The Church's new 2009 album/onslaught of releases

I'm *very* tempted to fly out for this show...

Sunday 5th July 2009 - Studio Theatre @ Hamilton Place, South Hamilton, Canada
Co-Headliner: Van der Graaf Generator

http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/NewAnswersOnDateControllerServlet?weeksago=3&boardid=51

They were on KCRW this morning and sounding fantastic. Really looking forward to the show tonight.

Last night in Solana Beach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZraNnRvuc0

Argh, had forgotten it was tonight. Too many things happening at once!

Yeah, I didn't even see an ad for the show here until yesterday and it's Monday night. Not a good night for me. I'm not that impressed with the album...it doesn't seem melodic enough and at times he seems lyrically uninspired.

Come on Bimble, you cannot deny the greatness of "my little panda, I don't understand her, with her natural grandeur, I can't let it go." I declare the latest album to be CLASSIC.

Well, all I can say is I do think I've given it a fair shake, more than I recall giving After Everything Now This when it disappointed me.

The lyrics do lack the usual... ornateness... of a Church album. But I think it works.

Kilbey's got some album of HOOS poetry out with another bloke now too, the onslaught continues.

found this: "Steve Kilbey & Martin Kennedy Present Unseen Music, Unheard Words."

Well, all I can say is I do think I've given it a fair shake, more than I recall giving After Everything Now This when it disappointed me.

You should have given Forget Yourself a listen. It's their best post P=A album

Surely it contains some of their best songs ever.

Well, to be honest, I was disappointed with Forget Yourself as well, although since then I've plucked a few tracks off it to compile with what I like most off the El Momento CD's. I wish I could understand what they were doing on those El Momento CD's that felt so right. Sometimes it didn't work, sure, but when it did, it felt like a real comeback to me. I can't help but wonder how long they had been saving up some of those songs.

Anyway, I highly recommend seeing this tour. Tremendous show last night.

The new one is nice. I'd forgotten how much I used to like 'em. Listening to first album Of Skins And Heart right now. It has some jangle, but also a bit of post-punk edge (Teardrop Explodes, Soft Boys, Chameleons). Heyday was a favorite in h.s. Though I dismissed Starfish at the time, I've got the deluxe version on order to give it another go. I also listened to a comp of their 90s stuff, and it doesn't quite grab me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHfbDrhc1E&feature=PlayList&p=7684B86D638E8408&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

Haha much as I want to watch that RIGHT NOW it would disturb my colleagues since it should only be heard at maximum volume.

There's another extra track EP on the way. It's got "Operetta" from the album and then another 45mins of extras (most of which is the 34min track "Particles Matter")

Lord. (But great.)

"So Love May Find Us" is pretty great, so I'm looking forward to this. ("Night Sequence," on the other hand, is less great, if we're talking about 20-minute Church improvisations)

AND here we go again... Copy/pasting the press release.

the church
An Intimate Space 30th Anniversary
Nth American Tour 2010

After three decades together, the church return to North America for a special 30th anniversary acoustic tour throughout April and May 2010. “An
Intimate Space” will include songs that span the length of the church’s epic creative trip from their debut in 1980 to their latest critically acclaimed 2009 album “Untitled # 23”.

In a unique and unusual execution, the band will choose one song from each of their considerable album releases and perform them in reverse
chronological order. This original show will have the audience gliding softly down through the years, opening with a track from “Untitled #23”
before embarking on a fantastic voyage through time ultimately arriving at their first Australian album, “Of Skins And Heart” where it all began.

This engaging and rare performance is not to be missed.

FREE CD
To make these shows even more special, every ticket holder will receive a free copy of “Deadman’s Hand”, the third EP from the “Untitled #23” album.
This EP will include the title track and unreleased tracks from the band’s secret vault. A must have.

Dates confirmed as follows with more to be added in the coming week…

the church
An Intimate Space 30th Anniversary
Nth American Tour 2010

APRIL
2 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House
4 – San Diego, CA – Anthology
5 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy
6 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
8 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
9 – Seattle, OR – The Showbox
13 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Café
14 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
15 – Chicago, IL – Park West
17 – Cleveland, OH – The Winchester Tavern and Music Hall
18 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag Theatre
19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café
21 – Boston, MA - TBC
22 – NYC – City Winery
23 – Bay Shore, NY (Long Island) - Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
24 – Sellersville, PA (Philadelphia) - Sellersville Theatre
25 – Falls Church, VA (DC) - State Theatre
27 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage

MAY
1 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage

So there on the 22nd.

Coming down for the Coach House show, Elvis?

Going to the Roxy show

Thought you might do both -- I'll get a local crew together for this one.

According to friends in Sydney, they're covering Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm" and Neil Young's "Words (Between The Lines Of Age)" - both of which sound kinda intriguing.

