Long-time readers of my blog will know there are few things I enjoy more than a night out at the Central Coast’s hallowed venue, Lizotte’s. On Saturday I made the pilgrimage to check out its sister venue in Newcastle.
What an impressive spot. Somehow they’ve managed to bring the intimacy of Kincumber’s “cubby house” to a slightly larger space. It gave us a little more room to spread out, making the experience just a little more decadent. The waitstaff still have some work to do to replicate the excellent service we receive on the Coast, but the food was top notch. And the concert, well that was another thrill.
After blasting Polarity for much of last week, I was excited to see The Bloodpoets in the live arena. However my enthusiasm was matched by equal parts trepidation. I wasn’t sure whether my parents and their friends would warm to the heavier elements of this exciting new Aussie act. But I needn’t have worried. The beauty of producing such an eclectic album is that you can tailor your set to your audience. They toned things down a notch from the recording, embracing the poppier numbers rather than the darker rock songs. It worked. Everyone on my table raved about them, which is no mean feat considering the generation gap.
Next it was a trip back to my childhood with The Badloves. Their album Get on Board was one of the first I bought. I was just 13, and I thought Michael Spiby was the sexiest man alive. I remember being devastated when they split, as I wasn’t old enough to see them play the pub circuit. It’s rare to wait more than a decade to see a band, and my expectations were sky high. But the band met them. They’re still so tight, oozing bluesy cool. And yes, Michael Spiby still makes my heart skip a beat.
The set was largely a trip down memory lane, with a peppering of new numbers easily blending with the old. I sang my heart out to those beloved hits, “I Remember,” “Lost,” “Green Limousine,” and a rollicking version of “The Weight.” “Caroline” was notably absent, but they played so much it was hard to fault them for that. It took me a ridiculous amount of time to catch my first Badloves show. I promise not to leave it so long next time!
Image source: own photo