Do you know when these gigs were?

I keep a list of all the gigs I go to, because that’s the sort of person I am, but I didn’t start writing them down until I’d already had a few years of going to gigs. As a result some of the details, particularly dates of some of the early ones are a bit sketchy or non-existant. Occasionally I do an internet search and these details turn up, sometimes bands put up lists of all the gigs they’ve played, or someone else puts up a list of all the gigs they’ve been to or whatever.
Now I thought I’d try something different – I’ll put up a list of the gigs I need details for in the off chance that someone will come across them and be able to help out. All gigs are in Sydney.

Update: A number of friends who were at these have stopped by as well, so it’s turning into a bit of a group reminscence so I’ll throw in some extra memoriesof some of the gigs in italics.

  1. Screamfeeder supported by The Daisygrinders at the Annandale sometime in ’94, probably the second half of the year.
    It was quite packed and a couple of guys were standing on the covered pool table at the back. They got a bit too enthusiastic and busted the cover.
  2. Kim Salmon & the Surrealists with Kiss My Poodles Donkey at the Birkenhead Pt Tavern, in ’94 after May.
  3. Ed Kuepper at the Eastwood Hotel, 1994 touring Character Assassination with Mark Dawson on Drums & Linda Neill on violin.
  4. Zambian Goat Herders and Lawnsmell at the Vulcan Hotel in Ultimo, 1994.
    I remember telling my friends that I’d seen this guy watching Lawnsmell who might be Ed Kuepper. It probably wasn’t though.
  5. Trout Fishing in Quebec, lunchtime gig at the UNSW bar, 1994
  6. Martin Plaza at the Powerhouse Museum in January 1995. It was one of a series of gigs associated with the Real Wild Child exhibition about Australian rock music. I saw Def FX on the 25th, I have a suspicion Martin Plaza was about a week before that.
  7. The Pure and Frenzal Rhomb at the Collector Tavern, 1995. The Pure were a band from Canada who did some extensive touring around Sydney and got a bit of attention on community radio. I never heard of them again though.
    The crowd went pretty nuts to Frenzal Rhomb. I remember someone hanging from an airvent in the roof.
  8. Quadbox at Feedback. This was the night after number 7 above. I believe that Quadbox and Frenzal Rhomb shared a drummer at the time. For some reason I’m thinking that it was around Easter but that might be completely wrong.
    I’m pretty sure that I went because a different band had been advertised in the street press, I’d never heard of Quadbox before. It was probably the Zambian Goat Herders who I was expecting to see.  Gibbo says in comments that it was Lawnsmell and I think that sounds correct.
  9. Tumbleweed at the Collector Tavern in 1995. Have no idea who the support was.
  10. Zambian Goat Herders at the Bowlow in 1995. I remember that they played Rockaway Beach by the Ramones. I should see if I’ve still got my Bowlow membership card somewhere – that was probably the night that I got it. (Update: Not as silly an idea as it might sound. A quick search turned up a number of other artifacts from the same era including my UNSW student card, a membership card for the Wentworthville Video Ezy, and an Australian Bridge Federation Membership. But not the Bowlow membership but I expect it’s around somewhere.)
  11. Ed Kuepper at the General Bourke in 1995. I know there is a bootleg of an Ed show at the GB in ’94 but this one was definitely ’95. He would have had Mark Dawson with him.
  12. Ed Kuepper at the Metro. He played two sets, one solo and one with Mark Dawson. Great show. Again in ’95 I think it may have been pretty soon after the GB one above, but since Ed was living in Sydney at the time he did play fairly often.
  13. Quadbox at the Sandringham in Newtown ’95. I don’t remember anything about this at all!
  14. Kim Salmon & the Surrealists at Feedback, supported by Quadbox, ’95. I vaguely recall Quadbox doing a Beastie Boys cover. Don’t remember anything specific about KS, but I saw lots of his gigs around then.
  15. Underground Lovers at the Metro in August ’96. Not to be confused with their show at the same venue on May 10 (the May one was supported by Glide, don’t know the support for Aug … I have a feeling it might have been these guys that wore some sort of masks but that might be completely wrong)
  16. Swirl at the Annandale in November ’96. Not to be confused with their show at the same venue on Aug 22.
  17. Glide at the Annandale some time in the second half of ’96. I’d seen them there in August, but this was later. It may have been the one where they had a second guitarist for the first time in ages.
  18. Crow at the Annandale some time after July ’96. I’m pretty sure that when I saw them there in July Peter Archer was still in the band, but at this later gig he wasn’t.
  19. The Verys at Feedback in ’96. Was probably their last ever Sydney show.

I know that there are a few regular readers who were present at some of these – I encourage you to share any memories you have of them in comments.

20 replies on “Do you know when these gigs were?”

  1. Derek says:

    Can’t help you here, but if you feel nostalgic here’s an old Underground Lovers clip:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrkWWy_-LfQ

  2. Derek says:

    Do you know who did this remix?

  3. Stu says:

    It was David Chesworth and Robert Goodge.

