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Mary
Doumany and Jeremy Alsop invoke salon music par excellence |
Alsop
and Doumany shine on a bleak Sunday arvo
25.9.06 - Outside Jeremy Alsop and Mary
Doumany's Middle Park home the unwelcome Antarctic wind whistled
and chopped the bay into a unbecoming British racing green and
dirty white foam. With half-a-dozen other guests (including
the ubiquitous Ed Nimmervoll) I settled down for an hour's set
of delicate and, with the dynamic range set below normal talking
level, genuinely acoustic music, drawn largely from the Lovers'
first two CDs, plus a couple of new songs. Tonally speaking,
Mary is blessed with a classic pop voice akin |
to Sadé, but informed
with an intelligent versatility that allows her to effortlessly
cross the boundaries of folk and jazz and remain totally convincing;
all the while expertly playing a chromatic harp - and I don't
mean harmonica. Jeremy is a prodigious electric bass player,
but reins in his usual ebullience on a pair of fretless and
fretted acoustic bass guitars to adroitly complement Mary's
singing and playing. At times the music was at whisper level,
with both musicians brushing their hands reiki-like over their
respective instrument's strings, allowing the occasional tram
gliding past outside to become part of the musical soundscape.
I stayed on after the show and listened to some of Jeremy's
new songs, and we both raved on about The Beatles and The
Band and music in general, while Mary and her friend Deborah
retired to consult the tarôt cards. Some hours later
I emerged into the darkness and cold, and somehow managed
to navigate my way home without being pestered by random breath
testers. My only regret was that I never got to taste the
Long Gully pinot I'd brought with me - maybe next time..
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1) Nicolas
Lyon draws a long bow 2) Jo Stephenson looks pretty happy about
it all |
How
to finish an album
24.9.06 - I obviously don't have a clue,
so on Friday I went down to Ken Stephenson's place and sat in
on a session for Ken's daughter Jo's album, which is going to
be mixed and ready to master this coming week. Nicolas Lyon
was overdubbing some fiddle lines, and it was so beautiful I
think I'll invite him over.. |
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1)
Bill with Cath, Ellie and Andrée 2) Miss Molly's seen
it all |
gig
report
Another
biggie at St Andrews
18.9.06 - The St Andrews' pub is one of
those gigs that never really lets you down, whether you're the
band or in the audience, and yesterday (Sunday) arvo was no
exception. Daryl felt relaxed enough to go for a couple of quite
radical excursions when given the nod, and Miss Molly (pic
2 ) managed to look totally blasé even when I was
singing to her on my knees, as though she had to put up with
this sort of thing every day. Bill had invited three of his
guitar students (pic 1) to the gig and got them to
help load out his gear, after momentarily terrifying them by
inviting them up on stage to perform! |
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SNIPPETS |
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Kahvas
Jute on ABC TV on Thursday night
13.9.06
- I got
this e-mail from Dennis Wilson yesterday..
I'd like to let you know that Kahvas Jute is appearing on the
ABC Television Show Live At The Basement on Thursday
night 14th September at 11.30p.m.
We did the Basement gig last year and it is being released this
month |
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on DVD through Warner Music, with
a bonus CD of six studio recordings of new songs. The band is
Bob Daisley (bass), Tim Gaze (guitar), Mark Marriott (drums)
and myself (guitar). The new DVD/CD package is called Kahvas
Jute - Then Again, Live at the Basement.
I hope you get a chance to watch it, and I hope you enjoy it. |
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Spectrum
at St Andrews this Sunday arvo
13.9.06 - I've been a bit too prolific
with mail-outs lately, so I'm not going to send a reminder for
this one. Of course, this means I'm worried now that no-one
will come. Oh well.. In the meantime, check out Alana Galea's
site for a comprehensive review
of the Lobby Benefit concert. more
photos |
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Goin'
up the country..
1)
Darren from the Eastern Station Blues 2) Frances and Rob at
the Old Bank B&B -
centre of the universe!
