Finding Fitzroy

Our quest to experience local Aussie talent continued last night as we wandered over to the Rob Roy Hotel in the Fitzroy neighborhood to hear comedian-musicians Josh Earl, The Bedroom Philosopher, and Indie band, The Raylenes. Wandered is the right word, too. After a tummy-pleasing dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup at home, we caught the 96 tram and ended up riding it waaay past our stop...it's hard to see where you're at on a tram at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood....we got off, and started walking back the way we'd come and I finally asked a friendly guy locking up his bike where Brunswick street was. Yep, we were quite a few stops past it. I thanked him, and he smiled, offering a genuine Aussie "no worries!". We caught the tram back the other way and got off near Gertrude Street, walked a few blocks and then spotted the Rob Roy on the corner. Fortunately, we'd started out early since we'd no idea how popular this show would be. Well, we walked into a hole of a bar and were two of about ten people in the room, including some of the performers. The show hadn't started yet, giving me enough time to get a glass of wine and reminiese with Mark about our days going to the Bottleneck in Lawrence, which this bar reminded me of-I'm not sure why. Decor was random, and had a 'we don't care' kind-of vibe. The main room included a single couch upon which two very large people were snuggling; a stuffed red Elmo doll above the bar; a huge black and white poster of Johnny Cash giving the finger; a few small circular tables with bar stools; and two disco balls, the larger one directly above the stage and the other in front of it. Soon Josh Earl the comedian/librarian took the stage and I was immediately struck with how small he was- not just short, but small with a small guitar to match. It's interesting how you learn about someone via media and listen to their stuff, then see them in concert and they present a very different image from what you imagined. That happened to me at a Liz Phair concert a few years ago. I'd imagined her as this tall, intelligent, 'take no prisoners' feminist singer and up close, she seemed more like a ditzy sex-kitten type. But soon, Josh Earl's performing reinforced my original impressions of him; he sang songs mostly about relationships (the failure of them, especially with women who pronounce library "liberry"), music, and somehow managed to create a rock n' roll song about Melville Dewey, inventor of the Dewey Decimal classification system (lyrics which I cannot repeat here, but which included a hilarious chorus ending with dewey? we do). He was witty and real and a bit self-conscious on stage. Another comedian/singer, The Bedroom Philosopher, performed next and my first impression was he was on drugs he was so full of energy and well, just weird, really strange. He looks like Austin Powers. But once he played a few songs and made me laugh (he brought up the Austin Powers image after a few songs), I decided he was mostly very charming and funny and smart in a too-intelligent-for-his-own-good way. Both comedians are from Tassie (Tasmania) and in their mid-20's and were definately worth getting lost in an unknown neighborhood and backtracking for. The Raylenes, a local Indie band, were fairly good but never ended their songs together, which bugged me. I think they are quite popular here. Tonight, we're heading back the the Paris Cat jazz club for a Gian Slater performance. She's a young jazz vocalist here who has a breathy, smooth voice and I'm looking forward to hearing her again.