Stories for this and that.

Learning to love you more.

2007-04-15T12:36:00.000+10:00

I love this so much it hurts a little bit.

Learningtoloveyoumore.com

Greg

Soundcheck.

2007-03-25T14:07:00.000+10:00

Electric Funeral.

2007-02-19T17:03:00.000+11:00

Brett Electric has left us.

There were vague mentions of WOW, university and mail order brides from China.

Sometimes I miss him so much it hurts.

I've taken to cradling his tambourine and bitterly wondering just how many tender moments I'll never have the chance to experience.

Greg.

PROG.

2007-01-28T13:12:00.000+11:00

Rehearsals have started up again. Chris is coming in with some fantastically PROG ideas. Wait until I get my hands on a Mellotron, Onde Martenot and the Welsh Boys Choir... then we'll see who the true PROG fan is.

Greg.

Terminal Bliss.

2006-09-11T12:07:00.000+10:00

'These Last Few Days' has been used in the feature film 'Terminal Bliss'. You can check it out at ACMI on October 13th. Also, check out the trailer here.

Greg.

Rumours

2006-09-06T21:32:00.000+10:00

did anyone else hear that duckdive might be doing a gig in about a month?

If you look very closely you can see us making plans.

2006-09-04T15:12:00.000+10:00

Hello. I guess it's time for an update on all things Duckdive.

So we're still running around screaming 'ohnoitstoobigwhatarewedoingitstoomuchicantpossiblytakeanymore
whatthehellisthatweirdclickingnoisenoseriouslyimabouttolosemymind'. But other than that we're making actual plans for things. A light has been sighted and we presume it's the end of the tunnel, I mean, we're not exactly sure what it is, but either way it doesn't look like it's too far away so I guess we'll know soon. Right?

We're right in the middle of recording guitar and I think it sounds great. But apparently because I'm a guitarist I would say and think that. I don't really understand what that means... maybe you have to be a drummer or a singer or something to get it?

I had a scary stomach virus that made me feel very ill. It also made me miss seeing Gomez last week, so I have eternal hatred for anyone that was there.

But I'm feeling much better now, thanks.

Greg.

Treadmills.

2006-08-13T15:35:00.000+10:00

We're all really impressed with this video at the moment...

Greg.

Finally, the gods smile...

2006-07-17T18:27:00.000+10:00

Kids.
Yes, we know we've been quiet. We know we milked you for money at not one but TWO album fundraisers (and yes, you can expect a third). And yet, no album in sight...well, not yet anyway. We've been hindered by many obstacles thrown into our path by the Great Gods of Recording - one of which that we've been bass-player-less for a while.

But now...something is in the air. I sense a change.

What's that? Duckdive have finally found themselves a bass player?

Stay tuned.

Rove Gets His Kit On.

2006-05-29T15:26:00.000+10:00

For those of you that might be interested you can catch Mr. Alex Bray rocking the shit with his new band THE KITS on Rove Tuesday 30th May (That's tomorrow!).

For all your THE KITS needs you could go here. Or here.

Greg.

A thank-you, a goodbye and a see you later.

2006-05-20T18:07:00.000+10:00

A big extra-huge thanks to all the people that came out to 303 last night. It truly was a wonderful night and we all had a blast introducing you to the Rockenspiel and playing a million times louder than we thought we possibly could. It was the first time I've gone home from a Duckdive show with ringing ears, and that'd be awesome if it weren't so bad for my hearing. Of course, if I do go deaf at least I'll be able to use the phrase 'Say what?' and sound like a gangsta. But I digress...

How rad were Scott Edgar and the Universe? Pretty freakin rad - they scored a solid 9.2 on the Radometer and they only lost points for sporting better sideburns than us.

So now Mr Alex Bray has left us and there's a gaping hole where our bass used to be, though we are on the waiting list for a bass transplant and we hear there are a couple of donors willing to help us out. We all signed a Duckdive poster to give to Alex as a keepsake. I wrote 'If I'm the looks of Duckdive that must make you the heart...nay, the soul. So from now on we'll all be a little dead inside', which is a little bit of a lie because we'll still be awesome. But we will miss Alex a little bit.

Now we're off to knuckle down and finish our album (we mean it this time!) so sit tight, keep the dream alive and we'll see you all real soon.
Fantastico!

Greg.

Not Quite The Triangles

2006-04-04T09:59:00.000+10:00

So I was sitting in my loungeroom late Saturday night enjoying a delightful Corey Feldman film about water skiing, when on came the latest promotional ad for Victoria. You know, the self-congratulatory one about the Commonwealth Games (my suggested motto 'Not quite the Olympics, but still a good excuse to let off some fireworks and sink piss' was sadly rejcted). It's not a bad little ad... mainly due to the uplifting soundtrack supplied by Melbourne's own The Triangles.