3)
The Farmer's Arms Retreat 4) The garden at the Arms 5) Breakfast
#2 at the Old Bank B&B
6)
The view of the Curly Flat dining room (see large
pic) 7) This is one long table |
8) Jeni
cops a group hug |
gig
report
Eastern
Station Blues, The Inaugural Gig and the Curly Flat Winery luncheon
11.9.06 - The cold snap on Friday
punctured expectations of a linear glide into spring and ensured
that the drive to the Eastern Station Blues was with the heater
on all the way. We'd never played there before, but Daryl (Roberts)
who had, assured me that the PA was adequate, so we didn't take
ours, but I think we will next time - the room was one of those
ones with very clattery acoustics, and I swear my ears are still
ringing as a result. Anyway, the promoter Darren (pic 1)
seemed to think the night went OK and I consoled myself with
that thought as freezing needles of rain squeezed in through
my barely-open driver's window on the way home and finally to
bed at 3.30am..
The first of consecutive gigs in Lancefield, (slightly north
of Sunbury if you've not heard of it before), was the prosaically
named The Inaugural Gig at the local |
Mechanics Institute Hall, which could've
been a wine and cheese fair with music, or a good old-fashioned
country piss up with optional dancing, depending on your perspective.
Frances (who had organised the gig) and partner Rob very kindly
invited us to their place to have a meal, before we went back
to play in the enormously proportioned (apart from the stage)
Mechanics Institute Hall. We managed to have a bit of fun along
the way too, and the very forthcoming crowd had a whale of a
night..
We stayed at Jueli Mackintosh's The Farmer's Arms Retreat overnight,
which was very handsome accommodation indeed, (pics 3 &
4) and managed to score two breakfasts (pic 5)
before Frances guided us out to the Curly Flat Winery, which
I'd been looking forward to as it produces some world-renowned*
pinots and chardonnays. The sun was out but there was a biting
wind coming off fresh snow somewhere pretty handy, and even
with a room full of expectant diners, two open fires and numerous
heaters dotted about the room, none of the band could get blood
flowing to their extremities. (The strings on my guitar were
like ice - it reminded me of when we were in Winsen Aller back
in '83 when we had some late falls of spring snow).
One of Curly Flat's owners, Jeni Moraghan, had been under a
lot of pressure throughout the week, and when the oven went
on a go-slow it all became too much, so Spectrum gave her a
therapeutic group hug, (pic 8) and magically her tears
evaporated and the rest of the afternoon took wings and flew.
Mind you, it's slightly unnerving playing to a room where nearly
half the people have their backs to you, but I got the impression
that everybody thoroughly enjoyed the experience - and I certainly
enjoyed the Curly Flat pinots. I'm hoping that we'll be able
to go back to Lancefield for the Budburst Festival in November
and renew the friendship.
I actually bought a 2000 Curly Flat pinot, and after we'd said
our fond farewells to Frances, Rob and Jeni, aimed Mitzi at
Warrandyte and sped off to watch the rugby at Richard's. By
the time I got there I was so whacked that I started to fall
asleep in the second half and had to beg off and go home to
my own bed, tired but happy. We were made very welcome in Lancefield
and treated royally, and it was lovely to have Lisa along to
keep Robbo under control and manage the CD sales for us. Hooray!
* Check out
Jancis Robinson's reviews |
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Ross
Hannaford shares a chuckle with Mike Thirdperson |
Roger
Treble Benefit
7.9.06 - Last night I popped down to the
Kew RSL to join a large-ish group of boomers who had gathered
to pay their respects to Roger Treble, guitarist and all-round
nice guy, who's suffering the dual indignities of extremely
poor health and an even poorer prognosis. I arrived too late
to see the Holdens, but caught the tail end of Blackfeather
doing a measured version of Boppin' The Blues, before
investing in a G&T and chatting to a few of the people in
the room. The five-piece Fats Wah Wah impressed with a sort
of Lousiana-funk set before Lindsay Fields sang a few beautiful
songs very beautifully. It was at about this point I said hello
to Roger and passed on Bill's love - Bill's done in his back
chainsawing again and had to stay at home. Ross |
Hannford had reminded me about
an Epiphone I used to own which I'd forgotten about till then,
and then got up on stage and played a few lazy tunes and songs
as only he can, before being joined by Margot for a few more.
