I opened for Mark Wilkinson on Tuesday night, 25 Nov 08, along with Nick Latta band at the Vanguard in Newtown (Sydney). A really solid crowd turned up to the venue, with most people taking advantage of the dinner and show tix.

It’s such a great room and yet it’s such a shame when people talk. I figured people would talk during my set as I was up first, so I did my best to keep everyone’s attention by asking for a sing along. A bit cheeky I know, but I had a review a while back that said you couldn’t get the Vanguard crowd to sing along during dinner. He was probably right, but I did my best to get a sing along by saying, mid song:

“Apparently you can’t get the Vanguard to sing while they are eating. I did try it at my launch but it was pretty unsuccessful. So I’m recording tonight, and I’d love to send the recording to the reviewer to prove him wrong!”

A nice sprinkling of crowd joined in. I played a short set, of only 30 minutes, after which I sat down to enjoy Nick Latta’s band, as well as my steak.

Mark Wilkinson is a great singer/songwriter with a soulful voice not too dissimilar from Tracy Chapman or Jason Maraz. He has great stage presence and I was thoroughly enjoying getting lost in his stories of love, life and loss. Bridget A’Beckett a Melbourne songwriter and tonight backing vocalist/pianist, was the perfect compliment to Mark’s music.

But what I just couldn’t understand, and all respect to Mark as this happens in venue’s all over Australia, is the table beside me still talking away. I heard on tv this morning that our attention spans have dropped to 5 minutes on average from 10 minutes sometime ago because of everyday stresses.

Now I’m not sure what these pretty young blonde things had to stress about except how many calories there was in the food, but they just didn’t shut up. Don’t f%&ken; come to an intimate gig and not even try and listen. Please.

So whilst having to shut out the sounds of the chirping birds and bar fly’s, the Vanguard patrons I thought on this night, got a great taste of the talented unsigned singer/songwriter’s we have floating around Sydney.