December 28 2003
With guest guitarist Steve joining regulars Neil and Mark, the Hoikers ended the music year with an enjoyable jam session yesterday afternoon. Mark had been to see The Return Of The King with his kids that morning and was in full battle cry! Unfortunately he was soon asked to turn his amp down!
Originals played included The Way Of The White Clouds, A Word Is Enough To The Wise, Vicious Fish (the finale song for the day), Moth To A Flame, Do It For Me and Everything Changes. Some covers included Are You Old Enough, All Along The Watchtower, Dumb Things, Who'll Stop The Rain, Femme Fatale, Not Pretty Enough, Behind The Wall Of Sleep, The First Cut Is The Deepest and a song by the Inspiral Carpets (not sure of the title). Steve played some nice guitar throughout with some extended solos on White Clouds, First Cut and Watchtower. Less successful songs attempted by the band were Sunshine Superman and Beggar On The Streets Of Love. Say no more!
The afternoon was complemented by a viewing of the new Pretenders live DVD. An acoustic jam was mooted for the New Year, hopefully getting Al in on djembe.
ps Neil amazingly didn't get a musical instrument for Christmas

December 20 2003
With 2003 drawing to a close it has been a weird eventful year for the band. February saw the breakup of Beach Trains on Friday whilst Guano Hoik! has been missing their lead guitarist Norm since July with no hint of a return in sight at the moment. Only 4 jams occurred during the year with the original trio, whilst Al, Greg and Di attended one other each during the year. Gatherings were arranged at the homesteads of Mark, Neil, Al and Greg (a change of scenery always fun).
There was a smidgen of recording involving Neil, Mark and Al (the latter also compiling a full disc of songs in the second half of the year). Al also did some Saturday morning gigs for a few weeks in the middle of the year with the remaining BTOF members, Michelle and Keith.
At least Neil and Mark saw a few bands in 2003, either together or individually: Bob Dylan, Beth Orton, Morcheeba, David Gray, The Waifs, Dirty Lucy (at Ruby's in Belgrave in November) and Lloyd Cole at the Forum on December 4.
WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

November 16 2003
Neil and Mark travelled down Westernport way to jam at Greg's yesterday on a hot late Spring day. Greg has converted part of his garage into a music etc room and the lads played covers for the afternoon, all LOUD!
Songs played were Are You Old Enough (Dragon), I Fought The Law (The Clash version), Not Pretty Enough (Kasey Chambers), Joey (Concrete Blonde), Because The Night (Patti Smith), Born To Run (The Boss), Cum On Feel The Noize (Slade), Sunshine Superman (Donovan), All Along The Watchtower (who knows who's version!), What's My Scene (The Hoodoo Gurus), I Put A Spell On You (very funny in the end through its shocking execution), Keep On moving (Five - for the kids), You're No Good (the Beach Trains version), Solitary Man (our version) and Behind The Wall Of Sleep (The Smithereens).
The pool out back was a welcome break during proceedings. I think Greg's son Nicholas and I lost the Water Rugby game but I can't be totally sure as there were absolutely no rules.

November 8 2003
Some new covers were covered by Hoiker bassist Neil and Rythmn Guitarist Mark (plus drum machine in the absence of Al) at last night's jam. Included was Texas' Black Eyed Boy, The Ramones' Bonzo Goes To Bitburg, Fairport Covention's Gone Gone Gone, The Church's Under The Milky Way and the classic Mystery Train (done in typical 'unclassic' Hoiker fashion). Originals included Vicious Fish, She's An Amazon, Muttonbird On Your Breath, Oak's Day '93 (played for its 10 year anniversary) and a new piece by Mark still in the incomplete stage.
A big development is the launch of wallbreaker.com, a site set up by the Neilster and friends to help local musicians find each other for fun and superstardom. Why not register and find that elusive missing musician link in your neighbourhood.
Meanwhile a big hello goes out to John Hoik in the States who contacted the band recently. A drummer in the Chicago blues style, it was nice to hear from you and Rock On from the lads!

