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Photography by Richard Sharman
A couple of years ago if someone had told me that the best band I’d see in 2009 was a three piece instrumental band featuring a violin as the main instrument I would have thought they were crazy. But seeing the Dirty Three for the first time at the All Tomorrows Parties festival at Mt Buller changed that; they put on the best live show I saw for the year (beating hundreds of other contenders. So I was over the moon when it was announced that they were playing at The Forum as part of the ATP Don’t Look Back series of concerts, along with The Laughing Clowns.
Ed Kuepper led the Clowns on to the stage at The Forum and proceeded to power their way through History of Rock N Roll – Volume One, the album they put out in 1984. After a brief technical issue with keyboards it was all systems go and the Laughing Clowns jazz inspired rock/punk/blues was blasted out. A definite highlight for me was Holy Joe.
By the time Warren Ellis and his band of merry men (Jim White and Mick Turner) hit the stage The Forum was close to full. With a little banter from Warren he then led the crowd on an aural experience as they mixed up the order of tracks from their 1998 opus Ocean Songs. This is music of rare beauty and power; ranging from soft and beautiful building to ferocious crescendos of ragged power. This band truly takes their audience on a journey. Once the album tracks were done the band left the stage but thunderous applause brought them back for an encore of Kim’s Dirt before closing out with Everything’s Fucked.
Seeing the Dirty Three for a second time confirmed my initial impression; these guys are one of the greatest live bands on earth. If you ever get the chance to see them do it – there are no excuses for missing out.
Click photos above to see full set of images from the show.
Soundwave Festival is thrilled to announce that there is a final release of tickets for Melbourne Soundwave on Friday 15 January at 9am. These won’t last so get in early!
Tickets are strictly limited and will be available through www.oztix.com.au & www.ticketek.com.au 132 849.
There will be no further release of tickets so once they are gone…they are gone!

Eagles of Death Metal who will be appearing at Soundwave
The full line up for Soundwave is:
FAITH NO MORE
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
JANES ADDICTION * AFI * PLACEBO * PARAMORE * HIM *ALEXISONFIRE * TAKING BACK SUNDAY * TRIVIUM * ANTHRAX * SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE * EAGLES OF DEATH METAL * THE GET UP KIDS * MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK * REEL BIG FISH * MESHUGGAH * ALL TIME LOW * A DAY TO REMEMBER * IT DIES TODAY * ESCAPE THE FATE * CLUTCH * ANTI FLAG * ISIS * SHINEDOWN * GALLOWS * A WILHELM SCREAM * THE WEAKERTHANS * EMAROSA * ANVIL * THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA* COMEBACK KID * SET YOUR GOALS * ENTER SHIKARI * THE ALMOST *DANCE GAVIN DANCE * FOUR YEAR STRONG * YOU ME AT SIX * WHITECHAPEL * ARCHITECTS (UK)*THE AQUABATS * ROLO TOMASSI * BARONESS * THIS IS HELL * RX BANDITS * CLOSURE IN MOSCOW * THE CREEPSHOW
VENUES AND DATES
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010
SATURDAY 20 BRISBANE, RNA SHOWGROUNDS
SUNDAY 21 SYDNEY, EASTERN CREEK RACEWAY
FRIDAY 26 MELBOURNE, SHOWGROUNDS
SATURDAY 27 ADELAIDE, BONYTHON PARK
MONDAY 1 PERTH, STEEL BLUE OVAL
*All shows are licensed and all ages (i.d required)
Just before the end of the year Chris Cornell announced on Twitter that “The 12 year break is over & school is back in session… Knights of the Soundtable ride again!”
Let’s hope they make it to Australia!