There goes Sunday...

Well, I said something would turn up for Sunday- but I didn't expect this.

This weekend Wrong Turn play two big shows with Leadfinger from Wollongong. Leadfinger main man Stew Cunningham has played in some of this country's most rockin' bands including Proton Energy Pills, Brother Brick & Asteroid B-612. The boys are in town to launch their new album, "Rich Kids", which has just been released by Spanish label Bang! Records.

Leadfinger solo at the Labour In Vain? I'm there.

Last word on the Greyhound?

Well, despite earlier posts and news, it looks like it's fallen through. From this week's local paper:

I got asked to leave the Hound at the end of the Sixfthick show in the front bar there last Sunday, by the way. The two events are not necessarily connected, of course.

Hmm, a wet weekend looms

Well, there's a wet weekend on the horizon, which will probably see me staying at home.
I have a stack of 11 new CDs to get through, including the Killer Birds ep and new albums from the Kamikaze Trio and The Super Insurgent Group of Intemperance Talent, with a few more on the way from Rich at Dropkick Records as well.
There are a some things that might tempt me out, though. Tijuana Souvenirs for free at the Pint on Punt tonight is an option, or maybe the Apartments with Dave Graney & Clare Moore's Lurid Yellow Mist at the Northcote Social Club

Saturday there are a few things happening- not least of which are the almighty Dynamo at the Greyhound, maybe, or Nation Blue and others over at the Arthouse. Or try getting drunk and taking a ride in that big Ferris Wheel in Birrarung Marr, in the rain. In the dark. And the howling wind.

And I have long, slow, cold-brewed high hopped batch of beer to bottle...

Looks like this will have to wait until next week, then:

Penny Ikinger- live and on screen

Depending on where you are and when you read this, you may be able to catch a live set by Penny Ikinger at the Greyhound in St Kilda on Thursday 24th May, from 8.00pm. She'll be playing with Andrew McCubbin, and is planning to debut some new material. Entry is free.
If you can't make that, "Electra", the Rachel Lucas documentary about Penny, is showing as part of the St. Kilda Film Festival on Saturday 9th June, at the George Cinema in Fitzroy St. It was selected for showing from over 700 entrants to the festival, and if you've seen any of the videos Rachel & Penny have worked on previously, you'll know why. If you haven't, well, here's "Kathleen":

Movie details:

Chrissy Amphlett interviews iconic Melbourne electric guitarist/chanteuse Penny Ikinger on her unique rock n' roll journey in this candid conversation between two pioneer women of Australian rock.
Ikinger is a genuine rarity - a female electric guitarist renowned for her searing, mesmerising guitar solos and violent use of distortion pedals - a graduate of the Radio Birdman school of axe warfare.
Featuring: Penny Ikinger, Chrissy Amphlett, Deniz Tek, Louis Tillet, Kim Salmon, Charlie Owen, Clare Moore

Sounds good to me. And yes, I know I've been talking about movies a lot lately. Sue me.

Couple of interesting things on

The monthly Primitive night at Exile on Smith Street sounds entertaining to say the least:
The Straight Arrows, from that other city, play their first gig in Melbourne. These garage punk chumps sound like your favourite band if you had good taste. A frenzied mess of feedback, fuzz, and screams that will leave you feeling woozy and aurally fingered. Comprised by members from Holy Soul and KIOSK, these guys are so not right that they’re right…right?
The Ooga Boogas defy a simple description. Think an unholy mess of experimental surf jams crossed with downright stupid riffs, spazzy Beefheart-esque mong rock, and spaceage drone wigouts. This ensemble features members from The Sailors, The Onyas, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Watch them shit their pants at their very first gig. Now that’s entertorment!


And Adelaide's King Daddy are in town, launching a single, to be followed very soon by an album, "Evil Love" both on Spooky Records
May 18 at the Old Bar , with the Exotics and Dead South, then on to Pony for a 2am show, and May 19 at The Greyhound with Brigitte Handly & The Dark Shadows (Syd) who are also launching a CD.
Take your hips for shaking and your teeth for breaking!

If you prefer a movie, try this:

One of a handful of bands to genuinely push the punk/post-punk template, The Gun Club was fronted by legendary vocalist Jeffrey Lee Pierce and included such luminaries as Kid Congo Powers, Patricia Morrison, Romi Mori and Terry Graham in their fluid line up. Producing seriously muscular albums like "Miami" and "The Fire of Love", and classic tunes such as "Sex Beat" and "She's Like Heroin To Me", Ghost on the Highway recounts both Pierce's story and the band's 17 year history.
Last chance to see it (for the foreseeable future, anyway) is at ACMI in Federation Square on Saturday.
I'm a bit let down that it doesn't seem to include any contribution from LA punk legend and Flesheaters mainman Chris D, who produced and released "Fire of Love", but will probably go along anyway.

Phew.

Well. What a weekend- three days worth, too.
On Friday I caught GUT, Kim Volkman & the Whiskey Priests, Intoxica & Sixfthick at the Greyhound. All good- and the place was nicely full too.


