Get your own trumpet.

Look, I don't want to boast, but LTH 4 really is the best thing on this weekend. Well, apart from the X/UV Race show, but that's on Friday.

Aided by a massive press campaign (thanks, Paddy) it's a cert to sell out early. I'll be at the bar if anyone needs me.

Last Tram Home presents...#4

I think this is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?
May 8th, the Old Bar. See you there.
As the Hicks would say, "This is gonna be gooooood."

Big thanks to Jez for his very autumn-ish piece of work this time round, too.

Getting in early.

Getting these out early.
First up- just because I have a lot of time for the fine people at Spooky Records- is this:

Yes it’s no mean feat but it’s true, Spooky Records has survived 10 years in what has probably been the fastest evolving time ever in the music business. So to celebrate they’re taking over the infamous Tote, on Saturday 28th November and putting on a huge bash with most of the current Spooky bands getting up and doing a set. On the bill, SixFtHick, The Bakelite Age, The Stabs, Hugo Race and True Spirit, Kretch, Digger & the Pussycats, Sailors & Swine, and a rare performance from Gentle Ben & his Sensitive Side.
To keep it fair we’ve messed with the playing times so you’ll have to get there early cause it might just be your favorite opening the proceedings. But if not, to keep you all entertained we’ll put on a free BBQ and don’t forget to check out the merch stand cause there’ll be some wicked specials from the Spooky catalogue
Doors and BBQ are at 7pm sharp and definitely no presales so come early.

Looks like a bargain at $18.00. AND I get to grab a new tshirt, cheap.
Then after that, why not head up the road to the Old Bar?

You may miss Heinz Reigler, Lee Memorial and Ninetynine, but you will get to hear me DJing again. Til 3.00am. Don't call it an "after-party", just call it a party.

Album of the week- Butcher Birds: "Set My Bones"

Is Brisbane going through some kind of a phase right now? Sixfthick have never sounded better, Violent Soho seem poised for some kind of break out...and now there's this, the debut album from Butcher Birds (no "the" required).
It's saucy and kinda nasty at times but the overall feel is kinda sweet. Tracks are mostly built around heavy basslines, with some classic loud/soft/loud dynamics going on too, and they aren't afraid to let things play out a bit if it suits. "Dig Me!" and "Yoko Coma" would be my top picks but it's all pretty damn good. Oh, and there's some bubbling internet controversy going on about the band that may raise a chuckle, too.
Playing at the Old Bar soon, I hear.

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.

Looking back.

Well, that was an education.

X were absolutely sterling- passionate, energetic and clearly having a ball, so much so that Kim and Cathy refused to leave the stage after the first couple of encores, forcing Steve to come back on for one more song and giving the stage manager a mild heart attack.

About the Saints, though...well, let's just say Ed Kuepper was awesome, and that it will be a while before I listen to "Stranded" again.

But the mid week gig meant I was pushed for time, and didn't get this posted:

Oops. Won't make that mistake again.

Hound Hoss Hicks

I dropped into the Hound last weekend, for the first time in a while. This stuff  all seems very long ago now- so far, nothing there has changed, although i see they are now seeking planning permission to put some fuck off big advertising billboards on the St Kilda Rd facade. Anyway, I've managed to miss all the recent sporadic appeareance by HOSS, who are playing there on Friday night. Which would be great, except that I'm probably going to miss them again as it clashes with Sixfthick's farewell show at the filthy Roxanne Parlour:
Medical advice is that their livers have recovered sufficiently from last year's trip for them to take another crack at the unsuspecting French & Germans. The show is being filmed for JTV, apparently, though what possessed those dullards to show an interest in the Hicks is anyone's guess.

Cherry Rock not so cheerful

An update on this year's Cherry Rock festival hit mail boxes all over town last night:

URGENT MEDIA RELEASE

CherryRock008 moves to
Palace Theatre
(former Metro, 20 – 30 Bourke Street, Melb)

The CherryRock008 rock n roll music festival proposed for this Sunday 20 April from 12noon to 10pm in AC/DC Lane and at The Cherry Bar has had to change venue due to a liquor licensing issue. The event will now take place predominantly at The Palace Theatre (the former Metro, 20 – 30 Bourke Street Melbourne) and slightly at Ding Dong Lounge (18 Market Lane, Melbourne).

Cherry Partner James Young said, "blah blah blah".

