Berlin Wall Comes Down: Lou Reed in Sydney

So 34 years after recording it, Lou Reed finally got his act together & performed Berlin... In Sydney, thanks to the Sydney Festival. This particular night, a delightful summer evening, we all headed down to the State Theatre to enjoy this sharp tongued New Yorker rocker do his much longed for show. The album, which has been dubbed “the most depressing album ever made”, is ironically in Reed’s own opinion his masterpiece.

With a super 12-piece orchestra, Reed's stylised rock paean to life-outside-the-circle was beautifully complemented by a number of talented musicians who all played a major part in the Sydney-event this evening. There was Antony of Antony and The Johnsons who, with an extraordinary voice, got Reed so emotional that he was close to tears (not to mention every jaw in the theatre that hit the floor). There was also Sharon Jones, who gave an outstanding performance infused by the kind of funky retro-based soul that is so far away from any traditional ”wild-side-walk“ you could imagine.

It was a feast of complex musical artistry, but what got us going was the encore. No insult intended, the artists relaxed, the music went upbeat, but it was carried a long way by the team of people with him on stage.