Set List: Of The Girl, Breakerfall, Corduroy, Save You, Ghost, Nothing As It Seems, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, Given To Fly, Lukin, Not For You, Thumbing My Way, You Are, Even Flow, Insignificance, Rearviewmirror;
1st encore: Free Jazz, Do The Evolution, Last Exit, Small Town, Better Man, Once;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Last Kiss, Rockin' in the Free World

All I can say is that tonight's show was absolutely amazing! I thought last night was great but the energy in the room this night surpassed it by far. I got there early as I missed Johnny Marr last night and am an old The Smiths fan so thought I should make the effort. As I was on my own I could just go in, be seated and take it all in. Scored the best last minute seat right beside the stage, 1st row! I was pretty damn happy. Johnny Marr was great...made even better by Ed standing just in front of me, masked by his hat...watching and appreciating from the sidelines. It was a sweet set. But the best was yet to come...

The energy in the room tonight was pretty special. There was definitely an intensity in the air...and the crowd was so much more vocal than last night. Everybody was excited...and we all entertained ourselves with a pretty special Mexican crowd wave continuously going around the arena. It was very cool. Everyone was into it...and it helped set the atmosphere. You could feel the electricity in the air tonight. Then the lights went down...and the kick drum started thumping...

Mike's guitar was wailing early tonight and I was on my feet as they began Of the Girl. What a great opener... I just tried to take it all in...but I just couldn't stop singing. I really love this song on the album...but live, as with many of the tunes, it comes into its own. I was already happy! A Binaural opener. Wicked! Then straight into Breakerfall...and everyone was rocking! The guys were in fine form. Mike, Eddie and Jeff all throwing in some big early scissors kicks...I knew this was gonna be a great night. On with Corduroy...and this song just gets better and better, and is definitely a crowd pleaser. I loved it. Matt is a powerhouse behind the drums...and his intensity gives these tunes and new lease of life. The boys were on fire tonight! Into Save You...played perfectly. Damn I was having fun. My apologies to the girl beside me whom I kept bumping into...but its hard to keep your feet on the ground when you are on such a natural high! Ghost was next...and a pleasant surprise! It was great. One thing I noticed is that all the heavier tunes on Riot Act seem to be destined to be played live. They really come into their own...and kick ASS. More on that later... The mood settled a bit with Nothing as it Seems. Such an ethereal song... I just love the power and the guitars. It is a great song in my opinion. Then into the popular I am Mine. A slightly extended intro with Ed playing about with the chords until he begins it proper, and it takes off. A great singalong...and a fantastic song.

Next came Love Boat Captain, and damn do I LOVE this song. Considering what its about and its mellow exposition, it certainly rocks once it gets going. I was just glad they played it as it is one of my favs off the new record. Eddie mentioned that they had rehearsed it and were ready to give it a go. Am sure am glad they did. It was great. I couldn't sing loud enough. There certainly was a lot of love in the room tonight. I just love the drumming in this one. It really gives it something else... All those offbeat toms and high hats drive me wild. I just love it! All it lacked was that wicked drumroll into the second chorus...but who am I to complain? Matt was just awesome all night. You could just tell the guys were having fun. Lots of eye contact, peace signs, smiles and energy. Mike must have flicked out at least 100 plectrums! It was so damn cool. Next came Given to Fly...which I love. Again, it was just great...and the crowd were really getting into it. Arms wide open with the sea as his throne had my arms in the air desperately trying to suck it all in... It was hot in here. Then Lukin. Fast and intense, just the way we like it...then straight into Not for You, which just went off! Nice jammin' in there too. Again, Matt plays these tunes so well now you'd swear he was there from the start. They absolutely nailed this one. Then a breather...and Ed gets the acoustic out for a warming rendition of Thumbing my Way. It was spellbinding...and a very beautiful song. Really nice to hear...

