Tibetan Freedom Concert
Sydney, 13 June 1999
by Jo P

This was a fantastic event with the bands volunteering their time and all putting on absolutely incredible performances. This review will be a little short as I didn't see bands I didn't really want to see as the weather made us stay nice and cosy inside the Red Shed (it was FUCKEN windy and cold!). And the Red Shaed was playing the Cure between sets!! We arrived late - being old enough to see these bands any time they play. So the first set of our day was Jedabiah. My pal and I rushed straight to the front - which wasn't too difficult despite the multitudues attending! What a great show! the lads (and lass) were energetic and really seemed to enjoy playing before a crowd so obviously going right off. There were some eager kids with a boogie board having a real crowd surf and the band and crowd got right behind them whenever some lucky punter held up their own and stood up for more then 2 seconds. Second for our set was the mighty popular Living End. We weren't brave enough to compete with energetic 16 year olds, so we stood towards the back of the HUGE mosh. Wow these kids were going off in a big way. The band didn't let anyone down either. Great - any cynic there would have been proven very wrong indeed. They played like the manic artists they are. You Am I. What can I say. They ROCKED. Tim had plenty of heckling as usual, us lot at the front were trying very hard to see if Rocio was there listening. It's anyone's guess if the blushing bride was there. The band rocked of course. My highlight was having my fav live song played again (Trike) and the fact that the crowd were so damn happy to see their favourite band just made the set. A really mixed set was played with a couple of oldies to please the crowd, a few 4# songs and a few newies to tease us all for the 5#. I must admit to being a little excited about seeing Neil Finn. I am an old Crowdie fan and hadn't the chance to see him play. I was not disappointed in the least. Neil held his own in the crowd pleasing stakes and had more energy on stage then Tim had mustered (?) and then Tim Rogers himself came onstage to sing backing vocals on She will Have Her Way!!! Neil ended the set with a definite older-members-of-the-crowd pleaser with History Never Repeats. way to happy about this to say anything about something more than the vibe (ie. the sound to the left of the stage which was a bit off) Now as I have just said I am a big You Am I and Neil Finn fan - I am also a Spiderbait fan, but well, you know. Anyway I have seen them top of Homebake the last three years and to be honest tongiht they KICkED ASS!!!! Janet and Cram were at their absolute best! The new songs sent the crowd into a frenzy - especially Shazaam and Stevie. Everyone was happy that (I am not sure of the songs actual name the "We're all here drinking beer" song) was utilised once again to end their set. man I was grinning so much at the end my cheeks hurt! um, so did the rest of my body from the the energised ... um,,... dancing... I was feeling a little intimidated at the thought of the crowd for Regurgitator, thinking all these people would be invading our red shed to the biggest mosh I would have seen since The Prodigy at the last Big Day Out in Sydney (not the last one held - the Last One). But when we ventured out to line up for an overpriced and extremely dodgy chicken roll, THERE WERE PEOPLE LEAVING!! The Gurg were fantastic  - of course - it was if everyone there put thier best performance on - the speakers for the cause we were there supporting were also wonderful - the last speaker was a Tibetan woman, who was so regal and comanding that most of the punters couldn't help but listen! (I only said most). The Gurg played all their favs and only disappointed people by missing out on playing Blubber Boy and Kung Foo Sing. Which they didn't use to end the set (we had a bet going - Kung Foo Sing was in front). Overall it was a fantastic event. The bands were at their best, the Tibetans were informative and non-patronising and really seemed to not notice that a lot of the punters were just there for the bands (most of us did give a shit) - if they did they didn't judge. and I can end this by saying  - HOW ARE THEY GOING TO COPE WITH THE OLYMPICS??!!