StopPress 90

1) Geoff
and Kath McClatchy enjoyed the first couple of sets 2) Tina
and Ross Ryan sat at the celebrity table

3) McTubby
and Tony D. Smith
gig
report
The Palace Hotel Camberwell Sun 27.2.11
An
arvo of surprises for Crudd & Pump
28.2.11 – As I dropped in some posters
in to The Palace the previous Sunday, Ben asked me, (seriously),
‘how many people are you bringing?’ I stammered I was letting
our mail list know about the gig, (‘awesome’), but inwardly
I wasn’t counting on there being a big turnout. O ye of little
faith! It became plain there was a healthy crowd building up
even as we were setting up, including quite a number of our
friends who’d spotted we were somewhere in the vicinity for
a change.
Just before we started the first set I got a call from Robbo
who’d just left Ballarat. I’d always figured the trio would
be better for the room, so I was relieved to hear he was on
the way – and so it happened that Robbo marched into the room
replete with kilt and marching drum and joined in on Spoonful
to the delight of the crowd – and Bill and me. The last set
was an absolute blast and it was good to see Robbo’s classic
little Gretsch kit finally initiated into Spectrum’s world.
Hooray!

1) Ian
Collard goes blues roots 2) Shannon goes stratospheric
gig
report
Clifton Hill Hotel 9.2.11
Mike’s
solo Acoustic Wednesday
10.2.11 – I felt an odd throat thing coming
on the night before and by the time I got to the Clifton Hill
last night I knew I was well and truly stuck with it. I
was first up on a bill that included Ian Collard (pic 1)
and Shannon Bourne, (pic 2) all of us uncharacteristically
playing solo – Rod Claringbold said it was just a fluke – and
I was experimenting using my crappy Canora nylon-string that
Brenden bugged for me late last year, so I didn’t need any extra
complications. There was a good crowd for a change, perhaps
due to there being two birthdays being celebrated – and both
girls that I knew too;
the Clifton Hill’s former sound engineer,
Miss Vicky, and SLAM’s Anne O’Rourke. (pic Facebook)
Anyway, despite the parlous state of my voice I got a very nice
reception plus a very sweet back-announcement from Ian Collard
as he launched into his rootsy blues set. I’ve got nothing but
admiration for his harness blues harp playing while
playing his guitar (well) at the same time – that’s got to be
damn hard and he makes it sound so easy!
Shannon was on next but I only managed to stay for three spacey
numbers before melting into the night and heading back to Mt
Waverley to prepare for my upcoming NZ odyssey.
NB –
In case you missed it, Spectrum’s gig at the Palace on Sun.
27th has been down-scaled to just Bill and me. See you there!