Andrew Vladeck

How can you take the planet’s most majestic creatures and reduce them to props in the cheesiest photo-op imaginable, you ask?  Look no further.

In other news, our moment with the most rock potential came with the Oddesey Festival on The Gold Coast of Australia.   It sure is something to play to a big, beautiful green field.  It’s another thing to play to a field with people on it.  But we played first, and it was a gorgeous night, as bats flew overhead, and we really couldn’t complain.  We had our friends Liz and the Dozzi Sisters in the audience and  the sound was great (thanks again, Steve Winders).  And then we had to high tail it to another gig in Brisbane to usher in the New Year.   Which by that time, everyone was so thankfully sloshed that it made little difference that I played half the show with my banjo tuned to a minor chord.  Not a propitious (or professinal) start to the new year, but no one seemed to mind.    In fact, Carl Honey said he thought my soloing was the best of the tour.  Go figure.

My favorite show of the stint was playing Bread & Butter with the Dozzi Sisters (known on myspace as Doz).  Australia’s answer to one of our USA favorites, The Chapin Sisters.  That is, super talented singing, writing…  and super easy on the eyes.     They let me grace the stage for a solo set followed by Sonny Honey and Honey DuContra.   A fun lovely chill evening.  And can i mention:  the things Ozzies do with Pizza - shocking!  But forgiveable… very good.