Lisa Miller at Grand Central

Lisa Miller at Grand Central, 28th of January 2006

It been a while Since the last time I've seen a gig, over a month, whats with that. Didn't think much of the opening act, even though I like some of there past work, crap who were they again.... The Darling downs.

Nice venue, aircon worked. But couldn't see anything as I was sitting down and some bum in front of me. I must of forgot that I had the use of my legs due to the aircon and cold beer, brought in from the front bar, and the back didn't have daught on tap.

Lisa Miller captivated the crowd with her sweet voice on a lazy Melbourne summer day. It was great to kickback.

Hottest 100 - My 10 votes

Another Hottest 100 has come around with its online and sms voting (about 470,000 from Australia and overseas). Times have changed when it was just a piece of card that was picked up at your local ABC shop and sent away.

When I loged on today and it's a little slow, maybe this is because its one of the biggest music polls online today. Gone are the days where you had a couple of months to decide what you would vote for, instead its now 20 days from the 1st till the 20th of January. Nice addition is the online countdown for the close of voting.

Heres what I picked, we'll see where they get Australia day (in no order)

Wrong Time Capsule - Deerhoof
Destroy Rock & Roll {Remix) - Mylo
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Positive Tension - Bloc Party
I Turn My Camera On - Spoon
Flame Trees - Sarah Blasko
Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Hope There's Someone - Antony & The Johnsons
Silly Thing - Sophie Koh
Taste The Last Girl - Sons And Daughters

Selling like hot cakes - The Age, January 5, 2006. An article on Richard Kingsmill & "Hottest 100".

Melbourne v Sydney

"When it comes to catching a live band, Melbourne knocks the harbour city into a cocked hat. "

This article goes in depth about why there is a lack of live venues in Sydney compared to Melbourne. It definitely shocking to a city that can hold an Olympic games, struggles to create a live music culture. What shocked me about reading this article was that a pub could have a few hundred people could be watching a football game on a screen without a licence but if you have a lone acoustic act performing in front of a handful of people you need a licence. Makes me think, Melbourne is a lucky place.

Car Park Festival

11/12/2005
Golden Square Car Park, Chinatown, Lonsdale Street Melbourne CBD

What do festivals share in common? Expensive food, drinks smelly toilets, people who are there to be seen and a mix bag of bands. Nothing much amiss here with the first Car park Festival (or the last). The Car Park festival was ran jointly with St Jerome’s and Meredith Music festival. But for some reason it all just felt like I was watching it all in a pub, I was hot and sweaty, pub there were no pots of draught.

Before turning up, one of my friends said “they said it has a unnatural amphitheatre”, but how does that work in a car park in the middle of three buildings? There was a dip that started down about half way down the car park, which provided good view of the bands for tall and small. Also was concerned about the sun, due to no shade until about 5pm and that sun and concrete create an enormous about of heat, which in fact was correct, it was bloody stinking hot. It didn’t start filling up with punters until 5.

Missed opportunities for this festival were that there were no merchandise stands (stubby holders would have done well) and expensive drinks. Who wants to buy a $5.50 can of VB when you can walk down the block and buy a $3 pot in an air-conditioned pub? Between the bands like many other people, I went out of the venue to buy food and drinks elsewhere and to enjoy air-conditioning, and even went to a cheap shop to by a stubby holder for $2.

My highlights of the day were Billy Childish (what with his Amazon inspired website?), Architecture in Helsinki(who said they were taking a break for a while), Sons & Daughters, and the first half of the Avalanches DJ set. After that there were only half the people left in the car park, maybe they had realized that DJ Dexta and James de la Cruz that aren’t in the lineup anymore. Also was a little disapointed that new kids on the block Airbourne (from country town Warrnambool) and Wolf Mother weren't there. On a positive note the hole thing finished at 10.10, so we all could go home a decent time (maybe I'm getting old).

Will we see another Carpark festival? Can't say, numbers didnt impress, it was too hot standing without any shade, so looks we'll have to wait till next year.

Gig: Hoodoo Gurus & The Meanies

Kings of Moomba (Hoodoo Gurus) & The Meanies, The Corner, 10th Aniversery

Monday, 28th of November 2005

So The Corner had there 10 year celebrations, I’ve been to some good gigs and some fairly average ones (especially when I have ended up behind some tall dude or one of those lovely pillars). No Smoke, new bars and dinning area (which I didn’t check out) which will start the venue into there next 10 years.

The doors did open at 8pm and I was thinking, maybe it’s a start of a new era of early gigs, where I’m not home at a late time, but then I am getting old. I was a bit disappointed when I rocked up at 9 that I missed out on a free stubby holder, but I soon forgot about that as Wally Meanie told me I should buy a poster with a grin on his face.

The Meanies soon started after 9, transporting the corner back to the early nineties. The Meanies were my teenage heroes of music, and back in the 90’s I would venture into Au-Go-Go records to buy there latest CD or T-shirt. I was happy enough to see them and hear again Scum, Ranbo Mania and other classics. Also the DJ of the night was the owner of the record store, well that’s what a friend told me.

