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Suck a caribous Tour
written: 25th February 2003
By Clay

Hello again folks
Its Clay here, We’ve just been to Victoria. Mitch, Mat and Neal are back in Sydney now but im sitting in front of my friends computer in Perth. I’ll tell you a bit about our February tour.

The Termo, Albury, 6th
Warrnambool Festival, South Vic., 7th and 8th
St. Kilda Festival, Melb., 9th
Irwins Hotel, Ballarat, 13th
Beachnik Cafe, Barwon Heads, 14th
Cornish Arms, Melb., 15th
Qdos Cafe, Lorne, 16th

The Termo, always nice to be at the Termo but this time was a special treat because we got to play out in the beer garden. It was the warmest nite id ever experienced in Albury thats for sure. The lads who started things up for us were fucking awesome. Big ups to Toby, Nick and Can. It was a cruisy nite out the back and everyone was chilled. The highlight of the gig was definitely getting Nick, Matilda and Toby up to do some percussion with us. The highlight of the nite though, was when Mitch and I went over the road after the gig and thrashed the local boys in a game of table soccer. They had Test Match sitting in the corner as well but unfortunately it didn’t come out of its box. Thanks again Albury crew.

The next afternoon we arrived in Warrnambool and for the first time in a month or two we all pulled out our jumpers and coats. For those of you that don’t know, Warrnambool is down the bottom of Victoria, half way between Melb. and Adelaide. It can get a bit chilly but that doesn’t subtract from its beauty.
We arrived at a street fair that very much resembled your local school fete. Rides, food, games. They had it all. We supported Kate Ceberano that nite. What a spin out.
We didn’t get to meet her though. She had a security escort. What we did do though, was steal her cheese, some salami and some booze while she was onstage. I’ve always wanted to do that. Actually, I shouldn’t involve Mat and Mitch, it was me. Oh yeah, did I mention that even though there were thousands of people at this fair, we played to about 30 grommets and 10 adults. They must have all been Kate Ceberano fans. It was fun though.

The next day we went exploring along The Great Ocean Road. Wow! What an
awesome part of Australia. We drove about 1 and a half hours towards South
Oz checking out all the nooks and crannies along the way and then we stumbled upon this amazing bay where the surf was cranking. That made for an excellent day. We also came across a wind farm. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie (Tripods maybe). There, in-between the highway and the wind beaten Bass Straight, were these 14 giant windmills spinning around and around. We wanted to get up close but we weren’t aloud too. They’re so awesome and mighty. Apparently the towers that the fans were attached to are 50 metres tall, and the 3 blades themselves are 29 metres long. It would have been crazy to stand underneath them.

We played at a cool festival that nite with Killing Heidi and Cockfight Shootout. It was down by the lake just out of the town of Warrnambool. Cockfight Shootout were my favourite band we played with this tour. If you dig stoner rock then you have to check these guys out.
When we played the sun was going down behind us over the lake and it was a really cool vibe. The crowd in front of the stage was majority under 18’s and they were digging it. That was fucking excellent. We’ve got to do more under 18’s gigs. The stage was dangerous though. It had saw dust all over it and it had a crack in the joins that I kept tripping up on. Ella Hooper hit the canvas during their second song. That was pretty funny. I hope she agrees. By the way, we met the Killing Heidi crew afterwards and they were super cool. Top Aussies.

The next day we got up really early and drove up to Melbs for the St. Kilda Festival. We checked in to our hotel and went down to the beach park where we were playing. When we got down there we were greeted with the largest, most massive stage we have ever played on. We were so stoked. When you faced out towards the crowd in the park, you could see the scape of hotels and office buildings up behind them, and behind us was the beach and the bay. But to top it all off, they had free beer and fresh cut sandwiches. What a gig. There were hundreds of people there, and it was a great vibe and I don’t think we’ve ever met so many people in one day. It was a lot of fun.

After we played, some hip-hop lads from Perth called Downsyde, took it apart. They were fucking great. Then Pornland had us in stitches. Damn they played some good music. By that stage there was about 8000 people in the park. we’d eaten about 20 sandwiches each and the organisers told us to stop pinching the beer, so we went up to the Espy and caught Rocket Science. What a great band. Then it was a case of drink, eat, drink, drink, eat, drink, go to bed. Actually, there’s more to that story but you’ll have to ask our mate Clive.

We had the next 3 days off in Melbourne. That was so cool because usually we’re always on the go and we don’t get to stop and really take in our surrounds. We did some shopping, hung out with our friends from back home, we got some waves down in Torquay, caught a peek at the Avalon air show (as in planes), I bought The Dukes Of Hazzard video box set and we had heaps of cups of tea and beers. So that was brilliant. We actually did some other stuff too but its a bit gnarly to put on here. You’ll have to ask our mate Clive, he’s the number one glassy at the Espy.