Then the real surprise...after a slight false start came You Are, which just blew me away. The groove...the beat. As the backdrop turned red and Ed lit up a cigarette...this tune had me in a trance. So much grungier than on the record...love is a tower. This tune is littered with symbolism...and as it played out I realised it was destined to be played live. Really enjoyed that one. That feedback again...and the band rock into Even Flow. Much tighter than last night...and Mike is just absolutely going off in the solo. They came out of the instrumental perfectly and nail that one as well. It was wicked. Straight into Insignificance! Woohoo! Awesome...then a blistering Rear View Mirror to finish off the set, again, with the extended ending (x2)...strobe lights flashing through the arena...the rhythm section thumping. It was manic and mind-blowing... What else can I say???

After a short interlude the second set was upon us. Ed mentions that they practiced this one...then they all get there heads down and go into a plethora of noise, which I think just happened to be the Vitalogy intro. It was so f*cking cool! I love that kinda stuff... Bass, guitars, drums playing what seemed to be just random noise...perfectly executed...a very clever start to the second set. Enter (Do the) Evolution! Kickin' ass for sure this one. Once Stone kicks it off Ed appears with his George W. Bush mask again...pulling some wicked dance moves...spinning and bopping! Sets the scene and everyone is dancing!! No verbal anti-war sentiment tonight...but the point was made anyway. DTE rocked! Into Last Exit. Unreal! The guys really seemed to enjoy this one. Jeff was going off! Its an underrated tune in my opinion. Again, it went off! Then Eddie told a cool story that I'd never heard before about how when they put together the artwork etc for Vs, Jeff's brother took a snap of a woman in her mid forties or so behind a counter. He made a point of explaining that she was an attractive lady, and in good nick for her age. Heh. He went on to say that the pic was used in the record inlay on the same page as Elderly Woman, and that she (through no ill-will) received no commission for the picture. She sued, she won, and he jokingly said the tune is now called (A Rich) Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town. I thought it was a great story! They all seemed amused. Everyone was singing along. Better Man continued the set...and although I think this one has been flogged on the radio, there is no doubt the crowd absolutely love it! Ed again has the crowd in the palm of his hand...and once the band kicks in this tune does rock out big time. There was no tag as such...but an extended singalong...with Ed encouraging the crowd to do the whoahhhh...bits at the end. It was fun. Then they kick up a gear with another surprise...and set into a blistering version of Once. So much energy... It was fantastic.

At the end of the set I had no doubt they would be on again. The crowd was going nuts. Much more so than last night. Ed surfaced first, thanking everyone and Brisbane in particular for such a great few days. Some fans I was talking to were telling me they were off seeing koalas and stuff...and getting a surf in when they could. I'm not from here myself, but I agree, Brisbane is a wonderful city. Blessed to be geographically in one of the nicest parts of Australia... I'm sure the guys were shown a great time. He then grabs his ukulele...which now come in the form of a black baby imitation Strat. Very cool. It was so obvious that he was relaxed and just enjoying the show. He talked about the importance of a consistent tempo if we were inclined to clap along, having a bit of a fun dig at American audiences...but unfortunately we were no better. It was really funny. Ed sang this one in the most laid-back way I have heard it yet...not to mention the lyric stuffups...lol...which just made for a better version. Come to think of it...I'm not even sure if he finished it, but it was great nonetheless. Everyone was smiling, including Eddie and the band members on side stage. As the band came out to continue the third and final set we were yelling State of Love and Trust...but alas it wasn't to be. They kicked into Last Kiss, which was great. Clearly all were having fun. It really not the type of tune I would expect them to play, but its a definite crowd pleaser and it went down well. To conclude, they played a song they said was requested by a fan earlier in the night...and kicked into a rockin' extended version of Rockin' in the Free World. The crowd was going nuts! Everyone was dancing and singing and screaming. What a great way to end the night.

At the end I just sat and watched people leave until I was told to go. It was a special night. If these guys keep this up god knows what hellish form they will be in the time they get to Melbourne and Perth. Something to behold I'm sure! I left thoroughly exhausted...and without my voice. It was just amazing night... My next show is Perth and I cannot wait! I just hope they play all night...because I just can't get enough of this band. Thank you guys.
And Boom...goddamn if you haven't picked up the best job in the world!
Hail hail the lucky ones...I refer to those in love yeah!
See you on the flipside!
Carl.