2007 SYDNEY SHOW

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21741280-5012327,00.html

Keith Urban Sydney gig
By Erin McWhirter

May 16, 2007 12:00

COUNTRY crooner Keith Urban stole the spotlight from his Oscar-winning wife Nicole Kidman in Sydney last night with an energetic live arena concert.

While Kidman has been making headlines filming romantic epic Australia in North Queensland, it was her husband's turn to shine, with Urban unleashing his exceptional music wizardry on the 10,000-strong crowd in Homebush's Acer Arena.

Dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt, Urban, 38, kept the crowd rocking during his only Sydney gig, opening with Once in a Lifetime Love and peppering the set with tracks from his latest album Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing including Days Go By, Stupid Boy and I Told You So.

Cutting a fit and healthy figure, Urban proved he had bounced back from his recent stint in rehab for alcohol addiction with brut force.

"It's hard to believe we've made it back to Sydney to play music," he said to the ecstatic crowd.

For his encore, Urban paid tribute to his movie star wife.

"Without her, I would not be where I am now," he said, before playing Got It Right This Time.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/keith-urban-acer-arena-may-15/2007/05/16/1178995238696.html
Keith Urban, Acer Arena, May 15

Reviewed by George Palathingal
May 17, 2007

IT WOULD be so easy to tear Keith Urban apart before he even set foot on stage. The New Zealand-born Aussie is more famous for his private life than his music. His haircut suggests he'd be more comfortable redoing his highlights than playing guitar. And his brand of anthemic middle-of-the-road country-pop is a taste I haven't acquired.

Clearly, however, it's the music that matters and it's important to note that onstage he's a likeable performer with a reasonably soulful country voice. He addresses his audience regularly and warmly, encourages them to sing along and is happy to often stride down a catwalk from the stage to the centre of the auditorium to get among them. And, judging from the response, the set list comprises a thoroughly satisfying mix of songs old and new.

Similarly, Urban is as unselfish as he perhaps can be with the limelight. He unavoidably shows his proficiency on bass, piano and guitars acoustic and (especially) electric, but takes pleasure in pointing out that various members of his all-male five-piece band skilfully play everything from mandolin to banjo. They even do a mini-set crammed onto a small stage at the end of the catwalk.

And yet, for all these highly respectable qualities and actions, on the whole Urban's efforts aren't quite sufficient. These are songs that at best canter rather than gallop and, as a result - unless you have a thing for power ballads, safe country or Urban himself - there's little to get excited about. There is an occasional strut or swing to the music but, despite the frequent cheers and applause, few of the crowd speak with their feet; most don't get out of their seats and dance until Somebody Like You, which closes the set.

Even the intimate mini-set falls short. The five acoustic guitars and minimal drum kit are ear-catching at first, but the more the band get into their music, the less, it feels, does anyone other than those immediately around them. And it's followed by a spectacular but entirely pointless display of drumming and baton-twirling by an Australian Air League band. (They don't even play a song with Urban and company, so what are they doing here?)

Still, Urban, his band and most of the crowd leave happy, so I'm sure they won't be troubled by the occasional voice of mild dissent. And, anyway, at least we can all agree his hair looked great.

FANS COMMENTS TO THAT REVIEW

It sounds, to me, like this guy went in with a preconceived opinion, possible dislike, of Keith and would have taken a miracle to change his opinion. I bet he hated giving Keith the few compliments that he did.

After reading the review of Keith Urban's Sydney concert by George Palathingal I can only assume he doesn't know much about the artist. Next time he actually goes to a show, maybe he should do his homework on the artist and not sound like a jealous fool because he thinks Keith's more interested in his hair. Mr. Urban has made a big name for himself over here in the states way before Nicole Kidman came into the picture and I can say this with complete authority... having seen him perform numerous times, everyone, and I do mean everyone, at his shows stand up, dance, sing, clap and have a roaring good time. The guy has incredible talent, it's a shame Mr. Palathingal doesn't show the same with his writing skills.

