"Live in Hell" ended up being bigger, faster and more power packed. Hopefully we'll be expanding it into bigger rooms. it could take it. the show is designed right and it is waiting to be bigger.
We went to Adelaide to play with You AM I and No Through Road at the Governor Hindmarsh which is a large rock venue. We played in front of people who, for one reason or another, perhaps they only go to this place, haven't see us perform in a decade.
We blew their heads clean off.
No Though Road are a band you really should experience. Two guitars, bass and drums. A total unit. then a totally shameless HAM of a singer. Pop. Emo post punk drama. Genius. Thrills and spills. Matt, the singer, in a world first rock move, did star jumps and ate chips (with dipping sauce) at the same time.
You Am I have skills and chops and drama as well. Tim locks in on the mob and doesn't let go for an hour and a half. You have to be mad to do that. I do it too. Indie people don't. They shuffle awkwardly, though thats a move as well.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Cross. Home!
It was cool to be pulling up to a gig in Kings Cross, famed bohemian area of Sydney. Nobody knows where this place which is more a state of mind than a suburb begins and ends. Well this gig was right underneath the giant Coke sign at the top of Victoria street. An old jazz cellar. In the basement. Under the ground IN HELL! Cool. I felt at home there. Away from the seachange/suburban joints. Another lost world.I was told Sinatra played here. Place might hold 60 people at a pinch. Sounded great. All the wailing has sealed the walls over the years.
The venue operator asked us what time the people were arriving. We said it was his club. A problem of communication. People came anyway. Hipsters flipping us their lobes. Old friends who only come to cool places like Dave Wray and Matt Sigley.
Clare Moore, Greg Thorsby and myself did two sets.
Had a cool time. I felt odd walking around the Cross all dressed in leather.Perhaps I was from a lost world.
Today it is warm and sunny in western Sydney. We have driven miles and done a longish run of shows.
We are watching the football with friends tonight.St Kilda Vs Footscray.For a chance to play in the Grand Final. The Sts last won in 1966, their only flag. The Bulldogs in 1954, their only flag.
Thanks to everybody who came to the shows ....
Thursday, September 17, 2009
the kuchar brothers films at mumeson archives
So we've been enjoying a few days in Sydney - civilian style,. No rushing in and out of town and friends lives with shows to do and then "goodbye". Catching up with some people for the first time in a long while. Aimless drives around inner western sydney.
Visited Fuse yesterday, our distributor on top of their amazing "title" store in Crown street. Box sets of Chaplin and Keaton and Harold Lloyd films. Box sets of Charlie Parker cds."The Many Moods of Murry Wilson" on cd. Too much stuff in one place!
We went to a few junk shops today. I got a pair of blue velvet dacks and some suede boots and a Charles Atlas spring muscle developer thing. You put the stirrup end under your foot and do arm curls.I never thought I needed one of those but for $2.00 I found myself walking away with it. Also got a video with the incredible pairing of my fave movie oddball singer Eddie Cantor with Ethel Merman. Those two would have had enough energy to power a trip to Saturn.
Tonight we went to the Mumeson archives which is a film night/ archive run by Jamie Leonardev and Aspasier in their compound just up from the Annandale. Nothing official about this operation. they set uip the screen and the chairs and you get a glass of wine and some soup at half time. Its all completely underground. I mean underworld. WE watched all these rough independent movies by George and Michael Kuchar. The movie critics would hate them. The longest was the last one, "sins of the fleshapoids" which ran for 45 minutes. An inspiring night.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Katoomba- semi acoustic show
This was me on acoustic 12 string and electric guitar, Clare Moore on drums ( minimal setup) and old friend from Sydney Greg Thorsby on electric guitar. A Maton Ibis in fact.
Greg used to be in a band called the Atlas Strings which is where we met him. Also the Tenants after that and makes "stings" for TV1.
