A step backwards:
Did you remember of the beautiful "pretty tired" lady from Boston, the nicest Le Thor concert Russell body guards allowed to seat inside the Auditorium till show time, I've told you about on my Le Thor Concert report, HERE?
Well, after a while, she e-mailed to me and we kept being in touch. Sue and her nicest husband Howie are going to Australia to be at TOFOG concerts in January.
We also shared funny mails, and I was telling them, just for fun that, if I had enough courage, I'd have made a mad thing and go to the concerts too.

How the story's begun...
Some nights ago after work, while I was updating the news page, I saw on MHMH official site that Russell had added a new concert date: Jan 24.
I was very impressed by that date... my birthday and this year I'm turning 39.
Ok, I kept on updating the news and I went to sleep.
But that peculiar concert date had been turning into my head all night long...

The day after I mailed Sue and Howie telling them about that date etc... and kept on collecting information and prices about a trip to Australia to put on the tourist information page I put on line much time ago.
The Vanguard at that time, hadn't allowed to book that date yet, but was pretty about...
Sue and Howie were checking every 10 min.

The day after Howie mailed this to me: "We have the ticket for your birthday"
I called him and told him I was really happy for them and that I was going to call the Vanguard just to see if there was still a seat for me too. I'm not very superstitious, "I don't believe in luck, but I do believe in assigning a value to things"... I was just thinking... if there's still a seat I have to make up my mind on this trip...
Howie answered to me: "No dear, I said that we already booked your ticket for your birthday"...
PANIC!!!
They were so nice to book it for me... Ok this was the very thing to assign a value to...

I spent a terrible night, there were two people fighting inside of me. The almost 39 years old was saying: "Oh no, you cannot, it's too tireding, expensive and you've got to take some days off from work and set this trip, and and and..."
The kid was answering: "yeah... but just imagine... your birthday night listening to Russell's voice live... amongst some of the nicest people you met in Le Thor and meeting new Russell people too... go to hell you and your almost 39 years... let's pack and leave..."
Well... Now you know who's won!!!

I couldn't sleep at all and when I woke up I started realizing how many things I had to do to set this trip.
"Ok" I told my self: "Let's get started: I gotta book the flight ticket and the visa and the hotel and and and... oh my Goodness... (this wasn't actually the real expression I used...) my passport has expired... Noooo!!!!"
Well, I don't want to bother you with too many details on the passport matter... Thank God, I could have renewed it and in a short time too!!!

Then I started realizing that going From Roma - Italy to Australia and afford about 48h flight just for a concert date, would have unleashed hell in my body worse than all the movie Gladiator battles scenes.

Dearest Sue and Howie told me they could have offered a lift in their car... Well I made up my mind to go to the last 5 concert dates: Jan 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 and 24.
Howie was great, he also booked for me at their table for the other concerts and indicated me some good hotels to stay.

To make the story short, I phoned the hotels (always finding nicest people who answered to me) and I booked, with a big help from a friend of mine, Giampiero, who works for a tour operator, I started waiting for a cheap ticket that this morning's arrived, at last.

I don't know how many times I phoned Giampiero, to ask news about the last step - Honk Kong - Roma, the only one that hadn't been available yet.
This morning he's called me with a happy voice telling me the good news and I've stormed to the travel agency.
In this period I'm at my mum's... call it a coincidence, but she lives in Ostia, so I can really answer to the famous question: "Where're you camped?" "Ostia!!!"
The travel agency is in Roma, today is really cold here and there's a terrible traffic jam... Well I have even enjoyed the traffic, sitting in my car, listening to THE LAND OF THE SECOND CHANCE...

I haven't said nothing about this trip before, 'cause I just wanted to be sure I have the flight ticket...
And now it's in my hands... I can't still believe it!!!
I don't think I'll realize that I'm supposed to go to Australia till Jan 18 evening, on the first notes of THE WEIGHT OF A MAN...

