Inspiration: Gigs
Created: Tue 22 Nov 2005 17:05
You know how dads tell you the same stories multiple times as you're growing up, each time with the same enthusiasm? One of my dad's favourites was the one about the time hundreds of years earlier when he went to see Joe Cocker in concert. He'd describe what a wonderful evening it was, and if we were lucky, he'd even mimic some of Joe's on stage movements. And more times than not, he'd end the story with a snide remark about just how much better than Van Morrison Joe had been. But that's another classic story, better left for another time.
So it was that last night I teleported myself to the Palais with mom and pop to see Cocker for myself, and determine exactly where the truth lay, and whether or not mein papa was viewing the past with rose coloured glasses.
Our warm up for the evening was the delightful Ms Renee Geyer (use of the word delightful to be viewed as sarcastic if you so choose). Her unique brand of huskiness didn't really thrill me, I'm afraid. To me, it seemed that all the songs went on for about three minutes too long. Still, at least I can now say that I've been witness to a double bass solo.
Joe ambled on stage and began. I had been wondering what percentage of the songs I would be familiar with, expecting it to be somewhere around the 50% mark, and even though I struggled to name a single one of his songs just prior to the show, I think there were only two songs in the whole set that I was not familiar with. It was hit after hit, with Joe alternating between his own songs, and covers which he has "made his own". He did everything from Summer in the City (originally by The Lovin' Spoonful) to One (U2), from Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.) to Chain of Fools (Aretha Franklin). Don't forget your daily dose of The Beatles (With a Little Help From My Friends, of course, and She Came in Through the Bathroom Window). It's a wonder he had time to fit in any of his own tunes, but fit them in he did.
So, did he rock the house? Yes, he did. I love unusual vocalists, and Cocker could hardly be described as having a boring singing voice or vocal style. His voice is unique and instantly recognisable, and now, at over 60 years of age, he hasn't lost it. He may have slowed down a bit, added a little to his belly, and lost a bit from the top of his head, but he still injects an amazing amount of emotion and power into every single line he delivers, and I'm glad that I decided to head on out to see him do his thang (even if he did physically remind me of Leonardo DiCaprio's character Arnie from the film What's Eating Gilbert Grape). Well recommended, dad. I'm a little concerned about the high levels of jumping, though.
Audience stereotype spotted: the non-mover-and-shaker. I don't know how many people the Palais holds, but say there were 250 people seated in front of me, then by my count, 238 of them fit this description. No matter what classics Mr C pulled outta his bag'o'tricks, these audience members just weren't moving. If there was an Olympic event which involved sitting perfectly still for one and a half hours, the judges would struggle to determine the Gold medal winner outta this fine batch of competitors. The whole thing made me rather restless.
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