The Double Bill returns to a full-house at Arcobar
8.4.22 - Before last-night's Double Bill gig at the Arcobar my plan was to pop down to Bakehouse in Richmond in the afternoon for my second rehearsal for the upcoming brace of regional RocKwiz shows, but COVID intervened yet again with B-team guitarist Soucha having to isolate, so the rehearsal was cancelled.
I'd uncharacteristically left my guitar and amp at Bakehouse in anticipation of the second rehearsal, so I would have to make a special trip to recover them before traipsing up the M1 to the Arcobar, set as it is in the alluring Arco Lane industrial estate in downtown Heatherton.
Spectrum was on first and I was hoping we'd have enough time to run-through the revised version of What the World Needs is a New Pair of Socks (or Sox for short) originally on Spectrum's Milesago double album before the cut-off time - we did get a run-through too and it was sufficiently encouraging for me to include it on the night's set list.
Spectrum's set was slotted for 8.00 and so there was ample time to have a meal and chat and make phone calls etc. I managed to leave my man-bag on the table as well as my phone (!) and miraculously they were still there when we'd finished our set. (Perhaps not so miraculous when you think about it. Most of the people in the room were round about our age and fans of the bands and therefore utterly trustworthy).
Just before we started the set Bren mentioned that he didn't have his 'big' amp with him and for me to show him some consideration. He was kidding of course, but as things turned out I had my most relaxed night for the last couple of years and even pulled off a couple of nice moments on the Strat, so I ended Spectrum's part of the evening on a nice high.
Drak, the Madders' sixth member and the creative artist behind their distinctive album covers over the years, wasn't impressed. 'You guys played over time' he said as he handed me my guitar (already in its case) my effects pedals, leads and finally my amp in short order.
'Sorry,' I said with tears welling in my eyes. 'No worries mate,' he replied, thrusting my wah pedal at me.
I was due to join the Madders' chaps for Badlands and caught the first half their set, including a song I don' t think I'd heard before. I'll have to check with Bren about that.
In any case, it's good to see the Madders continuing to evolve. Bren's involvement with Spectrum has seen a necessary shift in focus for us and an evolution of sorts. Spectrum's mandate is to present songs of the era, so apart from Bill's It's a Lottery there've have been no new songs to consider. It's essentially a live band, so it's an unlikely proposition at the moment, but you never know. Well, I never know.
Incidentally, Aztec's Gil Matthews made a surprise appearance (a real surprise as we'd just been talking about him) and told me that Spectrum's most neglected album, Testimonial, is set to be released on the Aztec label next week. I know a lot of Spectrumites will be looking forward to this and, of course, Testimonial will be available on this website as soon as stock becomes available.
In the meantime we're preparing for Spectrum's appearance at Bluesfest. The weather could yet play a role, but we're hoping that it is 'third time lucky' as they said on this evening's news. I can't see me being involved in any big festivals again, so I rather think Byron Bay will be my festival swansong. With 'the Boss', Ross Wilson and Tamam Shud (including Ariel's Tim Gaze and Nigel Macara) in the mix, it'll be an appropriate swansong at that.

