An ache I can't shake.

Well, I'm still recovering from Boogie, almost a week later. Great weather, 30 or so bands, a 1000 or so beers. Highlights included ECSR, Puta Madre, and Dan Auerbach's surprise Sunday set. Box Wars and a bottomless margarita were just the icing on the cake. It sold me- I'll be back next year for sure.
Anyway, to business.
One of my favorite haunts, the Old Bar, is celebrating shit again on Friday:

That's pretty damn good value, actually.
I can't find out much about this "Afternoon In St. Kilda" thing, not even a decent .jpeg of the flier, but it looks interesting:

The line up includes GUT, Tim Rogers, the Crack Whores Dave Larkin and Smoke Machine- Dave Last's latest carcrash of an outfit. $50 gets you beers, drinks and BBQ from 3.00pm til it runs out, and it's all for a good cause.
This one's even harder to read, but I suspect that's deliberate:

The Gruntled, still Australia's best avant-medieval improvised drone noise psychedelic combo after five years of making music influenced by Syd Barrett, medieval songs about drinking, love and death, Can, Neu!, The Misunderstood and The Electric Prunes, are playing a few shows in Fitzroy, Melbourne next week.
If you've never heard them, you may want to check out the samples available at that link there before heading off to the Birmingham on Saturday. Just sayin'.

Double dose of special.

Now, I don't do festivals. Actually, that should probably be "I don't do festivals well." I get bored. I get cranky. Crowds annoy me. I wanna go and sit down somewhere quiet after a few hours. But I'm making an effort this weekend, for Boogie 3.

Look at that line up- apparently ECSR and Tony Joe White are closing the first night. That was enough to sell me on going, actually.
Although considering it's limited to 500 people, and is within walking distance of the nearest town if I really really want to get away for a while, I think I'll stick at it.
If I do decide to bail, though, I'll head straight into town for this:
Gimme Shelter ends it’s residency at the Exford Hotel on Saturday 11th April. We’ll be taking a long overdue break, giving ourselves time to focus on other projects and priorities. Gimme Shelter might be back further down the line in some shape or form, but there is also the distinct possibility that this might just be it...
It'll be a shame to see it go. No word on what this means for the same crews' Primitive nights- I assume they're over, too. Still, bearing in mind what some of the "other projects" mentioned are, this may turn out to be a good thing overall.

Lindt time again.

Regular readers may have picked up on the fact that for me, this time of year is all about the Lindt. Forget your resurrection, forget your hot cross buns (especially those peel-less travesties) and go for the chocolate. It doesn't have to be rabbit shaped, either- I'm going to give this a go:

Though you may want to take it easy- next week, it's time for tsoureki:

Sometimes it's OK to be a racist.

I like UV Race. I like them quite a lot. They have been busy of late- their debut album is due out soon, they got profiled in hipster rag Vice ( a publication I would never wish to appear in) and have a very busy weekend lined up.

On Saturday they are supporting the Late Arvo Sons on the first of their April Tote residency shows. Future supports for the Sons will be Flying Scissor Kicks on the 11th, Chinese Burns (18th) and Super Wild Horses on the fourth and final show on the 25th, by the way.


The Race are then part of the bill at the afore-mentioned Super Wild Horses own single launch, at the Lithuanian Club, along with the Twerps and Noah & the Arks, as well as "Eddy Current DJs", which I'm guessing is basically Mikey Young with some records- good ones.
They are also doing a private party gig later that night. Fuck these kids have stamina.

Friday conflict.

Hmmm, another tough call on Friday.
My old faves the Witch Hats are playing at the Old Bar, with Diamond Sea, Mother and Midnight Caller. No special occassion, apparently- just another night at the Old.


BUT just down the road at the Tote, Graveyard Train are launching their debut album, out now on Afterdark Records, with support from the Brothers Grimm & Sailors and Swine.

Trust me, the Old Bar and Afterdark folks won't mind too much which one you choose.

Followers.

How odd.
It's kinda flattering though. Feel free to sign up- I need the money. If I don't actually know you, it'd be nice to get an email or something first. Don't just show up. If you do, though, please bring a six pack and a copy of John Carpenter's "The Thing" on DVD to ensure a warm welcome, and give us something to talk about.
Note: those of you who are Twitter users will shortly have another option for keeping track of this nonsense.

Distant shores.

A bit of a mixed bag on a fairly quiet weekend, but there a few gems.