  4. nice to see this list of memory lane moments…
    i was at a few of these gigs.

    i’m not that great on remembering details from a week ago, yet alone a decade or more, but one of the most memorable moments was definitely:

    #2: Kim Salmon & the Surrealists with Kiss My Poodles Donkey at the Burkenhead Pt Tavern, in ‘94 after May.

    – a highlight of the night was KMPD’s twisted cover of Gett Off by Prince, with gorgeous guttural vocals… mangling… 23 positions in a one night stand

    Another memory was Du literally bumping into an off-his-face Tim Rogers at Feedback one time – maybe a Quadbox or Body Jar gig? just remember it being real damn loud and messy. Now THAT was Newtown, not like the boutique clothes stores and overpriced burger joints with plasma screen menu signs of today!

  5. Stu says:

    Thanks Nick, I thought your highlight would be finding $50 on the floor! The subsequent round of Toohey’s Old was a highlight for me – the first time I tried it.
    I also remember Goddamn (ie Dave N) bringing some friends who were quite freaked out by KMPD. I think they left before KS.

    As for bumping into Tim Rogers – I thought that was Bill at the Verys (number 19 above).

  6. did remember the $50… just forgot to mention it. definitely also a highlight!

    and as for Tim Rogers, yeah, my memory of who was involved is hazy as the bottom of a slowly drunk coopers. so you’re probably right.

    but i definitely have to emphasise the fond memory of the grunginess of feedback and Newtown days of yore.

  7. Stu says:

    Sorry, my mistake, I got that the wrong way around. I might edit it so as not to confuse anyone.

    Yes, I haven’t been in Newtown too much lately but I’m guessing that the Sando isn’t what it used to be either.

  8. Gibbo says:

    The memories are flooding back. Well, maybe trickling. I can remember venues better than bands. So here goes.

    We saw Quadbox at Feedback because we were going to see Lawnsmell. I’d never seen Lawnsmell (still haven’t and presumably never will) but when we arrived, the entire bill had changed. Can’t remember the other two bands but Quadbox were great. They were a pet project by Frenzal Rhomb’s drummer Nat. Not sure what happened to them in the end.

    I know I saw Quadbox at least twice after that first time. Once was the Sando gig, where the stage was set up behind the bar in the corner of the room. Jabba, the current Nova 969 dude, former Channel V VJ and guy who was a few years above us in high school, was at the gig. He appeared to be mates with the band and his voice appears on an EP of theirs. The other Quadbox gig was at the Collector Tavern.

    Are you looking for info on gigs that aren’t in the above list? I know we saw Screamfeeder at Feedback on the night that Tony Lockett kicked a behind in the last minute in the AFL semi-final to defeat Essendon and get Sydney into their first Grand Final. That must make it a Saturday night in September 1996. Screamfeeder were very good, which almost makes up for my recurring bouts of tinnitis.

    I can also recall gigs by The Dirty Three, You Am I and that band whose name escapes me but they were playing for the first time in 20 years or something and they had a gig at the Metro. Apparently very influential. I’m sure you know who I’m talking about. If I can think of anything else, I’ll post it.

  9. Gibbo says:

    Radio Birdman. Remembered as soon as I hit “Submit”.

  10. Stu says:

    Thanks Gibbo, you are right in that it was Lawnsmell, not the Zambian Goat Herders who were supposed to play. And, no you’re not going to ever see them play!
    I remember Jabba being at the Sando gig now.
    I don’t have the Collector Tavern one on my list. Was I there? They weren’t supporting Tumbleweed were they? (number 9 above). I remember that you were at that one.
    Do you remember seeing Quadbox at Feedback on Australia Day ’96? They sang the song about how they’d set up outside the BDO on a flat bed truck.
    They were supported by Gerling, and you really hated them. It was a few days before the Radio Birdman gig you also mention (which I reckon must have been louder than Screamfeeder)

    Good work remembering the Screamfeeder gig, it was the 21st of September. And Gerling were the support there too, so if you didn’t see them on Australia day then it must have been then.

    I didn’t remember you going to see the Dirty Three, but it would have been Feb 21 1997 at the Metro, with Mick Harvey from the Bad Seeds playing organ on some songs. The support was the late David McComb.
    You Am I was at the Collector Tavern, with support from Custard. Very crowded from what I remember. It was May 28 1994.

  11. Gibbo says:

    That’s right. I didn’t like Gerling the first time I saw them but I thought they were great the second time around. I guess that must have been the Screamfeeder gig.

    I don’t know if you saw Quadbox at the Collector. I thought so. I remember Peter coming and being critical of the band. Are The Chips are Ready and The Stock Aitken Waterman Experience gigs on your list? Do you count gigs that you actually played in (such as the odd Chips are Ready gig; love that God song)?

    It’s very interesting that you don’t remember The Dirty Three. Or of course my memory is crap. But I am sure that I saw The Dirty Three in Balmain. I didn’t know Balmain very well at the time but I think it might have been lower Darling Street or thereabouts, i.e. between the shops/restaurants and Victoria Rd. I think it was at a pub on Darling Street and it might have been one of the first gigs we went to so maybe around 1994. I’m sure I’ve seen them live and I’m sure it wasn’t the Metro. I’ve not seen many gigs at the Metro.

