| |
| |
|
|
| |
Scroll
down to the start of the month |
|
 |
|
Close
this window to
return to Mike Rudd &
Bill Putt's home page |
|
| |
1)
Adam Hills grills Mike about the complexities of Bill's moustache
2) Mike mystifies his team with his substitute |
3) My
very own dressing room
|
Spicks
& Spectrum
30.4.08 - My first surprise when I arrived
at the ABC in Elsternwick was to find Julie Cafarella (my bro'
in-law's niece) working behind the desk in reception. I haven't
seen her for years and we had a nice little chat before I was
collected by Spicks & Specks Talent Producer Sancia
Robinson, with whom I've been talking on the phone about the
show over the past few weeks, and taken to my second surprise,
my very own dressing room (pic 3), which was blessed
with a heater and a shower. There was an episode being
filmed before ours, and so I was able to check out how it all
worked from the VIP room before Sarah (Ashley) took me back
to my dressing room to peruse the book that had been selected
(Traffic Flow) for my three substitute songs. So, while it's
not quite as spontaneous as it looks, (pic 2), I can
tell you that it's still damn difficult to do, especially given
that the print was bloody tiny.
We'd had a brief rehearsal earlier, but fellow team member Hamish
Blake was |
absent due to his Hamish &
Andy radio show commitment, so we hadn't actually met until
just before I was called onto the set by Adam Hills. Hamish
showed an inordinate interest in the 'invisible poo' reportedly
smeared on the girls' toilet walls, which gave me a clue as
to his humourous bent, but Tommy Dean on Alan Brough's team
had been quite reserved and quiet in the VIP room, and so his
humour was a revelation (to me, at least) as the show proceeded.
Very droll it was, too.
Apart from detecting that the water we'd been given was tainted
(it tasted like formaldehyde to me) and thus saving the lives
of the entire cast, I made virually no other positive contribution
throughout the show, and Myf's team got trounced by a record
margin. (Well, maybe it wasn't a record margin, but it may as
well have been). Naturally, I beat myself up about it afterwards
and barely slept that night as a result, but now (it's Thursday
already) I'm almost over it.
I sent Sancia a text thanking her (and the other gals) for looking
after me on the night and got this message back: '..thank
you so much for coming on the show! What a top night it was!
So thank you for being part of it, we loved having you on..'
so, maybe it wasn't quite as bad as I thought. I think our episode
of Spicks & Specks (#35) is due to be aired in
July - I'll let you know. |
|
| |
1)
Airway Lanes' Dan Hall 2) As well as turning up, Peter actually
bought an EP |
gig
report
The Pakenham drought-breaker - or, the gigs you do when you
haven't got a gig
27.4.08 - It
promised to be a cold, wet night - and it was. BAD Folk's Edward
Nass said it was the same last year and that he wanted to schedule
it for the week earlier as a result, but it wasn't to be. It
took us a good ten minutes to find the entrance to the racecourse,
and we had directions, so unless you were a local like Peter
(pic 2) you really didn't stand a chance of finding
the place in the dark - that's if you had heard about it in
the first place, which nobody but the artists had, apparently.
Still, the night had its compensations, one of which was the
band (Airway Lanes) that preceded us, (pic 1), whom
I pegged as the remnants of Taxiride by the portentous feel
of their songs. I can't remember another gig I've done in my
Drizabone, but we quite enjoyed our set, despite the cold and
the absence of a real crowd. When I got home I discovered that
I'd done something horrid to my back, so I shall be reminded
of this less-than-spectacular night with every painful twinge
for the next few days.. Great. |
|
| |
1) Mike
signs another Breathing Space 2) Bill explains a point to Dave
and Andy (left) at 3WBC |
gig
report
Mordi goes off!
21.4.08 - 'What a strange name', Tony
Brittenden mused as we arrived in Mordialloc, and I tried
to think of where the name might've originated in my role
as tourist guide, but came up blank. It was a beautiful autumn
day, and as a result I imagined we might get the same sort
of crowd we had the first time we played there, and I wasn't
far wrong either - we had a rip-roaring crowd and thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves. The crowd sportingly joined in the fun
and sang along to I'll Be Gone and Esmeralda
with gusto - they even danced!
At the end of the gig I was swamped by people wanting to buy
EPs (pic 1) (the $15.00 price tag went down very
well), but it got a little too much like a Peter
Sellers' sketch as we were packing up, with a knot of drunken
Irish visitors (all built like jockeys) insisting on singing
half-remembered Irish folk songs at the top of their jockey
voices.
