And I'm not talking about Denise Drysdale!
Back in 1998, a young Billy Walsh (the former drummer of Melbourne rockers Cosmic Psychos) conceived a bar idea after one-too-many margaritas at CBGB's. A bar where musicians came to hang out and hoped that the DJs might play their record. A place where the DJs had very large record collections (duh) and it was always all about the music.
Liam Gallagher demanded that they sell the bar to him. Billy's mum Janet Walsh was introduced into the mix as a secret weapon. Thom Yorke described her homemade sausage rolls as heavenly at a Radiohead end of world tour party. Dan Auerbach helped out behind the bar on a particularly busy Saturday night. The Melvins played two shows in one day and ripped the bar another arsehole. J Mascis and Mike Watt played Stooges covers. Watt got the Stooges to reform the following year, with him on bass. Chris Cester wrote Rollover DJ about the bar. Billy played the bar several times and was so proud to have been a part of it: 'it' is Cherry Bar.
Fast forward to 2012 and Bill Walsh is doing it all over again as the sole owner with the long awaited return of Dingers, The Dong, Ding Dong Lounge, which was previously known as Melbourne's underground & alternative rock'n roll bar that delivered live eclectic local, national & international rock, hip-hop & electro. Nestled in the heart of Chinatown, Melbourne. The Ding Dong Lounge is the sister bar to New York City's very own Ding Dong Lounge.
Ding Dong has already hosted the likes of The Melvins, Silversun Pickups, The White Stripes, Plan B, The Kills, Peaches, Mike Patton, Ariel Pink, Death From Above 1979, Supersuckers, The Ting Tings and locals Wolfmother, The Living End, Rowland S Howard, Children Collide, Shihad, Phrase, Little Red, The Grates just to name a few. Ding Dong re-opens its doors Friday 6 July having received some major cosmetic surgery after the German Restaurant downstairs caught on fire late last year forcing the venue to close its doors. The new Ding Dong has been completely reinvented from top to bottom but has stayed true to its underground roots. The throbbing red neon sign will draw Melbourne's musically-enlightened like moths to a flame, down our dark alleyway, and up those stairs.
All you need to know is that its back ! Its better and you won't know how much unless you wriggle your butt down to Ding Dong on its opening weekend.
Opening Weekend
Friday July 6th - Mark Lanegan (USA) - Solo (300 Tix Only) Plus Guest - Doors 8PM $42.00 + BF – Oztix http://dingdong.oztix.com.au/
Saturday July 7th - Stonefield (300 Tix Only) With Royal Blood & Little Casino $15.00 + BF – Oztix http://dingdong.oztix.com.au/
Ding Dong Lounge 18 Market Lane, Melbourne Off Bourke St
– In between Russell & Exhibition St in Chinatown
www.dingdonglounge.com.au
