RIP Billy Thorpe

The music industry in Australia is in mourning after hearing of the sad passing of Billy Thorpe, one of Australia's great rock and roll legends.

Billy passed away after a sudden massive heart attack around 2.30 am this morning.

RIP Billy - you can play as loud as you like in heaven!

We're back

Tomorrow night (Friday 2nd Feb 2007) Two's Company return to the Oz Hotel :)

See you there :) 6 p.m Sharp!

Two's Company Back at the Hotel Oz

Two's Company return to the Hotel Oz this Friday night the 2nd of February between 6pm and 9pm :)

The Oz is situated on the corner of Queensberry and Dryburgh Streets, North Melbourne.

Chris has joined us on guitar and we are looking forward to playing some new stuff together with the music you already know us for!

Come down and say hello :)

Rock of Ages!

On Tuesday the 16th of January, at 8:00 pm, Apartment A, have a gig. Venue; The Noise Bar - 291 Albert Street, Brunswick.Kicks off at 8:00 pm.

Their good friends in Blown ‘57, will doing the gig with them.

To be affectionately known as, “Rock Of Ages”.

Afterwards a jam will ensue, with any players available.

Head on down to the HOE-DOWN

STOP PRESS!!! - Heaven On Earth will be doing their FIRST ever show, Sunday, the 14th of January.Venue; The Noise Bar - 291 Albert Street, Brunswick.Kicks off at 3:00 pm. Love to see you there, at the HOEDOWN!!!

Vacation of sorts....

We're getting ready to move house.

I am so excited.

2006 was a pretty darn good year.

"Two's Company" gigged regularly for the last quarter and will continue that regular spot into 2007.

1. The songwriting has started again.
2. Bought a house and will move into it soon. It has space for a small recording studion for Bill as well as a room so that Sarah-Jane can have her own room when she visits!
3. I finally got off my butt and blogged again.

Speak soon!

Gigs, Gags and Grrrrrrrrs

Well on Friday, me, Michael, Andy and Geoff did our one hour set at the Oz Hotel. Seemed to go down ok - so we're going to go back again this week :) There were a few 'rough' spots - but considering we only have two and a half rehearsals - we did ok! Even the 'total disaster' was pretty good :).

Apparently our little in between song gags went down a treat too - dont' recall what they were - but we were pretty funny as well! Cool. Bonus!

After we finished at the Oz, we wandered down to South Melbourne to see Beyond Therapy at the Town Hall Hotel and while were were there, one of my least favourtie events happened....

Some kooky woman (see pic - I mean anyone who wears short pants and long boots is way off), fancied herself as a bit of a chanteuse and demanded to sing with the band. Unfortunately, she was a little (ok a a lot) chemically/or otherwise enhanced and of course she obviously thought she was queen of the place, and made a bit of a nuisance of herself.

Her demands got more and more persistent, she annoyed the band (and the patrons), finally swiping the vocalist in the face before being enticed to the back room with the promise of karaoke. It was evident that her delusions of self-importance were quite fantastic as she was quite insistent that she was going to stop that particular band from ever playing there again. Like huh...who the heck are you?

I really don't like it when people try to gatecrash other band's gigs. If you're a professional musician - its very uncool to - if your'e not a professional and you want to sing - then find a bloody karaoke bar!

It's cool if the band invite you to come up and do a song or two, but never invite yourself or ASK to do something.

Is it only me that thinks this way?

And he calls himself a friend....pt2

Or should I say..."Andy" calls himself a friend...and he is the best kind.....

Andy is a legend...and a REAL friend.

My mate Andy (who you have read about previously here on my blog) has graciously offered to help out with my gig on the 4th - what a trooper!

I'm so very grateful....

Love you to bits Andy
xxxx

And he calls himself a friend

Today at 07:45 a.m - my 'friend' who was to play guitar with me on the 4th August, SMS'd me the following message:

"I think I'll give it a miss I dont really like the songlist and I dont really want to learn new songs for a one off gig. Good luck with it."

I"m so disappointed. Not only in his lack of professionalism but because as a friend he's let me down with ten days to go to a gig.

