Then Stereolab came on and played for one and a half hours, including two encores. On stage, they had the usual guitar/bass/drums, various keyboards (I could make out some red Nord keyboards -- perhaps the classic-retro-keys one -- and a Korg modular synth), and a trombone which Laetitia played. They played a lot of songs off Sound-Dust, as well as some older songs, and finished with a long, psychedelic instrumental, all the more enhanced by the coloured fluids projected on the wall behind them.
Graham was also there (in a brand-new Stereolab tour T-shirt, no less) and will undoubtedly post his take on things once he gets back online.
"Unheard of outside of North Fitzroy"?
Ninetynine play most of their gigs on tour; they have small, highly fanatical legions of fans scattered across the world. They've also been around for years. (They once supported The Paradise Motel at the Corner; that's how long.)
Besides, Laura (the ickle Scottish lass with the short black hair) was in Sleater-Kinney for a while, and they're quite well known.
Though it was indeed a good set. Though it was a little disappointing that they didn't get to play Baluchistan. (One of Cameron the mad drummer's songs.)
Is anyone out there experimenting with digital 8 track to multiple amplifiers and speaker systems. Sort of surround sound but vertical as well as horrizontal sound production?
30 minutes isn't bad for a band largely unheard of outside of North Fitzroy supporting an international, really. For the short, punchy set, they probably cast a better impression than Full Fathom Five. Fortunately, 99 seem to have the ability to keep their appeal once they get over the Casiotone thing.