Wrapping up.

Things are winding down a bit round here.
So far, I've written/participated in three different year end polls or roundup type things. I'll write the definitive one here soon,though.
So, what to do for entertainment?
Well, The Bonniwells are launching their Z-Man Records album "Unprofitable Servant" at the Grace Darling tonight:

And then there a couple of very quiet days, until the Old Bar host a free fucking free Boxing Day show, featuring a bunch of reprobates in pervy knitwear:

All good. It's all been good.

Leakage

Yes yes yes I know it's all over the place, but in case you haven't grabbed a copy of the Wikileaks "insurance file", go here and save it:
http://www.wikileaks.ch/file/wikileaks_archive.7z
You never know what it may turn out to be.

Arrity?

OK I'll stop that now. To business.
Every time I hear or see the name Straight Arrows I get reminded of Davie Allen and the Arrows, which is no bad thing, really, and indeed a bit of compliment to both of them.
Anyway, Owen and Ange are back from Circle Pit's tour of the USA, and the SAs will be at the Tote on Saturday:

They'll be launching their album, Chinese Burns ("I thought you were dead") will be launching a single, Teen Archer are playing as well as some new outfit from North Melbourne who aren't on the poster and whose name I forget. No doubt general shenanigans will ensue. $10.00

Charity.

That's a nice word too, and what a coincidence that there are two worthy causes being addressed this week. The first one is on tomorrow:

Melbourne's music community has joined ranks to raise funds for local muso Dimitra Bucolo, who has been hospitalised due to complications from lupus. Dimitra has been performing since 1996 in various bands and solo projects in Australia and internationally, and is in need of significant financial help with her urgent medical and rehabilitation costs.
A gigantic benefit gig dubbed Dimitron: A Benefit for Dimitra is coming up at The Corner on Wednesday 1st December featuring The Drones, Zond, Hoss, Love of Diagrams, The Stabs, Kes Band, New War, Matt Bailey and Breathing Shrine, plus Eddy Current & Twerps DJs.

Just to make the night even more awesome, the great Dimitron Raffle has been announced with some mouth watering prizes to be won.
Dimitra was kind enough to play with Aktion Unit at the first Last Tram Home presents... show back in November last year. Here's wishing her all the best.
And then on Thursday:

After a few fairly painful if not downright agonising years, X frontman Steve Lucas has finally managed to get his crippling back injury operated on, but has been left financially crippled, so a bunch of friends are lending a hand. This would probably be worth going to for the Ears alone, I reckon, let alone Dollsquad, Brian Hooper and the rest.
If you can't make it along to either of these shows, you can still help out, by donating via Paypal- to Dimitra at dimitrafund@gmail.com, and Steve at slxaust@hotmail.com.
It's not a community unless you share, you know.

Parity.

There's a nice buzzword for you.
Anyway- first things first. Congratulation to Claire Bowditch, Bruce Milne and Jon Perring for being elected to the Music Victoria board at this week's AGM. It was a tight run thing, apparently, and all I can really say is that they are three of the best people imaginable for the role.
Now, to the weekend.
If you are of a mind to head north to Mount Macedon and watch Leonard Cohen play in Michael Gudinski's backyard- with the aforementioned Ms. Bowditch, among others- why not make a day of it by dropping into the Kyneton Show earlier in the day?

I'll probably be in town myself, taking it easy, unlike my buddies in YIS, who have a lot going on:

I have got to get me over to that Thornbury Bowls Club sometime soon, I think.

In other news, Kirsty Stegwazi & Rene Schaefer are bringing their old outfit Handhell back for a one-off show as a two piece at the Old Bar on Friday night:

That's also a single launch gig for Iowa- and on red vinyl, no less.

Two men...

 with a shared past are both playing this weekend.
Leaving aside the excellent prospect of Do The Robot playing with Ninetynine at the Old Bar on Friday, Brian Henry Hooper is launching a new album over at the Espy:

It's on Spooky Records, and despite having not heard it yet, I'd assume it is fucking great.

On Saturday, don't drink too much at that Sixfthick 15th. birthday show at the Tote- you'll need to be in good shape for Sunday evening, and the first show of Kim Salmon's month-long residency at the Old Bar:

33 years of music in a month of Sundays and not a song repeated!
Kim Salmon will focus his attention each Sunday in November - at the Old Bar, on a different musical combo featuring different aspects of his diverse career. One week you may expect to hear The Surrealists, another, The Scientists, another his latest avant guard musings and on another the rest - i.e. Beasts of Bourbon, Antenna, The Business and maybe even a riff or two from SALMON.
All that for $8.00? I'm there- in fact, I'm DJing after Kim's set.

Meet the annuals.

Sorry about that. I took a little break to attend to some things that needed attending to. I'll just say this- stopping smoking is not that hard, but stopping smoking while you write is very hard indeed. Anyway, to business.

Music Victoria are having their first annual general meeting in a couple of weeks, on November 16th.

It'd be a good thing all round if lots of people signed up as members and came along, either to vote for the board positions or just to have a say in general business. See you there.

Last Tram Home presents...#6- the video.

Well, that was a fun if slightly weird night. Lot of lost-looking football fans wandered in, and either left quickly or relaxed and settled in. The bands were great and no one got punched in the chin this time, which is nice.

My mate Carbie shot some great photos, and some video, too. So for those who weren't there, or were there and want to relive the moment, here's a tune each from the Bulls, Ninetynine and Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist.

The Bulls @ Old Bar, Fitzroy (25th Sept 2010) from Carbie Warbie on Vimeo.

Ninetynine @ Old Bar, Fitzroy (25th Sept 2010) from Carbie Warbie on Vimeo.

Dave Graney & The Lurid Yellow Mist - Bodysnatcher Blues @ Old Bar, Fitzroy (25th Sept 2010) from Carbie Warbie on Vimeo.

Enjoy. No one filmed my post-band DJ set, which is probably a good thing. I have to say, talking 80s Australian music with someone like Dave, who was a pretty big part of it AND knows his stuff, was a tad daunting, even for me.