We saw Secondhand Spacesuits in the Embers Lounge on Saturday night (Oct 6, 2018). The four of them were wonderfully content in their skins; alas not spacesuits. They gelled beautifully; played 2 jazzy-funky sets brilliantly in the very new small room at Memo in St Kilda.

The band included Roger (b,v); Michael Oliphant (v, kbds); Michael Doyle (g,v) and drummer Davey Porter. It was great to see Roger singing lead in a couple of songs, including a rendition of Tony Joe White’s Poke Salad Annie.

So where does the band name come from … Apparently, we were told, these four come from an outer galaxy where musicians are not well paid: hence they can only afford secondhand … But they come to earth on occasions to earn better money. And it seems that they will return to earth so we will get to hear them again. Woo-hoo.

From left: Michael Oliphant; Davey Porter; Roger McLachlan; Michael Doyle