It's good to see someone representing Boronia without the aid of a bucket bong, a balaclava or a magistrate.

-Greg.

Mmm, beer. And it's cheap.

2006-02-17T10:00:00.000+11:00

Hi kids!
Yes, we're making an album. And yes, despite the sweat and smoky rehearsal rooms and lack of oxygen, it's going to be cool. Want to help us out? Of course you do. Want to drink beer? Of course you do!

Then come along to Duckdive's Beer and BBQ Barn Party on Sunday the 26th of February, at Marisa's barn in Heathmont. For the low price of only $10, you'll get some snags and bread, soft drink, fresh home grown vegetables (most likely roasted underground, traditional Maori style...we're all about the culture here in Duckdive) AS WELL as a selection of homebrew beer, stout, alcoholic ginger beer and cider. And maybe some cheap cask as well. Oh, and you get a cool badge, and all proceeds go towards the album. Cool for everyone, no?

All you need to do is drop an email to info@theduckdivecrew.com and further details will be sent to you. Funnily enough, I'm not sure I want to post my address and phone number for all of Blogland to see.

Hope to see you all there!
Love
Duckdive.

In case you haven't heard...

2006-02-12T16:21:00.000+11:00

...we've been busy little beavers, beavering away in rehearsals for our album. You see, we started recording and got all excited and sweaty and jumped straight in without thinking things through. And then we decided that it was the perfect time to get a drummer. And then we stood around scratching our heads for a little while. And then I got grumpy and ever so politely suggested we ditch the stuff we'd already done and go back to the start. So if you've ever wondered how not to organise your band in an effective manner, there it is.

But we're Duckdive and here we are.

So, let's see... what exactly have we done?

26 Stations sounds more like a beach-front party jam than psuedo Polyphonic Spree clapathon. Sleeptalker sounds kinda the same only four million times louder and the bassline has gone all crazy-like. What's With The Weather? finally sounds like the single. The Last Sad Song is all chimey chimey with some cool floor-tom workouts. And there's some new stuff kicking around with Homecoming, which is almost a rock song, and So Much For Being Friends, which is bound to divide audiences everywhere.

Fingers crossed we'll begin re-recording in the next few weeks, and then begins the arduous task of adding layer upon layer of trumpet, violin, hammond, cello, harmonica...etc. And then we mix, very carefully, to create a light, tasty and satisfying Duckdive pudding.

Yum.

-Greg.

Ahh... December.

2005-12-13T16:40:00.000+11:00

December...

...a time of Bikini's...

...a time of Beers...

...a time of new and unfamiliar television shows...

...and a time for mysterious old men to visit your house in the dead of night.

It's also a time to reflect on the last twelve months and weigh them up against previous years. 2005 was a year of many firsts for Duckdive, including our first tour, our first residency and our first band fight. All in all it was a superb year.

From all of us...

...to all of you...

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year.

Duckdive xoxo

Go Blind For Mankind.

2005-12-12T10:52:00.000+11:00

Clap Yourself Silly.

2005-10-29T11:44:00.000+10:00

Hello.

The good ship called 'Recording The Album' has well and truly slipped its moors and is slowly making its way out to sea. Early this week I put a couple of guitar tracks on 'Christmas Song'. Then I beat the hell out of a rubbish bin and tinkled with a wine glass. Marisa, Brett and I also clapped our hands raw for around twenty minutes. I thought this folk/pop business was supposed to be relatively pain free? I also started work on my slide guitar for 'London's Okay'. We're using a guitar and vocal recording Marisa did in London and the dubious timing/recording quality/being in a different key than the one we play it in now are making it difficult. However, it's a really great performance so I shall persevere.

Marisa keeps telling me about some piano songs she's written for the album. I haven't heard them yet, but my spies are telling me they're very good. I'm looking forward to working up some new and interesting arrangements for them... perhaps this is my chance to get some Theremin in?

I guess now is about the right time to start thinking about names for the album too. My suggestions don't seem to be getting a particularly warm reception. Well, giggles... but not acceptance. What do you think...?

- Bombay Breezes Tonight!
- Indie Scenester Fucks
- Happy Lovey Smoochy Kiss
- Of Aeroplanes and Leave Behinds

Of course, most of those have corresponding artwork. For instance, 'Bombay Breezes Tonight!' would have an orange background with a black silhouette of a desert island with a single palm tree on it and a man jumping into the air. Presumably for joy. Somehow I doubt I'll get that one pushed through. Then again, if I twist Marisa's arm (literally) and use some sort of blackmail I might be in with a chance. My folks are always telling me I should create my own oppurtunities...

Greg

Fun Times at The Empress.