Saturday I went by the Corner Hotel early to say hello to Vinz and the others from Demi Dero Inc. then over to Exile On Smith Street, where I was too early for Tiger By The Tail. Went down to the idGAFF to see if the rumour of Sixfthick doing a last minute show as part of the GAFFStock weekend was true- it was, and they did.
Recovery session at the St. Kilda Bowling Club on Sunday went on a little too long, though. I had a very quiet day on Monday, I can tell you.
Except that it wasn't really that quiet- the tinnitus that has been bugging me off and on for the past few years is in full flight right now. The loud constant feedback-like whine in my left ear, and sometimes in my right, is making it hard to concentrate, hard to hear, and hard to sleep. It looks like I may have to give the music- especially live music- a break until I can get this fixed.


Thanks to Belinda for the shots of Sixfthicks Ben & Geoff Corbett at the Greyhound

The Greyhound (again)

Well, there have been 16 objections to the redevelopment lodged so far. Closing date to register is this Friday, 16 March if you feel inclined- you can do it via that link, in about 20 seconds.
The local paper carried a story this week wherein someone representing the new owners claimed that nothing would change, that the bar & bands would carry on as before. But when Neil Wedd says that he's been told that his Indie Initiative nights will be coming to an end after seven years, I believe him.
Final show list looks like this:

Friday 16 Mar
BRITISH INDIA, YOUNG LOVERS, NEVERELEVEN, SKYBOMBERS
8pm, $10

Friday 16 Mar
MOTHER
9pm, free

Saturday 17 Mar
THE BREADMAKERS, THE VIOLENT MOOD SWINGS
9pm, free

Sunday 18 Mar
THE PRAYERBABIES WITH THE SOUTH OF THE RIVER COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR (40 voices)
Gospel, country, blues and world music spectacular
4.30pm, gold coin donation

Wednesday 21 Mar
Indie Initiative:
Quinn, Nyssa, Bradsworth, White Summer
8pm, free

Thursday 22 Mar
Nervous Wreck, The Ribbon Device, The Pass Outs
8pm, $6

Friday 23 Mar
THE FUCK FUCKS, HYBERNATORS (with THE BOX WARRIORS), BITTERSWEET KICKS, THE BANG BANG BANGS
8pm, $10

Saturday 24 Mar
THE EXOTICS
9pm, free

Sunday 25 Mar
ROSIE HADEN and THE SLIDEWINDERS
5.00pm, free

Wednesday 28 Mar
Indie Initiative:
The House Of Slunk, From The Ashes, Calling All Cars
8pm, free

Friday 30 Mar
SIXFTHICK, INTOXICA, WHISKEY PRIESTS, GUT, SCREWTOP DETONATORS
8pm, $15

Saturday 31 Mar - Our Last Show
P TEX, LARGE No 12s
9pm, free

A tough call.

Take a deep breath. There is a tough call to make for Friday night.
On the one hand, a reformed X are playing with the Killer Birds and Cold Harbour at the Greyhound. On the other, the SXSW-bound Beasts of Bourbon with the Double Agents and Legends of Motorsport at the Corner. Both headliners are legends, all the supports acts are good.
The Double Agents (who launch their new album in a couple of weeks) are on at 9.00, the Killer Birds (who are almost done mixing their new EP before a long run of shows) also kick off at 9.00. On the other side of the river. There is no way to do both. And this is without worrying about what else might be going on at the Tote, the Espy, the Prince, or anywhere else.
Whatcha gonna do, punk?

Death of a pub

Well, the planning application notices are now in for the Greyhound- they are going to mess around with the downstairs bar & bandroom, and install a sauna on the first floor. That will be a neat trick if they can manage it, the building is about a hundred years old- even a large bathtub would fall through the floor once it was full of water, let alone when a few blokes pile in too. Another sex-on-site place, just what the neighbourhood needs. You can object online via that link if you feel moved to do so.
I'll post the full line up for the final Hound shows soon. Interesting to see that the Pint On Punt is already putting it's best foot forward to fill the void. You can drop in and see Fred Negro in his native habitat:


The garage/kebab joint across the street from the Hound is being demolished already, and I forgot to buy a last dim sim for old times sake. Damn.

2006 Top Ten list. At last.

I sent this in to the I-94 Bar a little bit late, so it's not going up there until the Barman gets back from holiday/out of detox.
Regardless, this is the shit-hot illustrated interactive version. It took me HOURS to do, so I would appreciate it if you could at least read the goddamn thing, OK?
In rough chronological order, then, here's a list of things that made an impression on me last year:

1- Getting kidnapped from the Niagara exhibition opening night at Outre Gallery, by Niagara & Colonel Galaxy. Two of the most charming and witty people you could ever hope to meet- Tracey and I spent an excellent hour or so drinking and chatting with them in the deserted beer garden of the Town Hall Hotel in North Melbourne.
We picked up a copy of the "Hot Box" 5 CD set, as well as a print:

2- Having my nose broken by an old friend in a stupid fight. I fixed it myself, at the bar of the Greyhound Hotel, with a handful of ice cubes in a napkin. Looked straight enough at the time.
So yeah, I finally ended up in Fred Negro's "Pub" comic strip- the hard way:

3- The second Tiger By The Tail LP. If it lacked the same impact as the first, that’s only because I had a better idea of what to expect. I’m looking forward to more from them in 2007.

