The Best Things in Life Are Free
Over the long weekend I saw a total of 7 different live acts for a grand total of zero dollars.
Tim and Scott at T-Bone Brewery with their marvellous harmonies. Their cover of The Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was brilliant.
After this gig I popped next door to The Homestead to see what musical goodies they were offered on that Friday night. Playing was a bearded singer called Ryan Garth accompanied by one of Hobart's best violinist, Hannah Morrell (The Dead Maggies). He was playing celtic folk punk in the style of one of my favourite bands, Flogging Molly. He was quite raw but very good and I am looking forward to seeing him play in the future. He did great originals including a song called "It's Only Tuesday I'm Bleeding".
Next up, The Dominic Francis Grief Ensemble. They tend to play original jaunty songs about terrible things. genocide, infant mortality. My favourite is "Baby in a Box". In my opinion you can't really go wrong if you have a Squeezebox in your band.
I then wandered up to The Republic to catch the sublimely talents Chris Coleman and his latest project The Songbooks. This band plays songs exclusively from the collection of songs featured in 'The Great Australian Songbook'. They usually have a guest singer and this time it way Crystal Sky. Some of the songs were brilliantly successful like Tina Arena's "Burn for You", others not so much. Band member Susannah Coleman-Brown was particularly good, there is something about a girl playing bass, and will be the feature singer at their next gig at the Republic in March.
The second set was with out Crystal and Chris did a get version of The Triffids song "Wide Open Road". Since the first time I Chris play last year I have been nagging him to play The Church's "Under the Milky Way" and on this night he played it and dedicated it to me. I must now truly be a Patron of the Arts, or maybe a stalker, its not quite clear. As great as this gig was I found myself wanted to hear Chris' original songs, especially "Dandelion Flower".
On Saturday, His Grumpiness and I went to see Voicestrings with features the banjo playing of Montz Matsumoto. It was pouring rain and I had a Pagan cherry cider and His Grumpiness had a McHenry's whisky. Local booze and great bluegrass/Appalachian style tunes with three part harmonies right on the Hobart waterfront. What more could you want on a long weekend in this southern city?
On Sunday I went with His Grumpiness and his mum to the Devil Sessions at TMAG. This included live music interspersed with talks from scientist about the Tasmania Devil. I din't know that the little creatures were quite so amazing. I hope that the museums considers some winter sessions.
On Monday The Blonde and her daughter The Pink Thing, Doozer, His Grumpiness and I went to Lark Distillery to experience the pop-up Forty Spotted Gin Garden. It was a real Hobart jacket on/jacket off day but in the sheltered garden we heartily enjoyed lovely gin cocktails that were on offer along side some brilliant whiskys. Live music was provided by Matt Doyle. He was really good and set just the right mood for the relaxed afternoon catchup with friends. The highlight was a brilliant bluesy version of AC/DCs "You Shook Me All Night Long". He was also kind enough to let us know when there was only four songs to go because in his opinion "It can be scary not knowing how long an act is going to last". I hoped that the afternoon would go on forever.
Valentines' Day with a Musical Magician
His Grumpiness and I went along to the Theatre Royal to see the marvelously talented Ben Folds. Being Valentines' Day we planned a romantic dinner beforehand. The fickle Hobart weather and appalling traffic put paid to that so we decided that we would have a bit to eat before going straight to the theatre. It would still be pretty romantic right? A trip to the theatre with my love, what could go wrong in the romance stakes. A lot if you have two slices of the most garlicy garlic pizza you have ever seen, or rather smelt. His Grumpiness strikes again! Apologies to the people who had to sit in front and next to us. I don't think we will be giving St Valentines' Day a go again.
The warmup up act was the singer/songwriter Lucy Rose. She was great. Funny and talented. Before her song "Best of Days" she told a story about a dedicated fan who travelled half way acress the world and braved UK immigration control just to hear her play. She said, "If your music matters to one person then it's worth continuing with." So true.
Ben Folds songs don't just tell you about a feeling or a point in time but they take you on a journey. His music gifts ooze from every pore and you get the feeling that you are just hanging out in his lounge room whilst he tinkers with a few songs that he is working on. Highlights from the first set were "The B*tch Went Nuts" from the fake version of the album Way to Nothing. He had the audience sing three piece harmonies which was fabulous in the Theatre Royal.
