human jukebox 2

My Dad and I went to see Kim Salmon at the Old Bar last Sunday. It was really, really good. Maybe one of my favourite gigs for the year.

He played two sets of Scientists stuff, and it was really cute seeing him play Frantic Romantic, 'cos it's such a teenager song and he's getting on in age now. Still looks good though (obligatory creepy musing).

When he finished Rowland S Howard was playing over the speakers. He's defs been following me this last week. First at the Tote, then the Old Bar, and on Wednesday I saw his photo in one of my Uni lectures offices.

Weird times.

trips to spain and china.

Half of the enjoyment of seeing bands is not the bands you go to see, but the crowd—who you see.

I still don’t know that many people in Melbourne, so when someone recognises you it’s quite a nice feeling. I think I knew at least seven people when Buried Horses played as part of the Spanish Festival on Friday night. The band was good too-- I think it just takes a million listens to get used to, like many nice things.

Later on in the night I discovered the mystery of the second floor rooms at the Old Bar, and uncovered a plethora of GV gossip. The secrets mainly revolved around failures of sorts, and because I was so intrigued with these jaw-dropping hearsays I missed out on Midnight Woolf. I heard their cover of Gloria though, which sounded fun.

On Sunday my friend asked me to go to China Town Getdown. There was too much floral, lace and high-waisted pants. I’m pretty sure every band there would cite the Velvet Underground as a major influence. They weren’t bad, bad—Dirt Farmer are nice, but the bands were just all too similar and I was too tired.

Plus, it was kind of boring compared to the previous night.

Sorry.

bands, books and fireplaces.

Tuesday was Sabrina's birthday, and after eating the hugest meal I had ever eaten in my life, we decided to visit some pubs to escape the cold. Firstly we saw Peter Ewing at Labour in Vain, he sang quite pretty and was accompanied by a man with a violin who was amazing. He played with Spencer P Jones and James McCann in previous weeks which would have been cool to see (especially ol' Spencer Jones, because he plays all the time, but I never get to see him!).

On the way home, we stopped by the Old Bar to stand infront of the fireplace, and the band there wasn't too bad. They played a cover of 'Dirty Old Town', which was fitting, as that seems to be played by a band every time we go out for someones birthday.

We continued our weekday band freebies on Wednesday and went out to the Old Bar upon recommendation from a friend. Loveless Marriage played first, and it was the strangest act I have seen. It started off with some poetry reading, then an instrumental with a guitar, violin and double bass (maybe? i don't know my string instruments), then magic tricks. It was amazing, and they had a smoke machine.

Mass Cult Suicide played next. They played quite a short set, and weren't as good looking as I remembered them to be, but they were still quite good. Last, but not least, was Plague Doctor. It was their last night of residency, so the bar was relatively full for a Wednesday. They were lots of fun, and during their last song one of the girls dancing ripped up a Star Wars novel and threw all the pages around like book snow.

It was pretty.

seen better legs on a table.

So, It looks like the Old Bar is becoming our new haunt for the time being. I've been there more in the last month that I have is the past year and a half, but not enough so that my outfits haven't had to be repeated.

I was there Sunday, for the last night of Buried Horses residency. I missed most of Death Valley Band, but was able to catch the Orphanage. They were okay, I don't actually remember them because I was too busy being surprised and bitchy, but the songs I heard over the internet were pretty good.

Buried Horses were really good (my vocab. just isn't the same anymore- i need to start reading again!), and I wasn't hit by anything. My friend and I played our usual copycat game during their set, and I think we're good enough to do the moves without the live band backing now.

I think I have seen them so many times that soon they will be overtaking the live play count (a la iTunes) of Digger and the Pussycats. I'm stuck in a complete social inertia when it comes to liking things, but I guess this is keeping with the animal theme, so it's not too difficult to handle.

Another thing that has been incessantly happening is Johnny Cash covers. Bands are all over him, the last four times I have been out three bands have covered the man in black. Not that that's a bad thing.
Unlike some people I know.

fuck 'er in the eye.

I saw all the extremities last night at the Old Bar. There was a guy who had the biggest feet I have ever seen. If only his shoes were painted red, he would be a great clown. On the other end of the scale, there was a man with the tiniest toes ever. There was also heaps heaps of torso's ranging on the hair-o-metre from gorilla to school-boy.

Buried Horses played first and were great, as per usual. I'm not overly keen on some of the new songs, but they're good to see and I was relieved not be hit with any tambourines. They tuned by playing bits of Pop Crimes, which was exciting/cool.

Teen Archer played next. I think I had the confused with the Twerps, so I wasn't really prepared for their sounds. Some of the songs were alright, but mostly I didn't like them. I spent most of my time in courtyard during this.

Assassination Collective were pretty cool. The drummer from the Stabs was in it, and he was so hairy (not as hair as Sam from Digger, though. He showed us- or the guy talking to me, Liam- his chest at one stage). There was also this girl who looked liked my year seven Geography teacher in the band. It was cute because she yelled when she sung.

Digger and the Pussycats were the same as they were last week, but I think the reason that I never really get sick of them is because of their amusing banter between songs. This time it mainly revolved around BJ's, and getting naked.

There was this drunken buffoon lady trying her hardest to get fifteen minutes of fame. She got up to sing at the end of the last song, instead of saying "oh yeah" she was shouting, "fuck 'er in the eye". It was funny at the start, then she just got annoying and kept speaking when the song had finished. The sound guy cut off the mike, but you could still hear her.

You sing like a cunt!