And more.

Yes, there's always more. More more more. Yes please.
On Friday, a big bill at Ding Dong:


The Surrealists haven't played for...oooh, quite a while. This show will also be the last for Witch Hats for a bit, as they will need to find a new drummer immediately afterwards, and mix their just-recorded second album. Pistons Misfire are a new outfit featuring Sam Agostino, from Kamikaze Trio/Digger & the Pussycats.
Or:

A Stax tribute night, for no particular reason I can see. Too many people playing to list- just read the poster, sucker. I like Yah Yah's- the stage is low, the bar is cheap and the bouncers are friendly.
Then on Saturday, after that Oogas gig mentioned previously, there are a couple of choices, like some more filthy garage rock from the Gruntled:

Seems like ages since I was at idGAFF. Note support from Selfish Gene- get there early, if only to see them all squash into the playing area.
While over in Richmond, a revamped Wrong Turn are playing:

I don't know why that came out so small. It's not my fault.

Unavoidable sport

Remember in school, when you absolutely had to do sport every week? Some things were cool, but often those sessions were just a wet muddy hour running round a paddock. Well, the late September football finals are kind of like that if you live in Melbourne. After sitting out the Olympics, the Grand Final is inescapable. I guess it's some sort of penance inflicted for an enduring lack of team spirit and rah-rah-rah. Anyway, if you have to watch, you may as well do it somewhere worthwhile:

SAT SEPT 27 FROM NOON – 11PM
HOSTED BY SPENCER P. JONES
GAME LIVE ON THE BIG SCREEN
PRIZES, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS
HALF TIME ENTERTAINMENT
AFTER MATCH ENTERTANMENT

Sadly, I think that's fully booked now. Other options- well, a bit later in the day, idGAFF will be it's usual oasis of excellence:

Or there's a soul night on over at the new look- well, under new management, anyway- Birmingham Hotel in Smith St:

But that's about it, I think.

Gaffstock 08

Yes, it's on again this weekend, featuring too many bands to list, over three days and nights:

This place is one of my favorite bars, and it seems to go from strength to strength. At $10 a session you'd be a fool not to drop in for a while at least.

Click to enlarge the (excellent) poster for full details

Janine Hall

My friend Janine died last week. While the circumstances are still a little cloudy, they’re not really important. What matters is that she’s gone.

Born in New Zealand, she was an enthusiastic and notable part of the Australian music scene. She was a member of Melbourne’s legendary Young Charlatans back in the early days, playing her bass alongside Rowland Howard (pre-Boys Next Door/Birthday Party) Ollie Olsen (pre-Whirlywirld/NO/Max Q) and Jeffrey Wegener (pre-Laughing Clowns). Janine later joined the Saints for two albums (“The Monkey Puzzle” and “Out In The Jungle”- yes, that’s her playing on “Always” and “Follow The Leader”) and plenty of live shows in the early 80s, before moving onto Mick Thomas’ Weddings Parties Anything. That’s some CV- and that’s only the edited highlights.
She trained and worked as an acupuncturist in recent years, and as a sceptic I was surprised by the difference a few treatments from her made to my tinnitus. And she never really let me pay her for them, either, preferring a few beers and a game or two of pool at the Tote to cash.
Her funeral is private, but there will be a wake held for friends at idGAFF on Thursday afternoon, 29 May, from 3.00 til 7.00pm. See you there.

Pic- Janine and co. on the back cover of "The Monkey Puzzle"

Update- this just came to my attention:
There will now be a funeral service for Janine Hall.
The service will be at Lonergan WG Raven at 187 Queens Parade Clifton Hill at 2pm sharp on Thursday May 29.
A wake will follow at IDGAFF 160 Hoddle St Abbotsford from 3pm.
All those who knew Janine are welcome.

Please pass on the info.

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:

Rock & roll nurse.

Well, never let it be said I'm not open to new ideas.
Yesterday I got acupunctured by the lovely Janine Hall, the former bassplayer for the Young Charlatans and the Saints, among others. It was odd, and good, and seems to have helped calm the ringing in my ear. I could have done without passing out, though- that one needle to relax me worked a bit too well.
This has been a big month for for getting things stuck in me- a flu shot, a tattoo, and now this. Back for more later this week, I think.
After that I went over to the idGAFF to catch some of Steve Lucas' solo set, in front of a disappointingly small crowd. Come on people, where the hell were you all?

And here's another sauna pic, as promised. Those of you with keen eyes will see it features some of the same people, and indeed the same photo.


Edit- well, if Photobucket don't like it, maybe Flickr will. Let's try that again:

Scrabble

Not quite sure why, but this week I signed up for the 2007 Mess & Noise Scrabblefest. I haven't played for ages, and I have no idea how good the competition is- an assorted gathering of fans, writers, musos and chatterers, as far as I can tell.
Round 1 kicks off in the Corner Hotel beergarden on Saturday afternoon (followed by Slayer), with more games at Exile on Smith Street on Sunday (followed by Penny Ikinger). I think I'm playing at Exile.
But I also have an appointment with an acupuncturist (hi Janine!) on Sunday afternoon, to try and get this infernal godamned tinnitus sorted out. Though I may then undo all her good work by going to see Steve Lucas at the idGAFF in the evening.

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

Gaffstock 07

I love the idGAFF Bar, in Collingwood. It's one of the few places that can drag me across the river these days. Jo Jo & Chelle know how to look after their punters.
During March, they have Joel Silbersher (HOSS, God, Dark Horses, Tendrils) playing solo every Saturday for a very reasonable $5.00. And at the end of the month, they are putting on a three dayer called Gaffstock. Check out the line up announced so far:

All looks good to me.

Louis Tillett live

I promise, I will stop doing the cross-posting thing.
But someone involved in this show sent me a very positive message about this I94 Bar piece, and I figure they would be happy for it to be spread around a little.

No flags required.

Lots to put in here for the Australia Day weekend, so I'm getting it in early.

On Friday, the Greyhound has a BBQ on in the beer garden from 5.00pm, followed by the Violent Mood Swings super group- essentially anyone in St. Kilda who owns a musical instrument will be there. No link for this- it seems they have stopped updating their gig guide, now it has been confirmed that live music will stop there (at least temporarily) at the end of February.

Meanwhile , the Killer Birds will be working hard, mixing their album under the watchful eye of Cosmic Psycho Ross Knight during the day, then playing at "Cocktails in the Gutter II" in the Ian Rilen Room at Torquay Football Club, with HOSS, in the evening.

Fiona Lee Maynard has a busy weekend too- the Tijuana Souvenirs are giving away Big Day Out tickets at the idGAFF, where they play with Kids In Cults:

while the Souvenirs and Fiona's other band Femme Royale are both playing an invite only show in Footscray on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Dern Rutlidge reunite as youngbreeder at the Tote , and if you are up for a really long long weekend, Spencer P Jones is at the Gem in Collingwood on Sunday night- I think this is the last weekend of his residency.

And me? Well, Saturday's undecided, but on Friday I'll probably eat some lamb, then go and race a plastic duck with the Lord Mayor.

True. Go, number 3648!

Hot & smoky

It was hot and smoky here all weekend, in more ways than one.
On Saturday afternoon I made the trip from the beach to the city, to see Louis Tillett play a solo show at the idGAFF Bar in Collingwood. It was worth the effort- more details to follow via the I94 Bar.
I also dropped by to the Old Bar in Fitzroy, for that Kim Volkman/Tijuana Souvenirs/Tiger By The Tail gig I mentioned last week, but didn't stay long.

Three bars in one post, that's a lot even for me. More soon...