Sydney's best pin up shop is coming to Brisbane and this Saturday is the Grand Opening of the Chermside store! Your One Stop PinUp Shop is opening a second shop in Chermside, on Gympie Road, just a couple of minutes walk from Westfield!

LOOK AT ME I'M ON A POSTER!

There will be free makeovers by The Lindy Charm School, gorgeous pinup model Miss Elixir Black will be signing prints and there will be lucky door prizes from the ladies of Galmatic.

Cruzin Magazine will be in attendence so you never know if you'll end up in the pages of a glossy magazine and Masterchef contestant Danielle Dixon will be bringing along her divine petit fours and mini cupcakes! There'll also be HUGE sale prices and some cool cars. And yep, you guessed it - little ol me will be there too!

This is an event not to be missed - I hope to see you there! Or not, you know...to keep all the cheap pretty dresses for me.

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My brother-in-law showed this to me yesterday and I cried as I read it. I warn you now, it’s a very sad story but it spreads such an important message that I had to share it. I know it’s a bit long but PLEASE read it to the end, it’s SUCH an important message.

When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite the number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was ‘bad’ you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” – but then you’d relent and roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together.

I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides and stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs” you said) and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through your heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions and romped with glee at your homecomings and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a ‘dog person’ – still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a ‘prisoner of love’.

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch, because your touch was now so infrequent, and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being ‘your dog’ to ‘just a dog’ and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now you have a career opportunity in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your ‘family’ but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear and of hopelessness.

You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her”. They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with ‘papers’. You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!” and I worried about him and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now, I have one too.

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules will allow. They feed us of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed by my pen I rushed to the front hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind, that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realised I could not compete with the frolicking attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her.

The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dog speak she said, “I’m so sorry”. She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned or have to fend for myself. A place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my ‘how could you?’ was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

- Jim Willis, 2011

This is the composite story of millions of formerly owned pets who die in animal shelters each year. One of the main reasons dogs are abandoned is lack of information and knowledge prospective buyers have.

Another reason is because owners fail to obedience train or have unrealistic expectations of their pet. So please, make sure you know enough about the breed’s basic characteristics, temperament, requirements and basic training before buying that cute little puppy that will eventually grow into an adult dog.

Bringing home a pet is a lifelong responsibility and commitment, please make sure you consider this before buying or adopting.

While Roland, Oliver, David and Martin of Mars Attacks were in Australia for Garterbelts & Gasoline, I caught up with Martin to get the low down on all things out of this world.

Sheri Bomb: Is this your first time in Australia?

Martin Telfser: Yes! For all of us! That’s why I didn’t want to miss the chance for some sightseeing before the shows.

SB: What are you most looking forward to about your visit down under?

MT: To play here for an audience that probably never seen us ‘live’ before, and also to see what the scene is like over here.

SB: How did the band first form?

MT: Back in 1998, all of us had bands we played in, but we were all looking for something exciting, new, fresh...something like "wild and authentic rockabilly". A much overused term just a bit later, so we just call it "outer space rockabilly" now, since we have many influences and many original songs.

SB: Do you have a favorite album out of the five you’ve released?

MT: Mmm, always the latest I guess ! That's "Recaptured!" Though I like all albums :)

SB: How do the songs on ‘Follow Me!’ differ from your older material?

MT: There’s some faster material on it, and it's probably the opposite album to its predecessor "Circle of Love" which was more relaxed, and -from the recording- "cleaner" than the sometimes tube overdriven "Follow Me" album.

SB: Where do you draw your influences from?

MT: Well, different influences for all of us; speaking of myself, my main influences are guitar players like Grady Martin, Scotty Moore and Carl Perkins.

Roland likes Elvis a lot, and David is influenced a lot by Jazz players like Buddy Rich and  Gene Krupa.

As a band, I guess we all like stuff like Johnny Burnette and Carl Perkins’ music but there’s a lot more than that.



SB: What is your songwriting and recording process like?

MT: We are lucky to have three songwriters in the band. Sometimes we just write what crosses our minds, and sometimes it’s more focused, for example the ‘Circle of Love’ album was more a concept album or "Nice Mr. Heavyweight", which I wrote for a friend by request.

For the recording process we usually only have one or maximum two weekends to record. All released records so far were recorded live in the studio with nearly no overdubs. Usually we used some vintage gear and on most records everything is recorded on two track tape recorders in mono. Until 2010, we recorded in the Blue Lake Recording Studio, after that with Little Big Beat.

SB: In April of 2011 you released a 26-track compilation of re-recorded tracks - what makes this record different?

MT: It’s the first time we re-recorded stuff, and I think the songs are now really sounding the way we sound live. It felt good to play material we were familiar with and it was the first time in a different studio and with a new engineer.

