Concert Review: INXS back in Canada!
It was an uphill walk from the Hostel to the Aitken Centre, but I got some exercise and warmed my muscles to pogo at the gig. I had to get a ticket to someone out front, so by the time I got in to claim my front row seat (squee!) Stabilo had already started. I said a quick “Hi” to DrumTech on the way to my seat. I told him it was cool to see him play drums at the Today Show set-up. “Dirtie Blonde” kept flashing on the curtain while Stabilo played. It was funny. They were a great opening act. They had energy, were tight, and the audience recognized and responded to a few of the numbers. They got us revved up for the main act.
I still get butterflies in my stomach the minute I see the on screen switch turn on. And of course there was a huge cheer when it reached 4:48. The Aitken Centre was about two-thirds full, but you wouldn’t know that from the sound of the crowd as the countdown neared the one minute point. Then poof, the curtain came down with a flash of light, and I pinched myself because I was so close to Tim. And I had a clear view of Jon. I was ecstatic that my front row seat was not obstructed in any way. The long trip up here from New York City was totally worth being so close. There were big screens set-up on either side of the stage, and cameras onstage near the microphone stands. It gave the audience a great view of the stage, and some nice close-ups of the band, including Tim’s shiny new guitar. They even gave us shots of Jon drumming from behind his kit.
Kirk was wearing jeans and a white dress shirt. Andrew had on jeans, a jacket and a T-shirt. Garry was wearing the jeans with the piping up the front (!) and a T-shirt. Jon had an open-necked shirt with iron crosses on each shoulder, and white jeans. Tim was wearing the yummy brown leather pants, the jacket with the Celtic cross on the back, and a long sleeve shirt with horns on the front. And JD was wearing the lace-up jeans, and the black shirt with D-rings. He changed the shirt after Afterglow for the T-shirt with the skull and bat on it.
‘Suicide Blonde’ and ‘Devil’s Party’ started the gig off with high energy. There was a nice moment at the start of ‘Mystify’ with JD and Andrew at the keyboard.
‘Hot Girls’ sounded great tonight. JD was straddling the mic stand and riding it riding it. And I was liking it liking it!
Near the end of ‘By My Side,’ JD had a little trip over his big feet, and throughout the song he was aroused.
‘Afterglow’ was really powerful tonight. JD did a little blurb about Canada making it number one, and there was a huge crowd reaction to the song.
Andrew came out front to play guitar on ‘Taste It.’ JD did a rap introduction to the band. And we got sax sex at centre stage tonight. JD was nearby having his way with the mic stand. He was really going at the sweet spot, using his mouth and tongue all around it. It was like watching a tennis match as I flipped from Kirk to JD, Kirk on his back saxing away, and JD licking his fingers then rubbing the sweet spot and thrusting his pelvis. Tonight Garry was very sedate. He didn’t leave his little spot too often during the show.
There was a great Garry and Tim moment at the start of ‘Original Sin.’ Andrew was wild on the maracas, and the sax work was hot hot hot tonight. JD kissed Kirk on the neck toward the end. Garry spent a fair amount of time during the song straddling the drum risers.
During ‘Hungry,’ JD got really emotional over the love shown the band, and when he got to the line “I’m always there for you” he pointed to his Canadian flag and at the audience. It was really touching.
INXS really let loose tonight on ‘Never Let You Go.’ Andrew was rocking out with the shaker. JD was playing Tim’s guitar, then siddled up to Garry, before heading over to put his arm around Tim.
‘Need You Tonight’ was a definite crowd favourite, and cheers went up the moment the song started. We got some sliding, some shaking, and lots of crowd loving. Tim came down to play on the boxes in front of me, and I snapped a quick picture.
Garry started off on the boxes in front of me on ‘What You Need.’ I could just see the bottom part of his new dragon tattoo. JD did a crowd romp in house right, and ended up along the top of the arena floor side panels. It was precarious at times, but he made it without falling. I was impressed with his balance.
They skipped ‘Kick’ tonight. We could hear JD tell the band he couldn’t do it. ‘Devil Inside’ rocked as usual, and ‘Pretty Vegas’ got the biggest crowd reaction of the night.
JD chilled on stage with a smoke and a beer before the encore began again tonight. The crowd started chanting “JD.” To amuse us he put an “INXS Massage” sign on his crotch. I’m sure there would not be a shortage of willing volunteers.
During ‘New Sensation’ Tim was having fun playing with the camera by his mic, turning it around and upside down. It was really cute. And he really milked the moment in ‘Never Tear Us Apart.’ And then they were launching into ‘Don’t Change,’ and the gig was over.
After the show I met up with a crew of 448ers, had a lovely pint of Alexander Keith’s, the pride of Nova Scotia, and chatted with Andrew for a short time. And I had my first JD encounter! He was trying not to talk because his voice was very hoarse. I told him how much fun I had at the Today Show taping, and how much they rocked the Aitken Centre and that it was a great kick-off to the Canadian tour. Andrew was nearby and asked how I got to Fredericton, and I told him I took the bus. He said “You took a bus from New York City here?” And I replied “So did you.” He smiled, nodded his head, and clinked my glass. He asked how long it took me, and I told him it was about 22 hours. JD mentioned it took them about 18 hours. Before JD left, he said goodbye to me, and when he took my hand in his I just about melted. I walked back to the hostel with the biggest grin on my face, and slept solidly for the first time in three days.
Set List:
Suicide Blonde
Devil's Party
Mystify
Hot Girls
By My Side
Afterglow
Taste It
Original Sin
Hungry
Never Let You Go
Need You Tonight
What You Need
Devil Inside
Pretty Vegas
Encore
New Sensation
Never Tear Us Apart
Don't Change
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