Descend Here
Went along to Mark’s EP launch. Had a good time. Full report later, but for now I just have to post this:
Yes, it’s Anthony of Spiceblog fame, passed out in the corner at Mojos. He is indeed a curiosity of beer…
Update: Okay, so here’s the details.
I arrived at Mojos as Burgers of Beef were setting up. There was a fire-twirler outside, which was impressive. I stuffed my CD into my pocket, said g’day to Mark and ordered a Toohey’s Old.
Burgers of Beef are good. They’re better when the fellow who plays keyboard picks up his trombone instead. I especially liked the song about penguins.
I was very keen to see what Descend Here were like. I’d listened to the MP3 Mark put on his blog, which was pretty good.
Then I noticed a fellow selling raffle tickets for a quilt. I’d seen him around uni before. He is a very weird guy (in a zany, performing arts student way). When he got on stage with Mark I knew that we would get the weirdness we were promised.
My verdict? Tomás has a good voice, and Mark plays a mean guitar. They just didn’t seem to fit together — except during their excellent kazoo cover of Radiohead’s No Surprises. That was cool, probably because it had far less electro-weirdness going on.
Still, I’d see them again. And maybe next time Anthony will be in a fit state for a conversation…
Further update: Just remembered something weird that happened last night.
I was standing at one of those bar-height tables that they have in pubs, nursing my beer and waiting for Descend Here to get their shit together, when a delectable lass (a friend of Mark’s, I’m sure) wandered over and accused me of being Xander.
I denied the charge, and she told me that I was “officially the spitting image of someone else”. I should have asked for some kind of certificate, so that if people suggest I don’t look like Xander I could pull it out and say, “Look, it’s official.”
Xander, if you’re out there reading this: you must be a handsome devil.
Ha! You bastard, I was just erm resting my eyes.
You really should lay off the deep fried red wine in champagne batter…
Hmmm yes apologies for the less than champagne conversation which I hazily remember as being…
Me: So how was Canberra?
Rob: [gives account of trip to Canberra]
long pause
Me: So how was Canberra?
No, it wasn’t that bad, you just seemed really tired.
Hey, you’re pretty critical… people usually say the opposite about us, though, so that’s kinda interesting. Thanks for coming anyway. The Bugers did totally rock.
Hmmm. I didn’t see Anthony after he first arrived, but I think he fell foul of the ‘grass before beer’ rule. I hope he got a good night’s sleep.
Didn’t mean to sound too critical. I’m just not big on that style of music. But I’m listening to the EP and it’s growing on me. “Letters of complaint” is very good, better than “Domestic Utopia” imo.
I do have friends that would accuse you of being Xander. That is so cool!!
*cough* Not offended at all – you’re right about ‘LOC’ as well ;-) that’s why everyone gets it on mp3.
Ha! Anthony, you’re all class.
And here I thought I was the only one who fell asleep in pubs.
Class? No-ones ever accused me of that before.
Family curse, I’m sure there are a number of lithographs out there of my fore-fathers dozing in non-bed places.
The FFGP played with Descend Here back in the old days at the Norfolk. They were nice boys and I liked their tunes. Burgers of Beef played at our last ever show with us and were a delight. Trombone Pete is a genius.
Also, just to show it happens to the best of us, I “fell asleep” last Sunday morning at 5am at China Bar in Melbourne. I was woken up by the friendly waiter who brought my roast duck breakfast. My derelict mates had noodles. Hmm breakfast duck – the best kind.