Storming the Neon Ballroom

The trio is back and stronger then ever! On the road with Blink 182, silverchair returns with their 1999 release, Neon Ballroom. In this, their third CD, silverchair lays on powerful guitar riffs, smashing drums and vibrating bass. With some of the most lyrically emotional songs ever, Neon Ballroom demonstrates the undeniable power of silverchair. The addition of pianist David Helfgott makes this CD even stronger than silverchair’s previous efforts, Frogstomp and Freak Show. Personally, I love how the sound of a piano and a smooth guitar go together on many of Neon Ballroom’s tracks. It really fills the soul.

The trio released Frogstomp in 1995 followed by Freak Show in early 1997. Neon Ballroom has gone gold (500,000 +) in the U.S. and is in the Billboard top 100 almost six months after release. Guitar.net attended silverchair live in concert on November 8th, 1999 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Minneapolis, MN. Let’s talk about the show for we all know the show must go on!

The silverchair Experience

Waiting for the show to start one could see that everyone was eager for silverchair even though Blink 182 was the headliner. Why silverchair is opening for anyone I don’t know. Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou walked out like old vets and the crowd truly detonated with excitement. The set opened with Israel's Son. Daniel was throwing his hands up to each side of the auditorium making sure that the crowd was ready for the show. When he felt the crowd was revved up enough, he struck his guitar’s strings with a big silverchair-dose of emotional enthusiasm. Johns dove into a soaring groove with the guitar while Gillies potently smashed the drums. Chris Joannou’s powerful bass vibes kept the audience pounding and moshing. The crowd ate it up. The band continued with songs like Miss You Love, Ana's Song (Open Fire), Point of View, Freak, The Door, and the stunning Anthem for the Year 2000. My personal favorite was Emotion Sickness , the first track off Neon Ballroom. Daniel Johns is into playing the guitar for what he can emotionally transmit with it. He is not overtly technical like many of the guitar players today. He jams with the great straight sounds that sometimes make legends. Johns throws in his voice in perfect harmony with the guitar. If you enjoy basic chord power rock like I do, then listen to Daniel and his guitar. It’s magical.

All night Johns was talking to the crowd asking if they wanted "real rock and roll." Johns shows influences from foundational rock like Zeppelin and Deep Purple. These were some of the sounds he learned from coming up in Australia. Johns, Gillies and Joannou give out a mix that only silverchair can do: A crossover of 70s and 90s rock and roll that is derivative yet totally original.

A hang with the band

I got a few words with the band but unfortunately Daniel Johns had already left the show. I did catch up to Ben and Chris.