| On Tuesday 19th March 2002 it was a beautiful 23ºC in Melbourne, Australia. Arriving at the Rod Laver Arena at 6.30pm the doors had opened shortly after. There weren't many people to start off. For the supporting act we were suppose to see Sevendust, which I was looking forward to, but they had backed down from the tour due to personal reasons. Instead we got Crash Palace, a Melbourne band, of five guys. They arrived on stage at 7.45pm. Different is the word that I described their music, putting it nicely. Everyone seemed to be pleased when they left the stage, as we were all there of one thing and one thing only. Watching as the equipment was set up, the arena started to fill up. The crowd was awesome while we were waiting for the set up the upper levels were doing the Mexican wave, which looked cool. At 9.00pm the lights went out, a blue light floods the stage as the band enters, the crowd goes wild. The atmosphere was electric. Bullets was the first song. Next songs were, Freedom Fighter, What If, Say I, My Own Prison, Torn, Who's Got My Back, Weathered, Hide, One Last Breath, With Arms Wide Open, One (Tribute to 11 September 2001), What's This Life For, and Stand Here With Me, which Stapp dedicated the song to the fans. After Creed had left the stage, the crowd had gone wild. Creed finally came back on the stage, Stapp said that we were the best crowd in Australia. (Melbourne knows how to rock.) Creed continued with Lullaby, Don't Stop Dancing, Higher and last was My Sacrifice. What a night, I felt like I've been to heaven and back. Stapp and Hestla gave out pictures, Tremonti threw guitar picks and Flip gave out drumsticks, damn only if I were closer. Stapp thanked the crowd, Tremonti done a rock-on sign as they left the stage. Flip kissed his hand and placed it on his heart, then pointed to the crowd. Strapp's voice was amazing, Tremonti's guitar was mean, what for talent. Flip rocked and Hestla's bass was pumping, the sound was wicked. I wished it could have gone all night. I will look forward for there next tour Down Under and I hope it's soon. |