NYE and slightly beyond.

Hmm, probably the last post of 2009, and as expected, there are a shitload of shows on for New Year's Eve. These all either a/caught my eye for serious consideration, or b/had easily-grabbed art online. Cast your eye over this little lot- a rough count tells me there are over 30 bands listed.






Do not ask me why Bama-Lama go for the landscape layout, instead of portrait. Similarly, do not ask why I couldn't find any artwork to use for Yah Yah's or the Tote.

And afterwards? Well, there are a few recovery parties and such going on...this one at Ding Dong, on Saturday, looks good:


As to where I may end up, I'm still not sure. There are a few parties to check out first, and it's usually a long night for me. Have a good one, regardless of what you do. Salut!

Flip Out

Now, ordinarily, this show, at the Espy on Friday night, would be head and shoulders above the rest:

The Visitors were one of a clutch of bands (see also- the Hitmen, the Other Side, Comrades of War, New Christs and New Race) formed from the debris of Radio Birdman on their return from Europe in 1978. They played a dozen or so shows, recorded an album, released an EP's worth of it, and then disbanded. The album eventually emerged years later, and is now being reissued, on Citadel Records, to mark their reunion. I never saw them, and am really looking forward to this. I mean, it's not often you get to see legends play. Vocalist Mark Sisto's role as Birdman's "Minister for Defence" led to me being christened "Minister for Offence" during my time roadieing for GOD. And, it's free, yet. Make the most of it.

But even that looks like being relegated to warm up status, because on Saturday the first (of many, hopefully) Flip Out Festival hits the Corner Hotel.

A solid attempt to get a decent festival going in Melbourne, without the big bucks and sponsorship. There is so much going on here, in addition to the music. The first 200 people through the door will receive a free 18 track Aarght Records/Stained Circles sampler. There's a record fair 2 – 6pm, a rooftop BBQ will run from 5 – 8pm, and the Gimme Shelter and Primitive DJ’s will be playing tunes in the front bar.

PERFORMANCE TIMES - OVER 2 STAGES:
3.00 SUPER WILD HORSES
3.45 THE UV RACE
4.30 THE STRAIGHT ARROWS (SYD)
5.15 THE FROWNING CLOUDS
6.00 THE PINK FITS (SYD)
6.45 DEAD FARMERS (SYD)
7.30 KNIFE FIGHT (NZ)
8.15 THE STABS
9.00 KING AUTOMATIC (FRANCE)
9.45 DEAF WISH
10.30 M.O.T.O (USA)
11.15 BEACHES
12.00 EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING

And if that isn't enough for you, the Straight Arrows are using Flip Out to kick off a tour to launch their new single, and you can go and see them again on Sunday at Bar Open in Fitzroy.

That starts around 8.00pm, with the Arrows on at 11-ish.

Monday morning is far away as I write this, but I suspect it won't be a pleasant awakening.

Cut Rate Masters

Well, them Cowboys did the business last night. Garry, Mark, Penny, Nick & Stefan pulled out all the stops. Here's the list:

Once again, I got grief from some ape-fucker idiot of a bouncer when I grabbed this, during "We Love You". Like, it's not as if the band need it at the end of the set- and anyway, there were three or four others dotted around the stage. This time round, Mr. Gray saved my bacon, by lurching off the stage, grabbing me in a bear hug and bellowing " Of course we do..." into my ear and the mike simultaneously. A dream end to a dream show.

Sacredsexstkilda

The Sacred Cowboys blow back into their spiritual home, St. Kilda for a one-off in the Greyhound back room, with support from the Exotics and the Frowning Clouds This is pretty much a must-see. If you never saw this band in their early 80s heyday you missed a real experience, some of which can be captured on their double CD “Nailed to the Cross”, just out on Savage Beat, with excellent liner notes.

Fans will be reunited with memories of their compelling combination of mesmerizing lyrics and swirling wall of sound guitars which saw them quickly become one of the hottest alternative bands on the scene back in the day, and a
major drawcard especially in hometown Melbourne and Sydney (where they found kindred spirits like The Scientists).
Something of a post-punk supergroup (with members drawn from the original line-up of Models and Suicide Records group The Negatives), The Sacred Cowboys gained instant notoriety when they appeared in '82, thanks to frontman Garry Gray's chainsaw wielding antics on stage. They played a wild, dangerous and completely unique brand of rockn'roll inspired by the artists whose material they covered, including SUICIDE, ALAN VEGA, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, CRAMPS, VELVET UNDERGROUND, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL and ALEX CHILTON.
A reconstituted Sacred Cowboys line-up will be playing a showcase of special Victorian gigs during their Australian tour in April/May 2008. Featuring founding members GARRY GRAY and MARK FERRIE with PENNY IKINGER on guitar, and the band's second phase 'Trouble From Providence' rhythm section of NICK RISCHBIETH and STEPHAN FIDOCK.

