2003 ~ JAN-AUGUST

RAGE
We were overjoyed to see that our You Name It video was the first video for the year screened on Australian National TV programme RAGE at 11.25PM on Friday the 3rd of January 2003~ Naturally we cracked a bottle of Champers to celebrate the event!

GIGFEST!
We continue to celebrate the release of Trouble seemed so far away by playing heaps of shows through 2003 including many shows in Sydney, an East Coast 'tour' and our 1st tour of Japan!

Our first show of 2003 took place in the Church St Amphitheater in *Parramatta and was a fun event and perhaps the first time we have received applause from a constable! Thanks to the huge crowd who showed up (despite the rain) to our Warren View show at the end of Feb, it was a fun night and great to have Juliet Ward on the bill.

In February Rolling Stone (Australia) gave Trouble a a four star review! (funny to note they put us up there with The Pretenders, George Harrison, Elvis Costello and Missy Elliott).

21st of Feb we were back at the Warren View where there was yet another huge turnout.

On Sunday 16th March we played The Peace Picnic in Enmore Park with The Solidarity Choir! - this was a fundraiser for the Walk Against the War Coalition who recently organized Australias' largest ever peace rally. Just one of many suburban gatherings on the day, this one raised close to $2000 for the cause. Also in March we played The Sandringham Hotel in Sydney with our old mate Rob Snarski, funny to be back at the Sando since renovations and despite being 'unplugged' (due to the old noise meter) we managed a reasonably rocking set as well as some mellower acoustic moments.

Early April we did a surprise show at The Spanish Club which is a great little Sydney Venue ~ thanks to everyone who came along (despite the rain yet again) and made the night such an enjoyable one + short notice sound engineer Rory for doing such a great job. Saturday the 19th April we were back at The Warren View where we managed three surprisingly excellent sets (our 1st ever 3 set performance - except for that time in Adelaide when we played the same set three times!), We were glad to have James Dutton up from Melb to help us out on Guitar, Vocals & Cowbell + Allison Jones from Catapult and Daniel Morphett from El Duende (and the much missed Craven Fops) up for guest spots + Despite the stormy night (third show in a row) a huge crowd turned up again + much dancing and merriment was had by all, thanks you lot + thanks to the dancers agani + thanks to Libby for the Rumballs!

Sat 3rd May we played a rugged but occasionally beautiful & sometimes silly show at The Alliance Tavern in Brisbane and on Sunday 4th May we had a fantastic time (+ managed to pull off 3 x 45 minute sets (another milestone! at The Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay!) - huge thanks to an excellent mixer in Angel Red + Neil & Rom who got us there + yet again the dancers!

21st of May we were invited by DJ Robbie Buck to do a 20 minute 'live to air' on National radio station triple j; which was broadcast the following night.

Friday 23rd of May we were back at The Warren with our mate Matt Toohey in support, as with previous shows at this venue a fine time was had by all and we can't wait for the next one.

Sunday 6th of July we were back in Brisbane to play a most enjoyable show at Rics bar with local Brisbanites The Golden Circles who were a treat the world should watch out for, and experimental demons The Hi God People who never disappoint ~ The Cannanes lineup for this show included Greg Wadley on Drums & keyboards / James Dutton on Guitar & Bass + Fran & Stephen doing what they usually do ~great venue and huge Sunday night crowd - thanks to an excellent crowd and as seems to be the current trend - all the dancers!

Friday 18th July we were back to our usual lineup, back in Sydney and back at The Warren View ~ playing to a pretty much full house! ~ the turnout surprised even us and breaking the guarantee and getting paid a bonus is always handy. Our special guests A Gold Star Secret were in fine form in new two piece mode, thanks as always to the guests, the dancers, and the girl who loudly proclaimed us as the best band she'd ever seen!

Then the University of NSW Expo(6th Sept) here in Sydney, a fun day out where we had the opportunity to view the artwork To absent friends which is also the worlds largest hologram ! as well as watch robot dogs play soccer and many other informative activities.

Followed by another good rockin 3 sets at The Warren View (on Fri 12th Sept).

The Friday before Japan we did a short notice Live to Air (15th Sept) on excellent new [at the time] Sydney radio station FBI 94.5FM ~ huge thanks to the wonderful Simon Aveling for asking us on his show.

