| Lithium - Saturday 21st June, FREE @ TRANSIT |
[08 Jun 2008|11:36am] |
I don't know how to write about it, I'm not sure I approve, but it's happening and you need to know...
Lithium is back!
...do you really need our resume?
Well, I guess it's been a while...
Built on a foundation of good music and the postering habits of ANU socialist, Lithium grew from humble beginnings into an unstoppable juggernaut of fun times. From 2002 til 2006 it ruled Canberra's night life.
How many drunken hook-ups? How many friendships were started and destroyed? How many hearts were broken? We really should have taken exit polls because I bet it was lots. Lithium was always a place where you knew everyone, or you met them.
Yes, we love the early 90's - sometimes to a fault - but we also love so much new shit we had to come out of hiding just to play it to you. Normally I'd put in a laundry list of bands at this point, but we don't need to buy cred and you don't need to worry: we'll make you dance. It's what we do.
So, come along to the Transit Bar - for free! Pretend it's old times and that you're sneaking in without paying, or come for your first time and see what the fuss was about.
Yes!
|
|
| Worst Lithium ever / Last Lithium ever. |
[02 Dec 2006|03:49am] |
Forgive me people. It's early in the morning and I am definitely drunk, but I have to say this so lets get down to it:
It's no secret that Decemeber Lithium's are stressful. You arrive to a venue containing drunken public servants having their office xmas party. They don't like you and you don't like them. No surprise. No secret.
You play a few songs that you think wont piss them off. It pisses them off. The get abusive, they request Crowded House, the get abusive again. You get sick of their shit and decide to play distorted guitar music followed by trip-hop followed by powernoise followed by whatever else you think is disconcerting and unpopular. "Fuck them" you think "It's time to reclaim the night!" ...and eventualy most of them leave.
In the meantime, however, they've been nothing short of painful. Painfully drunk. Totally abusive. It's at the point where the people who run Lithium, the staff behind the bar, and even the manager of Toast wishes they would all fuck off. Trust me on this: No one is happy and it's not even 10pm yet.
It sets the scene for a bad night. One in which your abused more than usual. One which fosters a kind of agro attitude. So I wasn't surpised when some fucking cunt in front of the DJ both grabbed me by my hair and started threatening to beat me up. Hell, it's been a long time coming. And that's the problem.
For months now we at Lithium have been worried. Without wanting to brag in the last year Lithium has become insanely popular. Too popular for comfort. There has been too many people. Too many people you'd normally expect to see at Mooseheads. The people we like, the people we always wanted to get to Lithium began to feel uncomfortable and so did we. You'd have nights where some over-sized overweight fuckwit would start trying to messs with the decks or go behind the bar and he'd have to be bums rushed out by 4 staff members while I stopped the music. It wasn't good and we knew it would only get worse. We talked amongst ourselves about the lack of security at Toast and how we wanted it to change. A simple security guard on the door may be a little intimidating, but it sends a message. It says: Don't fuck around in our club. We like that message. With so many goths, indie kids, and whoever else showing up what we want to be able to provide a safe environment for all. In the past we have been able to take that for granted. This year we haven't.
So tonight after the hair pulling / face punch threatening incident I talked to Bryan. I told him I wanted a security guard at Lithium. I offered to pay for it. Apparently this was one of the most offensive things I could say to Bryan. He told me that you don't get into fights if you use your brain. As a man of 29 years old who has never been in a serious fight in his life I take offence at that. I've seen people punched up in the street for no reason at all. I've been mugged before while minding my own business and not presenting an obvious target. I know full well that shit happens and I've been lucky. But shit happens, and not everyone is as lucky as I am.
So, I told Bryan that if wouldn't get a security guard I wouldn't run Lithium again... More yelling followed. Lithium is, apparently, a pain in Bryan's ass [his words]. He wants to close Toast anyway [his words]. Yelling, abuse etc.
Lithium has been the most successful night at Toast ever. We constantly break its 'best night ever' records. Apparently having to serve drinks and leave with a wallet stuffed with cash is a 'pain in the ass'. Who would have guessed?
Anyway, I just got an sms from Bryan five seconds ago to tell me that we'll call tonight the last Lithium. That's it people. We're done. "Thank you and goodnight!" as I like to say at the end.
