Nearly 2 weeks since the release of Tame Impala’s latest album Currents. And what a magnificent album it is. Totally sucked in during the lead-up, Triple J made it feature album, then Triple R the following week. I was all over Youtube listening & re-listening. Then in the week of release, Youtube pulled everthing down to make us wait. By week’s end & release day I was chomping at the bit. Downloaded & slammed it on repeat for days on end. What a f*cking fantastic ride. Not just the release of the year – but also, for mine, the finest Australian offering in years. This act (Kevin Parker) is bigger the world over than most of us realise. Pull a Youtube search & you’ll find appearances on massive US TV late-shows like Jimmy Fallon & Conan O’brien – and festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Coachella. If you want an experience that takes you on a different journey every time you embark, you need this album. It’s deeply emotional, the lyrics gripping & heartfelt. Sonically, it’s gritty and beautiful. Enthralling. All hail the genius that is Tame Impala.

Fires out.

Can’t help this morning but revisit Sunday. At the same time Chapter Ray were launching their EP at The Evelyn, on the other side of town the Bulldogs battled Collingwood in a thriller at Etihad Stadium. Highlights of some really fast flowing football…

Go Doggies!

Fires out.

Had a great afternoon at the Evelyn Hotel yesterday. Chapter Ray launched their latest EP ‘Ignite Your Ears’ in fine style. The afternoon gig was a masterstroke, making for a bigger-than-usual age range in the audience (the kids had a ball). Well chosen & interesting support acts Jeffrey’s Cabbage & Mark Stucas complimented the event nicely. When Chapter Ray hit the stage, everybody was pumped for an exciting show. And the band delivered just that – a mix of songs from each of their releases and some great new stuff yet to be recorded. When Young (guitarist) & Ray (vocals) sing in unison, it’s something quite unique. Everybody had a ball. Good crowd too for what was a classic dirty Melbourne winter’s day. The after-party happened at Abbotsford’s Park Hotel. That’s how I remembered it anyway – things were pretty hazy by that stage, making for a slow start this morning.

Chapter Ray, Ignite Your Ears EP Launch – Evelyn Hotel 26th July 2015. (blurry pic courtesy Carlton pints)

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Mate & drummer Mick Brown handed me his band’s latest offering last week for a pre-release listen. Chapter Ray’s latest EP will be launched at 2pm this Sunday at the Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. Their best release so far, for mine – driving up a notch in production & bedding down their sound. It’s an unashamedly commercial pop record loaded with good vibes and super catchy hooks. I’m hearing tinges of Robbie Williams in songs like ‘Pillow’ when vocalist Adam Ray sings “Don’t fight it… Let us ignite your ears…”. There are flavours of bands like Semisonic, Maroon 5 & Fuel peppered throughout. That said, it does have it’s very own identity. You can hear the band’s musical diversity playing it’s part. Mick & Brendan Young (guitars) are both guys with a grunge-rock ethos still pulsing through their veins – and it creates a curious mix coupled with Ray’s pop sensibility. Come down to the Evelyn this Sunday arvo for what promises to be a great gig (you can even bring the kids along for this one) – and get yourself a copy of this fine release.

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The guys from Mashup Pictures moved in yesterday. Awesome to have a creative team of film makers sharing the building with us. They’re setting up office in ‘Studio 2’ – a couple of adjoining rooms behind the venue between Max’s studio & mine. Here’s a show-reel clip from their website.

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Still sloggin’ it out here. Film-makers move in this weekend. Hilarious YouTube vid – what they think of AFL in the US. A must see. Enjoy.

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Had to quit the bar job at Spiegeltent – weekend gone my last shifts there. They’re keeping me on the bench for emergencies, might do the odd shift here or there. Will kinda miss it. Really liked chatting with people, serving etc. Got my skills up plenty enough to work behind our bar here, when we finally get going. Was finding it too exhausting  working ‘day’ job, building the venue & fronting up for long nights at the bar. Dad’s down from NSW & we’re wiring lights in the venue & walkway as I post.

Me at Spiegeltent Bar Collingwood earlier this year.

Film-makers, Mashup Pictures move into Studio 2 (behind the venue) next weekend. 3 young guys with big dreams. Looking forward to having em here. Racing to get everything set for their arrival.

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Work frenzy in the venue room again this weekend, all-too-familiar theme here. Then nights working the Spiegeltent bar. Long shifts. Saturday night was freekin’ mayhem. Graveyard Train played a raucous show to a packed house as part of the opening to Leaps & Bounds Festival. It was a huge night, punters in fine drinkin’ mood standing 6 across and 4 deep waiting for another drink at the bar. I hardly looked up – a frantic drink-pouring robot for 4 hours. Perfect Storm, the drink of choice – a dark cocktail of Sailor Jerry’s rum, ginger beer & bitters – left everything sticky behind the bar by the night’s end. Anyway, what I heard of the band (& the little I saw) I liked.

Doggies got up again this weekend, narrowly beating a much improved Carlton. Vale Adelaide FC coach Phil Walsh too. His murder late last week continues to shock and bewilder the football community.

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Damn busy at the moment. Relentless level of work. Artwork during the day, working on the building every other moment, working the Spiegeltent bar weekend days / nights. Something’s gotta give. I was working the Speigeltent last Sunday for the final Melbourne Cabaret Festival show. The whole night was amazing – but I was nearly in tears for Christie Whelan Browne’s comedy routine – just brilliant. She walked on stage under the guise of being an impromptu announcer for the following act (which never came). I’m not even going to try and explain how funny she was.  If you get the chance, you’ve gotta see this woman.

Christie Whelan Browne, Spiegeltent Collingwood last Sunday.

Fires out.