Mike joins Ross' big show in sin city

1) What a fabulous old theatre the State is - the stage lights go up at rehearsal 2) Ross Wilson lets one rip

4) Bongo Starkie 3) Chris Paraha and Paul Christie discuss settings on Paul's amp

5) Ross Hannaford and Stuart 'Chet' Fraser tune up 6) Mike shows off Paul Christie's '59 Precision bass

7) Greg Burgoyne offers Mike a lifeline at the Manningham
gig report
5 DOC at the State Theatre 28.11.09
Manningham Sports Bar 29.11.09
From Five Decades of Cool to Bulleen - the reality
30.11.09 - I didn't know who I'd be travelling up with on the flight to to Sydney on Saturday morning, but I met Bob 'Bongo' Starkie (International Man of Mystery) in the long-term carpark and then came across James Black, John McAll, Ross Hannaford, Chris Paraha and Hayden Meggitt in the Qantas lounge. Eric McCusker turned up from the 'trough' just as we were embarking and it turned out just about the entire cast was on the flight and there wasn't enough room in Horto's minibus to take us all to the accommodation at the Swissôtel, conveniently located directly opposite the State Theatre. ('Within crawling distance' somebody quipped).
I had barely enough time to settle into my 25th floor room and get a light lunch before it was time for the 3.00 rehearsal/soundcheck, which seemed to go smoothly enough - maybe even a little too smoothly as it turned out. I got acquainted with Paul Christie's 'baby', the '59 Precision, (pic 5) which played very nicely, and then had time to wander around the grand old lady that is the State Theatre (pic 1) taking snaps and enjoying the run throughs of the rest of the songs from the show - I guess because they were different I particularly enjoyed the 'Hooks songs, Ego and Horror Movie.
I came across my old Camberwell mate, Trevor 'Legs' Leedon, (still in his cricket umpiring gear), on the way back to the theatre just before 7.30 and we had a little chat before I scuttled down to the dressing rooms, (and was greeted by the doorman who remembered me from the Morning of the Earth shows), but when I got there I realised I'd left my phone back in the hotel room and I had to double back to retrieve it. (I'd arranged for some friends to call me if I hadn't appeared at intermission or after the show).
Ross seemed to be cool and collected - until the moment he was supposed to go on stage for the first song and he remembered he'd left his harp in his jeans' pocket back at the hotel. The fact that the hotel was so close was proving to be a blessing already!
The first set started a little later than intended as a result, but when I was called on stage things appeared to be running smoothly enough. I got a little lost in Virgins but managed to busk my way out of trouble; however, when Ross tried to fire up his guitar for Woman of the World he had to call Scottie on stage (to the audience's delight) to reconnect his various leads before he could kick the song off. Apart from that hiccup it was was good clean fun - then Ross re-introduced me for my rendition of I'll Be Gone, at which point I felt obliged to say a couple of words, but I hadn't really thought it through and garbled something completely unintelligible - even to me. Everybody joined in and sang at the appropriate bit and I left the stage happy, but later the Wolfies came into the dressing room complaining they had no foldback and apparently Hayden (the drummer) was having monitor problems as well.
During the intermission I went out and met up with Gus McNeil (IBG's publisher) and my old mates Pam Cleary and Lynnette Timms, and while we were chatting quite a few people from the audience introduced themselves and enquired as to what I was doing these days. I pointed them at the website, but my continuing lack of profile is galling to say the least.
The second set went a lot more smoothly and by the time I was called back on stage for the Eagle Rock encore, the room was rocking! I went to the after show party and heard tell of a possible third DOC show at the Byron Blues Festival. Must see if I can get an invitation to that one!
The next morning I was picked up and taken to the airport. I'd just said my goodbyes and thanks to Horto and was heading inside the terminal when I was accosted by a rather dishevelled looking bloke whom I didn't recognise immediately but who identified himself as Paulie Stewart - the very same Paulie Stewart of Painters & Dockers fame who recorded a version of IBG for the Gonz CD with the Dili All Stars. He said he was well and that was heading up to Dili and taking some guitars and other equipment with him and that the All Stars version of IBG was enjoyed by all the locals and that Spectrum should go up there and play sometime. And then he was gone, just like that - he's a bit of a whirlwind is Paulie.
The urgency to get back to Melbourne was for the semi-regular Sunday arvo Manningham Club Sports Bar gig, about which I was starting to have reservations, given that the management there don't seem to care about it one way or the other. However, The Trollops (see the gig report Another pleasant bally Sunday.. below) turned up again and had a rollicking good time, (Bill gave them a copy of the previous Manningham performance as captured by Ron Glover, who was there again too with wife Heather), my friend Dr Warren Sellers + step-daughter Arnya turned up, (we had world's best pizzas at 1061 later), as well as Greg Burgoyne (pic 7) who'd bought a copy of Milesago from the website just the week before and who said he was an electrician and would be pleased to fix the recalcitrant leads that had conspired to fail so entertainingly during the second set.. In short, and rather against expectations, I enjoyed the afternoon, but next time we'll bring Daryl along on keys and see the year out with a bang.