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Bound
for South Australia
Sometimes the best Spectrum gigs happen
in the most unlikely of places on the most unlikely
of days
gig report
Fri.
26.5.17 Spectrum to Ariel at the Semaphore Workers
Club
Sat. 27.5.17 Spectrum at the Christies Beach Hotel
Sun. 28.5.17 Spectrum at the Barristers Block Wines
for SA Variety
Spectrum
to Ariel and Spectrum in SA
31.5.17 - This
short interstate tour was cobbled together while
Maria and I were in Greece, but it only happened
at all after the third piece in the puzzle finally
fell into place. For the last I-don't-know-how-many
years we've included a gig for the SA Variety mob
on our SA tours and they've always been a lot of
fun to do, but because it was last minute there
was of a dearth of alternative venues and we had
to chance our arm on the Barristers Block, an outdoor
venue where the weather could play a big part in
its success - or not.
We were opening the tour on the Friday night with
the Spectrum to Ariel show at the Semaphore Workers
Club, (which has recently been inducted into the
SA Hall of Fame, hammer & sickle logo and all,
with the Cuban ambassador presenting Comrade Dave
Pearse with the plaque at the official ceremony
filmed by Channel 7!) and Glyn Mason had flown over
for the one gig with Robbo and Daz on the Friday
morning. We'd arrived early and I was hoping for
a decent sound check, but as uusual Dave didn't
arrive until late and we were still sound-checking
as the first batch of punters started coming in.
There was a pretty good turnout in the end, although
I suspect we would've got more in our favoured Sunday
evening spot. The show went pretty well too, probably
a step up from the Caravan Club playing-wise and,
of course, the audience loved us. (Chris Warren
put two or three vids up on FB if you haven't seen
them already).
The Saturday night was at the Christies Beach Hotel.
I'd only found out at the last minute we were supposed
to supply lights as well as the PA and Martin from
Allpro put up the rig while we were setting up.
We weren't supplied with dimmers, which meant digital
lights on full beam, which in turn meant I couldn't
see the audience all night. I was feeling pretty
edgy - luckily some old friends in Edna Gibson and
the Wordleys showed up to distract me from my pain.
The weather had turned to shit during the sound
check and ensured there were no walk-ins to boost
the disappointing numbers in the room, but fortunately
there were the occasional musical highlights to
punctuate the general uneasiness.
On the way home we stopped at Villies Cafe and indulged
in some extreme eating by way of compensation. We
were all to regret that.
Sunday began as Saturday night had ended i.e.
with cold winds and showers, and we weren't looking
forward to what was waiting for us in Woodside,
nestled in the cloud-shrouded Adelaide Hills. Sure
enough it was raining when Variety's Kerry Philcox
greeted us at the Barristers Block, but she pointed
out the as yet unlit heaters dotted around the place
(pic) and reassured us that it was all going
to be OK despite the inclement weather - and when
happy groups people began arriving our spirits were
buoyed. The cups of tea and pizzas from the Barristers'
kitchen helped our mood as well.
My old mate Iain Ross tapped me on the shoulder
and we had a bit of a chat and then some more familiar
faces arrived, so by the time we actually started
to play I felt quite cheerful. At least I could
see everyone and they were clearly enjoying
what we were doing and the mood on and off stage
was thankfully much more relaxed than the previous
night.
It all ended up very nicely with my dear friends
Geoff Miller and his daughter Andie arriving just
in time for the last couple of numbers with a very
enthusiastic crowd volubly adoring us, so when it
came to leave Woodside for Melbourne it was in a
very optimistic frame of mind.
Next! |
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1)
Hmm.. I'm not sure how things are going. Hold on..
2) Yes, I think we've got it! Sniff! I'm feeling
better now..
gig report
Sun.
21.5.17 Spectrum to Ariel at the Caravan Music Club
The
second Spectrum to Ariel show at the Caravan Club
23.5.17 - Our
European adventure in March/April didn't actually
end until Maria and I touched down at Tulla on May
3rd so there was precious little time to waste in
getting the fingers warmed up and the voice warbling
in anticipation of rehearsing with the chaps for
the welcome-home gig at The Caravan Music Club on
Sunday last (the 21st), close enough to the anniversary
of the first Laneway Spectrum to Ariel retrospective
gig at the same venue.
I'd not touched a guitar for the whole six weeks
away on holiday and the S2A combo hadn't played
together since the gig with Brian Cadd last year
either, so there was a lot of ground to cover, though
to be fair we were coming to it with a little more
under our belts than the first time around.
We were very fortunate to have the same rehearsal
studio at our disposal this year, Pete Dacy's Secret
Sound Studio in Mt Waverley, although this time
I was driving from Mt Evelyn, which made it nearly
as awkward for everybody except perhaps Robbo in
Oakleigh.
Four rehearsals later and we were actually beginning
to sound like a band, definitely a step up on last
year, so I was a little less apprehensive, despite
a head cold threatening to spoil the party.
Glyn, Broc and I popped into Laneway (the show's
sponsors) one morning and performed a couple of
songs au naturel from the show which elicited
a favouable response on FB and helped reinforce
my calm.
In the event there was a good turnout, somewhat
surprising the taciturn Peter Foley who runs the
club and didn't think we could pull as many as we
did for essentially the same show as last year.
The band made little fluffs here and there but definitely
played better overall and the on-stage sound was
better than last year, my Parisian shirts, chosen
by my personal stylist, nearly stole the show all
by themselves and the audience clearly loved it,
so everybody went home happy. A good result. Now
for Adelaide. |
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