I was gonna do these shows as a solo set but I find that a bit boring to do and my songs always have a few counterpoint type rhythmic or melodic things. Or maybe I like the other textures. Anyway, I find it much less enjoyable to play and to travel by myself. Seeing as we were in Sydney for a week or two we thought we'd do them with Greg.Young Greg.
The music sounded great. More of a vocal and lyrical type sound as you get all those low notes coming through with your voice.
A small crowd at this lovely small theatre type cabaret room. The hospitality was generous as usual.
The walls are covered with posters of the 'roots " type music. I hate that shit, there are no songs, only forms and types and grooves. Its all too "real" for me. Humble fake troubadors and guitar slingers. If they dont have the cojones to walk into the middle of the stage and declare something by themselves they should not be in the room! That dick who juggles 3 didgeridoos was nowhere on the wall. he plays to theatres and rock palaces now. God help us all. I blame scientology.
We played two sets. Many different tunes than we have been doing. We'll be doing a similar approach at El Roccos on Thursday 17th. This Thursday.
Sydney is delightfully warm and there is a soft breeze blowing.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
sandringham hotel
We blasted out two sets at this venue in King street Newtown last night. Stu Perera was blazing on the guitar. Stu Thomas is a stellar bass player and singer and Clare Moore is an amazing drummer and performer.
We had a great bunch of people come along who were right into our music and my songs . they just go with us. What more could you ask?
Sydney is so different to Melbourne, you could fire a rifle down King street after midnight and not be in any danger of hitting anybody. And thats supposed to be a happening road.
The Sydney Morning Herald had two pages of music coverage this morning. Two pages of esoteric lame brained yankee roots and indie people. I get this shit at RRR and I throw it in the bin! The writers are so lazy. As bad as the radio people. They must feel dirty if they ever have to handle anything Australian.
I digress, we had a great time.
A young fellow who has been coming to our shows since he was in high school in the mid 90s told me how he went to a second hand store back then and the Vietnamese proprieter, who served while laying on a bed, asked him loudly, "you want sex?" Our young friend thought it was a proposition and ran away. he said he went back three years later ,when he was more confident, and the same thing happened. he waited a beat and the old man opened a curtain to a stack of porno dvds and stroke mags. His summation? "I got "wet Latinas #14"! It was amazing!"
Gold!!!!
Friday, September 11, 2009
sydney! how great is it?
Ridng bikes along the Cooks River in Spring. People laying on the grass and sleeping in the middle of the day. Junk shops and double decker trains. Having a great time.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
byron and down to sydney
Byron Bay was windy and almost cold. We watched a Jim Carrey flick, walked along the beach, checked out the town and caught up with our valued comrade James Cruikshank.
Drove Stu to the airport and then carried on to Sydney.Back through Newcastle and a few seachange type towns.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Gold Coast-I apologize!
That was the best experience we ever had on that Golden coast. The venue was great. Previously all the rooms had 12 tv screens blaring rugby on every side of the stage. This one was lovely. Cool crowd of people. Great sound, had a ball.
The young guy running the PA played the Mothers "freakout" after we had finished!
Drove to Lismore, stopping off at "tropical fruit world to load up on star fruit and custard apple fruits. The tropics!
Lismore was a show in a theatre to the true believers. Another swell night.
We are actually DRIVING to all these joints. The first show was roughly 1300 k's away from home base. thats keen.
Tonight in Byron we played two one hour sets. the audience the usual funny mix of mad locals and millionaire blow ins. I love the locals.
A samoan girl called me "brother" many times. I was honoured.
Staying here for an extra days swimming and r&r. Then on to Sydney
ps, in the Gold Coast I went to the supermarket. An old man , trailing his wife in t he aisle, was glumly saying " I think I can handle an egg slide!" A younger couple came around the corner. The woman said " You always get stressed when we shop! " and then walked off at a fast pace. the man, looking pathetic and harassed but with an annoyingly knowing smirk said , "Darl! Tissues! " to the wind.
I can't stop saying this. "Darl! Tissues!"
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