Talk about panic in the desert.... pan!c the four-piece had a freaking excellent time in the Painted desert with the  Variety Club Bush Bash mob. We had everything a working holiday in the outback could offer, including  a rainstorm that muddied our boots, flooded the stage,  shorted out equipment and nearly frizzled us all to death. And we were threatend by terrorists, accosted by giant panda bears, flashed by pertly-kilted Scotsmen and accused by heavily pregnant runaway brides. It was fan-bloody-tastic. But, who'd 'ave thought, eh? Rain. In the desert. The painted desert! Hey, it must of been painted with ---- water colours! Ho, Ho! Arty world humour from Blue Ring. What next?

Well, next is a small version of The Grouse will be playing at Finn McCools on Saturday August the 22th. Hille, The Preacher and Rob beat-out-that-rhythm-on-a-drum Boundy will be tippity-tapping, frippity-frapping their way through three magnificent sets of tired, hackneyed covers. Yip-fukken-pee! But I'm only being like that because I feel like a bucket of sludge right now; I'm sure to brighten up later and see the thing differently through delusion-coloured glasses. Anyway, The Grouse light the barbie at nine pm; bring your best smile and your own dancing shoes.

Speaking of shoes, didn't they get muddy out there in the Painted Desert where the rain fell?  Eh? And speaking of the weather, It's been a bit damp lately, hasn't it?   As we look ahead to the predicted withering extra-dry summer, I am so relieved that our knowledgeable, pro-active, forward-thinking public-pursed-up betters on North Terrace have put in place suitable measures to collect and retain this nature-given, glorious liquid bounty to ease the grief and hand-wringing that accompanies drought.

Well, well (two holes in the ground for collecting and retaining etc etc), having said that and moving right along, and, speaking of moving and grooving.... (in a moment you'll see just how clever that is as a segue) this Sunday arvo (August the 23nd),  The Wine Underground Coopers 1862 Bar in Pirie Street is featuring Gini and the Groove with the mighty just-returned-from-the-watercolour-Painted-Desert Dave Dusty - er, Muddy - Rhodes and Gini Anne Tonic Whatshername with other people making the rocking blues noises. Starts around 4-ish and finishes when the Groove run out of steam.  That's enough for now; Wingnut's done a poo in the office and the smell is turning my guts! Have to get outside for some fresh wet air.