Found it.

Thanks to Rene Schaefer for bringing this to my attention.

Boy, I hope Nick really does get that tattooed on his face.

Choose choice.

A bit more on offer this week.
On Friday, you may want to take a chance on the Thod, playing the last night of their May residency at the Royal Derby in Brunswick St. with a couple of others. Entry is free, and beers are cheap. Did you know I almost got bitten on the neck by a pet snake upstairs at the Derby, many years ago? It's true.

On Saturday, eternal sideman and all round nice guy Stu Thomas is playing at Pure Pop in St. Kilda, in support of his new album, "Escape From Algebra". I haven't heard it yet, but I have seen the Paradox a few times and they are always worth your time and attention.

You could always hang around a bit after that, and check out what's on offer at the St. Kilda Film Festival , but I'd suggest heading over to Yah Yah's in Smith St. Collingwood to catch the last ever show by Deaf Wish. You would think that someone would get the coloured pencils out for such a great band's final gig, but try as I might, I can't find a poster for this anywhere. Supports are from the Stabs (who were in great form at the Old Bar last week) and Teen Archer. $12.00 gets you in, doors at 9.00, with Mikey Young DJing afterwards til 5.00am

So Grong, and yet so right.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
Anyway, I'm either losing my touch or getting much more selective. This is another week where one show stands out- another visit by mighty back-from-the-grave Adeladians Grong Grong.

It's all there on that rather fine poster, I guess, expect for the fact that Saturday's Old Bar show now also includes ZOND as well as the Stabs as supports. And, er, me, DJing afterwards, from 1 til 3.00am, when I will be playing the most unholy mess of filthy noise I can dig out. Do come.

Shipping alert.

A nice spread of stuff on this week. Like this, at the East Brunswick Club on Friday:

Mistletone proudly presents legendary New Zealand band The Chills in their first Australian tour since 1992, playing two shows only in Melbourne and Sydney. One of the key proponents of the Flying Nun sound, The Chills have been much loved since the early 1980s for their charming, hook-laden guitar pop. The combination of their live energy and the consistent quality of their songs have established them as one of the most well-known NZ groups to date - particularly in the USA, UK and Europe. Having grown more iconic and relevant to indie pop as each year passes, there is huge anticipation for the return to Australia of The Chills and their heavenly pop hits.

Supports are from Guy Blackman and the (excellent) East Brunswick All Girls Choir. but I think that may be sold out.

On Saturday, my mate Zac (who mans the complaints desk over at Pissing On The Mainframe) insists that the Old Bar is the place to be, and I think he may be right:


And- is this Muppet lovefest on Sunday night at the Thornbury Theatre some Gen Y thing? Raised on "Sesame Street", I never really rated the crappy English TV show. But clearly some people did, and still do. This is an all-ages show to mark the 20th anniversay of Jim Henson's death, and has a hugeline up:

Performed by an array of local bands, dancers and comedians including Eagle & The Worm, Bum Creek & Shags Chamberlain, Super Wild Horses, Guy Blackman, Simone Page Jones, Clairy Baby Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes, Sophia Brous, The Suitcase Royale, Ooga Boogas, The UV Race, Heavy Mental, The Ukeladies, Manas Pandey & Lilith Lane, Evelyn Morris & Extreme Wheeze, Geoff O'Connor, Jessica Says, with Jess McGuire & Tony Biggs from RRR as Statler & Waldorf, the Thornbury Primary School chorus line and our very special guest star Kamahl!

It's all a bit academic for me, though, as I plan to spend the weekend admiring a couple more of Victoria's fine coastal lighthouses.

Get your own trumpet.

Look, I don't want to boast, but LTH 4 really is the best thing on this weekend. Well, apart from the X/UV Race show, but that's on Friday.

Aided by a massive press campaign (thanks, Paddy) it's a cert to sell out early. I'll be at the bar if anyone needs me.

Brothers, Dames.

A couple of specials on this week.

The Puta Madre Brothers are an experience pretty much unlike any other. Three guys, each with a guitar and a kick drum, just like in the picture, they make a strange, loud, howling racket. It's good to see them with an album out:
I'm pretty sure that title translates as "cheese and balls"by the way. Go figure.
Then on Saturday, you can catch what I think is the second outing, maybe the third, for the Dames, over at the Great Britain:

I have no idea what to expect from this, but given the ladies involved- Clare Moore, Kaye-Louise Patterson and Rosie Westbrook- I'd assume it'd be pretty good.

Last Tram Home presents...#4

I think this is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?
May 8th, the Old Bar. See you there.
As the Hicks would say, "This is gonna be gooooood."

Big thanks to Jez for his very autumn-ish piece of work this time round, too.

JJJ- an apology (kinda).

