Back in Business
Hi there, all coolest ones,
You know how I was whining about how boring I was in my last update…oh so long ago, well, thankfully my life has taken a sudden change for the better! So much to see and do! I think I’ve come out of musical retirement!!
It all started about a month ago when my band ‘Antibody’ finally got into Birdland Studios and recorded 9 songs in a day. As you can imagine, some of them are a little rough but a few turned out really well. Now we are finishing of a couple of them with vocals and mixing them down in the next week or so. Then it’s time to GET A GIG babeee!!!
Speaking of gigs, I must mention the ‘Moondriven’ CD launch at the 9th Ward, which was a very special night indeed. The ‘Mooners’, as I call them, have worked so hard for so long to put out their self-titled 6-track e.p. and it really is FANTASTIC! Star songs- “Adopted” & “Ghost”. They say their music is like a cross between Sonic Youth and Burt Bacharach but I reckon it’s more like The Beatles crossed with Bacharach. They write with lots of melody, weird chords and interesting song structures. It was also great to see ‘Webster’ playing the support slot, totally different to ‘Moondriven’, they are sooo cock rock – in a good, toe tappin’ way. They even did a cover of Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’. You know Abbamania has emerged again! The Abba tour movie in Australia was just screened on TV and there’s some dodgy musical going round theatres.
Hey, I just by accident joined another band, ‘Cow Penalty’, fronted by none other than one of my all time music heroes, Spencer P Jones. He’s been around for awhile, playing in bands like, ‘The Johnnies’, ‘Beasts of Bourbon’, ‘The Last Gasp’, ‘Gun Club’, ‘Andre Williams’, ummmm the list probably goes on and on! Anyhow I’ve done about 5 shows with him at ‘The Espy’ and ‘The Punters Club’. Harry, the drummer from Moondriven has been on the drums, Matt from Moler and countless other local bands, on keyboards, me on bass and Spencer singing and making some wild guitar noise! Harry and I are the new kids in the band, flying by the seat of our pants cos we really haven’t had a proper rehearsal. We just wing it. Oh, the highlight gig was at the ‘Continental’. As you Melbournites may be aware, this fantastic music venue and restaurant in Greville St., Prahran, closed its doors. Heaps of bands played there on the last night, including ‘Cow Penalty’. The joint was packed out! Lots of aussie famous types there…Renee Geyer, Joe Camaliri, Deborah Conway, Paul Kelly, etc. but you know most of the acts were, well, ‘adult contemporary’. I felt like a young kid back stage! Anyway, the one song we played absolutely rocked!
I’ve seen some great bands lately that have supported Cow Penalty.
The Sailors- 2 piece, drums and guitar…possibly the best band I’ve seen for ages…they dress as sailors and sing songs about being gay (of course) but they are sooo rude but funny and it’s like they can hardly play or sing but it sounds so cool. I reckon they’re gonna be huge!
Star song- “The Teenage Homosexual Blues” A MUST SEE!!!
The Cheap Shots- a cool 60’s garage band. They sound authentic, nothing new, the riffs sound like a million other 60’s songs but that’s ok. Jay the singer has just arrived in Melbourne from San Diego and he has an amazing voice, perfect for the music they are doing, worth seeing. Star song- “Like A Heart Attack”
The Devil Dolls, haven’t seen them, but got to hear a bit of their latest recording, which isn’t out yet. They are really cool, similar to The Cheap Shots, (some of the members are from The Cheap Shots) but I think I like them a little better cos they sound a bit more new and I love how the two female singers sing together, the same melody, one in tune, one slightly out! Can’t wait to see them (I don’t think they’ve started playing live yet) watch out for them.
Star song – ‘We Are The Devil Dolls’.
Saw Julien’s band ‘Cashcow’ at the Greyhound too, it was a little sad cos Tolly the bassist was leaving the next day for Hong Kong. We will all miss you Tolly! Especially the bass players of Melbourne who will no longer get to borrow that Sinner bass rig of yours. Best of luck, Tolster!
I also have to mention ‘The Spazzies’- grrrl type Ramones band. Haven’t checked them out yet but I’ve heard they are really special.
Hey, on the Moler front, yes there is a front!!! We recorded a new single with Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studios last week. It’s a funny song. Basically it’s a tribute to Joey Ramone. It’s got lot’s of Ramone’s licks, a few “Gabba Gabba Hey’s”, but it also has a bit of a ‘Who’ intro, a bit of ‘Kiss’ guitar influence and a chorus that you can sing New Order’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ to!!! It’s called ‘Red & White Stripes’, named after those T-shirts you wear under your punk leather jacket. B-sides are ‘Sex Sells’ recorded with ‘The Pound System’ (Moler meets ‘techno’), ‘Bella Vista’ recorded with Tony Cohen and a cover of Blondie’s ‘Rip Her to Shreds’ recorded by Kevin Kerr, featuring Spencer P Jones on guitar and backing vocals. I must say I really like it and can’t wait to get it out in the next month. I guess that means that we’re gonna be gigging around soon. My apologies to anyone who went to ‘The Pony’ last week to see Moler, we had to blow it out cos the drummer we had lined up pulled out at the last minute! I hate that! So yeah, in case you are wondering if Moler had a new singer- no- it was ‘Cashcow’ who took to the stage instead.
Congratulations Tim Bell, love your photos of plastic animals hanging up at ‘Revolver’.
Ok, Ok, last but not least, next week I’m playing the part of an evil scientist in a Magic Dirt video so that’s gonna be fun and games! Geoff, from Brisbane band ‘6ft Hick’, is also playing an evil scientist, I think he’s done acting before, he’s hilarious to watch as he and goddess, Adalita, are in mortal combat to save the animals…..can’t give away the whole story, you’ll just have to wait and see.
Well that’ about it for now I reckon….
Oh…. last night!! Last night I was in Robinvale for a High School reunion!! (yes I must be getting old!!) Saw people I haven’t seen in years. After the formal dinner, it was just like old times; drinking beer around the most massive bonfire I have ever seen on the edge of the Murray River. The lads let off huge ‘illegal’ firecrackers that echoed for miles. Stayed on a houseboat for the night but hardly got any sleep. Had a bit of a BBQ today but not many people showed up for that…everyone must have been real hung over…. and boy am I hung over!! I tried to take photos but none really turned out that well here’s some any way. It was really great catching up with old pals, you know none of them have really changed, they’re just married, got kids or are divorced, a bit fatter or skinnier but yeah…strange night indeed!
Now that is about it for now…
Be cool….
Loving you all ..Helcat xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Leave a Reply