Beaches are playing their last show for a few months at the Tote on Friday 27th March- one of them (Alison, I believe) is taking some time out to travel. This looks pretty good:

On Saturday, a couple of old hands are out and about- Conway Savage is playing at Pure Pop Records at 6.00pm, while later in the evening- though I'm unsure exactly when- the Primitive Calculators continue their run of low-key reformation shows at the Rear View Gallery, 244 Smith St. Collingwood. That kicks off at 8.00pm, and is a bargain at only $5.00
On Sunday things will get fucking noisy for a while on the southside. Might be a good time to head over to Yah Yah's for the last of Nathan Hollywood's residency gigs.

Graney in hell.

Hmm, as ever, just when you think you have Dave Graney pegged, he makes a suprise move, and comes up holding a set of nunchuks that you never suspected he had. This is not part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival- I'll let him tell the tale:


"Live in Hell" is the sequel to the narrative show "Point Blank" and will be playing at the Butterfly Club from Thursday 26th March to Saturday 28th March.
The Butterfly Club fits 50 people and the show is performed without microphones. POINT BLANK was about a performer walking onto a stage and fighting for the territory. He wins it. It engulfs him. This is what happens next. Dave Graney tells the tale and sings his songs and some by fellow travellers in HELL (Elvis Presley, Roxy Music, the Fall, the Doors) accompanied by Clare Moore on a tiny kit, Stu Thomas with a fuzz baritone and Stu Perera on nylon string guitar.

Fitting tribute.

I can't really add enything to the email I got telling me about this.

Ron Asheton Tribute Night featuring Bored! with guest vocalists Fiona Maynard and Mike Keane playing the songs of The Stooges and Destroy all Monsters! Also playing Kim Salmon, Mick Harvey and Deafwish! Its a benefit for injured wildlife in the Victorian bushfires so come on down!!!
$10, at Cherry Bar, in AC/DC Lane.

Friday dilemma.

Something of a culture clash this Friday, 20th. March.
At the Thornbury Theatre, something special.
Melbourne’s exceptionally gifted Mann brothers perform on a rare double bill in the splendour of the palatial Thornbury Theatre. This is a final hometown show before Oliver Mann departs for a European tour, while the prolific Grand Salvo (aka Paddy Mann) will preview new songs from his forthcoming album, before he also heads off overseas.

Oliver Mann is extraordinary- his album, "The Possum Wakes At Midnight", was an astonishing highlight of last year.
But, very much on the other hand, the mighty Pink Fits are in town launching their new album, "Deja Blues", (out now on Off The Hip) at the Tote, with support from the Vandas and Midnight Woolf.

Diversity makes for some tough calls, people.

AMPivalent.

The time is nearing for the announcement of this year's Australian Music Prize winner. And that's all there is apparently- an announcement, due to made on Friday. I haven't seen anything about any sort of actual ceremony.
While the short list looks interesting:
Apocalypso – The Presets
Beaches – Beaches
Havilah – The Drones
In Ghost Colours – Cut Copy
Jungle Blues – CW Stoneking
Love Is Gone – Jack Ladder
Presque Vu – Tom Cooney
Primary Colours – Eddy Current Suppression Ring
Sympathy For the New World – Ross McLennan
they still leave me cold for some reason. Is it the lack of anything other than cold hard cash as recognition? The rumours of big-name politics behind the scenes? Their continuing failure to make any meaningful impact in the mainstream? I'm not sure. The Drones seemed to have parlayed their 2005 win into something, though I think that's more down to them, really.
Whatever. I hope ECSR win, though I expect to be disappointed.

More nudity.

Hmm, not a lot of info available on this, but anyway...

It would appear that the Brightspace Gallery in St. Kilda is hosting an exhibition of artworks by Mick Turner, featuring pictures of nudes, starting this Thursday, the 19th, and running through until 8th April.
Mick is the guitarist for the Dirty Three, and his pics have graced most (all?) of their album covers, if you are wondering why the style is familiar.

The continued nude theme is completely unintentional, by the way.

Nudicycle.

Hmmm.
Truth to tell, these folks lost me when they insisted that helmets must be worn, but anyway:

WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE, MELBOURNE 2009
This is a secret ride.....
Once everyone has arrived at 3pm at the Union Club Hotel, Corner of Gore and Webb Sts (the assembly place) and meet all the riders over a refreshment, we will ride to a undisclosed location to de-brief and paint slogans and decorate our bikes and bodies in preparation for the start. This time...we are prepared and are supported by a police liaison lawyer......protecting our rights...Everyone will have the chance to go naked!
Protest in blissful naked totally non threatening peaceful vulnerability. Inspire others to get out their bikes and join in the fun and delight of no emissions and naked freedom.
The WNBR message addresses the world wide issue of sustainable transport and advocates more environmentally friendly cycling and less polluting cars and trucks.
The WNBR is an annual clothing-optional protest ride for naturism, environmentalism, peace and the rights of cyclists to use the road safely.
Hmm, I don't know how "secret" this can be if it's all over the internet, but anyway, the weather forecast for Sunday is good, so who knows?

