her music!) She's such a lovely woman. Sadly, I had to go to the bathroom at one point, but my friend says Russell looked up at her and said, "I'm so in love with you!" (*sniff*) I must admit, I was as excited to see my directing idol Ridley in person! I'm such a huge, HUGE fan of his! (No, I didn't bother him. Just enjoyed the moment.) Who'd have thought? I just went there to see Russell do his thing, but got an extra bonus. Oh, and Russell walked right past us before the concert began. Tracey |