Sterling Show

Sterling Hotel, November 23, 2002 or
"Have I mentioned, I'm way too excited about this?"

Doors were set to open around 7 or 8, so of course, we arrived around 6 or so. When we arrived standing outside were the diehard Brother fans we have grown to know well, including one whom had flown in from the Midwest for the show. We stood around, telling stories, looking into the windows, and worrying if the headlights were off on the car. And huddling together to keep warm.

Once the door opened, we made our way in immediately, taking up our customary spots in the front row. For the next hour or so, we took turns, once again, holding spots, while running to the bar and bathrooms. It created a feeling of deja vu, as we had just done the exact same thing 4 months earlier, at our last Brother show.

The stage was not set up when we walking in, but shortly after, Brian and the crew from the Sterling began to set up. I commented to my friend C, that I really didn't think that the band was even there yet, as there was a lack of instruments, most noticeably, the lack of the drumset. I hoped that they had indeed arrived in PA in time, as they had a show the night before in the Gig, in California.

Our fears were soon quelled, when suddenly from the side door, Hamish appeared, carrying equipment. Angus followed soon after, and Rick and Roel brought up the end. The guys went back and forth, making several trips bringing in everything, and setting up on stage. It's rare for us to see this, and it was amazing to me how quickly and well everyone worked together. Within 30 minutes, Roel's drumset was up, the guitars were tuned, the mikes were being tested, and we heard the first notes of the bagpipes.

When they arrived, the first thing we noticed was Angus' hair. It was jet black, which was a dramatic change from the blonde we had last seen him with. The boys looked tired and set up quickly, and retreated backstage. Not before throwing out a few welcomes to the fans, and after we watched Rick unpack part of his suitcase on stage.

At about quarter after 10, the band appeared on stage, and Roel started out the beat to Clumsy. Hamish greeted the crowd after the beginning of the song, with a "Good day gang, good to be home." Clumsy went on for a few minutes, while the crowd got worked up and the band got situated on stage. At the beginning of the show, Roel was wearing a grey tank, with a star in the center, and dark shorts, I believe. Rick was wearing brown pants, jeans type material, with a brown long sleeved V-neck shirt. He changes at some point in the first set to a pink T-shirt. Hamish had on the great tank we saw at Musikfest, green and black in the front, I won't go into further detail again, with black leather pants, with red shoes. Angus was wearing blue corduroys, with the green kind of tie dyed shirt we also saw at Musikfest on top.

Clumsy segued into thetimeisnow, which Angus introduced by saying, "wait not a moment longer... the time is now!" The crowd cheered at the bagpipes and Hamish's didg. There seems to be more vocalization during this song now, and it really adds to the song. Time led right into Bitch, which the crowd cheered loudly for. This was the first time that the Eastern PA crowd heard the new chorus live, and it was well received - most people knew of the new chorus, perhaps from the MP3 on Brother's site, or watching the Twilight Zone episode.

The mood slowed down at the point, as Angus played the beginning of In Your Name, to which he vocalized along too, with Rick adding some quiet, yet wailing guitar licks in the background. It appears that the first round of "aye-e-yi" (that's the best way I can type that, I think you all know what I mean) from the beginning has been dropped, but the second still remains later in the song. Name has a more mellow and driving tone than I remember from this summer.

After Name, Roel asked if we all watched the Twilight Zone, to which we cheered, and asked if we remembered a certain band that might have been on one of the episodes, to which we cheered louder. Hamish remarked that they had had a long day, but it was damn fine that they could be here. He said that they had put all their energy into the first four songs, they were now spent, and would just play one long ballad for the rest of the evening.

Hamish asked if we had been behaving since they'd last been here, and then pulled a fan up on stage, to admire her handmade Brother shirt, and advised that everyone come next time with some art, somewhere on their bodies. They began Wear Me Down, which has a very quiet, with just drums and guitar playing out beats. Hamish told us that the song had started and to quiet down, cause until we started feeling it, this was all the song was going to be. Wear is has a slow beginning, with Angus singing lead, Hamish joining in on the verse.

This is great new song, with amazing harmonies and lyrics, some notable ones I remember are "This is not an exercise". Very powerful guitar drum and guitar and drum parts and very technical walking bass line.

