Sunday February 9, 2020 was the 40th anniversary of the St Kilda Festival. St Kilda was throbbing, jumping; so alive. The No.96 tram terminated at the St Kilda Station so it was a lively walk through the throngs; many at cafes; lots listening to music from pop-up stages to get down to the Espy.

As part of the festival Heinous Hounds (with Dave Hogan on vocals & harmonica) played a short gig in the basement where they normally play alternate Sundays. The Hounds delivered a great selection as they always do – many from the John Lee Hooker, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Billy Thorpe song books, with the stand-out song for me being John Lee Hooker’s Boom, Boom.

The crowd were all ages: very small children in the occasional family group through to the 70+ though not many regulars. The room was full to overflowing for all the time the band played except for the first 3 minutes after the break when there was clear air. There were a few dancers but there was very little space to dance.

Matt Dwyer; Jerome Smith; drummer Robbo Robertson; Steve Lucas; Dave Hogan

Just before he announced the last song in the 1st set, band leader/guitarist Steve Lucas sat on the floor. I have never before seen lead guitar played at a gig from that position but as with anything the Hounds do, it worked.

Final comment from the Hounds came from Kiwi Dave (as the oldest in the band). He wryly revealed he had played in a band on the foreshore at the very 1st St Kilda Festival all those years ago. Now, so many years later he had graduated to the basement.