EXCLUSIVE Emotional moment Aussie singer buries his head in his hands while performing iconic track tainted by heartbreaking memory
Western Australia band Spacey Jane took to the Hordern Pavilion stage over the weekend, bringing their new album If That Makes Sense to Sydney fans, along with an iconic 2020 track that saw the audience go from raving to reminiscing in a matter of seconds.
Booster Seat, released five years ago, is by far Spacey's most successful song - you only have to look at the crying, hand-holding audience to connect those dots, but the 2021 ARIA Award for Best Song gives it away too.
The track's success doesn't rest on the laurels of its catchiness, vulnerability or moving lyrics, but rather is nestled in the nostalgia it conjures up in its listeners - and the band's frontman himself.
Because five years ago, the Spacey fans who are losing themselves on the Hordern Pavilion dancefloor were, in fact, locked in their rooms for months on end as a mysterious illness lingered outside.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
A song telling the woes of anxiety, depression and loss of control, it's no wonder people still resonate with it to this day.
It was also a moment in time that saw up-and-coming band Spacey Jane cancel both Australian and international tour dates just as they were about to make it big.
What's more, frontman Caleb Harper, 28, has previously admitted to LiSTNR that the pandemic saw his anxiety at an all time high, particularly due to the music industry's unpredictable sway during a global lockdown.
Which is why it is no wonder the lead singer got emotional on stage as he performed the song, burying his head in his hands and squeezing his eyes closed as he belted out the lyrics.
As Caleb poured his soul into the microphone, so did the audience reverberate the sentiment, connecting in a way that seemed so difficult back in lockdown days.
The band, who came together as a lump of instruments and gawky teenagers back in 2016, are currently on the Australian leg of their tour, and are soon to be playing shows across Europe and the US.
On Saturday night, they cruised onto the stage to the sound of Intro's strums and synth, jumping into the set with their new single Through My Teeth, from their newly released album If That Makes Sense.
Initially, it seemed like an ambitious move, especially considering the band's third studio album only came out a month ago.
Who would be crazy enough to start with a song that hasn't had time to ruminate in the music sphere?
However, as I waited for the song to land on deaf ears, I was instead met with a thunderous singalong that engulfed the entire venue.
Which led me to another more suitable question: what kind of cult following does a band have if it can elicit a word-for-word citation of songs that are probably younger than the loaf of bread I currently have sitting in my fridge?
The answer: a big one - especially when it comes to the Aussie beach rock mania.
The band graced eager ears with a number of songs from their new album, including Estimated Delivery, Whateverrrr and How To Kill Houseplants, all of which had singers in the crowd.
Of course, nothing quite upped the volume like their older, more iconic tracks, with songs like Lots Of Nothing, Skin and Feeding The Family inciting energy all around.
But even if the band had nothing to show but sombre ballads, dull lighting and woeful looks, I can guarantee that lead guitarist Ashton Le Comu would have been able to ignite a buzz.
The maestro leaped around the stage, parkouring from side to side as he headbanged, kicked and showed great athletic vigour - all while strumming a guitar.
Even if the band had nothing to show but sombre ballads, dull lighting and woeful looks, I can guarantee that lead guitarist Ashton Le Comu (left) would have been able to ignite a buzz.
When it comes to my daily 4pm slump, I want whatever he's having, or - at the very least - his ability to multitask.
The show, which follows a year-long performance break for the band (but you wouldn't know it), was a strong return to the stage, especially one as revered as Hordern Pavilion.
Debuting their banger of a new album on a tour that is making its way around the globe, the band's buzz was similar to that electric feeling you get when crouched down at a start line, awaiting the rush of the whistle.