FIRST SPECIAL THANKS
I think that, if everything is gonna be all right, at the end of this journey, I'll have to thank a lot of people, but this is the beauty of this situations... nothing is done all by ourselves...
Let me start with a big, grand, enormous THANKS to Sue and Howie, they are terrific, nicest and trustful people, persons and a beautiful couple.
A special THANKS to my dearest friend Stefy, also for encourage me to do this mad thing - It was funny... I called her to tell her about my trip and asking for her advice: "I'm not even going to try to stop you. I know how much it means to you. JUST DO IT!!!" Great Stefy, these are a closest friends words!!!
A big THANKS to my friend Giampiero, for arranging a good ticket and most of all for facing my innumeable calls.
A big thanks to all the nicest Australian B&B people I spoke to, for their kindness.
Last but not least? Nooo, at first THANKS to Mr. Crowe and new TOFOG, for being the reason to do all this!!!

I'm not used to travelling a lot on vacation, always stuck to my job. Being a professional singer, piano and keyboard player, when the other people are on vacation or off, I'm working, when they work... I work too. Besides some vacations, In my life, I've travelled a lot on business and my nature doesn't like to stay far from home, my people, my "things" and so on... Using a famous friend of ours quote: "I don't like to stay far from my people more than 45 min..."
Do you think Australia is far from Roma more or less than 45 min.? Ah Ah Ah
When I travel I'd like to carry everything and everyone with me... like the old Titanic lady... pretty impossible.
What makes me nervous is the "before", I start packing in a terrible advance.
Anyway, I got used to living with this sort or pre-trip ideosyncrasy, 'cause I know that when this moment's over, I enjoy travelling a lot, visiting new places, meeting new people and mentality.

I wish I could take all the people I met in Le Thor with me, I mean it, in order to re-built that magic atmosphere we all breath those wonderful days...

Wish me good luck, fasten your seat belts and stay tuned... News and details'll arrive soon

LIVE REPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA
(taken from my Forum)

Roma - Italy 01/14/2006, 04:36
Hi, I'm about to leave for Sydney...Tomorrow... and I still can't believe it!!!
In this section I'll be trying to write some short concerts reports from Australia.
Stay tuned and fasten your seat belt it's gonna be a bumpy trip...
Wish me good luck

Sydney - 01/17/2006, 06:21
FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOVE…
Here I am girls, I’m here in Sydney after a long, tiring but comfortable more than 20 h flight…
I’m at my hotel in Newtown, very close to The Vanguard (King St.)
I had a warm shower, I set all the little surprises, I smoked a lot of cigarettes (I’m not allowed to smoke in my room… good for my lungs…and now I’m going to bed and hope I have a very good sleep.
Tomorrow morning I’m looking for an internet cafè so I can start shortly updating you on this trip.
At my return you’ll have complete and detailed concerts reports and log book with photos.
I’m very tired now but very happy I’m in Sydney, at last…
I feel a bit lonely now…all alone in my room, I haven't met anyone going to the concerts, so far, all the people I know are already here… tomorrow I’m supposed to have dinner with sweet Carol and a small bunch of us.
When I arrived at Sydney airport I got lost at once, trying to get a taxi, it’s normal for me, as you all know from Le Thor concert report I have no sense of direction, but I’m here.
While I was going to the hotel I thought; “The first thing I want now is a meal and a warm bath”
I’m too tired to continue… write to you all tomorrow…
And the adventure begins…
Hugs XXX, Sabry

Sydney 01/17/2006, 14:09
Hi there, here everything is fantastic.
I'm very tired but so happy to be here.
People are really nice and helpful, they are terrific and seem always happy.
This morning I went to the classic Sydney tour: the Sydney harbour and the bridge and the Sydney opera house, and the circular Quay down town.
People rush but even the most serious looking businessman, if asked for an information (and you all Know from Le Thor concert report my famous non sense of direction...)
They smile at you and help you as they can.
Beautiful city, nicest people.
Tomorrow'll be the first of the great days...
Some pictures to come.
Forgive me if I'm not very detailed but time is really short here.
XXX, Sabry

Sydney - 01/17/2006, 14:39
Some pictures added images from Australia
Enjoy them.
a great day and night to everybody
Gotta sleep
xxx, Sabry

Sydney - 01/18/2006, 01:59
Hi everybody,
I had a restoring even if short sleep last night ('cause I'm still with my home schedule...)
This morning I've awoke really early in the morning and have bought some papers that now I'm making scanning and in a few minutes there'll be the link to view them.
Last night I couldn't have had dinner with sweet Carol, 'cause she couldn't so I went out by myself and had a very good libanese meal.