After the song, Rick pipes up that he "saved" his bagel from the plane, and Roel started acting like an auctioneer. Rick then decided to throw it like a bouquet toss at a wedding, and out the count of three, pitched it behind his back into the crowd. Roel and Angus then accompanied the crowd's scurrying for the bagel with some cute kicky music.

After the craziness, they then regrouped, and began Fragile, which Roel added some new beats to the beginning, giving it a swing feel. They feel into the usual rhythm and I noticed that Angus had some heavy reverb on his mike, which gave the song a real Beatles feel, making me think of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Fragile was fabulous, and I kind of hope the reverb stays around.

After Fragile, Hamish mentioned DidgeriDrew, who had created a monster didg, which the band was going to raffle off for people attending the hat trick of the shows. Rick gave the didg a turn, and they agreed it was a monster. 2 weeks was next, Hamish mentioned maybe having a new beginning, but they began as usual, and then the song continued with Rick singing lead. Rick's version of the song has a more bluesy feel and compliments the song well.

After the song, Hamish congratulated the PA fans on their intensity and Angus said "two words - You Rock". Hamish replied "That's one word, isn't it?" and Angus said, "it is in Australian, but not over here". After some random goofiness, they began River.

Last time we heard River, it had a very straightforward melody line, which led to the higher and quicker chorus of "Maybe I've always known, I don't know". Overall, it had a quick, jumpy lyrical line. When Angus began the song this time, I was just blown away. Words that came to me were "slow, low". The crowd almost didn't hear the beginning of song. It had a lullaby quality, but the intensity behind it was amazing. The song has become so powerful and driving, almost heartbreaking. After the second verse, at the "whoa", it changes back to what we had heard before, quick and jumpy, bagpipes and all. Excellent song. I can't really explain fully in words how amazing it has become.

After River was Good, which started with Hamish asking, "If you were a rich man, what would you do? You'd walk in the park, of course". Halfway through the song, Hamish asked again, which started Angus doing a sort of chant to "walk in the park, walk in the park, walk in the park" while he sang over top, "if you were a rich man, what would you do". He then switched it up to "If you were an old man what would you say?", which Angus missed, but then caught it to change to "I'd put it away, put it away", which cracked them both up (and us, as well). Bagpipes and didg were picked up and the song was concluded to a rousing finish, with the crowd loudly singing along. They finished the set with the Unknown, which had Angus dancing around the stage with his pipes, and Hamish and Rick playing dueling didges. Hamish wandered around, didging the crowd, Roel was jamming away at his kit. They stopped for a four count right near the end of the song, before the pipes join in again, and brought the set to a rocking close.

We had a short break, 10 (ok, 30) minutes, and began the second half joined by the owner of the Sterling, who said that Brother is cool, and he wants to have them back again. The second half began with a short jam. Hamish was out on the keyboard, Roel and Angus were playing along, and Rick said it sounded like "pr0n0 music" (sorry for the spelling, but I don't want to get spidered on this).

Flow began next, and it's the first time PA has seen Hamish on the keyboards, so it was a new experience. Roel begins singing on this one, with Angus and Hamish joining in at times. It takes words from River, and not many of them. Rick then has a spoken word part in the middle - he said something about freedom, and feel it at the Sterling show.

The crowd joined in on the words at the end, and it seemed that the song was enjoyed by all. It has a techno feel, but is definitely Brother material, with very present bagpipes and didg throughout.

Crow was next, which started with a bare bones beginning, just Angus with some harmony underneath. The song continued this way, with Hamish's didg very evident. Angus said in the middle of the song "it was a long, long, long, long, long, long plane ride. But it's good to be here!", which of course brought forth cheers from the crowd.

After Crow, there was some random goofiness, which turned into Hamish singing and Angus (I think) joining in on the chorus from "Help Is On Its Way" by The Little River Band. This turned into "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Angus singing lead. When he started singing, he had this super deep voice with no Australian accent at all, it was hysterical. Hamish tried to get us all sing along to the chorus, but the crowd didn't know it well enough (Hey, I knew it). After several tries, even slowing it down, they gave up, and launched into Hang On.