October 20 2003
Al has recently put djembe onto the recently re-recorded Dunbar while Neil has returned the favour by putting bass on Al's 'The Trains'. Mark continues to work on some new songs, still without lyrics at this stage and has recently set up a music room in his house. The remaining band members...Norm having opted out of music for the rest of the year...are still trying to get that elusive musical gathering happening. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile Sept 28 saw Neil, Leeanne and Mark catch The Waifs at The Palais. It was an excellent concert with the most vocal 'into it' crowd experienced since Bernaid '99!

September 16 2003
Unfortunately once again the Hoikers are currently forced into individual pursuits with no jams on the horizon. Mark has in the meantime been doing some recording, completing an old tune called Redlands, written in 1986 when he was living in Devon and working at a local psycho-geriatric nursing home as a cleaner. Neil has been tinkering with midi files for the perfect drum sound and putting the finishing touches to Dunbar, the song the two re-recorded last month. Al has recently completed his second solo album, Passing Of Days, full of excellent musicianship and imagination. He's obviously got too much time on his hands! The three remaining members hopefully may jam soon but it won't be quite the same without the fourth.

August 16 2003
It's been back to home recording for Neil and Mark over recent days with Neil hitting the high notes with a cover of Am I Wrong? and last night the two recording an alternate version of Dunbar (a little grungier than the original with its Chris Isaak guitar feel). Between recording the lads took in the new Morcheeba dvd and hardly talked football at all - no wonder!
Meanwhile Mark has been working on his first new song since Twofold Bay in late 2001. As yet no title and no middle eight!

July 30 2003
Neil has put onto disc several songs from the Hoiker's July Jam with Al. The mix is very garage but it is still a good record of a fun afternoon, with Muttonbird On Your Breath at its most frenetic!
Last night after pumpkin soup, a fine curry (thanks Leeanne) and watching Meredith, Jewel and Sarah etc at Lilith Fair, Neil and Mark played a few numbers acoustically and are now planning an acoustic jam in the next few weeks. Songs played were Vicious Fish, A Word Is Enough To The Wise, Dunbar, But A Dream (kept in time with tapping feet!), Twofold Bay and Mykel Kain Mistaken Identity Blues.

July 14 2003
The lads invaded Al's garage on Saturday for the first time, rockin' up a storm with an afternoon full of originals with the exception of the classic Donovan song Sunshine Superman. Originals included Vicious Fish, Muttonbird, But A Dream, My Momma Told Me, Nonchalant, When You're So Far Away, Step Back (a new song by Al), Thw Way Of The White Clouds (with Norm in expolosive form - pity we hadn't got the electric fans there to blow the hair back...then again we'd need more hair too!), Twofold Bay, Caviar, Dunbar, A Word Is Enough To The Wise and North To Alaska.
Al professed to be tired (he had gigged on djembe with the new Beach Trains lineup in the morning) but still added that propulsion the lads lack without him. It was a great afternoon on a sunny winters day. Pics from the jam now feature on the front page of this site.

May 18 2003
Hoiker jams will never be quite the same again. Yesterday afternoon saw Di come along to her first jam and the neighbours must have been wondering who was behind the microphone! After the traditional Vicious Fish warm up Di stepped up to belt out numbers like Venus, Zombie, Not Pretty Enough, Fly Away, Drops of Jupiter (Train), No Matter What (Badfinger), Because The Night (Patti Smith), You're No Good (the Beach Trains arrangement of the Linda Ronstadt song), Whole Lotta Love (unbelievable!) and Concrete Blonde's Joey (by which tome Di's voice had given out).
Needless to say, the lads including Mark were in awe of Di's vocal strength. It was simply an amazing afternoon. On the original front the lads also did When You're So Far Away, North To Alaska, Dunbar and finally a ragged Muttonbird On Your Breath. Thanks to Leeanne for the wonderful pizzas for lunch... and Norm you can have the last piece of the pumpkin one (which was superb).
Also on Monday May 5 the lads ventured out to see David Gray at The Palais. They all agreed it was one of the best concerts they had ever been to.

