January 26, 2014 – Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney, AUS

Show Notes:

Getaway is “for all the fucked up missionaries who may have fucked up some of the planet.” Plenty of early dedications, including In Hiding to surfer Mark Richards, who helped with the set list, and Even Flow to a little…

Show Notes: 

Getaway is “for all the fucked up missionaries who may have fucked up some of the planet.” Plenty of early dedications, including In Hiding to surfer Mark Richards, who helped with the set list, and Even Flow to a little Aussie girl “whose initials are in the beginning of this song.” Stone has a stunning lead during the quiet part of Insignificance. Ed thanks and shouts out all the other bands that played the festival that day, and the ode to vinyl duo follows, he introduces Let The Records Play with:

“this is a song for records….not breaking records, but making records…listening to them at loud volumes, and something that gets you through the bad days and lets you know there will be good days.”

Mike ends the song with a searing, face-melting solo. Ed struggles with lyrics for Spin The Black Circle, but like always, effortlessly finds his way back. Stone gets melodic during the RVM jam before Matt thunders in with a tom-heavy rhythm. After the break, he quotes the great Australian poet laureate/singer, Bon Scott of AC/DC, saying “it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll.” Someone hands Ed a koozie for his wine. As Boom starts Chloe Dancer, Ed says this one is “for all our old friends, for some of the friends that are still here, but only because they’re in here,” pointing to his chest. He then thanks Stone and Jeff, always a poignant moment, and talks about if he were to come to Australia, “if we had a campfire, I would think they would play this song,” leading to a solo electric Throw Your Arms Around Me, played for the first time since 2009! Better Man stretches out to 10 ½ minutes, with a long jam, a call and response, and Ed getting theatrical with the Save It For Later lyrics, adding:

“…don’t be like every other FUCKING THING on this PLANET, that always FUCKING lets me down…”

It’s all Ten-era hits to open encore 2, including a nod to Andy Wood during Black. Ed prefaces Kick Out the Jams by saying:

“I know a couple of other people who aren’t going home either…from Mudhoney, people we look up to, we follow in their path, but ladies and gentlemen, on guitar, Mr. Steve Turner…and on vocals, Mr. Mark Arm!”

Arm and Turner stay out for Rockin’ in the Free World, a high-energy closer to a high-energy night.