Another installment of the Good Intentions residency tonight, this time with a bubbly burst of pop energy from talented newbies Oh Mercy and Little Red. Acoustic country group Potential Falcon begin a big week of shows with their show at Bar Open, while the Houlette residency also continues just round the corner at Old Bar. But the Arthouse is probably the place to be tonight with My Disco on the bill.
Chuck Jenkins
@The Standard, 9pm, Free
Envy + My Disco + Brisk + Art Vandelay
@The Arthouse
residency
Good Intentions + Oh Mercy + Little Red
@The Tote, 8pm, $5
residency
Houlette + guests
@Old Bar, 9pm
Potential Falcon + Tom Woodward + The Tiger and Me
@Bar Open, 8pm, Free
Sime Nugent
@The Gem, 9pm, Free
The NSC gig really stands out to me tonight with US tourists Charlemagne treating Melbourne to summery warped guitar tunes and supported by our own slice of indie, with surfy lofi hooks from Panel of Judges and hushed lullabies from Grand Salvo. Over at Stop.Drop.Roll the X comeback trail continues, and they have the tender yet tortured tales from The Bulls as one of the supports.
Elsewhere, Gertrudes has a few different shades of indie guitar pop, Rob Roy a few shades of artsy rock, raw and primal rock at the Tote (where else???), new wavish rock at Ding Dong, and just rock at the Espy Front Bar. Digger's residency continues at Cobra Bar, Little Red headline C'mon C'mon, while The Public Bar at the Espy is the night's best option for laid back sounds headlined by Potential Falcon who back up after Wednesday and Sydneysiders Dead Letter Chorus who start their Melbourne tour playing their modern shantiesh folk.
Charlemagne (USA) + Panel of Judges + Grand Salvo
@NSC, 8:30pm, $10+bf
Clinkerfield
@The Gem, 9pm, Free
Crystal Thomas + Matt Green + Les Fleurs Du Mal + Kim Volkman
@The Greyhound
Thousand Cuts
Dead Frenchmen + Big Cats + Quiet The Few
@Ding Dong, 8pm, $7
residency
Digger and the Pussycats
@The Tote – Cobra Bar, 9:30pm, $5
Fearless Vampire Killers + Benzene + The Drives
@The Espy Front Bar, 8pm
The Fit + Y + Bachelor of Arts
@Rob Roy, 8pm, $6
The Holy Soul (NSW) + The Bakelite Age + Negative Waves (SPA) + The Travis Hooper Experience
@The Tote, 8pm, $7
Les Fancy Boys + Talkshow Boy + Macaca Mulatta
@Pony
C'mon C'mon
Little Red + The Sneaker Trio
@The Evelyn
Peavine Special + Palace Flophouse
@Blue Tile Lounge
Potential Falcon + Dead Letter Chorus (NSW) + The Bitter Sweethearts + King Tebbutt and Whistler
@The Espy Front Bar, 8pm, Free
The Shake Up (NSW) + The Brutals + Brilliant Fanzine
@Gertrudes, 8pm, $6
TV for Cats + Paint Me a Phoenix + Slight of Build
@Afterdark, 9pm
Stop.Drop.Roll
X + The Bulls + Earthquake in Tokyo
@Glasshouse
Tonight's choice is unlikely to be made until the clock strikes 8. Perhaps the twin drum attack of the super version of Aleks and the Ramps might be your choice, but not just for them but also to see Extreme Wheeze with band. But if feeling like dealing with your work frustrations in a less jocular way, the Cobra Bar might be where you head. All acts feature highly regarded local acts who play very rarely, Witch Hats' drummer is here with solo project Drunk Hands, as is Geelong's finest underground loop pedal extraordinaire Chris Smith and another Karl E. Scullin project St. Helens.
