Hello gentle readers, this is too good, to be true,for there's a girl in Melbourne city,
who met her favourite... band.
Whoops, it doesn't rhyme. AND its blatant plagiarism. More on plagiarism later though.
This week has been wild and woolly, so I gathered together a collection of gigs that would combat the winter madness.
Lost and Lonesome label showcase @ The Workers Club
The Workers (former shiny, shiny Rob Roy) has transformed into a very hipcat venue of late, but with a lot of substance. Quirky wallpaper and unisex toilets aside, I love the effort and thought that is put into their band bookings, their lovely staff and support of local acts.
Combine this with Lost and Lonesome, the sweetest independent record company you could hope to come across, who have a large base of bands who love pop music in all its forms. What do you get? A lovely Wednesday evening, that's what.
I may have missed the first act due to my slowness at eating, but came in time for a quick beer and a boogie with Melbourne darlings Mid State Orange, Louis Richter's original band before he was kidnapped and made to join the Lucksmiths. Guest star this evening included Mark Monnone on bass, and with my eagle eyes spotting Marty Donald in the audience, 3/4 of the Lucksmiths were in the same room as me. Hooray! MSO were my pick of the evening, just, for their catchy hooks, melodies and downright happy goodtimes. Sitting somewhere between The Magic Numbers and the Beach Boys, I was quite happy to lounge and listen.
Our international act of the evening were two piece Yellowfever, hailing from good ol' Texas... they made for a beautiful set. Crossing between guitar, keyboard and percussion effortlessly, they that cruisey, laidback vibe that Austin, Tx seems to emanate from every pore of its being, with a hint of Californian surf rock.
Last but certainly not least was the rock n roll sweetness of The Harpoons, who have the tiniest lead-singer with the biggest amount of soul I have ever seen. You could not help but twist and shake to their soulful, offbeat Motown inspired tunes.
PS. I got to speak to a Mark and Louis! My life is pretty much complete.
Propagandhi @ The Corner
What is punk rock without politics? What is Canada without Propagandhi?
Nutty, in both cases. But with their powers combined, the room moshed and threw their fists in the air of injustice at the Corner hotel on Thursday evening.
Propagandhi were in the early wave of skate punks, and differentiated themselves on issues such as veganism, religion and refugees. Never wavering from their ideals, just growing up, they are now a quarter of a century old, still cutely Canadian and still making fast punk rock that teaches you something.
With oldies from 'Less Talk More Rock', and even a track from my favourite, their debut 'How to Clean Everything' thrown in with brand new songs from their new record, it was a fun, powerful evening. How punk rock should be... it made me feel like I could take on the world.
Colin Hay @ The Corner
So, you have heard that Men at Work got sued for plagiarism? One up side to this farce of stupidity and greed is that Colin Hay is back on tour to pay for it!
The Corner Hotel was last night transformed into an ocean of young and young at heart hearts that all beat in the same meloncholic folky rhythms. As with anything of substance, the meaning was between the lines, in the stories he told of when Paul McCartney invited himself to dinner, of Scotland's national pastime of golf and violence, of his father's old record store and growing up in Melbourne. He is a natural balladeer and storyteller, and is so much more than a one hit 80s synth wonder.
Just one man on a stage with his guitar, he looked weary yet wise in his blue satin vest, somewhat how I imagine old father time or the ocean personified would look if they were standing in front of me. Yes, he did play that song, but it was not the highlight nor did he intend it to be. The entire evening was a continuous dialogue, whether in song, word, the little silences or the quips from the crowd he held transfixed.
If you have not listened to Colin's beautiful solo recordings, do yourself a favour. But more than that, see him live if you ever get the chance. He is a larriken, yet a gentle soul, and this doesn't come across in all his recordings. He is best when he just is.
Pretty good week huh? I'm glad the world still stands. Aren't you?