TONIGHT IS GONNA BE THE FIRST BIG NIGHT for me in Sydney.
Jan 18 Russell & The Ordinary Fear of God at the Vanguard!!!
I'm meeting Howie and Sue from Boston tonight, they're going to pick me up at 06:30 pm and we're going to the Vanguard.

Some news I read on the papers today (a scan is following):
From smh.com.au:

Lonesome cowboy: Ledger dips out in cavalcade
...Philip Seymour Hoffman took the best actor award for his role in Capote, also beating Russell Crowe for Cinderella Man...
Full article,here

From THE AUSTRALIAN:
Western wins, but Heath's left hanging
...At a pre-Globes party, actor Russell Crowe - who was also nominated in the category of best actor - spoke about his next project, which will be directed by Baz Luhrmann and will star Nicole Kidman.
"It's like the Australian version of Gone with the Wind," Crowe said. "That's the way Baz describes it, anyway. It's set in the Australian country in the early 1930s.
"Baz will have to build a whole community where we're going to shoot, since it's a very remote area. He'll have to put up around 260 people...
Full article, here Scans are following in a few minutes xxx, Sabry
P.S.:
Hi there, scan added at aussie papers scan
I'll be in touch with you all.
Have a nice day/night. Love
xxx, Sabry

Katoomba - Blue Mountains - 01/19/2006, 02:49
Hi everybody,
I’m here in Katoomba, last night, after The Vanguard concert we drove straight to the Clarendon – Katoomba where there’ll be the concert tonight and also where I had the lucky chance to make my hotel reservation.
The Clarendon is an old and beautiful building, built in 1926 and they’ve been having live venues for 27 years.
Tonight for the Russell Crowe & THE ORDINARY FEAR OF GOD is all SOLD OUT!!!

Last night at the Vanguard I could have the honour to attend a great happening: Russell and the band are really great.
I found them even more “melted” together. Russell and Alan are very accomplished and it’s absolutely breathable and gives the show a peculiar cut.
The stage at the Vanguard is a bit small to host so many elements. But the service could manage it in a good way.
Looking at the stage there were from the right to the left:
Dave Kelly at the drum, Bone Hillman at the elect. Bass, Stuart at the a little ¼ piano, keyboard and Backing vocals, then in front (right to left):
Billy-Dean at the elect. Guit., Alan Doyle at the acoustic and elect guit and Vocals and backing vocals, Russell and then Stewart at the trumpet.
Bruno was great at sound engineering last night, even if the acoustic of the Vanguard is not so easy to manage and some guys by the service were the stage sound engineers
There were many people at the Vanguard last night, and I could have the pleasure to hug again some people I met in Le Thor on Oct 15 at the former TOFOG concert I attended.
There was sweet Carol from Florida who, as usual presented us with some very nice surprises: a TOFOG cap with a pon pon on top, concerts badges and some other calendars she personally drew and made printed.
There was Lynda that I could finally recognise as one of the very nice girls who I shared the cue with in Le Thor.
Reading at Murph’s her reports, I was always trying to give this beautiful and skilled “pen” a face… well she was the one.
There was the girl from Scotland who’s making beautiful and very heart felt reports at Murph’s as well, and many others.
I was sharing the table with dearest Sue and Howie from Boston and many other nice girls from U.S.. Well… we were together again.