The ‘Recaptured’ idea was born, because our very first label didn’t reprint the first two albums, and also an EP. So we took the songs from that period (1999-2003) that we liked the most, added two bonus songs, and had a 26 track album!

SB: What do you think sets you apart from other bands in your genre?

MT: I think the songwriting, the live shows, the trumpet...well maybe that’s a question that should be answered by the audience...come out to our shows and judge for yourself!

SB: You’ve had your songs featured in the movie ‘Zombies From Outer Space’ – what was this process like?

MT: It was actually very easy, because we’d just been to the studio for the Recaptured record and there was no other recording date in sight and no time to write and record a song for them, so we gave them a song from that record ‘Rocket in the Sky’.

SB: Do you have a lot of support back home? Where are you finding your music is most popular and does this surprise you?

MT: We are actually playing a lot out of our home countries Austria and Switzerland. Not because there’s a lack of support, more due to their size. We toured most of Europe and the USA so it’s very hard to pick a favourite....with a good crowd we always have fun on stage!

SB: What has been the highlight of your music career?

MT: Hmm...every good show is a highlight! But of course we very much liked festivals like the Rockabilly Rave UK, High Rockabilly Spain and Green Bay USA.

SB: You guys have been playing together for almost 15 years now, what’s your secret to a long and successful band relationship?

MT: Regarding both success and band relationship: I think we always kept it interesting. We constantly had new goals, wrote new material, had new countries to conquer and constantly released new CDs. I also think we worked hard to constantly improve.

SB: If the band had not been successful, what do you think you would be doing instead?

MT: Even though we all actually still have day jobs, there’s nothing else we could imagine doing. Even if the band hadn’t been successful I think we would still all play this kind of music.

SB: What do you hope the future holds for you guys?

MT: We just recorded a new album, should be released later in 2012 on a new label and we hope it’s gonna lift us up a bit...we wrote some nice songs for it, and will play some of them on this tour already.


Keep your eyes on these guys, it was great to be introduced to their music at Garterbelts & Gasoline and as I can vouch from being front and centre, THEY ROCKED! I'm really looking forward to the new album and hope that Mars Attacks makes it back to Australian shores real soon!

'It's not where you take things from,

 it's where you take them to'

- Jean-Luc Godard

But lets start with which brands I love and make up my wardrobe...

Brands

Hell Bunny

A little bit cute a little bit evil, this brand is renowned for its cute and kitschy prints on retro and lolita inspired shapes. Offering a few key styles to choose from, find the perfect one to suit your body type and get it in a huge range of colour, trim and fabric choices for the perfect fit and look everytime.

Heartbreaker

Made with love and no regrets, the name says it all really! You'll be breaking hearts wherever you go in the classic shapes and sweet tones and textures of these made to order fashions all designed and manufactured in-house to ensure quality, durability and a true representation of 50s, 60s and vintage fashions.

Collectif

40s and 50s vintage inspired pin up style and alternative clothing with the London look. Flared and fitted dresses, tops, skirts, playsuits, jackets, coats and accessories are all available in quality fabrics designed to flatter your assets and hide your imperfections in a range of vibrant colours and prints.

Pin Up Girl Clothing

Specialists in the highest quality vintage inspired fashion, shoes and accessories for women of every size! Their original designs are cut to flatter your curves and make you look as beautiful as you feel, at prices to fit every budget. Word to the wise, there's no vanity sizing here ladies so if you're in between sizes, in most cases you'd do well to take the size up.

Bernie Dexter

Make up artist come pin up model come vintage enthusiast come fashion designer, Bernie has created her very own range of women's fashion proudly made in the USA to cater for the pin up princess inside all of us. Dresses, skirts, tops, pants, rompers and more are all available to drool over. Again, size up if you're in between.

Stop Staring

They won't be able to in these threads! Creating clothing inspired by original vintage and retro chic to flatter, embrace and celebrate the female form, these dresses and separates cater for timeless and classic styles at a mid-range price point. Created by a true vintage lover, fine attention to detail results in beautiful retro-contemporary fashion.

Bettie Page

Giving you the opportunity to recreate the style and look of this 50s icon and pin up queen, Bettie Page dresses and separates are made from rich, quality fabrics and stay true to the classic vintage styles with an eye for detail and the perfect finishing touches at a reasonable price point.

And where can you get all these amazing frocks from?

Stockists

Hoola Hoop Classic Clothing

Tattooed Zombie Accessories

Your One Stop Pin Up Shop

Currently based in Sydney there is also a shop opening up in Brisbane in just 2 weeks!! That's music to my ears but if you can't make it to either store the Facebook page has plenty of great deals on men and women's clothing, swimsuits and accessories. I can't wait to check out the new Brisbane store!

