While we were away on tour, Diva the cat took to pissing and crapping in the studio corner. As cat owners will attest, the smell becomes unbearable. Got down under the desk to locate the problem and realised this must have been going on for a long while. Poops and everything down there. Last weekend, a major operation ensued – moved the entire PA, studio speakers, computers, leads and gear outa there. Mopped the floor several times with dangerous chemicals. Put everything back & re-wired the whole thing. Cat-piss-smell was still there. Dammit.

That’s it cat, sleep… you’ll get yours.

Eventually found the remaining source, a microphone lead bag complete with little cat craps & piss smell throughout. Took all the leads out & wiped them down. Washed the gear bag several times but couldn’t evict the stench. Bag went into the garbage. Sat down in the studio & smell still prevailed. Apparently, anything that touched that bag got the scent. Washed everything that came into contact. Twice.

Finally, 3 days after first looking for that offending piss puddle, we’re ready to roll. Some would say I got lucky – I’ve heard it said, you never completely get rid of the stench. White pepper down everywhere to keep that little sh*t away from the studio gear… for the time being. Rehearsal & recording begins Friday.

Fires out.

Magic…

The first time I heard Jeff Buckley it was the mid 90’s, in the midst of that era’s magnificent grunge movement. His only studio album, Grace (1994), was hugely popular amongst fans of indie music in Australia. A year later, commercial radio picked up the track ‘Last Goodbye’ & he crossed momentarily into the Aussie mainstream. I met Jeff Buckley at an in-store performance and record signing at Gaslight Records in ’95. My girlfriend at the time gave him a kiss on the cheek & he asked me if I wanted one too. I respectfully declined – so he asked, “It’s the hair, right?”.

Buckley died on 29th May 1997, while attempting to swim in a slack-water channel of the Mississippi River, Memphis. He was working on new material for a 2nd studio album. It was an enormous loss. He was 30 years old – his father died at the same age (sixties cult icon, Tim Buckley). One ponders what might have been. Fast forward 16 years, and we can still hear Jeff Buckley’s vocal influence. (Muse, Coldplay, Doves, Travis)

Fires out.

Saturday 11th May, a few days after the China tour finished, I was fortunate enough to play footy (Aussie Rules) with the Beijing Bombers against the Shanghai Tigers in Shanghai. It was a perfect day for football, blue skies & a gentle breeze sweeping across the oval in Pudong. Playing at full-forward for the Tigers was ex-North Melbourne defender, Shannon Watt. I was ‘running’ around just in front of him on the back flank. Luckily for me, our paths never crossed on the field.

Marty & Shannon Watt, after the game at The Camel, Shanghai 11th May 2013.

We had a beer & a chat after the game at the infamous Camel Sports Bar, where the players & supporters gathered for all-you-can-eat pasta and beer. Shannon played 155 games for North Melbounre, retiring in 2009 at the tender age of 29, plagued by injury in his final season with the Roos. He now works and lives in Shanghai. I met him before the game at the Camel bar (waiting for the bus to take us to the ground) – didn’t realise who he was til we were playing. Bloody nice guy.

Shannon Watt, North Melbourne Kangaroos 2009.

Fires out.

Went out to the Northcote Social Club last night to catch Vida Cain, our friend Josh Johnstone’s new band. Awesome show. Josh & the guys (4 piece rock band from Western Australia) are in the midst of a national tour to promote their debut album. They were tight, loud and rocking. Great songs, and great to see a full tilt rock-band smashing it. They reminded me a little of Motor Ace’s early days. And just when you think you’ve got em pegged, they turn on the funk & take you on a groovy ride. I even heard some Duran Duran in there.

Vida Cain, Northcote Social Club (Melbourne) 31 May 2013.

I don’t necessarily like comparing bands to other bands – it feels a bit like taking something away from the band I’m describing, sort of implying they’re not being particularly original. Vida Cain do their own thing, definitely influenced by a bunch of great bands and song-writers – but the sound is definitely their own. Check em out if you can.

We left the show feeling great.

Fires out.

Smith St was happening when we left Blush’s show last night in the early hours of this morning. The street has certainly come a long way from it’s seedy past, which is still evident in pockets here and there. Interestingly, at the southern end it’s taken off as a small gay-bar precinct, along side other cafes & bars & band venues. Earlier in the night at Ya Ya’s, The Antoinettes opened for Blush. Drummer ‘Cat’ (pictured below) is someone I haven’t seen for years, ran into her while they were setting up. She was a regular at the infamous Joey’s in St Kilda back in the 90s when I was playing in one of the house bands there. Joey’s was a crazy late-night joint, we’d start at 2am & play til 6. You can imagine the carnage. Great to see Cat last night, playing in her new band.

Cat drumming for The Antoinettes, last night at Ya Ya’s, Smith St Fitzroy (Melbourne).

Sunset Blush hit the stage around 11pm, wearing his trade-mark purple gear & cape. First half of the show had an electronic vibe with synth sounds & beats. Then he changed over to guitar, and featured a guest violinist. Plenty of on-stage humour and love in the room for Blush. Everybody loves him, just one of those guys you can’t help but like. Another quirky, fun show from our very own purple prince.

Sunset Blush last night at Ya Ya’s, Smith St Fitzroy (Melbourne).

Fires out.

Going down to Ya Ya’s in Smith St, Fitzroy (Melbourne) tonight to see our friend Sunset Blush. He hits the stage around 9:30.

Check out his Facebook. Wild & quirky, Blush’s shows are always fun, unusual & eclectic. Review tomorrow.

Fires out.

One of my favourite ‘unplugged’ songs from the Somewhere In The World series, when we were on tour in the US. Based in Brooklyn early in 2010, we stayed with a local community leader, King. We recorded this Bob Marley song with him – check out his rap in the final verse, totally off the cuff. The song is interspersed with footage of a block party we were really fortunate to be part of.

You can see The Somewhere In The World series on our YouTube channel – songs we played & filmed on tour with local guest artists from Europe, the US, China and Australia. 14 songs from around the world (2010 & 2011).

Fires out.

Good for a cold Tuesday morning in Melbourne…

Fires out.

“Normal” life started again today. After 2 months of touring, the months before planning & the past couple of weeks coming back to Earth, we’re back into the routine of life in Melbourne. Had a great weekend – it’s good to be home.

Taiwan looms in the distance, mid July. Feels like an eternity away – but it’ll roll around quick. We’re doing a few shows there, including Hohaiyan Rock Festival at Fu-Long beach in Taipei County.

Hohaiyan Rock Festival, Taiwan.

Fires out.

Video Tour Diaries on YouTube as a complete series. We’ve compiled this 10 part video documentary, through Germany & China, into one full playlist – so you can hit the video below or our YouTube channel – and see all the drama in one hit! 20 shows across two continents, April and May this year.

These diaries were a little different from those we’ve shot before. We wanted to show more grit & behind-the-scenes stuff, highs and lows. It’s a way more candid look at life on the road. Darkly surprising how much of our day is spent inside a vehicle of some kind.

Next tour, I’m taking a Go Pro & Zoom. That’ll be wild…

Fires out.