2005-10-09T11:20:00.000+10:00

If you missed out on last nights show at The Empress you should probably twist around and start kicking your own behind immediately. I haven't had that much fun at a gig in a long long while. Light Music Club were, as always, sublime. Jane vs World proved once and for all that piano/vocal duos can rock the shit just as well as anyone. I think when the phrase 'full of spunk' was coined they had Jane vs World in mind. And then there were The Triangles. Five people playing 3 million instruments including; drums, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ukelele, mandolin, harmonica, melodica, keyboard, accordion, a weird trumpet, a gong, xylophone, glockenspiel and party poppers. They gave out Tic Toc biscuits to the crowd, they stuck their arms in the air while they played, they covered the theme from The Neverending Story and they're from Boronia (and here I was thinking that Boronia only exported stoners and petty criminals).

As exciting as The Triangles were, the highlight of the evening was when a man informed us that he had travelled back in time from the year 2012. He said he was going to buy a CD and take it back to the future with him. That sounded reasonable until I heard he had also said that you can tell the real crop circles from the hoax ones because the real ones aren't broken at the bottom. He was also heard to complain that there weren't any Thai people at the show. Seeing as he was talking to Marisa at the time I suspect he may have strange ideas on what exactly constitutes a Thai person. However, the lighting was quite dim so it's possible he thought he was talking to a petite Hungarian boy. Or something.

Anyway, that's going to be the last show for a wee little while. We need some time to rest up, get healthy and get stuck into recording THE ALBUM. But there's talk of a Geelong show with Man Bites God and we'll be having a benefit gig for ourselves sometime in early November. It's not arrogant, just good business sense.

Stay lovely.

Greg

Happy Snaps.

2005-09-04T12:20:00.000+10:00

Those lovely chaps (and chapette) from The Kindness Of Strangers were a snap-happy bunch during their stay down here a few months back. Here's a couple of shots they sent me...

Ahh... the memories.

-Greg

Try this...

2005-09-02T18:20:00.000+10:00

Ok guys, here's the post that failed on Wednesday... fingers crossed.

-----------------------

So,

Ducks and Fanatics.

I'm contributing to the blog. This is the most nerdy thing i have ever done in my life, and i find it to my liking.

I'm sitting at a computer at uni and i have no plans for tonight. Ah the joys of no rehearsals. I'm listening to the Sarah Blasko Album (Marisa, can we record our next album in Hollywood?) and i also bought our favourite girl's album today. Big fan. I wrote her an email. I hope she replies. Then i might strike up the courage to email Missy Higgins as well, then I might get a date before Greg wins her with his musky man odour.

Oh, and Kerry?
it is "Bear"
Yes, as in Uncle Caveman.
Oh the Hilarity!
Incollect pray.
Love is the answer.
-rowie

Duckdive brings you BEER...

2005-09-01T17:29:00.000+10:00

In the last post, one of our Ducks was asking 'What have you done for Duckdive lately?'. Fair enough too...especially since Duckdive keeps giving till it HURTS. Previously it was music, and love, and badges. And now....it's ALCOHOL.

That's right, kids - The Barn Brewery has started cranking, and as we speak there are 40 pints of lager on the shelves, and 40 pints of alcoholic ginger beer brewing away in the keg. Coming up on the menu - stout, more lager, and alcoholic lemonade! And it's all for the love of Duckdive and their upcoming album.

You see, we've got so many darn songs that it'd be criminal not to record them...but this takes dosh. So, this summer will see the Duckdive Beer Party, where you'll be able to recline in the fine surrounds of The Barn, listen to Duckdive play a backyard set, and enjoy ALL THE BEER YOU CAN DRINK for a low, low price. All proceeds will go towards the album, we can all get boozed in the summer sun, and eat sausages, and it'll be one heck of a day.

Excited? We are. You KNOW it'll be fun.

The Ever-Evolving Face Of Fashion OR: The way of the future pt.2

2005-08-09T16:11:00.000+10:00

It's been playing on my mind lately that Duckdive has become slightly less fashionable than it once was. Or that fashion has caught up to Duckdive. Before Marisa went on her merry jaunt to faraway shores we were riding a wave of popularity, acclaim and novelty. But whilst Marisa was gone we saw the appearance of many folk-pop bands/artists. Personally, I think it's about time we updated or 'modernised' our image to give us an edge that is sorely lacking in the indie-pop of today. Here's some ideas I came up with...

1. We all get vintage Rod Stewart haircuts, wear cowboy boots and cite the Rolling Stones and the Small Faces as an influence.