Punkabilly Dolls

Gasoline Queen

Ruff N Ready

Faster Pussycat

Atomic Cherry

Bluebird Retro Rags

MisKonduct Klothing

Created BY a dame who loves to wear pretty dresses FOR dames who like to wear pretty dresses! Based in Newcastle you can shop in store if you're lucky enough to be local or shop online from anywhere else. Locals are also spoiled by the uniqiue 'My Dressing Parlour' option of booking an appointment only session to shop, try, be fitted and styled in a gorgeous private room.  

So there you have it! All my favourite repro brands and where you can get them from. There is a lot of fun to be had with repro clothing and fellas, I'm sorry I've only covered brands for the ladies but check out those stockists too as most of them cater for you as well!

At the moment I'm all about high waisted shorts, capris and pants at the moment...so many colours and styles that I want! Perhaps I'll spoil myself a little in a few weeks for my birthday ;)

So, what repro are you lusting after?

Asking for something. At times it can be difficult. Help. Support. Charity. Affection. Ask and you shall receive. Or so they say.

But is it wrong to not want to always have to ask? To want that thing you need to just be given to you? Granted people aren't mind readers, but sometimes things can mean so much more unprompted.

Is it unfair to hope someone would just know, just do?

It's not like you blame these people, feel as though they SHOULD know and do. But this little part of you, just quietly secretly hopes that they will pick up on something. A tone. A gesture. And suddenly it all becomes clear.

Of course that's what they need. Here I come to their rescue.

It might not even be a 'thing' you need. Just a chance. An open line of communication. The opportunity to purge emotions. Like a big deep exhale. Releasing those inner feelings, sending them on their way into the breeze.

You and them, both now free.

Sometimes there's things you want to say but you don't know how to start or bringing it up is difficult. Start a conversation with someone today. Despite how things may seem, not everyone can be strong all the time. Make sure you're not expecting them to be.

Make sure you're not expecting yourself to be.

On Saturday I had a very fun morning taking my big sister to get her very first tattoo. She’s wanted one for a while now, especially as she saw me getting more and more over time. But even she admits that she’s a total wuss and it was her abject fear of pain that had been holding her back.

After talking about it for a long time, asking me lots of questions and umming and ahhing over the design, she finally summoned the courage to get it done. She decided on a Celtic tree of life, a dedication to a very close friend who has passed and a symbol of her love for my brother-in-law.

This was her 'trying not to freak out' face

Not really my style of tattoo, I respect the meaning behind it. Not normally Mimsy’s style either, she did us both a big favour by agreeing to tattoo it. Afterall, I think Mimsy is the only tattoo artist who would have been willing to put up with my sister! :P

Aside from being terrified that she’d cry or wouldn’t be able to keep still or wouldn’t be able to handle the pain and would end up with a half-finished tattoo, she mustered up the courage to attend her appointment on Saturday (although I did take her there – there was no getting away!)

Mimsy gettin it done

I’d like to say she was brave…well, she managed to get it finished so that’s something I guess! It was a real roller coaster ride of emotions as she blinked back tears as it came time for the moment of truth where needle was to pierce skin (just breathe).

Which quickly turned to shock as she realised it didn’t hurt near as much as she thought it would (told you so) to constant yelps of pain as the calligraphy style of the design called for a thicker needle (that’s the one I get ALL mine done with ya big sook) to complete and utter relief and pride when it was all over (sorry for laughing at you so much, at least I didn’t post the sneaky video I recorded)

In the end, it's ALWAYS worth the pain

She was equally better than I thought she’d be and worse than I thought she’d be at times and Mimsy was extremely nice and very patient (and probably very glad it was a small and simple tattoo!) Even though she didn’t handle it with quite as much restraint as I had expected, I’m so proud of her for facing her fears to get something she really wanted.

Seriously though, this is the same girl who shaved her head for a cure a few years ago! Now THAT takes balls…I could NEVER do that! So I guess we’re even(ish) in the chicken stakes.

L-R Tyron Shaw (Upright Bass/Vocals), Leo Francis (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) & Felix Potier (Electric Guitar/Vocals)

Upright Bass player Tyron once remarked ‘there ain’t nothin wrong with Rockabilly done right’ and you  know what? He’s right. The ReChords certainly know how to do it right, but they’re so much more than just a rockabilly band. With the looks of the clean cut good ol boys, this Melbourne trio somehow manage to create an infectious, toe tapping beat with nothing but a stand-up bass, electric and acoustic guitars.

