Newcomer Bec has given us a great review of the Friday night Tivoli gig. She also managed to get backstage and meet the band - and it appears that they were up to their usual hijinx:
Lastly I stopped to watch and listen as Ollie and the guy who plays sax (forgive me for not knowing his name) had a freestyle jam session. It was mad! I just stood in awe, and was rather amused at how playful and almost hyper-active Ollie was!
Check the rest of the review for more.
Have you checked out the Cat Empire gigography? If not, you're missing out. It's got a list of pretty much every gig we know about (if there's one missing, go tell someone in the forums), and lots of them have got a little orange "details" link beside them. If that link is there, it means that someone has gone to the effort of writing and posting a review, a setlist, some photos, videos etc. of a gig so that we can all pretend we were there! Check it out.
There's too many new reviews in there to list, and thanks go to those people in the forums who've done the hard work. A special shout-out to Mailman, who went to four gigs in four days, impressive!
New Intro (We Got Soul)
Hello
Sol y Sombra
Days Like These
Lullaby
The Car Song
Protons
Two Shoes
Pocket
Miserere
How to Explain
Saltwater
Chariot
Outro(which is the fricken Intro)
Sly with Respect at the beginning
Encore:
Dumb Things
TNTNE
Somewhere in there Ross Irwin gave an impromtu performance of the old Sting classic 'Roxanne'. Max Riebl, Kristy Conrau and Alyssa Conrau featured in Miserere, with the sisters also performing in TNTNE.
For more reviews and discussion, see this thread in the forums.
Ducking out my window double story from the ground
from my hammock down my tree and into Melbourne town
now first stop hit Kanelata to Tedesco land
to down that show - with 2 shoes and a magic hand man
now it's aplan as flamenco turns to -down shakin
there's a jazz jam and Julie's got the whole joint bakin'
and anyone who's fakin' gets a quick anihilation
as we movin' destinations on the music train station singing
'on and on and on'. "on and on and on"
checkin checkin out Mr Askey's song - cos he's
late sevens' captain-on-the-mic but blows the horn so fierce
that the room ignite
it's like his shuffle got us thinking about dowing the down low so where we go?
We take the night cat stop for the cabrones show
and here's the point I stop reciting start to dance instead
I heared the city of the deep blue lights it said:
Now get the party started
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
Chillin at the club, pimpin with my money
(Well actually, my parties are more like_
Chillin in the sun with tea and milk and honey
Tea and lamingtons, that's my idea of fun
But I do enjoy the odd ocaasional bottle of rum
As we learnt in the songs that I have previously sung
When it's done with fruit juice at a barbecue in the sun
In the afternoon is begun with kangaroo and capsicum
I do eat meat but I don't like killing
So don't crash my party whill I'm sitting back chilling
My oh my why oh why are people so violient
I ani't trying to be a lion I extend my alliance
To anyone who like to just sit back and chitchat
Maybe have a jam, spit scats and eat biscuits
Before you know it's midnight and you're running through the moonlight
And you realise...
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
The house party started about eleven or so
got a call dfrom Krido to tell me that
Dubwo and Hendo started it blow by blow
notw it's a dancehall rockin like'a Cuban mojo
so bring ya go-go's and your special friends
I've never been diving but I get the bends
when schlam and Mick and Fairooz making the soul news
see we got the bomb track and the D-floor's the fuse
The C-A-T E-M-P-I-R-E-S G-O-T
A Party H-A-P-P-E-N-I-N-G and it's a
G-O-Double N-A be seeing
The break of dawn
Then keep on rockig it
Can you tell me something about last night?
It wasn't hard... to get the party started
Sol y Sombra aeh Mama
Ollie's cha cha
Sing eah eah eah
Sol y Sombra aeh Papa
Kanela
Oh eah eah
The weekend is the weekend and it's sunny in the park
I'll stay here with my beer and fish and chips till it gets dark
I've got a lot of homework but homewoek he can wait
I never start my homework till it's already too late
My parents say think about your future and my teachers say the same byt it's hard when there's a basketball game in the park
It's 1998 and everybody's saying: "Harry, you're gonna be a lawyer some day..."
It's Monday bloody Monday and there's two things I forgot
I forgot to do my homework and I've only got one sock
I'm halfway through a test bit I just can't concentrate
I'm sitting next to Fontaine I want to ask her on a date
I really want to start a conversation but each time she walks past
I start choking on my pencil and fall flat on my ass
I need to concentrate I have to get this grade
Or I might fail to be a lawyer someday
But just right now can't thing of anything better to do
Than just sit down at the piano and a write this tune
And maybe later, maybe later in the afternoon
I'll site back and relax and think of all the things I'm gonna do...
