John Cale setlists 2025
Sydney 2025-07-10
Live at City Recital Hall, Sydney, Australia - July 10, 2025.
The band:
John Cale: vocals, guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Deantoni Parks: drums, synths
Setlist:
- Shark-Shark
- Captain Hook
- Mr. Wilson
- Chums of Dumpty
- Setting Fires
- Long Way Out of Pain
- Cable Hogue
- Heartbreak Hotel
- How We See The Light
- My Maria
- Company Commander
- Out Your Window
- Frozen Warnings
- Villa Albani
- E: I'm Waiting For The Man
Support act Xani Kolac was invited to play electric violin on Captain Hook.
"Last night I played my set opening for John Cale on the @cityrecitalhall stage which was such a thrill. The acoustics, the sound, the lighting, and the entire bunch of people making music events happen at that venue were wonderful.
I popped out to sell my merch during interval and met lovely people who were enjoying the night and telling me their own stories of music and violins.
The bells chimed and it was time to head in so I could watch John Cale and his stellar band play.
But when I got back stage, everyone was a bit flustered and then John Cale's manager looked at me earnestly and said that John wanted to have a word with me. I felt like maybe I was in trouble! Did I do something wrong? Maybe I played over time? Or stepped on a DI box and broke everything in the theatre. Whatever it was, I was just gonna have to face the music and hear it straight from John.
But no. John's manager said that he wanted to ask me if I'd like to play a song with him on stage. I looked at the stage manager who was trying to get everyone ready to start, they were stressed, there weren't enough lines set up. I said I could make this work with one DI line just please, please let me do this! So while the crew had to very quickly make a whole bunch of miracles happen (which they did) I went in and met John Cale. And this is what he said to me.
He said, "Hi, I'm John, nice to meet you, great set. Now, it sounds like you've got ears, so what do you think about taking a risk with me?" I said that I would love to. Count me in.
Last night I played music with a legend. What an honour to be so up close to improvisation, collaboration and experimentation in real time. What a generous, precious gift. I learned so many things in that moment that I'll hold very dear for all my days. This is a video of me shaking straight after it all happened.
Huge thanks to the incredible band - Dusty, Deantoni, Joey - who pumped me up, had my back and were absolute monsters to play with."