Hey Friends of Dallas Crane,

As some of you would know DC have decided to take a well earned break from the road. Your next chance to see the boys live will be a one off show in May. All members are working on various projects in the studio and live, so keep a look out.

Pat is currently on tour with Mike Noga & The Gentlemen of Fortune, who are supporting the amazing Gin Club from Brisbane on their ’Junk’ album tour. Check out the dates at www.myspace.com/mikenogaandthegentlemenoffortune

Stay tuned for more.

Yours,

Dallas Crane

Home of the cats eh!

Well there were a few crazy cats here tonight, which is generally cool, except that the pub decided to put the main stage power board on the floor at the front of the stage where mad Gellong folks could tramople on it, cutting stage power.

All technical difficulties aside, tonight's show was great! The Nash is up there with the best pubs in the town, (in fact, I can't really think of a better one!). It's a no bullshit old school band room, with a no bullshit PA - a plug in and play scenario, period.

Tonight's first band Rocket Queeen go waaaay back for us at the Crane, or at least for Shan and I anyway. Back in school, the Crane, (known then as "Outlaw", or "Tempered Kin", whatever vintage you're from!), and the Queen would regularly meet in battle of the bands, that went around most schools in the area. THe other regular band on the lineup was The Runaway Boys, (better known today as The Living End), and even back then they were kicking everyone's ass!

Rocket Queen is an all girl combo, and have only recently decided to strap on the axes again. It's surprising, being suck spunks and all that they have waited this long to "get it ooorn!". Anyway, they put in a great set, and did more than their share of getting the crowd excited for the next act.

67 Spesh, came on to do a typical bombastic set, complete with their usual pomp and swagger, leaving the crowd primed for le Crane.

Geelong's been a bit hot and cold for us over the years, but tonight certainly wasn't one of the cold ones.

Carna Catters!

(might be time to win a flag this year, wouldn't it folks?)

We'd come a long way in Ballarat since our first days there playing to three people!

Maybe leaving a box of our first album "Lent" had something to do with the locals getting to know who we were, since over the years, Balla has become quite the hotspot (for want of a better term), for us Crane lads.

Balla is a genuinely cool town. The people there have brains in their skulls, and there's plenty of great spots to get a decent breakfast on your way out.

We've made a lot of good friends in this ye ol' little prospectin' village, and, as always it was good to catch up with everyone before and after the show. You don't really have much choice there anyway, as there is no bandroom.

The winter chill was quite a relief tonight. Last time we were there, we all nearly died on stage in the extreme heat. Ventilation there is maybe the worst you'll find anywhere in the nation, (and that's no exaggeration). But that's no slant on the venue, as Paddy, Shaun and the lads have always shown us nothing less than a great time every time we show.

Here here, Ballarat!

DL
DC

Tonight we had the "Spesh" with us (as 67 Special like to call themselves), and the mighy Bawdies from Japan.

The Spesh certainly got a run for their money tonight after a blistering first on slot from the Japanese lads.

Typically, the Gov Hindmarsh laid it on for us, with food and drink to last three days. God bless em!

The Adelaide folk were in full voice tonight, and didn't mind being told their home grown marijuana was the best in the land. (none of their joints are rolled with tobacco - look out stoners!), as we launched into Teenage Superpot.

I did the early pike tonight back home to the hotel, but the other lads were out quite late weren't they Pete!

Maybe someone else out there can fill us in with the blanks.

Over and Out,
Dave

DC

Being my birthday week (so to speak) I thought I'd organise a bunch of pals to come down to the gig (paying full price mind you!!), to catch up with me for a beer afterwards in the upstairs bar.

Every time we play at the Hi-Fi, Brad (owner) ALWAYS opens upstairs for us, for a post gig tinny, So I thought there'd be no need to call him and organise it.

Well anyway, they didn't open it (probably public holiday licenses or whatever) and all my pals were stranded for a beer afterwards, so I just wanna start of by saying sorry to all those who I made wait out the front for halfer, while I got my shit together.

Tonight's gig was a bit of a pearler tho, if I do say so myself. You know, just one of those ones where you feel you've played well, and gone down well. Kisses to all our Melbourne fans for being there in full force on a Sunday.

