GIG O’ THE WEEK

Love of Diagrams
The Crayon Fields
Spider Vomit
@Northcote Social Club, Friday
$12+bf, 8:30pm

Another busy weekend in Melbourne and even though yesterday’s blog entry plugs a rival gig, for many of you with stylish tastes it'll be hard to go past Love of Diagrams and co. at the Northcote Social Club. In case you missed it, they have just received a great review in Pitchfork for their new record, Mosaic so maybe they can share insights with The Crayon Fields about what it's like to receive praise from hip independent rock critics? Support also from the unfortunately named Spider Vomit, who have a great opportunity to preview their material in front of a savvy crowd before they release their first EP on Unstable Ape in June.

Wednesday the 16th

Three high profile gigs tonight with internationally acclaimed Howling Bells, national legends Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen (with fellow Bourbon Beast Spencer Jones as support) and also local grooves and melodies from the increasingly popular and very catchy Little Red.

Howling Bells + The Temper Trap + Whiskey Go Go’s
@The Corner, $20+bf

Little Red + Squeaks and Squeals + Magnum Gumbo Detector
@The Tote, $5

Sime Nugent
@Gem Bar & Saloon, Free

Tex Perkins with Charlie Owen + Spencer P. Jones
@Northcote Social Club, SOLD OUT

Thursday the 17th

If you’re up for something different, check out the underground pop acts at Bar Open, the gig at the Pony, which varies between DIY female vocalists with bells and whistles and dark, dense and loud post-rock, or hear some fine tunes crafted from across the Tasman at the Tote.

The Basics are on again of course, although this might not be your sort of crowd, while it is your only chance to see a full show from fuzzy blues guitar and drum duo The Black Keys if you haven’t got your hands on tix to their other sold out gigs.

For a harder edge head to the Rob Roy, or if you’re hanging out with a crowd then there’s raw and stifling pop noise from Dane Certificate at Cmon Cmon.

Also, the residencies of Heeney and The Philosopher continue, a bunch of Melbourne alt-country fixtures are at Northcote Social Club and there's a great opportunity to see Tim Rogers perform in silence at Bennett’s Lane.

The Basics, Cross Eyed Mary
@Shake Some Action (161)

The Bedroom Philosopher + Fred Astereo
@ Wesley Anne, $10

The Band Who Knew Too Much + Dan Warner + Clinkerfield
@Northcote Social Club, $10

The Black Keys (USA) + Kill Devil Hills
@Hi-Fi Bar, $50+bf

Fourteen Nights at Sea + Cor’delle + Light Music Club
@Pony, $6

Emma Heeney and the Daves + Duck Dive
@The Empress, $8

Learn the Splits + Dane Certificate + Star Diner
@Cmon Cmon (The Evelyn), $8

Midnight Woolf + The Truth + Bulls + Green Green Green
@Rob Roy, $6

The Ribbon Device + Pramsnatcher + The Pirates + Tim McMillan
@Bar Open, Free

Tim Rogers + Louis Macklin
@Bennett’s Lane, $30+bf

Tom Watson & Friends (NZ) + Flip Grater (NZ) + The Raylenes
@The Tote, $7


Friday the 18th

If the gig of the week or bands at Spanish Club don't tickle your fancy then there's likely to be something else to keep you happy. Brothers Oliver and Paddy Mann will compete for the mellow tastes at Gertrudes and The Tote respectively. Paddy (aka Grand Salvo) is part of folk-noir group The Orbweavers, who were plugged on fellow blog Sandwich Club recently. See them as support for The Palenecks at their EP launch. Over on Gertrude St we also get Strip for Cash and Owls of the Swamp. Although their name would suggest they are a godawful cover band, Strip for Cash actually are a piano based bluesy ballad and pop/rock group while Owls of the Swamp crafts earthy Icelandic influenced folk songs. Both are worth seeing.

Apart from the above, Japanese psychout freakanoids Yura Yura Teikoku are here with fantastic support at the East, there’ll be a party atmosphere with fake blood and fangs at Brown Alley, lofi electro and ukuleles at Afterdark and probably broken glass and prison tattoos at Exile. Bennett’s Lane, Prince Bandroom and Corner also are hosting popular acts none of who need an introduction.