Noisy but feeble.

Apologies. Although this show looks interesting in it's own right, this is really just about me finally seizing the chance to write a post featuring Melbourne noise duo John Butler Fucks Kids. With a pic, yet. Not an actual picture of them, though- that would be a bit scary. But it's rare enough to see their name on a poster:

Blah blah it's at the Applecore house blah blah Saturday 14th March blah blah do you know what a bowcaster is blah blah what no Lamefoot? blah blah I want to see Truth From Facts blah blah see you there.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Update: this was great. I nearly got squashed by a falling tree on the way there- that was a good indication of what was to come. Saw some old friends, made some new ones. The Truth From Facts set is available here, if you care to listen.

Better late than never.

Being the sensitive and caring kind of guy I am, I was thinking about International Women's Day this weekend just past, when I realised that the Melbourne music scene are celebrating a week late.
Yes, ladies, the most handsome men in town are playing for your pleasure this weekend.
On Friday 13th, at Ding Dong, Rowland S. Howard plays with the Stabs and Nathan Hollywood*

Rowland's band for this show includes J.P. Shilo on bass and Mick Harvey on drums. This is definitely worth a look. $12 on the door.
Then, on Saturday at the Espy, there's an Aarght! Records showcase of sorts, featuring New Orleans duo Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and UV Race. I do not know why there is no poster art for this event- here's a picture of Quintron instead:

* nb- Hollywood is actually quite handsome, so I'm told.

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.

Hell Summer.

...in more ways than one. Following on from my recent trip to Sydney, this week my day job had me spending some time up in the bushfire-affected area north of town. You know, I had always thought "scorched earth" was just a phrase. I know better now.
But enough of that.
Sadly, an impending relocation by guitarist/vocalist Kirsty Stegwazi means Melbourne scene veterans Hand Hell are calling it a day this week, with a final show at the Old Bar on Friday.

They were great at last week's Applecore festival. Get down if you can.

Speaking of festivals, the Summertones roadshow hits town this weekend:

Mistletone is one of the best labels in town, with a wide roster of local and international acts. As well as being great value, (that's what, 28 acts for $35?) this should be pretty special. I understand they will be taking over the entire Espy for the day. Rumours of a shuttle bus fleet to help Fitzroy coolsie scum find their way south to St. Kilda proved to be untrue, however.

If for some unknown reason you don't fancy that, well, Rosie Westbrook and the Leisuremasters are playing around the corner at Pure Pop Records, at 3.00 and 4.00pm respectively.

I have no idea about Sunday, but I do have Monday off, so no doubt some sort of shenanigans will be had.

Interstate action.

First off, apologies to the people of North Sydney. I don't know quite how I broke that ticket machine at the train station, but I did, and you all had to wait while the guy reset it.
And to the hotel I'm in- I dropped that iron and it broke. It was a cheap iron. Buy some better ones.
Now, to business.
Friday night, Sydney:

The New Christs and Sin City are playing the lovely Excelsior, in downtown Surry Hills. Not sure who is in this lineup, but they are always worth a look. Always.
While down the road a bit, at the Lansdowne, there's a bunch of stuff going on:
Aah, the Lansdowne. The first time I ever heard Mudhoney was when I played "Touch Me, I'm Sick" on the juke box there.
Back in Melbourne, though, Saturday sees the 9th Applecore Festival held in a suburban backyard:
That's an amazing bill for $10.00. BYO, no glass, no dickheads.

Not so hot.

In the wake of a pretty rough week, some welcome distraction.
All quotes pinched from elsewhere, for your convenience. But I couldn't find a poster for this one:
Johnny Casino rocks into Melbourne next Friday 13th. February, for a special two set appearance at Yah Yahs. This is quite possibly your last chance to catch Johnny Casino and the Secrets before they head to Europe and the UK to promote the European vinyl release of his latest long player "I Am Who I Am, Not Who You Want Me To Be". Goodtime rock'n'roll.

Two sets from Mr. Casino will provide all the vitamins, minerals and energy of a fucking month long residency by most other bands. This will be a great night.

On Valentine's Day, what could be better than taking your date to see a documentary about Melbourne's libertarian smut king, Paul Elliot?