Someday... I'll buy an old car
Someday... I'll get that car to start
Someday... I'l learn how to drive too
And the Someday... I'magive all the things I could do...
(that was 1998 now bring it forward to the present day now
Cause some things have changed but some things (some things)
Never change (never change)
Check it out (check it out!)
The weekend is the weekend and it's sunny in the park
I'll stay here with my beer and fish and chips till it gets dark
I just saw Peter Parsongs who used to be in my class
I always gave him wedgies cause I thought he worked too hard
He said, "Harry, life is great - I feel so happy these days
I'm a litigation lawyer - So I got it made
I'm going out with FOntaine - Remember her from tenth grade?
I drive a Porsche so I can't complain..."
But just right now can't thing of anything better to do
Than just sit down at the piano and a write this tune
And maybe later, maybe later in the afternoon
I'll site back and relax and think of all the things I'm gonna do...
Someday... I'll buy an old car
Someday... I'll get that car to start
Someday... I'l learn how to drive too
And the Someday... I'magive all the things I could do...
Two big milestones this year, for the band and for the site.
As Shakalak has already mentioned, The Cat Empire's second studio album Two Shoes has debuted at number one on the Australian charts, and has already gone gold. That's a mammoth start, and is sure to continue. It will guarantee continued radio airplay and is sure to generate both local and international interest. Congratulations!
In something a little closer to home, this website has survived for a year! The first post was April 22, 2004. Since then, the site has expanded to have the largest discography, largest gigography, most comprehensive news, and most of all it has an absolutely amazing forum that keeps it all together. To everybody involved, I extend my thanks in helping make "dot info" what it is today. To the forum-goers, both new and old, you're the ones that make it a community. To the news-readers and forum-readers, sign up today and say hello, you'll enjoy it.
TCE.info is unofficial and fan-run. If there's something you want done, ask or suggest it in the forums. If you'd like to help, that's even better.
I would like to extend a special thanks to Nicole, who gave me the tickets to see the gig that made me decide to do this, and was full of helpful suggestions at the beginning, and to Shakalak, who has helped the most when I have been to busy to manage the site.
Enjoy!
Congrats to all concerned at TCE headquarters... Two Shoes has debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA charts gaining Gold Status (35,000 Units) in the first week of release!
Thanks to reflex in the forums.
Thanks to Mailman in the forums.
Encore:
i dunno where it popped up... but in one of Ryan's bass solos (i think The Car Song) i have no idea how he did it.... but he made the effing coolest thing ive ever heard with a bass.
i dunno even how to describe it... it was a pretty random noise though. lasted about 3 seconds... i think it had something to do with distortion
Thanks to Mailman in the forums.
well.. i was having a great time, i couldnt be bothered writing a setlist out, or keeping a note of it in my head. i just remember the songs they played, not the actual order they were in. maybe somebody could help.
Thanks to Membrillo in the forums.
I got there about 45min before hand and was about... 15th? in the line I think, closely followed by Liam. Blackscythe (you may remember her) turned up for the gig with her mum and sister and we had a chat. Managed to catch a glimpse of Ollie and Harry at the door and then ran after Ryan up the street to get a poster signed for my newbie to the band friend of mine . We handed the poster to blackscythe as she was seated but she ended up losing it heehee. We managed to get 2nd from the front in front of Ollie again. There was a girl and her pals behind me handing out .info cards. Although she wasn't part of the forums apparently she checks them so Howdy miss .info card spreader. THIS IS ME! Bit of a pity that even though im tall there was someone even taller than me in front and a pack of over-enthusiastic teenie boppin' girlies behind me screaming there lungs off. There was a very tipsy lady next to me with some very horrid smelling alchohol which she managed to spill all down my arm and onto my new volleys My friend and I were busting moves all over the shop and Ryan actually came up to the front of the stage and gave us the thumbs up Tonight seemed to go a lot quicker than last night although it was still awwwwwwesome. My ears are still ringing and I love it! Everyone around me seemed to be boogeying it down although I think that was the extent of it as everyone else seemed to be ashamed to throw their body around. INCLUDING YOU LIAM! MOVE YOUR TWO SHOES FOR DANCING FOR ONCE! When encore was coming on I managed to start another stamp your feet thing. Both Thursday and Friday i've managed to start stamping my feet and within 10secs the whole theatre was
The band seemed to be having a bad night to start off, for example Ollie's first solo was just dull. They soon got into it and I believe the whole band was even more psyched than Thursday.
