Melbourne is celebrating the first week of May in style with a brilliant listing of local gigs. There are so many highlights I suggest you cancel any plans from Thursday to Sunday and just see gigs. I don’t care if it’s your grandmother’s funeral, your anniversary or whatever. It’s just not that important, when you see what the Melbourne music scene has to offer over this weekend.

For that reason, there is no gig of the week this week.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Another reason is because the arrogant, drug affected performance from Nick Littlemore of the headline act from last week’s gig of the week, Teenager was so awful I don’t feel confident enough to make a gig of the week recommendation. Since I’m on the topic though, this gig wasn’t all a downer. I’ve seen Dance with Voices two weeks in a row now, and even though new wavish rock is not typically the ATR genre of choice, if you are at all this way inclined (or your girlfriend is) this band are worth catching live.

But, enough of this. I'm getting sidetracked. Find a comfortable seat and get relaxed ladies and gents ‘cause this week’s offering of gigs is spectacular.


Wednesday the 4th

To start off just a typical Wendsdie night with a little bit of strummin' and singin'.

Ben Birchall Duo
@The Standard, 9pm, Free

Sime Nugent
@Gem Bar & Saloon, 9pm, Free

Dan Warner, Marcel Borrack
@Idgaff, 9pm, $10


Thursday the 3rd

Now we get into it.

Yep, The Basics are at it again, charting their good ship of classic catchy pop tunes all around town before their debut album Stand Out/Fit In is released in stores on Saturday. See them at the Spanish Club headlining the Human Rights Art and Film Festival Fundraiser.

Former wildkids of Aus underground rock, X, are relaunching their album At Home With You at Ding Dong. There will also be anger. mayhem and plenty of distortion from the Y generation with Witch Hats also performing. After supporting The Scientists a couple of weeks ago, is it safe to conclude that Aus underground rock legends are very impressed with these lads?

There’s also a couple of May residencies beginning tonight that will be worthwhile catching. Emma Heeney will kick off her Thursday slot at the Empress, while comic folkster, The Bedroom Philosopher will do the same at the Wesley Anne. Support for the latter from the glorious Pikelet.

The Bedroom Philosopher, Pikelet
@Wesley Anne, 8:30pm, $10

Cmon Cmon
Learn the Splits, Dane Certificate, Drugs in Vegas
@The Evelyn, 8:30pm, $8

Tim Downey and the Little Souls, Princess One Point Five, Touch Typist
@The East, 8:30pm, 10+bf

Emma Heeney, D. Rogers
@The Empress, 8pm, $8

Human Rights Art and Film Festival Fundraiser
The Basics, The Conch, Wassa Wumba
@Spanish Club Salon, 8pm, $8

The Smallgoods, Joni Lightning, Fearless Vampire Killers
@The Tote, 8:30pm, $10

X, Witch Hats, special guests
@Ding Dong, 8pm, $10


Friday the 4th

St Kilda is the place to be tonight. No, that isn’t just because we're hopeful of a super impressive return to form from the Sainters at the Dome against the Blues, but because of some sensational gigs.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring are headlining a free show in the Espy Front Bar with their tense and anxious garage punk rock. Eddy Current are electric live and have a core group of dedicated fans, so get in early or you will be disappointed.

But if you miss out in the Front Bar, the Gershwin Room at the Espy also has an impressive bill. The hypnotic Black Cab will be showing off their mind bending sounds in their last local gig for the year. Swirling atmospheric alt rock from SubAudible Hum and twelve string compositions from Cam Butler as support.

Also in St Kilda, sweaty bodies, cool kids (and me) over at the Prince Bandroom to see pulsating disco rockers Midnight Juggernauts launch their new single, Road to Recovery. Lo-fi electro with the increasingly popular Muscles as a support act, as well as The Temper Trap and a DJ set from K.I.M (from The Presets). I’m afraid this gig is sold out though, so if you haven’t already got a ticket you will have to consider something else.

