Ben & Bodies.

Bodies say they recorded their album in one night, and mixed it in six hours- Eddy Current, eat your hearts out. They are launching it at the Arthouse on Friday, with their buddies Fourteen Nights At Sea, Buried Horses and the Spinning Rooms:

That's a very reasonable $8.00 at the door- and an extra $10.00 gets you a copy of the album, too.
On Saturday, why not make the effort and actually go to the Tote, to see Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side, down from Brisbane for one show only?

Support comes from Precious Jules and Nathan Hollywood's new project, Romance, a two piece electronic thing. I think this is only their second show, and I'm kinda keen to get along and check them out.

Late-week rush job.

Some good stuff on offer right now. But I am short of time, so will keep this brief.
Anyway, there's a big night on at the Old Bar:

What's that, 10 bands for $10.00? Bargain.
Or you could try going up the road a bit to the Bendigo for some rockabilly- a recent change of management means it's not as shit as it used to be.

I do like them Greasy Hawaiians.
If culture is your thing, you can take a bit of a trip down memory lane- which may or may not be terrifying, depending on whether or not you are old enough to remember the sharpies' 70s heyday:

Sam Biondo presents:
Skins n Sharps exhibition 2010
Relive Melbourne’s 70s sharpie culture with a spectacular new exhibition of vintage fashion, artefacts, photos, art, music and footage on display. At Kustom Lane Gallery 8 Luton Lane, Hawthorn. Open daily from 12 noon to 6pm free admission
I myself will be attending what sounds like the gig of the year on Saturday. If you are there, I will see you there. If not...then I won't.

Back to school weekend.

Following a huge performance at the last night of the Tote, them dirty old Meanies hit the Old Bar on Friday.

You may want to get there early- this will pack out, and for good reason. I wonder if they will set the onstage fire alarm off? AND my good friend DJ Frankie Teardrop will be playing from 1.00 til 3.00am, as well.

Then, on Saturday, a great line up, honouring a great guy:

Jay Reatard died last week at the age of 29, one of the most prolific punk musicians and song writers of our time, leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of records, thousands of songs and millions of shows in about 20 different bands over the last 15 years.
In the last two years, he'd toured Australia twice to rabid response from Melbourne, and on Saturday 30th January Melbourne is returning the favour by paying tribute to his life and music with a one-off show at the Ding Dong Lounge featuring reatarded Melbourne bands like Kamikaze Trio, The UV Race and Useless Children.
DJs Candy Cut, Pissing On The Mainframe and Stained Circles will blast tunes from his enormous back catalogue, and songs that influenced him or were influenced by him.
And as a one off, we will be showing footage from one of his wildest shows in his first European tour with the Jay Reatard band early in the night.
Doors are at 8:00pm, entry is $10, money from the door will go towards a charity to be elected by Jay's father specific to his life in Memphis.

That Melbourne-Memphis connection just keeps growing stronger, it seems.