Then again, if you didn't catch Charlemagne on Thursday he is playing at Forepaw, and with Kirsty Stegwazi who hasn't played locally for an eternity it seems (under her real name, anyway). The Corner gig has some new wavy Jrock, but if you want to head here it might be an idea to book ahead cause this one might sell out. The Kings of Leon clones Whiskey Go Go's are doing NSC, and they have with them, SubAudible Hum and also the violent and confrontational blues punk of Sailors and Swine who come highly recommended from this site. Also worth catching is James McCann who has scored a support slot for Magnolia Electric Co. when they play next month. Tonight he is playing at the Greyhound
Farewell and Hello Show
Aleks and the Ramps + Extreme Wheeze and the Nasty Coughs + Scissors for Sparrow
@East Brunswick Club, 8:30pm, $8
Charlemagne (USA) + Kirsty Stegwazi + The Shivers (USA)
@Forepaw, $8
Dead Letter Chorus (NSW) + Goodbye Motel + Brian Campeau + Agnes Kain
@Gertrudes
Drunk Hands + St. Helens + Chris Smith
@The Tote Cobra Bar, 9pm, $5
Expatriate + Bit By Bats + Dance With Voices
@The Corner, $12+bf, 8:30pm
The Holy Soul (NSW)
@Town Hall, 10pm, Free + @Pony, 2am, Free
James McCann and the Dirty Skirts
@The Greyhound
Mouse Trap Replica + Ichabod's Crane + Justin Ashworth’s Music To Fall Asleep To
@Afterdark, 9pm
San Lazaro
@The Toff, 9pm, $12+bf
Six Ft Hick + Russian Roulettes + The Dead South
@Ding Dong, 7pm, $10
single launch
Whiskey Go Go’s + SubAudible Hum + Sailors and Swine
@NSC, 8:30pm, $10+bf
First to mention is the Dinosaur Jr gig, and not just 'cause they're supposedly one of the most of the influential noisy guitar bands ever, but also because they've gone with some great local supports. Eddy Current Suppression Ring is one, the other is dense soulful devastating instrumental post-rock duo
Elsewhere, grimy art rockers, Bachelor of Arts launch their single at Bar Open, cheap booze with electro ambience at Glasshouse (???), ex Art-Brut man, Chris Chinchilla takes new thing Macaca Mulatta to another venue, ex Midnight Oilers are on at Northcote Social Club, indie rockers at The Espy and The East, gothic new wavers at Filla, another 60s revivalist group The Shoes headline Cmon Cmon, Tote stalwarts Digger and the Pussycats continue their residency at Cobra Bar, and another option for quieter acoustic sounds at Old Bar
Stop.Drop.Roll
Anonymeye + ii + Shoab Ahmed and Man Killed
@Glasshouse, 8:30pm, $6
Bachelor of Arts + Bakelite (CAN) + Hotel Wrecking City Traders + Bang! Bang! Aids
@Bar Open. 9pm, Free
Chinook + The Duelling Aunts
@Cornish Arms, 9pm, Free
Residency
Digger and the Pussycats
@The Tote – Cobra Bar, 9:30pm, $5
Dinosaur Jr + Eddy Current Supression Ring + Radiant City
@The Forum, 8pm, $51.70+bf
Ghostwriters + Dallas Frasca + Jack Howard
@NSC, 8:30pm, $18+bf
Kinematic + Chuck Jenkins
@Manchester Lane, 8:30pm, $12+bf
Macaca Mulatta + Chase Ego + Darkest Heartstrings
@Pony, 9pm
Man Bites God + Clinkerfield + The Scholars
@East Brunswick Club, 8pm, $12
Mojo Rising + New Rules for Boats (WA) + The Battery Kids (SA) + Master Cardinal
@The Espy Front Lounge, 9pm, Free
Ned Collette + Talamere + Let’s Not (But Say We Did) (*)
@Gertrudes
Filla
Schadenfreude + Y + Jades of July
@Revolver, 8pm, $6
Cmon Cmon
The Shoes + Le Shlonk + Mt Augustus
@The Evelyn
Tom Woodward (ACT) + Owls of The Swamp + Earl Leonard
@Old Bar, 9pm
Friday the 13th
The third instalment of Us Vs. Them is on tonight at Roxanne and they’ve come up with the goods again. Laura will provide a wall of sound, SubAudible Hum the atmospheric guitar theatrics and Aleks and co. with costumes, hyperactivity and general craziness. At NSC post-rockers International Karate launch their greatly underrated new wave influenced third record, while also in Northcote at Afterdark, Extreme Wheeze hits the stage with his interesting brand of DIY acoustic guitar pop. The Tote has a great lineup too tonight with some Aus alt country acts, hiphop star Macromantics headlines at Revolver, some indie folk popsters visiting from
Bang! Bang! Aids! + Blacklevel Embassy + Grand Fatal + To The North (QLD)
@Old Bar, 9pm
The Darling Downs + Crystal Thomas and Les Fleurs Du Mal + Black Pony Express + Joni Lightning
@The Tote, 8:30pm, $12
Dynamo + Tash Mints
@Bar Open, 10pm, free
Emma Heeney + Ben Birchall + Tess Hildebrand
@Wesley Anne, 8:30pm
Extreme Wheeze + Look! Bird! Lament! + Rialto Decibel Choir + Let’s Not (But Say We Did)
@Afterdark, 8pm
EP Launch
The Follow (NSW) + The Mares (NSW) + Foxx On Fire
@East Brunswick Club, 8:30pm, $10+bf
album launch
International Karate + Princess One Point Five + The Dead Sea (NSW)
@NSC, 8:30pm, $10
Us Vs. Them
Laura + SubAudible Hum + Aleks and the Ramps
@Roxanne, 8pm, $10
Macromantics + Catcall + Miami Horror + Sleater Brockman
@Revolver, $12+bf
Mt Augustus (QLD) + A Man Called Son (QLD) + Jerry Falwell Destroyed Earth
@Gertrudes
Saturday the 14th
A pretty big Saturday for Melbs. Of interest to many will be the Toff gig where the pschyojangly pop group Belles Will Ring are launching their critically acclaimed debut album. Two upandcoming local acts are with them. Also of interest to those for an injection of indie guitar pop are the Revolver, Pony and Espy gigs all with more than a couple of great acts on the bill. For those with a more typical dirty, grimy yet arty Melbourne rock tastes go to Afterdark in the afternoon then head for the Tote Cobra Bar, or perhaps the second instalment of Sideshow@CDB. Or perhaps both? Sideshow bands don’t start until 11. For rock canines and swines the Nation Blue are also playing a free show at the Espy, and art-prog AMP nominees Knives of Neptune headline at Rob Roy. Easy going country folk will probably follow up the Potential Falcon residency with a counter meal and then Lisa Miller and friends at NSC, while newer new wave rock fans will like the lineup at the East. If you fancy indie folk then Afterdark is worth a try. Underground sounds at Forepaw too.