JAPAN SEPTEMBER 2003 ~ TROUBLE SEEMED SO FAR EAST TOUR

In September of 2003 we embarked on our most extensive Japanese tour to date. The tour was arranged by our good friend Shintaro Kiyonari of Smiley and Momorien fame who we sincerely thank for what at least two of the band have described as "the best 10 days of my life" ~ We were driven most places by Keiho Hattori (which as anyone who has driven in Tokyo or thereabouts would know is an excruciating and sometimes dangerous task which should only be approached with much planning and a cool attitude). We hope to thank Keiho properly one of these days. The band consisted of Bon, Fran, Jim, Penny & Stephen + Shintaro and Guy who joined us each night on guitars, keyboard and vocals. Herewith the collected tour diary ~ most entries were made by Bon, Fran, Jim, Penny & Shintaro (+ some from Guy and one from Kenji who organized our 1st tour to Japan). The whole thing was strung together later by everyone. Much video + many photographs were taken as well as recordings of shows etc... over time we hope to tweak this so it makes a bit more sense + add more video + sound + get a few more photos up here ~ in the meantime read on .... [but don't forget to come back later].

2003 CONTINUED

EVEN MORE GIGFEST
We got back from Japan on the 28th of Sept '03 and played that very night at the Annandale Hotel here in Sydney ~ whew what a tour ~ two members of the band have described it as the best 10 days of their lives! ~ massive thanks to Shintaro for getting us there ~ and it all went so well looks like we'll be back there in 2005 [ended up being 2006 - ed.].

BACK TO REDFERN
Sunday 18th Oct we played the Back to Redfern Festival in Redfern Park (Sydney), a bit more of a "Big Day Out" with many local and Indigenous artist performing on the day, we got to close proceedings after The Stiff Gins and Christine Anu had done their thing and despite the rain managed to get quite a large portion of the crowd dancing! ~ thanks to Mayor Tony Pooley, the excellent stage crew and all involved in the organizing.

WAZZA GEARS UP!
Thanks to the huge crowd that turned up to our fridge magnet launch at The Warren View on 24th October '03 ~ the publican told us it was the largest he'd seen there!

At last ! ~ Cannanes fridge magnets ~ Also new photos taken by Sydney rock-photographer the legendary TONY MOTT now in Press Kit Photos

LITTLE DAY OUT
SUN 2nd of Nov '03 we played a fundraiser for Laurel Tree House Child Care Centre in Glebe [Sydney]. Much money was raised and a fine day was had by all and we may even get some shots of the day up here one day ~ in the mean time keep an eye out for the current issue of childcare magazine The Rattler.

SUN 16th Nov '03 we did a funny fundraiser for The South Sydney Herald then that evening a very sort notice a hilarious live to air on the final Crash Hot on 2SER FM.

THE taxi club incident
Our last show for 2003 took place at Sydneys renowned Grosvenor Club aka The Taxi Club ~ a fun evening was had by all despite the unexpected arrival of 16 gloved police with two sniffer dogs! ~ thankfully no one was searched or dragged out though it was a very offensive intrusion. Musically The Rebel Astronauts were awesome, Panel of Judges gave a peak performance, Cannanes did their thing then all enjoyed the dj's till the early hours!

2004

For a number of reasons we won't go into right now 2004 was a relatively quiet year for the band; we did however manage some memorable shows in Sydney and Melbourne ... read on...

ZINE BLITZ!
The Cannanes have recently rated good mentions in this Summers edition of The Rattler ( The magazine of NSW Community Child Care Cooperative ~ with a very fine photo of the band playing to some very cute kiddies) and the June issue of LaTrobe University Librarys' Library Link !
We were also are pleased to see Japanese glossie Pop & Independent Magazine Cookie Scene December '03/ January '04 issue has included not only a large article + tour review but also have put You Name It on the CD compilation that goes with it (which also include The Aluminium Group, Kid 606 + 18 other indie tracks).

In May we played occasional Cannane James Duttons 40th and were stoked to have Phil Moriarty step up to the microphone for an absolutely stunning impromptu solo on one of our newer songs Guilty.

