Greetings Punters,

The worst thing about being out of work is feeling your brain freeze through lack of use.

Right now many Australians are idle through no fault of their own.

Feeling helpless can be a real killer. I’m no life coach but there’s one thing I do know.

You’ve got to think on your feet.

That’s the thing about music. Gigs arrive if your head is right. Bands, record companies, management, booking agents. They’re all running on the same juice.

There’s been a coordinated effort by many to get music across to people who want to hear it.

Goodwill and mutual respect will get you a long way.

Gigs happen. Even in lockdown, which is how we found ourselves in a St.Kilda night club working up songs for a TV show.

The ‘Sound’..

for our ABC.

‘The FyreFly’ is a jazz venue in the basement of the old Newmarket hotel on Inkerman St. When I say ‘basement’ I mean, a long way under the earth. There was the small problem of the lift not working so we had to bump amps down a dimly lit concrete staircase out the back of the kitchen.

I have a rule. If you can’t carry your own amp it’s time to hang up the leopard skin tights.

Problem is, it’s a VOX AC 30. And in the trade, people know what that means.

Coming back up afterwards was a challenge. There were other niggles. You can’t really sing with a mask on and the mics needed a good spray.

But it was worth the effort.

Decked out in hot red livery, mirrored walls, burgundy upholstery and dark timber, the Fyrefly is a very cool little gaff. It also sounds good.

And like all music venues, it hasn’t opened its doors for some time.

In a different life, we’d definitely hang out down there, which is another twist of the ‘Rona. Recording videos in strange places. The garage, the hallway, places normally left for brooms and gym gear.

And by the way, the album is called ‘Slow Dawn’ in case you’re not aware.

Also, by way of introduction, there are four of us:

Cameron McKenzie on guitar, John Favaro on bass and Peter Maslen on the drum kit.

There are more plans afoot. A video recording of the entire album later on in the year.

There’s plenty of time. May as well not waste it. And right now we’re definitely not going anywhere.

Stay tuned

Mark x