1st gig back from lockdown and last for 2020. LAMASSU and Planet of the 8s at The Tote (band room), 17/12/2020.
Street buskers are back in the city. Taken 17/12/2020. I think he is playing a violin and using a sampler.
DECEMBER 2021
Melbourne Music Venue: Grace Darling Hotel
Address: 114 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Capacity: 180 (going by their website as of 20/11/2020)
Opened: 1854
One of the last remaining gold rush era pubs left in inner Melbourne.
Constructed with bluestone and rendered brickwork with sandstone windows.
Also 1st meal was a parma in a pot.
Melbourne Music Venue: Festival Hall
Address: 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne VIC 3003
Capacity: 1,741
Opened: 12 October 1956
Was formally known as West Melbourne Stadium and once held boxing and TV wrestling matches (which my Dad likes to remind me).
Before entry you might be lucky enough to get a pat down by a security guard, as they tend not to like people bringing in camera’s or recording devices, which often amuses me as you can get some great small camera’s and even phones do a excellent job in low light.
If you ever go in the general admission, is like a sweaty pit, people are rearing to go to see their favourite band.
Every gig I’ve been too here you can walk down the street to find someone selling bootleg t shirts (which I been a sucker for).
My first gig was The Presidents of The United States of America, back in 1996. Highlights have been seeing Devo, Eddy Current Suppression Ring supporting Devo, Pulp and TISM.
Melbourne Music Venue: The Gem
Address: 289 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Know as The Gem since 2006 and is currently listed.
The Gem is a nice intimate watering hole, suited to Collingwood Cowboys and people who love Elvis.
Gigs are in the front bar, squished amongst seats, tables and pool, are very much right in your face, especially when you walk in the front door.
Melbourne Music Venue: Billboard the venue / 170 Russell
Address: 170 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Similar to Max Watt’s, you can easily walk past the entry to this venue and miss it. The entry looks like a fire exit door, but it opens up to a big basement venue (can hold 900 people), what was once a theatre restaurant.
The building that the venue resides in is called Total House, built in 1965, is an early example of Brutalist architecture and is listed with the Victorian Heritage register.
One of the great things about this venue is all of it’s levels, you can see the performance from just about anywhere. However this is also a disadvantage for the visually impaired (like myself) as you have to watch out for those stairs.
Melbourne Music Venue: Hi-Fi / Max Watts
Hi-Fi Bar and Ballroom from 1998 to 2015
Max Watts from 2015 to today (changed due to Hi-Fi going into administration)
Address: 125 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
This is a venue where you can easily walk past it and miss it. If there’s a gig on people will be outside and you may wonder what’s going on.
I really enjoy walking down the narrow staircase to what opens up to a large ballroom.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a photo, so here’s a ticket from an awesome At The Drive-In and Magic Dirt gig (27/01/2001), before they played the 2001 Big Day Out.
Melbourne Music Venue: The Gasometer Hotel
Address: 484 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Trading as The Gasometer Hotel (from 2011), was also know as Gasometer Hotel (1861 to 1997), Irish Murphy’s (1997 to 2000), Father Flanagan’s Hotel (2001 to 2010 (information via https://collingwoodhs.org.au/view/all-hotels-2/entry/44/).
Currently this venue is up for sale. There’s some nice interior shots via the link https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/business-for-sale/gasometer-hotel-1p4990-2016213506. Hopefully it will stay a venue rather than turning into appartments.
1st gig to see here was Home Blitz, Ruined Fortune Band, Constant Mongrel and East Link, on 7/10/2012. (going by my concert archives account https://www.concertarchives.org/gregory/venues/the-gasometer-hotel–10)
Highlight were Maggot Fest Three and seeing my mates band The Pink Tiles play a residency in the upstairs band room.
Above photo has current colour of red, which I didn’t notice as most of the times I would be here at night time. This corner shot is at the tram stop for the 86, where I would normally get off.
Melbourne Music Venue: The Old Bar
Location: 74-76 Johnston St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Trading as The Old Bar since 2001 (wiki)
My 1st gig at the Old Bar was back in 2001, an open mike night to support a work mate Martin Myles.
Melbourne Music Venue: The Tote
While we are in lockdown, I thought it would be a good time to go out for a walk and take photo’s of music venues, dig into my photo archive and my favourite gigs .
The Tote Hotel, operating under this name since 1980 (wiki link).
Address: 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066
My mate and I wanted to go to the closing down day in 2010 and have one last drink and watch some bands, but as you can see, the line to get it was quite long.
We ended up complaining and walking down to a nearly empty Gem Bar, had a couple of Carlton Draughts and talked about the getting bitten by flea’s, sticky carpets and how the smell of cigarets cover the smell vomit.
Above picture has Sun God Replica playing in the front bar, currently that’s where the pool table is. There were a few front bar gigs played here rather than the front door location.
The above photo is a mess, either using a Pentax or a Canon digital camera.
This gig was a solid line up, supporting Jay Reatard were Digger & The Pussycats, Cut Sick, The Focus and UV Race all for a mere $27.
Jay Reatard was touring ‘Blood Visions’ album, I had no expectations on this gig, enjoyed the big hair stylings, and though they were fresh and tight.
My original thought from 2008 about this gig can be found here https://noisecity.blogspot.com/2008/03/jay-reatard.html
Another favourite gig at the Tote was Eddy Current Suppression Ring, who played with The Sailors, The Onyas and The Breadmakers.
Eddy Current were a really hot act at the time, I thought they were the future of Aussie Rock. They also played the whole set in area in front of the stage. That was great as everyone could see the performance.
Also my original thoughts on this gig can be found below.
https://noisecity.blogspot.com/2007/02/eddy-current-suppression-ring.html
March 2020 Highlights
Sydney Road Music Festival Street Party, 1/03/2020
Ezra Collective at Northside Record’s, 5/03/2020
Having a drink and playing Daytona with Stevie D, 5/03/2020
Monnone Alone, at The Tote front bar, 5/03/2020.
For Lost & Lonesome Records – Front Bar Residency.
Slypon at The Last Change Rock and Roll Bar, 7/03/2020
SPAWN, at The Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar, 7/03/2020
Deathmatch Downunder, Bar Open, Friday 13/03/2020
A Fruity 40! w/ Girlatones / Thee Cha Cha Chas / BJ Morriszonkle, Labour in Vain, 14/03/2020.
This was my last gig prior to COVID-19 lock down.