About the songlist, I compromised and said yes to a few songs that both guitarists knew already, but I also stood firm on a couple of news ones that were more the style that I want to sing. I asked him to play for me because he's been wanting to do something acoustically with me for ages. Obviously I asked for too much.

I'll take my tiara off now - I've been a bit princess-ish by the sounds! So now, I will have to do the gig with one guitarist instead of two, one who doesn't really like all the songs I've chosen either but has been happy to learn the new ones anyway.

I am very sad and disappointed right now.

Beyond Therapy at the Town Hall

I arrived at the Town Hall in South Melbourne last night and was treated a sensational rib-eye, a fantastic bottle of wine and the God-awful sounds of Karaoke from the back room!!! The proponent of said Karaoke was later heard to ask-

"Hey can I sing with the band? I'm really good!"

Hmm honey I really don't think so!

The sad thing about Karaoke (combined with alcohol) is that it makes people who shouldn't sing - think they can!

As usual, BT provided a great Friday night relaxo-combination of favourites in a semi-acoustic style. The punters were all chilled and not only by the temperature outside. It was bloody freezing out there - but the pub was inviting, the red wine warming and the according to 'cousin jimmy self-professed-rock-god' the girls at the front table were 'hot'!

Aaah it's nice to be appreciated.

The night was topped off by a neighbour who, (after choosing to reside in a commercial zone) came to complain about the 'noise'. There's something inherently wrong with 30-something men who wear shorts and thongs in the middle of the Melbourne winter and who would rather hear the sounds of the telly on a Friday night than music - I say get a life Mr South Melbourne! How dare he come into the pub and talk SO LOUDLY that I couldn't hear the band over the top of him! Rude! Very rude!

The Town Hall pub is a great little pub that I had never had the pleasure of being in before - superb wine list - mental note - must go back there for lunch sometime - it's just a stone throw from the office and if I park my car at work and walk - no need to worry about trying to find a car space that has longer than 2 hours nearby! (It's mostly one or two hour and permit parking around South Melb.)

Stellar Line Up for Stuart Speed Tribute

The Age yesterday reported the death of a great Melbourne bass player - Stuart Speed - who died suddenly at the age of 40.

To celebrate his life, and to raise funds to help his family, there will be a gig at the Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy featuring Renee Geyer, Hannaford, Mick Thomas, Tim Rogers and many others, this Saturday from 4pm to pay tribute to this great musician and even greater man.

For inquiries call the Rainbow Hotel on 9419 4193.

Beyond Therapy - Unplugged

Friday night - Beyond Therapy are playing 'unplugged' at the Town Hall Hotel, 137 Bank Street, South Melbourne.

It's FREE ENTRY so get along and have a drink and hear some great music :)

See you there :)

Jennifer Carroll / Black and Blues Band - OZ Hotel

Last Friday night I wandered off after work to hear an early acoustic set by a wonderful vocalist - Jennifer Carroll.

Jen has quite a musical history spending some years performing all over Tasmania and has just recently returned to the music scene. She has an amazing blues voice and I found myself just wanting to hear more after her very short (1 hour) set. Great stuff Jen - I'm looking forward to hearing you again on Friday :)

The OZ Hotel is promising to shape up as quite the blues venue.

The Black and Blue Band and their guests provide a great night out, quality food, great amenities and a sensational blues sound for the boys in the Black and Blue Band. Friday night we were treated to a surprise performance from Paul Norton and the band caught on with no trouble at all!

Don't forget....(as if I'd let you) I will be there Friday 4th August!

Mates of State - US

Chris has spent more time at gigs than me lately and has kindly offered to review those he sees....last weekend was Mates of State at the Northcote Social Club.....

Mates of State toured "Bring it back" and I am now hoping they come back after their performance at Northcote Social Club Saturday July 15.

The husband and wife duo were expected by some to bring a band with them but it was just them. Lacking in numbers certainly didn't lack in sound or enthusiasm. Cranking out "Fraud in the 80's" followed up by "Beautiful Dreamer" were two rock solid hits that had the near sell out crowd amazed by the power of a two piece (keyboards and drums). I was thinking that hubby only played the drums and thought the album was layered with wifey's vocals a number of times, but no! He's a high singing freak too.

