Finishing School, the illegitimate child of Wigan Casino

Luxury is to reach Friday knowingly that a good weekend is to begin. Heaven is to know that it will include a drink with friends, good music and a dance, especially if it's Finishing School over at Bella Union.



Andrew McClelland (there's definately an overload of c's and l's in that surname) and friends knows how to put on an old-fashioned indie/pop dance night. Half dancing, half spying out over the dance-floor it's a joy to see heads bopping up and down, beat-stomping, spins, turns and the constant feel of the floorboards swaying.

With Mr. McClelland behind the decks I cannot stop thinking that this is the sort of illegitimate child of Wigan Casino, the famous 70's/80's northern english nightclub spurring up a Northern Soul movement and dance style, that exist over the world.

It might just be in my dreams, in my mind, that I get these connotations, but I believe that the friendly and happy atmosphere, the non-stop spinning of Mr. McClelland in his suit, and the supreme location of Trades Hall/Bella Union, has something to with it. Possibly the only clue that you are not at Wigan is the alcohol and the sometimes modern music like Arcade Fire.

See you there next time, I will try to dare a Northern Soul spin if Mr. McClelland plays I Shall Not Be Moved by Barrino Brothers.

R.I.P. General

Exactly a week ago General Norman Johnson passed away. A sweet soul voice, deep, eager, desperate, sometimes painful but most of the time sweet and soulful disappeared. Left to the world is some of the finest soul songs.



I believe that for most people the first time you hear Give Me Just A Little More Time you are taken aback. You can't move, just sit still and take it all in, dream away with the hopeful lyrics of a rejected lover, wonderful choirs, trumpets and near to howling. And after, you question yourself, 'why haven't I heard this before?' and then you go on playing it on repeat for hours.

If you have heard it before, Listen again. If you haven't, Listen on repeat.

Give Me Just A Little More Time (YouTube)

You Got Me Dangling On A String (YouTube)

I'm On My Way To A Better Place (YouTube)

Obsessed, possessed

For the ones that have seen Johnnie, Johnnie and the Johnnies perform live, a word like 'possessed' seems pretty fitting to describe this 4-piece, Melbourne based, surf/a-go-go-psychedelic band. It was like an electric eel swirling away on a sandy dance floor, drinking coconut and umbrella drinks in a dusty and sweaty venue underground. It might be the music or the keyboardist Johnnie Sweet Cheek's manic jumping, skipping, dancing, keyboard banging or it might be the both. Their performances are utterly beautiful, fun and engaging.



The night we saw them was full, and long, night together with The Break and Dengue Fever brought to us by Melbourne Festival. A wonderful mix of similar-minded performers bringing their own take on surf/a-go-go-psychedelic band to the table. The Break with a bit more Space-Race twist and Dengue Fever with more a-go-go, a very tall base player and a very long beard.

Understandably there were several highlights, but I believe the highest of the highlights were the 40-something girls who sat next to us. Sharing their excitement for the music, all three bands, they were most happy to see The Break coming on stage which they showed by purchasing some The Break t-shirts before they even went on stage.

That's the kinds of passion for music you love to see.

image from Johnnie Johnnie and the Johnnies.

La Haine & DJ Dexter, extending your senses

I had the fortune to attend a wonderful cinematic experience yesterday. Melbourne Music Festival and acmi had a screening of the classic french masterpiece 'La Haine (The Hate)' accompanied with live mixing by one of Australia's top DJ's, DJ Dexter.



Mixing over the movie's soundtrack, DJ Dexter brought La Haine to new life, extending the viewers experience  from 'the past' to 'the now', and maybe from 2D to 3D. Because there is something interesting lying beneath the just now and then intertextuality with DJ Dexter standing (mostly sitting down) in-front of you, adding another dimension to the actual viewing experience. Even if DJ Dexter's seamless scratching and mixing didn't stop you from watching the film you, I at least, found myself looking over to him to see what he was up to. For brief seconds you would 'jump' out from the world of La Haine, find yourself in a room with a dj performing magic with his turntables with a screen playing something in the background, almost like the visuals became secondary.

The reason why this is so interesting is that it creates an experience you are not used to. We shouldn't accept mediums or the content as they are because then they will just be that, mediums and content. Sometimes it's good to break the boundaries for how you consume media to fully understand how great film and music might be.

... A bit like a band performing live on a tram.