Working on the new venue over the weekend. Toward the rear of the building (right behind the venue) we’ve got a few rooms that, in the beginning, will probably be artist studios, galleries or something like that. They’d also make a killer addition to the venue – a separate bar area from the main room, but that’ll be down the track if need be. In any case, the original dirty & broken windows in said rooms need replacing – my job over the weekend. Here’s me not posing for this shot…

Coffee with window, Saturday 17 May 2014 at the new venue.

Fires out.

The band van has been doing it’s share of dirty work here at the new venue. Apart from saving us thousands in material delivery fees (we’ve got roof racks these days) we’ve made plenty of trips to the tip. The shot below, a little bit of Collingwood (from the beer garden), dumped at our closest tip in Reservoir last week.

Dumping at Reservoir tip last week.

And again, another weekend working along side the building crew starting tomorrow at 7am. It’s all hands on deck & 7 day weeks at the moment.

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Last Wednesday, went down to the Vagrant’s brand spankin’ new Harley Monroe store in Box Hill North for opening night. They’d set up a marquis on the footpath out front, Dogsday playing loud rockabilly tunes to a quiet suburban street – small line of shops on one side, houses on the other. BBQ, beer & wine supplied. A great night & a great way to celebrate the opening of a new store selling all kinds of rock & roll memorabilia & other nostalgic stuff including clothes, funky record players, gift cards, art & so on.

Harley Monroe opening night 8th May 2014.

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Been a flat-out week here at the new venue. Cutting back the old floors with industrial sander for the past 4 or 5 days. Still going. Lots of nails to punch in, putty, varnish etc etc. Frenetic work rate required. Sorry for lack of posts. More soon.

Marty masked & floor polishing in the new venue.

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Flat out on the new venue (been a few days since the last post). Here’s a shot of Stu the plumber up a ladder on Friday. Gutsy stuff – not something I’d be happy about. He’s about 8 metres up (it was raining lightly making for slippery grip). Spent the weekend on a work frenzy again here. Need a shower – been a couple of days.

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New ‘smart’ meters installed in the venue yesterday – replaced the old power meters. We like to keep the excitement coming…

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Awesome drummer Albi Fabri just returned from 3 dates in Perth with the Australian INXS Show. I see on their website they’re heading to Darwin in June.

Albi Fabri on drums with the Australian INXS Show.

Albi was one of our lesser-known drummers – probably because we never actually got to play live with him (that’ll do it). But he was absolutely sensational. It was a real shame we lost him. At the time (2006) we just couldn’t keep a rhythm section together. Guys were coming & going like shoppers through a revolving door. Anyway, fast forward & it’s great to see Albi out there rockin’ the road. Good on ya mate.

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PS – blistering weekend gone, working on the new venue.

Knocking down a wall at the venue entry yesterday. Been a huge week of building activity here. Still at it today. Big Anzac Day long weekend about to start. Building crew here again 7am tomorrow.

Marty on ladder, new venue, Collingwood 23rd April 2014.

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Diva Demolition at the Espy, Sunday night. Been a long while since I’ve actually been down to St.Kilda. Think the last time might have been for a Vagrants show at the Espy. Either way, it was good catching up with the guys from Diva Demolition who were a long way from home. First met em at a sky-diving festival norhtwest of Brisbane in 2010, they were one of the local bands on the line-up. We’ve kept in touch since, never quite managing to catch up or play on the same line-up again. Great show guys. Blistering, solid guitar rock, punk attitude.

Diva Demolition, Espy front bar 20 April 2014.

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Many thanks to Gav for sending this link – ‘Amazing Tron Dance’…

Hope you’re having a great Easter Sunday.

Fires out.