We sped off to Box Hill for our interview with Dave and Andy
at 3WBC (pic 2) and we managed to enjoy that
as well, and then it was time to take Tony and Jan Brittenden
back to their hotel in the city and find my way back to my
shack in Camberwell, tired but happy. |
|
| |
1)
Lisa Miller captivates the audience with her pure tone 2)
Jeff Laing and Liz Stringer conspire in a bluesy song
|
gig
report
A Record Day at The Basement Discs
20.4.08 - It wasn't that long ago we were at Basement Discs
launching our CDs, and so Bill and I were mindful of the difficulties
loading in and out and opted to travel light. Bill selected
his down-tuned guitar and I carried my diminutive harp case,
so we were obviously locked into playing a couple of blues numbers,
but we were comfortable with that. The day was organised to
promote the virtues of yer local record shop, particularly shops
like The Basement Discs of course, with their caring and knowledgeable
staff, whose initiatives, like the regular concerts and launches
in the shop, are so appreciated by audiences and musicians alike.
Anyway, there was a healthy crowd in attendance watching Lisa
Miller tune up when we arrived, and we chatted with Jeff Laing
and my Kiwi friends the Brittendens until it was our turn to
play. We played three numbers, which seemed to be appreciated,
and after picking up our trophy bottles of wine from the gratifyingly
frenetic Rod and Suzanne, it was off to lunch at Segovias with
the Britts and the inevitable Alana Galea. |
|
| |
 1)Bernhard
and son Mark enjoyed the night 2) This bloke came from NSW to
see us! |
gig
report
Prince Albert
19.4.08 - I can't tell you what a pleasure it is
to play at the Prince Albert these days. Notorious for being
the smokiest gig in our tiny repertoire of friendly venues,
the only smell now is of stale lager, and the potentially
annoying sound restrictions actually seem to work in our favour.
One of my fave gigs.. |
|
| |
1) Neale
Johns and the Blackfeathers 2) Brenden clearly didn't expect
this shot to work.. |
gig
report
Spectrum & Blackfeather blockbuster
13.4.08 - After our set, Ken told me
that he'd actually gone to the Northcote Social Club to see
us on Friday and found 'a mob of foreigners' there, and not
the real Spectrum. Let the buyer beware, I s'pose.
Not unexpectedly there was only a modest crowd at Don't |
| Tell Tom to see the clash of the
Titans. Somebody told me that another gig guide had the starting
time at 9.30, and so they missed the bulk of our set, but the
fact is that there was never going to be a big crowd, and it's
going to take an investment over time by both bands to build
up a following. Whether we actually take that path is up for
review. |
|
| |
 |
 |
A
funny thing happened on the way to..
11.4.08 - That was nice of Max (above)
to send us an old-fashioned postcard and all. Two less
palatable things to remark on though. I was in JB Hi Fi in
Camberwell when I noticed they had a Spectrum bin. There was
a copy of Milesago - and nestled up to it were two
copies of the European pirate version of Part One!
I dropped into Choclatté and scanned the EG. There
on the front (pic left) was a mention of Spectrum.
'That was quick', I thought, but it soon became apparent that
it was the other (UK) Spectrum they were referring to - and
they'd left out our gig on Saturday in the free listings in
favour of these pommy interlopers! |
|
| |
 |
Breathing
Space review
11.4.08 - Quite simply, there
hasn't been an official review yet, that I'm aware of anyway.
But, a couple of things: 1) I was tickled when at
both PBS and Triple R the lines were swamped when a few giveaways
were announced, which seems to suggest that it should be out
in the shops, and 2) I have had some nice correspondence
about the EP, most notably from an old friend and former owner
of Rhythm & Views, Wayne Reid, who was familiiar
with the material and had certain expectations. Anyway, I'll
let Wayne tell the story.
Hey Mike,
The two CDs arrived today. I picked them up from my PO Box
on the way to work. We don't have any programs on Fridays,
so no oldies. I was hosting a Camera Club for Seniors, but
not |
expecting anyone til 10am...
so, I had my first listen this morning at work. I felt like
ringing all the Camera Club attendees & telling them the
meeting was off, so I could get right back to listening to more.
I sound a bit like a groupie, don't I? Just have to say, though:
THANKS. I don't know why or how, you keep doing it...but we
are so grateful that you do!!!
So far I haven't played Milesago, though I am hanging out to.
I have just kept on playing the EP. It is SO good that you have
finally put some of those songs together on CD. Having heard
them many times, live, I was a little bit apprehensive. You
know, they might not come across as I remembered them. Sometimes
when you hear new songs live several times before hearing them
on record, you can get used to a certain something about them,
but then on record, it's just not captured. Well, you bloodywell
nailed them all! Just great! If the future EPs are anything
like Breathing Space, you won't be able to get away with a later
Best Of...they will ALL have to go on a double or triple set!
So, there you go. Incidentally, Lou at
Lance Rock Publicity has pointed out that the snappy interview
I did last week with Maynard on ABC Newcastle is up on the Net
for scrutiny if you'd like a listen. Check
it out |
|
| |
1) Undercover's
Paul Cashmere doesn't know what he's in for.. 2) Triple R's
Gary Young snuggles up to Bill |
3) Kelly
Auty and Mike.. |
The
campaign trail winds on..
