Friday at Cherry Bar

Friday at Cherry Bar

Action all the time.

As the early summer heatwave kicks on, there's a couple of amazingly diverse but equally attractive shows on this weekend.
Veteran rock troupers the Hitmen return to the stage, behind the release of their new album "St. Valentine's Day Massacre". Recorded in Sydney last year, it see them teaming up onstage with genuine Detroit legend Niagara, for a run through some classics by the likes of Destroy All Monsters and the Stooges. The Hitmen reissue run continues too, with their 1984 live album "Tora! Tora! DTK!", coupled with 1991's "Moronic Inferno" plus a heap of added rarities, out now.

I can only imagine what a sweatbox Cherry Bar will be.
But if that doesn't do it for you, hop across the imaginary fence between Guitarland and Synthville, and catch Primitive Calculators, ZOND and others instead.

The two forms of music aren't mutually exclusive, you know. Just sayin'.

That and some cold beer should get you through the weekend.

Then early next week, there's this:

Now ordinarily, I wouldn't ask anyone to consider paying $8.00 to watch videos in a city bar. But when you figure the night includes the debut showing of Matt Givoni's clip for the Stabs' "Split Lips", it may be more enticing. Add to that the attendance of many of the (ahem) stars of said clip, and it looks like a winner.

The War Against The Jive

Props to Peter Ross.

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.

Four way action weekend

There's a lot going on.

On Friday, The Double Agents play a farewell show at Cherry before heading off on their second European tour.

The Double Agents are bidding farewell to their beloved Oz, as they head off on their second sojourn to Europe in early June. Taking a stellar new line-up, regulars Dave Butterworth, Kim Walvisch and Chris Loughtman will be joined by Callum John Barter(Ancient Free Gardeners) on the skins and Dave Larkin (yes, he of Dallas Crane infamy) on bass guitar. Playing their blistering brand of garage country swamp in one final Melbourne show before heading to France, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy & Belgium, the tour will also celebrate the vinyl release of their last album “Seemed Like A Good Idea…” on prestigious French label Beast Records. Dave Larkin kicks off the evening with a solo slot before The Agents smack you across the face with a set (or two). ‘Tis an early show - done and dusted by 11:30pm. Expect their usual bar-rattlin’ shenanigans as well as a raffle of rare and unique Double Agents memorabilia to help raise touring funds.

See? It's an early show. So a bit later on Friday night, you can probably make it across town to see Sydney's Johnny Casino bring his Secrets to Bar Open in Fitzroy for a one-off freebie with the Shimmys and Midnight Woolf.

This is an opportunity that's impossible to pass up- did I mention it was free? Here's some YouTube of them doing "Cowboys And Indians" to whet your appetite, if you need it.
Then on Saturday, there's are two more excellent lineups. At Ding Dong:

Rowland's stick insect silhouette is a familiar enough sight around certain parts of town, but I haven't seen him play live for ages. And he's playing with Kes, too. I really shouldn't have to say any more- this is guaranteed to be intriguing, and entertaining.

BUT there's stiff competition from the Espy, where you can see Dave Graney & the Coral Snakes with the almighty Wagons, who are headlining if the relative sizes of the band names on the Espy's gig guide wall is anything to go by:

That's for free too, by the way. And no, I don't know who that bloke is.
Finally, on Sunday, there's an open day at St.Kilda police station in Chapel St., from 10.00 til 3.00, if you fancy it. All sorts of entertainment is planned- but I just want to see if my phone number is still scratched into the wall of womens' cell number three.

HushHush 3

Dolores San Miguel probably has hosted more live gigs than you've had hot dinners, and she has another one lined up this weekend.

HushHush invades Cherry Bar with a spectacular night of home grown rock 'n' roll!
Featuring the 2008 return of The Fearless Vampire Killers, playing tracks from their soon to be released debut E.P, along with The Breaks and the kaleidoscopic sounds of Tonight is Like Space Invaders. Discs will be spun by the iconic Cherry D.J's, well into the wee hours.

I've been to both of her previous Hush Hush nights, and they were very good value indeed. This one goes in til dawn, at Cherry Bar, and may well become a more regular, semi-permanent thing soon.

Another plethora

Do you like that title? Looks almost like a palindrome. Well, maybe not, but I bet it would make some good anagrams.
ANYWAY, as the chill and fog settles in (warmed only by the flames from the Palace) there is a lot going on.
Something a bit special upstairs at the Tote:


Also on Saturday, Johnny Casino and the Secrets launch their new album at Cherry Bar

There's a post-hangover rockabilly BBQ on Sunday,at the Route 66 store in Prahran:

Or you could hit idGAFF on Sunday for some Steve Lucas solo- he starts another month's residency.

And next weekend looms large too. I may be down in Geelong for something a bit special next Saturday, but this is already pencilled in for Friday 20th:

Another big week.

I've mentioned the return of X this week, at Ding Dong, in a previous post.
Cherry Rock 007 is on in AC/DC Lane on Sunday, but if you want to avoid the crowds and are happy to see only see a few of the acts, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and the Pink Fits are at the Espy on Friday night, for free.

Koala By The Tail

Greetings one and all!
Tiger by the Tail are playing their last show for some time, (basically we ain't got nothing else booked), tomorrow night Saturday at Cherry Bar, AC/DC Lane, Melbourne. We are supporting Paper Planes at their CD launch. We are on early at 9.30pm.
Come along and have a beer.
Oh, and Sunday morning at 8am on South Melbourne/Middle Park beach we will be filming a video clip for the song 'Summertime at the Beach". We will be playing beach volley ball dressed as a koala and kangaroo playing against an ape, tiger, arab and a lebanese youth umpired by two coppers! So if you're out power walking or just coming home from Pony come along, bring the kids or whoever you've gone home with! Should be a laugh!

Worth going just to see these extraordinary athletes in action...