Their harmonious hillbilly vocals breathe life into songs which seem simplistic in a down home way but scratch the surface and dig a little deeper and you’ll discover the sinful tones of rhythm and blues. Always with a twanging suggestion of rockabilly boogie, the three distinct voices of these lads harmonise perfectly to create a smooth and sexy sound that occasionally verges on doo wop but stops short at good old Americana.

Back in the day they used to call this the devil’s music and I can see why – just a few minutes listening to these boys and I feel like a woman possessed. Something comes over me and I find it hard to control my body, my feet tapping and my hips shaking as if they had a mind of their own. Mind of their own they do not have, but excellent taste in music? Yes.


Forming in late 2009, The ReChords released their debut album ‘On The Wagon’ in 2010 on new local label Bundoora Records. Featuring 9 original tracks and a their own unique take on 6 obscure vintage covers, the trio were consistently drawing crowds. Following the success of the release they saddled up for an International tour through Germany, Belgium, The Nederlands, Spain and Berlin in 2011. While in Berlin they spent 3 days in the Lightning Recording Studio laying down 10 more tracks on vintage valve equipment going straight to tape and it’s from this session that they will be releasing a limited edition 7” vinyl later this year.

You can’t help but sit up and take notice of the pure talent, passionate delivery and raw energy of Leo, Tyron and Felix and neither could the booker of Victoria’s well-respected Meredith Music Festival. The boys have since shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the biz including Nick Cave’s Grinderman, Icehouse and Mudhoney. They were also invited along to support the Melbourne leg of Justin Townes Earle’s Bluesfest tour.

My personal favourite and current romance anthem...




Showing no signs of letting up, The ReChords have a busy year ahead of them and Brisbanites will be lucky enough to catch them at this year’s Greazefest. But trust me, you won’t want to wait until then! And guess what – YOU DON’T HAVE TO!



Thanks to the generosity of these guys, they’ve given me a copy of On The Wagon to giveaway! Not only that but you can proudly display your affection for these guys and keep them close to your heart with their greased up mugs all over your chest thanks to the T-shirt they’ve also given me! I wear mine proudly and once you’ve heard this ripper on an album I know you will want to do the same!

To enter, simply ‘like’ the Sheri Bomb and The ReChords page on Facebook and leave a comment on this blog. For extra entries, share this comp via Facebook and Twitter, just be sure to let me know when you have.

Entries close midnight 28 May 2012. Winner will be chosen at random via a random number generator. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize. If prize is unclaimed after this period I will re-draw another winner.

So saddle up and git winnin!  

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Well some exciting things have been happening on the 'Big US Trip' front so I thought it might be time for an update seeing as how it's pretty much the only thing on my mind at the moment. I know it's still a while away, don't worry I'm not going to spam you with stuff ALL the time...but ya know, some of the time for sure.

Firstly, we're not going to the Lonestar Round Up anymore. After hearing the feedback from friends who went this year we weighed it up and have decided that our time will be better spent doing the tourist thing and seeing more of the places we're visiting.

So far we've got our accommodation booked at The Orleans in Vegas for the actual VLV festival, we've got our 4-day pass that gets us into every single VLV event that's on and yesterday we booked our first few nights accommodation in Hollywood! It's a tiki-themed place right on Hollywood Blvd and has a view of the Hollywood Sign from the courtyard - OHMIGAWD!!!! So all that's left is flights - VERY EXCITING!


So the plan now is to arrive in LA and spend a few days there and checking out Hollywood before making our way to Las Vegas for VLV. After the festival we'll visit the Grand Canyon before hiring a car and driving down through Pheonix, AZ and then onto Tijuana before travelling up the coast to San Diego where we plan on checking out the zoo and then exploring California and doing the whole Disneyland thing and maybe even making it to San Francisco if we have time before heading back to LA to fly home.

PHEW! That's just over 2 weeks of awesomeness, we're going to be mucho busy (see, brushing up on my Spanish already!) and to think we're only seeing a tiny little corner of the country! Aye aye aye!

Our tiki accommodation - woo hoo!

As I mentioned, we've got our accommodation sorted up until the end of Viva and from there we're just gonna fly by the seat of our pants, an intrepid adventure if you will. We don't want to be restricted by a steadfast timeline that might not allow for surprises we see along the way and we don't want to miss out on seeing things because it's not where we're 'meant' to be. So it will be an adventure, and we'll just stop wherever we find for the night - we're not fussy, it doesn't have to be the ritz as long as it's clean and the bed is resonably comfortable we'll be happy.

