Beautiful Perth & Cottesloe Beach

Though I traveled to Western Australia to see a pair of Bruce Springsteen shows, what made the trip unforgettable was the hospitality of a couple I met in Brisbane during the 2013 Springsteen tour of Australia. Heather and Peter not only opened up their home, but drove me to and from Perth Arena and gave me a tour of the CBD and Fremantle to the south. A tremendous couple, their sprawling property sits in the hills of Perth and offers commanding views westward towards the CBD.

I arrived late Thursday to a city full of unusual excitement.

Sunbathers in Cottesloe, Perth's most popular beach. I swam and got a sunburn Friday, a day after Springsteen and at least one other member of the E Street Band -- Roy Bittan -- did the same.

Towel view of the Indian Ocean.

A shark net was once tied to this concrete pole. At the moment, WA is in the grip of 'shark fever', and has instituted a cull. Because that's what they do to wildlife in Australia.

The Indiana Tea House on Cottesloe Beach.

Cottesloe Beach.

Cottesloe Beach.

Perth Arena, where Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played their first-ever concerts in Perth. I attended the last two of three epic concerts and reported on them for Backstreets.

Western Australia's mining boom but it's far from dead. Perth's skyline is brimming with cranes and new construction.

Over the hill behind Heather and Peter's is a park that's home to a variety of wildlife. They said it's common for Wallabies to visit the neighbourhood, as they did Saturday morning.

Heather and Peter in Kings Park, which overlooks Perth.

Several Xanthorrhoea preissii, otherwise known as grass trees, are indigenous to Western Australia. These are in the beautifully landscaped Kings Park.

Perth 3 in photos: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

Returned from Perth yesterday after seeing shows 2 & 3 of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's first-ever performances in what he repeatedly called 'the remotest city of Earth'. Lucky doesn't begin to describe my opportunity to stay with friends met in Brisbane at the opening night of the 2013 Aussie tour. UK-born, 6-year Perth residents Heather and Peter not only opened their house but took me on a tour of Perth and Fremantle that included a stop at Little Creatures brewery (my favourite Aussie beer) and door-to-door service to Perth Arena from their home in the Perth hills. I'll post photos of Western Australia's beauty shortly.

For those interested in full-blown reports on nights 2 & 3 in Perth, check out my reviews on Backstreets. Editor Chris Phillips asked if I'd split concert reports with him, and I gladly agreed. I'll be covering Springsteen's two Auckland shows when he and the band conclude this Aussie tour at the beginning of March.

Here's photos taken from my spot in Front GA Saturday night.You'll find a few of the photos I took at show #2 on Backstreets.

AC/DC's Bon Scott is a hometown hero. Opening the final show in Perth with 'Highway to Hell' was a stroke of fist-pumping genius.

Bruce and Steven share a front stage mic during 'Badlands'.

Three in a row from Darkness -- 'Adam Raised a Cain', 'Streets of Fire' & 'Candy's Room' -- meant a lot of Bruce guitar face.

Tom Morello upsets his dentist during 'High Hopes'.

Jake and Springsteen share a quiet moment together amongst 15,000 fans during 'Spirit in the Night'.

Off he goes.

So. Many. Guitars.

Horn section comes down for a blistering 'Open All Night'.

Lovely Cindy Mizelle before her 'Shackled and Drawn' vocal solo.

"Look in my eyes ma you'll see .... ME."

Jake Clemons was massive all night, especially here during 'Land of Hope and Dreams'.

Your E Street Band.

Bruce at Roy's piano performing 'The Promise' by himself.

Roy gets his revenge for being booted from his piano by playing it with Bruce's head.

Jake and Steven watch a 'Dancing in the Dark' contestant maul their honeypot.

Tell me the look on Steven's face isn't priceless. Also note the strange woman who wanted to 'dance' with a drummer.

Watching Steven shoo people off the stage at the conclusion of 'Dancing in the Dark' is worth the price of admission. This shot is blurry, but captures his glee.

After guitar tech Kevin Buell helped Bruce peel his buttoned shirt off, Springsteen hopped on Roy's piano for the usual 'Tenth Avenue' intro.

Never to be forgotten.

'American Land' brings the keyboardists to centre stage.

Max gets well-deserved love. He was superhuman all night, most notably during 'Born in the USA' and 'Radio Nowhere'.

As previously noted, Jake brought maximum swagger all night long.

Bruce waves goodbye to Perth after a tear-jerking 'Terry's Song' and 'Thunder Road' on acoustic guitar.

Nice touch by the folks at Perth Arena.