An Evening With Bic Runga - MEMO Music Hall

It's been five years since Bic Runga last played in Melbourne, and tonight was the first of a two night run at St Kilda's MEMO Music Hall. Bic started the evening solo on acoustic guitar playing "Drive," "When I See You Smile" and "The Be All And End All" before being joined by her band, which included her partner Kody Nielson on drums. The songs played across the two sets covered material from throughout her career and her latest album Close Your Eyes, which is a mix of originals and covers. I really enjoyed her version of Nick Drake's "Things Behind The Sun" as well as the new original songs "Close Your Eyes" and "Dream A Dream."

Bic played some of my favorite tracks of hers, including "Get Some Sleep" "Listening For The Weather," "Winning Arrow" and "Something Good." We also got some rarely played live songs such as "This Girl's Prepared For War" and "Darkness All Around Us" off Belle, and the Beautiful Collision tracks "Gravity" and "Election Night," which I'm guessing was thrown into the set due to yesterday's UK election.

What really made this show special was the songs that were done with Natalia Mann on the concert harp, which enhanced the arrangements for "Precious Things," "Beautiful Collision," "Birds," "Captured" and "Bursting Through." As this year is the 20th anniversary of the release of the hit single "Sway," it was only appropriate that it closed out the second set. Bic was so happy to finally be able to come back to Australia and was really grateful for everyone coming out to see her. For an encore she attempted an audience request for "Gracie," but only made it part way through as she couldn't stop laughing at the lyrics which she wrote when she was 19 years old. All in all it was a great and intimate show, and hopefully Bic will make it back across the ditch sooner rather than later for another live performance.

Here's the video for "Close Your Eyes"

Fave Albums: Bic Runga - Birds

New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga released her third album Birds in 2005.  It's a bit of a darker and more mysterious affair than her previous albums, but contains many moving songs such as "Say After Me," "Listen," "Birds," "If I Had You" and "Captured."  There are also the more upbeat songs "Winning Arrow" and "Blue Blue Heart," as well as the country-tinged "No Crying No More" and Nick Cave-esque "Ruby Nights."  It's quite a beautiful album even with its sense of melancholy.

Favorite Lyric: A crazy love that waits for you, why must it wait forever? ("If I Had You")

Favorite Song: "Winning Arrow"

Bic Runga- Hello Hello Tour

Last night Mary and I made our way to the beautiful Athenaeum Theatre for Bic Runga's tour in support of her latest album Belle.  We had insanely close seats in the second row on the right hand side of the stage.  The opening act was Sydney singer-songwriter Ollie Brown.  He played solo on acoustic guitar and was quite hilarious with his between song banter.  Ollie recently won the Australia's Best Busker competition and we were impressed with his songs.  He also did a cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days."

Bic Runga began her set with "When I See You Smile."  She played the first few songs solo on guitar, including "Drive" and "Something Good" before being joined on stage by her band.  Bic was very thankful that we came to see here since she has been AWOL for the past six years.  She alternated between acoustic and electric guitar and piano throughout the evening, playing songs from all of her albums.  Highlights included "Get Some Sleep," "Winning Arrow," "Tiny Little Piece of My Heart," "Hello Hello" and "Darkness All Around Us."  She finished the main set with "Sway" and had the crowd singing along from the first verse.  The encore began with "Good Love" and then Bic played "Gravity" solo on piano for the last song of the night.  It was great to finally see Bic live again and hopefully it won't be too long before she is back playing in Melbourne.

Here is Bic's video for the first single off the album Belle, "Hello Hello"

Musical Interlude: Female Artists

Here are some of my favorite female music artists:

Bic Runga "Say After Me"


Sarah Blasko "All I Want


Amy Winehouse "Tears Dry On Their Own"


M.I.A. "Boyz"


Bjork "Joga"


Adele "Chasing Pavements"

Bic Runga

Last night I got to see Bic Runga in concert at Manchester Lane. Peter was kind enough to let me tag along with him as her shows in Melbourne are sold out. We met up for dinner after I finished work and went to Italy 1 on George Parade off Collins Street. I had the best Ravioli di Zucca I have ever tasted- the sage butter, toasted walnuts, and pumpkin were delicious. After dinner we walked along Swanston Street and stopped at a cafe for dessert. We got the biggest piece of cheesecake (thankfully to share) and hot drinks.

Around 8pm we headed over to Manchester Lane. Since Peter does work for Bic we were on the guest list and got excellent treatment inside the venue. We were given a table in the middle section, which was cordoned off from the rest of the crowd. After about 10 minutes Bic came walking over to say hello to Peter. She sat down at the table next to us for a chat while she ate her dinner. It was kind of funny to have Bic sitting there eating while all the people standing above in the next level were able to look down and watch- they had come to see her perform, after all.

The show itself was great. Bic played material from all three of her albums in the set. I loved hearing all the new songs off her latest release "Birds." Bic has the most amazing voice, and this was definitely the most relaxed I've ever seen her on stage (perhaps because of her trip to the day spa?). She played mostly acoustic guitar, but did a few songs on electric. John Walsh, the guitar tech, came out and played keyboard on the song "Birds." I wish the show had gone on longer than an hour, but she did finish around 11 pm. Peter and I quickly went backstage to say goodbye, and then headed back to his car. Peter was nice enough to drive me home, which was great since it had started raining by the time we left the venue.