Alternatives can be found with cranking dirty Aussie rock stars Dallas Crane at the home of Click Click, Colonial Hotel with the everywhere men, The Basics supporting. Also at Ding Dong, Children Collide are playing a return gig in Melbourne after receiving acclaim at SXSW .You can also catch Deloris frontman, Marcus Teague up at the Rooftop Bar (could be a bit chilly though!)

Children Collide, Young Lovers, Bang! Bang! Aids
@Ding Dong, 8pm, $10

Dallas Crane, The Basics
@Colonial Hotel, 9pm, $20

Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Pink Fits, Les Fancy Boys, Jack Nasty Face
@Espy Front Bar, 9:30pm, Free

Khancoban, The Raylenes
@Exile on Smith St, 9pm, $8

Midnight Juggernauts, Temper Trap, Muscles, K.I.M
@Prince Bandroom, 8:30pm, SOLD OUT

Mushroom Giant, Knives of Neptune, Locus Scene, Alaska Ratio
@Rob Roy, 8pm, $8

Russian Roulettes
@Pony, 2am, Free

Marcus Teague
@Rooftop Bar - Curtin House


Saturday the 5th

In the afternoon, there are bunch of bands, headlined by New Estate, at Melbourne’s newest all age venue, Cloud City where they are raising money for a zine.

At night, get along to the East Brunswick Club to see The Lucksmiths play their first show after the Candle Records benefit gigs in Feb. Hopefully we’ll hear some new tunes here, ‘cause it’s been more than eighteen months since Warmer Corners was released so I’m getting a bit toey. Sweet melodies here also from Brisbane's The Zebras and upcoming local twee popsters, summer cats.

If this doesn’t interest you there is angsty post punk rock with Moscow Schoolboy at the Tote, bluesy guitar with Jeff Lang at Northcote Social Club, or you could head to the Toff in the Town gig where the eerie Sir launch their album The Brando Room.

But, if you feel like a night in, The Basics are live on Charbusting 80's on Channel 31 at 10:30 and there is a The Go-Betweens tribute show on ABC at 11.

Broad Meadows, Popolice, Little Athletics, Talkshow Boy
@Pony, 9pm, $6

Cutty Sark
@Pony, 2am, Free

Jeff Lang, Jordie Lane
@NSC, 8:30pm, $15+bf/$20

The Lucksmiths, The Zebras, Summercats
@The East, 8:30pm, $12+bf

Moscow Schoolboy, The Dead South, Moonbase
@The Tote, 9pm, $8

Sir, The Crayon Fields, Jane Badler
@The Toff in the Town-Curtain House, 8pm, $10

You Zine Anthology Benefit Gig
New Estate, Made Austria, Extreme Wheeze, Rose Turtle Ertler, Dane Certificate + more
@Cloud City, 2pm


Sunday the 6th

Rock ‘n fuckin’ roll down to AC/DC Lane for Cherry Rock 007. There’s nothing like a festival at any time to get the adrenalin pumping but what better way to do it than with this ballbreaking lineup including Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Shooting at Unarmed Men and the return of Rocket Science. My Disco were also supposed to be on the bill but aren't any more for some reason.

In the evening, New Buffalo (a.k.a Sally Seltmann) will be hosting an intimate night in front of the piano at Viva la Cabaret on Smith St. I haven’t heard her new record yet but Sally has been getting some smashing reviews so this gig should be a good way to finish a tiring weekend.

Cherry Rock ‘007
Rocket Science
Blood Duster
Eddy Current Suppression Ring
My Disco
Shooting At Unarmed Men
The Devil Rock Four
+more
@AC/DC Lane, ?, $50+bf +beer money

The Hired Guns
@The Standard, 7pm, free

New Buffalo
@Viva La Cabaret, 7pm, $12+bf

Something for Kate, Bit by Bats
@The Corner, 8pm, $28+bf