Unfortunately I know I won’t be able to report everything Russell said at the concert, unless I find some good soul who’s going to teach me in a accelerate full immersion course, Aussie and most of all everything is dealing with well know Aussie tv and daily life things.
Russell's speaking is not much slang, but too fast for me and full of referrals to many things and gags I ignore… so please forgive me…
I needed English subtitles or a slow motion video tape.
Anyway, though he might have been very tired, because of the flight to and back from L.A. for the Golden Globes, he was absolutely amazing and funny and even sometimes relaxed.
He played funny jokes with us, introducing songs and making many imitation of accents and way of talking of other well known people.
For instance:
Introducing the song Mr. Harris, he perfectly imitate Richard Harris voice and way of speaking.
Many times at the show, I thought: This guy should act…
I mean… I was so absorbed by the magic of his music and voice and the great band sound, that sometimes I was forgetting his daily job and I say that as a big compliment…
We’re used to seeing him in dramatic roles and he’s fantastic, but I think he can also be a great comedian, his vis comica is amazing and also his natural irony… after all we’re talking about the best and most versatile actor and performer in the world…
He’s the one who makes you laugh even if you are not able to perfectly understand what he says…
Alan Doyle is fantastic, he’s a great singer, guit player, performer and writer and his enormous “contribute” to the shows is absolutely needed I think.
I loved his way of moving on the stage, both Russell and Alan together are dynamite!!!
The audience response was very good, we were all excited and attended a great show.
Big hands to Stewart at the trumpet, that guy has got something special he can communicate through the notes flow he produces with his magic trumpet.
Dave, you are great, I love the taste you play with, you can pass from a ballad to a very rock piece, always keeping high and intense the level of the performance.
Great bass player, discreet but essential, Billy-Dean very good solos.
I was so thrilled to be there and could attend their concerts again…
As I told you a bit time ago, I realized I was in Australia on the first notes of the concert…

Almost at the end of the concert arrive ed a great surprise… Elvis Costello himself was invited on the stage and made a great show. The audience got more and more excited. Elvis, Russell and the whole band made a sort of terrific jam session, we could pulp and feel they were having a great fun and we were having big fun as well.

In Le Thor we weren’t allowed to take pics and there I was really stuck to the rules, so I was last night, but when I saw people taking pics when the concert was almost at the end, I couldn’t have resisted and took some awful pics without flash…
I hope Mr. Crowe would not get offended by that…
Am I a sort of non professional “foreign correspondent” or not?...
I hope they won’t “kick me out” at the next concerts… ah ah ah

More details to come at my return…
And tonight there will be the show in Katoomba
xxx, Sabry

Katoomba - Blue Mountains - 01/19/2006, 03:20
Hi there,
pics of last night at the Vanguard:
Jan 18 vanguard
Pics of Kattomba:
Jan 19 Kattomba morning
xxx, Sabry

Katoomba - Blue Mountains - 01/20/2006, 00:10
Hi there,
I'm here in Katoomba, waiting for leaving for Newcastle, so I'm making a short report on the concert here at The Clarendon Jan 19:
The hall was full of people, many coming from the round abouts and many of us "groopy" following the band... everywhere:
In my last report I didn't have much time to mention the artist who performs before TOFOG.
His name is Darren and he's absolutely fantastic.
He's a "one man band" singing and playing live with masterly using his two sampliers, devices which with, connected in this case to 2 microphones, he live record what he sings; he makes by his own every instrument, from each piece of the drum to the guit and the bass and so on, so he can have a sort of a track where he's singing on.
His way of performing is terrific, besides the tech point of view, he communicates a lot to the audience, he's ironic and most of all auto-ironic, his voice his beautiful and his little show is fantastic.
Of course it's not easy to make show before the TOFOG, also because the audience attention is all devoted to the band, but he can manage it in a very professional and great way.
Congratulation Darren!!!
At my return at the Vanguard I'll be buying a cd of his.

Well, after Darren's great show, the band arrived and it was great.
The musician were terrific as usual.
My table was on the front row on the left of the stage, and the sound was great!!!
Stewart, the trumpet was at his top, so was Dave Kelly at the drum and Bones at the bass. I love the way and the taste he has at playing bass.
Billy-Dean was at his top too and sometimes smiled a bit too, I love the way he performs and play guit.
Alan has a magnificent voice and a great charisma.
Russell was in a very good mood, he introduced the songs by being very funny and nice.
I'm starting to understand well what he says, I just need other two or three hundreds of his concerts and then I can understand everything... ah ah ah kidding.
Well, I love the way he introduces the song, it seems top be very sincere and pure and transparent.
His way of imitating many other famous character is amazing.
His voice was absolutely great last night, more relaxed after the flight from and to L.A.
He's a perfect rocker.
There also was a funny moment, when there was a guy from Germany with a camera. At fist, Russell seemed upset, but after he could transform an upset moment into something special.
He invited the funny guy, who's name is Ziggy on the stage, asking him to make a footage video and we all had a great fun when Ziggy told Russell: "Russell... action" Amazing and amusing.

