Summer Festivals

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

Underdog, was the Laneway festival that much of a debacle? Knew a few unhappy punters who wont be going back regardless of what changes they make, not happy at all.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Summer Festivals

Shame about the laneway, was warned off by a number of people.
I wanted to see Stereolab, the Hold Steady, El Guincho, Jay Reatard and machine translations

I went to the Triffids/Dave McComb gig last week.
I really enjoyed it but it was a different sort of gig. 3.5 hours in Hamer hall at the arts complex. Basically the regular triffids band minus DMac of course with numerous guest vocalists. Rob Snarski did a few as well as the Black Eyed susans who I like a lot. Steve Kilby looking like a trucker and accordingly sang the 'power' songs. Of the other guests the multi-instrumentalist JP Shilo is very good and Mick Harvey entertaining. Other bad seed and Triffids bass Martyn P Casey was very funny towards the end of the show. There was guest guitarist (long hair and of asian heritage) who I've seen at a lot of gigs. Is he the guy with the cardboard guitar or uke (no strings) playing offstage, used to see a lot at the corner?

I think Midnight Woolf are playing Saturday Mofra otherwise your NSC line sounds good.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Summer Festivals

Also I saw Dallas Frasca is at the espy on the 20th, might go just on reputation.

[The Underdog]

Re: Summer Festivals

Underdog, was the Laneway festival that much of a debacle? Knew a few unhappy punters who wont be going back regardless of what changes they make, not happy at all.

I didn't find it as bad as most but then I went and had a drink at Cookie and Rue Bebelons and used the facilities there rather than the porta-loos. I also didn't want to see Girl Talk who apparently they underestimated the crowd for. The Little Lonsdale Stage was the problem. Not big enough and the PA was super quiet. Getting in and out of there was a nightmare. I gave up on it after seeing 5 songs of The Drones. There were people lined up 50 metres down Swanston trying to get back in at 7.30 for Girl Talk at 9.

[azabob]

Re: Summer Festivals

Rob Snarski did a few as well as the Black Eyed susans who I like a lot. .

I just love his voice, I think him and his brother are doing a Snarski V's Snarski set at the NSC which they have done before. Should be a good night.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

Also I saw Dallas Frasca is at the espy on the 20th, might go just on reputation.

I'll be there - she does has a great live voice.
If you go, come over and say gudday.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

I just love his voice, I think him and his brother are doing a Snarski V's Snarski set at the NSC which they have done before. Should be a good night.

Fortunate enough to have had the Black Eyed Susans play one of my Uni grad parties (had them one year, Choirboys the year prior, very happy). Classic voice and very well balanced live, they can pull everything off as they seem to play slightly within themselves which gives any set a bit more of a relaxed, cruisy vibe.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Summer Festivals

Chiorboys! I would have given up on Uni.

Yes Rob Snarksi has a great voice. I saw a bit of last years Snarski vs Snarski.
I first saw the Black eyed susans in about 92. Warren Ellis was playing for them at the time. I see them regularily (Trio gigs last Maquis of Lorne), but they don't put enough records out anymore.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

Mini review of Saturday's events (need a break from bad news):

Brothers Grim - missed them unfortunately. Managed to be on a tram at the hottest part of the day. I am walking history.

Fangs of... - Not bad, drummer Jem has been in a heap of really good bands and his work is always a highlight. Vocals a bid screamy for mine.

Kids of Zoo - Worried about the Future of the Left cancelled tour? See these guys instead; treading the fine line of McLusky & FOTL and doing it without sounding like a rip off, these guys were the surprise packet of the day. Really good fun.

Mammoth Mammoth - Big fat dumb rock with a smoke machine & a Kyuss cover. Some of the faster songs work a little better, knowing that stoner-type rock isn't where guitarist Ben gets most of his inspiration from

Sons of Ionian Sea - Former Peeping Tom (3/4 anyway), singer-guitarist Jerasimus is quite an effective (and charismatic) frontman who vocally executes every line on stage very well. Definately worth making an effort to go and see.

Ancient Man - Veterans of the scene now? They've played every DK/Stonerfest/When the Bong Breaks and are always well received, although their set hasn't changed massively in the past couple of years.

My Left Boot - Clearly the crowd favourite, these guys were brilliant; tight, slick, with the higher pitched vocals of Chappy mixing well with a dual-axe attack. The best of the day. Sentimental too, with a couple of Beechworth locals in the ranks.

Looking Glass - No idea where these gusy came from, but it's fair to say they have probably heard of Black Sabbath. Super tight rythym section and a vocal/guitarist who can pull a screaming solo without any effort, certainly surprised a few and were worthy of appearing on the top half of the bill.

