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This is usually about albums and an occasional concert... but I want everyone in the world (OK, everyone who reads this) to check out this performance of The Beatles' Across The Universe by Eddi Reader (Fairground Attraction) and Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers). This performance starts delicate and understated. The RocKwiz Orkestra are as solid as a rock, allowing Ó Maonlaí and Reader to do the right amount of improvisation. During the 3rd chorus you can feel the performance go ethereal - there's a certain edge in the voices, Ó Maonlaí and Reader exchange some glances, and everyone in the room, including the performers, knows that something special has just happened.

I saw Damien Rice live in concert on 26 April 2007 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon. A friend had seen him live in Melbourne several months earlier and pronounced it to be the "best concert ever"! I thought that, since I would be in town and had loved his first album O, I'd go along with a friend and check out Damien Rice live in concert.

Diesel played Tilley's Devine Café last night (24 September 2005). Diesel was born in the USA but has lived most of his life in Australia. He made his name with his band's 1989 self-titled release Johnny Diesel & The Injectors - an excellent album of blues-inspired loud rock. After reinventing himself as Diesel, and later releasing an album or two under his real name, Mark Lizotte, he has reemerged once again as Diesel.

Last night I saw Cowboy Junkies at Humphrey's in San Diego, California. Humphrey's is a picturesque outdoor venue at a hotel by San Diego Bay. Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian band who I first saw about a year ago in Austin, Texas and was blown away. I've since bought the majority of their albums. Their music is hard to classify - there's a bit of everything. The feeling is generally mellow, but sometimes builds up to a heavier sound.

After sitting around for 45 minutes after the doors opened at Canberra's Royal Theatre (13 April 2005), waiting for something to happen, David Ross Macdonald took the stage and stated "I'm not Missy Higgins." I think I was amongst a vast majority of people in the audience who had no idea who he was.

Last night (13 April 2005) Missy Higgins played the Royal Theatre in Canberra. Higgins is a 21 year-old Australian singer/song-writer who plays piano and guitar. My exposure to her is quite limited: this is the first time I've seen her live and I don't own her #1 album The Sound Of White. However, I own her Scar EP, have been meaning to buy her album, and have heard some of her songs on the radio and over dinner while visiting friends.

Serena Ryder supported Missy Higgins at Canberra's Royal Theatre on 13 April 2005 . Ryder is a singer/guitarist/songwriter from Canada.

Last night (21 March 2005) I saw Jack Johnson at Canberra's Royal Theatre. I've seen him twice before at this venue - the first time he was supporting Ben Harper and I was very impressed with `this guy I'd heard a couple of songs by'. Jack Johnson's albums are now an integral part of our CD collection.

Xavier Rudd supported Jack Johnson at the Royal Theatre on 21 March 2005. They wheeled his "kit" to the front of the stage. As it turned out, it contained some drums (including a bass drum), some didgeridoos racked into position for easy playing and place to rest a Weissenborn-style guitar while he played slide. He also sang and played some harmonica.

Now that I've seen the cover of Jodi Martin's first album Water and Wood, I realise that I'd heard of her before walking in and finding her supporting The Waifs. I remember that I'd made a mental note to check out Water and Wood after hearing a snippet of it somewhere... although I clearly forgot.