April 26 2003
Neil returns to dem hills to go shopping for an acoustic bass with Di and Mark. The mission successful, an impromptu jam is held at Mark's and Di sings Venus (Shocking Blue), Zombie (The Cranberries) and Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) amongst a few others. Can't wait to get Di behind a microphone at an offical jam!

April 24 2003
Last night Neil came round to Mark's for a jam and to catch up. Several songs are played, none that can be remembered at this point in time. Also on Monday April 14 Mark goes to see Morcheeba at The Metro. They were brilliant!

March 15 2003
It was back to the bungalow last night as Norm, Neil and Mark held their first jam since January. It looked like it was going to be an 'equipment failure' night with initial problems to Neil's bass and the mixer but nevertheless, although the lads were a bit rusty the night was still enjoyable. Originals included many of the standards like Vicious Fish, But A Dream, When You're So Far Away, Softly, A Word Is Enough To The Wise (done with gusto - Mark's favourite for the night), I Don't Know, Caviar and North To Alaska. Less frequently play songs got an airing this time, the little-known trilogy (in no particular order) of Now You're Gone, Notorious and Oaks Day '93 (now work that one out!), The Way Of The White Clouds (apparently the 3rd last song played by BTOF before their split), Norm's Epic My Momma Told Me, Collision Girl and Way Upwey (done to a new, probably unrepeatable, arrangemen).
Not many covers. In fact only two: Children Of The Revolution and All Along The Watchtower. Both sprinkled with the guano treatment.
Neil played the draft of a new song 'You Know Who You Are' the first new song by any in the group for over a year. Between shifts the lads enjoyed the film clips of Moloko on DVD and the current appearance of a former rock babe.
Neil may also appear on the video clip for The Waifs current single Lighthouse. Two rows from the front at a recent Melbourne gig he may be on film, that is if they don't replace his forty-somethingness with a superimposed young blonde thing. We wait with baity breath (again?).

February 26 2003
Huge news this week with the breakup of Beach Trains On Fridays. Possibly the second greatest band to ever hail from Carrum, BTOF apparently became yet another rock victim to musical differences. Whilst some of the members liked Ben Harper, at least one other liked The Jam. Say no more!
Upon hearing the news bassist Neil said he was shocked. "I am shocked," he said. Meanwhile close friend and fellow Hoiker, Mark, was stunned. "I am stunned," Mark told our roving reporter.
Who would have thought it possible that such a promising band could implode so suddenly. What the reasons were maybe we'll never know, but what is obvious is that the greatest Carrum band since Guano Hoik! is no more. Well at least the Hoikers will have less competition at this year's Carrum Music Awards. Another lay down misere methinks!
Finally what is lost to BTOF will certainly prove a plus for the Hoikers. Drummer Al was practically a Hoiker before now. Now he'll most likely become an official member. We hope so.

January 17 2003
The venue shifted uphill last night but the lads were still on the straight and narrow, playing all their hits to the possums and owls. Mark's back room was transformed into a rehearsal room with originals played including Vicious Fish (of course), When You're So Far Away, Caviar, Dorothy Parker Said, She's An Amazon, Lateral, Cesspools Of Your Mind and to finish off (of course) A Word Is Enough To The Wise. Covers included newies (first time attempted) Mystery Train and Donovan's Sunshine Superman (which came out really well in the wash) as well as Evil Ways and Are You Old Enough.
Pizza for tea and quanties of beer, chips, chocolate and port. What more could one want?

December 29 2002
Yesterday saw Greg, Neil, Norm and Mark get together for their last jam of 2002. With Greg, complete with spectacles, the lads powered their way through The Who's Substitute, Badfinger's No Matter What, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's (Come Up And See Me) Make Me Smile amongst others but the real highlight for the whole jam no less was a rocking grunged version of Kasey Chambers' Not Pretty Enough (an apt song for four forty somethings - three fours - not bad at all).
Originals included most of the usual suspects: for instance Vicious Fish, Caviar, Nonchalant, I Don't Know, When You're So Far Away, Dunbar, A Word Is Enough To The Wise and In Celebration Of Lyn (the latter a late 70's song about a gal who knows where she is now - hey you still out there Lyn?)
Neil got himself a new blue guitar for Christmas. Just need Norm to buy a new amp.

