Aldous Harding - Melbourne Folk Club, 1 October 2014

Lots of folks won't have heard of Aldous Harding, but you should. Her opening set for Tiny Ruins  (which I didn't tape) was literally stunning (really, literally, after her last song people just sat there for a minute amazed by what they'd just seen).

This set is from late last year (so hopefully another tour isn't far away). The whole show is great, and the sound is really good, but her thing seems to be finishing with a a capella song, and both times I've seen her do it it's been amazing (the first time was Roy Orbison's Cryin'). This time it's a staggering cover of Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. I guess the only word of warning I'd give is that her voice might not be for everyone (think Joanna Newsom). But really, I find it hard to imagine many music fans that won't at least like parts of this.

Stop Your Tears
Hunter
Been Smoking Too Long
Swell Does the Skull
Beast
Small Bones of Courage
The Trees They Do Grow High (w/ Marlon Williams)
Merriweather (w/ Marlon Williams)
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

FLAC

MP3

Nick Cave - The Plenary, 16 December 2014

A Nick Cave solo tour seems to look a lot like a tour with the Bad Seeds, not that I'm complaining. Having never seen him before I'm happy for whatever I can get. And we ended up getting a pretty great show. The set leant fairly heavily on material from Push the Sky Away, but the new songs fitted in nicely alongside the classics, which is an indication of how good Push the Sky Away is.

The Plenary is a weird venue, as Cave noted, it's better suited to motivational seminars. During the first song a large portion of the crowd rushed the stage, which pretty much defeated the purpose of paying for an A ticket, although no one seemed to mind. The crowd at the front used the opportunity to engage with Cave a lot, particularly during the songs where he prowled the front of the stage. This resulted in a lot of off microphone conversations, which weren't as exciting for those at the back as they were for those involved. Nonetheless, this was a great show. The sound is really good, a tiny bit of noise from people near me ocassionally, but not much. I'd highly recommend this for anyone wanting to listen to a show from the tour (I also recorded the second night, it's good, but a bit shorter and the sound is slightly less up front).

We Real Cool
The Weeping Song
Red Right Hand
Sad Waters
Higgs Boson Blues
Mermaids
The Ship Song
From Her to Eternity
God is in the House
Love Letter
Water's Edge
Black Hair
Lay Me Low
Into My Arms
The Mercy Seat
Jubilee St

We No Who U R
Up Jumped the Devil
Breathless
Jack the Ripper
Babe, You Turn Me On
The Lyre of Orpheus

FLAC

MP3

Mavis Staples - Newport Folk Festival 2009 and 2011

Mavis Staples seems to play here a lot, but I don't think she's played any headline shows recently. That'll change in a few months and I'm not sure I'll be in the country at the time. Which sucks for me. But anyone that can make it should. As this recording shows, she doesn't have the greatest voice, but she can put on a hell of a show and has got a great catalogue of songs to draw from. This is her complete 2009 and 2011 Newport Folk Festival sets, probably a bit too long, but you can always split them if you want.

For What It's Worth
Eyes on the Prize
Too Close to Heaven
I'm On My Way to Heaven
Wade in the Water
Waiting for My Child
The Weight
Why Am I Treated So Bad
Instrumental
Freedom Highway
Respect Yourself
I'll Take You There

Wonderful Saviour
Creep Along
Freedom Highway
You Are Not Alone
Too Close to Heaven
I'm On My Way to Heaven Anyhow
We're Gonna Make It
Instrumental
Instrumental 2
Hallelujah
I'll Take You There

https://mega.co.nz/#F!JRVmyDDZ!p4gJDJTzDzDxuTLeyv0CDA