And as Spacey Jane sits on the precipice of their ten-year milestone, it's clear to see the band's energy, nostalgia and lyric-belting fan base may just see them spitting out tunes for decades to come. In my opinion, the race has just begun.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: he arranged a stay at a motel. In 1969 this was very risque, but I had zero hesitation
I grew up in the bush, and in 1966, as soon as I was old enough, I ran off and joined the navy. I loved the job and was having a ball. Three years in I was offered a rare opportunity to train for a top-secret role at a base in Queensland. Me and the two other girls were to be deployed to Singapore 12 weeks later. That was before my radio broke down. One afternoon, midway through my stay in Queensland, I had some issues with my electronics and called for a technician. I'd expected to get my radio repaired and get on with the day, but then the most gorgeous guy I'd ever seen walked right in and changed the course of my life. John was as cool as a cucumber as he got to work and I was struck dumb, just in awe of this incredibly handsome man. I didn't know how I was going to get him to notice me, but I was determined. A few days later there was a social evening at the base. It was casino themed and I spent the night following John around, making sure I was always in his eyeline. It wasn't the most sophisticated tactic, but it worked. By the end of the evening he'd asked me out. Our first date was seeing Johnny (as he was then) Farnham sing at Lennon's hotel in Toowoomba and it was perfect. We stole as many nights out together as we could over the next six weeks and I was going more and more gaga by the day. As my time at the base came to an end I still wasn't sure if John was as swept away by our romance as me. He always played it so cool. As we approached my last night, he arranged a getaway at Noosa to go surfing together and a stay at a motel. In 1969 this was very risque, but I had zero hesitation. Somewhere in the middle of the night he asked casually: 'What would you say if I asked you to marry me?' If this was a hypothetical question, he had no hope of getting out of it. I flew right off the bed, jumped on top of him and yelled at the top of my lungs: 'Yes, yes, yes!' I didn't give it a second thought. We set the wedding date for October – just a few months later – and I had to request a discharge from the forces; back then women couldn't serve if they were married. The whole time I was back down south John wrote me letters – 30 in all. I still have them. They were so full of love and adoration and excitement about the future we were going to have together. It was like living in a dream. Then it was time for him to drive the 1,700-odd kilometres to Menindee, where I was from – a tiny, one-horse town on the Darling River and 100km out of Broken Hill. As his little red Datsun came up the dirt road, my stomach lurched. For the briefest second I was seized by uncertainty. I couldn't even remember how tall he was. But the moment he stepped out of the car, I fell into his arms and those worries dissolved. The love I felt for him was so overwhelming. I knew this was going to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I was so smitten with John, there's no doubt we rushed into things. We really knew nothing about each other. It turns out we're exact opposites, but are such a wonderful foil for each other's personalities. I think my lively nature has kept him interested all these years, while his calmness has kept me grounded. Our first child lived for just half an hour, and while it isn't always the case, that terrible time really brought us closer together. When our son and daughter arrived safely in the coming years, I felt like the luckiest mum in the world. At a time when not all husbands were so supportive, John encouraged my desire to study to become a teacher. And just like always, once I knew he had faith in me, I felt I could do anything. To this day I wonder about how I knew, or if it was just amazing luck. But either way I've been married to the love of my life for over 55 years, so my instincts weren't bad. He's still just as gorgeous to me today as he was that afternoon in 1969. Being with John has always felt to me like living under a lucky star – everything seems to work out just how it's supposed to. Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Billy Joel sets record straight over DUI rumors after multiple concerning car accidents
is setting the record straight. In his candid new two-part HBO documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, the music legend tackles the ups and downs of his life in the spotlight, including long-standing rumors that he's had multiple DUIs. The 76-year-old singer, who announced he is battling the brain disorder, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), earlier this year, makes it clear: those stories are false. 'I didn't like the tabloid kind of press. For example, there's this rumor that I have all these DUIs,' Joel says in the film. 'That never happened.' 'But people keep repeating the myth. 'Oh, he's got so many DUIs.' I never had a DUI. So f**k you,' he adds. 'The press can be mean. So having that much attention paid to you is not easy.' The deeply personal documentary, now streaming on HBO, explores a turbulent chapter in Joel's life during the mid-2000s when he stepped out of the public eye. During that time, he was involved in several car accidents, leading many to speculate about substance use. In June 2002, Joel crashed his 1999 Mercedes-Benz. The following year, he drove a 2002 Mercedes into a tree in Sag Harbor and was treated for head injuries. Then in 2004, he lost control of his 1967 Citroen in Bayville, crashing into an empty house. The final accident left him with a cut finger and minor damage to the car, according to the documentary. Still, Joel insists those incidents weren't alcohol-related. In a 2013 interview with The New York Times Magazine, he clarified: 'I never had a DUI in my life. That's another fallacy. Look at the police records.' Instead, he attributed the accidents to emotional struggles. 'My mind wasn't right. I wasn't focused. I went into a deep, deep depression after 9/11. 9/11 just knocked the wind out of me, and I don't know even now if I've recovered from it. It really, really hurt that man could do that to man. And then there was a breakup with somebody, and it took me a while to get me back on my feet again.' And So It Goes, directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, not only clears up misconceptions but also takes a closer look at Joel's battles with depression, substance abuse, and the road to recovery. As Joel told People in a recent cover story, it wasn't easy to revisit some of those moments. 