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.

Summer shows.

On what is shaping up as the hottest week in Melbourne for 100 years, the weekend's shows are pretty damn hot too.

On Friday, two of my favorites from last year come together when the Sand Pebbles join with the Lurid Yellow Mist over at the Thornbury Theatre:

While Saturday sees the High Fangs launch a six track EP at the Birmingham, with support from the Bowerbirds, Wrong Turn, and Pretty Green:
Or if you prefer something a bit, err, noisier, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists are at Ding Dong with the Stabs: And yes, the Stabs are also launching a new record.

If you still need more, there are a stack of acts playing the 2009 St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in the city on Sunday, including the Drones, Stereolab, and Jay Reatard:
Really, you are spoiled for choice. This city amazes me sometimes, you know. Don't forget the sunscreen.

Get out.

The Sand Pebbles launch their new album "Ceduna" on at the NSC on Saturday. They went to the beach last summer and made a concept album inspired in part by an old travel diary- wait, wait, come back. It’s really nowhere as pretentious or silly as that makes it sound. Its much better indeed. So let’s re-phrase that- as the Drones did with ‘Gala Mill’, the Sand Pebbles went to a place and took some inspiration from it, which they have channeled into their new album. But there’s no over-arching narrative or theme beyond that, though- as they say in the liner notes, they got high, and they wrote these songs. All of which are well worth your eartime.
The launch features well-chosen supports from Ross McLennan (whose recent Mistletone LP, “Sympathy For The New World” is also truly excellent) and Andrew McCubbin and the Hope Addicts. All for $10.00

Also on Saturday- UV Race kick off the first week of their month-long Saturday afternoon residency in the Tote front bar. That’s free, from around 4.00pm. They don't have a CD out, but this is what their "Lego Man" single looks like:



From the youngest to the oldest- across town the legendary X are playing at the Espy with a few friends: