[diamondsnake]

Originally posted by jadegypsy
Long one:
February 17th, 2004
Newcastle, Australia
Rehearsals & Show
Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Well, we’ve officially invaded Australia. We left California on the 11th and arrived in Sydney on the 13th. An interesting thing I’d like to mention is that the time change makes it so that February 12th does not exist for us. I know it’s a simple concept, but I still find it very odd that there is a day this year that has been erased from my experience.

Anyway, after a FIFTEEN HOUR flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, of which I slept only three hours, we arrived in Sydney, where it was 95 degrees and insanely humid. It’s a slightly shocking, however nice change from a rainy, cold winter in San Francisco. We boarded a bus for a two hour drive to Newcastle. I wasn’t looking forward to a long bus ride after having been couped up on a plane for so long, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the drive from Sydney to Newcastle is breathtaking. It’s reminiscent of Hawaii, which is the only place I’ve been that would even begin to compare to this. I already feel like I’m on vacation. I’m going to have to constantly remind myself that I’m here for work.

The band has been spending time in Hawaii to acclimate themselves, they also arrived in Australia a few days before we did to kick any jetlag and adjust to the time and weather.

We had a day and a half off here in Newcastle before we actually went back to work, and being that our hotel is right on the beach, we spent the time off getting a little sun, snorkeling, swimming and other beach-related activities. We had a 7:00AM lobby call this morning for a day of loading in and rehearsal and it was hysterical to see everyone file in to the lobby with pink cheeks and various degrees of sunburns.

We spent a sweltering day unloading our 11 trucks and setting up. Not to mention a LOT of screwing around, making fun of each other and laughing. I should also mention that the local Newcastle crew was great, everyone is so genuine and friendly. It’s a pleasure to be around.

Everyone is in great spirits, I don’t know if it’s due to the good weather or the fact that everyone is just happy to be back at work, but whatever the reason, it was a really fun day. This month of the tour marks the time that most of us have been together for a whole year now. We’re as good as family around here. It’s a really good time, no explanation I could give you would do it justice.

The band arrived at the gig around 6:00PM, after driving three hours from Sydney. Stevie was all giggles when her car pulled up, apparently she had a lead-footed driver, who for the entire three hour drive punched the gas and slammed on the brakes continuously. She said at first everyone was thoroughly annoyed by this, until about half way through the drive when it just became hysterical. Mick arrived with a nice healthy glow from a little time spent in Hawaii. All in all, it looks like everyone is glad to be back, rested from a few weeks off, and seems ready for our month in Oz.

Rehearsals were quick, Dreams, Chain and Rhiannon, followed by a good hour of socializing on stage. They’re so funny, they’re like school kids catching up with each other after summer vacation has ended and school’s finally back in session. It’s really endearing. Slowly but surely, the band filed out for the evening, only to return in 20 hours for the show.

We returned to the gig around noon on show day. It wasn’t as hot today, thank god. The day flew by. Before I knew it , it was 7:30, doors were open and everyone was quickly gearing up for our first show back. The band was brimming with energy, Stevie danced the whole night away, Lindsey was on fire, swinging guitars all over the place, the whole band seemed happy to be back playing to the crowd. The show was great, sounded great, looked great, felt great.

For those of you who read the Europe tour diaries you might like to know that Stevie’s lift broke again tonight, right after Come when she’s heading back on to the stage, it went up about two inches and then jerked to a stop. Remembering what happened the last time the lift broke, Stevie just looked at our stage manager and started laughing when he emphatically pointed her to the side of the stage to take the stairs.

After the show everyone hung around for a while, wandering in and out of each others dressing rooms. I was in Stevie’s room putting a few things away in one of her road cases, she and I were looking through all of her clothes when she pulled out the top that she wore in the Gypsy video. She made me try it on. It’s absolutely beautiful but the only problem is that she is so tiny that I couldn’t even fit my hands through the sleeves. She was pulling at it to get my hands through and all I could think is that I’m about to rip a piece of history. She finally gave up and just made me try it on with my hands only half way through, and then proceeded to make me model it for everyone in her dressing room. It was a riot.

The band finally headed out to their cars and went back to the hotel. As usual, we headed out a few hours later after load out and tomorrow the crew drives back to Sydney to catch a plane to Brisbane. So far so good.

Until next time...

CB

Very intriguing!