From Kerry: Thank you so much for everything that you do for us all. I don’t know what I would do without Murph’s Place.

I flew from Ft. Lauderdale to NYC with my aunt and cousin for the Indoor Garden Party. They had never heard any of the artist’s music other than what I played for them the day of the show. They also had no idea how big of an event this was for the fans.... We arrived at the Gramercy Theater at 6:00, doors were to open at 7:00 and it was freezing! In the line, we met people from all around. Places such as Berlin, Indonesia, Canada, California, Texas, and Chicago. Plus I got to meet some of my Twitter peeps and the lovely ladies of TRC. The excitement was thick in the air.

When we entered the theater we were blown away by the stage set up. It was a starry Manhattan night with a tranquil feel. There were paper umbrellas hanging, a bar with 2 stools, trees, back drop skyscrapers, and benches. We had amazing seats on the floor in the 4th row.

Russell was the first to come out, looking dapper as ever wearing a perfectly fit grey pinstripe suit showing off his gladiator physique with a monumental Noah beard and buzz cut. He stepped down the stairs onto the floor speaking to us as if he were about to teach a class (think TN3D). Very openly, he informed us that we would be warming up with him using the techniques for developing his voice for Les Mis. Even his coach was there. Then everyone else performing came out and were all asked for their methods. It was very entertaining. I thought that it was great of Russell to make us all feel at home before even starting the show. Russell sang Old Man River revealing his obvious ability to belt it out! Alan sang “Where I belong” acapella, it was so amazing that we were in tears. Russell, Alan, and Samantha sang songs from the Crowe/Doyle songbook and others. ... Samantha’s voice is beautiful! She was so cute coming out in bare feet and seemed so comfortable even though this was her first live performance in America.

I think my favorite thing about the show was the camaraderie. They were all there to have a good time and to entertain us and each other. The wise cracks between Alan and Russell were really funny. Russell messing with Alan about “fucking up a song in rehearsal, then again at the show”. Then calling Alan a “$5.00 whore for writing songs with other people, and Alan responded, "You're giving me too much credit.  I'd do it for a bag of chips."  Then Russell was making fun of the song lists at his feet. One in small print and one in large. That was classic. The guys getting together and singing Beautiful Girl was especially great. Scott sounded amazing and Kevin singing his part saying, “cause your just such a hoebag”. There were many moments where the guys really made Russell laugh out loud which was fun to see. Stewie showing up was also such a treat for us TOFOG fans! Scott sang his rendition of Walking in Memphis. I was blown away! - Russell made a comment to the audience about how impressed he is by Scott's talent.  Size 2 Shoes were very entertaining & hilarious. I was extremely impressed with them and "smooth operator / take it easy".

They played for 3 hours and I still wanted more. Sting showing up at the end of the show was very cool. I never thought that I would see him in concert and just few feet from me! Another funny thing happend. My cousin went to the bar to get a drink and saw Emma Watson standing there. She came back & said to me, "aren't you a big Harry Potter fan?". "Of course I am", I replied. She said, "well the girl is at the bar". I turn around and there was Hermione Granger standing there looking like an angel. I was very impressed that she came out to support her co-star.

My overall impression of Russell has always been a very positive one (I don’t believe the media garbage), but he stepped it up another notch for me by doing the show. He was humble, non-pretentious, and sweet.  You could see it in his eyes that he was very grateful for everyone coming out and for participating in all the exercises and choruses to songs such as Sweet Molly Malone. I’m Irish and grew up singing many of these songs, so it was like being at my local pub singing with my favorite singers and musicians! I was especially impressed about his frustration waiting for Sting because the way that he presented him was like he was giving us all a present, a thank you. After the show I stayed for about 45 mins to wait and see if he would come out as I brought my CD’s, Bunnies cap, and a few other items for autographs and I sooo wanted a pic with him, but alas I had to leave because my cousin was not feeling well.

