It seems the Australian music industry just can’t catch a break. Just days after the death of Daddy Cool’s Ross Hannaford, we’ve lost another of our legends, Jon English. At just 66 years old, in the middle of a tour, it just doesn’t seem fair.
Jon was hospitalised in Newcastle after suffering broken ribs. During surgery to correct the problem, doctors discovered an issue with his aortic valve. He suffered an aortic aneurysm from which he never recovered.
It was just days ago that Jon was apologising to his fans for postponing shows and posting that he couldn’t wait to be “rocking out on stage.” He was booked to be part of Cruise N Groove 2016 in October. This was a man who wasn’t supposed to be going anywhere.
We’ve all got our special memories of Jon English. For me he was a big part of my discovery of music theatre. I remember seeing him in Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore in the 90s. He had such charisma. He was larger than life up there on the smallish Civic Theatre stage.
Jon leaves behind his wife Carmen, four children, and a legion of fans. He will be missed.
Image source: Lynott88 @ Wikimedia Commons
Unlike so many Eurovision winners, Conchita has refused to fade away. She’s visited Australia several times since her big win, but last Thursday was her first full-length concert in Sydney. And didn’t she do it in style. Backed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, on the stage of the Opera House’s concert hall, supported by some of the best talents in the land, this show was so deserving of the diva.
Conchita started the night paying tribute to one of her greatest inspirations, Dame Shirley Bassey. “Where Do I Begin?” was such a fitting introduction to the night, easing us into the performance before Trevor Ashley, appearing as Ms Bassey herself, joined Conchita for a stunning cover of “Diamonds are Forever.” Never one to hog the limelight, Conchita graciously stepped aside to give “Shirley” her moment on “Goldfinger.” Dame Shirley’s shoes are big ones to fill, but Trevor’s vocals and mannerisms were spot on.
The night continued in much the same vein, with Conchita treating us to some of her favourite covers and tracks from her own album, interspersed with anecdotes about her journey and life after Eurovision. She was joined every now and again by our homegrown acts. Courtney Act seems like she’s only gotten stronger since Australian Idol. She joined Conchita for “River Deep, Mountain High” because going solo with an emotional performance of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.”
Paul Capsis showed why he’s one of Australia’s most acclaimed cabaret performers, joining Conchita for a breathtaking cover of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).” The enthusiasm with which he performed Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” was something to behold.
On paper Guy Sebastian might have seemed a little out of place, a fairly vanilla addition on such a fabulously colourful night. However, reprising his breakout Australian Idol performance of “Climb Every Mountain” with Conchita was sublime. “Tonight Again,” the song he sang at Eurovision, was the perfect solo song for this crowd.
There were so many stars, but none shone brighter than Conchita. She anchored the evening beautifully, performing with such elegance and style. She has so much charisma and one of the best voices I’ve heard. I was feeling a little fatigue after so many concerts close together, but as I rose to my feet and confetti rained down while Conchita waved goodbye, I was on cloud nine. What a way to end such a busy concert period.
A Newcastle boy himself, as Doug informed us, he seemed to be in good spirits as he took to the stage. The first half of the set was made up of familiar covers that you’ve likely heard him performing before. He regaled us with tales of the times he recorded this song or fell in love with that. “Unchained Melody” and “You Don’t Know Me.” Doug must have sung “Dear Prudence” more times than he can count, but you wouldn’t know it based on his heartfelt delivery. Doug’s voice doesn’t have quite the precision it once did, but what it lacks in refinement it makes up for in richness. Even in his advancing years, he has one of the most stunning voices on the Australian musical landscape. I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do to the songs of Joe Cocker in the second half.
David Campbell, Ricki Lee, Lucy Durack, and Harrison Craig soon joined the musicians for “Part of Your World” from Aladdin. It was a wonderful start to a night that combined nostalgia, magic, and fun, all of the essential Disney elements.
It’s very hard on a night like this to please everybody. As an older concert goer, I could have done without the three (or was it four?) songs from Frozen played. While I enjoyed “Mother Knows Best” from Tangled and “Touch the Sky” from Brave, I could have easily given them up for a few older Disney tracks. I felt for the woman sitting in front of me who adored Cinderella, yet didn’t get to hear one song from this film. Some of my personal favourites, Dumbo and Robin Hood, were also neglected. But for the younger crowd, there’s never enough Frozen, and those new movies are the one they have fond childhood memories of. While big kids like me could have fun on a night like this, it’s perhaps more important the smallest members of the audience are not left feeling short-changed. Sometimes tells me it’s what Walt would have wanted.
Rob downsized his band to a trio and delivered stripped back versions of songs, ensuring their lyrics came to the fore. It was so exciting to hear a new complexion to upbeat tracks I’d heard a couple of nights before like “This Is How a Heart Breaks” and “Lonely No More.” I also loved the chance to hear the songs that didn’t make Wednesday night’s performance. “Heaven Help Me” from The Great Unknown probably would have been lost in the electric set, but it was perfect for this more intimate evening. “Sunday Morning, New York Blue,” a track lifted not from an album but the Someday EP, was another welcome new addition.
Anyone who’s read this blog for a while knows I love an acoustic show. Jumping around and dancing to a band turned up to 11 is a blast, but it rarely moves me as much as sitting down listening to songs stripped back to their core. Add in personal stories about the origin of those songs and I’m sold. I’ve seen Rob Thomas perform many times, and I’m sure I’ll see him many more, but Friday night’s acoustic show is the one that will stand out from the rest. It was perfection.
I wondered whether in a week that was sadly shrouded in controversy I could expect the same energy and fun from Rob, but as he burst out with “Give Me the Meltdown,” a high-energy number from Cradlesong. It left no doubt that we were all there to have a good time, and that’s just what we did. In fact, I think I might have had the most fun I’ve ever had at a Rob Thomas show, and believe me there have been a few. Rob kept the energy up with “Fallin’ to Pieces,” “Lonely No More,” and “Her Diamonds.” I marvelled at the song choices, a wonderful mix of the numbers everyone knew and the tracks near and dear to the heart of the fans who buy the albums.
So as I watched the show last night, there was none of that sadness I usually get, because this tour’s not over for me. Tomorrow night I get to do it all again, with Rob playing a more intimate, stripped back set, so he informed us. I am so thrilled that this concert high gets to last a little longer. Rob’s going to have to pull out something special to top last night’s gig, but I’m sure he’s up to the task.