SLAM Rally.

Well, that was fun.
It's hard to convey just what it feels like to march down the middle of the main streets of your home town on a sunny afternoon, with 10,000 or so friends, all for a good cause. This video will give you some idea of the kinda casual, relaxed and goddam noisy nature of the thing:

This article is a great overview, even if the crowd estimate is perhaps somewhat generous.
I was very proud to be there, and to be part of the group of people I was with, even if some of the speeches at the end got a little...serious:

The organisers, the bands, and everyone who came should pat themselves on the back today, and then prepare for round two.

Thanks to Colette for that photo.

Hack hack hack.

Hmm, sorry about that brief break in transmission. Let's pile a load of stuff into this one, shall we?

If you missed AC/DC playing at Airline Stadium in Melbourne last week, then this tribute show at the Old Bar may be some small (very small) compensation:

I understand one of the Oldie's owners is celebrating his beard's 21st birthday, or something of that nature, on Friday night, too. Whatever- he's a guy who has been known to drink gin & Red Bull at times, so, y'know, approach with caution.

Then remember to set the alarm early-ish so you can get a good spot on the grass at this:

Playing times:
12.30-1.00: The Brutals
1.20-1.50: The Orbweavers
2.10-2.40: Grace Before Meals (Syd)
3.00-3.30: East Brunswick All Girls Choir
3.50-4.20: Denim Owl
4.40-5.10: Teeth & Tongue
5.30-6.10: Ned Collette & Wirewalker
6.30-7.10: Crow (Syd)
7.30-8.00: Alphabethead (NZ)
8.30-9.00: The Rebelles
9.20-10.00: Dave McCormack & The Polaroids

Last year's show was one of the best gigs of the year. Remember- BYO but no glass, don't forget the sunscreen, and only a complete arsehole would quibble about paying that entry "donation".

If you find the thought of being out doors in the evening a bit scary, you can leave early and head to the Birmy for this:

I have not seen this Taco Leg mob, but am very keen to.

Then a change of pace on Sunday:

Singer/songwriter LOENE CARMEN’s spectacular fourth album It Walks Like Love, released December last year, will receive a belated Melbourne album launch on Sunday 21st February at the Toff In Town. Carmen will perform with her live band and co-conspirators, young punks Brock Fitzgerald and Sam Pearton from The Scare on guitar and drums respectively and right hand man, bass player Sam Worrad, from garage rockers Holy Soul.

At some stage I also need to find time to check out the chinos at Chadstone. But you don't need to worry about that.

Early mail on SLAM.

I guess it goes without saying that anyone who reads this blog should try and get along to this.

On the 23rd of February, coinciding with the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s famous ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ film clip shoot down Swanston St, S.L.A.M (Save Live Australia’s Music) is organising a protest in support and celebration of the music scene in Victoria where current liquor licensing laws threaten to pull the plug on live music.
We will meet at 4pm outside the State Library and make our way along Swanston St and up Bourke St to Parliament House in Spring St where we will have guest speakers from 6-7pm.
We have organised the RocKwiz Orchestra with guest performers to lead the rally, repeating the three chords from ‘It’s A Long Way to the Top’ in the back of a flat bed truck as we follow – ALL 10,000 + OF US – holding placards and instruments chanting down these ridiculous laws.
Lack of support for this precious industry has gone on for too long.
Celebrate the diversity of Victorian music – this will be a day to remember!

You can sign up here to show support and keep informed.
See you there.

Hmm.

Not 100% sure what I'll be up to this weekend. Seems like some of my usual steady standby options are not available. Time for something new?
This "Everyday People" thing on Saturday could be good:

Guy Blackman, Always, Rat Vs Possum, Keith! Party, Flying Scribble, Space Cactus, Owl + Moth, Scout! Scout!, Isle Adore, Hammocks & Honey, He Said, She Said, Loveletting And The Weeping Hearts, Fuckyouastrology, Courtney Barnett, + More To Be Announced, + Performances By Spill Collective.
All that for only $16.00, at Penny Black in Sydney Rd. Brunswick.

On Sunday, there are two distinct and mutually-exclusive choices.
A boat trip on the bay:


And a record fair/gig at Yah Yah's:


Depends on the weather and the state of my wallet, I guess.

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.

Blackout.

That overlay is temporary, and for a good cause.

Get on board, if you can. The people at Electronic Frontiers Australia have more info, and there is a handy HTML widget available right here.

Another pointless day off.

So, another Australia Day rolls round.
I'm quite happy to be an Australian, but I don't go for all the rah-rah, especially in the current climate of Southern Cross tattoos, flag capes, and migrant bashing. That said, as with Melbourne Cup Day (another public holiday whose ethos leaves me cold) there are always a few good shows on the night before. Like these.