Well, there'll be some pic soon on line.
xxx, Sabry

Katoomba - Blue Mountains - 01/20/2006, 00:36
Hi there again, the link to last night concert at the Clarendon is:
Jan 19 at the Clarendon

Since the Clarendon guest house, beside being a club, is also a hotel and I'm staying here as the band, this morning I had breakfast with Billy-Dean.
He's a very smart and funny guy, taking advantage just for fun of my inability to understand his sense of humour.
He's very funny and a good person I think.
A special thanks to him for telling me the correct English name of the device Darren uses at shows.
Thanks Dean!!!
Have a nice day to you all.
xxx, Sabry

p.s. another funny fact occurred yesterday was the following:
It was about 06:45 pm, I was smoking a cig outside and as I saw dearest Sue and Howie (not staying at this hotel) arriving for the concert (the doors opened at 07:00 pm) I wanted to cheer them, there was a small bunch of people there, I went to say "Hi" to them and I heard a voice coming from aside saying: "Hi" I turned my head and nicely answered "Hi", then turning again the head to Sue and Howie a little thought passed through my mind "Oh boy, this guy has terrific eyes... they look like HIS eyes... oh noooo... These are his very eyes...he's the one" then I think I blushed, I turned my head again and said "oh, ah.. Hi, Hi Sir!" I think I couldn't have said something sillier and a image came to my mind "from now on, no sir, no salute..." "Hi sir"
Embarrassing and funny...
Have a great day you all.
gotta leave
xxx, Sabry

Byron Bay - 01/22/2006, 01:26
Byron Bay, Jan 22 2006
Hi folks,
the last 2 days were very running ones, so I didn’t have time to update any news about Russell Crowe & TOFOG last 2 concerts in Newcastle at the Brewery (Jan 20) and in Byron Bay at the Great Northern Hotel last night (Jan 21).

Jan 20 – Newcastle – The Brewery – small concert report:
This time it was a “standing” concert, pretty tiring but funny.
it was all SOLD OUT… Obviously!!!
The Brewery is a big club but unfortunately the stage is really small and the ceiling very short. There wasn’t enough air. It was terribly hot and there wasn’t even the opportunity to ask Russell if we could open a window: “It’s terribly hot, sir” nor the opportunity to listen to the well known answer: “Your comfortable comes second to my ability to hear my own voice…” and surely the audience wasn’t the “eager young minds of tomorrow…” We were all shrunk but I had the lucky chance to be at the very front, under the stage.
Russell and the whole band were great as usual but the audience, most of all the local one was too much noisy, it was a Friday night and there were many people drinking and making noise a lot.
The sound was good (great Bruno and the whole crew).

The band didn’t play all the songs and Russell cut many speeches he’s used to making to introduce the songs and that was too bad. But it was a strange night and he could manage it in a terrific way as well.
The “world wide bunch” of us, coming from U.S., Scotland, Canada Italy (me) etc. were really disappointed… we all made a long trip to come here and attend this concerts and we ‘re always paying very attention to them. We don’t even want to loose the shortest Dave’s drum beat nor any chord coming from Stewart at the trumpet and so on…

We love Russell singing and making funny and serious introduction.

He always renews himself and it’s always a surprise the way he interacts with the audience.
Sometimes he asks the audience: “do you want me also to talk?” The bunch of us always answer with a big roar: “YEAAAAAHHH” Then he has to ask us to be quiet and not answer, in order to let the other people answer, but the answer is always the same: “YEAAAAAHHH”
It’s very touching to see the intense complicity between Alan an Russell, and we can all feel that this is the right way and the beginning of a very good artistic and personal friendship.

Big hands also for Darren who made a shorter but always involving and talented show.