In the end, it was a lovely, lovely night and I will carry these memories with me always. My aunt and cousin are now hooked too. They were blown away to the point that they were speechless! I can’t say one negative thing about this show and I wish that there were more nights than just one. I have so much more that I could tell. I can’t wait until they get back together again for another Indoor Garden Party. We’ll be there…. with bells on!

Thanks to everyone for making my trip to NYC an amazing time!

From Danielle: I'm excited to give you my review of Russell's Indoor Garden Party.  I've been a long, long time fan of both Russell and your website (you've been my number one source of Russell news since before even Russell knew you existed).  And your website was the reason I was able to find tickets to the Garden Party - so many, many thanks!

I've been a fan of Russell since I was 14 and saw Proof of Life on VHS over spring break.  From that moment I made it my goal to see all of his films - and I succeeded.  I'm 27 now, and never has my admiration for Russell's passion and talent ever waned.  In fact (as I'm sure anyone reading your website can attest to), the more you discover about Russell, either through his films, interviews, or music, the deeper your appreciation grows for the passion he has in his work and the type of man he seems to be.  Like I said, I've been a fan of Russell's for a long time, and going into the Garden Party, I had high expectations.  Though, honestly, he could have come out and sang only one song, and I would have been really excited just to be in the same room as Russell. 

So believe me when I say that the 3 hour concert he performed exceeded even my very, very high expectations.  It is truly a mark of how amazing Russell is that a person who had been very much mythologized in my mind ended up being even more charming, more kind, and more entertaining than I could have ever hoped to imagine. 

Going to the concert was a last-minute adventure.  I live in Philadelphia, and has missed the original ticket sale (everything had already sold out), so I had considered the trip to NYC a sad missed opportunity.  However, on Thursday afternoon I had the good luck to check Murph's website (which I do every few days), and saw the note that several different websites still had tickets available.  My very, very lovely roommates (and roommate's boyfriend) agreed to come to the concert with me and make the trek to NYC for the day.  All three of my companions had never heard Russell's music before, and wouldn't have considered themselves huge fans.  In fact, I paid about half of each of their tickets to encourage them to come.  I'm completely thrilled to say all three had an incredible time at the concert, raving about how, in their words, they were "surprised to like Russell Crowe as much as they did," and that his music was fantastic.  To which I replied, "I've been telling you this for years!" (haha)  They've also requested I share my music with them!  Russell definitely made three new fans on Saturday night! 

We joined the line of people around 6:30 pm outside of the Gramercy Theater - luckily my green Rabbitohs hoodie kept me warm, and anxiously waited to find our seats.  My friend and her boyfriend were in Row J, seats 7 and 8, and I sat with my other friend in Row M, seats 12 and 13.  I was thrilled that 12 was right on the aisle.  The stage was breathtakingly gorgeous, with lush plants, stone benches, a subtle New York skyline backdrop, and a bar staffed with a bow-tied bartender.  Above everything hung twinkling lights and a wooden umbrellas which twisted to and fro.  The revenue was lovely and intimate, with about 150 or so folding chair seats on the main floor, a wing of seats to the left, and stadium seating in the back.  I can't imagine there was a bad seat in the house, even back in the "cheap seats" as Russell joked.

The show started around 8:15, when Russell, in his full Noah beard and looking dashing in a suit, appeared with little fan fair.  It took a few in the audience a minute or so to realize it was him, but once they did applause filled the venue.  My heart sped up as he greeted the crowd, unsurprisingly being completely at home in his role of master of ceremonies and main attraction.  After introducing the crowd to his vocal coach from Les Miserables, he led the crowd in a series of vocal warm-ups to get us prepared for the audience-participation portion of the evening.  And then he began to wander through the audience, all the way to the back of the stadium seats.  On his walk-about, I came within inches of him since I was seated on the center aisle.  It sounds silly, but I was completely, totally, utterly atwitter.  Just, completely starstruck, with my heart beating out of my chest.  He came by at least twice, and each time I had the biggest, goofiest smile on my face.  When he walked by the first time, coaching us on lip trills, I was unable to do them because I couldn't stop smiling! 