The Ararat Town Hall welcomes Spectrum to the overdue lunchtime concert Wed. 23.3.22
25.3.22 - Is it twice this Ararat lunchtime concert for the Vic. Seniors Festival has had to be re-scheduled? Anyway, I decided that we were certainly not going to be late for this lucky third date and we pulled into Ararat nearly two hours ahead of the projected sound check - three and a half hours before showtime! Too bad that this required Broc and me to rise at the ungodly hour of 5.00am - but we were absolutely determined not to miss out this time.
After a brief reconnoitre, Broc, Robbo and I found a small café next to the Town Hall (pic) and ordered coffees. I'd only just texted the sound guy, Tim Lewis, when he appeared as though I'd rubbed a magic lantern and we all adjourned to the Town Hall where we were helped to load in and found the PA (and a drum riser) set up and ready to go.
Robbo doesn't usually favour drum risers, but it looked substantial and well, it was there, so he agreed to give it a go.
The room is set up like an amphitheatre, so we were set up on the floor rather than an actual raised stage, which I like because of the extra room it affords the band and the way the band and audience can comfortably eyeball each other.
In the meantime Daz had arrived and had set up his keys, but Bren didn't arrive until just before the doors opened, so not much opportunity to rehearse anything during the sound check, but at least we were all there.
We were a little concerned we might be too loud for the room, but once the seats started filling the acoustics evened out. In any case, the stage mix we had was very reassuring and Tim seemed to be doing a good job on the mix out front.
There were some nice musical moments too. The band has started to feel comfortable with each other after two years or so of uncertainty and we're now able to relax and play round within the arrangements - which is what makes the whole thing worthwhile for the players.
I know we all feel better for having been able to complete one of our commisions for the Vic. Seniors at least. Of course, it's a shame about Warrnambool, but we'll be there in October and I know that'll be a lot of fun, especially as that coincides with the actual Seniors Festival and there'll be free train rides for older codgers (that's you) statewide.

The rescheduled Sunbury 50th Anniversary gig goes off rather nicely, thank you!
21.3.22 - This gig was meant to have taken place back in January, the day after the fabled Archies Creek Hotel show* (when The Indelible Murtceps stepped in for Broderick Smith), but COVID decreed otherwise, hence the well-belated Sunbury 50th Anniversary commemoration date at the Brunswick Ballroom.
Some things are worth waiting for though and it was bloody marvellous to see and hear Brod in action again, sensitively accompanied as he was by Shannon Bourne on acoustic guitar.
The voice is still intact as is the harp playing - not forgetting to mention his left and right of centre sense of humour. One of these gigs I'll be less preoccupied and have a decent chat to him..
I managed to get to the Ballroom in good time and decided I'd try the back entrance for a change. There was a car blocking the carpark, which, because it was white and a Volkswagon, I took to be Brenden Mason's car.
I saw the flash of a brightly coloured shirt and thought to myself, 'Bren's going very colourful today' as I sneaked up on the driver's-side window to give him a bit of a fright.
BANG BANG BANG BANG!! I went - to be greeted with a girly shriek. Yes, it was a young lady, totally unknown to me, who thankfully took my juvenile assault in good spirit.
Off to a disconcerting start.
After I'd brought in my gear I had time to look around the room. Lots of tables with names on, so it could be a bonza crowd.
And so it turned out. Broc and I had lunch on Sydney Rd before our sound-check and by the time we'd finished there was already a healthy looking crowd waiting to come in to the room.
We weren't so fortunate with the sound check and didn't really have enough time to sort out the version of What the World Needs (is a New Pair of Socks) I'd sketched out, or the revised version of Keep on Dancing.
I decided to can Sox in the meantime, but to attempt Keep on Dancing anyway - what could possibly go wrong? Maybe
I should've given that proposition a bit more thought.
Broderick's set went over very well. I was wondering if the escalation in intensity might bother some of the punters, but in the event it just seemed to perk them up a bit.
Robbo's son Keaton enchanted the audience with an impromptu drum break while helping dad set up Luke's kit, before Spectrum stepped up and lashed them with a full-tilt version of Launching Place Part ll.
I realised when we actually started Keep on Dancing that we hadn't worked out the beginning and end bits - and the middle bits were a bit underdone as well - so that song was a low-point from our perspective perhaps, but in general things were rock-solid and the indefatigable Brenden worked me and the crowd as only Brenden can. What an asset to Spectrum he is!
Madder Lake took the last set for this show and I joined them once more for a harp implant in the rockin' Badlands. Daryl was also invited on stage for a few songs including the Madders' indisputable Oz classic, 12lb Toothbrush.
At which point stumps were drawn and weary punters and performers alike would drift off into the sunset - except that the special hell of packing up remained for the performers, of course.
Spectrum's Wednesday lunchtime concert in Ararat will be logistically interesting at the very least and then on Saturday night in Lorne there's Deborah Halpern's GHOST installation with Hugh McSpedden's Humania lightshow.
I guess you could say that we're BACK!

*see the Archies Creek Hotel show