Cockfight Shootout - Hadn't seen them for a while, but they were fun; a little more subdued than I remember, which probably led to a few quiter moment during the set. They are a better band than their performance on Saturday.

Winnebago Deal - You know that bit where people say "I can't believe that much sound came from a two piece?" If they haven't seen WD, they are lying. These guys tore the stage up, work brilliantly together and gained a few fans on the day. Not as much variety as I'd normally prefer during the set which means I gave MLB the nod as best of the day, but certainly WD were a worth way to finish.

FWIW the crowd at these events are normally the friendliest going (including any folk/hippy gig you can name) and despite seeing only my second fight at a gig in 15 years, it was again the case on Saturday.

[The Underdog]

Re: Summer Festivals

Again, not a festival, but I saw the world's current greatest political rock (/thrash/punk) outfit, Propagandhi, at the Corner on Sunday. Had tickets for Saturday night as well but got boned by work and got there as everyone was walking out. I've been hanging to see them for 12 years since they last came out. To be honest, I was knackered from 7 straight days of work, so while they were awesome and I banged my head with as much energy as I could muster I probably didn't enjoy it as much as a couple of gigs I've been to recently. I also forgot what ****wits some people can be at gigs and promptly told one guy he should **** off as he complained about them not playing enough of their tunes from the 90's, "when they were good". What prompts someone to go to a gig and abuse a band for their choice of set list?
Anyway they played a good spread of songs including a few of their forthcoming album, got a couple of kids up to sing "**** The Border" who did a sterling job and gave a little over an hour of banging tunes. Hopefully they come back sooner than every 12 years.

Special mention to Identity Theft in support, well worth checking out, especially their harder songs.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

Was going to the Cool Summer festival this weekend, however I think it'd be best if I give that a miss. PS - All women are evil.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

Ernie - Thoughts on Tex on Friday? Damn charismatic fella; you know you're cool when Tim Rogers is your roadie. Somehow managed to miss Dan Sultan again (always happen whenever I'm at a festival or gig - it's uncanny), but did have a chat to him & I'm 180 degrees on my previous opinion of him, nice fella.

Anyway after 2 days of either drinking or nursing a hangover I wander down to Sydney Rd Festival on Sunday for a quiet couple of drinks at 2pm (ended up jumping the fence into some hard-funk party thing at 2.30am this morning, which made work suck alot today).

Ended up at The Retreat (don't shoot me). Saw:

Graveyard Train: Take to the stage in true Bluegrass style, complete with banjo anda guy with chains & a hammer. Teally had the crowd going.

Van Walker & the Celestial Railroad Band: Amazing voice, very tight country-type act. Organ adds a nice warm undertone to the entire set.

Mike Noga & The Gentlemen of Fortune: I swear Mike Noga was in some locally produced filmclip (maybe for Even) set on the inside of a train. With some dude from Jet on keys & Pat from Dallas Crane on bass, they were pretty tight although I got a bit of a sense of them being "just another good band" by the end of the set.

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur at this point; I vaguely remember seeing 1 - 2 songs from the Re-Mains and being impressed.

Now, Golden Plains next week will bookend summer nicely and that line-up looks one for the ages.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Summer Festivals

Ernie - Thoughts on Tex on Friday? Damn charismatic fella; you know you're cool when Tim Rogers is your roadie. Somehow managed to miss Dan Sultan again (always happen whenever I'm at a festival or gig - it's uncanny), but did have a chat to him & I'm 180 degrees on my previous opinion of him, nice fella.

Personally not a great fan of his songs, but he is a great front man. The Beast's Psycho was great and I love Cunaling.... song he did with TR. I wish he had sung The Cruel Sea's Down Below.

I missed Dan too, I did speak, he now lives in Footscray! Gone up market from Newport.

Now, Golden Plains next week will bookend summer nicely and that line-up looks one for the ages.

Need to speak about getting there. looking forward to it all.

[Mofra]

Re: Summer Festivals

I missed Dan too, I did speak, he now lives in Footscray! Gone up market from Newport.

William McInnes also lives in the Scray. It's the new black. Maybe that half of Footscray the locals call "Seddon" will change back.

Need to speak about getting there. looking forward to it all.

Ya, will be 3 of us in the car now, plenty of room though.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Summer Festivals

Mofra or myself haven't written about Golden Plains yet.
My highlights were Mogwai, Brant Bjork, The Church, Tony Allen(afro beat was great) and The Drones.
I think Gary Numan mimed his show.
I know Mofra loved old Crow Mecidine Show.