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FIRST FLOOR
Barfly Trevor Block wanted to recreate an archetypal ‘80s shelf of VHS tapes. He’s been sharing his collection at a casual, weekly VHS night at Fitzroy’s Old Bar. There’ll be cult classics like Mad Max, fan favourite sequels like Beneath The Planet Of The Apes, and defiantly obscure movies like Syngenor. There’s no big projection to watch it on, just sit at the bar and watch it on the big TV. Although Trev might not be there every Monday, they’ve decided to keep it going. Popcorn, booze and VHS. Every Monday from 6pm, free. Check the website for which movies will be shown. Monday nights at The Old Bar.
THE SMART
393 THE DEMON PARADE
FRIDAY - 31-Aug Doors Open 8pm Supports 8:30 & 9:30 Chance Waters Live @ 10:30 tickets available on the door $12 get in early to avoid disappointment
SATURDAY - 1-Sept open 8.30pm the Kooyeh collective funk/soul/reggae/RnB/Dub free before 12 10 bucks after WEDNESDAY - 5-Sept Swing Patrol 6pm - 11:30pm THURSDAY - 6-Sept Salsa Explosion Del Barrio - 10pm til late
FRIDAY - 7-Sept NAHUATL SOUND SYSTEM Klvo 10pm (warm up dub set) Galambo 11pm (live electronica, cumbia) Arakataka 12pm (live band cumbia) Nahuatl Soundsystem 1am (live electronica - aztek, dub, techno)
Sonidero Esperanza 2am
(DJset - cumbia, techno) Lowman 3am (DJset - techno, tech house)
SATURDAY - 8-Sept
Vultures of Venus
Melbourne’s The Demon Parade have been laying low in their hometown as they put the finishing touches to their long awaited follow up EP. The band will be playing a one off special show in support of their latest single She’s Gonna Be A Star on Saturday September 1 at The Workers Club. Doors open at 8:30pm and supports come from Wildcat General Strike and The Quivers.
MAJOR ROCK HARD ABS Inspired by the KLF instructional manual How To Have A Hit Record The Easy Way and an intense, PinkFlamingo fuelled conversation at Meredith Music Festival, the concept of an album containing this collection of “ancient, alien hit records from the future” was born. Major Rock Hard Abs first single, I’m At All The Coolest Parties featuring Kylie Auldist (Bamboos) is a house party, dance floor thumper which sets the mood for what’s to come. He launches the single at The Workers Club on Sunday September 6 with guests The Genie, BJ Morriszonkle and DJ Richie 1250.
YAH YAH’S FOURTH BIRTHDAY PARTY It’s been four years since Yah Yah’s first flung open its doors to many 5am morning shenanigans on Smith Street. To celebrate their upcoming fourth birthday they’ve assembled ten wonderful acts to help throw a birthday party on Sunday September 2. The long list of special guests and regulars include garage kids the Frowning Clouds, fine rock group The Bowers and The Ronson Hang Up who share some members with the awesome Dave Larkin Band. Also joining the celebrations will be Davey Lane (You Am I; The Pictures) who is on fire at the moment as a performer, singer and songwriter and one of the best guitarists in the world – a perennial Yah Yah’s hero. Sun God Replica are Link Meanie’s other band and take up where the Bakelite Age left off: ‘70s inspired garage bliss reminiscent of Blue Cheer, King Crimson and Black Sabbath brushed with some unavoidable punk rock. The smokin’ garage rock of Richie 1250 and the Brides Of Christ will make you smile, as will the cool crunchy sifters of dirt Little Desert featuring Roman from Rocket Science. Bayou is a three girl, two boy quintet who make luscious fuzzy sounds and must be heard. The Delicates will be playing their third ever show and kicking off the celebrations – they feature some very familiar Yah Yah’s faces from behind the bar, Lorena, Kerry, Heather, Kat and Brayden – they have to play early on the birthday so they can get back to work. Doors open at 3pm so punters can spend the day and night at Yah Yah’s on Sunday September 2. They plan on making full use of their 5am license. Tickets available from oztix.com.au for $15 +bf or $20 at the door.
KING OF THE NORTH Doubleblack are appearing at The Espy’s front bar on Saturday September 1 as special guests at King Of The North’s South Side EP launch. KOTN’s sludgy riffing and Doubleblack’s rockin’ psychobilly will be a combination not to miss.
LITTLE MURDERS Get ready for some classic guitar rock as two of Melbourne’s leading power pop bands explode onto the stage on Friday August 31 at Yah Yah’s. Little Murders are a legendary mod band who released their first classic single in 1979 and whose last album in 2011 Dig For Plenty scored album of the week in a number of rock journals. Also playing will be Thee Wylde Oscars who have recently released their new album on vinyl but have also rocked their way through Europe garnering heavy praise from Spain to Germany. They will be joined by The Interceptors, the new power trio who are playing left, right and centre all over the town. Put on your dancing shoes and head on down to Yah Yah’s for an evening of total guitar pop. Doors at 5pm with bands starting at 9pm. Free entry.
THE OX AND THE FURY The Ox And The Fury have announced shows at the Laundry Bar on Thursday August 30 and Thursday September 13. They will be playing two sets a night, including the entire new album Peace Love And Music along with all the hits from their previous release Guitars Die In Hot Cars. Tickets are $10, available on the door, and support comes from the wonderfully dexterous Dom Italiano and The Upbeat Mafia (yes that Dom Italiano), and Zeke’s Mum, is doing the door and merch, it’s a family thing.
