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GIG Diary
(click this link for more details) STU THOMAS Gigs
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Nov'06 spawned "KEEPIN' IT UNREAL" by Dave Graney & Clare Moore feat. Stu Thomas aka Stu D aka le Comte d'Alucard. It was recorded in late Aug and out by early Nov on Reverberation. The quickest turnaround in recording history !!! The CD was launched spectacularly at The Prince Of Wales, St Kilda, on 3rd Dec 06.
Stu played Azkena Festival in Vittoria, Spain 2/9/06 with Kim Salmon & The Surrealists. The line-up was Kim Salmon, Stu Thomas and Phil Collings. The bill included The Stooges, Gang of Four, Big Star, Red Kross & Eagles of Death Metal...
Photo by Gina Robertson
An interesting gig: missed a connecting flight to Bilbao then all the luggage & instruments disappeared. Still, they played a killing set on borrowed gear that stuck out like a gold obelisk on the day. Stu then holidayed in San Sebastian, Bordeaux and Paris.
The Surrealists played a knockout show in Melbourne. Nov 25th at The Northcote Social Club. First Australian gig since 1999!
Selected BrassBed Live highlights...
26th Oct 2005 :
Rob Roy Hotel, Fitzroy. This gig was actually a surprise turn-up. Organiser Kate was at the Cumbersome launch, where Stu announced that it was possibly the final BrassBed gig. She couldn't bear to hear that and booked us. First act, Penny Ikinger strangled her guitar, making it whimper, squeal & moan, while all the boys looked on doe-eyed. She is Femme Fatale Supremo, wielding the reins non-chalantly. Penny solo is a real art-rock performance : A1.
BrassBed materialised soon after, Stu opening with an improvised ooga-booga of voice & skull shaker. The song that was murdered was the old cuntry number "Once A Day". From there the 3-pce outfit just played like a well-oiled demon, improvising on good old BrassBed songs & taking them to some other world. Notably, Stu pig-headedly stuck to a fuzz-bass sound and sang the whole show thru his megaphone-of-death. The audience were impressed actually, and the 'Bed won favour thru'out the indi kids. Main act was the crazed indie sound of Baseball (Dirty 3 crossed with Stereolab?). Line-up: Stu Thomas(fuzz-bass/vocals/trumpet/skull-shaker), Tim Hilton(trombone), Phil Collings(drums).
24th Sept 2005 :
The Pony, Melbourne CBD. Cumbersome Records Sampler #4 CD Launch.
24th June 2005: It just keeps getting better and better...The Brass Bed starred in the Infernal Cabaret at Dante's, presented by the sexotic MC Miss Josephine (resplendent in red full-body fishnet, feathers & not much else), who aimed cutting banter at the performers. BB intro'ed the show, vexing the audience with sad & sordid tales, then shrunk back into shadow as other acts entertained. Monseiur Tragique sang hilariously depressing ditties, GumBoot Bros stomped up a sweat, Jenny Thomas(no relation) improvised heavenly music with violin & voice...After intermizzo, The 'Bed laid down their 10min gypsy piece-de-resistance, before one last number, recalling all performers for a foot-stomping finale. (The tune was Tom Waits "Russian Dance", Brass Bed's only cover to date!) Somewhere in the middle of all that, a scary clown appeared. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals/trumpet/melodica/guitar, Tim Hilton(trombone), Sherab Holley(violin), Phil Collings(Welcome Back! on drums).
26th Feb 2005: This BB gig was a hoot and a half... While the rest of Melbourne was following each other's shadows rock-worshipping, we had the coolest crowd of Gypsies up and DANCING! That's right, you remember that don't you? The Old Colonial was bulging & they tangoed & jungle-stomped to the best Bed-set yet. VulgarGrad followed with dirty Peratroiska & Russian rock'n'roll(which is nothing like it sounds) to keep the mad ones jumpin'....This was their debut & featured a giant balalika like you've never seen! (I think we just tapped into a whole new sub-culture here). BB in-Peak-form Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals/trumpet/melodica/guitar), Tim Hilton(trombone/harmonised bone), Rhys Braddock(drums/bass), Sherab Holley(violin).
21st Dec 2004: Summer Solstice Partay in the Footscray home of Viet-Australian poet, David. The 3-piece Bed serenaded the sun down, with instrumentals & just a sprinkle of vocals filtered thru a freshly-purchased megaphone. The river before our eyes turned to a stream of coal juice which hugged a darkening racecourse. The arrangements prove complex in harmony, yet remaining simple & free. Sherab soldiered on thru a virus, still managing to be the Eternal Queen of the Violin. The sausages spat & the band climaxed the intimate, under-the-clothesline show as accompaniment to David's raw, expressive, dual-language poetic visions. Line-up: Stu Thomas(vocals/horn/melodica/electric guitar/zills/bongo), Sherab Holley(violin) & Tim Hilton(bone/electric guitar/clarinet).