From all the fan reviews I've read on the boards, the Sydney concert was great. Keith even commented on the level of excitement and energy he could feel in the crowd. Some said their throats were sore from singing so much. Others said they hadn't sat down all night. Where was this reviewer?

Everyone doesn't have to like Keith's music. But, as some mentioned, there should be at least a degree of objectivity,and a familiarity with the music. Was there a mention of any of Keith's songs except "Somebody Like You"? Had this critic - who admittedly didn't like this type of music in the first place - even listened to Keith's new album? It's seems to me that he was more concerned with composing snide remarks about Keith's celebrity and hair than with seriously reviewing his music and his show.

We will just have to chalk George's review up as one person's opinion on someone he obviously isn't into , I was also on the floor for the Sydney show and stayed on my feet all night , (even with sore quads from a severe workout that day) I was shocked to see that it seemed a lot of the people in the side seats , did not get up and dance all night , but the atmosphere on the floor was electric , I can only say that having seen Robbie , Roger Waters , Countdown Spectacular , Angels and Leo Sayer in the last 12 months , you really are guided by the people around you and if there are a lot of older people around and ones that just wouldn't dance even if they were home alone, to anyone, then that sets the mood for the group around you as most of us dont like to be rude and block peoples view , but thank god the floor people just jumped to their feet the second he came out and stayed there , he was absolutely awesome and unforgettable and hotter than I have seen him before and he loved the atmosphere and seemed overwhelmed at times by the response he got and if the filming they were doing on the night is for a DVD then everyone that sees it will see how fantastic he was
The proof will be in the pudding , us that know of and love him came away on the biggest buzz , and meeting all the people from the mates site was the icing on the cake

Well, my hands were sore from clapping in time, and soooo many of us had voices that were hoarse from singing along. EVERYONE was on their feet for the encore performance, and I was on my feet for a lot of the time, but I was not in the flat, I had 1st row of the concourse at the side, and didn't stand for whole songs earlier in consideration for those behind me. It was a WOW of a show and I can't wait for my second fix when he hits Perth this Tuesday.

I was lucky enough to be at the 2nd Brisbane show, Sydney and then Melbourne and had floor seats each time and was on my feet from the start of the concert through to the finish at all of them. I did sit down a couple of times in Sydney during the ballads but the rest of the time I was up dancing, singing along to all the songs and generally kicking up a storm. Each show I went to had a different vibe about it but to me Keith seemed to interact with the audience more at each show I saw.

The Sydney show was by far the biggest when you talk about the amount of people attending - the arena holds 21,000 whilst the other two would probably hold 15,000 max and I must admit if I had been up in some of the nosebleed seats in Sydney there is no way I would have been up dancing either - the place is steep in fact I reckon they should have seat belts the higher up you go like they do when people work on scaffolding. I did notice at all concerts that the people sitting up in the elevated seats didn't get up like we did on the floor - that is the nature of any concert not just a Keith one because all the seats are tiered you have a good view of the performer sitting down and you really don't want to cause trouble by blocking someone else's view. I have been to many, many concerts over the past 20 odd years and its always the same when up in the tiered rows people tend to sit until the encore or occasionally through the night when a really good upbeat song plays.

for one cant contain my excitement when Keiths up on stage..nor can I keep still..yes I sat down for some of the slower songs as I didnt want to block everyones view behind me..
I was a bit surprised everyone wasnt on their feet but I for one got home and I had no voice till today and I got home Friday..so its been 5 days without 100% voice I sang my lungs out.
I did see a lot of older fans sitting..seems they were too afraid to stand but Im 44 guess Im 26 in the head..nah, yeh I am..but I love music..
anyways..I had a ball and all 3 shows were awesome.just my little opinion..HEHEHHE.....on night one in the stands people arouns me were singing and dancing..night 2 on the floor we were all up well most of us.night 3 in Sydney we were up probably 90% of the show.
so this nutter needs to read our reviews.