Great night down at The Espy on Saturday. The Vagrants put on a great set, headlining the night with 4 other bands. A quick snippet of the night in the video below…

As mentioned on our FB page, Ross & I split a cab from Abbotsford down to St Kilda for the night. Sporting a tooth-ache, Ross had downed a decent amount of pain-killing vodka before hand. Safe to say, we were off to an early start & I had some catching up to do. Slow start to the day, yesterday.

Not sure of the names of the other bands on the line-up. I’ll find out from Steve (The Vagrants) later this week. They were excellent so I’ve gotta figure out who was who.

The Vagrants’ next show is a big one at The Tote in Collingwood, Sunday 5th August – starting at 3pm. It’s a Beyond Blue fundraiser. More news about that one in the coming week or so.

CLFO

Very good friends, The Vagrants, are playing The Espy tonight (Basement Bar). We’re getting a crew together this side of town (Abbotsford) to split a cab to the show (and home). They’re due on stage around midnight. Any takers – you’re more than welcome – jump on our FB page, or leave a comment here. It’ll be a great night (at this stage, I am committed to pacing myself)…

CLFO.

Thursday last week, our friend Ross Buckingham performed at Acoustic 2012 – an event based at Bazoo in Croydon (outer suburb of Melbourne). As part of the set, Ross played Skeleton (Betrayer Album). It’s always great to hear someone’s interpretation of one of our songs – especially when it’s taken in such a different direction.

Good on ya Ross! Seeya Saturday night at the Vagrants Espy show.

CLFO

Had a big Sunday watching footy down at a local pub here in Abbotsford. Unfortunately, our hapless Bulldogs went down catastrophically to likely Premiership contenders, Hawthorn. It’s a ‘re-building phase’ we’re told. True, the Dogs have been up for a few years & now it’s our turn to flounder – but from the look on the faces of supporters at the game, this is cold comfort. Anyway, as my dad always says, ‘It’s a 5 year plan, Marty’. (a 5 year plan that’s been going for decades…)

On a better note, house-mate Scotty is on top of the world today – his Sydney Swans on top of the ladder after dismantling Westcoast at Subiaco yesterday. Ah the joys of being home for an AFL season…

CLFO

Listening to Tony Biggs’ On The Blower right now – Melbourne 3RRR radio. Stream it here. Talk back with a difference (social conscience). For mine, one of the best radio shows going.

Biggsy kicks off at 9 on Fridays, talk back goes for an hour til midday. Check it out.

3RRR is a community radio station in Melbourne with massive ratings – because of shows like the one happening right now.

CLFO

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.

CLFO

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.

CLFO

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…

CLFO