Set two and the audience was asked to write their request on a piece of paper, turn that paper into a plane and throw it on to the stage. Much fun even if I did nearly loose my head to a wayward plane. Ben then selected ten planes and played those songs
It was a good night. His grumpiness comment that if Ben Folds was relying on him to make a living then Ben would stave but then His Grumpiness can't tell the difference between Acker Bilk and Tijuana brass.
Blowing Up The Pokies
On Friday evening I attended a political rally. I am a card carrying member of the ALP but the main attraction for me was the marvellous Tim Freedman, singer from The Whitlams. I am a huge Whitlams fan and already have tickets for their May Hobart gig. Needless to say I was really looking forward to hearing Tim play, however, I didn't expect that his music would make me so emotional that I would shed a tear or two.
The evening started with Rebecca White sharing a moving story about man who had had a gambling problem and the devastation that this caused him and his family. I am please to say that 5 years ago he kicked it the habit and is rebuilding his life. Tim Freedman then shared stories of friends that he knew that had problems with gambling. Then he played "No Aphrodisiac", "Louis Burdett", and "Gough" possibly my three favourites. It was great but the audience wasn't that engaged and there was lots of loud talking and laughing. The he played "Blow Up The Pokies". The room went silent as Tim sang the first verse. As he played the chorus the crowd spontaneously all sang along "I wish I could you the right words, to make you feel better walk out of this place", not loud raucous singing but more a muted plea to a higher power. After hearing the stories of hardship it was extremely moving and I found it impossible to stop a tear or two escaping.
After that anything was going to be a bit of a come down so I walked from The Republic in North Hobart to Irish Murphys in Salamanca to catch with The Blonde an see one of our favourite cover bands, The Singles Bar. The walk was just amazing. Live music seemed to be coming out of every other doorway I walked past. The invigoration of Midtown (between North Hobart and the city mall) with lots of little bars catering of all tastes side-by-side with fabulous Asian eateries is something to behold. I walked though Franklin Square where people were dancing to a Blues Band at the regular summer Street Eats Franko. Then past The Music Bar and Watermans. What an atmosphere. No need for pokies in those joints. The Singles Bar never let you down. You can't help but smile at their white suits, blowup banana and neon flamingos. The Blonde describes their repertoire as 'cool Countdown songs'. It is impossible not to dance when they play.
Note to security at venues. Please do more to protect your patrons - especially female patrons from very drunk male patrons. Once again I witnesses a couple of girls dealing with unwanted drunken attention from a couple of bloke. After putting up with a couple intrusions which they handled it in a dignified way they were left feeling on edge wondering whether it would be end of it. Security nowhere in sight. With some difficulty I found security outside chatting to a group of girls. Lift your game people!!
It was going to be difficult to top that Friday night but The Blonde and I were going to give it a crack. We travel to Riversdale just North of Swansea on the East Coast to see Halfway to Forth, brothers Kyle and Dane Lizotte. Relaxing with a BBQ chicken roll and Splendid Summer Cup Gin at this event hosted by the marvellous Ange Boxall musician and true Patron of the Arts on a breezy but sunny afternoon was nothing short of idyllic. There was brilliant original music, kids eating apples straight from the tree, a sausage dog wandering around and stealing the show and black cockatoo flying over. To steal from one of Halfway to Forth's brilliant songs, 'it's a perfect day'.
To wrap up the weekend His grumpiness and I went to see the Hobart playoffs for the upcoming Forth Valley Blues Festival. You've never seen a collection of jackets, hats and vest quite like it. The maroon velour jacket with the black lapels was possibly my favourite. Early on The Patron Saints established themselves as the band to beat with great mix of covers and originals. There last song, Muddy Waters "Got My Mojo Working" had the whole bar tapping their feet. The next act were so loud that they literally hurt my eardrums.
We were unable to stay inside the venue and not risk damage to our hearing so we headed to the Wrest Point Casino's Birdcage Bar to Andrea Soler and James Ross play to a tiny audience. They were excellent and I am sad that this was their last Tasmanian gig. I will be keeping an eye out for their return.
Phew. What a couple of weeks. Tears, laughs, adventure, new and old friends. I can't wait for the next fortnight. I am heading to Devonport with His Grumpiness next weekend and hope to find a hidden gem at the other end of the state. Then The Blonde and I are heading to Victoria on a Road Trip to attend a couple of music festival. It's going to be huge!!!
A couple of Vandemonian Lags on a Festy Road Trip. Bring it on!!!!
