Mark Ireland has seen more live gigs than you’ve had hot dinners. No quite literally, he saw over 150 gigs last year. Gigs not bands total. I don’t even want to calculate that! Year before that he came crazy close to 100 gigs so decided to make it his mission to hit 100 the following year. And of course he did that and then some. His recommendations thus come from a higher place. A deeper level of understanding. A place where Melbourne’s and the world’s best bands are all sitting inside his brain playing a never ending battle of the bands where his critical eyes and ears have swiped left to the losers and right to the cream of the crock. If he says it was a good show I would believe him. These are his pick of the month. Stay tuned each month for his recommendations!
Hey everyone! These are my top picks for February, Melbourne has always something on every night of the week, so just get out there and support live music - Mark
Painters and Dockers – 9th February - Max Watts
After Paulie Stewarts health scare Painters and Dockers are back, they are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic album Kiss My Art, this album was the one that introduced me to chaos of the gDockers, Kiss My Art included the killer singles Die Yuppie Die and Nude School, So get along and celebrate one of Australia’s iconic bands who never cease to bring a party of punk energy and destruction
Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber band - 1st February – The Northcote Social Club
The Fat Rubber band is the new collaboration between rock dog Tex Perkins and blues legend Matt Walker, both artists have are well known on the Aussie blues and roots scene, Tex from his work with the Beasts of Bourbon, Cruel Sea, Dark Horses and Matt Walker from Los Ragas and his blues duo band with drummer Ash Davies, so this new collaboration is a perfect match and with both these legends on stage you know something special is going happen.
The end product is a swampy blues groove mix up that is reminiscent of an older project of Tex Perkins, so don’t be surprised if a few Cruel Sea covers get dropped into the set.
Do Re Mi – 8th February – The Corner Hotel
It’s been 30 long years since the band has played together Deborah Conway went onto a successful solo career and guitarists Helen Carter went onto a career in not for profit management, back in the day they had hits with Man Overboard, Idiot Grin and Adultery.
It will be great to see the band back on stage after such a long break, and I’m quite sure I’m not alone in thinking that will be a huge reunion for not only the band but for fans as well.
The Cat Empire – 15-16-17 February -The Zoo
For over 20 years the Cat Empire have been the top shelf party kings, from their small beginnings playing small jazz clubs around Melbourne to massive stages all over the world, the Zoo is the perfect setting for seeing the band it’s a beautiful open air setting, it’s impossible to not be on your feet at a Cat Empire gig, so get along for the great gig in the sun
Wagons – 15th February – The Corner Hotel
After an extended hiatus Wagons are back, they played a warm up show at last years Out On The Weekend festival, nothing has changed at all, lead singer Henry Wagons ramped the crowd with wit and infectious stage charisma, the new show coming up is a double celebration first of all its the 20th anniversary of Wagons as a band and secondly it's the 10th anniversary of the classic album The Rise and fall of Goodtown, so it’s safe to say it will be one hell of a hoedown at these shows.