The ten major acts from CherryRock008 (Supersuckers, Raveonettes, Hitmen, Galvatrons, X, 6 Ft Hick, Legends of Motor Sport, Hell City Glamours, The Exploders and The Devilrock Four) will now play at The Palace Theatre between 3pm and 10pm. And super keen rock fans can see the hot up and comers (Zombie Sex Gang, Bring On The Junta, Tigernauts and Killer Birds) beforehand at Ding Dong Lounge between 12noon and 3pm.

All purchased tickets remain valid for this new scenario and tickets will be available on the Palace Theatre door on the day for $70.

The liquor licensing issue in question is quite boring blah blah blah.

The important bit:

New CherryRock008 Stage Times

Ding Dong Stage

12 – 12.30pm Killer Birds
12.50 – 1.20pm Tigernauts
1.40 – 2.10pm Bring On The Junta
2.30 – 3pm Zombie Sex Gang

Not AC/DC Lane Stage: Palace Theatre

9 – 10pm Supersuckers
7:30 – 8:15pm Raveonettes
6 – 6.45pm Hitmen
4.45 – 5:30pm Galvatrons
3:30 – 4:15pm X

Not Cherry Bar Stage: Palace Theatre

8:15 – 9pm 6 Ft Hick
6.45 – 7.30pm Legends of Motor Sport
5.30 - 6pm Hell City Glamours
4:15 - 4.45pm The Exploders
3.00 – 3.30pm Devilrock Four

Hmmm, it appears someone can't organise a pissup in a Melbourne laneway- that's quite a feat. The re-jigged playing times seem OK, although the Bowerbirds have lost their slot completely. We'll see, I guess, but spending seven hours in the Palace is not going to be as pleasant a Sunday afternoon as I'd hoped for.

Sixfthick poppin' cherries

Brisbane's finest, SixFtHick, hit town this weekend, for two shows.
First up, at Ding Dong, on Friday 18th, with Ben Corbett's side project, Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side supporting

Then on Sunday 20th. they'll be gracing the AC/DC Stage at Cherry Rock 008.

If you can't wait until Sunday to see the Supersuckers, they are playing at the East Brunswick Club on Saturday 19th, with Dynamo and Nici Blue Eyes. If you are really keen, why not take the kids along to the 'Suckers instore at Route 66 in Prahran on Saturday afternoon, and introduce them to the scarey men who sing "Born With A Tail"?
Not a lot of other sideshows confirmed for other acts, though. I thought the Hitmen might have jammed one in, but apparently not. And I didn't look too hard for any Galvatrons shows.

Last word on the Greyhound?

Well, despite earlier posts and news, it looks like it's fallen through. From this week's local paper:

I got asked to leave the Hound at the end of the Sixfthick show in the front bar there last Sunday, by the way. The two events are not necessarily connected, of course.

Pick a nerd and save the country

or something.
One excellent election night show: Mink Jaguar at Pony, with a few others

Or another- the return of Sixfthick over at the East Brunswick Club

The choice is yours.
Personally, I'd prefer to be down at the beach with Mirka Mora. It looks like a lot of fun.

She has great taste in swimwear, that's for sure.

Fish curves

I think this all perfectly clear, isn't it?

click to enlarge, if you must, pervert.
And while we're on the subject of lingerie, I am reminded that Spooky Records have just released "On The Rocks", the latest from Sixfthick. While they're over breaking things- sorry, on tour- in Europe, this makes an excellent substitute.

Get some.

the return of La Femme

Yes, yes, I know the Celibate Rifles are in town this weekend, playing with the Double Agents at the Corner, and, yes I know that Sixfthick are playing their last Melbourne show before their European tour at the Rob Roy, but for my money there is only one show worth going to- the return of a rejuvenated La Femme.
I never saw them live back in their heyday, so I'm really looking forward to it. More details here at the I94 Bar. If you can't make the show, at least have a listen to the recently reissued album.

Thanks to Ian & Stuart for giving me that intro para, too.

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:

Tidying up, odds and ends, etc

Well, I got knocked out of the Mess & Noise scrabble competition in the first round on Sunday afternoon, playing up in the Corner Hotel beer garden, but was cheered up by heading downstairs afterwards to see the Good Shepherd Circus Pie Classic- a charity event featuring a long list of local musos and others having a crack at competitive cooking. I missed out on getting a taste of Bob Log III's special chicken & breastmilk dish, but among many other highlights, it was worth going just to see Ron Peno at work:

And I didn't get to see Sixfthick at the Espy the night before(due to an unfortunate and stupid incident I don't want to go into here) so it was good to see them, down on the floor:

In other leisure time news- my pool game is getting better, pub trivia is going OK (second, third & last from three attempts), I'm stuck in a never-ending game of punch buggyand it looks like I may crank up the homebrewing again soon. And this week a parcel arrived from my pal Grrtch, which included a very fine Garagepunk.com t-shirt, amongst other goodies: Thanks, Grrtch!

