So on the 2nd of May I had a little adventure with two of my sisters (I own four 
). No Sarah this time but don’t you worry, we shall be catching up soon and have another adventure to tell. This time though I went to St Kilda with my two youngest sisters Ains and Mads for dinner and to see a band Mads and I both love.
My adventure started in St Kilda as I was coming straight from work, the girls began theirs on their way from our home. Once we met up they excitedly showed me the videos they’d made on their way. I just want to explain my sisters are…I don’t want to say crazy but they are insane in a fun and funny way. The videos consisted of Mads filming Ains with a iphone singing along to the radio. For the whole trip. Just her singing and dancing along. Not all that well mind you. She’s incredibly loveable but also a little touched in the head
We started with dinner at Greasy Joe’s in Acland St, St Kilda. A short walk from Luna Park, and the Palais Theatre where we were ultimately headed. I’d found Greasy Joe’s via urbanspoon, indirectly on a search for restaurants near the Palais. Let me tell you fair readers that this is a definite must visit. I had the pulled pork rolls whilst the sisters both had the char-grilled beef burger. The food was fantastic. I had pulled pork in Philadelphia a couple of years ago but it was too vinegary, this was perfect for me. The bbq sauce and apple chutney worked well with the pork which was incredibly tender. The girls loved the beef burger, both rhapsodising about the mustard aioli. Okay maybe not rhapsodising as they aren’t as into food as Sarah and I but still, they loved it. It was perfectly cooked, though a little on the large size for the girls. I don’t think too many people would mind a burger being too big. The chips had a rosemary salt and appeared hand cut, cooked just the way I like – not mushy or soft but crisp and fluffy on the inside. Ains loved the drink she ordered – a coke. But it came with a slice of orange and apparently this made it fantastic . I had mineral water before ordering the house Mojito Bodeguita. If you’re a mojito lover then I’d recommend Greasy Joe’s just for this drink.
Greasy Joe’s Mojito Bodeguita
So there was a little too much ice and too little actual drink for me, at least for the $16 price tag but it was well-made and tasted great. It wasn’t overly strong and the freshness of the citrus and mint really came through. You can tell where my priorities lie, the only photo I got was of the booze . Unfortunately the photos of the food were too dark and unuseable. As much as I wanted to share the entire experience with you, I wasn’t prepared to look like a moron taking a photo with flash on in the restaurant. So here is one from the restaurant itself:
After dinner we headed back to the Palais. There are a few musicians or bands that I truly want to see live or am willing to see at a standing only venue. Even Lana del Rey, whose music I love, I have decided against seeing simply because she’s playing at the Palace and I just don’t want to stand around. City and Colour were playing a couple of sideshows in Melbourne while he were here for Grooving the Moo. City and Colour is one of those musicians that, had he been playing at the Palace or the Corner Hotel I would have gone. Dallas Green and his band did not disappoint. Ains was not a fan beforehand, not that she wasn’t but she hadn’t listened to City and Colour before. A little more than half way through the show Ains leaned over to me and whispered “He’s so funny”. I looked at her and she had a huge grin on her face. It felt good to see her enjoying herself. City and Colour were incredible. People yelled out things, as people tend to do and Dallas Green managed to stay unruffled – none of it was nasty but it was getting annoying. He almost doesn’t need a microphone, his voice is powerful, incredible. His songs moving and thought provoking. One of the great things about City and Colour is that Dallas Green takes the time to talk to his audience. Between songs and whilst he is tuning his guitar but not all musicians/bands take the time actually talk to their audience. I’ve been to see Kings of Leon twice, the first time they barely spoke, the second was better but it wasn’t so much talking as it was stating what song they were going to play, to say thank you, to tell people to get up out of their chair or to explain how one song was connected to Melbourne. Don’t get me wrong, I love KOL but Dallas Green connects with his audience outside of playing the songs. He banters, shares anecdotes and gets the audience involved in his show. The Palais has become my favourite venue for live music. There’s something about the architecture, the feel of the place that lends especially well to City and Colour. I saw Matt Corby at the Corner Hotel but I’d love to see him at the Palais. Unfortunately the Palais did not allow the audience to take photographs or video (security there is quite active in ensuring this doesn’t happen), so the only photos I have are not of City and Colour – though we were in a perfect position to get some fantastic shots. We were in the first row of the stalls on the left-hand side where Dallas likes to stand and many times he was perfectly framed for a grest shot 
. But I did get some of the Palais before City and Colour played.
Palais Theatre
Such an great-looking venue. Oh and do yourself a favour and check out Bahamas. Otherwise known as Afie Jurvanen – he was the support act. I can’t wait for him to come back as a headlining show. He has this kind of alt-country-folk thing going on. His voice is great and so is his stage presence. Funny guy, good music.
My recommendations: Greasy Joe’s, City and Colour, Bahamas and really anything you can see at the Palais. What about you? Any fantastic live acts? Venues you like above all others? Food and restuarant recommendations? Tell us in the comments section, maybe we can check them out.
Cheers and thanks for reading.