Jan 21 from Newcastle to Byron Bay:
Sue Howie and I headed for Byron Bay very early in the morning ( about 8h driving) and they were so nice to me to make a stop to have lunch in Coffs Harbour and Nana Glenn.
In Coffs Harbour people adore and are very proud of Russell; at the Coffs Hotel Star bar, were the Tofog performed on last Friday and Saturday there’s another small but beautiful bar were there are many pics of Russell.
I felt really touched when I entered the bar and could see Gladiator poster, and signed by Russell pics from Cinderella man etc. I asked for permission and took some photos.
We passed through Orara Valley and Nana Glenn and had a very good lunch in a small but very well furnished and nice place “Lady Matilda”.
There I could taste her famous cheesecake, the best I have ever eaten in all my life.
I asked her for the recipe but she told me this is a secret, given her from her mother. But there might be the chance she put it on line someday, she nicely told me so… there’s a hope.
She’s a very beautiful young lady and has a lovely and most beautiful daughter.
I still can’t believe I was in a place I’ve been dreaming on for such a long time…


JAN 21 BYRON BAY GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL small concert report:
Forgotten the not comfortable situation in Newcastle I can say that Byron Bay is a most beautiful place, right on the South Pacific Ocean, with a touching lighthouse, and a very happy downtown full of ethnic shops and music pubs… a place full of life but at present I cannot tell you more, ‘cause we arrived just in time to get dressed and go to the concert.

The Great northern hotel is big and well furnished place and the concert took place at the disco. The stage was larger then the one in Newcastle and I had the lucky chance to be under the stage on the front row…just in front of our Big Man.

Darren was in a perfect mood and made a great show, people were totally absorbed by his terrific involving ability.
It’s beautiful to see, while Darren is performing, the band in the back stage enjoying his show… he deserves it!!!

The band arrived… our Big man arrived and… hell is unleashed!!!
The audience was excited and clapped a lot.
I was a bit embarrassed by my position and step a bit back at the beginning of the great gig.
I was very close to our Big Man, and there wasn’t any dividing bar from the stage to the audience. On the front row we were all standing, laying our hands on the stage…

Russell was in a terrific mood…. He was feeling people and the whole band… everything was perfect.
They performed for 2h and even more, singing the whole concert list and it was a Big happening.
Russell introduced many songs, not all by talking and we all enjoyed it.
I’ve been told the acoustic was good but where we were it wasn’t impossible to have the right perception of that.

Russell rocked a lot and the audience, the world wide big bunch and the local ones were flattered by his voice and way of performing.
Even when he tuned a funny and "insulting" song against U.S.A: "America, America...f... you"... pretty charming

I love the way he moves, the perfection of his gestures, natural, coming from inside but so skilled…
I don’t know how many times I watched D. Letterman show interviewing Russell in NYC, the small piece where he talks about the fact that his beloved son Charlie elected him as his official public transport… the piece where Russell says something like. “ You see your son raising his hand to you by saying: “ Da.. da..da” and you say “oh my…” so you pick him up and he aims at somewhere and says “THERE!!!” As you all know Russell at that very moment rises his hand and arm in a gesture that is…. Perfect!!!

Well… live he’s as exactly as at that very moment… He doesn’t act… He seems to be like this!!!
I don’t know if I could explain my self in a correct way; what I meant is that, beside the great acting skill, he seems to be naturally… in this way.

After the concert a small bunch of us went to the back stage door and talked to the band. They’re really nice to all of us and got used to seeing us.
Alan allowed me to take a pic, he’s most talented and I love his sweetness. He’s a very correct gentleman. I love this guy and at my return I want to buy some of his own band “The great big sea” cd.

Today I’m staying in Byron Bay and tomorrow we’re flying back to Sydney…
I’m pretty sad that there’s only one more concert I’m attending: JAN 24 at THE VANGUARD…
But I’m very excited I’m going to spend MY BIRTHDAY here, with all these nice people and celebrating by attending the next Tofog concert!!!

Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take pics at all at the Brewery in Newcastle nor at the Great northern hotel in Byron bay, so I couldn’t take any pics of both gigs
But some pics of Coffs Harbour – Star bar – etc. are

More news to come…
XXX, Sabry
p.s. Also last night in Byron Bay it was all SOLD OUT!!!!!

Byron Bay - 01/22/2006, 02:20
PICS HERE:
Jan 20 - 21 - pics
Jan 20 21 pics here
xxx, Sabry