THE GROVES
393 Brunswick st, Fitzroy. VIC 3065 03 9419 6380 functions@firstfloor393.com.au
The Crate Digger Record Fair is back on Saturday September 1 at Yah Yah’s and will once again be running in conjunction with the Hello Sailor Vintage Fair. This time the Crate Digger Record Fair will all be in one room upstairs. That’s over 15 of Melbourne’s coolest collectors in one room with all those vinyl treats you just need to have in your collection. Downstairs is the Hello Sailor Fair where you’ll find the finest selection of stall holders, with the best vintage collections that aren’t overpriced. This is not like any other market that allows anyone selling off their recycled wardrobe – all of the stall holders’ stock is viewed and assessed for quality vintage before being accepted. This ensures that every event has only high end vintage/designer wares at an affordable price. As always, entry is free and doors open at midday.
SWEET TEENS Sweet Teens recently released a free download only album This Ain’t England & The Ominous Horror and have been bringing endless dangerous possibilities to The Tote every Wednesday of August. Catch their final weekly appearance this Wednesday August 29 at The Tote.
The Smart are heading to the Melbourne Hi-Fi complete with 3D glasses, headsets and a key-tar as they support the upcoming single release Hands Of Shelter. Following the airplay success of City Lights, Electrical and Cold Dark Room, The Smart silent show puts the crowd front and centre, wherever they are, and gives the audience the chance to take control of their own destiny with volume control to create their own personal atmosphere. This visually enticing performance will be an assault on the senses across three dimensions. Supported by Sounds Of Troy, Inc3do, Pludo and Pretty Dulcie, whilst encompassing the next generation of visual and performance artistry, The Smart’s electrifying sound and visuals are a must. See and hear live music your way as The Hi-Fi goes sci-fi for The Smart on Saturday September 8. Doors from 7.30pm.
CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS Last time Cash Savage bundled her beloved band The Last Drinks east to Castlemaine, she took to the stage of the Theatre Royal and the crowd refused to let her go. As Cash prowled the stage, growling her signature blues, thick with country sentiment, a party ensued around her – drums, trumpet and fiddle filled the old theatre and when the music stopped, the crowd demanded more. Cash and her band, it turns out, were just as keen to kick on. After more than an hour of heartbreaking, foot-stomping and high energy show-stoppers, the Melbourne sensation that is Cash Savage found herself with a host of new fans and some very high expectations set for her. The time has come for her triumphant return to Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal. Don’t miss the Cash Savage bandwagon as it rolls into Gold Country, Friday August 31, because this time round, Cash has a lot to live up to. Cash will also be playing a very special at The Toff on Tuesday September 4 so there’s no excuse not to see the band in all their glory.
LOVE MIGRATE Love Migrate are pleased to release Making This Hard, the second installment from their debut record Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence. In August 2011, Love Migrate were the featured artist on triple j Unearthed on the strength of one song. In December, the band were busy supporting touring acts and preparing themselves for their debut appearance at Boogie Festival in Tallarook. The show was praised as being a mid afternoon highlight and in celebration of Making This Hard, Love Migrate play a special show at The Toff In Town on Thursday August 30 with very special guests Emma Russack and Sam Cooper. Doors open 8pm, tickets through Moshtix are $10, or $15 on the door.
Melbourne blues-rockers The Groves take the traditional blues form, electrify it, fortify it and pin it against a brick wall. The Groves draw on almost five years of experience together; guitarist Michael Lo Bianco and bassist Leigh MacDonald began writing music in high school. They quickly got Nick Reid on drums and, once Antoni Ricciardi picked up rhythm guitar and harmonica, they had found their sound. The self-titled release features slow blues jams and relentless walls of sound that almost betray the fact that The Groves are only a four-piece. What results is a collection of juggernaut tracks which show an ability to write mature and powerful songs. They launch their EP at Revolver Upstairs on Saturday September 8.
Q&A RAIN PARTY
THE CRATE DIGGER RECORD FAIR
Beat Magazine Page 54
VHS CLUB
Define your genre in five words or less: Not quite psychedelic indie rock. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Someone has once said Black Rebel Motorcycle Club fronted by PJ Harvey. What do you love about making music? I recently saw a quote which read: “The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought”. When making music, I love the moments when you find yourself in this zone. What part of making music excites you the most? Inventing something from nothing.
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How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments? I've managed to base my life and my job around making and playing music, so I guess there isn't much of a balance there. Maybe I’m afraid of commitment! When’s the gig and with who? We are launching our debut EP at Cherry Bar on Friday August 31, with support from Mary Of The Moon and Whipped Cream Chargers. Why should everyone come and see your band? The experience of listening to our band live is very different to hearing the songs recorded. There's an energy that you can only feel when we play live. It really can't be explained unless you experience it. How do you stop your pre-gig jitters? When I’m really nervous I tend to play a lot of guitar that day. I used to find it hard to talk to friends before a show and would hide away somewhere until I had to go on stage, but nowadays I have found that I can generally be put in a better headspace by having a laugh and hanging out with them. If all else fails, I can always count on the rider. Anything else to add? Rain Party's self-titled EP is out now through iTunes and JB Hi-Fi retailers, but you can also grab a copy for only $5 at our EP launch at Cherry Bar on Friday August 31.