Yah Yah's has put together a great (free) bill- Gruntbucket, Crystal Thomas & the Flowers Of Evil, and the Vandas- which is well worth a look.

Up the road and round the corner, the Old Bar are hosting folkie/bluegrass legend Charlie Parr, with some supports still TBA.

While over in Brunswick, Thee Wylde Oscars and Dynamo are at the Retreat. That one runs late, and will probably pack out.
They really went all out on that poster design. Shame Goanna aren't actually playing anywhere on the 26th, as far as I can find.

While the Tote closes, others remain.

While the Tote hosts it's last show today, here's a glimpse of what happened there yesterday.
In an unaccustomed move for him, Bruce Milne put himself right in the spotlight:

It was sincere, it was funny, it was stirring and it was all true.
Feel free to pause at 2.59 for a shot of yours truly applauding wildly, by the way.

So, what next? Well, the company that owns the building have gone on record as saying they want it to stay as it is, as far as possible. And the team behind the Old Bar have put their hands up very publicly to initiate talks on a possible handover- for which Bruce has offered them all the help and support he can. But that may take some time.

In the interim, it makes sense for you to sign this petition, and also make a resolution to go out more often, to small local shows, not just internationals and festivals. How hard can that be to do in Melbourne?

The Tote.

A press release was sent out today:
It’s last drinks at the Tote. This weekend.
I know it’s sudden. I didn’t plan it to be like that.
I can’t afford to keep fighting Liquor Licensing. The “high risk” conditions they have placed on the Tote’s license make it impossible to trade profitably. I can’t afford the new “high risk” fees they have imposed. I can’t afford to keep fighting them at VCAT. I can’t renegotiate a lease in this environment.
So, come into the Tote this weekend to say farewell to the sad staff and to feel the sticky carpet for the last time.
I don’t believe the Tote is a “high risk” venue, in the same category as the nightclubs that make the news for all the wrong reasons. Despite being on a rough little corner of Collingwood, the Tote has had very, very few incidents. As a local police officer once said, “The Tote’s the quietest pub in the area.” (!).
It’s not dumb luck that the Tote has escaped serious violence. I believe the business has been run responsibly. People don’t come to the Tote to fight. They come because they have a passion for music and love to be in an historic venue that reeks of that same passion.
The Tote is (sorry, was) an important cornerstone of Melbourne’s rich and diverse music community. It’s too late to save the Tote but not too late to try and save other inner city venues that are feeling the same pressures.
I know the sudden closure affects a lot of people. Most importantly, the hard-working staff that are being forced onto the dole queue. And the bands and artists that have had their gigs pulled from under them.
Anyway, I don’t want to get maudlin (or viciously angry). The era of the Tote is over. If you love the place, come and have a beer with us this weekend.

Regards,
Bruce Milne

I don't know as there is much more I can add, or need to add, to that. I have been going to the Tote off and on since about 1983, and have had some of the best nights of my life there- most recently, seeing Sixfthick there on New Year's Day.
I'll be there again on Saturday afternoon, for Teen Archer, Daddy Long Legs and a few others. As the man says, come and have a beer.

Weekend off, weeknight on.

With my Friday night booked (see post below), I'm planning a quiet weekend.
But then on Thursday:

Joining Dirty Three for the Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney Don't Look Back performances will be long time Dirty Three favourites, Laughing Clowns, performing their early 'hits' package 'The History of Rock 'n' Roll Vol. 1'. Yep, the same line-up that emerged after a 25 year hiatus to perform at this years All Tomorrow's Parties Festivals - Kuepper, Wegener, Elliott, Miller and Spence - will join forces once more time to put new life into old classics such as 'Holy Joe', 'Sometimes (I Just Can't Live with Anyone)' and 'Everything That Flies'.

I think that will do.

Last Tram Home presents...#2

Oh yes- the next instalment.

I really am terrible at Photoshop. But anyway, that's Kids Of Zoo, Deep Where All Drown and The Dacios, plus me DJing off loads of old vinyl til 3.00am at the Old Bar, Friday the 15th January.
Look, it's even on Facebook , youngster.

YISYISYIS

I believe that I am somehow contractually obliged to mention this show, at the Birmy tomorrow night, where the kind people from YIS will be giving away limited copies of a new CD. You can listen to one of the tracks here.
I can't see what all the fuss is about, really.

Rowland S Howard, 1959-2009.

There is so much I want to say about this, but I can't right now. Here's something I helped write earlier today:
Australia’s music scene has lost a true icon with the reported passing of Rowland S Howard today (December 30). While no official statement has been made by management, close friends of the guitarist have confirmed reports that he lost his ongoing battle with liver cancer at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital this morning.