SAT 4th Sept 2004.
Cumbersome Records, Collingwood, Melbourne. What a great instore gig! Under monkey showers(drizzle & sunshine) & bottles of joy(beer), the 'Bed gave a schitzophrenic performance, highlighting their 2 sides: exotic tango/gyspy & trash noir.
The lucky few stylish & curious music-lovers got comfortable in the welcoming couches, whilst all-new BrassBed songs & rich harmony washed down the store. Clarinet, melodica & electric guitar appeared again, as well as violin for the very first time, courtesy of new recruit Sherab. The band signed a golden cow skull to mark the day, which hangs on the Cumbersome wall. Line-up: Stu Thomas(vocals/horn/melodica/electric guitar), Rhys Braddock(bass), Tim Hilton(bone/clarinet), Mike Noga(drums) & Sherab Holley(violin).
Live photos by Gina Robertson.
Friday The 13th February 2004: The Cue Bar, Fitzroy, Melbourne. This gig featured a whole bunch of new songs and sounds for the 'Bed, including a tango & their grainiest song to date. Mike drummed up a storm, whilst Tim and Rhys smoked their way thru the nite, providing the necessary poolhall ambience. Line-up: Stu Thomas(trumpet/electric guitar/melodica/vocals/snare), Tim Hilton(trombone/clarinet), Rhys Braddock(bass) & Mike Noga(drumset). Quote of the evening: "I didn't know you were crazy..."(Bill Miller post-gig).
17th October 2002: Barleycorn Hotel. Brass Bed duo plus sound FX. This was a benefit gig for 3CR & we weren't able to secure a drummer, so Stu rigged up a number of devices to provide backing beats(LP record, 4 track, CD, drum machine). There was much improvised stuff, a spoken poem, whole passages of film dialogue & general experimentin with brand new ideas. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/drum machine/CD player/4 track/LP record/vocals) & Tim Hilton(bone/harmonised bone). Quote of the evening:"...for Chissake, get a fuckin drummer!"
16th April 2002 : Cinema Nova. Live music inside the cinema, to commissioned films from members of the Moving Image Coaliton. Preview of forthcoming Brass Bed "Save Your Breath" companion DVD. Also played an acoustic set in foyer before screening, featuring original gypsy muzak. FOYER Line-up: Stu Thomas(trumpet), Tim Hilton(bone) & Sonke Rickertson(cello).INSIDE CINEMA Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Tim Hilton(bone) & Sonke Rickertson(drums).
1st March 2002 : Found Project Artspace, Fitzroy. Brilliant gig, Super8 film projections beforehand(handled by Perry Laird) & artworks by BrassBed members in the foyer. A great, great event that went over incredibly successfully with the rather numerous audience(incl. many Melbourne music stars), carrying into the wee hours.
Live Photos by James Booth.
9th December 2001 : The Ninth Ward, Melbourne. Friends of the Earth Benefit. Some filming for the "Save Your Breath" companion DVD was done on this night by M.I.C. filmakers Perry Laird and Shane Lyons. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals/horn), Tatiana Pajo(bone/lead vocal on "Woman of Steel"), Tim Hilton(bone) & Adam Nash(drums).
9th September 2001 : The Cafe Hotel, North Melbourne. Opened and closed the night for Fray Day 5 , an international speaking event, a celebration of personal stories which happens simultaneously across the globe once a year. The band was invited to play by Ben Ryan (M.I.C. filmaker), and they improvised 2 instrumental sets based on their songs. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Tatiana Pajo(bone), Tim Hilton(bone), Cam McAllister(horn) & Adam Nash(drums). Read the review.
March 2001 : The Kings Ams, Auckland. . Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Delaney Davidson(drums/vocals). Guest : Paul on bass for last few songs
March 2001 : Auckland record store. Stu went to New Zealand to see Del get married. He played solo trumpet at the wedding. They hooked up an instore as a duo, and brought in a bunch of surprised passers-by; signings & sales took place. They made a big racket for a 2-piece. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Delaney Davidson(drums/vocals)
July 1999: Corner Hotel, front bar, Richmond. 3 week residency. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals/horn/harmonised horn), Tatiana Pajo(bone), Tim Hilton(bone)& Phil Collings(drums).
17th Oct 1997: Launch of the 'No Single', white vinyl 7 inch single & full colour Picture Disc. Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Tatiana Pajo(bone), Brian May(horn)& Delaney Davidson(drums). Rowland S Howard opened the show solo, followed by brass mavericks The Disappointments.
May 1997: Esplanade Hotel, Gershwin Room. Kim Salmon & the Surrealists played a live-to-air gig for 3PBS (Stu played bass), then BrassBed came on to adoring crowds. The gig was recorded, and the track "No Say" was subsequently released from the tapes on the "No Single". Line-up: Stu Thomas(bass/vocals), Tatiana Pajo(bone), Brian May(trumpet)& Delaney Davidson(drums).
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