November 24 2002
What do you do when your marriage implodes after 19 and a half years? You go and play at the Wandin Lavender Fest at Warratina Lavender Farm. With that in mind Mark soldiered on with musical committments as part of The Defectors 'Supergroup' yesterday. Joining the veritable 'Army of Guitars' of Steve, Paul, Steve and Colin, Bassist Frank, Drummer Bruce and Singer Andrew (sharing half duties with Steve #1) Mark played 2 sets of 3, or 24 songs out of 36, helping out on backing vocals on Route 66, Evil Ways, Sunshine Superman, Money, Jumpin' Jack Flash and All Along The Watchtower and just play guitar the rest of the time. Other songs performed included a rockin' Mystery Train, Heart Full Of Soul, Green River, Get Off My Cloud and to cap it all off, Gloria (not the Laura Branigan version). Needless to say the gig was a strictly covers one. If you saw us play you were one of a select bunch. Still we had fun.

November 16 2002
Beach Trains On Fridays returned to Carrum last night for their annual performance at the Carrum Primary School Fete. On a cool evening the band fired up with renditions of Unconditional, Patterson River Curse, It Scares Me, Guns and Roses' Sweet Child Of Mine and Linda Ronstadt's You're No Good amongst others in a 18-odd song set.
They put in a good performance, tight as a duck's whatsit actually and had the many feters spellbound during their evening meal, causing many a person to dribble their drink or drop bits of hamburger down their shirts. The power of music!

October 16 2002
What can you say when a mate passes away...it's very difficult...We've only found out today. Mark's (our friend, Cris' and mine) friend from Adelaide, Ken Nixon, passed away last week. 42...the meaning of life, the universe and everything. The man who inspired Spike the Buzzard, created Spot the Braincell, Ken of the Beard, Ken Q. Nixon, a funny, intelligent man, a good friend. Ken witnessed one of the pivotal hoiker moments in 1985 when he was staying with us...the night Neil came round and said "here's $200, buy yourself a guitar..." From that point on the regular hoiker jams were re-established. If Ken had lived in Melbourne I'm sure he would have had some involvement in our musical lives...he had a double bass albeit in need of repair...but he was in Adelaide, always threatening to come over but often not having the time or the means. We used to see him each time we went over...being in Adelaide and not seeing Ken was unthinkable...and we would go out for dinner and catch up, discuss movies, music and the cricket or AFL (depending on the season)...for oddly, although he followed Norwood or because of it, Ken followed the Melbourne team in the AFL. He was going to come over to see a Melbourne-Richmond game. He had wanted to do this for a couple of years.
So the great expedition team to Kangaroo Island in 1984 (along with Dave and Chris) and the two trips with us up into the Flinders Ranges has been broken. Gee we had some good times with Ken...and even recently walking in the Grampians I thought of funny things that happened when we were hiking together. Certain things that you do in life stay with you forever. The hiking trips were these. Marvellous moments. Looking for comets, cooking Flinders Fried Rice, looking out for invisible trains as we crossed outback tracks, playing 'Not Responsible' on the car tape player, battling the flies at ruined railway sidings, quenching the thirst at Blinman or Parachilna. Seeing you in Adelaide, getting a phone call to hear you say you were hoping to be over for a certain game. I cried while I wrote this. Farewell Ken. What are we going to do in Adelaide now you're not there?