Howard, 50, was a former member of the Young Charlatans, The Boys Next Door (who later morphed into The Birthday Party) and These Immortal Souls. He penned ‘Shivers’, which became an underground hit for The Boys Next Door, and memorably dueted with Lydia Lunch on Lee Hazlewood's ‘Some Velvet Morning’.

In 1999, Howard released his debut solo album, Teenage Snuff Film, which quickly became a cult classic. Its long-awaited follow-up Pop Crimes was released in October this year, sparking a run of well-received shows and garnering widespread critical acclaim (it topped M+N’s annual Critics Poll earlier this month).

Howard’s ongoing battles with liver cancer recently forced the cancellation of several shows including a spot on the Homebake and Summer Tones bills. He played his last gig at The Prince in St Kilda, where it all started, on October 29. Review of the show here.

In his final interview with M+N, Howard said he was enjoying the renewed interest in his career. “It’s very gratifying,” he said. “When I play live, nobody calls out for ‘Shivers’ any more, because they are too young to have any kind of historical attachment to it … It’s peculiar in a way, it just seemed to happen on its own accord. And it’s great, because no longer do I look out from the stage and just see a bunch of ageing ex-junkies.”

NYE and slightly beyond.

Hmm, probably the last post of 2009, and as expected, there are a shitload of shows on for New Year's Eve. These all either a/caught my eye for serious consideration, or b/had easily-grabbed art online. Cast your eye over this little lot- a rough count tells me there are over 30 bands listed.






Do not ask me why Bama-Lama go for the landscape layout, instead of portrait. Similarly, do not ask why I couldn't find any artwork to use for Yah Yah's or the Tote.

And afterwards? Well, there are a few recovery parties and such going on...this one at Ding Dong, on Saturday, looks good:


As to where I may end up, I'm still not sure. There are a few parties to check out first, and it's usually a long night for me. Have a good one, regardless of what you do. Salut!

The best photo of me taken this year.

Split Lips. Born Loser.

Thank you,

one and all. One of the people who gave me this psuedonym is dead. The woman who encouraged me put the breath of life back into it no longer speaks to me if she can avoid it. But many other kind folks have willingly offered me sofas, beers and cold hard cash (and yes, that is in descending order of importance) over the past twelve months.

The Barman still tolerates my antics now and again- and I owe him a beer.
But, y'know, I still love doing this thing that I do, under whatever name, at whatever time or place.

Here are the details of some things I particularly enjoyed doing/seeing/being part of this year.

Here is a pic of me and some buddies having too much fun:


L>R Rene, me, Grong, Paul Kidney.

Things we do when hungover, part 115

So, I booked a ticket for ATP NY today.

I have no passport, and haven't told my employer yet. Oh well.
Fuck your SxSW, the Scientists are doing "Blood Red River" before Mudhoney do "Superfuzzbigmuff" AND THEN the Stooges do "Raw Power". I'll be in another country getting fucked up to all that- what could possibly go wrong? There's a decent Melbourne contingent signed up already- see you there?

Dudes and preludes.

Now, Russell Street on a Friday night is usually a place to avoid. But tonight I'm going to make an exception:

The venue's own website has kindly provided copy for this:
AARGHT! records and Radical Awesome tours present the show of the year at Billboard ''The Venue'' on the 18th of December. Australian Music Prize slayers and Frankston's biggest export Eddy Current Suppression Ring will go head to head with San Francisco's Pitchfork endorsed Thee Oh Sees for a night of silly season spastacularity.
Melbourne shit-heads the Witch Hats will provide support along with local breeze pop favourites The Twerps.
On Saturday, Deaf Wish launch their excellent new album "Reality & Visions"at the Tote.

I have a copy of this, and it is a fucked-up masterpiece of noise and awesome. Supports will be courtesy of The School of Radiant Living and ’90s stalwarts/supergroup Breaking the Law. $12.00
There is all sorts of stuff happening on Sunday too, including a Kelley Stoltz show at the Workers Club, but it may be too much.

Aktion.

Hello again. Sorry for the quietude. Much occurring, on this side of the screen.
And plenty more to come.
In the meantime, Dan & Rene of Aktion Unit have started a blog, putting up both sound files and posters for a slew of their live shows- you can keep yourself entertained for a while exploring it here , I'm sure.

Downtime.

Hmm, things are a bit quiet this week. Why not go see a movie?

Whatever you do, do not go anywhere near Latrobe St. on Sunday afternoon, or you may find yourself in The Boroughs.

Hey, if there's not much to say, why say too much?