Tour Diary

Melbourne January 2003
Friday 17th January 2003

There are two reasons for this trip. My thing which is The C-Minus Project but also for Seaworthy. Seaworthy is the largely instrumental combo of Cameron Webb and his brother in law Greg Bird. I have been playing drums for them as of late. Cameron has been releasing things of mine for a while now and is a good friend. I'm only just getting to know Greg but this trip will help that out. So we are flying interstate which you all know I hate! Greg somehow gets the longest straw because he is flying down at 3pm. Cameron and I have to get the 7am flight. Pure hell but unavoidable.

Cameron and his much better half Annette arrive half an hour later and I swear his first words are "You look a little nervous Sam". I hadn't slept at all the night before just because I have been real busy and had things to take care of before we left. Add fear of flying to no sleep and it's gonna be an edgy look that I acquire. We have coffee and bid farewell to Annette. Board the flight. I don't scare easy but ...

We get served breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised with the cereal we were given; a museli type with banana bits. I notice that Cam is chatting a lot. He is the friendliest chap you could meet but he is really talking up a storm. I then smile and realise he is trying to avert my attention from the fact that we are 30,000 feet in the air. He thinks he has succeeded too, but he hasn't.

We arrive in one piece and catch a bus to the city. Now anyone that thinks being a musician is an easy life had better think again, especially when you are lugging your own gear and that of your keyboard player's who is probably still asleep (G'day Birdy). Cam and I carry all our things up a hill towards a tram. We collapse on this tram and finally get to the hotel the lads will be staying at in North Carlton. It's still only 10:30am or something ridiculous so we cannot check in. We dump the gear and hop another tram back to town to explore. Yes, Cameron is one of those travellers. The exploring type who seemingly have energy to burn. I muster up some of this myself, knowing I won't have it tomorrow or the next day.

We visit record store after record store. Cam buys me a fruit juice drink from a fruit juice bar he has been raving about for half an hour. Hits the spot too. Eventually around 2pm I tell Cameron I am about to collapse. We head back to the hotel and I crash on the lounge whilst we check out the one day cricket match between Australia and Sri Lanka. I snooze an hour tops. Greg arrives looking a million bucks in his work suit and sunglasses. Cameron makes me some noodles. I should point out that the fellas, especially Cameron, looked after me tremendously. They gave me itinaries, maps and honestly just kept an eye out for me which I love them for. I have been joking to them that I need a personal assistant in my life; for the little things I mean. So that was the running joke - Cameron was my PA and each hour his fee went up. But seriously it was just nice travelling with someone who is everything I am not : organised, efficient, responsible and doesn't get lost.

We catch a cab to the venue. The Good Morning Captain Cafe. Imagine an old terrace house with a cafe in the front and a performance space out the back. Initially I was wary of the place but upon arrival and particularly afterwards I really loved the atmosphere.The ownwer gave us all a free feed and some beers. The Heligoland band arrive and we catch up over a game of Scrabble. Birdy thinks it is his for the taking but all three of us do well. Melbourne identities arrive. It is wonderful having friends so far from home. Seaworthy take over from a DJ and play a 35 minute set to a small but appreciative crowd. There are punters out in the courtyard listening as well.

Before Heligoland I catch up with buds such as Aaron, CC and Shayne, Laura and her entire posse'. Meet some new kids. Heligoland play as a three piece and are breathtakingly good, especially in this environment.
For the first time in my life I use a Les Paul. Indifferent but better than expected. I play to a respectable crowd who are so darn polite and focused. I wish I had recorded the set. Turns out to be possibly the longest show I have done. Seemed like just under two hours.

Songs included:
Birthday
Town Where You Were Born
Goofy
House Near Bridge
747
Tiger's Tale
Just Thought I'd Write
Girl From Toledo
Night For Rememberance
My Friend and a Free Day
Out Of The Question
The Drifter
Until Sunrise
A Ride (Scud Mountain Boys)
Girl In A Box (Blake Babies)

I was unaware my mobile phone was still on and even more unaware that it was in my pocket. During Night For Rememberance it starts ringing! I kid you not. So people are looking around because it is a real quiet song and I pause in the middle part anyway so I simply stopped and answered it! It was Luke, a mate from Sydney now moved to Melbourne and he sounded like he had drunk some. He didn't understand I was onstage. It got a lot of laughs and I made everyone say hi to him over the phone. I hung up and then finished the song. One of my lighter though great moments onstage. I mean you can't take yourself too seriously can you.

It was supposed to be the launch for the album but ironically, the cd's were still in a Melbourne warehouse. I was tempted to smash down the doors of the place (another story in itself). Very happy, tired and hoarse after the show. The singer from Archibald and Son intorduced himself; lovely chap and a great band. I bailed pretty much straight after. I was super tired and crashing at CC and Shayne's. Apparently everyone else kicked on. Shayne offered me wine but I told him it wasn't my thing really. He said "I bet you're a whiskey man" but my nodding head and eager smile was crushed with the words "I can offer you gin and tonic" to which I agreed. One of my favourite things after shows in Melbourne is to kick back on CC and Shayne's lounge with them, catch up, watch telly and drink some. I crash in my room which is familiar now and a great place for me to be. (See April 2002 tour diary for more). Get some sleep.

