3 Weeds Hotel, Sydney, 26/5/00

Review by Graeme Barden

Last Friday I popped up to Sydney (from Canberra) to see Neil perform at the 3 Weeds. It was to be the first time I'd seen him perform live since I was at uni (1988). I arrived with a great deal of anticipation and also a realisation that because I only have the first two albums, there was a good chance that I'd be hearing a number of songs for the first time.

Anyway, there are always the supports to get through. By the time I arrived there was a girl playing on her own with only a couple of songs to go as it happened. I quite enjoyed her songs, as did the rest of the small crowd. The next group, Cinnamon I think they were called, were quite misplaced given the other two acts and the crowd one might expect at a Neil Murray show. Enough said there.

Then there was Neil et al. How do I say this? Disappointed? Not really. I enjoyed the new songs and gladly reminisced at the old ones. I think the crowd was just too small and didn't give enough back to the performers to inspire them to knock our socks off. I was there with two friends of mine, one of whom saw Neil only a short while ago, also at the 3 Weeds. On that occasion there were apparently many more people in attendance and to my friend at least, there was a much fuller atmosphere that lent to a better experience for all concerned. I think that my lasting opinion is that even though he is principally the same bloke I chatted to at the Surrey Hills RSL on Country Night 12 years ago, his writing skills really have developed. Although he'll never be as well known as Paul Kelly (at least commercially), I reckon he is right up there with the better Australian writers. I listened to the latest album over the weekend and was pleased that my initial impressions from the show were upheld.

Finally, if the bloke leaning against the side bar is reading this, please don't sing when you don't know all the words. And please don't sing when you do - Neil has quite a bit better voice than you!! :)~

I must agree with Graemes comments. The crowd was very small and many had never seen Neil before.

That guy leaning against the side bar latched on to me before Neil came on stage. He kept asking me the same questions over and over again. At one point he asked me a question about a song for the third time. At that very moment Neil appeared at the bar beside us. I suggested that he ask Neil since he was right beside him. Neil spoke to him for a few minutes, gave him an autograph then went back stage. Sorry Neil, but at least it gave me a few minutes peace.

When Neil began his show this guy began to sing out of tune, with the wrong lyrics almost as loud as the p.a. Fortunately, a lovely lady from the audience asked him to shut up. It was after this that he moved to the side bar and left me to go back to my friends.

I was impressed with Neil. I had not seen him for a few years, but have seen him many times. The thing about Neil is that he can convey a feeling in his songs regardless of whether he has a full band, a few musicians or just his guitar.

I would have liked the show to have gone on longer. Neil often looked at his watch throughout the show and commented at the end that he didn't think he was allowed to play past a certain time. Some of the audience encouraged him to stay.

So when is he coming back?