T our Diary - W hat mark got up to on the New Suburban Fables Tour.
| Date | Details | What Mark got up to! (Written by Kerry, who followed him around the country in true stalker style.) |
| 16 oct 2001 |
Newcastle, NSW Club Nova Over 18s only.
|
Being the
first night, it was all a bit exciting, but also all a bit nerve wracking.
Mark was praying that he'd not lost any of the power he holds over the other
'lower' roadies because of his new hair colour... His resemblance to Elton
John could of very well been such a laughing point that his credibility
could of been blown out the door. But apparently the crew seem to be fans of
Elton (or his looks), so it just made Mark seem even kooler to them. Rumor
has it that Matt Murphy was thinking of going for a similar style, but Mark
found out and thought he might be a threat, so got him kicked off this tour.
Poor Bern had to sit back down at the keys and learn it all over again.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 18 oct 2001 |
Sydney, NSW Hordern Pavillion All ages. |
After
having such a good gig in Newcastle, and such a good hair day, Mark was
pumped to get back behind that sound desk to deliver PF to a full house of
7000 people in Sydney's Horden Pavillion. After warming those fingers up in
Newcastle, Mark was set to rock, and rock he did. Lucky for him the bands
didn't do a bad job at it either.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 19 oct 2001 |
Sydney,
NSW Hordern Pavilion All ages.
|
Mark spent his day walking
around Sydney, doing some sight seeing, as he's not seen Sydney all that
often *cough*. Darren and him caught a ferry down the harbor, and also made
a stop at the Opera House, Darren stood there daydreaming of him singing in
there one day, with that angelic voice of his, and Mark stood daydreaming of
doing the sound for Darren in his moment or triumph. Then they had to get
back to the rest of the band for a soundcheck, but I think the two of them
held that special bond for the rest of the night, knowing that they'd shared
in something not many other people had.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 20 oct 2001 |
Sydney, NSW Hordern Pavillion All ages.
|
Sydney again tonight, Mark was
feeling mixed emotions. He was happy to be once again play to the Sydney
crowd, but he wasn't very happy about Powderfinger adding their song
'Freedom' to the setlist for the night. Mark was never a fan of the band in
the old days, and after hearing that song again, the memories of why were
all coming back. Bernard's beard didn't help with all the old images
flooding back either. Mark tried his hardest to get the song sounding great,
but in the end I suppose it just comes down to the song.
All reports say the show was awesome. (Some even loved Freedom). |
| 21 oct 2001 |
Canberra, ACT Royal Theatre All ages.
|
Because Bern is such a lover of
politics, and Mr Howard in particular, Bern dragged Mark around Parliament
House, in attempts to grab glances at the hero Johnny. They were late to the
soundcheck because Bern was busy trying to make friends with Howard's
"Behind the scenes people" in order to get in with the Howard party. Finally
Mark got Bern away, the soundcheck was done, as was the gig, like always, in
style.
All reports sat the show was awesome. |
| 23 oct 2001 |
Melbourne, VIC. Festival Hall All ages.
|
The first of an array of sold
out shows in Melbourne. Mark was VERY excited about this as he knew that one
of his biggest fans would be in the crowd. It was a shame she'd been
banished to seats, as she couldn't go and pester him.. But apparently he'd
been enquiring about her with some other girls, poor things, having to put
up with Mark talking up one of his other admirers.. hahaha!
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 24 oct 2001 |
Hobart, TAS Hobart City Hall All ages.
|
The guys hadn't been down to
Tassie in quite some time, but they certainly hadn't lost any crowd support
due to that. A full house at Hobart City Hall, and an excited lot they were.
Made a lot of noise, may of had something to do with every one person
carrying double the amount of vocal energy, with the crowd owning two heads
per body.. (ok thats lame.. I'll just leave it at that.. lol)
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 25 oct 2001 |
Melbourne, VIC Festival Hall All ages.
|
Back in Melbourne again, all
very exciting again. Bern's hoping the crowd will be as touchy on the AFL
grand finals as Tuesday nights crowd was. Mark had a quick wonder around the
city with Hog today.. They went into a few music stores where Ian was eyeing
off a green guitar, and Mark was eyeing off the blonde sales assistants,
haha. No no, he was really sitting at the drum stool, fantasizing about
being Cogs, drumming for PF, instead of being Mark, drummer of Drag.. A side
thing of PF.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 26 oct 2001 |
Melbourne, VIC Festival Hall All ages.
|
Another show in Melbourne
tonight, and another day doing nothing much other than a soundcheck in the
arvo. He was liking being able to staying the same city, with no aeroplanes
to catch before hurrying somewhere else. Ian and him went back to that shop
where the green guitar that Ian was interested in was being sold. But I
think its really because Ian caught a glimpse of that blonde..
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 27 oct 2001 |
Adelaide, SA Adelaide University - Barr Smith Lawns All ages. |
An outside gig tonight, so it
was going to be a bit of a different test on Mark... No walls to keep his
levels in tonight.. He also had to put up with some drunken shit stirrer..
