I saw the Sugar Cubes, with their lead singer Bjork in 1986 and 1987, Berlin and Melbourne. Main inspiration is their classic Birthday.
Heilung performed at Melbourne's Palais Theatre late 2024. Their full show can be viewed on Youtube at Glastonbury. Their coreography was amazing, a real Viking Opera. Key track was Kriegskaldr, war chant. I have included some of the key lyrics in the picture: looks like dying embers; obliteration, transformation, rejuvenation.
I saw the last 2 gigs of the Gobs at the Club in Collingwood, 1986? and a few years later, with just the boys at the Continental. The Club gig was a highlight as I snuck out back to the workers shed bandroom and hung out, a bundle of nerves with the band. I remeber Grant asked, so who do you want to sketch, Amanda? I shook mu head and mumbled Robert. (Which I did eventually do when they were performing, I remember he ripped out the page and kept it.) Another highlight was paul Kelly turning up to the bandroom after his own gig in town and playing harmonica for the band.
I saw the Birthday Party at their last gigs in 1984? Twice at the ballroom and once at Storey Hall, Rmit where I was studying. The music was so charged with sexual violence that it was difficult to depict. In this painting you can just make out Tracey Pew at the left and Roland and the right with Nick cave's face appering everywhere, including as the red bat shape above. Tracks: Six strings and Release the bats.
There's a skeleton drinking at the front bar of the Espy; but I just wanna buy another beer6