In the great lost tradition of the late-night Aussie TV infomercial, as compered by the likes of Issy Dye, comes TOTALLY WEIRD SHIT, a 'documentary' that explores the trials and tribulations of alternative bookstore owner Paul Elliot and his 'World Famous' Polyester Books. While 'pa and ma' record and bookstores are going by the way of the dodo in favour of dumbed down retail chains stocking semi-trailers-full of environmental waste, Polyester has stood its ground in a competitive and cut-throat consumer environment.
It's screening at the store itself, at 330 Brunswick St. Fitzroy, from 6.00pm.
Then, later on, the Old Bar presents a very special night:

To commemorate Bon Scott we have selected a handful of bands and players that are able to pay tribute to the man behind some of AC/ DC's classic songs. As always these nights are always sold out so get in early if you wanna witness the madness:BON VOYAGE, a superstar group put together for this night including members of Blacklevel Embassy, Devil Rock Four, the Hell City Glamours and featuring SPOD as Bon Scott.
That looks unmissable to me.

Next time- special bi-state edition.

Lux Interior

So I guess everyone's heard the news. I got the following email this morning:
For Immediate Release:February 4, 2009 Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps, passed away this morning due to an existing heart condition at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California at 4:30 AM PST today. Lux has been an inspiration and influence to millions of artists and fans around the world. He and wife Poison Ivy’s contributions with The Cramps have had an immeasurable impact on modern music.The Cramps emerged from the original New York punk scene of CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, with a singular sound and iconography. Their distinct take on rockabilly and surf along with their midnight movie imagery reminded us all just how exciting, dangerous, vital and sexy rock and roll should be and has spawned entire subcultures. Lux was a fearless frontman who transformed every stage he stepped on into a place of passion, abandon, and true freedom. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly.The family requests that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.

For me, writing about the death of Lux is like writing an obituary for my teen years. This band was so important to me. Other bands- Birdman, the Clash, the Flesheaters- taught me things, but no one taught me as much as the Cramps did.

They taught me about a secret world of cheap aesthetics, that meant while my friends played immaculate albums through expensive stereos, I played thrift shop singles through a portable record player the size of a phone book- and found that they sounded better that way.

They taught me that it was OK to have fun with music, to mix up humour and guitars and sex, but never to let the joke go too far.

And the music- aside from their own stuff, like "TV Set", or "Garbageman", there were all the gems I found through the Cramps, like Andre Williams, ? and the Mysterians, Warren Smith, Alex Chilton, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Randy Alvey, the Red Crayola, and so much more.

I have so many memories- the joy of finally deciphering the lyrics of "Drug Train". Tracing their logo onto homemade tapes, and t-shirts. Helping to do the window display for "Psychedelic Jungle" at the (old) Missing Link record store. Picking up a copy of NME at the time of their lawsuit with IRS Records, and then putting it down quickly, because the article quoted their real names, and I didn't want to know them. Those early bootleg albums. Writing the liner notes for "Born Bad vol. 3". Signing myself out of hospital to see their first Melbourne show, at Festival Hall. Meeting Lux and Ivy after a show at the Venue a few days later- from where I sit now I can see the bone necklace I was wearing that night, that Lux so loudly and openly admired.

But that's going to have to do for now. This is getting harder and harder to write. I'm gonna go and play some music.

This is probably a good time to mention that for various reasons I'll be taking a week or so off from here, too.

Let me take you by the hand

and lead you through the streets of Melbourne...
Lonsdale Street
Little Lonsdale Street
Caledonian Lane

The VIP bar was a different story, though.

Summer shows.

On what is shaping up as the hottest week in Melbourne for 100 years, the weekend's shows are pretty damn hot too.

On Friday, two of my favorites from last year come together when the Sand Pebbles join with the Lurid Yellow Mist over at the Thornbury Theatre:

While Saturday sees the High Fangs launch a six track EP at the Birmingham, with support from the Bowerbirds, Wrong Turn, and Pretty Green:
Or if you prefer something a bit, err, noisier, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists are at Ding Dong with the Stabs: And yes, the Stabs are also launching a new record.

If you still need more, there are a stack of acts playing the 2009 St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in the city on Sunday, including the Drones, Stereolab, and Jay Reatard:
Really, you are spoiled for choice. This city amazes me sometimes, you know. Don't forget the sunscreen.

Invasion Day.

In Melbourne, we get three big public holidays- Australia Day, ANZAC Day and Melbourne Cup Day. Colloquially, they are often known as Invasion Day (26th January), Dead Soldier Day (25th April) and Horse Race Day (first Tuesday in November).
So this show, at Pony and featuring Baseball, Witch Hats and Miniature Submarines, is on Invasion Day eve. Both the Baseball and the Witch Hats folks did posters- you can choose:


It's $10.00, and you don't have to go to work the next day. Got it?
You can learn something new every day.