Poor guy.. lol. But even with the trees in the middle of the ground, Mark
dodged the conditions, and once again got the bands sounding a lot better
than channel 9 did.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 30 oct 2001 |
Perth, WA
Perth Entertainment Centre All ages. |
Finally, a few days off to
relax, and enjoy the peaceful Perth life. Well that's what Mark had hoped
for... Instead, he had to look after Bern who was having one of those ego
problems. He was woken up at 6:30 in the morning by loud knocks at his hotel
room door, and Bernard outside yelling, 'Mark LET ME IN!!' He tried to roll
over and block out Bern's whiney little voice, but in the end it just got
too much. He opened the door to a very distressed looking Bernard. 'Oh
what's the matter now Bern?' 'I NEED to see your bathroom! There mirror in
mine is tiny, not good enough!' After inspecting Mark's bathroom, and
finding the mirror was the same size, Bern made Mark go shopping for the
perfect mirror, to suit his needs. It took all day but eventually he was
satisfied with one they found, at the time of 4:52, lucky the shop hadn't
closed early!. The next day Mark had to attend JC, who was suffering back
problems and needed to be taken to the physio.. Of course mark was given
this task , as no one else would sit in the car listening to JC whine about
his sore back, promising himself that he'd 'one day get himself a new rock
move' (He does this every tour..). Then the 30th came along, and it was back
to work, delivering SFK and PF to the Perth crowd. Tonight there was some
special guest appearances in the crowd by resident Perth band 'Fourth Floor
Collapse' - they are perhaps the biggest of all the stars to so far be
spotted amongst the celebs in the crowds throughout this tour.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 2 nov 2001 |
Brisbane,
QLD
Festival Hall All ages. |
After having a few plane delays,
missing some connections, feeling hung over and generally and sorry for
himself, Mark finally arrived back at the Brisbane airport, with a sigh of
relief. 'Ahh on home turf.' Two days off to relax, sit in front of the TV,
and get waited on by his woman. He had it made. Untill Friday came along and
Paul rang up asking where the hell he was, and to get his arse down to
Festival Hall NOW, as the tour isn't over yet Mark! So he got his arse down
there, a little late, but he made up for this by working every second he was
there, instead of slacking off as he normally tends to.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 3 nov 2001 |
Brisbane,
QLD
Festival Hall All ages. |
Today Mark got up a half an hour
early, so he could get to work early, so that Paul would be proud of him.
Proud of him Paul was. When Mark arrived he walked up to him with a big
smile on his face, and said, 'Look- I'm early! Are you proud of me Teaks??'
To which Paul replied, 'Yes Mark- now get to work.' Paul is not a man to
argue with, or to disagree with, or to not listen to, so Mark said, 'Oh ok,'
and wandered off to do his job. As he was working he would look up to see if
Paul was noticing what a good little worker he was, a few times they made
eye contact and Paul would give him a look of, 'GET BACK TO WORK MARK!' so
Mark would put his head back down and get to it. After the show Paul did
walk over to Mark and congratulate him on a job well done, and also thanked
him for doing a great job on the rest of the tour. But he did warn him that,
'The tour still isn't over, and now is NOT a time to slack off!'
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 4 nov 2001 |
Brisbane,
QLD
Festival Hall All ages. |
Mark was very excited tonight,
as he had some family members come along to the show. His mother was really
excited as well, because she was hanging out with Ian's mum, and she's a bit
of a celebrity because all the fans like to talk to her about Ian and his
silly ways as a child. Mark's dad couldn't understand why none of the fans
wanted to talk to Mark's mum about what he was like as a child, but Mark
explained that its because 'I'm so friigen kool, that they wouldn't want to
shatter any images they have of me.' His dad understood that, and nodded
happily. The only down side of having his family members at the show, was
actually after the show, after JC and Bern had written themselves off, and
stumbled over to Mark and his folks, and started mumbling stories of stupid
things Mark had done while he'd been on tour this year with them.
Embarrassed, Mark denied all accounts, by simply saying, 'Don' worry Mum,
they're just drunk and TALKING SHIT.'
All reports say the show was awesome. |
| 6 nov 2001 |
Sydney,
NSW
Hordern Pavillion All ages. |
Another tearful goodbye at the
airport as he was leaving his loved ones behind. They all told him to stop
being such a suck, wipe up his tears, and fuck off. But back in Sydney
again, Darren and Mark feel happy remembering the close times they had in
this state last time they were here together. Bernard on the other hand is
less than impressed with the way some stupid bimbo styled his hair,
tampering with the boof is one thing, but straightening it to the point
where it is no longer boofy is just going TOO FAR. Of course everyone else
found it completely hysterical. Mark and Bern in the end got nicknamed the
'hair brothers'. Mark being the guy he is laughed it off, and found it
funny, but Bern took offence and ended up not talking to anyone for the
entire two days they were in Sydney.
All reports say the show was awesome. |
|
8 nov 2001 |
Melbourne, VIC
Festival Hall All ages. |
The last show of the tour! They
were all very excited, but at the same time they were all a bit upset too.
This would be the last show they would play under 'Odyssey Number Five',
next time they're back it would be with all new songs, all new perspectives
on things, and all new hairdos. Speaking of which, Bernard today went into
hospital after the sound check to get a 'hair reconstruction' so that they
could bring his hair back to the way it was supposed to be. He made it back
in time for the show, with his hair was nearly back to its normal mop. Lots
of thank yous from PF were thrown to the crew, SFK, and many other people,
but when Bernard mentioned Mark's name the crowd went psycho, things could
of easily got out of hand, but luckily security stepped in and settled
everyone down. After the taming of the crowd, there was the taming of the
wild animals on stage to take care of.
Mark left the show smilling, happy that each and every show on the New Suburban Fables Tour was a success. Happy that he was able to be part of delivering this amazing show to crowds all over the country. He thought back on his year, sometimes trying, but mostly great. This was his place in life, and he couldn't of been happier. All reports say the show was awesome. |