Roxy flashbacks...

Saturday night was a night full of flashbacks! Michelle and I caught up with Bryan, Tiff and Damien at the Roxy Theatre in Parramatta. The theatre was built in the 1930's and had a fair bit of history behind it until it closed a few years ago. It recently reopened and now has become a pretty cool pub and music venue. The original theatre/cinema is one of the best rock venues I've been to in a long time. It probably sits somewhere between the Enmore and the Metro in terms of size, but has great sound and can guarantee a great view from pretty much anywhere. This is the same theatre where I've watched such classic sequels as Superman 2 and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, so it somehow seemed appropriate that we were here to see Sydney's hair rock revivalists Wolfmother!
The night kicked off in the usual way, Michelle and James eating way too much food...I had no idea that the pesto pizza crust I ordered for entree would actually be a full sized pizza with pesto and cheese! No excuses for the Chocolate Sticky Date Pudding for dessert though...
Got inside at around 8.30 and caught Mess Hall doing their two man band show, ala Local H/White Stripes. Always amazes me how much noise 1 guitar and a set of drums can make on stage...gotta love rock & roll! I liked the songs I'd heard on the J's and they were supposed to be pretty good live, so I'd been meaning to see them for a while. They didn't disappoint. It took me a couple of songs to warm to them, but they go good.
We were all very excited about the main act. Hype is not always a good thing, you know how the saying goes...but so far I'd made my own mind up about Wolfmother. I thought they rocked from the first wails of "Woman" pumping on my car radio late last year, but managed to miss every opportunity I had to see them live...until now. You've got to love a band that ain't afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves. Wolfmother do that, but give so much more. They manage to channel the sound of Led Zeppellin, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden (sometimes in the same song), and yet still manage to sound fresh and original. They not only capture the sound of an era, but the feeling and the energy as well, just like some of the best modern day bands such as The White Stripes & You Am I are able to do. And all this without too much attitude, just lots of strutting, jumping, guitar twirling and helicopter riffing.
They pretty much played every song off their debut EP and album, with one or two not so familiar songs as well. One of the most enjoyable aussie gigs I've been to in a while and can't wait to see them at Homebake and the BDO 2006!
After the gig, the smell of sausage and onion drifted through the air, drawing us nearer..."Yes, Michelle, I think I will have a sausage sandwich with our coffee" was a decision that my brain obviously had no part in making...can't believe I squeezed this in on top of the pizzas and beers from earlier in the night...such is the tragedy of my belly! I blame Bryan... : )
Ooh...almost forgot to mention that Michelle and I also went to see Californian stoner and comedian Arj Barker @Newtown RSL on Thursday night...an absolute cack!!! We'd caught Arj at the Melbourne Comedy Festival a couple of years back and I don't think I'd ever laughed so hard in my life, so couldn't wait to see him again. He didn't disappoint, and I highly recommend his show!
Just spoke to Mum, who is still doing well. Sorting out all her appointments for the radiation therapy, can't wait to see the look on her face when we catch up with her for dinner this Thursday night and give her her b'day present!!