They brighten my life like polysterene hats.

Words: Jess
Photos and Video: Joelle



A little over ten years ago, when I was roughly nine years old, there was quite a bit of snow one morning, leading to a delayed opening. I had extra time before catching the bus to go to my third grade class, so I decided to watch some TV. I flipped to MTV in the middle of a music video that sounded a smidgen like Nirvana, but with a much more beautiful frontman. The song was "Tomorrow" and the band was silverchair.



Since that day, I have been an avid fan and follower of these lovely Australian imports, from their grunge beginnings to their electrifying evolution to an almost operatic, ultra-melodic rock band. They are one of the rare acts that continuously and exponentially improves with every record.



Last night, for the first time in the ten years I'd been in love with silverchair, I finally saw them live. They played selections from every album sans Frogstomp, which is understandable. While that record wasn't by any means bad, when you compare it to the art they're creating now, it's probably a little cringe worthy for them. It'd be like Michelangelo putting childhood fingerpaintings inside the Sistene Chapel.



I could easily go on for days about their energy, their crowd work, their sheer musical genius--except it was so moving that I honestly can't find words for them. In fact, I almost fainted. I can sum it up with when my pal/hair stylist/fiancee-to-Joelle Michael asked, "Isn't it a dream come true?"



I nodded profusely, then went back to gaping at the image of Chris Joannou's glittering silver bass, Ben Gillies' constant smiling, and the image of a shirtless, nipple-pierced Daniel Johns dancing and shredding with his teeth. When, at the closing of the show, he kissed his guitar? Never have I wanted to be used as an instrument more.



*By Jess, whose throat is sore today from all the screaming she did last night. At the show, so get your head out of the gutter please.

PS--- We have an interview with Silverchair coming very, very soon!

AND NOW---- WATCH EXCLUSIVE PLANET VERGE CLIPS OF THE SHOW! Hold your applause for the end. I just want to say that I have been pretty jaded lately with the whole music scene. But Silverchair has rekindled my faith that superior musicianship still exists and there is a reason to shut off the television (ok so I technically cheated and taped General Hospital on Soapnet) and go out to shows again. I don't think mainstream America is worthy of Silverchair, quite honestly. But I'll share them with anyone if it means getting the band to tour here more often!

<3 Joelle


"Emotion Sickness"



"Ana's Song" Intro



"Straight Lines"



Daniel's Bird Joke



"If You Keep Loosing Sleep"



"Freak"



Jessica from Planet Verge and Perfuma's commentary after the show!