Fog clearing, barbarous microbial onslaught over, remnants beaten back beyond the gates, herbal remedies cast away and supplanted by Jamesons Irish, incendiary press clippings fluttering at the edges of a receding fever dream (thanks to the Fates for the eternal J.Depp).  The tour has begun.  The rite of pre-tour illness and self flagellation complete. 

The Nash in Geelong was patchy but alive for both band and audience, a good start and proof that a viable take on The Vineyard is a reasonable, if remote, possibility.  Adelaide's Governor Hindmarsh heaved, a reminder that nothing ever comes easy in this game, but still had its glorious moments.  Gaz and Dan Drones spelt out that they weren't going to take it easy on you soft Augie March fans with some withering acoustic takes peppered with abuse and barely concealed distaste for the bourgeois entity we have all created.  For future reference Adam and I are rooming with them and Gaz uses face creams while Dan sleeps standing up because "it gently spins the wheels of my chakra", or some shit.

Essendon went to sleep for a quarter and donated a game to Smack Mum FC while Hille saved Orangutans in Somalia, Watson continued building his model Fokker and McVeigh donned a black and red hairshirt while dragging a granite footy up Mt. Major and managed 5.3 for Dookie United in the same breath.  Which would be a different blog you'd think.

Coolangatta Thursday which, as I passed on to Gaz, would become Uncoolangatta as soon as he and Dan stepped off the plane, needs SUPPORT people.  As do all the shows.  You will not see this show again.  The set lists are without precedent.  The ability of the band to reach inside some of the most challenging and artful tunes penned in the last decade of this nation is at its muscular peak.  Forced to listen to what we've done, rather than wilt and cringe we've been moved to a condition which cannot be framed by nostalgia, it's something more potent because it has legs and voices.

RALLY THE TROOPS, OLD AND YOUNG, IT'S AUGIE MARCH WITH ALL THE FRILLS, IT'S THE INTIMATE, SNARLING CORE OF THE PEERLESS DRONES, IT'S THE SHOW YOU WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN AND IF THE PAPERS AND THE RADIO AREN'T INTERESTED ENOUGH THEN WE NEED YOUR TONGUES WAGGING FOLKS.  WE ARE POOR AND DIRTY AND ANGRY BUT WHEN WE SING IT’S THE HERALDING OF TRUTH AND MYSTERY AND IT’S FOR YOUR EARS, WE WILL NOT LET OURSELVES BECOME MIRED IN THE MEANINGLESS HORROR OF THE CONTEMPORARY DEADWATER, WE WILL NOT WATCH SHOWS ABOUT COOKING SHIT, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT MEEKLY THAT WE CAN ONLY HAVE EITHER GIN OR WHISKY ON THE RIDER NOT BOTH, AND WE WILL BLOW YOUR MINDS.

On behalf of AM, The Drones Duo and The Arnold Horns,
GAR


Watch Me Set My Strange Sun You Bloody Choir
Australian Tour
With Special Guests
Gareth Liddiard & Dan Luscombe (The Drones)

Thursday 9 July - The Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta QLD
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au & Oztix outlets

Friday 10 July - Joe's Waterhole, Eumundi QLD
Tickets from the venue (07) 5442 8144 / Backbeat Records, Maroochydore / Shake It Up Music, Nambour

Saturday 11 July - The Hi-Fi, Brisbane QLD
Tickets from www.thehifi.com.au 1300-THEHIFI (8434434) / Rockinghorse Records / Butter Beats / Sunflower Pacific Fair / Disasterpiece / Mosh Pit Music / Kill The Music / Gooble Warming / Rockaway Records

Thursday 16 July - The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW
Tickets from www.bigtix.com.au / Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 17 July - The Metro, Sydney NSW
Tickets from the venue (02) 9550 3666 www.metrotheatre.com.au / Ticketek: 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au

Saturday 18 July - ANU Bar, Canberra NSW
Tickets from Ticketek: 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au

Friday 7 August & Saturday 8 August - Moorilla Estate, Berriedale TAS
Tickets from the venue (03) 6277 9900 www.moorilla.com.au / TSO Box Office, Federation Concert Hall, 1 Davey St, Hobart 1800 001 190

Friday 14 August - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine VIC
Tickets from the venue (03) 5472 1196 www.theatreroyal.info

Saturday 15 August - Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan VIC
SOLD OUT

Thursday 20 August - Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA
Tickets from www.heatseeker.com.au / Beach Life, Margaret River / Blue 62, Busselton

Friday 21 August & Saturday 22 August - Fly By Night, Fremantle WA
Tickets from www.heatseeker.com.au / the venue (08) 9430 5976 www.flybynight.org / Star Surf, Perth / Planet, Mt Lawley / Mills Records, Fremantle

Thursday 27 August - Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au & the venue (03) 5332 9122

Saturday 29 August The Forum Theatre, Melbourne VIC
Tickets from Ticketek: 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au