Albert’s Basement
Touch Typist + Our Hands in Grey + Let’s Not (But Say We Did) + Fickle Beasts + Mt. Augustus + Dance Contest
@Forepaw, 5pm
Belles Will Ring (NSW) + Little Red + Plastic Palace Alice
@The Toff, 9pm, $10+bf
Dardanelles + Tic Toc Tokyo + Teenagers in Tokyo (NSW) + Mission Control + Ouch My Face
@East Brunswick Club, 8:30pm, $10+bf
Dead Frenchmen + Brilliant Fanzine + Chinook + Summer Cats
@Revolver, $10
The Follow (NSW) + The Rocketsmiths + The Basics + Major Major
@The Espy Front Bar, 9pm, Free
Hand Hell + Batrider (acoustic) + Bang Bang Aids! + Hotel Wrecking City Traders
@The Tote Cobra Bar, 9pm, $8
Knives of Neptune + Somersault + The Mares (NSW) + Slight of Build
@Rob Roy, 8pm, $8
Lisa Miller + Matt Walker and Ashley Davies
@NSC, 8:30pm, $15+bf
Mt Augustus (QLD) + Fickle Beasts + Let’s Not (But Say We Did) + more
@Forepaw
The Nation Blue + Coue Method + Between the Devil and the Deep + Daysworth Fighting
@The Espy Front Bar, 8pm, Free
New Estate + Mid State Orange + New Rules For Boats (WA) + The Brutals
@Pony
New Memes + A Man Called Son (QLD) + Pat Elliott
@Afterdark, 9pm
Weekender
The New Black + Spun Rivals
@Ding Dong, 8pm, $10
Residency
Potential Falcon + Jordie Lane
@The Tote Front Bar, 5pm, Free
EP Launch
Quebec + Worms of the Earth + Quiet Steps + To the North
@The Tote, 9pm, $8
Regina Spektor
@Regent Theatre, 7pm, SOLD OUT
Sideshow@CBD
Rhythm Bell + Kids With Guns For Hands + Red Light Union
@McKillop Lane, $12
Young Breeder + Spider Goat Canyon + Man Killed
@Afterdark, 2pm, $5
Sunday the 15th
CD Launch
Devil Goat Family String Band + Redfish Bluegrass
@East Brunswick Club, 3:30pm, $15/$25 inc. CD
Humansixbillion + Blessington + Great Earthquake + Look! Bird! Lament!
@Bar Open, 8pm
Mineral Springs + Macaca Mulatta + Dance Contest + Go Genre Everything
@The Tote, 6:30pm, $6
Young Husband + Kathematics + Teko
@Rob Roy, 4pm, $5
A great night for the first Wednesday in July. My pick is the gig at Ding Dong where there is avant-garde sonic grunger Dane Certificate, along with lo-fi popster Popolice and post punk/rockers Readers' Wives who play their last for a while, possibly ever. If this doesn't appeal, there's a bunch of quieter gigs in Fitzroy and at the Wesley Anne - the pick of which is at Bar Open with the tender and gorgeous tunes of Royal Chord along with some decent supports. If not, the power pop 'n roll of Good Intentions at their Tote residency might cheer you up. Great support for them too from the cold and dense tones of Dead Frenchmen. Elsewhere, there's always the Espy, or see some old hats over on Chapel St.
Amaya Lauricia