Back with a big one.

I was prodded back into action by the massive guilt trip my mate Carbie accidentally laid on me last week. You don't really need to know the details- suffice to say that when someone who had recently read the whole of Last Tram in a single sitting asked me why it's not up to date, I blushed. Yes, blushed. Anyway...there's a massive weekend on offer, if you want it.

The Applecore festival, back in February, was great. Now comes the follow up- a live CD featuring all the bands who played is being launched over two nights at the Old Bar. That handbill is a bit out of date. In particular, Brisbane's amazing Do The Robot have been added to the line up, which now looks like this:

Friday, June 26
8.00 - 8.40 - Teeth & Tongue 9.00 - 9.40 - New Estate 10.00 - 10.40 - Thought Creature 11.00 - 11.40 - Actor SlashModel 12.00 - 12.40 - Deloris

Saturday, June 27
12.20 - 1.00 - Graveyard Train 11.20 - 12.00 - Super Wild Horses 10.30 - 11.00 - Rational Accademy 9.30 - 10.10 - Deadbeat Club 8.40 - 9.10 - Elizabeth Pistol Club 7.50 - 8.20 - Dead Forest Index 7.00 - 7.30 - Kid Sam 6.00 - 6.40 - Grand Salvo 5.10 - 5.40 - Milk Teddy
4.10 - 4.50 - Brother Man Dude Show 3.20 - 3.50 - Geoff O'Conner 2.30 - 3.00 - Do The Robot

Friday night is $10 and Saturday is $15. 100 CDs will be available each day/night for $2.

Sadly, Saturday clashes with the latest Mistletone Records extravagnaza- Castle Tones, which is on all over the Edinburgh Castle in Sydney Rd. Moreland:



Hmm, that's a bit pastel. But you get the idea.

If you have the energy on Sunday, there's a bit of a houseparty going on in the afternoon:


The Straight Arrows and Dead Farmers are pretty much guaranteed to make you late for work on Monday, or the very least ensure you show up with your ears ringing.

Whoops.

Sorry, I musta been asleep. Busy. Drunk. Whatever.
Let's get this thing up to date with details of an event that's on this very night:

In advance of the May 30th release of his new album, "Knock Yourself Out", Dave Graney is giving a talk on the art of songwriting at the Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square. That's at 6.00pm tonight, 14th May, and will be followed by a show by the Lurid Yellow Mist. It's part of their "Late Night Thursdays" series- details here.

Short, quick, busy.

The Drones open a national tour behind new album "Havilah" with shows at The Corner on Thursday and Friday, with both featuring supports from Kev Carmody and the Witch Hats. Now that's a bill that could either flop like a pancake or rise like a souffle. There's a lot of respect for Carmody in the Drones camp- they covered one of his most incisive songs, "River Of Tears" on a tribute album- here's hoping that translates across to the crowd.

While on Saturday, Crystal Thomas & the Flowers Of Evil play their first show for 2009 at Yah-Yah's in Collingwood. Their album was one of my faves from last year- it's good to see them back.

Congratulations are due

...to Dave and Leisa Thomas, on the birth of their boy Charlie Asheton Thomas, on Sunday.
Here's a couple of lullabies for him, played at a recent show, as only Dave can play them:

Za/zo *

I can't believe I didn't post about this in advance. Oops.
Anyway, I celebrated by going to Missing Link on Saturday, seeing a bunch of friends as well as an excellent set by Wasted Truth. On Sunday I saw Spencer P. Jones and Mick Turner play sets at Greville Records, and saw more friends. And drank some beer. I did remember to buy a couple of CDs, too.

* it was this killer combo, put down by my opponent about four goes in on Saturday afternoon, that led me to concede this year's Scrabble tournament game, and save everyone some valuable drinking time.

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.