Seriously: It's been so much fun for myself, Sarah, Peter [Lithium's co-founder], Jay and Callan that I can't even begin to tell you. Over 4 years of playing music we love to people who are awesome, don't cause trouble, love to have fun, and who have the best taste ever. To everyone who came: thank you so much. Again I can't tell you what it has meant to me. I've made great friends from Lithium and I hope I've provided some great fun for you all.
This is the last I'll post on here.
Thank you and goodnight!
|
|
| Lithium - Friday the 1st of December - 9pm - etc |
[29 Nov 2006|10:48pm] |
 Lithium is an 18+ only event - You must provide a photo ID.
After the lackluster post of last month there were a lot of things I wanted to write about in the Lithium post this month.
I wanted to bitch about the drunk public servant xmas party that I know will be waiting at Toast when I get there. No one cares but me, but I care!
I wanted to briefly mention how awesome HBO tv shows tend to be. Seriously, between HBO's fiction and BBC's non-fictional shows television is looking a lot more intelligent than ever before. Who could have seen that coming?
Then I wanted to talk to you all about the darker side of television. About just how awful Win / Channel 9 is and about how Big Questions is the nerdiest show on tv:
"Who is faster Superman or The Flash?"
"Who would win out of a fight between Godzilla and Gamera?"
"Which would you prefer giant arms or giant legs?"
Seriously if you have any ideas for TV shows you should write them up and send them to Channel 9 right now. If they're showing that shit they clearly need help. Why not yours?
...but all that is unimportant now because there's only one thing in the world worth talking about or celebrating: After Friday Naomi Robson will no longer be on television!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
It's like the Christmas present I never new I wanted but secretly wanted all along... So I guess none of you have to buy me presents this year.
|
|
|
[05 Oct 2006|11:51pm] |
Well this is running late, but I figured it was best to remind you all anyway: Lithium is on this Friday!
Yes: we're turning four. How weird is that!?
No: We're not doing anything special because everything special we tried to organise fell through... You can still feel free to bring us a present if you like =]
|
|
|
[30 Aug 2006|10:50pm] |
This month at Lithium we have a special treat. One of the DJ's band "The Longest Day" is playing first set. So if you like to listen to some laidback music at the start of the night while you take advantage of the cheaper drink prices don't get freaked out by the people on stage making sounds with instruments. It's still Lithium and they are supposed to be there. You can hear a sample of what they sound like by going here.
As always you have to be over 18 and able to provide a photo id to get in the door... well, to get more than three steps through the door at least.
Next month: Lithium has a birthday! Free free to send us party ideas if you have any.
|
|
| Lithium - Friday 7th of July, 9pm - Late |
[04 Jul 2006|12:54pm] |
I don't often talk about myself on Livejournal, however I was digging through my CD collection the other day when I stumbled across Ruby's "Salt peter" album of 1995... I can't believe that I did a trip-hop special and forgot to play any of it. Dark, brooding, full to the brim with grrlish angst and, for lovers of industrial music, half of it was written by Mark Walk of Pigface/oHGr/new Skinny Puppy fame. If you like a dose of self righteous grrl angst against a dark ambient / industrial style trip hop backbeat or if you're just obsessed with Skinny Puppy and related side projects then check it out. Ogre even gets thanked in the liner notes...
On to Lithium:
I'm sure many of you will guess from the windmill in this months flier image that July's music special will focus exclusively on Canberra bands. I don't know why I'm even bothering to mention it as clearly it speaks for itself. Presented by one of Canebrra's premiere music junkies, UG Beats overlord, and one third of the Cheese on Toast terror team; come early to hear Jemist educate you on the topic of local music from the past and present. As if that wasn't awesome enough Jemist will also be playing other less themed sets later in the night.
As always: early happy hour, reasonably priced pool tables, a Lord of the Rings pinball table[1] and all the fun you associate with Lithium.
You must be over 18 and able to provide photo ID to enter.
[1] If you like pinball that's a selling point. Honest. It's my favourite table since World Cup '94.
|
|
| Lithium - Friday 2nd of June, 9pm - Late |
[31 May 2006|03:16pm] |
I think it's fair to say that you're not an Australian until you've put your foot in your mouth and your nations flag in the back of a New Zealand band and claimed them on behalf of your country. It's not that it's a right of passage; it's more like a way of life or an unspoken social code. This month at Lithium we're celebrating this by playing a special early set of bands from the land of the long white cloud we like to mistakenly call home. Expect songs from New Zealand bands like... uh... like I have no idea what because I'm not the one playing them. It'll be a surprise for us all.
