ROCKET TO MEMPHIS
Hip Shakin’ Voodoo Tour, March 2009
Voodoo Viv’s Tour Diary
Saturday 7th March 2009-04-09
It’s Saturday morning - 9.40am to be precise - and I’m battling to get some sleep due to the bloke in the downstairs flat playing extremely loud Santana. Bass is driving through the floor, accompanied by what sounds like tantric sex howls... and it’s been going on for hours. He’s obviously celebrating the Labour Day long weekend here in Melbourne town, but I wish he would shut the fuck up, and do his labouring a bit more quietly!
The Greyhound, St. Kilda
The Rockets played the back room of The Greyhound last night, supported by three great bands - Runaway Boys, Manic Pistolleros and Flying Saucers. It was a really good night all round. A fairly heavy emphasis on the Psychobilly/Rockabilly, (apart from us of course) with wall to wall double bass players. The Flying Saucers had a girrrlll on the doghouse - and she sure gave the fellas a run for their money! Shit hot, Belinda! Rockets got on stage at about midnight, after a scary moment when Pat’s vintage Vox AC50 took a tumble off two milk crates. Fortunately the amp and the punters hung in there, but it took a little while to hit our stride. After about six songs, I was beginning to think “Shit! This is going to be a tough audience to crack” but then we launched into “Gator Stomp” and by the end of the set, everyone was either dancing, forming a conga line, getting up on stage with us or calling out for more. Phew!
We do love playing The Greyhound - this was our third time - and the booker, Chrissy, has always been good to us.
BACKTRACK
Wednesday 4th March
We flew out of Perth to Melbourne in the afternoon, arriving to arctic-like conditions and loaded the gear into the Tarago amongst howling sub-zero winds! Using our improving navigational skills and knowledge of getting around Melbourne, we found Sydney Rd with no problems, and the rest of the guys dropped yours truly at “Fi Fi’s B&B” in Brunswick, before going on to their apartment in the city.
Thursday 5th March
I spent the day hanging around Brunswick until it was time to collect the amps and drums from “Pat D and Cammie’s backline hire”. What a top little brother, every time we come to Melbs he goes above and beyond the call of duty for us - and it’s great to have top-notch gear to use - thanks fellas! Next stop was PBS FM in Collingwood, for a live-to-air performance on Phil McDougall’s program ‘Sunglasses After Dark’. The sound engineer Darrell was a really nice bloke and seemed to enjoy it - Phil McDougall was his usual eccentric self and couldn’t stop complimenting us on the album and how much be dug the band. The live-to-air went really well from accounts of outside ears, although we all thought that we could have played better. It's kinda tough getting a vibe without an audience to feed off, I guess. Anyways, next up, it was round the corner to the cool little Gem bar, to catch up with our buddies from the Jacknives, have some dinner and a few beers. Razor disappeared at one point for a phone interview with Neil Rogers at 3RRR - but he was soon back, clutching a pint with the rest of the gang!
Saturday 6th March - The Old Bar, Fitzroy
What a great night! The Old Bar is a very cool, grungy little bar, not that far from PBS, where were were last night. Unfortunately things didn’t start off so well - we arrived at the venue to discover Johnnie and the Johnnie Johnnies had pulled out of the gig, due to other commitments . A shame, but no huge drama; we just moved the playing times around to suit - so the line up now was The Jacknives, The Greasy Hawaiians and the Rockets. Worse news was that Pat’s AC50 decided to give up the ghost. Big thanks to Tony from the Greasy Hawaiians for bringing down his vintage Fender (Vibralux?) - Razor borrowed it and it sounded great. Fingers crossed the Vox is not majorly fucked, but it seemed pretty much deadie bones.
Anyway, the show was a killer - we had around 120 payers and the place was chockers. The Jacknives were awesome - they have really developed since their departure to the East - and the Greasy Hawaiians rocked too. We all had such fun playing the Old Bar - I love those nights when you just feel comfortable, as though you fit into the environment, and when the audience is enthusiastically involved.
We had quite a few punters and band members from the Friday night gig (at The Greyhound) come for a second dose of HIP SHAKIN’ VOODOO too, which was a real compliment!
Labour Day. Monday 9th March.
