Powderfinger | Hammersmith Apollo 2007

powderfinger is an alternative rock band based in Australia. The band formed in Brisbane, Australia, in 1989, and their lineup since 1992 has consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill.

powderfinger became a commercial success with their third studio album Internationalist in 1998. Since then, they have released several hit singles and award-winning works, including a total of fifteen ARIA Awards. Numerous powderfinger albums have reached platinum status multiple times, and rankings in the top 100 of Australian music charts. Odyssey Number Five, Powderfinger's most successful to date, earned over eight platinum certifications and ARIA Awards in five different categories.

After the release of their first DVD These Days: Live in Concert and a "best of" release, powderfinger announced a hiatus in 2005. The announcement of a two month-long nationwide tour with Silverchair entitled the Across the Great Divide tour followed the release of their sixth studio album, Dream Days at the Hotel Existence in June 2007.

Across their 15-year career, Powderfinger has been actively involved in philanthropic causes. In 2005, Powderfinger performed at a WaveAid concert in Sydney, to help raise funds for areas affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Another performance at the Sydney Opera House in October 2007 raised funds for breast cancer victims and their families. The aim of their recent tour was to promote the efforts of Reconciliation Australia, and to promote awareness of the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. [wikipedia]

The gig was "ok" Powedrfinger, as always, were on top-form with only a couple of "weird sounding" bits in one or two songs... Jon Coghill had a couple of "moments"...maybe his muscles are just too big!...

The band were, in my opinion, marred by a poor sound and a bad crowd. The mix was very very muddy [I was stood about ten feet in front of the mixing desk, directly in the centre - at the bar] some of the lighter acoustic tracks, for example 'Black Tears' one of the tracks of the bands forthcoming album dream days at the hotel existence was almost inaudible!.. it didn't help that the predominantly Australian crowd talked through the whole bloody concert!.. [shame shame shame]

The venue, the Hammersmith apollo is getting tired and smells of urine - quality. Time for a facelift, better exits and maybe some new audio...

Anyway - I wont go on, it was a good gig, but...

*** - three stars