Act 1 Booze 1 - The Patron Saints

The Hobart Blues Club hosts an event at The Duke of Wellington Hotel on the first Tuesday of every month.  They usually feature a band playing two sets with a jam session in between open to all-comers.  This week the feature band was The Patron Saints comprising four musicians - drums, guitar, bass and harmonica.  My friend Dave is a member of this band, he sings and play the harmonica.

Going to see a friend's band it fraught with danger.  They will always ask you what you think and invariably they are a little average.  Tact is not my strong point.  I will never tell you that an outfit is trendy if in fact it looks as though you are trying to reclaim your youth by wearing of skinny jeans, no socks and slipper shoes.  If you want someone to reassure you with a white lie then don't ask me, I'm not your gal.  So going to see The Patron Saints was a little risky and had the potential to damage my friendship with Dave.

But nothing to worry about, as it turns out, they were great.  Slick, simple and very bluesy.  During the first set Dave (who is no longer in the first flush of youth) told a story about how he had walked past the bar about 10 years ago when he was first learning to play and saw a Hobart Blues Club gig advertised and dreamt about one day playing there and now here he was playing to a packed bar full of music lovers.  It seems that there is no limit to making your music dreams come true.  Still hope for us middle-aged, bar hopping, gin-swigging divas yet.

The first set was a little better than the second with many familiar tunes.  It is questionable, however, that a fellow who won't see fifty again should sing Hello Little School Girl but why not.   Musically sound if not a little creepy.

The audience was primarily an older crowd full of people who grew up in the 60s.  The audience were enthusiastic and many got up to dance.  One couple were particularly good and put on a decent display of basic swing dancing.  Harold, a particular acerbic friend of mine (who will be introduced in a later post), quipped  "They might be good dancers but I bet they still drive around only doing 40km/h".

A unexpected bonus was the jam session in between the two sets.  This was remarkably good.  The lead guitarist was particularly talented.  And this is another act to count in my quest to become a patron of the arts.  2 down 99 to go.

Booze 

1. Willie Smith Organic Cider

Tasty!!!  As mentioned in a previous post, this is one of my very favourite drinks.  I never liked cider until I had a Willie Smith.  I realised that the stuff I had tasted before was rubbish and that cider is meant to taste like apples. 

From their website - Willie Smith's Organic Cider takes its inspiration from the traditional full-bodied ciders of northern France.  The cider is matured in French oak after secondary fermentation, then carefully blended to deliver a truly distinctive Tasmanian farmhouse style, full of character and flavour.  100% Australian-grown apples - Royal Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady

2. Strange Omen Small Batch Gin

This is gin is distilled by Ironhouse Brewery and is infused with bush pepperberries.  I am a big gin fan and Tasmania's recent foray in to producing good quality gin is right in my wheelhouse.  This trend is one of the major driver behind my new year resolution.  I want to learn all about gin - what is good and what is bad.  Most importantly were can I get the best gin.  I had this gin with tonic a little ice no lemon.  It was very tasty.  Sharp, fresh and moreish.

From their Facebook page - The Strange Omen Small Batch Gin, a direct product of our clean grape spirit, is unique blend of Tasmanian and Australia botanical aromatics.  The citrus pepper nose is followed by a moreish spiced butterscotch finish, suitable for sipping and great for mixing.