Loving the Stones. 50 years ago today, the beginning for one of the biggest rock bands of all time…

42 years to go & we’re there!

(video above from the Brisbane Times)

CLFO

Mat Ward (our photographer) sent us this video – Amanda Palmer ‘Want It Back’ – uncensored. Amazing work of ‘textural’ art…

Mat’s also done a bunch of photography for Amanda Palmer, officially invited into the ‘photo pit’ front-of-stage to snap a show earlier this year.

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Over the weekend, we were notified that Chanel Ten’s Bondi Rescue had used Adore as part of the sound track for episode two of the current season. Takes us a little time to hear about these things – the episode in question ran on Monday 13th of Feb (2012).

Adore was released on our first album, Sky Caves In, back in 2004. Also released as a single, the song was officially titled Adore Part II on the album (parts I and III being instrumentals – in case you wanted to know). Adore was a crowd favourite back in our Yak Bar days in Abbotsford, when we first got started. Somehow it made it’s way out of the set & we’ve not played it live for ages. That said, the title track of that first album (also a Yak favourite) is still part of our current touring set.

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Went down to Idgaff last night to see Ben Redlich’s new band Whodafunkit. Great band of young guys bringing the funk to Melbourne’s pubs & bars. They were tight & having fun – we’re talking costumes here. The shot below is taken from their Facebook page (not as wildly decked out). I got there after the set had started – pretty sure Ben (on drums) was wearing some kind of speedracer helmet…

Great catching up with Ben who’s played many a show with our good friends, The Vagrants. He’s also jumped up on stage with us a few times in the past.

Ben & Marty last night at Idgaff – Whodafunkit show.

After all this time, I still have not mastered the fine art of pacing one’s self on a night out seeing bands. Way too much beer & stuck around til stumps, staggering home by 2. What the hell? That was not the plan. Anyway, kinda glad I stayed. After Ben’s band, Forever Young hit the stage and they were fantastic. Old school pub rock from a golden era – played by guys who’ve certainly been around the block. Band leader and drummer, Trevor Young, played with Lobby Loyde & The Coloured Balls in the 70’s.

Forever Young, last night at Idgaff.

All up, a great night – both bands blitzing. If you get the chance, go see em.

CLFO

This morning, Pete S. sent us this video link – a documentary film about the uncompromising Fugazi. Based in Washington DC, the band focused purely on being the best band they could be – not on radio play, record deals & making piles of money. As a result, they’ve found themselves outselling major label bands & building a cult following across the planet. The doco features a bunch of live shows, interviews, back-stage discussion & studio footage – highlighting the band’s courageous DIY approach…

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Happy 4th of July, Independence Day, to our North American friends.

Also on this day…

1966 – Beatles attacked in Philippines after insulting Imelda Marcos
1969 – 140,000 attend Atlanta Pop Festival featuring Led Zep & Janis Joplin
And the mighty Barry White (my mum’s favourite singer/songwriter/sweet-talker of all time) died in 2003. Many a night, sleep was hard to find growing up in the family home – Barry blaring from the kitchen stereo…

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The past couple of weeks, we’ve been working on booking some Melbourne shows for the 2nd half of this year. We’re currently in talks with a venue in Abbotsford about dates around September/October. The upcoming shows will have a community vibe, featuring local guest artists, chook raffles & cheap beer – a bit like the old Yak Bar. We haven’t locked the venue down just yet (but we have a couple of great contenders).

Max gives em a spray, Chang Jiang Festival, China April 2012.

CLFO