We're also currently in 'training mode' and are pretty happy with our results already. You see, we know that such an intense schedule and trying to fit so much in while we're over there is going to take it's toll on us physically so we're trying to increase our fitness levels now so that by the time we're over there we can keep up! We're also trying to lose a bit of weight for the inevitable gain that will come from 2 weeks of fried, barbequed, meaty, greasey goodness that American food is known for - oh yeah, permission to pig out!!

It's only 10 months away and considering how fast this year has gone already I know it will be here before we know it.

OH MY FREAKING GAWD I'M SO DAMN EXCITED!!!

You can buy this for your wall

In 6 weeks I'll be 24 and with so many changes going on in my life right now and the impending big trip to the US, I’ve been thinking about where my little path may be leading and the things that I hope for myself in the coming years.
I’ve managed to nail it down to this…

• Visit the US – have my mind blown & realise a new perspective on the world
• Come back from the US – yep that’s a goal, I know I’m not going to want to leave
• Blog about EVERYTHING – share all my amazing US stories & dig deeper in general
• Work hard – continue to enjoy my job while hopefully earning a little more
• Keep saving – enjoy financial freedom while I don’t have any debt
• Invest in happiness – GET MY VERY OWN LITTLE LOVEABLE PUG!!
• Keep making dreams a reality – look into buying an ‘old car’ before I lock myself into serious debt
• Knuckle down on saving – I really want a place of my own
• Get serious – remember my priorities & don’t be distracted by meaningless crap
• Commit – understand present sacrifice for long term gain & save hard for my own place
• Learn – take the plunge & learn as I go through the process of finding & buying my own place
• DECORATE – enjoy the simple pleasure of designing & decorating my own space the way I want it
• Enjoy – look back on what I have achieved & allow myself to be proud

After such a wonderful night at the Saturday Night Rockabilly Meltdown we indulged in a tiny little sleep in on Sunday morning (8:30 am – what a luxury!) before I armed myself with sunscreen, parasol, camera, pretty dress and comfy shoes and headed for the excitement of the Hot Rod Carnival. As soon as I stepped up to the gate and got a peek inside the grounds I was struck by just how enormous and busy the grounds were already. At only 10 am, the carnival looked to be even bigger and busier than last year!

With thanks to the Garterbelts & Gasoline Nostalgia Festival for this image

Enjoying the warm rays of the sun we cruised through the row upon row of pre-70 hot rods, customs, stockers, ratters, bikes and vintage caravans making sure we got to see all the gleaming automobilia before we hit the stalls or band stage (once dazzled by pretty things and rockin music it’s hard to convince yourself to leave).

Thanks Dani, for snapping this fun pic of me!

After a yummy spider to quell the beginnings of a hangover we toured the stalls selling almost anything a rockabilly gal or guy could dream of. Vintage Caravan Magazine was out in full force and the kustom embroidered clothing of Bluebird Retro Rags were selling like hotcakes while the pomade and grease rags of Cowpunkabilly got a work out to complete the look. There were so many wonderful things on offer including authentic kitschy vintage and collector pieces but I remained strong (remember, VEGAS!)

Artwork by Vanessa Radcliffe

We caught some shade in the Vintage Hall as we took in all the Queensland talent showcased in the Low Brow Art Show. There were all kinds of creations on display, everything from tiki carvings to airbrush artwork, Lichtenstein-esque paintings to pinstriping, metal sculptures to photographic displays and so much more.

Tiki Time with Krash

By this time the sounds of the band were filtering through the windows and we couldn’t stay away a minute longer! Splitting our time between the hilarious show being put on over at The Fuelers  stage and the main stage, we watched the dancers battling the hilly grassed area and enjoyed the fantastic entertainment. This year the main stage was moved to prime position up near the markets and thankfully there was more shade to enjoy too – I think it was a great move for Paul and Amanda!

Awesome action shot thanks to Mz Vicki

We caught Victoria’s Scotty Baker on the main stage and fell in love with him all over again but the ones we were waiting to see were Hanks Jalopy Demons, also from Victoria. This was my first time seeing these guys live despite loving their music for some time now and they certainly didn’t disappoint! They were fantastic and I only wished that they could have played one of the night time shows so that we could have really burned it up with them.


After an exhausting day walking around the showgrounds and a massive weekend filled with so much fun, despite my heart being ready for more my body was thankful for the slower pace of the Sunday Night Wind Down. Held in the gorgeous St Bernards function room some might remember as last year’s Garterbelts HQ, the night was the perfect ending to a festival that continues to outdo itself.


Swing your partner round n round

Offering a more intimate atmosphere, the night and the venue provided an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends, enjoy dinner and mingle with plenty of the musos who were wandering around and enjoying the final night of fun. Victoria’s fantastic talent was represented in force with Warren Earl’s South Valley Syncopaters kicking off the night with plenty for the swing crowd to enjoy while The Black Hill Ramblers ramped things up a notch and brought the night and the festival to a thunderous, fitting close.


