I’m honestly quite intrigued as to what tonight will bring… so let’s see…
The Mercy Kills get the opening slot tonight and do a good job of warning up those that are here in preparation for Courtney. Their songs are a whole lot of rock and roll with a two girl and two guy formula in the band the balance of vocals is perfectly suited to these songs. In particular I want to call out (pun intended) ‘Calling Out Your Name’ which was a stands out of their set and could easily be a radio single. The four piece power through song after song of these rockers and for what they do, they do it well. I think I might keep an eye on these guys…
Courtney Love. She needs no introduction, you know her name. She even tells you that as the name of her tour and every single person here tonight is excited to see Ms Love in her return to Australia after many, many years away.
With a rousing applause, a tiara on her head and a foot planted firmly on a road case Courtney and her band tear into ‘Wedding Day’ setting the pace for the night and they sound great. After a shot of kale juice I had to laugh as my how things have changed, then the crowd erupts when Courtney makes her bed and lies in it with ‘Violet’. This early on for this one was unexpected but so welcomed, it’s also fun watching the band get into this song in particular the talented in his own right Ginger Wildheart who deserves a special mention. This song is as angst ridden as it was back in 1994.
A sneaky cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Gold Dust Woman’ allows her to take the guitar off and strut around the stage collecting bras thrown on stage and encouraging it as many more get thrown up and continue getting thrown on stage. The set slows a little with ‘Honey’ but the excitement comes back with a badly but quite funnily introduced ‘Malibu’ but this song is of course a favourite here tonight and rightfully should be as one of Hole’s biggest hits here. I have to say personally I loved hearing it as I never got to see Hole back in the day, and the overall vibe of this song in The Enmore tonight is something pretty special.
The next one ‘Reasons to Be Beautiful’ kept things rockin’ as did ‘Awful’ then a nice anecdote about her relations with Trent Reznor and part of an impromptu version of ‘Closer’ before she once again got to use that scream she’s so good at in ‘Jennifer’s Body’ but I’m not kidding when I say that the next song ‘Honour’, a new one we haven’t heard before has been the stand out so far. It was co-written by Ginger and it has him all over it, and that’s what I like about it as he shares the mic with her and let’s just say that this one needs to be recorded. Stat. The tours namesake, ‘You Know My Name’ is crazy and full of yelling I couldn’t understand but was cool and perfect for Courtney and her set. Telling us that this next song was written in six minutes and one she can’t understand why the crowd still likes in ‘Olympia’ and I get why they still do, it’s a fun rocker and the crowd lapped this one up.
We’re getting towards the pointy end of the set and the band is still on point, let’s stop for a second and mention that she has assembled one tight group of musos that completely compliment her and I give them so much credit. ‘Skinny Little Bitch’ was killer but taking it back to the 90’s ‘Asking For It’ which got huge reception. Then the “so grungy” ‘Use Once and Destroy’ then a moshpit kicks off as ‘Plump’ kicks in but, as you can imagine what happened when the guitar played those there chords signifying it’s ‘Celebrity Skin’ time, let’s just say that a lot of people here were waiting for this. It sounded killer too, this song was a huge part of Hole’s career, and dare say their most notable song. With a courtesy she leaves the stage.
Returning to the stage in I guess a wedding dress, and with her and an accompanying acoustic guitar play ‘Northern Star’ as she heads to the front of the crowd to give them some love. ‘Dying’ followed by another and at this point I think they’re just jamming on their last night of the tour. Ahhh… This one though I think is planned ‘Doll Parts’ had to get a run tonight and here it is, possibly where it all began for many is where it ends tonight. As the band leaves the stage, Courtney stays out to pass out roses to some lucky fans and with another courtesy and a big smile she leaves the stage happy, as is everyone here walking out.
So, sure Courtney isn’t the best most finessed singer or performer in the world, but you know that coming into this because you’re here to see Courtney Love!!! What she is is an icon for an era of music that made her a star. She still kicks major ass and that’s fucking awesome. I had fun tonight and I’d do it all again.
Essential Information
Venue: The Enmore Theatre – Sydney
Date: August 24, 2014
Presented By: Lennard Promotions
Supports: The Mercy Kills
Website: https://www.facebook.com/courtneylove and https://twitter.com/Courtney
Photos by Annette Geneva – FULL GALLERY HERE
Set List:
Wedding Day
Miss World
Violet
Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Honey
Malibu
Reasons to Be Beautiful
Awful
Jennifer’s Body
Honour
You Know My Name
Olympia
Skinny Little Bitch
Asking for It
Use Once & Destroy
Plump
Celebrity Skin
Encore:
Northern Star
Dying
Doll Parts
