Matt Down Under

One of the very few things I really miss in Tasmania is the live music scene I always enjoyed in Germany. Whenever a band goes on tour they play some concerts in Germany, that’s almost guaranteed. And even if they skip Germany then you can easily drive to Austria, Switzerland, or spend the weekend in London to go to the concert (something I never did, but well… I could have done).

Interesting is, there’s actually more live music in Tasmania than in Germany. Every night you can go to bars and clubs to see live bands and artists, but it is always local music. Big international acts hardly ever come to Tasmania. Many don’t even come to Australia. Examples?

Oasis is currently on tour - one of my all-time favourite bands. I’ve seen them live on a festival in Germany a few years ago, they played from about 1am to 3.30am and it was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever attended (they let the crowd wait for almost an hour, until everyone gave them the finger, then they started the show - yeah that’s what I love Oasis for). Now they’re touring the world. They play countless sold-out shows in Europe (I wish I could be there…) then they play Japan, China, Hong Kong and then Africa (!). From there they head back to Europe to play another couple of shows there. Would it be so hard to fly from Hong Kong to Australia to play a couple of shows before playing in Africa?

Another example: Coldplay. Another one of my favourite bands. I’ve seen them live back in 2003 (I think) when they had just released their second album and barely anyone in Germany knew Coldplay by then. They are touring Australia as I write this. They played two shows in Perth, now they’ll play three gigs in Melbourne, another two in Brisbane and then 4 (!) in Sydney. Come on Chris Martin, is it so hard to play one show in Tasmania? Even New Zealand gets two shows. Sure, I could go to Melbourne, but paying $80 for your ticket, then $120+ for a return flight, and $70 for a night in a cheap hostel including transfer from and back to the airport, plus food and a Coldplay shirt at your merchandising booth - it simply sucks, too expensive. You write in your blog how much you love Australia, then show your love and play a show in Hobart, will you? ;-) You don’t know Australia unless you’ve seen Tasmania. I know, they don’t have a Rod Laver arena here where they can seat thousands of people, but back in 2003 you also played the smaller venues. Even an acoustic show in some book store would be awesome. But maybe your tour manager got one of those Australia maps where they ‘accidentally’ forgot Tasmania… really really sad.

Anyway, if you’re looking for great concerts you need to travel interstate, Tasmania is pretty hopeless. Or it was, until now. Two weeks ago I discovered that Amanda Palmer is coming to Hobart. Unbelievable. She is the singer of the Dresden Dolls, one of the most fascinating bands around (and another band I have seen live in Germany, I think in 2006). Last year she released her solo album called “Wo killed Amanda Palmer?”, it’s one of the best albums I’ve listened to in a long time. 

It’s kind of surprising that she plays at the Brisbane Hotel in Hobart, since it’s a very small location, quite a difference to the Sydney Opera House where she performed a couple of days ago. But I won’t complain, I like small club concerts where there’s not heaps of security between you and the band and where you have the chance to get a signature afterwards or have a chat with the guys, if you’re interested in things like that. I’m really looking forward to it. Check out the videos below, a few of my favourite songs from Amanda Palmer and the Dresden Dolls. And check out her blog, it’s really interesting to read. And of course, go to iTunes now and buy her CD ;-).