From an article about he closing of the Continental Theatre in Melbourne.

Opening week at the Conti in June 1993 was six nights of Kate Ceberano, then at a peak of her jazz-pop crossover phase. Her friends — guests such as Vika and Linda Bull, Deborah Conway and Chris Wilson — signified an immediate rapport with local musicians that would last until the venue’s spectacular final fling.
“Performers loved playing there,” Mario D says. “Local artists always used to bring their parents along when they played there. It was that kind of place. ‘Hey, Mum and Dad, look what I’m doing.’
The only person unimpressed by the Continental’s facilities was whimsical American pop oddity Jonathan Richman. Through a useful quirk of fate, the Conti enjoyed the technical expertise of legendary American production design pioneer Chip Monck (he’s a whole other story that begins with Woodstock and includes the Stones and the Pope). But Richman didn’t like the sound system.
“Not because it was too small, but because it was too big,” Mario M says with a laugh. Richman ended up scaling down to two fold-back wedges, the little speakers artists use to hear themselves on stage, then packed out three nights that remain among the Marios’ fondest memories.
Adam Tebrugge | Homepage | 02.28.05 - 5:43 pm | #

You asked if you could use a picture from JimFields.net (of Jonathan Richman) in a comment on my blog, so this is me responding to say yes, but please include "jimfields.net" where I have it in the corner in the top right. E-mail me if you have any other questions.

Jim
Jim Fields | Homepage | 03.01.05 - 1:09 am | #

thank you jim!
rb | 03.03.05 - 1:06 am | #

adam, i wonder if the conti was one of the reasons jonathan rarely plays australia?
rb | 03.03.05 - 1:09 am | #