I'll break it down from Liam's setlist because I can't seem to remember it:
Intro: Jumps and Pepito did a little choreographed hip-hop routine which was funky and the crowd loved it. Carlos took another solo although I found it hard to make out and it didn't seem he was going too hardcore.
Hello: This was anything special from the original recording but still got the crowd fired up.
Sol y Sombra: The band started getting into it on this one. I thiiink in this one Ross was taking some great trumpet fills. Loved his work. Ollie's solo was absolutely stunning in this. Wooooow! I got everyone around to start "oh eaaa eaaa"ing and Harry gave us a nod.
Party Started ---> Superstition: Can't remember this one except I remember thinking hmmm this cover is a new one.
Miserere: ooooh beautiful... Like Thursday, Felix asked everyone to not dance or sing or callout but unlike Thursday everyone did anyway Bit disappointing crowd behaviour but meh. Ross took the trumpet melody and Harry went to the horn section. I absolutely loved Ross' solo. I memorised the trumpet part and was playing an air trumpet along with him Harry started playing a little solo over Ross' melody but watcha gonna do? This featured a Cellist and Violinist with the violinist showing some real skill.
Lullaby: Felix managed to get himself together for once in this. Very nice trumpet\sax solo. Suprised everyone around me when i sung the whole song from start to finish.
Two Shoes: Oooooh the crowd was really getting into this one and everyone was a'boppin to Waaaaiyaaa! Great cardio-vascular workout
The Car Song: Not to different from the Two Shoes version but it was still a great song live. Bustin' some great moves in this and Ryan came up the front and gave us acknowledgment of us bustin' the sprinkler which I showed him on Wednesday
In My Pocket: By far my favourite. The crowd got into it and you could see last night had a few more experienced empirers with almost the whole crowd throwing there hands up in the first na na na na na bit. Looking back at the crowd in the last Na Na Na bit (when the band were doing it) and everyone was doing it was amazing. Everyone in time with there hands in the air... really touched me
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons: Harry introduced this one as "A song for when were gone". Another great song for dancing. Invented a few on the spot moves like "Ewwww theres goo on my shoe" and accidently trod on a few toes
Respect: I was hoping beforehand they would play respect and when they broke it out it was greeeeat! they only seemed to play the "Just a little bit, Just a little bit" section but it was still awesome.
Sly: Felix's lass worked her way onto the stage and Pepito busted some moves. All the teenie boppers went nuts to this *yawn*
Dumb Things: Not as great as Thursday but still pretty rockin'
The Chariot: No call and response again but featured a short Ollie solo and an 11min scat solo from harry which was absolutely heart stopping. Harry was just going craaaazy!
Encore:
The Night That Never End: Very nice ending song. Featured a very sweet violin solo.
I thought they would finish with wine song but I guess they ran out of time.
Wish I was off there tonight My friend said that was the first real concert he's been too and he would of payed $150 to go to it! There you go.
Adios, Samuela
Thanks to Mailman in the forums.
Encore:
Thanks to Mailman in the forums.
Thanks to Tara in the forums.
The show.. I don't even know where to start. I'm going to write as though everyone who reads this knows all of their songs, since a lot of you (or the ones who care enough to read this, anyway) are big Empire fans, anyhow. So, sorry for those of you who don't know what I'm on about!
Loz and I got our standard spot against the stage at the far left side, which has a great view across the stage, and for some reason no one ever goes there? While the rest of the room is packed, we always get a relatively nice amount of space, in the first row, go figure. Anyway!
I can't remember the order of the songs, but they played for over 2 hours, and it was all absolutely amazing; everyone needs to move to Australia and see these guys live as often as they can. I love their CDs, and the new one is great, but oh god, they are a live band. So very much. They played their new intro first (not as fabulous as the old intro, but still catchy and fun and danceable), and then got straight down to business with Hello. The rest of the night included Days Like These, The Chariot, The Rhythm, Wine Song, Sly, In My Pocket, Lullaby, Car Song, Two Shoes, Miserere, Party Started, Night That Never End, and also covered Respect and Dumb Things. It was actually the most perfect show I've ever been to in my life.
