Realising I was a bad mother for not seeing my son's band live in ten years - to be fair, they don't play a lot and are terrible at self promotion, and I don't stay up late anymore - we decided to head up to Melbourne/Narm to see them. It was an arvo gig so I'd be home before bed time so I had no excuse.

We felt slighty awkward waiting around in the bar for my boy to get back from getting bahn mi but we had a pint and tried not to feel old. I used to frequent bars like this a lot in my day, but it's been a while.

It was entertaining reading all the stickers that covered most of the walls.

Her music is dark, intimate, melancholic folk-blues with an indie/alternative edge. In some ways it reminds me of Cat Power. It's melancholic and can be dark. I really loved her.

Check out this live song of hers - it's far more like what I saw on the day I suppose, and more guitary and oh yeaaah.

The second band were some tall, young lads from the country called The Ironbark Brothers. They're self described as “twin singin’ hillbilly wonders”, and their thing is essentially Australian bush balladry + old-time country + hillbilly/folk music - which the crowd loved. They were funny as. Loved them. Unfortunately I can't find them on Youtube but go listen to them on Bandcamp.

Then it was Faxman. It was so good to see these lads again and of course my dear boy on guitar. I didn't realise he even stepped up to the mike for backing vocals. Again there is no youtube so listen to the Bandcamp here with Chris's mournful singing.

It's kinda dusty, psychedelic cowboy music — a strange mix of Delta blues, twang, old-time country and jazz - think slightly delirious desert drives. Of course I pay attention to my boy's influence on the music as well.

It was so good seeing my boy in his element - it was great to see him at home on the stage and with his tribe.

Of course we went home after that, but the boys went on to see The Drones in Melbourne (shit have I gone over the three song limit? Who's keeping track?) - sorry @ablaze, but I have a feeling you couldn't give a hoot, as long as it's music. HOpe you enjoyed this one!

My boy loves this band, and particularly their song “Shark Fin Blues” - a raw, dark Australian rock with a bluesy, almost country undercurrent which suited the arvo down pat. I love it too - it's slow-burning and ragged, building from hazy guitars into a huge, roar. The sinking ship and circling sharks become a metaphor for grief, depression and impending doom, but the song somehow turns that despair into something kinda anthemic.

Standing on the deck watching my shadow stretch
The sun pours my shadow upon the deck
The waters licking round my ankles now
There ain't no sunshine way way down
I see the sharks out in the water like slicks of ink
Well, there's one there bigger than a submarine
As he circles I look in his eye
I see Jonah in his belly by the campfire light
See the albatross up in the windy lofts
He gets to beating his wings while he sleeps it off
I hear the jettisoned cries from his dreams unkind
Gets to whippin' my ears like a riding crop
The captain once as able as a fink dandy
He's now laid up in the galley like a dried out mink
He's laying dying of thirst and he says or I think
Well, we're gonna be alone from here on in
Well you are all my brothers, and you have been kind
But what were you expecting to find?
Now your eyes turn inwards, countenance turns blank
And I'm floating away on a barrel of pain
It looks like nothing but the sea and sky remain
I sing na na nana nananana na
Na na nana nananana na
A harpoon's shaft is short and wide
A grappling hook's is cracked and dry
I said, why don't you get down in the sea
Turn the water red like you want to be?
Cause if I cry another tear I'll be turned to dust
No the sharks won't get me they don't feel loss
Just keep one eye on the horizon man, you best not blink
They're coming fin by fin until the whole boat sinks
Fin by fin
Fin by fin
Fin by fin by fin by fin