It was then I decided I'd better go home and finish the mail-out,
so here I am, at 12.40, with just a hundred or so to go.. |
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Spectrum's
big weekend on the wine trail
6.9.06 - If you've been studying the Gigs
page recently you'll know that we're not only heading back to
Ballarat on Friday night after a considerable absence to play
at a new gig called the Eastern Station Blues,
but we're also heading into a delightful Victorian Wine region
on Saturday and Sunday to play consecutive dates in Lancefield,
and both very different and interesting gigs for the typical
Spectrum music, wine and food connoisseur they promise to be!
On Saturday night we have auspiciously named The Inaugural
Gig at the Mechanics Institute Hall (cnr High St &
The Crescent), where several Lancefield wineries will be showcasing
their wines at cellar door prices and there'll be local cheeses
to sample as well. Supper is provided and it's fully licensed.
You should ring Frances on 0438 291 772 right away to find out
more. On Sunday we're doing lunch between 12.30 - 3.00 at the
Curly Flat Winery (263 Collivers Rd Lancefield),
which produces some noted wines, including a fab
pinot apparently (yum!) |
| Ring Jeni on 5429 1956 and don't
delay - the whole shebang's only $45.00 and we're planning to
be very relaxed while you enjoy a scrumptious three-course meal
and sample gorgeous Curly Flat wines of every hue. |
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Alana's
Lobby pics
1)
Angry menaces the microphone with prejudice 2) Barnesy has a
heart palpitation during Working Class Man |
3)
Les Stacpool 4) Danny Robinson does The Scream |
Even
more shots from the Lobby show
4.9.06 - Alana
Galea gave me a disc at the Lomond and said she'd managed
to take quite a few good shots from her prime position pressed
against the stage, and tonight I discovered she'd taken an absolute
shitload of great shots. (She won't appreciate that comment
- she avoids profanities and gives me a hard time when I inevitably
tease her). She filled in a few gaps in the lineup, including
the two shots (left) of one of my fave guitarists,
Les Stacpool, and Danny Robinson of the Wild Cherries. But wait
- there's more! Russell Morris, Jim Keays, Red Symons, Madder
Lake, Phil Manning and Matt Taylor and
more |
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Jillian
Rudd strokes my ego and my man boobs |
gig
report
Prince
Albert and Lomond Hotels double
3.9.06 - Readers of this website will know
I have a problem with really smokey gigs, and this double normally
wins the band's iron lung award hands down, but for one reason
or another supplementary oxygen was not de rigueur
at either gig this weekend. The Prince Albert was uncharacteristically
quiet on Friday night - whether punters were still recovering
from the excesses of the Lobby Benefit was unclear, but the
air was definitely clearer. As a result, I seemed to have a
little more energy at the Lomond and had a whale of a night.
Speaking of whales, Hugh Waylan tells me the Lomond compilation
CD with Spectrum's Hot, Hot Day will be released in
November. |
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Robbo's
Lobby photo album
1)
Billy Thorpe incites the Lobster (see large
pic) 2) Robbo cheek to cheek with the wanly smiling man
himself
3)
Daz is out of step with the pneumatic Billy and Robbo 4) Ian
Rilen made a huge effort just to be at the benefit |
5) Jim
Keays and Mike on a totally natural high |
More
Lobster pics from Robbo
3.9.06 - If anything, Robbo is a more prolific
photographer than I am, so it's not surprising he had a swag
of shots from Lobby's Benefit at The Palace last Tuesday - and
he stayed on for the after-show party. The large version of
Billy and Lobby playing (pic 1) is worth checking out
- I think it captures a genuine bit of magic, with Billy cajoling
Lobby and the interaction with the audience willing the Lobster
on. I was hesitant about the Ian Rilen pic - I don't think anybody
realised just how ill he was and what an effort it was for him
just to be there, let alone play. And what was it that inspired
Brian Cadd to approach Jim Keays and me as we slumped comfortably
on a Green Room couch, and stridently assert we were a couple
of old stoners? |
| *
see readers' correspondence
about the show ** See report on the show and more shots
from Aug. Stop
Press |
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