Tamara's Reports on California:

I thought that the three California shows were going to be just icing on my cake after attending several of the shows in Australia. Instead, it was a whole other meal.

It might be that the band has had time to practice and gel. It might be that in a venue seven to ten times larger they can open it up full throttle and really rip the hell out of it. When last I saw them, they had morphed into this intimate little cabaret act. This week, they filled the HOBs with enough sound to make most of my friends complain of hearing loss.

San Diego – leaving the hotel and being surprised to pass Dean and Dave arriving. I was so delighted to see them that I was almost wriggling, but I maintained.

The dinner – the show started so very late that we had all the time in the world to visit with friends. It was very relaxed, unlike the craziness of the next two nights.  This trip overall was extra full of good times with friends.

I'm grateful to Darrin Lee for arranging the box for us in San Diego, but at first I was not so sure. I have strong legs, good stamina and a fondness for being near the stage. I wasn’t always like this, but my Oz trip ruined me in so many ways. Just as the itch to vault over the side and join the throng on the floor began, Russell the merciful started to interact with our section in a very gratifying way. It turned out to be a very satisfying experience and I was glad I stayed.

Russell had significant problems with his microphone this night and that was a dirty shame, but there were many great moments still.

Dean was performing those unusual sonic tricks, at which he excels, with his guitar. I know I'm not explaining this well since I'm not a musician, but it was like he was injecting the song with something unexpected and even witty. You had to hear and see it. I’ve never seen Dean so animated on stage for such a sustained time and it was delightful.

All three nights the band played Full Length of the River, always a treat, and now with a new, moody keyboard intro and finish. There is also an extended  instrumental section where Russell sits down at the base of the keyboards, smokes, and grooves on his band as they each have a spotlight bit.  I know this is something bands have done forever, but I enjoyed it. It is a much more effective way of highlighting each musician rather than simply saying their names.

The Preacher paid a visit and the imitation of Gene Hackman’s hair was hilarious.

We got up at dawn and caravanned from West Hollywood to the NBC Burbank studios. The company of good friends shortened the long wait. After showing some of my first-time-attending friends how to be sure to get a good seat in front of the band, I went and made a Poor Choice which landed me and Darrin Lee in the nose bleed section of the wrong side of the studio.

After about ten minutes of wanting to smash my head with a brick, I saw Russell and Charlie up in the balcony, and the bad feeling went away. We watched while Charlie and Daddy took turns pointing and talking. They were clearly having a very absorbing conversation. Then Russell danced him around a little to the music, carried him down the stairs, across the back of the studio, and stood in the entry where the guests come out. They then bopped around to the song the house band was playing until the commercial break was over. None of which we could have seen if we had been sitting where I had intended in support of the band. So I got over it. Russell brought him out onto the stage after they wrapped taping. And I still say he is the cutest two year old in the world.

They still play a particular set of songs before each show which still ends with Weather with You. It took awhile for me to really focus on the new selections, including: Jealous of Your Cigarette

Sample lyric:

The other one I remember is the old Tammy Wynette song, Stand By Your Man.  At first, this choice made me groan. By Friday, however, I found myself singing the words under my breath as certain incidents passed through my mind. I refer to those events in Russell’s life that all of us, most especially him, might just as soon forget.  As I looked around, I could see other fans singing and laughing as they remembered the same events. It’s been a Crowellercoaster ride all right, but here we were again, standing by.

There were at least three songs where it seemed that Russell was singing directly to Dani, whom I believe I saw watching from the balcony. His lyrics are so personal, there was such love on his face, and I could see his eyes welling with tears at one point. It felt too intimate to watch yet impossible to look away.

This show was so intense that I was close to tears repeatedly including again during Raewyn. I found his passionate reaction to our positive response very moving as well. It felt like a reciprocal love fest.

The Preacher paid a longer visit this night, and when he emerged, I swear, Russell was vibrating.

I really enjoyed Stewie taking the piss out of Russell after all the abuse he has endured on stage. I can’t quote it exactly, but Stewie stepped up front and did his imitation of the bandleader.

The HOBs stages are significantly taller than the ones they played on when I saw them in January. I got a stiff neck since I was in front of Russell Friday, but what a pleasurable pain. I discovered, by accident back in Byron Bay, that if I pressed my palm flat on the stage, I could feel the vibration when he stomped his foot in time to the music, which he does a lot. I caught myself feeling the stage again on Friday. The degree of pleasure this gives me can’t be healthy.

Stuart Hunter came out first for the encore and played our national anthem. That was very cool.

When Russell came out and did My Hand My Heart and told us “Cheers”, I felt my throat get tight, and when he announced the arrival of Declan Patrick McManus – well, I really must not repeat what came out of my mouth. Suffice to say, I was speaking Russell’s language, I was so undone. Elvis is and always has been my personal musical hero. Until I started going to see TOFOG, I had been to see Elvis more times than any other performer. Seeing my two favorite artists on stage together twice in two months on two continents was such a giant buzz. I hope they both heard my thank you.

It was great to hear them do Molly Malone again as well.

I began to suspect long ago, and now I'm convinced, that Russell tracks an incredible amount of what goes on around him during a show and that he has an incredible memory.

It might be more satisfying in some ways to win the home crowd, but it looks like it’s a hell of a lot of fun to play for people who love you. Russell is fond of saying during the show that we Yanks love to lead but have trouble following. The reality is that he directed us like his own personal choir, with just a subtle wiggle of hand. I hope it felt as good as it looked like it did and that it makes them want to keep coming back.