Stand out tracks on the night "Like U Crazy", "For the Actor", "Running Out" and "Punchlines". I'll be investigating the earlier albums.

As "Fraud in the 80's" lyrically says "You will surely find us pleasing to your ears." I certainly did, I also found her pleasing on the eye (we've already agreed on this Pierce) as no doubt the ladies found him (insert all american good looks).

Those that haven't been to the Northcote Social Club for a gig it has a great little room, about 300 capacity and best of all smoke free! You can get pretty close to the stage so you need not worry about the tallest man in the world standing in front of you as seems to happen to me just about at every gig.

Thanks for the review Chris - I look forward to publishing more reviews of your musical pursuits!

Me and the boys....unplugged

We may be unplugged, but we'll still be dangerous....

I've been asked to do an acoustic set on Friday 4th August from 6-7 pm at the OZ Hotel 177 Dryburgh Street which is almost the extension of Spencer St. (I'll even get my name on the chalkboard - woohooo!!!!) I will be sensationally supported by three fabulous musicians....ok two musicians and a drummer (James and Michael on guitars, and a percussion whizz) and there will be little old me warbling and playing really bad tambourine : )

So, If you'd like to finish your week off with a nice feed and a little bit of music ;) come along.....the OZ has great bistro-type meals so you can wander up after work then be all fed and hopefully happy before I start singing! I'd like for us to be invited back - so feel free to bring as many friends as you like :)

Anyone know how to organise a flash mob?

I hope I see you there....

PS: The Black and Blues band will be playing later also....

Nifty calendar!

I've added a nifty calendar to the blog....click on the gig you want more details of as it scrolls past in the ticker and it will take you to my calendar page where the listing is :) Otherwise, select a date on the calendar on the left for everything happening that day/evening. I'll try and add as much as I can over the next few days.

Enjoy :)

You Am I @ The Forum

Chris kindly sent me a review of Saturday's You Am I gig at the Forum.

"It's thuggery!, It's thuggery!"

It certainly was an all amped up powerful performance by the lads on Saturday night. After starting with a big thanks for coming and mentioning that the night before gig was sold out you could be forgiven for thinking that Timmy was going to simply go through the motions and play a 75% set to the 75% filled Forum Theatre.

Instead they ripped into Convicts at break neck pace. The songs sounded like they have been part of the set for years, faultless display. "It Ain't Funny How We Don't Talk Anymore", "Friends Like You", "Thuggery"," Nervous Kid" all highlights.

Despite the efforts of said gent next to me yelling out "Damage!" at the conclusion of each song there was no "Damage!" on offer, just a very sore throat I suspect for one punter Sunday morning. Timmy gave some great insight to one such punter requesting another song,

"Listen mate when we are supporting your band in 6 months time you can tell us what to play, until then it's Timmy time."

It certain was Timmy time, and a great time for any You Am I fan. Notable corkers included, "Cathy's Clown", "Jewels and Bullets," "Good Morning", "Soldiers", "Baby Clothes", "Hourly Daily". Finally what would a You Am I concert be without a rip snorter such as "Berlin Chair".

It was black leather jacket night for the lads, obviously the Fonz e-mail didn't reach the inbox of one Davey Lane, he was wearing a lovely white suit number, certainly didn't detract from some mean guitar work. I was sceptical when they included a 2nd guitarist since "Dress Me Slowly" but Davey Lane certainly proved his worth to the sound, plus you can tell he loves playing as part of You Am I, who wouldn't? Clearly one of the best live bands going around.

Notable highlights, the end of The Vandas set that I saw and parts of The Drones , I suspect these guys haven't seen a rider this big before and treated like it was all you could eat at Smorgies!

Oh and the You Am I merchandise was ingenious, AFL footy scarfs, in all team colours, with You Am I woven into them, gold.

Chris - I want a piccie of you in your scarf...did they come in a Maroons version too?...