Powderfinger @ Memorial Drive, September ’10

After countless world tours, infinite laps of Australia and a bunch of great albums (two of which no Australian should be without in their collection) Powderfinger have called things to an end, choosing to go out while still favourably looked upon.
This, the first of two sold out shows at Memorial Drive shows just how loved Powderfinger have become over the years – quite a lot since playing the Exeter in the early 90s and being booed off stage at Lenny’s in Glenelg!
Halfway through their set, the band disappeared from stage and a visual display featuring various clips of what looked like the fall of the Berlin Wall filled the massive LED panel. A haunting drone of bass accompanied the visuals, morphing steadily into a song. As the guitar kicked in, then drums most of the 10,000 punters (me included) searched the stage for the band. They were not there.
Instead, halfway back through the audience, directly in front of the sound desk on a tiny stage with hardly any lighting, they appeared as if a throw back to their humble beginnings.
It was at this point I was stoked I’d climbed to the top of the bleachers to watch the show, as I was now in prime position to shoot long and side on to this new stage layout. Sweet!