Mt Warning Tour Diary: Part One

It was road tripping vibes from Byron Bay to Brisbane, and I found The Sleepy Jackson album Lovers to work magic when screaming through the cane fields in a borrowed Hilux ute. Alhambra Lounge is wicked little place, we got in early and found lovely bedraggled Jackson Reid Briggs waiting patiently with bass and beard oils in hand.

 

 

 

We met the Gang Of Youths lads for the first time and it was love at first sight, a bunch of absolute gentlemen. We worked out the logistics of how much rider theft would impact on the tours outcome and I decided to have a whiskey and contemplate the options as the awesome Twin Haus from Brisbane played some damn damn fine tunes, totally melodic wash of sweet reverb and tight ass playing. I hit the stage in a fresh pair of tartan slacks that gave me a fresh feeling of boldness, but I was unaware the dangers of a low cut crotch and my usual drum kit gymnastics were hindered by some leg work falling short, but I raised to the challenge and got up there leaving a trail of destruction behind me. The set was FUN! Real intimate and a beautiful Brisbane crowd it was special to get Seavera (Tori Lee) up to sing Promises like we did on the album, she is amazing! 

 

When GOY hit the stage they busted straight in Evangelist and that song has been implanted in my brain for days and I don't even care, coz it's amazing. They played an incredibly tight show and I was stoked I was going to get to see them for three nights running.

 

Touring life is all about the early start, we boldly exited beds on point with offensive alarms and soldiered toward the airport. Landing in Sydney is always so damn pretty, that town has some serious sex appeal and it was turning it on! We bumped into the GOY lads at the baggage department, which is always fun to see how everyone's hangover is doing, everyone was smiling. Our motel was a mum & pops type joint in the city and we thought we'd nap but the day was far too lovely, so we grabbed our gear found some cheap longnecks and headed for the park. Jackson led us to a lovely park in Surry Hills, which turned out to be the front of the biggest police station we'd ever seen and our brown paper bags were not doing the trick so we busted over to Newtown to check the venue.

 

 

 

The Newtown Social Club is rad, everyone was so happy there I figured the AC was laced with something good, so I sucked up that air. Turns out shit is just sorted there, so staff be happy. The best thing I've seen at a small venue is there in that you can close the stage curtains between bands, so you feel like a real big deal as she winds open through your first chords.

 

Tim Fitz opened the night and this dude was OUTTA control amazing with his loops and beats. Unbelievably wicked things happening, so stoked to have seen him. We ambled up and came in hot, the crowd moved in and we were on! I was dribbling a fair crack of stage babble that may or may not have had anything to do with our park antics, but I do remember a great singalong with Forward Miles and that made me happy. I was also pleased to be the first to jump all over their brand new drum kit of which I think will see some amazing gigs now that that room is cooking along! Gang Of Youths took the stage and the love in the room was cuttable with an axe it was so thick. The coupla stripped back numbers kicking the backs of the whole rooms collective knees out, amazing.

 

 

 

I played a spot of street tennis to stay fit after the show and wondered why the amazing ladies on Oxford sing so exactly like Britney. Weird.

 

It was a very early wake-up but with that we saw the developing sunrise across Surry Hills and the three of us had a little cuddle and watched the day come in. That is also a lie, I had to poke Jackson with a stick to wake him coz I was not going there with my hand, but the cool calm reasoning of Vinnie Laduce had us out the door and in a cab in no time. We realised on the plane we've done some miles recently, having watched everything the inflight entertainment had to offer and thinking we should swap seats with strangers to spark a fresh conversation perhaps about birds. Or rabbits. Any animal is a good starting point with strangers. Unless you're a child reading this then don't say anything to strangers, just run.

 

 

 

Melbourne was home for me for a long time and I love that city. When on tour and looking for inspiration you cannot go past an aquarium, that place is EPIC. Start that animal chat with a stranger and you might get a date, and you could take them there and you would both have a great time, believe me. But I'm getting sidetracked... It was my first time in all these venues and Shebeen Bandroom was SICK! Firstly, anyone stocking St George Beer imported from Ethiopia is a awesome, and the sound in the downstairs was all time. The Red Lights kicked off proceedings, and I was starting to freak out that all three supports were so effing good! These guys are a good thing live, and there was some drum work to die for, legends. I took the dangerous call of wearing a muscle T, it had been a while since the sawn off had had a run on the field, and it's dangerous because sometimes I think I'm a ninja Bruce Springsteen which can really go either way live. It was a super special vibe in the room, lovely to see what are becoming familiar faces at shows, and making new friends. The muscle T did have me up in the bass amp which was particularly unstable but my surf skills had me shredding business from the hands to toes. I love playing in Melbourne.

 

 

 

My new crush Gang Of Youths tied up the tour in their solid style and downright awesome melodies to a packed room of great people. I gotta say, when you get to roll with chilled folks who like to smile it makes touring even better than it already is, gotta thank those guys for having us ratbags along.

 

Right now I've made it to a fire in middle Victoria and I'm going offline to sit at a piano stool and look out at the forest and wrench forth some melodies that are stuck inside my head. Look forward to sharing that on the road again real soon, thanks for coming out and thanks for reading my jargon filled diary-cum-essay on how I fill my days.

 

CHEERS - MB.