This is the point where I remind everyone who might be thinking about going to these gigs to please do so. Tremendous show!

Set list...

Pangaea
Space Needle
Reptile
Ionian Blues
Unguarded Moment.
Appalachia
Invisible
Louisiana
Comedown
My Little Problem
Mistress
Metropolis
Under The Milky Way
Already Yesterday
10,000 Miles
Fly
Almost With You
Tear It All Away
-----
Disarm
Space Saviour
Grind

Nice setlist!

Pretty sharp!

New EP is pretty terrific too.

The Church are inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. Steve has no speech prepared but wings it... Here's what happens (Facebook video link):
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=158396410867957

(and his follow up blog post)

last night
inducted hall o fame
wow
what does it all mean children
altho yer ‘umble hero needs no validation
still
still
still
there i was a big room full of tables
good i got my mother sitting next to me
what a character
she got to talk to tv host richard wilkins
that was more exciting than moi i guess
no she enjoyed it i think
i sat there watching all other geezers making speeches
i had no speech
suddenly i realized i was sitting there no speech no nothing
who the fuck was i gonna thank
i dunno
my mind was curiously empty
then when i was starting to chuck a few things together in my head
lindy morrison wanders over
the drummer from the go-bes
dont be so tense
ok
look how tense you are
am i
yeah look relax ok dont be tense
well….
just dont be tense
steven dont be SO TENSE!
jesus
they all have nice speeches
soon our time is nigh
megan washington who is australias wunderkind at the moment
does unguarded mo
pretty cool loadsa attitude
yeah i was pretty proud
(altho still dont like that song)
then jesus
george negus inducted us
crikey gawd
george negus a very heavyweight political journalist
a character with some fucking gravitas my fiendss
he inducted us
the guy from aust 60 minutes wow!
then i walk towards the stage
my mind is a friggin’ blank
and then
suddenly it came forth
as i had been trusting
the words fell outta the air into my head
i rambled on for 10 minutes or so
and i got it right
i cant remember what i said now
i dont wanna
but lo
the assembly judged my words to be good
many said ” that was the best speech i ever heard!”
well aw shucks
i trusted in the universe
the universe delivered me something
i guided it through my brain
and it came out i was lucky
i was lucky
i trusted but i still was lucky
i coulda croaked
i coulda stood there empty handed n open mouthed
offending people n stuff but i didnt
i managed to get it right
then
the churchies played a couple of numbers
utmw of course
tantalised with strings couldnt hear em but know they were great
afterwards schmoozed a little
hey they all loved yer ‘umble hero ok??
yeah !

tsk!

great speech tho

caption this picture...

http://s3.amazonaws.com/musicnetwork/assets/3643/church_aria_halloffame_645_normal.jpg

He really likes his prize!
Steve Kilbey is a truly strange mix of braggadocio and vulnerability.

I like how Peter's over there just all "Uh huh."

"What? No, no, we're not ABBA, what the..."

This is pretty great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGjiZ9H3Pw

Enduring rock legends The Church will play a one-off show at the Sydney Opera House in April in celebration of their 30th anniversary.

The band, who were recently inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame (watch Steve Kilbey’s induction speech here), will perform songs from their back catalogue with symphonic accompaniment provided by George Ellis Orchestra. Ellis, a celebrated Sydney conductor who’s worked with the likes of Lou Reed and conducted the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, recently collaborated with The Church on their Hall of Fame performance of 'Under The Milky Way':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSNGejPlTAo&feature=player_embedded

The show, dubbed "A Psychedelic Symphony", will take place at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on April 10. Tickets on sale December 10

Also jim otm:

steve kilbey aria hall of fame acceptance speech

worth a watch

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=158396410867957

― dronestorm (electricsound), Friday, 29 October 2010 09:24 (1 month ago)

OH HELL YEAH

An Evening with the church

Future Past Perfect. Winter Tour USA 2011

Three decades of the church in three classic albums.

Untitled #23, Priest=Aura and Starfish performed in their entirety in one night. In an unprecedented touring event the church return to select cities in the USA to play not one, but three classic albums in one night!

The band, recently inducted into the Australian Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, will begin the night in the present, covering the last decade with the critically acclaimed Untitled #23. Proceeding backwards into the ‘90s the band will then perform perennial fan favourite, Priest=Aura (an album not supported by a tour when originally released in the USA). And, what better way to conclude the evening than with a performance of the all-time classic album, Starfish.

Come early, leave late and enjoy three great albums in succession played live and electric from one of the great inventive rock bands of our time.

Reissues of the band’s early albums will also finally be available in the USA alongside contemporary releases, all on the Second Motion Entertainment label. The reissues will come in luxurious digi-packs with rare photos and exhaustive sleeve notes written by Marty Willson-Piper.

