polaroids of androids

Gig Review: Eddy Current Suppression Ring @ Hopetoun Hotel - 07/06/2008

The evening started with a lovely Thai dinner at our local favourite Thai emporium and restaurant. Hit 90's RnB sensation, Boyz II Men, were playing nearby so the patrons within the restaurant consisted of a lovely mix of around 40% broz, 59% hoez and 1% us. I particularly like the hoez. It was like a booty party where I only had to bring a pasta salad.

After we filled ourselves with the finest food from the region of Thailand I farewelled the rest of my posse who had a pre-organised date with Carrie Bradshaw and a whole boatload of anti-woman stereotypes. I made the short walk down to the train station and, as my timing is often about as good as Danny Current's on the new Primary Colours record, I found that I was just in time to hop on an express train to the Hopetoun Hotel. Unfortunately, however, because we are under the reign of Lord Morris Iemma and he has introduced a policy to cancel at least 76% of trains everyday, the train was cancelled 'for today only' and I was informed that the next train to any destination anywhere near where someone playing music anything like Eddy Current Suppression Ring was about approximately 40 minutes away.

Because in some ways I resemble a young Action MacGyver I sought out what I like to call 'plan B'. I walked away from the traffic and found a bus stop which had several people already waiting. Relying on the age-old formula of 'lots of people waiting for a bus = bus coming soon' - I decided to join the group. When the bus came we were told that there was only room for one person. I tried to put myself forward as most of the others waiting were in packs of three or four, but a one-legged, blind, Iraq war veteran ending up taking the spot. Fucker.

There was no sign of another bus coming anytime soon so people started moving onto their own back-up plans - most of which involved either going to a pub nearby or hailing down a taxi. I tried to convince some people that we should split a taxi as we were going in the same direction but because I look like a computer programmer I also give off a vibe that I could be either a serial killer or a pedophile. Just as I was telling a young lass that I knew PHP and don't know how I got that blood stain on my jeans, I realised the 'next train in 40 minutes' that I decided to not wait for was now just about due. So I headed back down to the train station and took the twelve minute trip into the city.

After the four mile trek up Foveaux Street I was warmly greeted by the lovely bouncer, door-minder and general tough guy of the Hopetoun Hotel informing me that the show had SOLD OUT. Once I finished crying like a girl, cursing Lord Iemma and failing to bribe the bouncer I decided to head down to a nearby pub to hang out with others who had experienced similar epic failz.

Ironically enough, when I walked into the pub a track from Eddy Current's latest record was playing over the stereo. It sounded good. I think it probably just as good (if not better) than their show. In fact, word is their show sucked. They only played four tracks and they were all badly executed covers of songs by Madonna, Bliss N Eso and Neil Young. They were booed off stage and most people got their money back. Or maybe the show completely rocked, the venue collapsed under the sheer weight of awesomeness and all other bands within a 12km radius immediately broke up. I am not entirely sure.

After a couple of ales and discussions that involved the revival of nu metal, garage rock backlash and an in-depth analysis of the impact of the fuel costs on working families, we headed back to the Hopetoun to look through the windows like desperado losers. The band seemed to 'rocking it', 'bringing the ruckus' and also doing some 'killer jamming'. It was kinda hard to tell though.

After our last ditch effort of 'we know a guy who knows a guy who blew someone once' failed - we went home disappointed, with our tails between our legs and tears in our eyes. I filled in the rest of evening watching Ocean's 13, which is similar to Ocean's 12 and Ocean's 11 except with a slightly larger cast. It was ok.