Saturday 18th January 2003
My friends make me some breakfast around 11am. I play them Lambchop's 'Is A Woman'. We head out to Chapel Street in Prahan. Numerous music stores later we head over to Southbank in or near the city of Melbourne. Reminds me of a classy Darling Harbour in Sydney. We are hungry. Shayne picks the Bluetrain Cafe looking over the Yarra River and it is very very impressive. An upmarket cafe without the attitude and with spectacular views. We drink beer and eat Pizza over a couple of hours. I could stay in this moment for a long time. We then go check out Federation Square which is a bunch of art galleries and museums. Melbourne is a cultured place. A very relaxing afternoon. Special in it's own little way. I am a cornball.
6:30pm - I get dropped off at Radio 3CR in Fitzroy which I believe is a sister station to our 2SER. I finally meet Marcus Mulcahy who is a legend in the Australian, and particularly Melbourne, alt-country scene. He has been a supporter of mine for a year now. We did a phone interview last time for the Pernice shows and now I am going to do a live to air. We talk music. This guy is a true music fan. Heart and soul. He is really complimentary to me about the new album which he has a burn of. Really complimentary. I tell him my voice is gone but he doesn't believe me.

I played:
House Near Bridge
Until Sunrise
Tiger's Tale
Town Where You Were Born
and maybe one more?
Did interviews between but to prove my voice was weak I did play everything one key below with my capo on the guitar. Listening back it sounds fine believe it or not.

8pm - So this is where it gets fun. Not really. I am in Fitzroy heading towards Brunswick Street which I am reasonably familiar, with though not really, even though this is my seventh or eighth trip here. I call Natalie who I haven't caught up with for two trips now. She lives nearby. She gives me instructions for a party. I ask her to come get me but she can't. Fair enough. I find Brunswick Street and have a beer at the Rob Roy. I speak to Cameron on the phone. They are with Heligoland and tell me to hop a tram. I am unware of the right one to get. Cam gave me a number but I couldn't find that one. I try and find Nat's party, so with a bag and guitar I walk. And walk. And walk.

A car pulls up and a fella yells out my name. It is Dave; a friend of Laura's. I beg him to tell me which tram I should get and he does, except I am now in the city heading the wrong way! I have no idea. It's frustrating being this hopeless. So Cam called again. They are in St.Kilda. I call Luke and he tells me to get off next stop and then on another one. Two hours later I arrive in the wrong part of St.Kilda and a woman in the street starts talking to me. I thought she was being friendly but turns out she was from the oldest profession around. Finally I find everyone and we head to the Esplanade Hotel. Last time I was here in the afternoon it was great but tonight it was just too crowded and too loud. Both rooms have average bands so we just kinda hang out and drink jugs of beer with Heligoland. They take us to ... my memory has gone but a well known pub literally around the corner. Might have been the Prince of Wales? Anyway, we catch the end of the Manchester United vs Chelsea game in which United won in the 95th minute or something.

Greg wants to stay so the rest of us go get some pizza. I must say it is impressive that there is so many out at 3am and we can go to a restaurant and dine. Turns out Greg is in a gay bar. We find him and ask him if he knew and he said he had cottoned onto it when the guys started kissing him on the cheek to say hello rather than just shake his hand. Apparently he almost got into some trouble though because someone thought he was cracking onto their boyfriend. That ol' Bird charm was mistaken again for something more sinister. He and I are seemingly the drunker of the group and hang back as we walk to Heligoland's place.

Cab back to the hotel. I sleep on the floor despite Cameron's gentlemanly gesture. I awake at 9am and Cam has gone to the zoo. He is an environmental scientist you see. Where he is getting his energy I don't know but I respect him for it. Greg and I snooze on until midday in the air conditioned room. I must say we avoided the heatwave although we soon find out about the Canberra bushfires.

I meet CC in the park across the road from the hotel and she gives me my clothes and belongings I had left at her place. We, or I, am running behind schedule. I was supposed to hang with Laura in the afternoon then go meet my new friend Jodie but I couldn't do either which wasn't much fun.

We had a quick bite of the world's most famous takeaway then trammed it to the city for the last Seaworthy show at the Pony. Hung with Aaron R there. Then Luke arrived and it was so great to see him. Seaworthy played a good set and then Grand Salvo's brother played who was a unique talent to say the least. Luke and I drank jugs of beer downstairs between sets. The bar girl seemingly only worked when we asked for more; as if downstairs was kept open for two bums like us. Cabbed it back to the hotel. We were all hungry still. Greg wanted to go the 7-11 which was literally next door but Cam and I were not so sure. Eventually we all had sausage rolls I think or something equally as yuck at that time. Had a foldout bed tonight. Slept from 3am-6am.

Monday 20th January 2003
Another early flight. Feeling pretty seedy and there is smoke everywhere due to the Canberra fires. Airport is busy for a Monday morning. Our flight is delayed a half hour or so. We get on board a 747 international flight which the lads are excited about. Me? I don't get excited about planes. I get scared.

Still, I did get to see 50 minutes of the new Jackie Chan movie with my girl Jennifer Love Hewitt in it. She was in it about 5 minutes and aside from her, it wasn't pretty. We land and go through the customs area easy but still have to line up for other security and then our luggage.

Thanks to Cameron and Greg for a really great trip, especially Cam for organising me so well except for the Saturday night tram debacle for which he is already forgiven. CC and Shayne for the hospitality. All the Melbourne Minus Crew old and new and everyone else mentioned here and Wally and Wes for getting my Crows ticket whilst I was in mid air.