  12. Stu says:

    I don’t have the Chips gigs on my list (not even the ones I played).
    I definitely never saw the Dirty Three way back then. The first time I ever saw them was at Homebake in late ’96. I never new them until the Horse Stories album which must have been around then – though I do remember having heard stories of some band featuring a crazy guy with a violin supporting Pavement at the Phoenician Club back in ’94 thereabouts.
    I know of one gig I definitely saw with you at Balmain – Swirl and Trillion at the Cat & Fiddle but that was December ’97. Swirl were coming back after a lineup change and were billed as Dark Star.
    I remember other gigs at the Three Weeds in Rozelle, and the Bridge Hotel in Balmain … but it sounds like you are describing the Cat & Fiddle. Just the wrong band, and wrong year!
    The only gig I would have been at way back in ’94 in the Balmain area was the Birkenhead Point Tavern one with Kim Salmon … were you at that? I have a feeling you might have been.

  13. Derek says:

    Du bumping into Tim Rogers! Classic stuff, hadn’t heard that before.

    Stu, I remember seeing Drop City supporting the UL at the Metro. Might have been on the same bill as Glide – can’t remember. I think at the time you said DC were ripping off My Bloody Valentine.

    Seem to remember UL doing “Beautiful World” against a projection of the world.

    Also remember being sick as a dog seeing UL at Newtown on a New Years Eve. They had a ‘new’ drummer and bass player.

    By the way, played “Leaves Me Blind” last night. Love the guitar sound they got on tracks like “I Was Right” and “Promenade”.

    http://www.myspace.com/dropcityband

  14. Stu says:

    Well, I wouldn’t be sure of the Du story unless he confirms it.
    Yes, I remember Drop City supporting the Undies. Funny, I don’t think of them as ripping off MBV now (not any more than say the Undies themselves … more influenced by than ripping off).
    I still remember a band (from Melb I think) with big masks, I think they were of their own faces.
    I also remember the Undies using the pictures in the background at some Metro gigs. Scenes of Las Vegas during “Las Vegas” as well. At one of the Metro gigs Phillipa Nihill came on and sang Losin’ It and I Was Right, though as well as the two in ’96 there was one in August ’97 supported by Gaslight Radio & The Hungry Ghosts (man they were good!).

    The NYE one was at the Globe on Dec 31 1998. It was the last time I saw them. The drummer is still playing with Glenn in GB3 I think.
    Look out for GB3, at the recent show “I Was Right” was quite faithful to the original version.

  15. Stu says:

    Just done a bit more searching, saw that the Undies played a show with Drop City in Melbourne in Aug ’96 so it was probably the same tour. That was also with the Earthmen but they didn’t play in Sydney.
    I found mention of a couple of other bands that I think I probably saw some time at the Metro: Autohaze and Love Me, though not sure that these were with the Undies. The latter might have been with Ed Kuepper.

  16. Brizzla says:

    Nothing wrong with a bit of reminiscing!

    Here’s some stuff that may/not help.

    1. Don’t remember this actual SFeeder show, but remember seeing SF, You Am I and Tumbleweed at an all ages at the Wentworth Building 18/6/93, a cracking show.

    14. Have got a date for one KS gig at Feedback, it was 27/5/95….tho he played there quite a few times from memory around this time. They were in great form and seemed to be up in Sydney every couple of months.

    15. Remember seeing UL at the Phoenician 8/4/95, from vague memory a slide show in background and lots of songs off of Dream it Down.

    Saw Dirty Three with Nick Cave at Feedback 10/1/95 – a great show and a great version of Running Scared i think it was.

    There’s my two cents!

  17. Stu says:

    Cool, I remember the one at the Wentworth Building too. No doubt Nick, who has commented above, will remember it too. Fridge from Tasmania played first. I was still at high school and all ages gigs were all too rare. Also, I seem to have a good memory for Ramones covers – Tumbleweed played Rock’n’Roll High School. I remember really liking End of this Day by Screamfeeder too. You Ami were touring the Coprolalia EP I think.
    That KS gig is a strong contender for the one I was after, but as you say it could be a bit hard to know for sure since he did play pretty often. I just remember that it was lots of stuff from the selft-titled album that came out around then … but I’m sure that describes all his gigs in ’95!. I think I liked the next tour even better, when he played with a horn section. I guess that was around ’97.

    I never went to the Phoenician actually. I remember there being shows there but I just didn’t get out to them.

    Dirty Three with Nick Cave at Feedback! Amazing. I saw Cave at the Hordern on Dec 17 1994 (supported by Kim Salmon), I guess he was still around after that tour. As mentioned above somewhere I didn’t know the Dirty Three back then.

    Thanks Brizzla, you contribution is much appreciated.

  18. Bill says:

    I remember bumping into tim rogers at feedback, and I think that that quadbox and the sandringham was the first gig I went to with you. Gibbo drove, and we ended up on the princes highway at one point, I think.

  19. Gibbo says:

    Stu, don’t forget that LeAnn Rimes gig you took us too in 1996. I’ve never seen you cry so much at a gig.

  20. Stu says:

    I don’t know who that is.

Comments are closed.