While you're waiting you can listen to the entire new Mike Patton [we love Mike Patton] album online! ...if you're willing to brave MySpace, that is. Check out Peeping Tom here.
See you Friday!
Lithium is an 18+ event. ID's are checked at the door, so make sure to bring some.
|
|
| Lithium - Friday the 5th of May, 9pm - Late |
[03 May 2006|06:48pm] |
This month @ Lithium in point form:
* Trip-hop and downtempo music for the first half hour or so!
* Special guest DJ all the way from Sydney!
* I'm not feeling very talkative!
* There are still cheaper drinks early!
* It's still all the fun and excitement you've come to expect from Lithium / Toast!
* It's still being advertised on LiveJournal!
So, come along for drinks, dancing, and a special guest DJ set from Monochrome of Sydney's Ascension / Vortex.
Also: Saturday night sees special guest indie sets from two of Lithium's three regular DJs at Ascension in Sydney [surprised?!]. If you're up that way come check it out at the Sly Fox on Enmore road.
See you on Friday!
|
|
| Lithium, Friday 7th April - 9pm til Late |
[05 Apr 2006|03:17pm] |
Wow, Lithium's on this Friday! It feels like ages since the last one, mostly because it has been ages since the last one.
This month one of our DJs is presenting a Post-Rock special during the firs 45 minutes of the night. So if you love it or you have no idea just what the hell post-rock is you should get there early to indulge or be educated while getting slightly intoxicated. It's the Lithium way, which sounds almost exactly like the UG Beats manifesto, but who is really paying attention?
See you Friday.
|
|
| Cheese on Toast - Friday 17th March |
[16 Mar 2006|08:07pm] |
This month sees [Lithium] Sarah join the Cheese crew for a night of EVIL RETRO DOOM.
...and I'm going to celebrate by getting so drunk I wont even know I'm there! Yes!
So, if listening to the slurred words of a drooling fool is your idea of a great Friday night come along and catch up! If not it's still the Cheese you know and love with a touch of the Lithium that helps get you through those times of cerebral imperfection.
See you there!
|
|
| Lithium - Friday 3rd of March, 9pm - etc |
[28 Feb 2006|02:21pm] |
Welcome to the last day of Summer. From this point on your life only gets colder, your days get shorter, and the inevitability of winter starts to exert itself on the landscape around you. There's no escaping it, but just because you're about to lose the sunshine from your life doesn't mean the fun has to stop there. You could take up some kind of Autumnal sport like leaf surfing or drizzle watching, or perhaps you could just go to Lithium and celebrate the demise of Summer in the traditional fashion with dancing, music, drinking, pool playing, people talking and good times. The choice, as always, is yours.
This time around we have no fancy guests for you. All plans to do something cool fell through, but in place of these we have something else for you. One of our DJs has decided that they want to kick off the night with some punk and punk related music, so from 9 until about 9:45 we'll be playing tracks from the likes of Iggy and the Stooges, Sex Pistols, The Damned, The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, etc. So start your night right when the drinks are cheaper and chill out with your friends to the old school sound of rebellion.
Special guest appearance by Chrome's one and only Salem... not djing, mind you, just appearing in the club. He thought it was worth mentioning and who am I to argue? Maybe if you all let me know if you're coming or not in advance I can tell everyone about it too. Try your luck! Try my patience! If at first you don't succeed try, try again! ...except don't, because that will bug me.
See you there!
|
|
|
[28 Jan 2006|12:13pm] |
Welcome to the first Lithium for 2006!
This Lithium sees the return of Lithium co-founder Mr Gloom to the decks. Once known for his ability to play more Cure songs a night than a Cure themed cover band it's been several years since he had a chance to play music at Lithium. What can we expect? More Cure? Well, maybe not, but your guess is probably as good as mine. Seriously, I have no idea. It should be fun though.
Also: my computer died this morning, so answering your emails may be a little difficult. Feel free to keep sending requests to lithium@whoever.com and we will still read them before the night.
