Welcome to my shrines Page, this page will be, like most my pages, a constant work in progress. A place for me to yap into the abyss about the things I enjoy even if no one else knows what they are

Dogs In Space ★ Christopher Chance ★ Rage, Countdown & Recovery

The year is 2023, I'm watching a youtube video, an old rage recording of one of my favourite bands music video's (Ghostwriters, When the World is Almost At Peace). And im scrolling through the comments, and one comment sticks out too me; it states "This song has always felt like a response to Max Q's Way of the World", or at least something to that effect. And so I look up "Max Q Way of the World" and I thus fall in love.

I, as any Australian growing up post 1987; already know of INXS & by extension Michael Hutchence, but I had no idea of his involvement in the single, self titled album by the Band Max Q. Formed of Ollie Olsen & Michael Hutchence, (may they both rest in peace) and a few other friends doing backup instruments & vocals.

Amongst my wikipedia deep dive into the band, I stumble upon a reference to a 1986 film which they (Michael Hutchence & Ollie Olsen) both worked on, Dogs In Space. A film set in 1978, Melbourne Australia, focusing on the punk & little band scene of the place and time; And much to my luck, an SD version was available on the internet Archive of the time. (It has since been struck by the copyright gods)

And so I watched the film. and I once again, fell in LOVE. So much of this film has influenced my already punk leaning music taste- The Marching Girls, Whirlywirld & The Primitive Calculators have become integral parts of my long ass playlist. And not only that it encouraged me to explore the older melb punk & little band scenes further and find bands like → ↑ → (Tsk Tsk Tsk), Ash Wednesday, or even Essendon Airport. My one gripe is that so much of these bands content has been lost to time. But such is the way of small bands

I've Since Bought the LP (white cover, censored version unforetunately, it was significantly cheaper than the uncensored version), Introduced my friends to the film, and visited the house where it was filmed (or at least the street it was filmed on).

And so, I figured lemme tell you some more about the music in the film. Not every peice of music in the film made it too the LP. Songs such as: Suicide - Frankie Teardrop, Skull Brains - Too Fat Too Fit Through The Door, Tequila - The Champs, Window to The World - Whirlywirld, Shivers - Boys Next Door, Happy Birthday & Mr Clarinet - The Birthday Party appear within of the film but are not included within the LP.

Some of these probably account to being a time constraint of the LP format, however, guys we could've cut out Michael Hutchence's Green Dragon to include some of these. That being said, there is a possibility that Frankie Teardrop, Happy Birthday & Mr Clarinet, may have posed an issue to get liscencing for, as they where by decently well known bands, and they already got the liscencing to 2 Iggy Pop songs to be on the LP, and presumably, that cost quite a bit. The original version of Shivers by The Boys Next Door was likely scrapped from the LP due to there already being the Marie Hoy & Friends Cover

It is important to note the sheer overlap between the local melbourne bands featured within of the film.

Whirlywirld: Arnie Hanna, David Hoy, John Murphy & Ollie Olsen

Too Fat To Fit Through The Door: Marcus Bergner, Marie Hoy, John Murphy, James Rogers, Ollie Olsen

Thrush & The Cunts: Denise Grant, Marie Hoy*, Danila Stirpe**, Jules Taylor

Primitive Calculators: Terry Dooley***, Denise Grant****, Stuart Grant, David Light

Marie Hoy & Friends: Marie Hoy, Loki, Tim Millikan, John Murphy & Ollie Olsen.

* Marie Hoy played as drummer as the Original Drummer, Marion Brown couldnt be found,** in the original band Marissa Stirpe was a member, but was in europe at the time, instead played by her sister in the film, ***Frank was also europe at the time, ****While Credited as Denise Grant, Denise Rosenberg.

I would like to highlight in here into the one person credited as Loki. Is this a person named / going by Loki? Or is this a joke to the Norse god of well, pranks & lies?? I have no idea, and I fear the answer may be lost to time. If someone who was involved in the film or otherwise knows the story behind this loki person, and is somehow reading this, please reach out.

It is important to note, I wouldn't personally refer to Primitive Calculators & Whirlywirld as little bands, and I know that the Primitive Calculators do not refer to themselves as such.

