Dec 29 - Falls Fest - Lorne
Dec 30 - Falls Fest - Marion Bay
Dec 31 - Corner Hotel - Melbourne
Jan 01 - Field Day - Sydney
Jan 02 - Oxford Art Factory - Sydney
Jan 03 - Hotel Gearin - New South Wales
Jan 06 - Beach Hotel - Byron Bay
Jan 08 - The Hi Fi - Brisbane
Jan 09 - Electric Light Hotel - Adelaide
Jan 10 - Southbound Festival - Busselton
Day 1
My last American BBQ meal was at Everitt and Jones in Oakland. The next 24 hours was spent in Transit- SFO to LAX to MEL, then 3 hours in a van to the small beach town of Lorne, on the southern coast of Australia. Pricy beers and eats, and in bed by 10pm.
Day 2
There's no internet here, nor were there phones in our rooms. Being so cut off felt pretty freeing, so I hit the beach for a bit, followed by an awesome in-room jaccuzi before the 30min drive up to The Falls Festival site (cap: 16,000; headliners: Wolfmother). The stage crew was great at changing us over between bands, but the (unnamed industry standard) bass rig makes my bass sound so horrible that I just go through the motions and hope for the best. Why must places still use this ancient gear? We kicked butt still, as did Noweigian band DATAROCK and OZ's own Wolfmother. They borrowed a cowbell from us.
Day 3 - the beginning of a hellish schedule week.
3 hr drive back to Melbourne airport, fly to Tazmania, drive to festival site, play show.
Both bands- Lyrics Born and Wolfmother, ended up hangin at the airport together, boarding the same flight. Pics to follow. Apparently the singer is the original member, and the 3 other guys are new, yet permanent additions. We all bonded. Drove an hour through Tazmania to get to the festival site. After playing, I went to check out Rodrigo Y Gabriela, and Wolfmother. Took it easy afterwards- a long drive home to our little apartment hotel. G'night.
Day 4
Brekkie on the waterfront, then the flight and drive to the job site, in Melbourne. Small club, loud soundcheck, 35deg. Celcius out, and now... a flash downpour. Big-ass Aussie Cats and Dogs downpour! We got an hour off back at the hotel before we gotta head back to the club. I hope this NYE is fun even though I'm working. I'm in a bad mood because of the muggy-ness. Ibuprofen and Redbull should help. See ya in the New Year!
Day 5
Back to Melly airport for the 4th time, with suprisingly low-level hangover in the grip. After checking into the hotel in Sydney, I went out for a walk in search of food, and found the most authentic ramen I could find outside of Japan, which made my whole day. The festival was huge, and the monitor guy should resign, then go home and cry before we all beat his ass. When the band comes on slammin', but the MC's mic doesn't work at the downbeat of the show (and into the show), it just sux. The 2 front mics weren't on, patched correctly, or ringed-out, and the monitor engineer a.) didn't know how to fix it, & b.) didn't really give a shit. The band covered the best we could, which yielded some new great stage dances and movement from me and B'nai.
Later, the band tried to get into the IVY at midnight as a guest of the owner, but the security goons wouldn't let us past gate 1. So we searched and found the most depressing loser bar/"club" in all of Sydney to hang out in. It was pretty much for folks who could never get into the IVY if they wanted to. Good thing was the drinks were cheap- so the four of us bonded like men, having some drinks together and accepting the world as it was, with a few laughs. At least don't have to fly tomorrow.
Day 6
Walked all around the underground malls of Sydney, while the rain came down. Played a great show at The Oxford Art Factory- a venue 2 blocks up the street.
Walked all around the underground malls of Sydney, while the rain came down. Played a great show at The Oxford Art Factory- a venue 2 blocks up the street.
Day 7
2 hr drive to Katoomba, to play at a little bar/restaurant/club. Met some great peeps there, then hit the road at night back to Sydney.
2 hr drive to Katoomba, to play at a little bar/restaurant/club. Met some great peeps there, then hit the road at night back to Sydney.
Day 8
Fly/Drive to Byron Bay. Nice small beach town- and we in the band have a whole house on the end of the main strip by the beach. Still can't really get down with all these Aussie kids out drinking and partying to shitty music. Had some beers with the guys and retired for the night. If it's warm when I wake, I may even get in the water. I'm toying with the idea of something touristy too... like skydiving. Fuck- we've got the whole day off!
Day 9
A full day off finally!!! I explored the town- even found a cool music store. Eventually ended up on the beach with Darius and B'nai and hit the waves- wow- they felt Awesome! We watched one of those really stupid movies, but that still had funny parts- White Chicks. I shoulda went to the movies. Tomo will be even more beach activity with my new towel, and then hopefully a packed show at the beach hotel. Convenient that the stage is just across the street from my beach apartment. Wicked!
Fly/Drive to Byron Bay. Nice small beach town- and we in the band have a whole house on the end of the main strip by the beach. Still can't really get down with all these Aussie kids out drinking and partying to shitty music. Had some beers with the guys and retired for the night. If it's warm when I wake, I may even get in the water. I'm toying with the idea of something touristy too... like skydiving. Fuck- we've got the whole day off!
Day 9
A full day off finally!!! I explored the town- even found a cool music store. Eventually ended up on the beach with Darius and B'nai and hit the waves- wow- they felt Awesome! We watched one of those really stupid movies, but that still had funny parts- White Chicks. I shoulda went to the movies. Tomo will be even more beach activity with my new towel, and then hopefully a packed show at the beach hotel. Convenient that the stage is just across the street from my beach apartment. Wicked!
Day 10
Yup- More beach time and bodysurfing, but it sent me runnin to the pharmacy for aloe vera- fuck the lack of ozone here is killin me! Dark tan tho. The gig was OFF the HOOK- best one yet, and also the sweatiest since it's more humid at night. We invited a bunch of peeps back across the street to hang afterwards. Fun times!]
Day 11
Can you believe it... more beach time! Then the drive to Bisbane. Went with Darius to see Sherlock Holnes- Very entertaining.
Day 12
I love staying at the Oaks in Brisbane! 2 bedroom condo apartments for us. I even get to do all my laundry for frre in the pad, 29 stories up. Walked around today, then had an insanely long soundcheck that we really didn't need to be there for. Now I'm chillin at the cheap internet cafe before gig time. It's a big legit club, so I hope the show goes well (even though the drummers sampler output blew up on the last gig.
