We were both testing negative as we headed to Brisbane to hook up with Adele Pickvance who was to play bass with us for a weekend of shows. Sounds easy and it actually turned out that way. Of course, it could have gone pear shaped at any turn and we were probably expecting that. (Nothing to do with Adele, more to do with airlines and trashed gear and hire cars etc).
Adele had played with us from 1998 to 2004 so she knew a lot of our songs. She learned quite a few from the new album and we were able to do two sets. The first show was on the Gold Coast and Dave Wray - who was to play sax - met us at Adele's flat in Brisbane and drove with Clare and some of the gear to the venue. He had driven from Lismore.
Dave had sang a few songs on our album The Devil Drives back in 1997 but had never got his sax out. We had gone over a few songs via Zoom in the previous week. He had also played on three tracks on the album In A Mistly.
The venue was in an industrial estate and was totally tooled for rock music. Great gear and facilities. We had plenty of foldback and played a loud couple of sets .
I had never played my songs with a band containing sax before and it felt so good. I felt like Lou Reed in the 70s! It added to the groove and the melodies. Old songs like You're Just Too Hip got a new dimension to them. I loved it.
Dave had learned parts for every song we played. Rhythmic and melodic lines as well as solo parts. Tenor and soprano sax. He is an amazingly energetic character and dazzles with Shakespearean soliloquoys in a George Formby one moment and then talk of Louis Jordan and Charlie Parker and the Simpsons and Witnail and I the next. He is like Neal Casady must have been, energy itself.
We stayed on the Gold Coast and then drove to Lennox Heads where we visited friendsand then to Eltham where we played at the hotel. Eltham is basically a cafe, a hotel and some tennis courts. People come from all over the area and we played in an outdoor area for two sets.
Three old time Mt Gambier people were in the audience and it was great catching up after the show.
I was wearing sandals and short sleeved shirts and I was playing my Maton Mastersound guitar.
On Saturday we drove to Murwillumbah and set up to play at the Citadel, a lovely old Salvation Army hall, run as a collective by local people.
We had played there previously but as a duo. As we slammed into the first song a woman in the front row got up loudly to complain that it was far too loud and she had to leave. Dave got upset but I thought we'd just keep on playing as you can't please everybody. It turned out that she was a cousin of a cousin of mine and came up to apologize and said it was better for her to sit outside and listen. A room full of very nice people at this venue. All sorts of ages and a lot of women. Smart people.
We stayed until it was far too late, talking with people.
On Saturday afternoon February 25th Clare Moore and I play an opening set for Dog Trumpet at the Northcote Social Club. We will be on quite early. About 1:30pm.
Thursday March 23rd we play our Melbourne In A Mistly album launch at the Nightcat in Johnston st Fitzroy. We played every Wednesday night in 1999 at 8pm at this venue in one of the first things we did in our post Coral Snakes period. Mick Medew and Ursula will be coming down from Brisbane to open the show as a way to launch their album Love Is Calling in Melbourne as well.
Friday March 31st we play Smiths in Canberra.
Saturday April 1st we launch In A Mistly in Sydney at the Great Club in Marrickville.
Sunday April 2nd we play The Link And Pin -
18A Railway St, , Woy Woy NSW 2256
Our West Australian dates have bee re-scheduled for May.
Lyric's Underground (Maylands, WA)
Friday, 12 May 2023 7:30 PM
Saturday 13 May 2023 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM (UTC+08)
The Vault Restaurant
21 Haynes Street, Kalamunda WA 6076
The Duke of George, Fremantle WA
Robert Brokenmouth critiques In A Mistly from within the i94bar rock action web magazine
1 comment:
First saw you Dave in Perth in a little bar underneath His Majesty's Theatre. An intimate gig, with tea lights on the tables, which you personally came round and lit. You wore a sky blue safari suit, matching hat and matching Strat. Such a cool guy. Love your work.
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