If you're like me and want to collect as much hyperspecific knowledge on this film as possible, I recommend Checking out Primitive Calculators Website, Marcus Bergner's experimental film works, Richard Lowenstein's Other Works (including INXS Music Videos) & Ollie Olsens numerous works.

Fun thing: I'm not the most involved in melbournes current punk scene, I do try to go out and see live music events; but even the limited number I have attended, mostly at Cherry Bar & Fairfield Bowls Club, but the graphic design & and typical feel of "once this is done its gonna be gone" is still there. So many of these small bands, throughout time are united by never getting big, and eventually disappearing, and while that is an incredibly sad thing, it is a fact of our existence. and I think the fleeting moments in which they existed were beautiful.

In this modern age surrounded by algorithms, and radio stations which, for decades have been playing the same songs over and over and over; ive been struggling to find new music to listen to. Not necessarily brand new releases, but just music new to me. Music & Bands I've never experienced before. I've previously turned to my friends (Unforetunately, I am friends with a number of pretentious jazz enjoyers... sorry jazz enjoyers. The music is chill. just not my exact pref.), and searched through my families CD & remnants of their tape & record collections.

But eventually I slightly ran out (which is crazy given my dad's capability to listen to just about everything), and my friends would only give so many suggestions that aligned with my tastes (given aforementioned differences in taste) and got a bit sick of my grandma's love for the beach boys-

And so I turned to the wonderful existence (or previous existence) of MUSIC TELEVISION

Unlike most places, which have lost their music television as the form of Music Video & live TV came out of favour for streaming services; Australia is home to the oldest music television program still in production, ABC's Rage.

Rage is a late night TV program, starting in 1987, designed to keep the party going after clubs & bars closed their doors late at night. You could come home and continue the party with continuous, back to back, music videos. Or you could have the party the whole night from the safety of your lounge room. Rage often brings on guest programmers in the form of Australian & international musicians, providing music videos & songs which they themselves enjoy & think the audience will enjoy too. And as well as highlighting new music over the course of its almost 40 year tenure, it has begun to bring out THE VAULT & Rage Goes Retro, bringing out Collections of music videos from certain years, often including clips from previous music television shows produced by ABC (such as Countdown, Rock Arena & Recovery).

AND even if your not Australian you can still experience the music that rage has to offer, as since 1998 they have been publishing playlists for every night broadcast on their website! (linked is the wayback machine archive going back to Jan 1999). If you dont want to scroll through lists of songs, then check out this site which takes u to youtube videos of every song rage has played, (that the code can find a video for).

Rage is a phenominal way of finding both new releases, as well as releases that are simply new to you. But so is it's predecessors / co-workers over the years.

ABC's Countdown is the backbone of all Music television. Countdown, with its first episode releasing in 1974, was doing music television before MTV. It quickly became a Sunday night staple during it's active years of 1974-1987; and highlighted a wide variety of Australian & international music. Unforetunately a lot of the show has been lost due to budget cuts & tapeovers. But clips & full episodes can be found pretty easily by checking out Youtube & The Internet Archive.

Thanks to Countdown I've found some of my favourite songs! Gay Guys - Dugites, To Young For Promises - Koo De Tah, Simple Simon - INXS, Do What You Want to Do - Hot City Bump Band & more!

Recovery is similar to Countdown, while having a much shorter life span, and also focusing on a very specifically teenage audience, instead of Countdown's catch-all; and with the added bonus of focusing on not just music, but also culture and life-style. (which can be a bit boring, but it is fun to see what was the "trend" in the 90's. If your a fan of alternative & 90's grunge, i'd say Recovery is for u. it truly helps highlight Australia's sadly often forgotten alternative scene, with iconic bands such as the Mavis's, Silverchair & more. (I've unforetunately not watched as much recovery as i have Rage & Countdown)

I must also mention, as im going on about australian music television, Rock Arena. However, ive just never enjoyed any rock arena episodes ive stumbled upon as much as I have Cowndown, Rage or Recovery. But the list would feel criminally incomplete without a mention of the program.