Audio CD review:
Parties, Anything Weddings - ...They Were Better Live: Live at the Central Club Christmas, 1998

Parties, Anything Weddings - ...They Were Better Live: Live at the Central Club Christmas, 1998

Band: Parties, Anything Weddings Title: ...They Were Better Live: Live at the Central Club Christmas, 1998 Rating: Release Date: 23 May, 1999 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Barrett's Privateers 2: Away Away 3: Tickets in Tatts 4: Monday's Experts 5: Industrial Town 6: Laughing Boy 7: Sisters of Mercy 8: Hungry Years 9: Tilting at Windmills 10: Rambling Girl 11: Under the Clocks 12: Manana Manana 13: Decent Cup of Coffee 14: Father's Day 15: Rain in My Heart 16: For a Short Time 17: Wide Open Road 18: Knockbacks in Halifax 19: Grey Skies Over Collingwood 20: Luckiest Man 21: Step in Step Out 22: Rosy and Grey 23: Jolly Old Christmas Time 24: Scorn of the Women 25: Ladies Lounge 26: Roaring Days 27: Streets of Forbes 28: Sergeant Small 29: Woman of Ireland 30: Tale They Won't Believe 31: No No Never 32: Leave Her Johnny

Customer Reviews They WERE Better Live But until the start of this year I had never heard of them! I am very very glad I know them now. I am a huge fan of this band : Weddings Parties Anyting. WPA are an Australian Folk/Rock band, and one of the most passionate bands I have ever seen. 'They Were Better Live' solidifies that fact. All 32 tracks are full of energy and have fantastic vocals, some of the best lyrics I have ever heard and amazing music (especially from Jen Anderson on the violin). Highlight tracks for me are 'Barrett's Privateers' - a sea shanty, 'Sisters of Mercy' - very different from the heard on 'Roaring Days', 'Sergeant Small' and 'Woman of Ireland'- always amusing, 'Grey Skies Over Collingwood' and 'A Tale They Won't Believe' - always will be my favourite WPA song. There are more of course but I would go on forever. This 2-disc CD is a must have for a fan, lovers of Irish/Australian/folk music and anyone who wants some cheery music full of clear talent and I give it 5 stars. Wherever...they were always better live Featuring one of the great Australian singer/songwriters in Mick Thomas (Paul Kelly alone is in his class) and a changing but ever talented ensemble WPA could lift the roof off and set the floor rattling with songs like "Its A Tale They Won't Believe" or "Roaring Days" and tear the hearts out of the audience with ballads like "Step in, Step Out", "For A Short Time" and "Laughing Boy". "If you could get a pie a WPA gig would be better than the footy" as one fan has aptly put it Weddings Parties Anything were rarely anything worse than very good whether playing to a couple of dozen punters or beer soaked halls in their home country. Mick Thomas is touring solo or with his new band the Sure Thing and doing great new material but its a sure thing that these days on the WPA farewell tour won't be seen again. Full value for the price of admission with nary a soul leaving before fulltime. Chonk on!. Made every other live gig I've seen seem like a funeral! As soon as U2 finished, I raced over to the Petersham Inn gig (mentioned in the liner notes) to see these guys for the 2nd time that night and I have been a devoted follower ever since. First saw these guys as opening act to U2 and BB King at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and was blown away. Mick Thomas' voice - particularly on "Streets of Forbes" - is pure intensity and the band are right behind him. Too many highlights on this album to list, any self-respecting Aussie must buy this, but anyone who appreciates their rock mixed with a bit of dip of the lid to folk/country/story-telling and a dash of punk will get goosebumps over this. . You can see a complete list of all Parties, Anything Weddings discography, or go back to the Parties, Anything Weddings tabs