Blah, Blah, Blah

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day…

Chaos: Despite which, every jam session turns out different. Strolled into the Gold Street Gossip Shop and Lizard Lounge last week only to find the mouldering back bar infested with musicians. At least that is what I think they were, or perhaps that is what they think they were, I forget which. It all made for a spiffing afternoon’s entertainment, with a bunch of old and new faces waving guitars, drumsticks, saxophones, a variety of trumpets and flugelhorns, even the Invisible Man with trombone attachment. And then came the Captain, as moderator and chief creator of Chaos, leaping in every now and then to confuse the masses. He does it so well.

Confusion, which reigned from the outset, was further compounded by Cardinal Pell, bassist extraordinaire, playing guitar, and Elliott Joe, guitarist extraordinaire adopting the supporting role of propping up the bar and not playing at all. A shame really, although in EJ’s defence, it must be said that the bar didn’t fall down…

Had Hortense been hovering in the background, which she may have been, she would have been inordinately impressed with the standard of music making, which occasionally reached levels that approached, or even exceeded, mere competence. A quality which Hortense has found sadly lacking in her social excursions of late. Apparently Rotten Ronnie Junior has taken to walking a lurcher on the back beach, Altona West, and she is quite put out. Hortense, not the lurcher.

But I digress: Chelly and Debbie were the standout singers – both managed to keep significant portions of the backing ensemble under some sort of control – not easy when you have a bassist, drummer, guitarist and trumpeter playing about five solo choruses simultaneously.

Props to Sebastien (drums and Gallic insouciance) for some fine drumming, along with resolutely introducing a cross-beat every now and then, to make sure the rest of us stayed confused; props to everyone else for having a good time, and to Marg, Princess of Cool and Keeper of the List – great to see you back.

TW