DC

Well yes, our brains were all hurting a little today after last night's complete bender at the Dale. But the crowd wouldn't have noticed, because we are TRUE professionals in every sense of the word, and wouldn't miss a chance to put in a top knotch rock show, EVER!.

Judging by the boisterous lot at the Dale tonight, (who once again filled the room for us - God Bless Yas Orl! xx), the gig went OK.

I wasn't three lines into Sit On My Knee, when I looked left to see Elly May Barnes (yes, Jimmy's daughter) singing along with me. It must be a Barnes thing to always want to be by the side of the Crane,and really, who can blame them!

No really, thanks again to all our loyal, ever loving Sydney fans for stickin with the Crane. It's always a pleasure to see you all.

I have to end this blog now because Coldplay has just come on the radio, and I have to go to the bathroom desperately to be away from this twee dross, for at least three and a half minutes.

What the hell was Gwyneth thinking?

O'er and Out

DC

Chwist orr mighty, What a bender, I mean great crowd!

Once again, you folks made us feel special, wanted, relevant, in your own special Sydney kind of way, by just being there and filling the room for us.

Was also great to catch up with you Jet lads, and Mess Hall, Vines, and other assorted Sydney luminaries. We had a great time.

Thanks to Dan, and all at the Annandale for, once again, showing us a good time by pulling down the blinds, and keeping us all in there til 8 in the morning the next day!

And for all for your wonderful birthday wishes, God bless!

Love and Laughs,

The Crane

What a rowdy lot you Brissy folks are!

THanks for showing me (Dave) a good time on my 27th birthday!!!

Today travelled along like any other day on the road - get on plane, get off plane, check into hotel, do soundcheck, do gig!

We were lucky enough tonight to have the full weaponary on stage with SIGIT warming the room early, and 67 Special doing a fine middle-spotter. apart from a few minor technical issues, we had a fine time. Our good friend T.Rogers was good enough to show also, after doing his "Gentleman's Agreement" show somewhere down town with 67's Louis Macklin.

After that, it was back to the hotel room with Timmy, Pete, Simon (Tim sound man) for the delayed telecast of the footy show, and some vodka.

We were all a little worried about tonight, being a Sunday in Launny and all. Walking around the town mid arvo, there was NOBODY to be seen on the streets whatsoever. (Except for the two girls that asked Pat and Dave for their autograph!!) The only thing missing was the tumbleweeds. The icy breeze was certainly there.

We'd stayed at the James before, but never played there. Gav the publican seemed like a good fella, and was pretty hospitable.

We ate up at O'Keefe's Hotel up the road, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for a good pub feed in Launny.

By the time we got on stage, we had a really good crowd in there, which wasn't reflected in the ticket sales leading up to the show. But anyway, it went fine.

Later that night it was on again. Gav, lined up some of his finest for us, and before too long, the guitar was out for a boozy singalong. Gav had clearly had some experience in barwork, with some amazing firey displays, and trick pours to keep us all amused, (and inhibriated!). By 4 in the morning, Shan and Dave had found the pool cues, and in an ever swinging battle that lasted over two hours, Dave came out on top by a whisker.

You know when you get into bed and Sunrise is on TV, that it's been a long night...

Yes, well last night WAS a bit of a bender, and today started slowly around late morning for all of us. We did the usual trip down to Salamanca for some lovely breakfast at The Machine cafe. (One of our favorites also!)

Tonight's show was selling a little slower than the night before, but we weren't too concerned, as the Republic was a typical "walk up" sort of pub.

We were possibly a little more well behaved tonight, leaving the roof where it was, but after the show took on the same sort of tom foolery as the night before, the bar staff "insisting" that we stay behind and drink all their tasty free alcohol. We didn't want to make them feel bad, so we drank it all up, keeping eveyone happy.

S.I.G.I.T in particular had a fine show tonight winning over them Tassie types with their unrelenting brand of Jakarta punch-boogie. We had another great turnout tonight, making us all breathe a little easier with things.

Special thanks again to all the crew at The Republic for putting on such a fine show in return. We wuv you.

xx