They could have parked anywhere, but oh no, they had to prove that their van was bigger than mine!
Anyway, as promised, here are a few photos from the recent SwampFest show, with thanks to Craig Black who I haven't bothered asking if I can use them. Heh heh...
First up, a lesson in accessorising:
If Ken from the Screaming Orgasms is seeing this, see how many of your old effects pedals you can spot on my board! Yep, early 80's Japanese Boss CE-2 and Ibanez compressor. I treasure them, and abuse them wildly.
Secondly, a hand-raising moment during the show. Probably someone had just yelled out "who wants cake?" MacDeth and Slapskins McBOOOm are too professional to stop for cake mid-song. They have cake waiting offstage because they're more organised than I am.
Thirdly and final-tastically, here's a shot of MacDeth and McBOOOm performing the National Anthem-a-Tronica intro segment. At this time I was busy wandering around amongst the audience yelling silly crap. You can't quite see McBOOOm's Monotron, but check out the ancient-school Omnichord that MacDeth is fingering!
Thank you for your attention. Now I must go and listen to a Stray Cats album I rediscovered when rearranging my vinyl rekkids recently. Ubangi Stomp drives me Ubangi wild!
What an epic event at The Stomach last night! I always love playing at The Tum for several reasons, some of which are: you reach a different crowd than at a pub because it's All Ages; the sound system is top-notch; the staff are blimmin' awesome; I get to see new bands; and the shows are generally earlier, so I have time afterwards for a cup of tea and a read before bed. (That's Rock'n'roll Survival Tip #39, yours for free today from TurkbyTone Rekkids!)
I hope to have some photos soon, but in the meantime, you'll just have to picture this in your brainpan.
The BTE open the show (yay!) As usual, I talk quite a lot and forget how my own songs go. My newly-minted cardboard crown won't stay on my head properly so I let people in the audience wear it. Someone wins a damn fine crappy vinyl album with my writing on the front in Vivid marker. MacDeth and McBOOOm rock mightily, like towering mounds of basalt and dinosaur bones.
Because I talk too much crap, we have to cut the last two songs from our setlist, which means I forget to do the now-obligatory lolly scramble.
In the spirit of mentoring the younglings (to steal a phrase from Star Wars), I suggest that the next band, the Impediments, might like to do a lolly scramble with the lollies I had prepared earlier. It puts a warm glow in me cockles to see them gleefully take up the mantle. Black Chrome, The Impediments and Reclusia all rock hard, and add up to a nicely eclectic evening.
I collect the BTE cardboard merch stand - the night's takings come to a massive $0. I bank this on the way home, filling out receipts for Jim Keltnenhausen to audit in the morning.
Then it's home for a Rooibus tea, a shaz, a little light reading (guitar magazine reviewing gear that I can't afford), and then bed, complete with cat trying to sleep on my neck.
It's the best! It's the best! It's the best! Swampfest!
Until I have some photos, I'll put a clip of the BTE playing at Medusa in Wellington, which was a great gig too, but could have been more sweaty...