More St. Kilda shenanigans tomorrow night- Elbow Room launch their stage version of seminal dirty book “Venus In Furs” at Theatreworks in Acland St.

Venus In Furs inspired the diagnosis of a whole new category of sexual perversion. Since the 1800s, masochism has largely shrugged off its unsavoury reputation, attaining a kind of underground ‘glamour’. Today it has well and truly been embraced by the mainstream, its ubiquity obvious in the burgeoning popularity of all forms of fetishistic entertainment, particularly the recent resurgence of burlesque. In revisiting the original text, Elbow Room brings to the stage the source of an entire genre of sexual gratification and entertainment in a timely reminder of the continuing influence of Sacher-Masoch’s novel.

My 1970 edition of this is illustrated:

But not in as saucy a manner as you may expect, and it is still as dull a read as ever, regardless. What can be done with it onstage remains to be seen.

Note- if I could have been bothered I’d have put a segue in between those two, about the Sacred Cowboys playing “Run Run Run” live or something. But I didn't. Sorry.

This weekend- art or Ooga?

There are two interesting things on this weekend- unfortunately they kinda clash.
For those of an artistic bent, the Missing Chord art exhibition is being launched at the St. James Gallery on Friday.

An exploration of the rock n’ roll heart of Melbourne

The interaction between fine art and rock n’ roll is comparable to the intertwining strands of DNA. At times the brutish simplicity of garage rock n’ roll can seem completely in opposition to the exquisite works hung on the rarefied walls of a fine art gallery; yet the complex tones and textures of many rock and indie bands can seem completely at odds with the naïve Art Brut style of so many contemporary artists.
This exhibition explores that symbiotic relationship and draws together 11 indie musicians who are also accomplished artists in their own right. The broad spectrum of bands the artists are involved in is also reflected in the variety of media, which includes works on paper, mosaics, photography, drawing and painting.
The artists include Ben Montero (Treetops), Jim Murray, James Ratsasane (The Rumours/J Hawk), Si Francis (Wagons), Kirsty Stegwazi / Rene Schaefer (Hand Hell), Ned Larnach-Jones (Ned & The Meds), Alana Cromwell (Sir), Mikey Stabbs (The Currency), Shags (The Smallgoods) and Rui Pereira (ex-The Drones).

For those of less refined taste, the Ooga Boogas, Exotics and Frowning Clouds play at Bar Open on the same night.

It's meant to be the launch night for the Ooga's new single "The Octopus Is Back", but apparently they will only have 35 copies on sale (and ten t-shirts) so get there early if you want one.

Regardless, all things being equal, I also plan to celebrate the arrival of the warm weather by BBQing the first rack of ribs of the season. But you're not invited to that, sadly. Maybe next time.

UPDATE: After seeing an excellent set by Darling Downs in the backyard of Pure Pop Records, I finished this off- 3 kilograms of boned pork shoulder, smothered with home made BBQ sauce and given 3 hours on the Weber with plenty of hickory chips:

Gimme Primitive and stuff

This weekend sees the return of Gimme Shelter to the Exford, as well as a special birthday- hi Myles!

While the final Primitive for 2007 is on at the Tote next week, featuring Wollongong's the Unheard, Melbourne's favorite young punks Witch Hats, and a teenage combo from Geelong, the Frowning Clouds.
I may not make it, but I hear a rumour that the people behind Gimme Shelter and Primitive crew are planning to be back early next year, and hope to kick off with a bay boat cruise. Oh yeah.

In other news this week, it's been reported and confirmed that the freehold of the Tote has been sold for a sum in the region of $3.2 million. The current lease has two more years to run, so there should be no immediate changes.

I wrote a small piece on Gonerfest for the I94 Bar about a month back: it's here if you want a look- probably worth it for some of Rich Stanley's comments alone.
Well, the party is over but there is a bunch of live sound up, including all three Australian acts. Here's some ECSR , Digger & the Pussycats and Ooga Boogas tunes, and a taste of some of the shit hot US stuff that was on offer, like Greg Cartwright and the Final Solutions , who feature Jay Reatard in their number, as well as Jay solo.
Have a listen, go here for more.

Thanks to Jack Stands for all this, and to Eric for being such a nice fella.