Rotto and the Doctor

Well a lot to tell over the past week so I'll just begin where I remember. After a very little amount of sleep in Enmore, Sydney we awoke bright and early to begin our voyage to Fremantle,WA.
After a shockingly sleep-deprived drive to Sydney airport, and a rickety flight we finally landed in boiling surrounds to meet our driver Brett. He was an absolute legend and was actually friends with another Newcastle band, Here Come the Birds (RIP), who met the guy on their voyage here not too long back.
It was around this time that Wez was berated for forgetting the actual video for the video camera (and its charger) and we were then told that it didn't work very well either - which is problematic considering we're in the process of getting a series of web-doc's off the ground.
So after a nice little meal at some place I can't remember, we made our way toward the ferry dock for our trip to Rottnest island. Our trip to the island had begun.
So interestingly you can drink on the ferry over there - it actually has a bar! This is something we didn't utilise on our trip over, but it became an integral part of the evening later. Finally we arrived - and what a sight - crystal clear water, yachts lining the coast with revelers already well and truly into party mode and an outdoor stage primed and ready to go.
We were pumped.
As we got to the green room (admittedly a rarity for us poor musos) we were given a bottle of JD, a bottle of Vodka and were told all the food and bar was free. We began preparing for our sound-check, having a cheeky bevvy as we went along.
It was hot, and I mean HOT! Like dry and unyielding heat that made you dread ever packing a pair of skinny jeans. Josh had been quite ill over the past days, and the dehydration wasn't helping his position. Lewis was keen to party and Wez was his usual bubbly self.
Finally sound -check began, but not before getting interviewed by former Channel [V] host, Jabba, who attempted to probe us for nerves but just got four pretty shy operators. I can't remember what was said, but Wez maybe said something suss from recollection.
Some time later we finally hit the stage, and like magic the Fremantle doctor kicked in and cooled the whole event down. We played rad I thought (subject to opinion of course!) and got a good response from a crowd that until that afternoon hadn't ever heard of us. All and all a fab start to the evening, with a host of new tunes in the mix too.
But the party didn't stop there.
Next on the bill was WA locals, Gyroscope, who absolutely killed it. Massively tight set, and at one point front-man Dan scaled the fence of the venue with a wireless guitar and began ripping in the water to the delight of all those without tickets.
I was giving out our EP's and talking to the sound techs about the merits of the Xbox 360. 
The crowd was pumped by the time the Gyro boys finished up, and next off the bat was The Living End, who brought their rock and roll sensibilities into full force with a set packed with classics and a couple of new tunes from their forth-coming album.
Meanwhile, the partying had significantly escalated. Josh was severely unwell, Wez was chain-smoking with Lewis (also quite sick from a horrid flu) and I had drunk enough beer to be forced to convert to (gasp) vodka red bulls. I have typed the drinks name in lower case because of what they did to me the next day. Not cool.
So the next thing I remember, I'm at a table with about 20 people, talking to Jabba about the merits of 20th century Australian rock, and scabbing cigarettes off the Gyro boys.
Next scene, we're carrying gear onto the ferry while I'm talking to Chris Cheyenne (of Living End fame). We're all lead past the ferry lines to the front of the queue, and upon entering the boat me and Lewis begin free-pouring JD and cokes in front of a security guard - who doesn't seem to mind.
We arrive on the docks finally, farewell Gyroscope and the Living End and our driver begins the trip back to the hotel. The next thing I know, I'm totally out of it and Lewis is in hysterics as Wez attempts to climb the side of the hotel with the bottle of JD and a 2-litre bottle of coke. He did it too.
I awoke some hours later, near death and fearful. Lewis wasn't much better. Everything I ate and drunk pained me. Brett drove us to the airport and we said our final goodbyes, making promises that we'd be back soon.
Incidentally we return to WA in March, with a run of shows starting on the 19th.The Rotto gig was ultimate, and we're really hoping to see some of the people who enjoyed out set at on of the shows in the new year.
Our next gig is NYE at the Lass 'O Gowrie, which will be (as always) awesome.
I'll keep you posted on any other shenanigans we've got on.

Love, The Owls

P.s - Recording new tracks in January. Sweet!