7.4.08 - A gorgeous autumn day, temperature
inversion induced smog notwithstanding, saw Bill and I pulling
into the Undercover studio a piffling minute or two late and
perch on a couple of stools (I was a bit constipated
actually) for a grilling from 'Lucky' Paul Cashmere. We jumped
down his throat when he mispronounced Putt as 'Put', but he
took it in his stride and masterfully continued to fire pertinent
questions our way. I'll advise you when the interview makes
the Undercover site.
We whizzed down to East Brunswick and lunched at the Lomond
Hotel, before wandering across the road to the Triple R studios
and meeting up with Gary Young, best known as Daddy Cool's skins
meister, but also the ringmaster of the regular Monday
arvo fave Chicken Mary show. He gave us plenty of air space,
and we gave him plenty of dirt on our bands past and, well,
past. He gave away some Breathing Space EPs too - they
had about fifty calls in two minutes! |
|
| |
1) The
stunning view of The G from the Harrison Room 2) Wally looks
very dapper in a suit, don't you think? |
gig
report
Blues at the home of the Blues
6.4.08
- It was only when I opened the envelope containing our
passes and parking voucher that I realised we were supposed
to be at the MCG by 4.15 - and it was already 4.00! We made
it to Gate E at 4.18, but we were advised that we were at the
wrong gate - and then followed a succession of encounters with
partially programmed drones who had us driving this way and
that and getting more frustrated by the minute. Eventually Bill
went on a reconnoitre and found the Harrison Room and I went
and parked nearly a kilometere away in Yarra Park. (Now I know
where Yarra Park is). We met up with our old mate Wally Bishop
(pic 2) and had a quick sound check, and after a couple
of introductory videos performed I'll Be Gone, (our
'party trick' says Wally), and settled down till the match finished
to do a thirty minute blues set. Carlton lost in an almost thrilling
game, so the atmosphere was hardly euphoric, but I figured the
blues would be appropriate either way, and, in spite of everything,
Bill and I actually enjoyed the set. These sorts of things shouldn't
surprise me by now, but a woman approached us as we were wailing
away in Baby Please Don't Go and demanded that we 'play
something bluesy'... |
|
| |
1)
Breakfast Club's Phil Kafkaloudes 2) PBS' John Carver with a
sleepy Mike |
More
up close and personal radio..
5.4.08
- It's one of the things you do when you have a release
(or two), and it's something I quite enjoy on the whole. Last
week I popped down to Southbank to see Phil Kafkaloudes (pic
1) who hosts the Breakfast Club on Radio Australia, which
I couldn't remember having done before, but as soon as I walked
into the studio it all came flooding back, so I suppose it must've
been for the Part One release when I was last there.
Anyway it was all fun - and now I know that the Great Depression
began in 1929.
Getting up very early in the morning is not my forté,
so rising this morning at 6.45 was a bit of an effort, especially
given last night's shenanigans, but I made it to the PBS Easey
St studios well before the requested arrival time of 7.45. As
I pulled up I switched over to what I thought was PBS and heard
Rocket Girl coming over the airwaves. 'That's odd',
I thought, 'that's the song I'm going to be playing live to
air'. It was only after John Carver (pic 2) back announced
the bracket of songs he'd been playing I realised must have
been tuned to Triple R! I s'pose that's good really - means
we're getting a bit of play. Anyway, John made me very welcome
and we had a lively chat, interrupted by my spastic solo rendition
of Rocket Girl - playing live in the studio first thing
in the morning is a fraught timeslot for me. John played I
Play My Guitar and the five giveaway EPs I'd brought with
me went in a matter of seconds, so I guess that people like
what they've heard |
|
| |
If nobody
puts in a bid for this painting, we'll put on the musical act..
|
gig
report
Daz & Mike's SIDS benefit
5.4.08 - Daz and I arrived at Lentil
As Anything to find a good crowd in place, but the PA and
stage were in chaos. Then there was an auction of some fairly
hideous paintings (pic), but fortunately the act
due on before us allowed us to jump the queue and get on stage
only about forty five minutes late. By the time we got to
I'll Be Gone, the battery in my guitar had gone flat,
so we called it a night. Daz says we might get a SIDS certificate..
|
|
| |
Gil Matthews,
Mike and Ed Nimmervoll grimace just for you |
Questions,
questions..
3.4.08 - The hubbub surrounding the CDs' release
continues unabated. This morning I received another bunch
of orders on the Net and dropped into the PO to despatch them
on the way to Aztec for a possible all-day session fielding
questions about my murky past. It turned out they were nearly
all phone interviews, and the only face-to-face was with my
old mate Ed Nimmervoll, (pic) who did the right thing
and taped a chat about things Spectrum far and near in the
time line.
Later - I forgot to mention that Daz has roped me
in for a last minute benefit gig at the Abbottsford Convent
tonight (Friday) - might see you there. |
|
| |
| |
| back to the top
|
| |
| |
|