2. We murder Missy Higgins.

3. We start playing shows naked. Or we gradually strip throughout the show. Okay, just Marisa strips.

4. We start throwing out handfuls of ecstacy to our audiences.

5. We murder Missy Higgins.

6. We enlist a tuba player (Ian Smith?) and start playing polka numbers.

7. We set fire to our instruments whilst playing them... ala Rammstein.

8. We murder Missy Higgins.

Alright. So, obviously I'm all for some casual murderin'. What do you folks think? Any suggestions?

- Greg

ps. I'd like to apologise to any Nu-School rockers I may have offended with my 'Rod Stewart haircut' remark. It's a fine fairstyle and he is an exemplary peformer. Missy Higgins, however, must be killed.

The Way of the Future

2005-08-05T12:45:00.000+10:00

There will be a point to this post. Just bare with me. Or is it 'bear'? Urmph. I'll go with bare. Anyway. My brainstorm:

Upon running to class late the other day, I saw a bunch of kids on recess at a school nearby. I noticed that they were really small first of all. I don't really see children that often, especially en masse, so their small size always surprises me a little bit. Maybe I'm a little wacky this way. I guess that children are supposed to be small, but really, they're sort of strange looking from a distance, especially when in large groups. I enjoy children sometimes and somewhat but cannot be held accountable for large amounts of them. This is not actually part of my brainstorm. More like just something that I had to get off of my chest. What the second thing that I noticed about all of these kids is how damn fast they moved as I was wheezing my way to class at a fast walk. This made me think about how maybe if adults moved more like kids, they could get places in a much faster fashion. To achieve this speed with minimal exertion, the key lies in two areas: skipping and galloping. Much better and more fun than running, skipping and galloping are the way of the future. I'm just not going to lead the way. Because while expedient, I'll admit that it looks rather ridiculous to be galloping along at a horse-like gait whilst everyone else is sauntering along. This one requires a round the world effort. Maybe it's not such a good idea.

But I shared it with Bea, and she seems to think that it is brilliant. However, she IS my dog, so I think that maybe she could have just agreed with me so that I wouldn't persist, bother her all day long and force her to my way of thinking by slowly wearing her down. Though perhaps she really did think that it was a super idea. She did proceed to gallop to the car at full speed. But we were on our way to go get some cheese and avocados, so she could have just been overcome with happiness, as was I. I imagine I will have to consult her directly to get the truth on this one.

So anyway, us Duckdivers are a big group. If we all told our friends to, say, start skipping and galloping on a certain day, and tell them to tell their friends, and so on and so forth, perhaps we could turn this genius idea into reality. I think it'd really work. Who knows what we could achieve!

-Kerry Rane

Some Frequently Asked Questions...

2005-07-31T14:03:00.000+10:00

Q: What's with the ducks?

A: They're cute and fluffy but they attack and maim you if you piss them off. Like Duckdive. They also look tough with cigarettes in their beaks. Also like Duckdive.

Q: I heard you guys all sleep in one bed when you're on the road. Is that true?

A: Duckdive have been known to book out a honeymoon suite from time to time. Well, when the budget allows. They wear flannel PJ's with pictures of each other on them. They also all have one giant pancake for breakfast which they eat like a pizza.

Q: You're all so unspeakably good looking. How do you keep your hands off each other? And do you have any beauty secrets?

A: All the members of Duckdive have either dated, are currently dating or will one day date each other. It's a totally natural part of being in a band. A rigorous skin care regime is essential to looking your best.

Q: Is Sparky gay?

A: We're not sure... but don't rule it out.

Q: Exactly what genre would you say you fit into?

A: That's a very common question. Some say it's 'neo-orchestral folk pop'. While others say it's 'post-folk chamber blues-pop'. It's a very contentious issue. When questioned directly Duckdive are know to reply "Your Mum".

You and me, lets take over the world

2005-07-19T18:29:00.000+10:00

Herro! Kerry Rane here. You may remember me from being raucously drunk in a pub near you, possibly shouting out "play some Morrissey!", or being completely sober and wanting an alcoholic beverage sooo much that I resort to calling you 'pipearse' in a desperate attempt for you to take me to the nearest pub. Sound familiar?

Anyway.

I have come here to let you all know that I sent off Duckdive's latest single "What's With The Weather?" to some dude at Austereo. Y'know, that handles FOX FM and MMM and such quality commercial radio stations. Reports back have been very favourable, but I am waiting to hear back from the head honcho whether it will be played, and when and stuff. So that's kinda exciting. Perhaps one day we'll become huge commercial folkypop sensations, and we'll sell our souls in order to ...well...I dunno...buy pretty shiny things.

How'd you feel about that, punks?

Hear This...

2005-07-17T12:34:00.000+10:00

For reasons I can't go into right now, Marisa is now to be called the 'Half Yellow Female Hendrix' at all times. No questions.

-Greg