My very kind friend took over picture-taking duties for the concert.  There have been much better pictures posted, but the two I'm sending are one my friend took, without using the zoom, while Russell was walking by.  The second picture was when she gave me the camera and told me that I'd have a perfect shot (as he was about 10 feet away from me).  The incredibly blurry picture is my only attempt before throwing the camera back at her, saying that I couldn't handle using a camera right now, haha.

Russell also mentioned how excited he was for everyone to see Les Miserables several times...as if the crowd wasn't already stoked to see it.   He teased singing a song from it before belting out a little Old Man River.

In a clever way to introduce all the performers, Russell brought everyone out, one by one, and asked how they were preparing vocally for the show.  "Don't worry, folks, the show hasn't started yet," Russell joked as each performer gave a different example of their preparation - some funny responses, others belting out quick bursts of talent.  At one point during his warm-up banter, a woman was trying to sneak into her seat late, only it was blocked by Russell, who was facing the stage speaking.  She very politely tapped him to move, and her reaction to seeing who was blocking her path was priceless! 

Others have done a much better job of listing the set list for the concert, so forgive my lack of detail.  I wish I had a full set list.  I know they played a really nice mixture of newer and older music (including a few Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts tunes) and a few covers (like Beautiful Girls, and  Walking In Memphis).  Throughout the entire show Russell regaled everyone with really entertaining stories about the songs and joking asides (especially to Alan).  One favorite was when he called Alan a $5 whore for writing songs with other people, and Alan responded, "You're giving me too much credit.  I'd do it for a bag of chips."  

The set up of the show was very cool, as every performer was given their opportunity to shine in the spotlight.  Mostly, all of the other performers would sit around and enjoy the show others were putting on, which made the vibe very collaborative and supportive.  Alan Doyle sang a capella, Samantha Barks sang Adele.  Scott Grimes got a standing ovation, and Kevin Durand did a kind of slam poetry rap which was particularly entertaining because of the reactions it elicited from everyone else on stage, which was a bit of respectful giddiness mixed with a "I can't believe he's actually doing this!"  Size2Shoes really surprised me by being a kind of Flight of the Conchords-esque duo.  They were very funny and also had great voices (and beat-boxing skills)!

When it was time for Russell to have his solo towards the end of the main set of the show, he teased the crowd with a little medley (which included Wendy among others) before settling on Highway Patrolman. 

After the first set ended, massive applause led to the gang coming out for two more encores.  The second encore song was "My Hand, My Heart," which very nearly brought me to tears.  Everyone was hugging on stage and toasting drinks as Russell sang the very heartfelt song, and at that moment I considered myself very, very lucky to be part of such a special night.  He cheered us all and thanked us for coming.  Had the night ended there, I would have been more than satisfied with a wonderful evening.  At that point, my friend turned to me and asked if I thought it was over after the second encore.  As I began to say that I would expect so, Russell and his merry band returned to the stage for a third time, sending the crowd into a frenzy. 

"So, here is the deal folks.  We have a special guest coming, but this being New York he's stuck in fucking traffic on 60th Street.  We can either end the concert now and everyone can go home, or we can stay up here and play until he arrives."  Of course everyone went wild and show continued.  As Samantha Barks excitedly exclaimed at one point, "this has turned into a real jam session!"  There were some Irish drinking songs played, a few more covers, including Man In The Mirror which really got everyone up and moving.  Everyone was really loose and having a great time, requesting songs of each other.  After about 6 or 7 songs, Russell kind of mock fell to his knees in exaggerated relief...a sign that the special guest had arrived.  

And then out came Sting, who brought down the house with "Every Breath You Take."  Everyone on stage looked a little bit star struck, and Russell looked really, really pleased to have pulled off his special surprise, and that his friend had come all that way to sing one song.