October 13 2002
Another Saturday afternoon jam in exotic Carrum, complete with lasagne and salad (thanks Leeanne) for lunch. Neil tried some grunge industrial fx on his bass...every now and again Norm and I would be jolted out of our guitar dreaming by something out of Neil Young's Arc Weld.
We did a lounge version of She's An Amazon, along with other originals such as I Don't Know, When You're So Far Away, Tell Me Everything, North To Alaska, Caviar and finishing on Vicious Fish (normally it's our opener). Also we were treated to a work in progress as Norm is writing something new, I think as yet untitled.
Covers included Love Will Tear Us Apart (Mark learnt the simple riff), Tears For Fears' Mad World (we tried Pale Shelter too but that was a disaster), The Stones' The Last Time and Santana's Evil Ways.
As always it was a fun afternoon.

September 29 2002
With Mark scaling distant peaks in the Grampians, Norm, Neil & Greg gathered to dust off some covers and to let Greg loose on some originals. Greg came prepared with a recorder and a piano-accordian. Thankfully he only attempted to play the former! The night started with a few covers: That ain't bad - Rat Cat. (Neil discovered the distortion pedal filled out the bass sound for this one). April Sun in Cuba with Greg on Bass and Neil on Acoustic (he stills needs more work on those barre chords); a drumless version of Almost with You (with a recorder solo in the middle courtesy of Greg which bought tears to those who heard it - and also pleas never to do it again!). Originals done were Collision Girl; When you're so far away (got the end right for the first time ever!); a stripped down version of She's an Amazon (featuring the new end line: "A really big girl at that!"); North to Alaska; and a pretty wild version of Vicious Fish. Mark is champing at the bit to hear the tape!

Meanwhile both Neil and Mark are rehearsing with their other projects for live gigs in November. Neil's band, Beach Trains, plays Carrum again this year, while Mark, as part of The Breakaways/Defectors 'supergroup' plays Wandin on November 23.

September 1 2002
Two jams in less than a fortnight! - who would have thought it possible. The lads minus Al this time round rocked out yesterday afternoon with originals Vicious Fish, But A Dream, Dunbar, I Don't Know, When You're So Far Away, My Heart, Softly, Caviar, Collision Girl (simply the best it's been played!)and A Word Is Enough To The Wise. Covers included The Stones' The Last Time, Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, China Crisis' Black Man Ray and Tears For Fears' Mad World.
Neil, albeit nowhere near as good looking as Nigela Lawson, provided some tasty bites nonetheless. Norm let the lads in on his secret tantric art of lawn mowing and Mark, resplendent in his gold suede shoes, discovered the 'gain' possibilities on his new amp, much to the bemusement of the others. Diana Krall featured on DVD. Letterwing Kites reportedly over Point Cook.

August 19 2002
It's probably not quite becoming a habit but there's a definite shift happening with the hoiker jams with Al again joining Neil, Norm and Mark on djembe yesterday afternoon. Definitely a fun time with a smattering of originals and covers. Some covers sounded ok, like Heart Full Of Soul, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Badfinger's No Matter What and Santana's Evil Ways. Some sounded 'orrible like Concrete Blonde's Bloodletting. The classic Hey Joe fell somewhere in the middle with at least some nice guitar from Norm the Lad. Originals included the usuals, When You're So Far Way, I Don't Know, Nonchalant, Dunbar, Muttonbird, Vicious Fish, Lateral, North To Alaska, When They Come, Twofold Bay and A Word Is Enough To The Wise.
Delicious pizza was served by Neil, Manchester band James featured on the DVD (the lads had the run of the house) and Susanna Hoffs' singing on Eternal Flame was glowingly discussed.

July 13 2002
Beach Trains' drummer Alan joined Neil, Norm & Mark last night for an excellent night of jammin'. Playing djembe for the evening Al added that little bit of light and shade which always goes down well. Originals played included Vicious Fish (The usual opener), A Word Is Enough To The Wise, The Way Of The White Clouds, Do The Grace Poole, When You're So Far Away, She's Oh So Nonchalant, But A Dream, Caviar, Moth To A Flame, Twofold Bay, Muttonbird On Your Breath and Dunbar. The lads also did two melodic pieces of Al's, Think About Tomorrow and Said Too Much. Only two covers were played, Santana's Evil ways and much to Neil's enjoyment Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World. A very enjoyable night was had by all.
Meanwhile Beach Trains' are back into rehearsals and Mark continues with his local jams, introducing The Way Of The Clouds for the first time at a recent one.
June 14 also saw Neil and Mark check out another fave band of theirs, Concrete Blonde at The Prince of Wales in St.Kilda.

