We were all ready for the let down of the Bris-vegas crowd factor so we put ourselves up in a swish hotel to soften the blow it would bring. Still raining. I think, bar two days in Adelaide, it has rained every day on this tour. Tonight was the last big one of the tour, the last throw of the dice. The Zoo is a good place to throw that last ill-fated die. Loaded up a thousand steps and sound checked as much as we could before we were off to a 'Festival Records' meet and greet thingy, much like the one in Sydney but much better. Jamie and I played 'Return...', 'Girl Genius' and 'Paddock Blues' to the reps and record shop people of Brissy and surrounding areas. It was actually very enjoyable with the wine flowing like a broken water pipe. Everyone there seemed to enjoy the songs as much as everyone there could. I left with a belly already full of red; intricate sounds catching my nerve making me jump, the car ride back to The Zoo could have taken most the night, I couldn't say but suddenly I was back there watching Flat Stanley and drinking the vodka always with a dash of lime and ice. They were great tonight. When you tour with a band, hearing them every night you start to crave their music when you're back home, their music and them as people. After a three day drive from Adelaide they were a tad 'drive-lagged' but Flat Stanley still managed to rock the Tote. Next, after more clear liquid consumption, Art of Fighting were on. They were taking requests tonight which made Wesley and I very happy indeed. I requested 'Empty Night' and another one I didn't, and still don't know the title to, I just sang the chorus to Ollie and he said O.K. So after six or seven drafts of their set list they went on. I don't know weather it was the Vodka or the balmy air up here but tonight they excelled. Miles (guitarist from AoF) left his diary where he was sitting so Wesley and I grabbed it and wrote love letters all over it, I wonder if he knows yet.....

The Kiss were up next with bass player inebriated beyond belief, drummer ready to sweat enough to save a small third world country, and guitarist with stained red wine teeth. The crowd was pretty decent considering the last time we tried to launch something in Bris-vegas (go to the Brissy tour diary for the 'Return to the City.... tour'). I was expecting a very small, solemn crowd of familiar faces that always come to our gigs in Bissy, but tonight it looked pretty good. Anyway I'm starting to think (after six years) that a big crowd doesn't automatically mean a good show, don't get me wrong, nothing beats a big, screaming, crazy, over-the-top crowd but some of BBK's best shows have been in front of a handful of people. Tonight set was:

Smother it in Honey
Six Wheels
Tap Dancing
Matrimony
Give up the Ghost
Maps to help....
Outside are the Dogs
Girl Genius
Return to the city.....
Running around the White....
Homeless Blueless

We were all pumped and ready for an encore but one never eventuated with not enough calls for more. So I wouldn't say that we've conquered you yet Bris-vegas but we're sure getting closer......

Ben

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