After the first verse of Hang On, Hamish called out and pulled Derek from his spot video taping above the crowd, and said that they needed him on stage. Rousing applause from the audience as Hamish expressed his appreciation of Derek. The finished up the song and began to vocalize the chords afterward - I remember a chicken sound at one point - had to be Roel. Hamish got the audience to song along with he and Angus, and after some guitar jamming the song ended with the whole crowd cheering. This led right into Louie, which began with Hamish getting the crowd to cheer in unison. Louie was an absolute all out fest, and I remember hearing Angus say, "how can we do Familiar after that?" Angus then commented on how he kind of liked how Hamish had his back to the audience for the entire first song of the set (For Let it Flow, he was at the keyboards, which due to the size of the stage were facing away from the audience). "kind of novel, if nothing else. I think maybe he should do all future shows with his back to the audience". Someone commented on how it was his better side, and Angus said, "turning the other cheek".

So Familiar slowed the show down a bit, and it was excellent, and well received by the crowd. After Familiar, Hamish called Mary from her side of the stage, recognized the thousands of photos she has taken over the years, and gave her free access on the stage to take as many pics as she wanted. Then they started Shadowman, which has a slightly different melody, and more blues feel to it. Hamish had the crowd was singing half of the verses and they definitely knew the lyrics well.

Hamish then again brought up the didg to be raffled, and gave it a try. It had a low ominous sound and Hamish was able to play it extremely well. Roel jammed some beats underneath the didg, and it led right into Crazy. The bubbles were out full force at this show once again, and the crowd was enthusiastically singing along. During Crazy, Hamish brought another fan up on stage, Abby, who apparently makes exceptional rhubarb pie. The finished out the song to much cheering from the crowd.

After Crazy, Hamish called out for DidgeriDrew to stage, and started to make a rhyme with his name. He then said "Dr. Seuss Rules!" and started to quote from Hooray For Diffendoofer Day! DidgeriDrew appeared and more people kept joining on stage. Angus and Hamish picked up their pipes and Angus said, "I don't think you've heard this one before, it's a surprise", and then they launched into Romp.

Halfway through the song, Angus invited everyone to get "low" and do some soft, songful chanting, in tune with the didges. Hamish at that point was almost in with crowd, seated at the very edge of the stage. After a full crowd-roaring chant, Hamish urged everyone to follow Roel, to build it up. After a rousing finish, Hamish thanked the crowd, so it was a long trip, but "bloody well worth it".

Of course, we didn't want the night to end, so we cheered, and Rick and Roel came back out. Rick said he was improvising, and pulling Roel in on it. Rick began singing Blackest of Blue, which he made very blues sounding. At this point, it was very late in the night, Rick's guitar was out of tune and Rick and Roel admitted that they didn't quite know the words, so they called on the audience to help them out. The crowd obliged and helped him out on the second verse. After that verse, Rick admitted he needed more help, and wandered off to find Hamish and Angus. He looked back stage, and came back and said "They're not there". He scanned the audience, and found Hamish, and then Angus, and called them up to the stage. As this was going on, we could hear Angus singing "falling in, falling in, falling into the blackest of blue". Roel still couldn't find him, which sent the audience into laughter.

Hamish joined Rick and Roel on the stage, and they began to sing Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising". They began with the chorus "there's a bad moon on the rise" repeated over and over. They then started the first verse, singing softly, and the audience joined in with the chorus. At the end of each verse, Angus would sing "falling in". It was so strange, because you could hear him, but not see him, there was just this disembodied voice. They continued with song, and someone changed the lyrics to "There's a bathroom on the right". This went into a song by the Angels, who were an underground Australian band, "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again", which has an interesting audience participation thing. Angus chimed in again on Blackest of Blue, which brought everyone around to singing the chorus to Blackest of Blue together.

And, with a "Thank you, goodnight", they left the stage.

After the show, the band hung around and talked with fans, even though it was late and I am sure they were tired. The new songs are clearly an evolution of sound, but still embody the spirit and felling of Brother. The old songs have also evolved, but haven't lost any of what made them so great. It was a great treat for Pennsylvania fans to see Brother again this year, as I, for one, was pretty convinced it'd be a while before we'd see them again. Another fabulous show from Brother. Despite the super long day, plane ride and all that, they fail to disappoint.

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