As I dragged myself into bed that night, despite being more exhausted than I remember being in a very long time, I was so thrilled with how fantastic the festival turned out this year and was brimming with pride for the amazing talent and dedication to the kulture that shone throughout the weekend.

A humungous thank you must go out to Paul and Amanda for all their hard work, sacrifice, sleepless nights and determination for pulling off such an amazing festival on such a grand scale. Without people like them dedicating themselves to events like this, the kulture wouldn’t live on or be gaining the strength and momentum that it has.

Thanks guys, you did a fabulous job!

After such a fun afternoon at the Mount Tambourine Brewery and Soap Box Derby it was difficult to tear myself away for the briefing session for the Pin Up Competition. Running out of time, I really must sincerely thank the always stunning Miss Elisse for pulling me together and doing such a fabulous job on my hair and makeup.

Can you believe this is the only picture we got together!?

She had me looking pin up stage mum ready in no time and I was so excited to wear what has now become known as THAT dress. As a vintage lover but a gal who finds it hard to find vintage that fits or suits, owning and wearing this amazing 50s Magnin & Co fully sequined iridescent hourglass sweater crochet cocktail dress and matching shawl was a very exciting event indeed!


Arriving at the Vonda Youngman Centre there was barely time for a photograph before I headed backstage to help the bevvy of beauties who were to be competing in the night’s pin up competition. There was so much primping and preening going on in that backstage dressing room and although there were a few nerves and butterfly tummies, the girls were absolutely lovely and pleasure to work with.

The most girlie fun you can have and some of the nicest ladies you could have it with!

While backstage we could hear the swingin hillbilly sounds of Warren Earl & The Atomic Rockers all the way from Victoria. My toes were a-tappin to the jazzed up blues, rockabilly and early country rock ‘n’ roll of these boys and I can only imagine that the dancefloor must have been packed!!

I dare YOU to pick one! I'll take them all ;)

Then it was time all the girls (and all the guys out in the crowd too I’m sure!) had all been waiting for – their chance to take to the stage and strut their stuff! Ange and I were ‘stage mums’ and stood off to the side helping the ladies with their props, giving them their cues and just generally trying to calm their nerves and I was SO proud as they each took their turns on the stage to dazzle the audience. I do not envy the judges a single bit as that has to be hands down the hardest job! All the girls were completely gorgeous and had adorable routines to boot! I honestly don’t know how I would have chosen.

Crazy lil man with a great big guitar

After the girls were crowned their titles, Western Australian favourite The Rusty Pinto Combo took to the stage and had everyone captivated. Swooning girls are a regular sight at Mr Pinto’s shows but Rusty is a real man’s man as well so there were plenty of bromances going on as well. With his distinctive jump blues style, Rusty had the crowd pumped and on their feet and I was more than delighted when he played two of my favourites – Lonesome and Crossroads.

Strollin

Next up, straight outta New South Wales were Wes Pudsey’s Hollywood Hombres a groovin, rhythmic outfit that combine the infectiousness of blues, swing and boogie woogie with a wild beat and the unique addition of a saxophone. These guys gave an energetic performance and were burning up the dance floor with an exciting new sound that still remains true to authentic RnB.

Treated to a whole new set!

Once again, special guests all the way from Austria/Switzerland Mars Attacks took to the stage for their final performance of the festival. Shaking things up with more of their original material, these guys had the punters crowded around the front of stage and were a fitting end to the two big nights of entertainment. The atmosphere was electric and even as the festivities ended, there were still so many people milling around wanting to thank each artist for their fantastic performances and avoiding heading home, not wanting the night’s fun to end.


It was a magical night filled with so many special moments and as we headed in for the night, as much as I didn’t want it to end, I knew we’d be needing some rest for the big day we had ahead of us tomorrow at the Hot Rod Carnival.

And boy am I glad I did because the Hot Rod Carnival turned out to be even better and WAY bigger than last year!

Carring on from yesterday's wrap up of the Friday Night Rockabilly Ball, we were up early on Saturday morning to join the ranks nursing sore heads that lined the hill at the corner of Curtis and Long Roads for one of the most fun events of the weekend. To have so many people willing to battle their hangovers and lack of sleep to enjoy this event so early in the morning is a testament to how well-loved this event has become and it’s a credit to Paul and Amanda for bringing back the good clean fun of such an old and cherished sport.

The 'Christmas Tree' built by the talented B Hill Electrical

There were all manner of hot rods, barrels, bathtubs and contraptions which had been turned into racing machines and while the work that had so obviously gone into some was impressive, the clapped out ratters that looked like death was just a millimetre away were just as well-received. After the kids had their runs first (albeit down a slightly smaller slope) it was time for the best entertainment of the day.