Like no doubt many of you, I've often been less than complimentary about our national "youth broadcaster", JJJ. I rarely if ever listen to it, and indeed have been known to suggest (on more than one occasion) that it would be a far better enterprise if it was being run by that young, gothy-looking girl who works behind the counter at JB HiFi in Chadstone.
But- but- allow me to go on record as saying that presenter Dom Alessio is clearly someone who knows what the fuck he is on about.

Longerer weekend.

How long since these guys played in Melbourne?

They will play an in-store at Missing Link on Friday at 5pm; a solo show as A Cloakroom Assembly (Scattered Order) and Shane Fahey (Makers of the Dead Travel Fast) at Loophole Community Centre in Thornbury on Saturday, supported by Charles Ives singers, Matthew Brown and Breathing Shrine; and finally at The Toff in Town on Sunday with Free Choice Duo and Paeces.
Yes. Scattered Order for free, at Missing Link, on Friday. Sticking with the oldies theme:

I have seen the Little Murders three times this year, I think, and they have never sounded so good. If you want real power-pop/mod/new wave stuff, they are still the real deal.
Then on Sunday, you can enjoy this, at the Old Bar, safe in the knowledge that Monday is a public holiday:

Not technically "records".

It was Record Store Day again on the Saturday just past. There appears to be some sort of shenanigans/argument going on around this, which I neither understand nor care about. What was important was that I managed to hit two participating stores in the space of a few hours.
At Polyester in Brunswick St. I bought a copy of "Prayers On Fire", from Julia Zemiro, of all people. That's three I have now- red vinyl, black vinyl and CD.

Listening to it later I was struck by how well it has aged. It is monstrously good- clever, heartfelt and immensely changeable from track to track.
Then, in the afternoon, I ducked into Greville Records over in Prahran to see Warwick and Steve, and grabbed this absolute pearl:

Details and samples can be found right here. I've had volume two- sadly, there are only two volumes- of this for a while now, it's good to finally make it a pair.
So, two CDs, for a grand total of $35, requiring a cross-town trip (which I woulda been making anyway) a bit of conversation and a few beers. A good day's work all round, even better that it was all done by 5.00pm.

(think of a title later)

I'm still in a bit of a distracted state for some reason. But allow me to surface long enough to draw some fine events to your attention.


I have been seeing Intoxica and/or their predecessors for a long, long time, and they never fail to deliver. Them Jacknives are pretty good too. Both of 'em for free over at the Retreat sounds like a fine way to spend an evening.
Or if you prefer something newer and, um, "edgier":

Chrome Dome are releasing an album and a 7', simultaneously, on the same night BUT on two different labels- Lexicon Devil and No Patience respectively. That's on at the Worker's Club in Fitzroy, with supports from Lakes, Free Choice, Repairs and No Zu. Not sure what it's going to cost, but I'm guessing it won't break the bank.
I also plan to brew my first batch of beer in a long time. Which will no doubt add to my distraction in the weeks to come.
And let me just drop this out there in an oh-so-subtle plug.

Down time.

But I have been busy.
I read this
and this

And I watched the movie, too. The book is better than the movie, by the way.
I ate some of this

and this.
I drank a few Bloody Marys in a park on Good Friday, as well.

I was there at Parliament House for this, which was great.

Oh, and I bought (a print of) this

Now, back to business.
This will either be great, or fucking atrocious:

Circle Pit are, after all, a band who choose to participate in internet threads started expressly to give them shit. And for that they deserve some respect. Or interest, maybe, or a kick in the teeth. Who knows?
Anyway. Normal business has resumed. Oh, and Melburnians- or anyone who will be in Melbourne on the night- should pencil the next "Last Tram Home presents..." show on May 8th at the Old Bar into their diaries right now.

Album of the week- Digger & the Pussycats: "DIY"

Huh. They play, they break up, they tour, they fuck themselves up. And every year or so (give or take, generously) they serve up another album.
If you've heard Sam & Andy before, you'll know what to expect- a fine squawking thrash-racket and gut-rush of clever (but not "clever") tunes that fill the air like the welcome sound of an old friend with a six pack knocking on your door.
If you haven't seen them live- and surely there can't be many who haven't- you can remedy that by heading along to Yah Yah's on Thursday 1st April, where they will be launching this in fine noisy style.

All hail.

Crazy times in the daytime right now. I'm just glad that today's earthquake didn't turn out to be much.
Anyway, I'll be looking for some downtime this weekend. Like this:

Howard was a founding member of Crime & The City Solution, These Immortal Souls and Pink Stainless Tail, as well as stepping in on occasional Birthday Party guitar duty. True to his pedigree, he will be backed by Dave Graney and Clare Moore who are “back in post-punk mode”. Supports by Stu Thomas (The Surrealists) and Bad Orchestra. Cost: $7 on the door.