They also brought on the Space Cowboy again!! NOTHING could be more perfect than the hottest sword-swallower in the universe fellating and then swallowing two swords, on stage with the Cat fucking Empire. He is so very pretty, and.. nn! Perfect! Other guests included the Empire dancers, some random violinist and celloist, and Kate Cebrano, who is actually fantastic and amazing? Oh, and some guy who came dancing on from backstage, causing Jumps to have a tantrum and shove him off stage in a temper, eheh.
Felix introduced Sol Y Sombra as, 'Ollie wrote most of this song'. This amuses me endlessly, as it's got, what, three lines? What part didn't he write? He was absolutely incredible for this, though, his solo seriously went for about ten or fifteen minutes. The rest of the band kept going to start playing, and Ollie was like 'fuck no I'm not done', and they all just stood back and watched as he did his thing. Harry went over a couple of times and said something to him, but he was completely ignored. It was incredible. For the record, Ollie drank an entire bottle of wine through the set, and at the end waited for the rest of the band to leave the stage before shuffling into the middle and bowing solemnly, clutching his bottle and glass, and shuffled out slowly.
Everyone had amazing solos as always, but Ryan's was the other highlight of the night. I think it was during the Chariot, and it was unbelievable. Everyone started cheering him, but he just shook his head and put a finger to his lips in a 'shhh' motion, and kept playing, so fucking loud and deep, you didn't so much hear it as feel it. God those guys are incredible.
They finished about ten minutes into the morning of the new CD's launch. I could keep typing about how amazing they were forever, but I've already overused the words 'amazing', 'incredible', and 'fantastic', so I'd just be redundant. Have a look at the autographed polaroids I took today, instead.
Thanks to Bec for the review:
Friday the 15th of April was one of the best days/nights of my life! Having anticipated that date for the previous couple of months, I was super excited to wake up that morning, even more excited when the doorbell ringing signaled the arrival of the postal delivery service, delivering our blue Cat Empire t-shirts. Mum tried hers on over her real estate uniform and I rushed to try mine on and admire it in the mirror! Later in the day I got a phone call from Telstra Blue Lounge telling me that the competition I had entered (to be in the next TCE video clip) had been drawn and I’d been the runner up.
“We’re posting you a copy of the new album on Monday” the woman said. I couldn’t believe it!
“You’re kidding? I’m going to their concert tonight at the Tivoli in the Valley!” So that was the fantastic day I had. And when Mum got home I had the old album blasting out of the stereo and a Vodka Cruiser in hand. I cracked one open for Mum and we danced around the kitchen with our poodle that howls along to The Cat Empire every time she hears them on the radio or the CD. I’ve figured out it’s Harry’s trumpet that sets her off.
We arrived at the Tivoli at 7:15pm, so we got good positions by the ornate front gate. The line grew and grew, and it was interesting to see the diversity in age, outfit, and nationality drawn to come and see these Cats from Melbourne. Finally the gates opened and Mum and I rushed in to grab the tickets we’d pre-ordered. Mum took up her post by the door so we could rush in and get right up against the stage, and I walked over to the bar to grab a rum and coke (not that I needed alcohol to have a good time at The Cat Empire show, you can get enough of a high just from listening to their music, but I’m an alcoholic so it was an automatic reflex).
As I passed the merchandise stand I saw a beautiful girl with long curly brunette hair and an absolute flair for the bohemian style. I walked back to Mum, drink in hand, and said, “I swear that’s the girl out of the new ‘Sly’ video clip!” The girls standing next to us heard me and one said, “Yeah, that’s Felix’s girlfriend!” So then I couldn’t stop peeking over at her to see what she was like, and she seemed nice enough!
The doors opened, we rushed in, and got a good spot only one person back from the stage. The energy in the air was electric as people talked excitedly and made friends with those around them. Then we heard the voice.
“Hello,” the crowd fell silent, looking for the person the voice belonged to, “this is Felix from The Cat Empire,” insert crowd going absolutely nuts here. Felix remained hidden and introduced the support band, Custom Kings. They were ok, good at what they do, but not my cup of tea personally. Some of it was almost a little too mellow for me I guess, but that’s just my opinion, so don’t hurt me!
Finally the Cats came onto the stage and the crowd was going nuts! I looked up and right in front of me was Felix! To my right were Harry, Ollie, and Ryan, Will was at centre stage, at the back, and Jumps was to the left along with the Empire Horns. The crowd was so loud it was difficult to hear Felix’s introduction to the show, but we were all so happy just to see them, I don’t think it really mattered.