So many different styles and techniques

Seeing grown men steering their home made karts flying down the hill at warp speed (or not, some were not as…errr…shall we say ‘aerodynamic’ as others and were, well let’s face it…dragging ass) has got be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. There were speed wobbles, fist pumping, thrills, spills and that great big hill! There was really only one significant stack this year and thankfully the driver managed to get himself back on track.

Our boys racers

I was very proud to watch some of our boys race including Brenton, Mick, Turtle and Marty who all did great! Brenton (Hilly) and Turtle (Tiki Bus) seemed to have improved their speed and style since last year and first timers Mick (The Grey Wiggle) and Marty (Trucker Mobile) both had great runs. Although none of them placed they did a damn fine job and Brenton was lucky enough to score one of the awesome looking trophies for a lifetime achievement award!

THE Brenton Hill with THE trophy

After a great round of heats it was off to the Mount Tambourine Brewery for refreshments, trophy presentations and some great entertainment from ACT act The Fuellers who took us well into the afternoon. If you didn’t manage to drag yourself out of bed for this event, you REALLY missed out! And here’s just some of the fun you missed out on.


All I can say is, look out next year! There are big things in the pipeline I hear...

Friday morning saw me fill my suitcase with furs, shoes, frocks and pearls and head on up Tambourine Mountain to get myself settled and set up for the fantastic weekend ahead. After a few false starts (third times the charm) we were hurtling down the highway to a soundtrack of Go Cat Go and looking to the sky to judge the weather for the upcoming events.

As we made our way along the windy roads that curve through the beautiful rainforest of the Mountain we spotted plenty of rods and kustoms headed through town and parked out the front of The Mount Tambourine Motel which was to be our HQ for the weekend. The rooms were deceptively spacious with all the necessities and a big comfy bed (we knew we’d be needing that!) but best of all we had a lovely little balcony that opened out to some GORGEOUS views!

Ahhh the serenity

After a few sly Sailor Jerry’s it was time to get ready for the Rockabilly Ball. I chose this gorgeous vintage blue rayon and lace number kindly given to me by Tracey. It’s such a lovely colour,  it’s so wonderfully comfortable to wear and best of all it’s very modest on the bust which is excellent for me as I don’t have to spend the night worry about wardrobe malfunctions, especially when I’m dancing. As the temperature was quite cool on the mountain I teamed it with my leopard fur coat and a white and diamante hair flower and two tone black and white spat heels finished off the look.

Aren't Lorraine & Ramona just a vision!?

We arrived and there were a number of stalls set up for our shopping pleasure including a wonderful vintage collection from Kitty’s Vintage Kitsch and The Shop That Time Forgot. As tempting as it was, I didn’t buy a single thing, reminding myself of what I could buy in Vegas soon but there was a stunning lingerie set by Bonsai Kitten that really caught my eye. The Vonda Youngman Centre which was this year’s new venue and I have to say it was a hit. The building had been transformed and the wooden floors were perfect for dancing while the huge stage up front was resplendent with thick red velvet drapes and soft stage lighting. Perfect for showcasing the talented musicians, it was a stunning sight that really evoked a sense of nostalgia.

The Drey Rollan Band rockin it

First up was The Drey Rollan Band from NSW who were welcomed back to Garterbelts & Gasoline yet again this year. Rock ‘n’ Roll meets Roots with these young guns using a subtle blend of thunderous percussion, blues guitar and that old time slap bass sound. This dynamic line up take turns providing vocals giving their music an interesting edge.

Next up was Rocket To Memphis from Western Australia, also another Garterbelts favourite had the crowd stomping and hip shakin to their infectious voodoo jungle rhythm. Fronted by Betty Bombshell and backed by Razor Jack Memphis, Shotgun Pete and Voodoo Viv these daddies of the devil’s music take you on a wild ride of rockabilly, swamp and 60s garage verging on sinful but staying just on the right side of rockin, grinding bliss.

The always glamourous Chrissy Keepence presenting the fashion parade

Allowing the crowd a moment to catch their breath, Kitty’s Vintage Kitsch and The Shop That Time Forgot presented a stunning vintage fashion parade that celebrated pretty petites all the way through to va va voom curves and delighted the audience with everything from swimsuits and day dresses to furs and gowns. The vintage on show was absolutely stunning but again I reminded myself of Vegas and kept to my best behaviour…sighhh.

Queensland’s very own Pete Martini and The Freight Jumpers picked up the pace bringing Melbourne favourite Warren Earl to the stage with their honky tonk western swing. The dancers had the floor packed to the twanging sounds of these cowboys, particularly with my favourite addition to any line up – a lap steel. I just love that resonating slick slide sound.