Although, despite some questionable aims, as a stand-alone show, this has it's charms, too:

Mainly because I plan to throw Tim Rogers in the lion cage while the lights are out. Naah, just kiddin'.

A polite reminder.

Well, I say polite, but really, you'd be a fucking idiot to miss this at the Old Bar on Friday.
Number three in an infinite series:

Yes, you read that right- Uneasy Listeners are indeed the four remaining members of the Seminal Rats, Penny Ikinger is playing with Andrew McCubbin, and Johnny Casino and the Secrets are playing all up close and personal.
As ever, feel free to say hello. I'll be there til closing.

Freaks and a festival.

Have you ever seen Telecom? No? I didn't think so.

Despite the fact they have no drummer anymore, the Old Bar are kindly letting them play this Friday night, along with Sweetmac, Daughterboy Jao and Damn The Torpedoes. One of the guys from Telecom tells me Damn The Torpedoes are pretty good, so maybe an early start and an early night is best.

Then something on the southside for Sunday:

I'm not quite sure what kind of fuckwit thinks Ripponlea is a secret. There's a goddamn train station there and everything. Still, this from a local council who issues media releases about public toilets. Anyway, there are walking tours and such , then from 3.00pm Fred Negro & Dave Mole, the Bittersweet Kicks, Frank Lee Earnest & the Empty Glasses and Spencer P. Jones are playing for free on the Lyrebird stage, at 61 Glen Eira Rd. Right by that station I mentioned earlier.

Album of the week- The Brutals: "The Honeymoon Period"

This has come along a wee bit late for me to call it "the album of the summer", which is a shame, because it would have been ideal.
Ten tracks of odd, shimmering, country-infused pop, full of naive charm and killer hooks. Here's the video for "Jeneane, Jeneane" to give you a taste. I was lucky enough to catch them live at Applecore recently, and that was even better. Still, this will do to get you through the autumn, at least. Released on the resurgent Half A Cow Records, too, by the way.

Travel time.

Well, one way or another I was always going to be on the road this (long) weekend.
For the first time ever, I'm booked in for Golden Plains:

There's a long and involved story about two friends getting me drunk and suggesting this would be an ideal way to get over my general dislike of festivals. Whatever, the line up was enough to convince me.
Who’s playing. This year’s lineup is brought to you by the letters “spirited”, “pirate” and “classic”.
PAVEMENT, DINOSAUR JR, DIRTY PROJECTORS, THE BIG PINK, MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS, TAME IMPALA, SUPER WILD HORSES, OPTIMO, CALEXICO, MONOTONIX, GASLAMP KILLER, NASHVILLE PUSSY, JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JUNKYARD, THE CRUEL SEA, CRAYON FIELDS, RANSOM, ANDEE FROST, ROYAL HEADACHE, WOODEN SHJIPS, ANTIBALAS, CLAIRY BABY BROWNE AND THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES, SPACE INVADAS, JACK LADDER, SCATTERMUSIC SOUND SYSTEM, OPULENT DJs
Not all of that is essential, and there's a bit of rain forecast, but, y'know, so what?
If I was around, though, I'd be heading to Yah Yah's on Saturday night, where Brian Hooper is previewing tracks of his forthcoming album, accompanied by Mick Harvey and JP Shilo.
Odd how it looks like there's a name missing from that sentence.

Album of the week- GOD: "GOD".

If there is one band on earth who can get away with self-titling what is essentially a reissue, it's these guys.
More than twenty years after their last show, but only weeks after a version of "My Pal" brought down the curtain on the Tote, this feels very timely. Or maybe it's just about fucking time.
If you weren't around back in the day to see them, and haven't heard either "Rock Is Hell" or "For Lovers Only", this may surprise you. Regardless of whether you were or not, my tip is to play disc two first. It includes the whole of their final show, at the Central Cub in Richmond in July 1989. Thirteen tracks, unedited but remastered, that show them in all their loud sweaty glory. A must.

Competition.

There's some stiff competition for your attention this Saturday.
At Pony, Spitfire Parade are simultaneously launching their debut album...and splitting up.

Which seems to me an odd way of going about things, but there you go. Support from YIS, Deep Where All Drown and the Sunday Reeds.

But then again... Kim Salmon and the Surrealists are taking an ATP-style run through their 1988 album "Hit Me With The Surreal Feel", over at the Northcote Social Club. And that has supports from Sydney's Holy Soul, as well as Witch Hats, who are playing their last show for a while.

For a change of pace on Sunday, the National Gallery of Victoria is hosting a "Last Day Of Summer" show. Being broadcast live on RRR, it features Henry Wagon, Beaches, Crayon Fields and Ned Collette & Wirewalker. And it's free.