Silverchair Philadelphia, PA - Lynn Malpass
x4
For those of you that don't know it, Silverchair is back in the US
visiting a town near you, and that's a really big deal. Do you know
why it's a really big deal? It's a really big deal because Silverchair,
those guys from Australia - those 15-year-old kids that once upon a
time gave us the hit Tomorrow, as well as so many other hits like Freak
and Cemetery  and The Greatest View - have grown up. And along
with growing up, they've given us a bunch of cool albums. The most
recent two were Young Modern, which was just released in the
States last week, and 2002's Diorama, a masterpiece among
rock/pop albums that most of you in the US (yep, I'm pointing at you),
never got to see supported with a tour. The last time Silverchair was
in the States for a full-scale tour was, oh... something like... I can't
even remember when, but it was a long, long time ago, and they were
supporting Neon Ballroom. Yeah, no kidding, it was that long ago.
Three albums ago. Like, 1999 or something. In 2000, while the band
was on a break to rest and record they played a mere one show. One.
Because, of course, nobody can predict when things are going to go
wrong in the future and sideline the best laid plans. But that's not what
I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the fact that it's the year 2007.
Young Modern is out worldwide. Silverchair is on tour in the United
States again, and they're raring to go. I don't think I have to express to
any die-hard Chair fan just how exciting the news that once again we
have them here, do I? I didn't think so. You're all just as crazy about
them as I am.

Incidentally, and I'm only bragging a little bit here, I have been lucky
enough to see Silverchair three times since the release of Diorama
(and without having to fly to Australia to do it, too). Remember those
four little shows they played, two in New York City and two in Los
Angeles, back in 2002? And how they repeated that this past spring?
Well I managed to get my hands on tickets to both those "mini-tours"
(despite having paid "only" $125 for a pair of $17 tickets to one of the sold out May '02 shows). Having seen Silverchair both times at
the Bowery Ballroom, that first showing back in May of 2002 still ranks as one of, if not <i>the</i> best concert I have ever been to...
because of the fans, and how freaked out excited everyone was that after so long (and back then it had only been two years!)
Silverchair was back, even if it was only for four dates. And then in February of this year everyone freaked out all over again, because
now it was the first time they'd been back in six years. And we got to hear new songs off the yet unreleased CD to boot! But then...
then they announced the real tour, and we all went crazy - and we're still going crazy - as Silverchair makes their way across the US,
finally.

So my third time seeing the band was just this past Saturday on July 28th, at the infamous Theater of the Living Arts, now called The
Fillmore at the TLA, in Philadelphia.  was buzzing all day, because I was getting to see one of my favorite bands one more time - the
same as everyone else in the house was buzzing because they were getting to see Silverchair finally! Needless to say, the show was
soldout.  I am willing to bet cash money that every venue the band has hit prior to Philly had sold out as well, and every venue they
have yet to hit will as well. Because you just don't find a talented trio of guys like Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou around
every corner. You don't just find this versatility and creativity in every band, and for that I'm glad to see that fans in the US have come
out in full strength to support the band and show them how much we love them here in the US.






















the ever-loved Anna's Song, getting the crowd cheering hard for these Silverchair classics that no concert would be complete
without. Insomnia, Low and Straight Lines, the first single off Young Modern came next, giving us some more of the latest effort by
the band. Then they played The Door and Mind Reader, which seems like it's turning out to be a favorite among the fans with the
reaction I heard Saturday night. The close was with an impressive, extended version of The Lever, getting everyone jumping and
cheering yet again, and hoping that the band wasn't done playing yet.

Oh, and of course, there was the Koala joke. For those that don't know the Koala joke, well... I'm not telling. Go grab a ticket to the
nearest Silverchair show and go hear it yourself. It's silly and kind of cheesy, but we all loved it all the same, because it was a testament
to the fact that this time around the boys are in a great mood, in great form, and loving the fact that they're out on tour and bringing the
show to so many deserving fans who have missed out on - or just missed - seeing them play. The playful attitude was evident in the
smiles and private jokes happening on stage as well. Seeing that the band playing for me are enjoying themselves as much as I am
enjoying them has always been one of those little particulars that really add to my experience. Watching the band interact on stage, you
just know these guys are great friends to the point of being family, and they're having a great time putting on their show. Accompanied
by DJ, electronica artist and friend Paul Mac on keyboards, the guys seem to really be taking this latest tour in stride, and putting their
all into it.

After leaving the stage (much to everyone's disappointment), the band
eventually reemerged to the shouts and cheers for an encore. Daniel had
some small talk with the audience, then started into If You Keep Losing
Sleep, also off Young Modern. Then, during a break between  songs, a
pale green camisole was thrown upon the stage at Daniel by one
of his female admirers in the first few rows. At that point a bit of humor
transpired as he handed off his guitar momentarily, then wedged himself
into this girl's tiny camisole, adjusting it just so, with his nipple piercings
dangling over the top of course! Needless to say, the audience loved this,
and whistles and cat-calls could be heard, as well as more cheering. Then,
as if nothing were any different, Daniel took up his guitar once more and
the band exploded into one of the most energetic songs of the night,
Freak, as everyone sang along during the choruses. This close was
amazing and energetic. The only bad thing about it was that it was the
end of the show!

Having experienced Silverchair now three times, I can honestly say that
it just doesn't seem possible for them to put on a bad show between sheer
talent, the popularity of the songs, and how well-liked the band is by their
fans. The only small complaint that I have is that there were not enough
of the "classics" played; not to say I wouldn't have wanted to hear the
new songs, which were fabulous. I'm just a particular fan of the
under-appreciated Diorama, however, and I did miss hearing songs
like Tuna in the Brine and Without You; I do understand the need to push
the new, more successful album though, and sometimes  at the risk of
cutting some of the tunes from an album that just didn't get  the attention
that it deserved.

Silverchair is on tour in the US through August 5th, and will be playing the infamous Lollapalooza on August 4th in Chicago, so if
there's any way you can get to that show - or any show - do it. It'll be well worth the effort to see them. Then beginning on August
10th the band heads to the UK, starting with a show at the Brixton Academy. They will be touring through the UK and Europe before
returning back home to Australia. August 29th has them playing their hometown of Newcastle and joining up with Powderfinger for the
Across the Great Divide tour through Australia and New Zealand, finishing up on October 26th. Then we'll see the band here in the US
again for a few more dates in California; hopefully there's more to come where that leaves off, too. I already can't wait to see them
again! For more tour information, or to find where to buy Young Modern, visit Silverchair's website.
BAND: Silverchair
DATE: July 28,
2007
VENUE: Fillmore
at the TLA
CITY:
Philadelphia, PA
Love is definitely what they got on
Saturday, too, although there were a
couple of moments where Daniel
thought he wasn't getting enough noise
from the crowd - only to have them
scream back and nearly take the
house down. The opening was great; all
that tension of waiting having built into a
nice roar, even for a smaller venue such as
the TLA. The band took the stage
with Young Modern, the title track off the
new CD, which debuted in Australia at
number one (the band's fifth number one
album debut!) and has already gone
double-platinum. Impressive, hmm? After
Young Modern came The Man That Knew
Too Much, and Reflections, concluding an
opening trilogy of new songs. Crowd
favorite Emotion Sickness followed, along
with The Greatest View and then