Constantly releasing new challenging material, embracing their past and reinventing themselves in the present, touring across the decades, performing their music in many different ways, the church continue to evolve into a unique musical entity. This event is an experience not to be missed for music lovers of all ages, creeds, denominations and persuasions.

the church US Dates February 2011

2 – Los Angeles, CA. – El Rey Theatre
4 – San Francisco, CA. – Great American Music Hall
7 – Seattle, WA. – Triple Door
8 – Seattle, WA. – Triple Door
11 – Chicago, IL. – Park West
13 – Alexandria, VA. – The Birchmere
15 – Philadelphia, PA. – The Trocadero
16 – New York, NY. – Highline Ballroom
17 – New York, NY. – B.B. King’s
18 – Foxboro, MA. – Showcase Live

We need a separate thread for that!

WHO-OO-OAH!

omg come to texas you fuckers

seriously.

Damn I'd go see that. Welcome to Chicago!

Hmm... only around $250 round-trip to Chicago. That setlist would, I admit, be phenomenal.

*blink* *blink* OMG the show last night

Three and a half hours of constant epicness

That old MM review of P=A "sending all the shoegazers home crying to their mums for new effects pedals" is pretty. OTM

If only I could have gone! I'll yet again curse this cold or flu bug I've got.

Towards the end of "A Saucerful Of Secrets" in the Live At Pompeii movie, you see Roger Waters thinking "this just isn't awesome enough yet" and he grabs a mallet and pounds away on a gong through the ending.

The whole show last night was like that (every song is an epic) and given the format (new album, old album, famous album) it was like an old Pink Floyd show from the mid-70s with this crazy intense compelling power. I know I've expounded about them for forever and this will sound like my same old fan-boy hyperbole, but this was the best show of theirs ever. Still kinda reeling from it

Hard to pick any highlights because everything was a highlight... Well, Priest = Aura of course - sort of this slow motion trip through hyperspace complete with swirly-liquid backdrop light show straight out of, er, Pink Floyd. Big standing ovation for "The Disillusionist" - Steve shouting the lyrics out like a carnival barker's last stand. Too transfixed to take any videos and really, they would just be anti-climatic.

Really enjoyed that, thanks for posting!

Kilbey doing One Day, and jumping jacks, live with the Afghan Whigs last week in Sydney.

Kilbey quits The Church over how much they've been screwed by their record company

Jeez Louise. What a mess.

Blog post appears to have been deleted? What's up with Kilbey?

He deleted from his facebook too, apologised for gracelessly tantrumming in public

which record company though?

Second Motion.

So I guess that means the EP collection reissue probably won't happen.

found a place that quotes the post in full, but mostly the commentary is people who can't deal with kilbey's stream-of-consciousness writing style.

What does Marty have to say about this?

I'd repost the original blog text, but I kinda like Steve Kilbey a lot, and if he deleted it, then I'm not gonna paste it up here.

label responds

Kilbey responds

Kilbey blurts again

Moshcam is streaming last year's "three complete albums" show from Sydney. Untitled #23 is up now and the following two will be up in a couple of days
http://www.moshcam.com/the-church/enmore-theatre-1102.aspx

Priest = Aura set: http://www.moshcam.com/the-church/enmore-theatre-1103.aspx

Thankful that if that LA show ends up being the last time I ever see them, it's a helluva show to go out on.

The Church to release Steve Kilbey-filmed documentary of ‘Gold Afternoon Fix’ tour

The Church next week will release “Long Distance Century Buzzes and Fades,” a 23-years-in-the-making documentary of the band’s 1990 world tour in support of Gold Afternoon Fix that frontman Steve Kilbey assembled from more than 13 hours of raw footage he filmed with a then-new Super 8 camera during the 60-concert trek.

The DVD — available for pre-order on the Kilbey’s website for AUS $44.95, and set to ship June 4 in a limited 500-copy run — features the band “fresh faced and youthful and… smiling, there’s concert footage, there’s backstage footage, on the bus footage, at the airport footage, in the restaurants and cafes footage, meeting the fans, jamming, and being interviewed footage.”

According to a Kilbey-penned intro, the film — which he tried unsuccessfully to stitch together in the ’90s before revisiting it with better editing technology more recently — is very much of home-video quality, with jumpy footage and quick, unexpected cuts (“I hope it doesn’t make you seasick”). Nevertheless, he calls it a “little slice of history” that offers unique insight to the band circa 1990.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4K9RA0SHpM

The Church "space rock covers set" from several years back has finally been released: http://stevekilbey.bandcamp.com/album/space-bootleg

$20 for digital-only is too rich for my blood though.