In August we had the pleasure of playing our first of what we hope will be many shows at Brunswicks Vic Hotel ~ great place ~ the band room is like a large kitchen with lounge chairs, tasteful 50's decor and a stage at one end. The new look Flywheel opened with a very mature set featuring the superb harmonies of James and brother Toby, Cannanes followed in "new wave mode" [Fran and Stephen joined by snappy Greg Wadley on drums, kinky Guy Blackman on electric organ and groovin James Dutton on bass] for a largely retro set of Cannanes classics, then we were all treated to a Supersized set by brilliant young Melbourne band New Estate who after exhausting their set list added a good half hour of improvised rock to satiate the crowds thirst for more!Our 7th of July show was a farewell to our wonderful trumpeter Penny McBride who was off for holls in India, many ex Cannanes were on the premises and the evenings sets were well peppered with Cameo performances including Andy Coffey up on stage with us for a raunchy rip through Last Resort.

11th of September we were back at the Vic in Brunswick to celebrate the release of the Melbourne Water compilation. The gala launch was featured Panel of Judges, The Bites, New Estate, On, Breaking The Law, Driving Past, Clinton Green, James Earthenware, Julian Williams, and of course The Cannanes; in "clown mode" [Two Piece with some weird gadgets on stage] the whole evening went surprisingly smoothly and was an excellent chance to check out some leading lights of the Melbourne 'Scene'.

Our Bon sits in with Dazza Hanlon & Mossy ! @ LDO 2005

LITTLE DAY OUT II
The last Sunday in September we played The Little Day Out II ~ held at Laurel Tree House Child Care Centre in Sydney, the lineup included Aussie ROCK LEGEND Ian Moss + Aussie INDIE ROCK LEGEND Darren Hanlon. The Cannanes played minus our trumpet virtuoso Penny who was still hangin with her guru in India (and has since returned to us). Highlights of the afternoon included guest guitarist Yannick Caffarel-Slade making his spectacular Rock 'n Roll debut + Darren H and our very own Bon K joining Mossy for the second half of his set!

If you missed it Fran made many cameo appearances in the long running TV documentary series Reality Bites screened on the ABC here in Australia. The four episodes titled Street Practice which aired over September watch out for a rerun some time.

Bad/good news in September - a warehouse in Sydney where irreplaceable Cannanes master tapes were being stored recently leaked during a large storm, tape boxes were found covered in mould with some having made it's way to the tapes. Some tapes have now been baked! to remove moisture, the tapes were placed in the trusted hands of Troy Horse Studios who have had them transfered to digital formats i.e..(the good news?) Possible re-mix albums!

A depressing result in the US election but I guess not our fault. If only it didn't make John Howard so happy. The Aussie dollar continues its climb though. Our idle claim that the Cannanes would go back to the USA when the Aust $ was worth 80c US is looking like a possibility. Oh frabjous day.We were most upset to hear of the death of John Peel on 28th of October. In our opinion the finest DJ to ever present music on air. Not just a champion of English "indie" but an incredibly open minded music lover as anyone who managed to catch some of his "Peelenium" broadcasts would agree. Though he played The Cannanes on numerous occasions, we can now only cry in our beers, never to be able to do a "Peel Session" which was very much on the cards when we toured Europe a while back. If you are not familiar with Johns work we'd suggest you check out his homepage at the BBC.

ELVIS DROPS BY
Maybe it had something to do with putting that clown on the poster ~ that led to a very strange night at The Warren View in Sydney in December 2004 (including an Elvis sighting! ~ read one account below); (read even more about it on Frans' Vanity Page).

