Laura
Metro City, May 24th 2007
There are only a few words: it was so fucking good! Way better than the two times that I have seen them before and they certainly have improved a lot over time. They really put on a display, with lights and a big screen and pure high energy. Sugar Army and Little Birdy were their support for the evening – and were brilliant as usual. Katy Steele came onto the stage like a woman possessed and even introduced the band as Eskimo Joe! Her hair was dyed blonde; she was wearing a sequined skirt and a pink blouse which came undone to reveal her leopard-print bra. She looked like a cross between Gwen Stefani and Deborah Harry. She was doing high-kicks, teasing the crowd, throwing her guitar around and even put her microphone in her mouth. Everything from there on was spectacular from start to finish. Kav was pure sex, even if he was wearing his red woman’s shoes. But hey, he was wearing skinny tight jeans, which showed off his lovely behind and sexy thighs, so I was not complaining. Actually, they were all wearing women’s shoes – Stu had white boots and Joel had snakeskin loafer-type shoes on – and they were all still sexellent. They were all bleeding with sweat under the lights because they were all wearing vests over long-sleeve shirts but it was really hot. I managed to get in the front row, right in front of Kav so I had a nice view of everything. At one point during the first song (Beating Like a Drum), he got down on the lower stage and started to put his arm out to the crowd – I was so close but he didn’t get to touch me. They performed nearly all the songs from BFRW: Beating Like a Drum, Sarah, New York, London Bombs, This is Pressure, Comfort You, Setting Sun, Breaking Up and even played Suicide Girl for the first time live. When they did Black Fingernails, Red Wine, I was dancing like a crazy person. No matter how many times I’ve heard it, I still enjoy rocking out to it when they perform it. The only song they played from Girl was Liar, which pleased me immensely because I had not heard it performed live ever before either and it’s one of my favourite songs. From ASIAC, they did Smoke, Older than You, A Song is a City (which had me on the verge of crying, as it always does), This Room (which had my friend Dan salivating with desire because it’s his favourite song. He later claimed he became pregnant with Kav’s child at that moment because it was so orgasmic – yes, he’s weird). Highlights also included Stu doing a guitar solo and Joel’s drum orgy too. They had two encores prepared – How Does it Feel had us all linked arms and swaying, just like they had us do at Blackjack. Life is Better with You was next, with Kav breaking out into a random little dance with their guest drummer Shaun Sibbes and then a random rendition of Crowded House’s Weather With You. After they went back, Stu came onto the stage and made us all hush – but there was still some hooting, so he then demanded we all “shut the fuck up.” He then pointed to various parts of the crowd to give a shout out, conducting us like an orchestra before the other guys came back on stage. Their second encore had to be From the Sea – and it was brilliant. It was the best night of my life so far! I left the club, not being able to hear any more, because I felt my ears had been done a great service in hearing them play. I knew there was a good reason why I love this band so much.
Blackjack, April 5th, 2007
Although I had been thinking about going to the show all week, it wasn't until the day, I decided to go for it because this week has been so stressful and I needed to rock out before the long weekend. .
Not exactly completely on a whim though. I had been toying with the idea for months, wondering if I should or shouldn't go. It wasn't until I finished work, I realised I should go after all. So, I did. I packed my rain jacket (you can only guess why), mobile and wallet and went. It wasn't until I was there. I wish I could have brought my camera, because I saw some awesome shit.
Would you still believe me if I told you?
I got there rather late but I managed to squeeze up to the barrier which separates the crowd from the main stage, with a good view of everything and I stayed there the entire time. I stood next to an older Eskimo Joe fan who had seen them live a few times and I seemed to surprise her (or maybe more accurately, freak out) with my biography-making knowledge of the band. But we got on very well and stuck together for the rest of the night. Eskimo Joe was positively brilliant, as always. I enjoyed their gig a little bit more than at Southbound, probably because I didn't have my limbs almost ripped off this time and had a much better view (right in front of Stu). They played most of their songs from BFRW, long with the usual favourites From the Sea and Older Than You, plus Smoke which I had never heard live before. London Bombs made me want to reach out and hug everyone. Before they played How Does it Feel, they asked us all to reach out to the person next to us and put our arm around them and sway to the beat. Otherwise, according to Stu, "we will seriously start kicking some skulls in if you don't show the love". And many of us did, so there was no kicking! Stu also summed it up nicely when he said "I suppose most of you here today are students and people working in the hospitality industry". It looked about right. I was stuck around many older teenagers. But you knew it was going to be a good gig, according to Kav, because of the beautiful rainbow which shone above us, as the weather was calming down. Man, it certainly was more than that.
Southbound, January 6th, 2007
I made the trip from Perth to Busselton to go to Southbound. I had never been to an outdoor music festival before, so there was a lot of nervous excitement that I felt once I went through the gates. Of all the bands performing for the festival, I was particularly excited about seeing Eskimo Joe, as I had never saw them in the flesh before.
I have only been a fan since September 2006, as I discovered their music after buying the BFRW album on recommendation of a uni colleague and listened to it on a long plane journey. So, to find out if they were as good live as they were on CD was something I was eager to find out.
There was an artist signing tent at the festival and Eskimo Joe just happened to be there before they were due on stage. I waited for ages before it was my turn. I was shaking with anxiety. I had planned to make some kind of small talk, but immediately I was lost for words… well, almost. What seemed like 5 minutes actually passed very quickly.
Kav was the first one I saw and immediately I was smitten by how delicious he is. He smiled and said hello to me. All I could respond was “Wow… I’ve come all this way to meet you and I don’t know what to say!” He laughed but said that was OK. So I asked him to sign my autograph book. And then I somehow summoned all my courage to give him a hug and sneak in a quick smooch, to which he giggled and said “Aww!”
Stu was sitting next to him, also signed my book. I congratulated him on his recent marriage which made him blush a little and said thanks. And because I could not help myself, I gave him a cuddle too because he was just so cute!
Yet, upon meeting Joel, I think in that split moment I lost my courage, as I was lost for words by just how handsome he was. All I could do was grin like a moron and ask him to sign my book. He asked me how I was going but I was so nervous, all I said was “Fine… just fine… can I have my picture with you guys?”
The girls behind me in the line offered to take a picture of me with Eskimo Joe if I exchanged the favour. So I did. I was smiling like I was on top of the world… and squealing like an idiot as I walked away.
As for the show, well, it pretty much confirmed how awesome I thought they were. I was sandwiched between many people, which made an otherwise cool sunny day unbearably hot. And when the guys came out on stage and began with Sarah, it became more heated. I was standing only a few rows back from the main stage, embroiled in the middle of a mosh pit. But I didn’t care as I was in complete awe and the excitement of the crowd was infectious. They played with such passion and excitement, it was so beautiful. I was in love.
