Powderfinger, Something For Kate, Stella One-Eleven
Newcastle University, 22 July 1999
by Jonathan Hart

This gig was so anticipated by the Newcastle community, that the venue was changed from the "Bar On The Hill" to "The Brennan Room" to accommodate another 500 punters - the tickets for that sold in around an hour I'm told. so, even if the band's weren't good (yeh, right) we would have our atmosphere.

Stella One-Eleven - I hadn't heard much from this band before, or at least that I could remember. A few songs rang some bells in my head. All together, this 4 sometimes 5 piece band was eclectic, passionate, and just all round good I suppose. For one reason or another, one of guitarists was not the actual full time guitarist. I didn't know this till later. Damn, you couldn't tell. He was bloody good.

Do I really need to write a piece about Something For Kate? Anyone who has ever seen them knows they always deliver the goods. Paul is an amazing guitarist, with an amazing voice. He gets right into it. Stephanie is quite the good bass player too, although she never seems to get into it as much as Clint - but , she may cause herself some injuries if she did. I don't know how Clint doesn't. Watch that face! Watch those arms! And Wally... is there any wonder why there are constant rumours about him becoming a permanent member. He's bloody good. Set highlights included Hallways, Like Bankrobbers, Electricity (watch that mosh...) and Before Butterfly's Wings. The only question I have is why didn't the uni allocate time for SFK to have an encore? Who was organising this? If a good band plays, I want an encore, and I wont settle for less next time.

Powderfinger on next of course. Damn its a long wait though. Just standing there. But of course, totally worth it. From the opening slide down the top string of Darren's guitar in Don't Wanna Be Left Out, right through to Bernard's strangely tuned guitar in Pick You Up, Powderfinger's set was amazing to say the least. It seems as though it was written just to show off the band at their best as well, with some songs linking into others. Bernard's voice is truly amazing isn't it? Not that he can't get that sound in the studio, god, anyone can with computers, but he doesn't need to. Its so alive, and leaves you wanting more. And the way these guys play their instruments. Its obvious a lot of work goes into this. Set highlights were Take Me In (id say the best for sure. Such a brilliant song), These Days (a close second), Sink Low, Private Man and Over My Head.

I must also congratulate the security guards at the gig, and also Bernard for pointing out the fact that the bouncers were indeed good blokes. I love that idea of passing water into the crowd. And the T-shirt guy - damn, I wish I got his name. He'll always be my T-shirt guy. Such a legend.

The only gripes I have are that JC and Boing Boing were not played (but I suppose I cant dictate a set list, and I definitely would not have been able to bump any songs from the set to make way for those two) and also, Cogsy is seemingly developing an attitude. He's getting rather sarcastic. Maybe those glasses are evil. At one point during the show, he reminded us that perhaps the best way to mosh was up and down, not side to side. I suppose its just one of those things a drummer is good at pointing out....

All in all - a brilliant show. 8/10 - one point for JC and Boing Boing, one point for Cogsy (who wants to mosh anyway, it distracts from the music).

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