I can’t tell you the exact order of the songs, or which songs were performed indefinitely, but it was very similar to the Fremantle gig (refer to that review in the gigography section). Basically, I was so caught up in the moment, and overwhelmed by actually being there right in front of my favourite band on God’s green Earth that the details as to music are a little hazy! I can tell you though that Felix’s and Jumps’ dancing was absolutely mad! I swear they get such a workout up there! And I can also tell you that Felix’s girlfriend came up onto the stage to dance for “Sly”.
The other thing I can tell you is that Harry gets distracted by girls that make eyes at him, and has to stop whatever it is he was about to do because he’s having a giggle and blushing and making side comments to Ollie! *grin* I had nothing to do with it of course! Test my theory though. It’s rather endearing!
Of course, they did the typical, “goodnight and thanks for coming” stint, which was the cue for us all to start chanting “Encooooooooore! Encooooooooooooore!” until they came back on and did an encore of “Sol y Sombra” followed by “The Chariot”. After that I made a quick exit to the loo, and then worked my magic so that Mum and I had a guarantee that we’d meet the guys once the crowd cleared out. I sat and had a beer (well-deserved after having sweated my butt off dancing and jumping about) and tried to calm myself as best I could. Then we were told we could go back and meet the boys (much to the security guys’ chagrin, he just wanted to get home to his missus or something?!). My secret friend who led us backstage said I was more than welcome to go for a drink with the band members if I so wished later in the night, but my mother had to catch a plane the next day so I had to decline this time around! *grumble*
First up I met Ryan, who was lovely, and I shook the man’s hand. Secondly I met Will, who was an absolute sweetheart and stopped to talk to Mum and I for about 15 minutes, along with (I assume from what she said, that she was) the group’s manager. They were really lovely and thanked me for some of the work I’d done for the guys, making me feel very humble actually, which isn’t like me at all! The third person I met was Felix, who was in the process of changing shirts with his back to us. I had a chat with him, shook his hand, got a couple of photos with him, all the while watching Harry out of the corner of my eye talking to a man with madcrazy dreads! Harry then came over for a chat, and photos and was really sweet and quiet. He invited me to grab a bottle of wine if I wanted, but I politely declined, knowing that if I stopped for a drink there’d be no getting me out of there!
Lastly I stopped to watch and listen as Ollie and the guy who plays sax (forgive me for not knowing his name) had a freestyle jam session. It was mad! I just stood in awe, and was rather amused at how playful and almost hyper-active Ollie was! I know how it feels to perform live, so I suppose it was simply the adrenaline, but I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face watching him rock out. It was an awesome sight and an amazing sound I’ll never forget!
After saying goodbye to Ollie it was time for me to leave, my mother darling was getting tired and cranky (as they do) so I said a fond farewell to the boys, and set off into the midnight inkiness, light-headed and almost a little melancholy that it was all over! Well, for this year at least! I swore to myself that next time I’d stay for drinks. And although I could kick myself for not being able to stay this time, I can still guarantee you it was one of the best experiences of my life. Don’t miss it if ever you have the opportunity to see The Cat Empire live. In the meant time, I hope you’ll keep supporting them. They make this planet an even more amazing place than it already is!
Bec Turner, 21, QLD.
The Sly tour is in full swing - the band has covered most of its distance but has a jam-packed couple of weeks ahead. The Sydney gigs have grown from a single night at the Enmore into two, and then three nights in a row - now playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And, as a special exclusive, we have double passes to give away for the Thursday night gig!
To enter, you'll need to be a member of the forums, and then go and check out this post. There's a simple question to answer, and a pass could be yours...
We've seen The Louie, and the Monkey Shuffle...What dance should have been in The Sly? What will you be doing on Thursday night?
Entries will close quickly so get in there. Thanks to The Cat Empire for their continuing support!
Spotted by pip in the forums, The Cat Empire have turned up on an unexpected billing: as one of Australia's richest-earning entertainment acts! According to the list, compiled by Business Review Weekly and containing estimated yearly incomes for 2004, our boys (and their hard working team, we can only assume) raked in $4.2 million last year - not a bad effort! They're ten times worse off than The Wiggles, but are tying with Steve "Crikey" Irwin and are slightly ahead of Jet.
UPDATE: TCE's manager, Correne, has this to say about the BRW list:
The BRW top 50 entertainers is based on gross figures that they estimate from a random set of questions - which doesn't necessarily have any relationship to the ACTUAL figures earned. While the guys would definitely feature on the top 50 list if the figures WERE correct, their placement at 25 has them a little higher than they REALLY are!
It's always worth taking numbers like these with a grain of salt, but it's good to see the evidence of TCE's growing popularity.