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.

Fires out.

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.

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Spent yesterday arvo at Reclink Community Cup, down at Elsterwick Oval. Awesome day, weather was great (but freekin cold), beer was cheap. Kick to kick at half time with mates Craigie & Bren – and no one got hurt this year (got a couple of people in the face last year). Adalita was a highlight, playing a blistering set right before the game. The game itself was a white-wash. Not sure what was going on with the scoreboard, but Rock Dogs (Melbourne musicians) got absolutely smashed by a surprisingly well skilled Megahertz side (Melbourne music industry) – their first win in 5 years.

After the game, shot taken by Craigie out on the Elsternwick Football Ground.

There were plenty of streakers braving the cold. The crowd was big – hopefully heaps of cash was raised to aid disadvantaged people in our community. Another great Reclink Cup – looking forward to next year.

How good are these guys. Perth psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. Kevin Parker’s the main guy. I think he writes & records everything – genius. The project grows into a full band on tour (5 or 6 piece). Love this song – Eventually. They (or Parker) have been making astonishing music for a few years now, but this latest stuff is mind-blowing.

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So much fun – they’ve done it again. Not bad when a couple o’ guys release yet another hit, 2 decades on – and still as cool as f*ck.

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Talking with a team of film-makers at the moment. They’re interested in leasing 2 rooms behind the venue as a permanent editing studio. The guys dropped over during the week & really dig the place. We’ve been looking forward to having the spaces rented out for creative purposes. Fingers crossed it’ll be a good start. I’ll let you know if & when they move in. They do some really interesting projects. Think they’re even involved in organising indie film festivals.

The studio rooms behind venue.

Fires out.