The Night Porter filled us with Mark Lanegan songs

Band: Mark Lanegan
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 7th July 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Mark Lanegan, do I even need to say anymore. If you haven’t heard of him then I feel pity for you. He came with that voice and sang song after song without so much of a spoken peep to the audience, but who cares, its Mark Lanegan. His beady eyes -just opening at times, sweat dripping, drinking gravel after each song and backed up by an amazing guitar playing and backing vox, Dave Rosser.

Kicking off the set with When Your Number Isn't Up was an opener and a half. I would say the entire sold out crowd gulped and gawked at Lanegan with each word he sung. The next hour and a bit was filled with luscious acoustic tunes, carefully sung as though he was remembering each journey behind the lyrics.

Dimples glowing in his cheeks, music roaring in our ears, the dull red glow of the corner lights all took us to another place and when it was over it was time to come back to earth and for the chill in our bones to subside.

A humble man who thanked us for coming and we say “come back soon” to the man that is Mark Lanegan.

Musicians and Comedians come out for a Heartful night out

Band: Heart of St Kilda
Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 29th June 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

The Heart of St Kilda is a fantastic night out with an eclectic mix of comedians and musicians all striving for one thing, to raise money for the needy at the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda.

Brian Nankervis opened tonight with his jovial banter, getting the ‘party’ started and making sure everyone got to their seats on time. Once the curtains opened it was time to laugh and cry as well as tap the toes and rock to the beat of the music.

Comedians Dave Hughes, Peter Hellier and Greg Fleet showed their true and usual St Kilda jokes, whilst Ethel Chop gave us a ditty on the youth of today. Des Dowling gave a fabulous rendition in a poem about St Kilda whilst Judith Lucy was as usual her amusing self.

The crowd seemed a little on the lull side and when Adam Hills came out he got the crowd reacting, he even got a 10 year old boy to say the ‘f’ work whilst the mother looked on and took photos, and the funniest thing was the boy’s father high fiving him when the boy sat down!

Bands that played tonight included Elle and Jesse Hooper, Archie Roache, Clare Bowditch and then Daryl Braithwaite got the crowd going with the hit tune Howzat. Kutcha Edwards voice is truly amazing and The Frowning Clouds were a highlight of the night, an up and coming rock band that woke up the punters. Paris Wells is just fantastic and then there was Even (the band for the entire night), Mick Thomas, Rebecca Barnard, Stephen Cummings and lastly Tex Perkins. The only downfall of the night was all the slow and listless songs, it would have been better to liven up the acts with some power tunes.

Tonight is the third of such an event and one we hope is around for many years to come, showcasing some worthy talent for a worthy cause, embracing the spirit that is St Kilda.