Lock up your children, lock up your wife - Mars Attacks run for your life!!

Finally, the moment I was most curious for – time for special guests all the way from Austria/Switzerland Mars Attacks to take to the stage. These guys were smooth, well-dressed and certainly well-received by the crowd. Playing a mix of original material as well as covers of old favourites including some Go Cat Go (my favourite), these guys brought the night to a riotous close.

I think the sign of a great performer is to always leave the crowd wanting more and these guys certainly succeeded. Thankfully they were also headlining the next night so we left on a high, knowing we wouldn’t have to wait too long to see these guys again. It was a big night bit it was off to bed with an even bigger smile on my face to try and get some beauty sleep before we were up early the next day to catch the Soap Box Derby.

Stay tuned tomorrow for all the shenanigans of grown men racing homemade contraptions down a great big hill!

If you're reading this then right now I am most likely rushing around my room piling frocks and furs and heels and pearls and all manner of girlie things into my suitcase or winding my way up Tambourine Mountain for the Garterbelts & Gasoline Nostalgia Festival.

Yep, the weekend we've all been waiting for is finally here and I am SO excited! There is so much great content that will come out of this weekend and I can't wait to share it with you all!

For those of you I'll be catching up with over the weekend, I'll see you on the mountain. For those of you not heading up, you can keep track of all the fun on Instagram or via my feed on the right. I'll be busy, so I can't promise I'll get photos of everything but I'm damn sure going to try!





Seeya on the other side!

Allow me to introduce you to my latest love, Sydney songstress Lanie Lane. Recently nominated for APRA Song of the Year, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and double nominated for Blues & Roots Work of the Year by the Australian Performing Rights Association, Lanie’s debut album ‘To The Horses’ is making BIG waves in the Australian music industry.


And here’s why.

The perfect mix of sugar and spice, the beguiling Miss Lanie Lane’s onstage presence is a heady combination of innocence and seduction. Her 11-track album is an eclectic collection of songs blending early rock n roll with a hefty dash of blues and that undeniable rockabilly beat to create a masterpiece of love, lust and heartbreak.

I was lucky enough to see Lanie live for the first time as support at the Brian Setzer Rockabilly Riot and I fell in love straight away. Buying the album in vinyl and CD on the night I have been listening to it non-stop ever since. There’s not a song I don’t love listening to and that’s especially rare on albums these days.



The opening track, ‘Bangity Bang’ is a roaring cover of rockabilly mama Janis Martin’s 1958 song. Renowned as ‘the female Elvis’, Lanie does Janis proud before launching into sweet as pie track ‘Betty Baby’ which is an upbeat ode to Lanie’s 'in the wars' guitar.

Track three kicks things up a notch with darker bluesy ballad ‘Like Me Meaner’ where Lanie brings out the big guns and shows us that her voice can transition from light and airy to low and husky in an instant. Powerful stuff.

The next track is one of my favourites off the album and brings together the plight of a modern woman working the hum drum of retail into a clever juxtaposition with the rolling rattle and hum of prison chain gangs of the deep south. Lanie’s vocal dynamics are on show here too but it’s the imagery this song conjures up that really gets me going.



Track five is a bit of a tear jerker and slows down to allow you to catch your breath with ‘What Trouble Is’. A deeply moving song for anyone who’s loved and lost. If you’ve recently been through a break up, skip this one if you don’t have the tissues handy (trust me, ahem).

Not allowing you to wallow for long, track six kicks things back up with ‘That’s What You Get (Falling In Love With A Cowboy) and puts some sass and sex appeal into a cautionary tale. The smoky sounds of Ms Lane’s vocals in this track will have you listening on repeat.

Now she’s got your heart racing, ‘Jungle Man’ adds some mystery to a bygone era with an intoxicating blend of swampy sounds and voodoo beat while track eight ramps up the sex appeal even more with a sirens song of sin and skin in ‘The Devils Sake’.

Beginning to wind down with ‘Don’t Cry’, a soul-bearing confession of body betrayal laced with an upbeat ukulele sound, Lanie then moves on to the brain knows best but heart won’t follow lament with ‘Heartbeat’. The album ends with title track ‘To The Horses’, with a hauntingly beautiful delivery that speaks of strength and courage and purpose.



Perhaps it’s just the timing or perhaps it’s Lanie Lane’s simple but significant song writing, whichever it may be this album is practically the soundtrack to my life right now and it resonates with me on such a deep level. More than worth a listen, this little gem that is no doubt the start of something very big for Lanie and the Australian music scene and is thoroughly worth owning.