Mushroom Giant @ Evelyn Hotel, 24/09/2011

So, I was pretty hungover from attending another gig (and subsequent shenanigans) the night before and I got to the Evelyn about ten minutes before Mushroom Giant started their set. THANK GOODNESS. This band always impresses me live, even if they are only playing support/mini-festival slots where they don't get nearly enough time to play! Anyway, this was another really good set from the Melbourne four-piece. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I could not be more happy with their decision to ditch their vocalist and become an instrumental band again, because this is where they absolutely shine. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of talking among the audience, which is especially noticeable because this is a band with lots of quiet moments. Also, there's a song I've never heard before at the end of the set, so I asked guitarist David Charlton if it was a new song. He informed me that it's actually a very old song that they never released, but it will probably be on their next album. And speaking of that next album... where is it?! I am really looking forward to hearing where they'll go next. So yeah, all in all, a very good set. Nice to hear Pigeons again, and also I did laugh at Simon's little blunder regarding a single of theirs that sold out years ago.
SETLIST:
400 and Falling
Drake Equation
Pigeons
Graven Image
Scars

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

The other bands on the bill were Quiet Child and The Khyber Belt, unfortunately I didn't record either. Quiet Child's first few songs were a little too slow and lacking in the requisite "zing" required to wake me up after the previous night, so I had to leave to go and get some caffeine. As for The Khyber Belt, it was nearly 12am by the time they got onstage, and the crowd was way too sparse and I would've felt rather awkward with microphones on. They're a good band, though.

Sheriff @ Pony, 16/09/2011

So I was sitting at home looking for something to do on Friday night and after checking a few potential gig Facebook events, I was surprised to find out that some good friends of mine were playing a gig at Pony. They were only the opening act and so didn't really advertise it much but I decided to head along anyway, as they're always a lot of fun to see live, and I had nothing better to do. I might be biased because they're friends of mine, but I think they're a really good live band. And you should go and see them one day. They're called Sheriff, and here's their brief but awesome performance from a typically loose Friday at Pony. I thought the sound in the venue was pretty average but it's actually turned out alright. As you can hear Jimi explaining before What You Want, they shot a film clip for that song a couple of days later, and without a doubt it was one of the most fun things I have ever been involved with. Can't wait to see the finished product.

SETLIST:
Gig From Hell
Mary
Your Mother's Daughter, Your Father's Son
Creep and the Sicko
You're Not Too Cool (So Baby Dance With Me)
Simon Young
What You Want

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

There were other bands on the lineup of course, but I was only really interested in recording Chico Flash. And then by the time they got onstage it was really late and I was a little bit drunk and I couldn't be bothered. In hindsight I do regret that. It was a really interesting performance featuring a guest appearance from some saxophone player known as the Blowfisch. It was all completely improvised and some bits didn't quite work, but on the whole it sounded pretty good. Or maybe that was just because it was nearly 2 in the morning and my sense of judgement about such things was a little bit skewed. Anyway.