See you on Friday!
|
|
| What I DJ'd on my weekend... |
[04 Dec 2005|02:58am] |
So, I am so drunk right now having just got home from an excellent time at Canberra's home of dopeness: Ug Beats!
My set went better than expected. When I was asked to DJ I thought it was probably a case of professional courtesy outwaying common sense, but even if it was it worked out okay.
If you want to know what went on there when I was on the decks you should check out the following...
( Cut for convenience )
Thanks heaps to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) glassandahalf and simplefi for letting me play. I'm glad I didn't ruin your club.
Now I am very pleased...
and drunk...
I go sleep now. Yeah! =]
|
|
| Cultural studies thesis proposal #324 |
[02 Nov 2005|12:23pm] |
So, after several attempts at trying to word this all nicely I'm giving up. I can't find a segue, a decent introduction, or any sort of way of making this seem like a rational thing to talk about, so I'm just going to blurt it out and consequences be damned:
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's Halloween.
...stay with me now because it makes a certain kind of sense if you think about it.
Traditionally we [Australians in general, not you and I, dear reader] don't celebrate Halloween, but I don't think that stops us [see also: we] being jealous of other cultures for having an excuse to dress dumb and have a good time. If the Melbourne Cup isn't an excuse to catch up with other cultures and compensate for this lack of community wide fancy dress shindig then I don't know what is.
I can hear your criticisms now and sure, it's not held on the exact same day as Halloween, but the Melbourne Cup is close enough that I think we can look at it in the same light as some people look at the Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas - a co-opting of older festivals re-badged to make them more relevant to the culture of the time. I don't want to get into a religious debate with anyone, I'm just saying that if this point of view is valid in that case then it is also valid here. It's hard to deny that the Melbourne Cup is close to Halloween. Damn close to Halloween. Perhaps even too close.
The next thing to consider is the content of each festival. There is no way you can honestly tell me that we've dumbed down the horror aspect of our replacement Halloween celebration. This is really the dead give-away. The Melbourne Cup is all about the torture of animals [Thwack-ety thwack!] and office workers ["...but you have to join the sweep! We don't have enough people yet! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease...! We've got 6 horses left and someone needs to buy them!"] as well as trying to dress in the stupidest way possible to provoke a fearful reaction from onlookers [See figure a, b, and c, etc].
We have horror, fancy dress, and an occasion for public gatherings and celebration. Could the Melbourne Cup be any more like Halloween if it tried?!
With this in mind I propose that we change the name of the Melbourne Cup to "Cup-o-ween" so it's more nationally inclusive and respectful of it's heritage. I urge you all to write to your local member of parliament and get them to slip this in on the ticket the next time we get a referendum about anything at all.
That's it from me for another month. If anyone would like to take this topic and the flimsy evidence that supports it on as a thesis proposal for their cultural studies honours year then feel free. All I require is a mention in the "Special Thanks" section because I'd like to think that I am both very special and very thankable and for all you know I am.
Michael.
|
|
| Lithium's 3rd birthday party! |
[03 Oct 2005|10:53pm] |
So, this is it! It's taken us three long years to get here and we will never go back again. There's a lot to say about it but I can't find the words. Besides, I seriously doubt people's interest in hearing a long, introspective rant about the evolution of Lithium. Who cares? It's just a club where it's good to drink, dance, and have fun! It's a party to celebrate three years of being able to party!
So, I'll see you all on Friday for some more of that action!
|
|
| Lithium - Friday 2nd of September |
[30 Aug 2005|09:40am] |
September is coming!
September is coming!
With only 1/3rd of the year left it's time to stop, take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and adjust to the fact that all your hopes and dreams for this year are about to turn into rubble. It's kinda unavoidable. There's just so little time left this year to make them work. Sure, you could pull your socks up, put your head down and get to it, but then again you could have done that back in February, or March, or any other month this year that went sailing blissfully by while you didn't do enough. Let's face it, it's not going to happen. You may as well just write this year off and try and salvage what fun you can out of it.
Fun... damn, what the hell is that? It seems like a distant dream in the wastelands of September. Who can hook you up with that shit? Just where is the fun at nowadays?
So, come along and have some fun! What else is the rest of the year for?
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
|
|
|
|
