It's somewhat of a shame that the gig-pig I used to be has dwindled to the quarterly (if I'm lucky) performance around Melbourne.  With babysitters, budgets and sleep deprivation, it's just all too hard.  (Eeeyup - I'm old!)

However, wild horses would not have kept me from the launch of Even's eponomously titled latest release - at the East Brunswick Club (not a bad venue, but suffers from too few bar staff, as did the Spanish Club).

EVEN is typical Even, with their many influences very obvious.  Bowie, Stones, Faces and perhaps also a bit of glam in places (T-Rex anyone?)  However, I'd have to say that more than anything, this sounds like Even. Now before you say "Well... DERR!" let me explain. In all but two of the tracks, I can see that each song could easily exist on a previous release of theirs.  'Only One', with it's far-more-complex-than-it-sounds riffs could easily have been from In Stereo. 'Rainbows' from Less is More.  'Keep on Burning' from Free Kicks.  I could go on, but I won't.  I'm just guessing that Wayne Connolly (engineer and co-producer with Even) is a bit of a fan, as you really do hear echoes of 'them', in this recording.

And, I'm guessing they know it too.  For the launch, Ash announced that it "Will be a performance in thirds, 6-6-6.  Six new, six new, and six of our older songs, if you behave yourselves".  Following the first six, Anton [missed his surname] lent a second guitar to the rest of the CD's track.  But, the final six chronologically went through each of their previous main releases, with a track from each.  The whole gig really did sound like one big cohesive unit.

So - but the CD (at chaos, cheap, and signed!), see them live, or miss out on three guys who remain one of Australia's best bands.