Airbourne + Hell City Glamours + The Shine
@The Corner, $12+bf

The Black Keys (USA) + Kill Devil Hills
@Hi-Fi Bar, SOLD OUT

CasioNova + Anal Cookie, Rose Turtle Ertler
@Afterdark, Free

Dukes of Windsor + Batrider + The Fearless Vampire Killers
@80’s Vampire Costume Party (Brown Alley), $25

Bob Evans + Machine Translations + Farryl Purkiss (RSA)
@Prince Bandroom, $22+bf

International Karate + The Answering Belles + Souls on Board + Sixteen Millimetre
@Spanish Club Salon, $12

King Daddy
@Pony, Free, 2am

Love of Diagrams + The Crayon Fields + Spider Vomit
@Northcote Social Club, $12

The Palenecks + The Orbweavers + The Loveslaps + Jimmy Stewart
@The Tote, $10

Tim Rogers + Louis Macklin
@Bennett’s Lane, $30+bf

Straight Arrows + The Ooga Boogas
@Exile on Smith St, $7

Strip for Cash + Oliver Mann + Owls of the Swamp
@Gertrudes

Yura Yura Teikoku + The Basics + Little Red
@East Brunswick Club, $20+bf


Saturday the 19th

The Tote is the place to be tonight. Not only are Yura Yura Teikoku backing it up from the previous night - this time with two more fantastic supports, but there’s also some dirty, swaggering country and blues influenced rock upstairs in the Cobra Bar for only five bucks.

Solo sets from Grey Daturas are on again - this time at Pony. By all accounts this initiative was a success when it debuted at Bar Open a few weeks ago. But if this doesn’t sound like it’s for you and you still like it loud and droning, the Rob Roy gig could be an alternative option.

Head to Click Click if you wish to see Sydney electro rockers The Valentinos for the last time before they change their name, dust off the bandana and tracksuit if heading to the Corner, catch Dave Graney (not last week as previously reported) at the East, indie rock/pop at Northcote Social Club and Gershwin Room, or just have a counter meal and beer before taking in the tunes at the Wesley Anne.

If you’re free during the day, you can also head down to Greville Records to see The Black Keys play a free gig at 12pm.

The Black Keys (USA) + Kill Devil Hills
@Hi-Fi Bar, SOLD OUT

Blueline Medic + A Death in the Family + Responder
@Northcote Social Club, $15

Dave Graney and Clare Moore feat The Yellow Lurid Mist + Conway Savage + Stu Thomas Paradox
@East Brunswick Club, $15

Grey Daturas (solo sets) + Whitehorse + Y35.3 & Nigel Wright (NZ)
@Pony, $7

Midnight Woolf + James McCann’s Dirty Skirt Band + Bulls + Thee Stagknights
@The Tote, $5

Rhythm Bell + The Black Hundred + A Friend of Mine + Little Athletics
@Rob Roy, $8

The Ockerino Variety Show
Curse OV Dialect + Mountains in the Sky + Makkenz + Toecutter + Sukkafish + Anal Cookie + more
@The Corner, $15

The Straight Arrows
@Pony, Free, 2am

Marcus Teague + Little Star + Camille Dean
@Wesley Anne, $5

The Valentinos + Y + Schadenfreude
@Click Click (Brown Alley), $14/$10

The Wellingtons + Quarter Life Crisis + The Young Lovers + Honeymaker
@The Espy - Gershwin Room, $13

Yura Yura Teikoku + Ground Components + Souls on Board
@The Tote, $20+bf


Sunday the 20th

Happy folk pop melodies and harmonies at Northcote Social Club as The Triangles launch their new album Seventy Five Year Plan. For something a bit different there’s some latin funky jazz at Bar Open which might be worth checking out.

San Lazaro
@Bar Open, Free

The Triangles + Duck Dive
@Northcote Social Club, $10


Monday the 21st

Has anyone else heard that CYHSY song on a new ad? I think it was for a car. Anyway, sing along with this jingle at the Hi-Fi Bar as one of the most hyped acts of last year makes it to Aus after cancelling their tour down under last year. There’s also a great opportunity to see New Estate as well, who have scored this support slot in Melbourne to warm them up for their headline gig at Exile on Smith St on Friday the 25th.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah + New Estate
@Hi-Fi Bar, $39.60+bf


Tuesday the 22nd

And again...

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah + New Estate
@Hi-Fi Bar, $39.60+bf

Tim Rogers + Louis Macklin
@Bennett’s Lane, $30+bf