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The view from the stage at Idavue Estate just outside
the pleasant township of Heathmont. A beautiful
sunny day too!
gig
report
Spectrum at Idavue
Estate Saturday 24.10.15
Spectrum
enjoys the view at Idavue Estate
26.10.15
- It was a beautiful sunny day when we
arrived at Idavue Estate but the local landscape
looked parched already, maybe another indicator
of a long dry summer ahead. A mobile pizza kitchen
was in place and we gratefully broke for complimentary
pizzas during the set-up. Idavue owner Sandy Whytcross
met us as we arrived and was confident of a decent
crowd - and sure enough the crowd was building up
even as we munched on our pizzas.
The crowd was with us right from the start of the
first set and there was a surprising deal of knowledge
about Spectrum's history and repertoire, with a
certain vocal section insisting we should play Superbody.
I resisted pointing out that I played that and other
neglected vintage songs in my solo gigs. Despite
my prevarication the banter remained good-natured
and coincidentally our CD sales were very good,
which was one bonus. The other bonus was the bottles
of the Estate's fine produce Sandy's husband Andy
(true!) gave to each of the band at the end of the
day to take home and enjoy.
After the third set plus a couple of encores we
were packing down while chatting and having our
photos taken with well-wishers, making for a rather
protracted load-out. It was a fun afternoon and
I wouldn't be surprised to find Spectrum playing
at Heathcote's Idavue Estate again before too long. |
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1)
A typical night at the Clifton Hill Acoustic Sessions
2) Me and Acoustic Sessions' impressario Rod Claringbould
gig
report
Mike solo at
the Clifton Hill Acoustic Sessions 20..10.15
Grumpy
old man at the Clifton Hill
21.10.15
- I wanted to try out an overdrive
pedal with the Canora at the Clifton Hill and I
also wanted to do something a bit different and
in the end I suppose it was a bit different too
as I didn't play THE song. It was a rambling, occasionally
incoherent performance but I had fun with both the
pedals - happily the JamMan was relatively trouble-free
for a change. Apart from the excessive string squeak
the Canora sounded good too - and Broc tells me
he has a cure for the squeak so joy may yet be unconfined.
Miss Vicky made a welcome return on sound and there
was a modest but appreciative audience on hand. |
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Marysville
Jazz & Blues Weekend
1)
We should see more of these 2) Chris Wilson lets
it rip 3) Mike Rudd sprinkles the audience with
the IBG riff (Deb)
gig
report
Spectrum at the
Marysville Jazz & Blues Weekend 17.10.15
Spectrum
headlines in Marysville
19.10.15
- Maria was smitten with the vistas
on the drive up through The Black Spur so I've no
doubt we'll be back that way again before too long,
gig or no gig. As it was, I was quite looking forward
to the gig, as Spectrum was in the rare position
of playing as the headline act.
Being the inaugural Jazz & Blues Weekend there
were obviously going to be some bugs, but I could
see there had been a good amount of pre-publicity
and I was hopeful that our gig at the Community
Centre, the feature show of the festival at prime
time on the Saturday night, would be well attended.
The Vesbar Wine Lounge's Bev Fraser, who is now
a Marysville local, had emailed to me that the bookings
were looking good, so all we had to do was get there
in time for the sound check at 4.30 then while away
the time till our spot later that night at 10.00.
I'd accepted the offer of a supplied amplifier (Fender
Twin) but there seemed to be an issue with the earthing
at sound check and I was getting an electric shock
every time I came in contact with the mic. Having
brought no back-up amp meant I had to go with the
makeshift solution of a foam rubber windshield on
the mic to neutralise the electric charge.
Bev Fraser invited the band to come over to her
place for dinner after sound check and we were all
having a lovely singalong with Daz on the piano
and Robbo's son Keaton on air drums when I suddenly
discovered I'd lost one of my hearing aids.
This put a considerable dampener on proceedings
(for me and Maria anyway) until I got a response
to my pleading text to the stage manager (Chris
Muir) saying that, against the odds, he'd discovered
the precious item still intact on stage and he'd
give to me when we returned to the Centre!
Mr Black & Blues with Chris Wilson (pic
2) was on the rampage when we arrived and so
we listened to Coxy's jokes and signed posters and
a banner out the back in the green room while we
waited for our set. One of the other first-time
bugs emerged at that point as the show was running
behind due to not enough time being allowed for
changeovers. We only managed half a dozen songs
before we were advised there was time for only one
more number, which was a shame as we were thoroughly
enjoying ourselves and the audience was too.
The next morning we all assembled at Bev's place
for breakfast (except for Daz and Deb) until we
had to leave for an M&M assignment back at the
Whitehorse Spring Festival. We all had a lovely
time in Marysville and I hope it won't be too long
before we're back - only this time we get to play
a full show. |
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Stevie
Paige said she's not played at the Burrinja before
but felt right at home.. |
gig
report
Spectrum trio
at Burrinja 16.10.15
The
trio burns at Burrinja
17.10.15 - Stevie
Paige (pic) was inspiring opening for us
at Upwey's Burrinja Blues & Roots - her guitar
playing in particular was thoughtful and well executed.
Mind you, we had a great night too, mainly due to
the lovely venue and the expectant audience - I
just had an indifferent night on the guitar, which
may sound selfish because it is.. |
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Phil
Sheppard, Broc and me relax after the interview |
A
funny thing happened on the way to..
14,10,15 - I thought
I remembered how to get to 3MDR in Emerald, but
it's been a while so I checked on Google Maps before
I left. When I ended up on a dirt road I realised
I was in trouble and hightailed it out of there
- in the wrong direction again! I made it to Old
Shep's (Phil Sheppard) Harmonica Riff Raff show
half an hour late but we got on air about the expected
time so all was forgiven.
We spent a fun hour chatting and playing whatever
songs came into our heads from the Mick & Broc
repertoire and promoted the gigs on the weekend
as well as the emergence of the Rudd repertoire
on the iTunes and Spotify platforms. It was fun
- I'll put up a link. |
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Local
identity Pete Morrison late of The Fabulous Nudes |
gig
report
Mike at Winelarder
Brighton Sat. 3.10.15
Mick & Broc at the Wesaternport Hotel San Remo
Sun. 4.10.15
From
Brighton to San Remo
5.10.15 - I wasn't
really expecting a big crowd post the GF on Saturday
night and it wasn't BIG but it wasn't bad either.
As advertised I was trying out the Canora with its
new pick-up at the expense of the moody George Martin
and I was pretty pleased with the result too.
The test was whether it could hold its own in the
company of whatever guitar Broc happened to choose
the following day at the Westernport Hotel. He chose
Harry (Taylor) and I think we were both happy with
the resultant blend.
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The
lads hone in on the lamb and the other goodies on
offer |
gig
report
Spectrum at Cousin
Kev's Fri. 2.10.15
Cousin
Kev's goes off!
4.10.15 - Cousin Kev
threw a party for no better reason than to have
Spectrum play at his place in Ocean Grove - and
it was mere coincidence that it was GF eve. We got
there early so to minimise the potential for inconvenience
and were enchanted by the house on its two and a
half acres (!) stylistically inspired during a holiday
stay in Arizona.
We waited for the lamb on a spit, which took its
time, necessitating a revised schedule, but got
to play three sets interspersed by various guest
groups performing. A very pleasant evening. |
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