June 9 2002
Neil and Mark jammed yesterday and laid down guitar and drum tracks for a new recorded version of Vicious Fish. Jam-wise the duo went through Vicious Fish, Lateral, I Don't Know, When You're So Far Away, Twofold Bay, Collision Girl, the bounce version of She's An Amazon, Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart and Tears For Fears' Mad World.
Beach Trains resume rehearsals in the next week or so.

May 29 2002
Mark accompanied his daughter Mog on stage at her school music recital yesterday evening. The two guitarists performed a note perfect rendition of 'Aura Lee'. For the younger Thorp it was her first guitar stage venture, for the older it was his first outing since Bernaid in April 1999. The local network jams continue, a nice jazzy instrumental of Van's Moondance the highlight of the one later on last night

May 25 2002
The boys are back in town! Yes Bayside Melbourne's answer to Rick Vox & The Growlers were re-united as everyone's favourite trio last night. A broken e-string aside (with Norm moving to Neil's Seiwa Strat - last used in anger by The Beauty Myth in 1994) the lads really rocked. A bevy of originals never sounded better - But A Dream, While You're So Far Away, I Don't Know, Dunbar, The Way Of The White Clouds, Moth To A Flame, Vicious Fish, Softly, The Thirty-Nine Steppes and last but not least, Collision Girl. Only two covers were attempted, CCR's Lodi and a grungy rendition of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Beach Trains are still on their break. They certainly will be looking over their collective shoulders now that the Hoikers are back in business.

May 18 2002
In a week highlighted by seeing Grant-Lee Phillips play at Basement Discs here in Melbourne (and getting to shake the man's hand) Neil and Mark jammed last night. There was shock horror as Neil initially forgot how to play Vicious Fish but overall there was some good stuff done, including stripped down versions of The Way Of The White Clouds, Dunbar, I Don't Know, Moth To A Flame, Dorothy Parker Said and Caviar. Covers included Tears For Fears' Mad World and The Velvet Underground's Femme Fatale.
Meanwhile Beach Trains are in recess for around a month following their series of Madalini's gigs.

May 2 2002
After his fortnightly local jam sounding nothing less than a rabble (there's only so many C&W songs our poor rythmn guitarist can stand - Your Cheatin' Heart tipped him over the edge), Mark and Neil jammed last night, covering mainly originals, ala Vicious Fish, When You''re So Far Away, Dunbar, Dorothy Parker Said and Cesspools Of Your Mind and some covers including I Fought The Law and Mad World. The lads are hoping to organise a full member rendezvous in the next fortnight. No Patsy Cline songs will be attempted.

April 28 2002
Guano Hoik!'s rival to finest band to emerge from Carrum, Blocked Drains On Fridays, played its first paid gig last night at Madalini's. The band did a three set show of originals and some covers. The rythmn section were the undoubted highlight. Guano member Neil showed what a great bassist he is (though he was wearing the same 70's retro shirt he wore to a recent fancy dress) whilst Guano guest drummer Alan propelled the Drainers to new heights (though he was wearing his pyjama top). Guitarist Keith played some fine licks whilst Michelle was on song with her vocals.
More memorable though was the fact that the evening brought all the Hoikers together. Greg, Mark and Norm were there, the latter back in town!
The Drainers are now talking another CD release. Meanwhile a campaign is slowly fermenting to give Neil a song to sing at their next gig. Aptly penned 'You Make Me Feel Mighty Neil' the campaign will comprise phone surveys, full page ads on the music papers and hot air balloon advertising. We'll let you know what transpires.
With Norm back a Hoiker jam is planned in the next few weeks. Mark is also continuing to jam with the local music network.
STOP PRESS: Guano Hoik! have been voted Best Carrum Band for the 16th time in a row at the 30th Annual Carrum Hall of Fame Awards Night. Nice try Drainers. Better luck next year.

