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.

Not so hot.

In the wake of a pretty rough week, some welcome distraction.
All quotes pinched from elsewhere, for your convenience. But I couldn't find a poster for this one:
Johnny Casino rocks into Melbourne next Friday 13th. February, for a special two set appearance at Yah Yahs. This is quite possibly your last chance to catch Johnny Casino and the Secrets before they head to Europe and the UK to promote the European vinyl release of his latest long player "I Am Who I Am, Not Who You Want Me To Be". Goodtime rock'n'roll.

Two sets from Mr. Casino will provide all the vitamins, minerals and energy of a fucking month long residency by most other bands. This will be a great night.

On Valentine's Day, what could be better than taking your date to see a documentary about Melbourne's libertarian smut king, Paul Elliot?


In the great lost tradition of the late-night Aussie TV infomercial, as compered by the likes of Issy Dye, comes TOTALLY WEIRD SHIT, a 'documentary' that explores the trials and tribulations of alternative bookstore owner Paul Elliot and his 'World Famous' Polyester Books. While 'pa and ma' record and bookstores are going by the way of the dodo in favour of dumbed down retail chains stocking semi-trailers-full of environmental waste, Polyester has stood its ground in a competitive and cut-throat consumer environment.
It's screening at the store itself, at 330 Brunswick St. Fitzroy, from 6.00pm.
Then, later on, the Old Bar presents a very special night:

To commemorate Bon Scott we have selected a handful of bands and players that are able to pay tribute to the man behind some of AC/ DC's classic songs. As always these nights are always sold out so get in early if you wanna witness the madness:BON VOYAGE, a superstar group put together for this night including members of Blacklevel Embassy, Devil Rock Four, the Hell City Glamours and featuring SPOD as Bon Scott.
That looks unmissable to me.

Next time- special bi-state edition.

Casino culture, and another movie

Gig of the week has to be Johnny Casino & the Secrets, who are doing an in-store at Off The Hip at 6pm on Friday, and a freebie down on the floor of the Greyhound front bar on Saturday- which is also free.

Word about Not Quite Hollywood- a history of Ozploitation movies has been around for a while, and now it's in cinemas. Lots of cinemas, but sadly, no drive ins. A labour of love, it fills in the gaps of teenage memory, detailing a particular but not exclusive or hidebound slice of Australian movie history.

Free-wheelin’ sex romps! Bloodsoaked terror tales! High-octane action extravaganzas! They’re the main ingredients of NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, the first detailed examination and celebration of Australian genre cinema of the 70s and 80s.
In 1971, with the introduction of the R-certificate, Australia’s censorship regime went from repressive to progressive virtually overnight. This cultural explosion gave birth to arthouse classics, such as PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and MY BRILLIANT CAREER, but also spawned a group of demon-children: maverick filmmakers who braved assault from all quarters to bring films like ALVIN PURPLE, THE MAN FROM HONG KONG, PATRICK, TURKEY SHOOT and MAD MAX to the big screen.

As someone who grew up with Barry McKenzie, Alvin Purple & Max Rockatansky, I can only applaud. Screening times are in that link, with a wealth of other stuff.

Hibernation

I have just spent a cold, quiet week pondering a few things.
The incredibly warming combination of roast pumpkin and tandoori spice, for instance, which is almost better than the traditional lamb and pearl barley.
And what would Mexico be like if it was run by communists instead of drug dealers?

I borrowed that pic from here, by the way.
Anyway, some shows on this weekend.
Tonight, Ninety Nine and friends are at the Old Bar:

No, it's nothing to do with that stupid new "Get Smart" movie.

And tomorrow night sees the first personal test of the new lockout legislation.
Can I make it from the Spencer P Jones & the Escape Committee/Johnny Casino & the Secrets show at Ding Dong, to Gimme Shelter at the Exford, before 2.00am?

I don't know, but I may give it a fucking good try. I mean, it's only a few hundred metres, and it's downhill. Wish me luck.

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.

This weekend

Well, there are a couple of options. I'm busy on both Friday (BBQing) and Saturday (birthdaying), but you probably aren't.
Johnny Casino is back in town, and both shows are free.

Saturday's show features the Ooga Boogas in their last Australian show before their American tour. Yes, really.


While Actor/Model have managed to get a babysitter, and will be launching their new CD at the Tote with support from the mighty Kamikaze Trio among others, including DJing by Matt from the Stabs. Should be a good night.

On Sunday I will be hungover. Don't call too early.

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:

Anarchy in Graceland

Yes, I know, there's been minimal ranting lately - for reasons I won't bore you with - so here's a quick line to indicate there are still signs of life. I stumbled over a myspace thingie for a San Francisco band called the Sex Presleys recently and if The King's tunes sung to the music of Rotten et al is your bag, you'll probably enjoy 'em. Gimicky, I know, but everybody's got to have their schtick.

Some Other Shit I've Been Liking:

"Old Shoes New Clothes" - the sweeping new album by Johnny Casino & The Secrets.

Demos by The Passengers - yes, an album is pending down the track.

"The Floating Life" - esoteric and moody debut record by Stewart "Leadfinger" Cunningham's new-ish band, on Spanish label Bang! Records.

"Stranded in the Nineties" - Brother Brick's posthumous double CD compilaiton on Off The Hip.

"Rejectionville" - Posthumous compile of tracks by the Kryptonics. One classic and a string of shouldabeen hits. On Memorandum.

Some plugs...

Friday night in Sydney:

I wish I could go to this, I'm already regretting missing TSOOL when they were in town last week. And the New Christs are playing too...yeah I know it's not on my usual turf, but so what?

And on Saturday night in Melbourne, at the Old Bar in Fitzroy:


That's a great line up- think of it as an early Christmas present.