The weekend started on the Thursday when The Blonde and I went to the Old Hobart Gaol to see Roar Film installation, Pandemonium. Directed by Steve Thomas, Pandemonium tells the story of a few of the 60,000 male convicts who were sent to Van Diemen's Land between 1803 and 1853. Most of them were processed at the Hobart Penitentiary. These Vandemonian Lags were projected 21 metres wide and four metres in height on the walls of chapel. It was fantastic, eerie and fascinating. One of the miscreants feature in the film called Hobart Town the "arsehole of the empire", was he right? I'm pretty happy that my ancestors disagreed and decided to migrate to Australia in 1827.
Following the film showing, we were treated to a Mick Thomas show in the old Penitentiary courtroom with a quirky Anthony Morgan interviewing Mick about his book interspersed with Mick playing his songs with and Ayleen O'Hanlon. The concert was fantastic although when they played 'Fathers Day' Ideally missed the piano accordion riffs by the Squeezebomade Wally. The most spine-chilling moment of the evening was the loud call of "Liberty or Death" in 'A Tale They Won't Believe'. It was almost all those unfortunate men and women who had been put to trial in that very room were being invoked. I was mindful that the hanging scaffold was only metres away.
On Friday evening, The Blonde and I backed up to see Mick and Roving Commission at the Grand Poobah this time with Squeezebox Wally. The audience was moderate in size but very enthusiastic, filled with true fans. They threw money during 'Ticket in Tatts' sang the appropriate part for their gender in 'Away Away' and counted the deaths "down to Hobart Town". It was fabulous and confirmed my thoughts the the best concert to see is with a moderate size crowd in a suitably sized venue to reduce crowding but still maintains connection to the performers. The concert audience should be full of enthusiastic fans who are ready to sing and dance this night away.
A few of us were invited by Mick and Wal to join them for a few drinks at the Republic. If you're invited by the band to join them for drinks at another bar could you consider that you are now a true Patron of the Arts? There is a fine line between Patron of the Arts and stalker. Boil Up, a reggae/soul band were playing and the place was going off. I couldn't help but dance but that could have been the 6 pints of beer. However, The Blonde wasn't likewise afflicted and she felt the same. Cricket Tragic* and Football Fan were in attendance and added to the party mood. The problem with keeping track of the local providers that you support is that the more you support the more difficult it is to remember which drinks you had and which acts you have seen. Also, I am not a particularly talented photographer but as evidenced above the quality gets worse the further night goes on making the quality of the proof even more dubious. Maybe the straight sloe gin at the last was a mistake but what a fabulous night of great music all round.
*Formerly known as Cricket Fan but on consultation with Soccer Fan the previous nomenclature did not appropriately indicate the depth of his feeling for such a devoted folder of the Baggy Green. Cricket Tragic has travelled the world to see the Australian Team play in most every test playing nation. A notable exception being Bangladesh. Cricket Tragic booked to go Bangladesh only to have the tour cancelled at the last moment due to security reasons. He went anyway and became a media sensation in Bangladesh, making the front page of their local rag and was invited to commentate on local matches. He and Soccer Fan are booked to go to Bangladesh again to support the upcoming Australian tour. At this point in time salary negotiations between the players and the Australian Cricket Board are stalled and the tour is in doubt. Get it done Sutherland!
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