What was next? Ballarat, we played in a haunted hotel, but we weren’t scared. We got to meet the top player from the Ballarat women’s basketball team, The Lady Miners. Cool name huh? Her name was Ebony and her friend Jenny was Ballarats women’s ten pin bowling champ. That was amazing. The gig was cool too. Very friendly crew in Ballarat and very athletic women.

We drove back to Melbourne that night and then on to Barwon heads in the morning. We were back to the crazy Beachnik Cafe. What a nutzo gig. Everyone was losing it. Luckily they had built a small stage since the last time we were there so no one was falling on our shit this time. Everyone was dancing and singing we were all packed in there like sardines. One of the local grommies down the front got up and crowd surfed. Apparently he was the first person to crowd surf the Beachnik. That’s what you want. Unfortunately though, everybody kept their clothes on this time round. We did an encore and tried to leave the stage but they wouldn’t let us go. We were just laughing it was so overwhelming. Everyone was screaming at us for another song so we obliged, but before we did I launched myself up onto the crowd and had a little surf before they put me back on the stage. I hope you’ve got the picture folks. It really is a crazy gig. It’s such a good vibe at that place. Like I said last time, we can’t wait to get back there. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, we had nowhere to stay that nite so Mat and Neal drove back to Melbourne. Mitch, Clive and myself stayed on and were kindly offered a place to stay, so thanks for that guys.

The next morning, a near disaster struck. We were looking for a wave when the trailer started making fucked up noises. We pulled over and Clive the glassy come road manager come bouncer come safety supervisor had a look. He found that the bearings were coming loose of the wheel and it was about to fall off. It was a Saturday but some local boys were at work in their garage and they fixed it up for us. They told us if we got out on to the hi-way, the wheels would have fallen off. That’s nice isn’t it? Anyway, we got back on the road, and then about 20 kms out of Melbourne a tyre blew out on the trailer as well. It was cool though, we pulled over fine. We had to laugh, otherwise we would have cried.

A couple of hour’s kip and it was out to the Cornish Arms in Melbourne for our second last gig. It was a testing one because we had a whole bunch of sound problems, but on the other hand, we had a whole bunch of free alcohol and a room packed full of cool people. The good vibe outweighed the sound hassles and we had a great nite. We had our good friends from Sydney and Perth dancing around like little monkeys in the crowd. That always makes you smile. And it was Clive’s b-day. Unfortunately he didn’t get the recognition he deserved, especially having potentially saved our lives earlier that day. Oh well.

We also had wicked supports that nite in the guise of Maayan and, the very humble, Michael Doorman. I have to say that, despite the fact Michael was shitting himself, he proceeded to take it apart. Also, massive shout outs to Adam from Coffs Harbour. One word, GRACE. Occasionally people jump on stage and knock your shit over. But the two times Adam was present on stage that nite, he somehow lifted the vibe to the next level. Don’t ask me how, just give him a pat on the back and buy him a beer. That’s Adam from Coffs Harbour, currently living in Melbourne. Dancer/champion.

After the gig we met some very cool people. Especially Jil the trapize artist. We also listened to Suck a caribous ass by Wesley Willis about 20 times until they shut the bar and kicked everyone out. But god bless their souls, they let us stay and play pool and get really fucken drunk. Mat went to sleep on the stage so Clive set his foot on fire. Then we played some more pool and Clive and I went outside and threw up. It really was a fantastic nite. Actually, there’s a bit more to that throwing up story, but
once again, you’ll have to ask Clive.

We missed the world cup skateboarding the next day because i slept in and ruined everyones day. Sorry Watto (thanks for getting us the tickets). Then when i finally got up, we set out of Melbourne towards the very beautiful Lorne on the great ocean road. We played in this amazing little place out in the bush, called Qdos cafe. It was also an art gallery and we were set up to play surrounded by about $1oo,ooo worth of paintings and sculptures. That was different to say the least. It was a chilled Sunday vibe and it was also our last gig of the tour. Personally, I loved it. We got to play all our songs super laid back and really quiet. I’m sure the crew that came to see us liked it too. Yeah, it was a perfect gig to round off an awesome tour, it really was. Id be stoked to play there again any day.

After the gig we met some really nice crew once again. We’re lucky aren’t we?
And then we packed up and hit the sack.

All in all, it was an awesome tour. i know i speak for everyone when i say that. It was great to have those few days off and check out Melbourne. Thanks for that Neal. Also, a big thanks to Neal and Clive for helping us out on the road. Legends.

I’ve got to go now folks.
Surfs up in West Oz.
I hope you enjoyed our trip.
To tell you the truth,
there’s a lot of stuff missing out of this passage
but once again,
you’ll just have to ask Clive,

stay happy
later
Clay