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27.5.12
- Paul McHenry tipped me off to the following article in themusic.com.au
Aztec Music Saved By Dainty-Led Consortium
26.5.12- Melbourne label Aztec Music, who were forced
in receivership in March, has been bought by a consortium of
'strategic' investors led by Paul Dainty. They assume immediate
control of Aztec's assets, particularly the label's catalogue.
Aztec, which was formed in 2004 by Ted Lethborg and former Aztecs
drummer Gil Matthews, specialised in importing bulk albums and
vinyl for retailers as well as re-releasing classic Australian
albums that are otherwise out of print.
Lethborg will head-up the new operation and in a joint statement
today said, "To get a second chance to continue the preservation
of Australia's rich musical heritage (via the Aztec Music reissue
label) is an unexpected and welcome surprise. We are all looking
forward to both working towards resurrecting the label and continuing
our unique music importing model." read
more |
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1) John
Fowler (left) and Paul Murphy talk Sunbury 2) Phil and Bill
run through the B version |
3) Steve
Boyd and David Blight at Paul O'Connor's 50th |
gig
report
Arts Centre foyer Sunbury forum + Paul O'Connor's 50th b'day
party Moonee Ponds Sat. 19.5.12
Nostalgia
meets the reality of now..
20.5.12 - Bill and I decided to load-in
at Moonee Ponds before trekking down to the Arts Centre for
our date with Paul Murphy and the Sunbury forum. As it happened
the traffic in town was unaccountably heavy and we didn't arrive
till 4.20 and so missed Phil Manning's opening three songs.
When we walked in Ian McFarlane was speaking to the just-right
crowd assembled in the foyer gallery and John Fowler, (pic
1) whose idea the festival was in the first place, was
due to speak next. Bill and Phil mucked around with the B version
of I'll Be Gone out the back, (pic 2) which
Phil ook in his stride, being the consummate pro that |
he is - he'd spent quite some time
working out a spiffing guitar accompaniment for the original
key, but given that I was recovering from having no voice at
all on Wednesday I'd opted for the more congenial key of B.
In the event it worked out fine and I think the crowd appreciated
the alternate version - let's face it, if that clued-in crowd
didn't get it, nobody would.
The (dual) 50th party was held in the Moonee Valley Sporting
Club rooms and despite challenges on the acoustical and lighting
fronts, a good-natured crowd and an impressive host of guest
musos, including Steve Boyd and harpist David Blight (pic
3) ensured that everybody had a great time and the night
ended on a massive high. (Yes, massive). |
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See large
pic |
Spotlight
on Sunbury forum at the Arts Centre
17.5.12 - This'll be interesting. I'm not
sure how much I can actually remember about Sunbury - or Sunburys.
(Bill and I did them all). Anyway, John Fowler, Phil Manning,
Ian McFarlane, Paul Murphy and I will do our best to cast some
light on this almost mythical series of festivals that are evoked
simply by the name of the region in which they took place. The
extra good (late) news is that Bill's going to be there too.
It happens this coming Saturday the 19th at the Arts Centre
Foyer Gallery at 4.00 - 5.00 and it's free. See you there. |
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1)
Calvin, (left) of Tago Mago and the Music Jungle
record
shop 2)
The Sellers' found Tago Mago - eventually.
gig
report
Tago Mago
Thornbury Sat. 5.5.12
Tago
Mago - a fab new forum for Spectrum
7.5.12 - In case you were wondering, Wikipedia
tells us that 'Tago Mago is the name of the third studio album
originally released as a double LP in 1971 by the German experimental
rock band, Can', from which you might deduce that Tago
Mago's proprietor, Calvin, (pic 1) is way into
his music. And you'd be right - Calvin also owns Music Jungle,
the record shop right next door to Tago Mago. Anyway, it was
Calvin who got in touch with me late last year about Spectrum
doing a gig at Tago Mago and last Saturday was eventually agreed
upon for Spectrum's inaugural TM gig.
First up though, I owe some of you an apology. There was a crucial
typo in the address I had up on the site that briefly flummoxed
Bill (!) and our friends the Sellers', (pic 2) so it's
just possible that you returned home late on Saturday night
after a fruitless search at 774 High St Thornbury (rather than
the correct 744) cursing my name. Sorry. You missed a great
night.
As discussed in March's P&W,
a great gig doesn't always feel like it's going to be great
until it actually happens. The Tago Mago room itself does look
very interesting decoratively speaking - Dr Wazz valued the
antique TV on the wall on his iPhone at 600 euros for instance
- but on the minus side I'd had only a couple of hours sleep
the previous night, there was the confusion with the address,
the stage is actually the wrong way round and a bit cramped
for room plus it was more practical to use the house system
rather than our own familiar PA - but as soon as we started
to play we knew there was a TM intangible that made it pretty
special.
The audience seemed to be comprised mostly of TM die-hards and
blow-ins along with a few of our friends, but their reaction
to the music just kept getting warmer as the night went on,
which in turn encouraged us to become more, well, enthusiastic
ourselves. In short, a fun night was had by all..
When we'd finished playing, the conversations with well-wishers
and friends made the load-out especially protracted (and not
a little nightmarish for Mike-the-sleep-deprived), so it was
just as well I got the finishing time wrong too, (it's 11.30
rather than 12.30), but it was all worth it because I feel that
now we may have discovered a northern suburbs venue that we
can thoroughly recommend to all our inner-city friends in addition
to the Lomond. I'll keep you informed as to the next Spectrum
gig there - don't miss it! |
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1) The
Shannon Bourne ultimatum 2) Ray Moon sees the time..
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gig
report
Clifton Hill Hotel Wed. 2.5.12
Crudd
and Putt at the Clifton Hill
3.5.12 - It was a cold, wet night last
night in Melbourne. I didn't expect there to be much of a crowd
at the Clifton Hill Hotel, but it seems the first act for the
night, Michael Waugh, pulled half the staff room to the gig
and it was a pretty cheerful-looking bar when I arrived.
Next time we should try and play something a bit more experimental
for our own entertainment. It seems futile to trot out the usual
fare in the middle of the week. That doesn't really make sense,
I know, so there's clearly something I'm not telling you. Maybe
when you're older.. |
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