4- Brewing- among other things, I brewed three batches of all-grain beer this year- malt, water, hops & yeast. From mash to mouth in a month. All tasted pretty damn fine to me, too. Then Little Creatures Brewery released their Bright Ale, which kind of removed the need to make it myself.
But our labels are better than theirs

5-
Pet frogs- if you want a really Zen pet, get a tree frog. They just sit there and look at you in a very calming way. Don’t get a yabbie, it will end in tears.
Note: they do get an absolutely murderous look in their eyes at feeding time, though. And they make a noise like a chainsaw, click here and scroll down to "calls" to listen. Then imagine hearing that at 6.00am in the morning, and repeated at random throught the day.

6- I can’t believe I only saw the Drones once in a whole year. Shit.

7- Radio Birdman- both “Zeno Beach” and the live shows. Standing inside the crush barriers at their final Melbourne show for the last few songs gave me as intense a barrage of music as I’ve ever seen and felt in my life. And of course them Bellrays, too. What did Lisa Kekaula whisper in my ear that night? I’ll never tell…
And I still can't get over this poster, which arrived in the mail, unsolicited and unexpected:

8- The net- all that myspace, podcast, message board and blogging stuff. I found old friends-hi, Hank! hi, Lindsay!- made new ones- hi, Grrtch!- heard some great new music, and tried to spread the word. Hope you found it entertaining.

9- Ian Rilen. Enough said.

10- Now I’m not really a list guy, so I’m gonna cheat by sticking a load of things in one item. I didn’t like the way the epicentre of live music in Melbourne got dragged even further north of the city this year. I did like the way so many people got it together and released their own CDs. Looking forward to – new Beasts of Bourbon, Penny Ikinger, Killer Birds & Double Agents CDs, the Lethal Weapons reissue, more RRR, more Kim Volkman, less broken noses…
I've heard the new Beasts album, and it's great. The Killer Birds are being produced by Ross Knight of the Cosmic Psychos- can't wait to hear it.

Some more plugs

Some tough calls to be made over this festive weekend.
Friday night is a toss up between Penny Ikinger & the Evolution playing for free at the Pint on Punt in Windsor, or Tiger By The Tail over at some new place in Collingwood, called Exile On Smith Street.

Then on Saturday Kim Volkman is at the Greyhound
Like I say, tough calls, each of 'em. Maybe you should just stay home and wrap yourself in tinsel. Or not.

Greyhound to go gay- official.

They nicked my headline!

From the Emerald Hill Weekly, 6 December 2006:
Greyhound to go gay
The 300 capacity Greyhound Hotel band room will be converted into a gay venue by March next year following its sale to the owner of a chain of gay bathhouses.
The new owner of the Greyhound operates Wet On Wellington in Collingwood, Shed 16 in Seaford and Bay City Saunas in Caulfield and Seaford.

This was in a local St. Kilda/South Melbourne newspaper yesterday, and well, I hate to say I told you so. Chalk up a scoop for the Last Tram Home, I guess.
But I will say that I still think this is bad news, not because I’m anti-gay, but because I’m pro-sticky carpet local rock & roll venues.
Full article here, click on the (crappy) scan to enlarge.

Greyhound to go gay?

I've heard some rumours recently that the Greyhound Hotel , arguably St. Kilda's last surviving real rock venue, is to be transformed into a full time gay bay in the next couple of months.
This annoys and saddens me on a couple of levels. Historically, St. Kilda was always something of a gay hub- who remembers those drag queen photos that used to line the staircase at the Prince Of Wales?- and still hosts the Gay Pride march each year. However, the centre of gay culture in Melbourne seems to have cemented itself fairly firmly a couple of kilometers away, in Prahran. Up there, The Market Hotel, where I once saw bands like Little Murders, International Exiles & the Nicest People , has been a gay bar for years now.
The drag show in the back room of the Greyhound has peacefully co-existed with the rock & roll in the front bar for years. I just can't see how the place will survive as a full time gay venue though- those long term customers who prop up the bar each day will go elsewhere, for a start, and the location is, as I say, outside the gay district. Where will the bands be able to play now?
And why do we need segregated bars these days anyway?
It seems to be a bad decision on a few different levels, and I hope the rumours turn out to be false. The 24 hour kebab shop/garage across the road is being demolished soon (where will the Carlisle St. working girls get their 3.00am dim sims & cans of Coke?) and if the gay thing doesn't fly, I can see the 'Hound being converted into apartments in the next year or two.