A good night, a good cause.

Hmm, there's a bit of a tussle for show of the week this weekend.
On Saturday, Sin City, Sixfthick and X are at the Corner. The combined power of these three will probably demolish the place, and at only $17.00, it's a bargain.

HOWEVER, that may leave you too hungover to do the right thing on Sunday, and head along to the Tote for the "Hold Hands!" public radio benefit.

A bunch of local labels- Mistletone, Unstable Ape , Chapter Music, Sensory Projects and others have combined to put together a massive bill of acts, with all proceeds going to support public radio stations in both Melbourne and Sydney- sorry, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth & Canberra. Merch and CDs from all the labels will be available. There is also soup involved. It all kicks off around 3.00pm.

Back with a big one.

I was prodded back into action by the massive guilt trip my mate Carbie accidentally laid on me last week. You don't really need to know the details- suffice to say that when someone who had recently read the whole of Last Tram in a single sitting asked me why it's not up to date, I blushed. Yes, blushed. Anyway...there's a massive weekend on offer, if you want it.

The Applecore festival, back in February, was great. Now comes the follow up- a live CD featuring all the bands who played is being launched over two nights at the Old Bar. That handbill is a bit out of date. In particular, Brisbane's amazing Do The Robot have been added to the line up, which now looks like this:

Friday, June 26
8.00 - 8.40 - Teeth & Tongue 9.00 - 9.40 - New Estate 10.00 - 10.40 - Thought Creature 11.00 - 11.40 - Actor SlashModel 12.00 - 12.40 - Deloris

Saturday, June 27
12.20 - 1.00 - Graveyard Train 11.20 - 12.00 - Super Wild Horses 10.30 - 11.00 - Rational Accademy 9.30 - 10.10 - Deadbeat Club 8.40 - 9.10 - Elizabeth Pistol Club 7.50 - 8.20 - Dead Forest Index 7.00 - 7.30 - Kid Sam 6.00 - 6.40 - Grand Salvo 5.10 - 5.40 - Milk Teddy
4.10 - 4.50 - Brother Man Dude Show 3.20 - 3.50 - Geoff O'Conner 2.30 - 3.00 - Do The Robot

Friday night is $10 and Saturday is $15. 100 CDs will be available each day/night for $2.

Sadly, Saturday clashes with the latest Mistletone Records extravagnaza- Castle Tones, which is on all over the Edinburgh Castle in Sydney Rd. Moreland:



Hmm, that's a bit pastel. But you get the idea.

If you have the energy on Sunday, there's a bit of a houseparty going on in the afternoon:


The Straight Arrows and Dead Farmers are pretty much guaranteed to make you late for work on Monday, or the very least ensure you show up with your ears ringing.

Hell Summer.

...in more ways than one. Following on from my recent trip to Sydney, this week my day job had me spending some time up in the bushfire-affected area north of town. You know, I had always thought "scorched earth" was just a phrase. I know better now.
But enough of that.
Sadly, an impending relocation by guitarist/vocalist Kirsty Stegwazi means Melbourne scene veterans Hand Hell are calling it a day this week, with a final show at the Old Bar on Friday.

They were great at last week's Applecore festival. Get down if you can.

Speaking of festivals, the Summertones roadshow hits town this weekend:

Mistletone is one of the best labels in town, with a wide roster of local and international acts. As well as being great value, (that's what, 28 acts for $35?) this should be pretty special. I understand they will be taking over the entire Espy for the day. Rumours of a shuttle bus fleet to help Fitzroy coolsie scum find their way south to St. Kilda proved to be untrue, however.

If for some unknown reason you don't fancy that, well, Rosie Westbrook and the Leisuremasters are playing around the corner at Pure Pop Records, at 3.00 and 4.00pm respectively.

I have no idea about Sunday, but I do have Monday off, so no doubt some sort of shenanigans will be had.

A Pink Christmas.

A big line up at the Tote on Friday, when Stained Circles present a Deaf Christmas. Deaf Wish, the Pink Fits, Useless Children and more, with a BBQ thrown in, for only $12.00

I caught Useless Children last week at Roxanne- they are a bit awesome.

The mighty Fits are doing a couple of other shows while they are in town- and on Saturday afternoon, they may well prove to be the loudest thing to hit the Pure Pop backyard yet, before they head around to the Espy later on.

While later on Saturday, the Mistletone folks are hosting a bash at the recently opened Thornbury Theatre, featuring a slew of their finest acts, including this month's deservedly hot item, Beaches as well as favorites like Kes and Ross McLennan.

First 100 payers through the door get a free CD, too. If it's half as good as last year's collection, it will be worth getting there on time.