T o m U p s t o n e w r o t e : H e l l o ! So there I was in the rooftop bar of the Sofitel in Phillip street, having been at a large Advertising lunch trying to persuade the printers I'm with to join me in kicking on to a pub in Newtown to see a gig - a rare free appearance by The Cannanes - a legendary indie Sydney band that have been going for 20 years. I fail, jump in a cab and start heading home. Sod it I think and decide that as the pub is only 10 minutes from home I'll stop off - just for a while at least. I enter the pub, the band's playing and sounding good ( the female lead singer is at least 45 now and looks like a teacher ). As the pub is so small, the bass player is standing in front of the fag machine and I've run out. So I go up to a girl who's smoking and ask to buy a cigarette. She kindly gives me one with a smile. The bloke who's just been talking to her taps me on the shoulder and says' I've got to talk to you, you could be my brother!'. I look at him - wearing a baseball cap, with glasses, slightly smaller and fatter than me ( but with better teeth ). "Do I know you - what's your name?" I ask. 'Reginald Dwight' ( Elton's real name ) he replies. 'Don't give me that, I'm a Watford fan - I know who that is - you're not who I think you are, are you?'. At which he takes off his cap quickly and puts it back on and fuck me sideways it's Elvis Costello. 'Do you want a drink?' he asks -'Just a Red Bull thanks I reply feeling myself sobering up with shock. He returns from the bar and says again how remarkable the similarity between the two of us is and I tell him I get it all the time and now I have a great story to tell them next time someone mentions it. He says he's in town for a couple of days before heading to Japan and is watching the Cannanes because he's heard them on John Peel and is still mourning his death. I tell him how I burst into tears after hearing a 30 minute tribute to Peel on the BBC World Service. He tells me how he's been to his house and to see Liverpool play with him. I tell him I'm making my radio debut the next evening on a Sydney local station playing all my old Punk 45's and that Radio Radio is one of them. We watch the band. The band finishes. I say - 'go on - play a tune' .He says 'I wasn't going to, but will for you' - starts walking towards the band, who are packing up but thinks better of it and backs off. I say to the bass player 'that's Elvis Costello' he replies 'I know! ! !'. Anyway - then he's off. I go outside, walk 2 minutes to the nearest 7-11, buy some fags and phone up the wife. She believes me - I'm still in shock and go back to the bar for a Red Bull with vodka this time. And then he's back at the bar - 'Just had to get rid of those record company people - want to keep drinking with my brother' he says' Meet Mick - he helps me out'. Mick appears to be his minder. 'Reg' as he insists on calling himself asks me about what I do. I tell him about work, the kids etc etc. He tells me his son is now 26 and he doesn't see enough of him. 'Let's go and find some girls' he says as the pub starts to close. So we walk down Enmore road, I tell him I didn't go to his Sydney shows as $120 a ticket was too much. We arrive at the Town Hall pub and me, 'Reg' & Mick are refused entry - 'you've all had to much' says the bouncer. I resist the urge to say 'don't you know who this is?' and take my new friends across the road to the Zanzibar, where they always let you in. 'Reg' goes and shouts the drinks again. Me and Mick sit at a table. 'Reg' goes off talking to girls. I'm now doing my best to persuade Mick to get Elvis along to FBI ( the radio station I'm appearing on ) the next night as a major surprise guest. Mick tells me that Elvis lost a brother whilst growing up. Anyway - 10 minutes later Elvis/Reg/Declan decides it's time for him to go & tells me that I'm a good, passionate, creative person and to go for my dreams. We shake hands and I give him my business card - I walk home on cloud 9 or 10. I wake up hung over and in shock - had this all been real? Thank god for the two phone calls to Amanda to tell of my evening's progress. I do the radio show the next evening, which is loads of fun but no surprise guest! As well as Radio Radio I finish with 'Watching the detectives' - just in case he's listening. It's my birthday on the Monday and I have a day off - as soon as I'm at work on Tuesday I check his website & his next gig is in Tokyo 8/12 - so he was hanging out in Sydney before going to Japan. What a birthday! Tom x x x . .

2005

We started the year with a trip down to Melbourne in early January for a lovely show with New Estate and The Readies, and a couple of shows in Sydney in February..

12th of March (well it was the 13th by the time we got onstage or should we say in-tent?) we performed at "Woolstock" a sort of indie rockfolk fest held at the beautiful Rosnay organic Farm in Central Western New South Wales. We got to see (and get a note or two out of) the worlds largest playable guitar on route). Once there the camping was perfect, our hosts most warm and plenty of fine foods, organic wines and home grown music enjoyed by all, hopefully we'll be back next year. Big thanks to Andrew Wooldridge for organizing it. If your in the market for some top notch organic produce, check out their website for your nearest outlet, you may be surprised how close it is!