Next up was the Hoodoo Gurus, introduced by a cuddly Russian lass. That night they were call ‘The Kings of Moomba’ but don’t know if this was good for ticket sales or a hinderance (see poster, real names sold out first).

After the first Song the leading man, Dave Faulkner, proclaimed that they will only play song made before 1985. Later on in the night a friend told me that she heard a couple of girl complain in the toilet about there choice of set list. The punters didn’t care because every tune that was played was a crowed pleaser as they played there wonderful hybrid of trash pop tunes and infectious songs.

After watching two great live performances, I thought glad I don’t smell like smoke, but when I got home my girlfriend said to me “you smell like smoke”.

Berry Street Bash at The Retreat

Sunday 20/11/2005

Sunday was a fantastic day, not a cloud in site and a pub offering a range of live acts and cool beer. The Retreat Hotel in Brunswick had the “Berry Street Bash” plus the beer garden. Wrong I was. The bands were inside for day, which was such a pity, because I have seen some outside gigs at the Retreat and its great fun.

The line for the day included Hovercrafts, Tranquilisers, Crayon Fields, Kids from Russia, Hot Little Hands, Plug-In City, Red Ink Spills, Ned Collette, Gorgeous and DJ Dallas Crane. It was a shame they weren’t playing outside as I would of seen more of these acts.

It was one of the most missed opportunities I have ever seen at pub in Melbourne, not to put the bands outside, in the beer garden. There were so many more punters hanging out in the beer garden compare to the small and awkward band room. But at the end of the day it was to help a good cause.

GIG: THE KITS + THE BLACK POPES

Saturday 19th November 2005

OSTERBERG + THE KITS + THE BLACK POPES at The Rob Roy, Fitzroy

If you were writing an add for the Rob Roy Band Room you’d probably write something like “its small but cozy”. It’s a room that probably wasn’t built to be used as a band room due to some obstructions like the large door way near the stage and a pillar in the middle (like the Corner). But the Rob Roy does play an important part as it’s a great venue for showcasing up and coming bands.

Tonight’s show was a ep release of a band called Osterberg but I was there to see The Kits, lucky for me there were number two and I left after them (not very rock’n’roll).

First up was The Black Popes who played some pop/rock tunes that reminded me of a softened Marvelous 3.

After a fairly long intermission with some exceptionally slow music, that nearly made my better half and me fall asleep standing up, The Kits came to the stage. There music reminded me of early 90’s grunge, plus a hint of currant bands such as the Hives and The International Noise Conspiracy (or even old New Bomb Turks on their !!Destroy-Oh-Boy!! LP). All importantly The Kits got a bunch of people (well a bunch of girls) dancing up the front.

Links:

OSTERBERG website has mp3's but you have to sign up.

The kits website has 2 mp3's, 'City to City' and 'Young Girls'.

I couldnt find a link or website to the Black Popes.

Dead Frenchmen

Something I found at Kinko's some time ago, left in a photocopier. Have a look at Dead Frenchmen, they also have two mp3 Ghosts take over and sleep of reason on there site. Also Timberyard Records has a track called Tokyo on there site. (Updated 12/11/05)

Soul Contention

I said to these friends of mine "do you want to see a soul band play", but they just said “they’ll probably only play funk”. Soul Contention Featured three odd looking guys horns, a rhythm section and three fantastic singers. One of the singers had a great old northern soul voice. They definitely didn’t play a funk soul mix. They played more of your well known soul songs (don’t get me wrong I like pop), but it would have been great to hear some other soul material, maybe they could of played Gloria Jones Tainted Love.
They were tight and probably the closest I will ever get to see a soul band from the 60’s.

High Vibes 2005 (High Street, Norhcote)

Cockfight Shootout at Punch Salon

Sunday (25/09/05) saw a sunny day down on High Street, Northcote with High Vibes festival. Kids, Adults, and dogs were found wandering the street enjoying bands, food and flowing beer. Is this one of the last surviving street festivals with the likes of Brunswick street and St. Kilda (meant to be on break) gone?

I found Cockfight Shootout playing in Punch Salon, kind of a strange combination with the amber liquids, hair product and a fucking loud rock band playing. While leaving I took this photo and it sent my ears ringing to an amazing level. The High Vibes festival is about showcasing local acts, and Cockfight Shootout is definetly one of them, struting there stuff over Melbourne venues for some time.

The kids waiting to see Mountains in the Sky at Northcote Social Club

From what I hear, and didnt see while listing to Mountains in the Sky (well I was down the back), its kind of the music (or anthem) for your dreams (well my dreams are very cut and paste anyway). Featuring many different instruments and comming from many different inspirations.

Links:
Cockfight Shootout have some tracks on website, including Earth Grazer, Ward Zero and Something Strange.

Mountains in the Sky web site is lacking content, so hopefully more information will be added. For a bio and some other info check Trifekta have an artist profile.