Hope the day is treating you well and you are surviving the cold snap? Well thank god stocktake is out of the way once again - counting all those fiddly little drum bits can drive you quite spare at times. One more month, then we shall recommence the Drummers Club - any thoughts on who and what you'd like to see?
How have you found the gig front of late? I have to say i have been getting quite a lot of work lately which all goes well for the coffers as i take my family over to the USA in September to checkout both the country and some of the great drumstores over there (Looking forward to it bigtime) and hoping to catch up with Daniel Glass and Stephen Perkins who i had a bit of fun with while they were in Oz.
Now if you are wondering what and how music will be played in the 21st century check this out courtesy of our friend Greg Patten. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCMnPb0qLIU
Lemur musical robots featured in Pat Metheny's Orchestration.

Also Greg Aldridge introduces his new band Destroy She Said -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyPY5UzeTqA

Hope you enjoy and if you have a vid of your band or something you reckon we'll all find amusing, please let me know so i can spread the love - you know what i mean.

That’s it for now and remember–Be Yourself and Create Your Own Sound :-)

Well what a treat it has been for music lovers of late. How many great bands have we been blessed with? The first one i saw with my family was ACDC - you know you are at a Acca Dacca gig when the guy behind you goes hey mate what are ya drinking a bottle of water for as he slips down yet another bourbon. Well onto the band - they rock. My god i don't believe i have ever seen a more solid, relentless rhythm section in my life. Especially when they launched into 'Let There Be Rock' - if you were not moving some part of your body i can firmly say you are dead. Phil Rudd you are the master rock player - Simple as that.

Then last wednesday i had the pleasure of Stephen Perkins wandering into the shop and we had a good old yap about all things drumming, the beautiful sights of chapel St. etc. Now Jane's Addiction was one of my favourite bands growing up and the album 'Nothing Shocking' got a fair old beating. My attraction to their sound was the drumming of Stephen who had a really tribal approach to his playing and never really just played a beat as such. He really tried to infuse the song with some tension which only added to the guitar work of Navarro and Farrell's theatrical vocals. Up shot of our converstaion was hey would you like to checkout the show to which i am happy to say i gladly accepted and boy what a brilliant show they put on at The Palace in town. The band was cooking and the sound was bloody fantastic.

It was just a pleasure to sit back and appreciate what these two drummers bring to the table - totally different in approach but both absolutely on and crucial to the bands vibe. My salute to the drummer - the unsung hero!

I can't believe the knee jerk reactionary goody two shoes that threaten the very existence of our music industry. I wonder whether they have considered the ramifications of their short sighted decisions. Music shops, music teachers, publicists, music publications, music instrument distributors, poster people, venue employees and operators, sound engineers, god the list goes on and on, they are all affected. So do as many have already done and sign the petition on the link below demanding rational research before decisions are made that affect way to many people - so apathy is not a solution. http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/petition

On Behalf of “Fair Go 4 Live Music”

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that the current liquor licensing laws and regulations are destroying the vibrancy and viability of live music performed in licenced venues.

The “high risk conditions” should not be triggered by cultural practice (if live or amplified music is being played) but rather by high alcohol consumption patterns. The assessment and application of security, CCTV and other high cost conditions should be evidence based, and not based on the biased assumptions and opinions of bureaucrats.

The Petitioners therefore request that:

1. The Victorian Government institute a proper investigation into the causes of violence and drunkenness.

2. Until such investigation is undertaken and concluded, the Government remove all references to “live and amplified music” from the licence amenity clause on liquor licences.

3. The Government formulate a cultural policy that promotes and maintains Melbourne as Australia’s capital for live music.