'Some of the stupid stuff I did, that's painful to talk about,' he admitted. Initially hesitant about the documentary, Joel said, 'My goal was to get it over with… When I do interviews, people just ask you about yourself and you get a little self-conscious about it eventually. It's almost embarrassing. When you're talking about your personal life detached from the material… I suppose there's a little bit of wariness involved.' The film also includes insights from those closest to him, including his sister Judy, daughter Alexa Ray, 39, and longtime friends and collaborators like lighting designer Steve Cohen and booking agent Dennis Arfa. Cohen reflected on Joel's resilience and drive: 'You make mistakes. He always said to me, "You show up. You do the best you can. You admit when you're wrong and you let other people tell you how good you are. You don't tell yourself how good you are."' And ultimately, Cohen hopes fans walk away with a deeper understanding of the man behind the music. 'I hope fans walk away realizing how f**king human he is, and I hope they come back listening to these songs again with a deeper affection. I hope that you walk away from this thing going, 'I now justify my fandom. I know why this guy is as good and why I respond to it, because that's the kind of guy I can relate to his life. I can relate to those emotions.' Despite his hesitations to do the documentary, Joel was an open book as he looked back on his failed marriages, battle with alcohol, financial troubles and much more. The singer also opens up about pre-fame suicide attempts and his mother's alcoholism. And So It Goes has already gained glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, Variety, and Newsday. In May, the Piano Man singer shared that he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The condition has impacted Joel's 'hearing, vision, and balance,' according to the social media post. A spokesperson for the singer said that his condition had been 'exacerbated' by recent performances. Normal pressure hydrocephalus is caused by too much fluid collecting in the ventricles, or spaces in the brain and spinal cord, putting pressure on these areas and triggering its symptoms, including struggling to walk, an inability to control the bladder and memory problems. This happens because the excess fluid compresses and stretches the brain tissue, interfering with the control of muscles and communication between nerve cells. When diagnosed early, NPH can often be effectively treated with surgery that drains excess fluid from the brain, relieving pressure and symptoms - but it can often be mistaken at an early stage for other illnesses such as dementia. However, if left untreated, the condition may lead to permanent damage in its later stages. Joel's illustrious career as a musician began back in the mid-1960, which led to the release of debut studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971). But it failed to gain any real traction until after the success of his follow-up, Piano Man (1973), that peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. Now an established name on the musical landscape, Joel became a million seller with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his commercial breakout making him a bonafide star came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which featured the hit singles Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Just The Way You Are, She's Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young. He would go on to release a 13th album - Fantasies & Delusions (2001) - that features classical compositions from Joel, a first for him during his career. With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Joel is one of the world's best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
MasterChef Australia viewers shocked by Julie Goodwin's dramatic weight loss as she returns to the show for brutal elimination challenge that saw fan favourite in tears after being sent home
Julie Goodwin returned to MasterChef Australia on Sunday night. The chef, who won the 2009 season, make a guest appearance in the Back To Win series to present the contestants with an elimination challenge. And fans tuning in were shocked by how different the 54-year-old looks after her dramatic weight loss. Several people posted to X to share their thoughts as the episode aired. 'That's quite some glow up for Julie,' said one person with another agreeing, 'I can't believe how Julie looks.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Wow I can't believe how thin Julie is. She looks good, but I think the drop in weight makes her look older also,' another posted. 'Pulled pork isn't the only thing Julie Goodwin's been shredding huh?' joked someone else. 'Wow I hardly recognised Julie!' one said with yet another chiming in, 'Julie looks good!' Viewers were in uproar over the night's elimination, however, with beloved contestant Sarah Todd sent home after her undercooked pork belly failed to impress. Sarah, who made headlines for her romance with fellow contestant Declan Cleary, who was also eliminated earlier this month, broke down in tears as she explained she was grateful for her time in the high-pressure kitchen. 'I'm absolutely proud of everything I've done this time around in the kitchen,' she said. 'It's been really fun to push myself and experiment and create the next version of me,' she continued. 'I'm very grateful for MasterChef. It's given me a really beautiful life. And I'm excited. I'm excited for what's about to come. 'That's quite some glow up for Julie,' said one person with another agreeing, 'I can't believe how Julie looks.' Julie first appeared on MasterChef Australia in 2009 (right) Julie's exciting announcement comes just days after she issued a statement defending her weight loss after fans raised concerns about her health. Julie shared an update on Instagram after a new photo, in which she looked very slim, was posted to her account. Her dramatic transformation led to comments from worried followers. 'Thanks to all who have expressed concern about my health,' she began. 'I am well and I am within the healthy weight range. My doctor concurs,' she continued. 'For those who have asked me for advice or tips, I am not qualified to provide this. It's advice that should be sought from your trusted health professionals, not from me. I'm a TV cook,' Julie continued. 'For those who want to comment on the shape and condition of my body please, do it on your own page because I'm tired of reading it. For that reason I'll be turning off comments on this post. 'For all of us can we please find something more interesting to talk about. Can we please model kindness to our kids and grandkids and can we please leave this obsession with people's looks back in the 1980s. Peace and love.' The celebrity cookbook author shot to national fame after winning the inaugural season of Network Ten's MasterChef Australia in 2009.
