A Long Weekend In Melbourne
My first time to Melbourne and I don’t think I could have come on a more insane weekend. We’re here because Amanda is at the U2 shows while I spend time with some old friends from high school who are currently living in Melbourne. In addition to U2 being in town, the world’s most powerful finance types are here as part of the annual G20 summit. On Saturday I walked around with my friend Jen taking photos of the protests and police…before it turned violent. Turns out the group I found the most interesting to photograph were the ringleaders of the violence. And while I’m all for protesting the G20, doing stupid shit like attacking a police van isn’t accomplishing ANYTHING towards the goals they allege to believe in. All it does is take away from the legitimacy of the other peaceful, articulate activists.
Want to see cops defend a Starbucks? How about a Nike Store? More G20 photos here.
Anyway, the weekend kicked off on Friday with the Make Poverty History Concert which featured a ‘surprise’ appearance by Pearl Jam accompanied by The Edge and Bono. They played a lengthy version of Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ In the Free World’ to a lucky crowd. Check out the video below or download the mp3 (with many thanks to I Am Fuel for the track).
Download: Pearl Jam with Bono and The Edge – Rockin’ In The Free World
Can’t say I’m not a tad upset that U2 decided to play ‘The First Time’ and ‘Bad’ in Melbourne rather than Sydney.
And a very belated thanks to Matt for having me on his radioshow Thursday night. I had lots of fun even though I don’t remember a word I said.
November 21st, 2006 07:09
i love pearl jam and all, but changing the lyrics?
umm… lame.
November 21st, 2006 14:46
were you at the concert sean?
November 21st, 2006 17:18
quinn: agreed
geoff: no i was not. i was still stuck at Sydney Airport because JetStar suck. I wasn’t planning on going anyway.
November 22nd, 2006 13:02
They’ve been covering that song for years whilst changing the lyrics. I don’t mind it.
My love of all things Pearl Jam has waned though. Eddie Vedder was my hero growing up… now I rarely listen to PJ. I kind of wish they broke up years ago – they’re still legends but perhaps could have been more if they retired closer to their peak.
November 22nd, 2006 17:22
eddie vedder is still my hero, but it no longer has anything to do with his music