Yesterday we played an all-ages in-store at Route 66, Prahran - very chilled and lots of fun. All the Jacknives crew and friends were there, Lida and Damir and other interested or curious peeps rocked up. One guy showed up with a ‘Rocket to Memphis’ 3D Pop Art picture which he had done, it was brilliant! He asked us all to sign it - very humbling to inspire that kind of creativity in some complete stranger, through your bands music. He simply said to us ”I love you guys”! I wish I had taken a photo of his art but I left my bloody camera in Perth. Good One Viv! Betty, Razor and I then spent an enjoyable hour or so, perusing and purchasing the Route 66 wears - thanks ROUTE 66 - especially Guy and Krystal.
That night, Fi Fi (house mother and friend extraordinaire) and I drank way too much red wine, whilst discussing the meaning of life, the universe and everything. The conclusion we came to is basically life’s too fucking short, so I had just better get on with it and enjoy. Got a few days off now in good old Melbourne town before the Sydney and Brisbane shows. Today is going to be a beautiful day, perfect for beers in the garden at The Union hotel!
Bettie and Razor are flying to Sydney today - ahead of me and the drummer man, to do some catching up with friends and family, and a bunch of radio interviews.
Thursday 12th March
Death Rattle Dave (aka T-Bird) and I packed up our gear and cabbed it to the airport in the morning (in typical Melbourne weather - cold and rainy !). We met up with the rest of the gang that night for drinks and dinner at The Nag’s Head in Glebe. Razor told me Sydney had so far been a relentless round of curry, record shops and interviews!
Friday 13th March - The Empire Hotel, Annandale
The night was kicked off by DJ Rockabilly Rhino spinning some hot toons (Razor had done an interview on his show Liquored Up & Lacquered Down, earlier in the week). First up on the live front was the slick, rockin’ ex-Nervous Wrecker Jordan (with his band “the Original 6”), followed by the Alohas (the second great surf band we’d played with this tour). The Alohas were a splendid bunch of guys, lending us all their gear (and offering it to us whenever we return, regardless of whether they're on the on the bill or not!), and were great musos to boot. At one point in their set (all within about 3 minutes), the stage power went out, one of the guitarists broke a string, then the bass player lost one of his. Black Friday luck! But the boys took it all in their stride and managed to negotiate the voodoo assault course with panache.
We hit the stage at approx 11pm but found the Sydney crowd a little reserved after the raucous, full house at the Old Bar. Maybe the 2/3rds full room were scared of what we might do if they came too close?! It was still a good show though - and big thanks to Tiffany (Barfly) for her hard work in putting it all together.
Saturday 14th March - The Troubadour, Fortitude Valley
Four hours sleep and off to the airport for our flight to BrisVegas. We were all feeling a little weary so weren’t overjoyed to have to wait in the lobby of the hotel for over an hour until our rooms were ready.
We head off to The Troubadour at about 6pm, for a sound check, and after a series of miscalculations, we finally locate the alleyway leading to the infamous back entrance to the venue. Infamous? The three steep, steel flights of fire escape stairs really makes you wonder if anyone has tumbled down loading in or out. Luckily for us, the support acts were kind enough to already be inside with the backline!
Having dragged ourselves to the top of the stairs, we found a great little venue, heaps of character, and very much our kind of place - the stage looked like a kitch loungeroom!
Soundcheck done and dusted, Betty and I walk the few blocks back to the hotel (via the Asian take-away) to prepare for the final show of the Hip Shakin’ Voodoo Tour. True to our usual form, us gals were running late and unfortunately missed the opening band, Paulie and his Crazy Rhythm Boys (hey, it’s hard work being glamorous!). Razor reliably informs me they were “fuckin’ great” though. We were greeted, on arrival at the venue, by the effervescent Polly Phonic (from 4ZZZ ). What a top lady - she’s always shown us support, with sincere enthusiasm. The second band was Warren Earl & his Atomic Rockers - and their name really sums them up... explosive playing, and great to watch.
With two traditional (and exceptional) rockabilly-style acts on the bill, we were a little apprehensive as to how we might be received, but really, we shouldn’t have worried. We hit the stage in top gear and played a blinder, getting a fantastic response from the warm and open-minded crowd. Possibly only bettered by the Old Bar, it was a great way to finish off our third Eastern States tour. Lori Lee (who also DJ’d that night) put a great show together for us.
After the gig, the band retired to the hotel for few quiet beers, weary and satisfied.
I of course had to continue on to a northern soul night with Polly Phonic and her mates. Great company, great fun, but only four hours sleep before jumping on yet another plane... I think I’m starting to get the hang of this!