This stuff is all just a distraction from what I should be writing, of course, a bit of a wrap up of Lobby Loyde's memorial service, which I attended on Saturday- that I am finding very hard going.

Thanks to Tim Chuma for the use of those pics, too.

Phew.

Well. What a weekend- three days worth, too.
On Friday I caught GUT, Kim Volkman & the Whiskey Priests, Intoxica & Sixfthick at the Greyhound. All good- and the place was nicely full too.


Saturday I went by the Corner Hotel early to say hello to Vinz and the others from Demi Dero Inc. then over to Exile On Smith Street, where I was too early for Tiger By The Tail. Went down to the idGAFF to see if the rumour of Sixfthick doing a last minute show as part of the GAFFStock weekend was true- it was, and they did.
Recovery session at the St. Kilda Bowling Club on Sunday went on a little too long, though. I had a very quiet day on Monday, I can tell you.
Except that it wasn't really that quiet- the tinnitus that has been bugging me off and on for the past few years is in full flight right now. The loud constant feedback-like whine in my left ear, and sometimes in my right, is making it hard to concentrate, hard to hear, and hard to sleep. It looks like I may have to give the music- especially live music- a break until I can get this fixed.


Thanks to Belinda for the shots of Sixfthicks Ben & Geoff Corbett at the Greyhound

The Greyhound (again)

Well, there have been 16 objections to the redevelopment lodged so far. Closing date to register is this Friday, 16 March if you feel inclined- you can do it via that link, in about 20 seconds.
The local paper carried a story this week wherein someone representing the new owners claimed that nothing would change, that the bar & bands would carry on as before. But when Neil Wedd says that he's been told that his Indie Initiative nights will be coming to an end after seven years, I believe him.
Final show list looks like this:

Friday 16 Mar
BRITISH INDIA, YOUNG LOVERS, NEVERELEVEN, SKYBOMBERS
8pm, $10

Friday 16 Mar
MOTHER
9pm, free

Saturday 17 Mar
THE BREADMAKERS, THE VIOLENT MOOD SWINGS
9pm, free

Sunday 18 Mar
THE PRAYERBABIES WITH THE SOUTH OF THE RIVER COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR (40 voices)
Gospel, country, blues and world music spectacular
4.30pm, gold coin donation

Wednesday 21 Mar
Indie Initiative:
Quinn, Nyssa, Bradsworth, White Summer
8pm, free

Thursday 22 Mar
Nervous Wreck, The Ribbon Device, The Pass Outs
8pm, $6

Friday 23 Mar
THE FUCK FUCKS, HYBERNATORS (with THE BOX WARRIORS), BITTERSWEET KICKS, THE BANG BANG BANGS
8pm, $10

Saturday 24 Mar
THE EXOTICS
9pm, free

Sunday 25 Mar
ROSIE HADEN and THE SLIDEWINDERS
5.00pm, free

Wednesday 28 Mar
Indie Initiative:
The House Of Slunk, From The Ashes, Calling All Cars
8pm, free

Friday 30 Mar
SIXFTHICK, INTOXICA, WHISKEY PRIESTS, GUT, SCREWTOP DETONATORS
8pm, $15

Saturday 31 Mar - Our Last Show
P TEX, LARGE No 12s
9pm, free

This weekend.

Apart from the Double Agents single launch shows at Exile on Smith Street and the Excelsior, the only other option seems to be Sixfthick:

and that's fine by me.

Music for January (part II)

What a great way to open my account for the year- Tiger by The Tail & Kim Volkman at the St. Kilda Bowling Club, last Friday night.
It was hot, it was crowded, it was great. I may have had several beers- I vaguely recall harrassing Richard Sharman to take my picture for a change.
Anyway- on to this weekend.
Almost exactly 20 years since Rob Younger & Jim Dickson pulled the New Christs back together, (March 1987 according to this:) the current line up line up hits town for a couple of shows- Thursday 11th at the Tote and Saturday 13th at the Espy- which is free, so you have no excuse to miss it. I may have to stand down the back, for some reason my ears have been ringing constantly for the last month or so.
February is already shaping up well, with SixFtHick playing Melbourne on the 16th, 17th & 18th. And yesterday I got a heads-up that X-rated US funk/soulster BlowFly is coming out for a national tour with Dr. El Suavo. I believe they are still looking for "exotic dancers" for some dates, feel free to drop the Doc a line if you're interested.

click that New Christs pic to enlarge & read