Another random video

Goddamm YouTube. The things you can find...

I was introduced to this song many years ago, on the 1979 Ralph Records "Subterranean Modern" compilation album- whose Gary Panter cover art is probably worth a picture here:

Back then I knew very little about the acts on this record, and I still know almost nothing about this band- by choice, I'm sure there is plenty of information out there. But I kinda prefer not knowing.

Anyway, they were from San Francisco, they were called Chrome, and this is "Meet You In The Subway

Looking back.

Well, that was an education.

X were absolutely sterling- passionate, energetic and clearly having a ball, so much so that Kim and Cathy refused to leave the stage after the first couple of encores, forcing Steve to come back on for one more song and giving the stage manager a mild heart attack.

About the Saints, though...well, let's just say Ed Kuepper was awesome, and that it will be a while before I listen to "Stranded" again.

But the mid week gig meant I was pushed for time, and didn't get this posted:

Oops. Won't make that mistake again.

Don't Look Back

The 2009 season of the Don't Look Back concert series kicks off in Melbourne next week with a complete gem of a show.

Australian proto-punks the Saints team up with the mighty X for a run through a pair of historic albums- "(I'm) Stranded" and "At Home With You".



Both of these albums are classics, and the chance to see and hear them played in full in one session is...kind of frightening actually. There's some heavy baggage attached to these. But the omens are good- the Saints reformation shows last year were excellent, by all accounts, and X never fail to deliver.
See you down the front. No earplugs.

ps as you can see from the poster, the Saints will do it all again up in Brisbane, too.

Welcome back- to bad news.

Well, there I was all set to post some good shit for the start of the year, when I heard the news that legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton had been found dead in his Detroit home.

There's nothing online about this as yet, and given the time difference I wouldn't expect anything for a few hours, but anyway...vale, Ron.

I will, indeed, play some fucking Stooges.

Like lakes?

This will be a biggie. Pity it's so far out of town.
Magic Dirt are curating the music and film for this- I don't know what the film festival will be like, but the music looks great. Magic Dirt, Tim Rogers, The Nation Blue, Crystal Thomas & the Flowers of Evil, and more. All for free, too, for them as have a ride there. And back, of course.

A Pink Christmas.

A big line up at the Tote on Friday, when Stained Circles present a Deaf Christmas. Deaf Wish, the Pink Fits, Useless Children and more, with a BBQ thrown in, for only $12.00

I caught Useless Children last week at Roxanne- they are a bit awesome.

The mighty Fits are doing a couple of other shows while they are in town- and on Saturday afternoon, they may well prove to be the loudest thing to hit the Pure Pop backyard yet, before they head around to the Espy later on.

While later on Saturday, the Mistletone folks are hosting a bash at the recently opened Thornbury Theatre, featuring a slew of their finest acts, including this month's deservedly hot item, Beaches as well as favorites like Kes and Ross McLennan.

First 100 payers through the door get a free CD, too. If it's half as good as last year's collection, it will be worth getting there on time.

Christmas sloth.

Oops. Sorry about that. I seem to be coming up a bit short lately.
I blame two things- a lack of inspiration (combined with general tiredness) and the upcoming Christmas hoo-hah. That shit leaves me cold, I'm afraid.
No, this isn't some anti-Christian or anti-commercialism rant. I'm just over it. And, you know, I can be pretty lazy at times. About many things.



With this in mind, can I ask that anyone who wants to get me a present this year, sponsor a sloth instead. Details are in that link.

Brain death.

There, that's more like it.
Things are hotting up in advance of that festival thing, and that Christmas thing.  I haven't seen Baby Brain yet, but I've heard some good things about them, I like the name, and I like this poster:
And they are playing with some other fine folks. What else are you going to do on a Thursday night- go and see some living legends play at a favorite old local venue?  Well, this week you can indeed do just that- Died Pretty are playing at the Prince of Wales. Hmm, I wonder if they still look like this?

While on Friday, the Death To Music boys are tackling 1977- one of my favorite years:

The Adverts, Kraftwerk, The Heartbreakers, Ian Dury, Wire, Dennis Wilson, Brian Eno, The Cars, Radio Birdman, Elvis Costello, Roky Erickson & The Aliens, The Saints, The Damned, ELO, The Jam, Television, Bowie, X-Ray Spex, The Stranglers, Cheap Trick, Talking Heads, Ramones, Split Enz, Ultravox, Iggy, The Clash, Suicide and The Modern Lovers amongst others

It's at the filthy Roxanne, it starts early, and it's free. Bail on that dull office party, bucko, and come on down.