or so i’m told.

on a non ramps related note, i made a music video for pikelet. it was filmed in the pacific somewhere, and we gave the camera acid. here ’tis.

we’re playing with crayon fields at their ‘welcome back from the US!!’ show at the Northcote Social Slub on April 24. we haven’t played in ages, so it’ll be rusty.

oh, and celebricheese

BAM!

Anyway - come see us on Tuesday with Why? at the Corner, or next Sunday with Castanets and Alps at the Order of Melbourne!

So here’s some crap about us from the Triple J webses instead. Hooray! Ps. Dear my boss, be quiet now.

And interview on Home And Hosed here.

Ugh. Work.

I have now been edumacation.

there is a music video being made for antique limb. in it we ride many things, giant brains for instance. plus we get zapped by giant cats, just like in real life!

it’s taking a really really long time, so here’s some tasty screen grabs for you to eat with your eyes.

Our new album is called Midnight Believer, and it will be released May 30 in Australia through Stomp.  Elsewhere - who knows?  Maybe you can help us.  Who knows?  You probably know… who knows?

Part of the reason we’re pleased with this result is that Lily Coates - quiet friend, illustrateuse -  has inked a package impressive in its detail and form. Fold out the CD cover and it becomes a wall-sized poster slathered with Lily’s felt-tip imaginings. It’s tres deluxe.

We’ll be heading around Australia in June to party with you, to patiently listen to your problems, and to sand the dry crusts of your weary heels. If you’re particularly lucksome, well, you haven’t much to worry about in this life, least of all any further luck bestowed upon you by the well-wishings of those who like you.

Brain Cobra has lodged his head inside of a computer, too, masterminding a Music Video of the song and single ‘Antique Limb’. See it on your MTVs and your Channel Vs this winter. We dance bad and shameful, like heavily sheltered Presbyterian children at their primary school fete.

Kindest regards,

Black Wasp!, who may or may not change his name (by deed poll; by the legitimate channels) to “Suckin’ on Chili Dog” by the time you next see him.

ps. Mum Smokes

Bonjour!

We enjoyed our last burst of time in Toronto a great deal, aided by a casual and celebratory final show at Not My Dog, and some rec time on our good friend Tyler’s balcony. I met a guy named Carlton at Not My Dog, and he shared his Midnight Riser cocktail recipe with me - it sounds both dangerous and fun. Ha. And gut-expanding, with a whole pint of Guinness in it. Although Carlton wasn’t as rotund as he was good-spirited.

Anyway, that’s all in the past now, man. Extreme Wheeze bought his fancy new (1968) guitar and we hit the road in two vehicles, driving through the afternoon and evening until we crossed the border into Quebec.

Instantly, one notices (with a chuckle) that the roads are so much crappier the moment you leave Ontario. Potholes, sloppy repair work, and a pitifully uneven surface. We’d been warned but we still found it hilarious.

Brain Cobra, Denim Owl and I were driving together, and pulled over at a Shell station to use the bathroom soon after entering Quebec. There was a Go-Kart track there, and the scenery felt immediately different; granted, the terrain is too (there are many creeks and river crossings around the road). The sun set as we rolled (bumpily) on toward Montréal.

After meeting the rest of the gang at Mixylodian Mike’s, we went for a wander to Les Banquise for some late-night poutine (it was past midnight by the time we readied our forks), which we ate in Parc Du Fontaine. There were kids setting off firecrackers, and small groups of people having boozy picnics in the dark; the odd couple here and there, and a French-accented, topless potbellied man (tattered shorts barely held up by a leather belt) asking politely for peoples’ empty bottles (to claim the rebate). He cursed the full yellow moon for “shedding light on the dark side of the bench”, where he asked us to leave our bottles, fearing competition! The poutine was far better than any other we’d tried so far (with curd instead of cheese), but still so disastrously unhealthy.

We then wandered on toward a party which turned out not to exist, and so had a couple of drinks at Casa Del Popolo instead. You should see the music calendar there - totally astounding, and enough to make any Southern Hemisphere music fan sigh longingly. A shame we missed Mt Eerie, again.

Today, people seem tired and a little grumpy - probably par for the course after a long drive and a big week. We had breakfast far into the afternoon. I had poached eggs with artichoke, blue cheese and napoli sauce on English muffins, alongside a fresh fruit brochette and plantain. Weirdest breakfast ever.

Montréal as a bilingual city is amazing. I love seeing French signage, with or without accompanying English. I’m learning so much every time I go out walking, and asking plenty of questions. It feels like it’d be easy to learn basic French with a little time spent here. I’m not really confident enough to speak much at the moment, but I suppose that comes with a bit of time. As everyone will tell you, Francophones are protective of their culture/language and I suppose I can see why: it’s charming!

We play tonight - the final show of the tour. I feel a bit sad about that: it’s pretty hard to believe that the past three or four weeks have passed so quickly, and I’m disappointed I won’t be peeking into the lives of (extra)ordinary Canadians on a daily basis any more. My curiosity doesn’t feel in any way sated! Alas, there’re still a couple of days off after tonight, before we embark on that exhaustingly protracted series of flights home.

I know it’s a bit overdue, but here’s a short clip from My Morning Jacket’s appearance last week at Koolhaus. If you look carefully, you may see Flying Diamonds’ face of enjoyment; then again, you may not, because it may not even be there.

Oooh, mystery.

…Nah, it’s there.

So… the residents of #33 very kindly put on a house show/party for us, with about six hours’ notice. The police came twice but the second visit was only a warning (Nathan thanks his lucky stars). The fine issued during the first visit wasn’t too bad. And the night was blast-o-ramic.

Brain Cobra playing the organ at the Department of Safety, Anacortes, Washington.