April 4 2002
Catch Beach Trains On Fridays at Madalini's in Mordialloc on Saturday April 27. Meanwhile with the Hoikers reduced to a duo at present, the remaining lads are still jamming. March 30 saw Neil and Mark run through Love Will Tear Us Apart, There She Goes, She's An Amazon, Moth To A Flame, Dorothy Parker Said, Brown Eyed Girl and Vicious Fish amongst others. Mark has also started jamming with others as part of a local musician's network.

March 22 2002
Most news these days relate to Neil's working band Beach Trains On Fridays. Sunday 17 March saw them play at the Kingston Festival, 11 songs in all. Seems like they've secured a Saturday night gig at Madalini's as a result...happening some time after Easter. Stayed tuned for further details.

March 9 2002
In the absence of Norm the Hoikers last night became a duo as Mark and Neil ran through some of their songs committed onto 4-track as a duo. These included Lateral, Collision Girl, When They Come and Twofold Bay. Other songs played during the evening included Vicious Fish, The Thiry-Nine Steppes, Moth To A Flame, When You're So Far Away, Song For You (now there's an oldie, 1978 no less!) and Dunbar. The evening was capped off with a Tigers win over Adelaide in the AFL Pre-Season Cup Semi Final.
More news though these days with Beach Trains On Fridays (well at least they're going somewhere). They can be seen performing on the stage outside Madalini's at the Kingston Festival in Mordialloc Sunday 17 March. A photo from their last gig on March 5 has been included on the photos page.

March 4 2002
Beach Trains on Fridays compete in the Madalini's Battle of the Bands tomorrow night for one of the two coveted entries to this year's Kingston Festival. Good luck guys!
Meanwhile Guano Hoik! appears to be in recess at present with Norm opting out of proceedings for the forseeable future.
Recent news includes Neil and Norm putting down some backing tracks for a Norm composition last month. I suppose this recording is now on the back burner for awhile.

January 26 2002
Two jams in a fortnight! Unheard of! But yes it was true with the lads dusting down the cobwebs last night for their second January jam this year. Torrential rain had occurred in the area, the threat of a power blackout loomed but still the band played on...and on...and on...and on.
It was a night of originals. Some of them were Vicious Fish, Nonchalant, Softly, The Way Of The White Clouds, Caviar (the band's homage to a certain Italian film star), The Thirty Nine Steppes, I Don't Know and A Word Is Enough To The Wise.
Meanwhile Mark has been busy compiling old Beltane and Middle Kingdom tracks from their glory days of 1978-1980 and done another techno instrumental called Owltime. Neil has been busy writing and the band played some of his unfinished songs last night. And Norm? Well..um...
News since the January 25 jam includes Mark and Neil venturing to The Metro to see Garbage (fantastic to see a band as old as us do so well - pity though about the blonde young thing rubbing herself against Mark as she danced in the packed crowd) and Beach Trains playing in Mordialloc on February 5 and now in the running for a gig at the Kingston Festival.

January 12 2002
Mark returned from Christmas in Adelaide to rejoin the finest band to ever emerge from Carrum (sorry Trainsters - you just don't cut the mustard) in their first jam for 2002. Neil, lean and mean from the big Beach trains gig, now owned a new mike and stand. Norm, returning from his sojourn in Camperdown, looked fresh and eager. The boys were back!
Before Typhoon Greg arrived, the trio played Vicious Fish, Mark's newie Dress Of Many Colours, The Way Of The White Clouds (hadn't played that one for ages but Norm still soared), Cesspools Of Your Mind and When You're So Far Away amongst other crassics.
With Greg (minus the spectacles) the lads played a host of Creedence covers, Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down, Shocking Blue's Venus, Neil Diamond's Solitary Man, The Easybeats' Friday On My Mind and Slade's Cum On Feel The Noize just to name a few.
No equipment broke down. With the two new mikes and stands they looked almost professional and sounded surprisingly tight considering they hadn't jammed for over a month.