Tis big! ~ SO'N with the Worlds' largest playable guitar ! Narrandera New South Wales ~ March 2005

Big thanks to Houseboy of music website fasterlouder.com.au for his touching tribute piece on the Cannanes pblished 14th Apr, 2005 (focusing on the Love Affair album in particular which he describes as "my Never Mind The Bollocks, That's Alright Mama, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Nevermind!" read it now Recording wise 2005 was quite busy, new recording projects were begun.... including... work on the Grassy Flat 3" CDEP. Anyway to prove we haven't been idle of late we offer you a peek into Remembrance of Things Past, the Proust, "Rock Opera" Fran has been collaborating on with Matt Gallaway of New York band Saturnine listen and buy it at saturnine.bandcamp.com jumping ahead in 2011 an accompanying video was shot in New York and can now be viewed at vimeo.com/32311176 On Sunday 12th June 2005 we had the pleasure of performing live down the phone to Providence RI on 'Phoning it in' hosted by Nadav Carmel ~ we performed live in our kitchen in BENDIGO and the show streamed live from Rhode Island USA on BSR88.1FM ~ the show was archived and didn't sound too bad! you can check it out @ Phoning it in while you're there make sure you have a listen to other recent phone ins by Daniel Johnston, David Kilgour, Jad Fair, Little Wings, Corndawg and a host of other indie luminaries ~ some great stuff there!

WHERE CANNANES AT?
Mid July 2005 we were up/down in Melbourne for a couple of shows + 3 days recording at the very cool Simon Grounds' Sub Zero Studios. Highlights of the week included Super Computers debut performance [featuring our old mates and traveling companion Scott Brewer & Scott Stevens ex-of The Earthmen] and The Boy Moritz Dancers at the Town Hall Hotel, playing The Empress with Man Bites God (celebrating 5 years in the business) and the very entertaining (and musical) Fred Astereo, & partying on with Francesca and her crew back in Coburg.

The Oxfam show in August raised over $1000 which is pretty good for a Sunday night at the Hopetoun. Thanks to All.

AWSOME..... [Show reviEw by g RoY]
Plug Uglies played.  Man, they blew the roof off!  They played all the favourites which I couldn't remember because if you remember the eighties you weren't there and I was there.  I can't remember the seventies either except for the episode of The Brady Bunch where Marcia gets her nose broken just before the big party.  That was cool.  I guess I mustn't have been stoned that day.  Yeah, I think that was the day Mum confiscated my bong but after the Brady Bunch I made one out of a plastic fruit juice bottle and got stoned again. If I wasn't a cool rock star and hadn't spent the time Plug Uglies were playing in my dressing room having cocaine blown up my arse by my roadie, Bum Crack Guy, then I might have something to say about the 2005 Plug Uglies. But I don't, so - whatever.After the show we went to an exclusive club called Alice's House and drank Annabel's wine which was kinda cool.  Razz Matazz played a couple of songs which was mellow and groovy.  You know, some people get drunk and they kinda bellow which is uncool cause I'm a musician and my ears are my instrument.  You wouldn't bellow at a chisel or a scalpel and you shouldn't bellow at a musician's ear either. Uncool. Next day we went home if we were cool or to Canberra if we weren't.
Good times.
G Roy
Stop Press: Bum Crack Guy has been sent off to roadie re education camp for failing to plug in G Roys bass.

OH the HORROR! ~ BONE CURSE SMITES 3 CANNANES IN THREE WEEKS!!!

Imagine yourself happily riding your bike to work, seeing a puddle of what seems like water in front of you, hitting it and realizing it's oil, then completely loosing control and ending up in hospital with TWO broken wrists! This was G Roys fate the morning before our November 2005 Melbourne show. The good news is he sustained no other injuries and next day was up and about and keen to enjoy the good weather ~ as the band had a show booked the following night and as all showfolk know "the show must go on" James stepped across to bass duties, also Miranda P-W of RazzMatazz fame joined us on guitar for a couple of searing rock numbers. The event was the Tugboat album launch (BIG thanks to the Tug crew for helping us through what could have been a difficult night), and a good time was had by all! (though our thoughts were with G Roy who sensibly stayed home). The following week week, Bon fell of his bike! (to avoid hitting a pram), ending up with a sore back, bruising, grazing and a few stitches. Two weeks later Stephen had a run in with some scary stairs which resulted in a broken arm! All have now recovered and looking foreward to more shows.