Hindsight has colored some of the song selection, but at the time and throughout the concert, Russell (and everyone involved) looked really joyful.  They created an atmosphere where you could almost allow yourself to pretend that you were a guest at an exclusive party Russell had thrown for all his friends.  And, that, really, was Russell's gift to everyone at the Garden Party.  For a magical three hours he made you feel that all of us were old friends, gathered together to enjoy some jokes, stories, and one heck of a jam session. 

I hope this recap helped capture a bit of the feeling of being at the Garden Party for those who couldn't attend.  I want to thank everyone who put on such a fantastic show, and helped give me one of the most memorable nights of my life.

Danielle

Wow- just want to say a huge thank you to Russell  for putting together a great Saturday night!  It was so much fun to see Russell perform with Alan. (Props to his vocal coach - Russell has never been in such good voice). For me, the best surprise was to see Stewart Kirwin again...he's such a talent.

It was fun to listen to the chatter of the people sitting around me - there seemed to be a combination of long time fans and newbies...fun to hear the 'oldies' filling in the 'newbies' on the relationships between the performers...

Wonderful show, such great talent.  Thanks to everyone!

Lynne

Garden Party Report from Bea

(non-political to the extreme)

I should be frank and say that I wasn’t sure I would like this different format, even if I knew the participants were all talented.  But, my expectations were wildly exceeded – Russell and colleagues gave a really enjoyable night of music & banter.

As many know I work in live performance and I think the Blender Theater at the Gramercy is a good room – the seats on the floor were comfortable, sightlines were good and the sound was fine.  Quibbles are about the slight sound problem early (which was immediately remedied ) and I thought the sound balance from the keyboard was a bit over loud.  The stage set was charming and in keeping with the theme of a garden – plus the bar & bartender.  J

Being a seated and ticketed venue the entry was timely and easy – they did check for video cameras, but everyone was using their cell phones as recording devices, as is the norm nowadays.  I recognized lots of Crowe fans – was sure many vocal supporters are GBS fans and met some young people on the entry lineup that came to see Samantha Barks.
           
Russell was his charming self – coming directly out to the audience to involve us in the performer’s warm-up routines and later audience participation.  Each guest artist was given their chance to show what they can do – we know Scott G and Kevin (Tree) can sing – and of course Alan Doyle was Mr. Congeniality – but Russell’s voice coach from Chicago proved an excellent musical support and Samantha hit her solos out of the park!  This was the first time I’d heard Size2Shoes, two charming Irishmen who were obviously tickled pink to be on that stage with such famous and talented people.
           
“Noah” unleashed his new and improved singing voice, giving us a rendition of “Old Man River” that vibrated across the footlights.  He and Alan (or Al) ran thru many songs they’ve written together – Raewyn always touches the heart and I liked all, specially the ones I’d not heard before.  We heard some TOFOG rock ‘n roll and Michael Jackson too!
           
Both Size2 and Kevin Durand gave us some rap, Samantha uncorked a rousing Adele cover, Scott dazzled us with his virtuoso piano skills and very strong vocals – and we TOFOG vets were delighted when Stewie Kirwin stepped out to serenade us with his gorgeous trumpet playing (he’s pretty gorgeous too!).
           
Russell looks in great shape, is obviously in great voice and was a gracious host – even treating us to several unplanned encores so we could wait for his surprise guest to arrive, who turned out to be Sting – a great closer to an exciting night. 
           
I had a moment to speak with Samantha who was friendly outside, taking pictures with fans and delighted that some had come specifically to see her.

It’s always wonderful to see a unique program filled with talented artists who are also friends – and clearly enjoying themselves to the hilt.  I think the NY crowd, including artist friends of Russell’s, plus dedicated fans of all of the performers gave them a warm welcome.  I know we’d all like to see another edition of this format.
           
Meanwhile there are numerous videos floating out there for all to view – take a look!