Yesterday afternoon on Victoria Road I was stuck behind a Balmain bus when I noticed a new advertisement on the rear. Vega 95.3 FM - On Your Wavelength. This is the new station just launched to cater for boring old farts like, well me I guess. So I thought bugger it, I’ll check it out.
They were playing some tune from the 70's which I didn’t really care for back then and certainly didn’t want to hear again. So I flicked it. I mean, there is no good reason to revisit the mind-numbing 70's. Period. Later in the evening when the cricket went to lunch I checked Vega again and sure enough, same old fare...
Around midnight a general broadcast came over the cab radio. AVOID KING ST. WHARF. LARGE FIGHT IN PROGRESS. POLICE IN ATTENDANCE. Immediately a tune from the 70's sprang to mind. One I haven’t recalled for years, Garland Jefferys ‘Wild in the Streets’. Now if Vega FM play that sort of stuff then I’ll be back. Or Springsteen before he became The Boss. Or Graham Parker for that matter. On reflection, the 70's did produce some musical magic.
Back in the 70's a mate drove a cab and picked up Graham Parker from the International Airport. The mate knew who Parker was and so addressed him, ‘You’re Graham Parker right ?’. After a 22 hour flight from London all Parker could manage was a confirming grunt, probably annoyed he’d been recognised and fearing being held captive by a nosey cabbie. Of course my mate continued, ‘Do you make Parker pens ?’. Needless to say the trip was completed in sullen silence.
Anyway, I made it to King Street Wharf about an hour after the radio warning. Pulling into the Cargo Bar rank I was just in time to witness further fighting on the street between around 20 young adult males in suits and office attire. This looked really strange as I’ve never witnessed such scenes in this predominately yuppie precinct. Punches were being thrown, scuffling, wrestling and suits being torn. Immediately a dozen cops and a couple of patrol cars converged on the fracas and broke it up.
Two young fellas jumped in and ordered Mosman, on the North Shore. These guys were on the periphery of the brawling and hyped up. ‘Mate, how much fun was that ?’, one said, ‘What a way to end the night’. When I asked what had happened, they reported a group of ‘Mediterranean fellas’ were involved, yet were unaware of the cause.
Hopefully the brawling was related to youthful bravado, or girls, and not current affairs. Still, it’s unusual seeing ‘suits’ involved in drunken street melees. After this I said, bugger it, the night’s getting too wild so I knocked off early and went home.
Cripes, that station sounds right up my sad old alley.
Betcha they played Dr Hook.
Posted by: Darlene | August 06, 2005 at 11:39 AM
Can't imagine Graham Parker being nice to fans. Probably as snarky in real life as he was on record.
Posted by: Simon | August 07, 2005 at 08:25 AM
Don't know about Dr Hook Darlene but you get the picture. And if you're old, I'm dead aready.
Yeah Simon, Parker always was a snarky character. Fully deserving the cabbie's welcome. I think he's pissed off the mainstream success his persona eschewed came to pass. But gee, the bastard could rock.
Posted by: adrian | August 07, 2005 at 04:19 PM
I love Graham Parker - I first heard of him when I found a ratty old tape of his in a second hand car about 15 years ago. It was "Graham Parker And The Shot - Steady Nerves". Suffice to say in those days I was into "alternative" music and wouldn't be caught dead listening to stuff like that. But I also had no money for new records at the time so I gave it a go, and I've been listening to him ever since - I don't think I've ever met another fan. Above all he was a really clever lyrics writer - written a novel I think as well.
Posted by: Simon | August 08, 2005 at 09:33 AM
Vega's lovingly brought me back to commercial radio. They come up with absolute gems everyday! I'm totally out of their demographic =P
Posted by: Rooster | August 08, 2005 at 01:45 PM