A big – œShhh’ hit the Corner Hotel on Friday night around half nine, as the funeral procession for Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra began. The band’s horn section, with guests, proceeded through the black-clad crowd, tooting their gypsy rendition of funeral music – a fitting beginning for the long night ahead. – œYou gotta die sometime,’ read the promo for this show, the last that Martini would be performing alongside his Bone Palace Orchestra (or more aptly, orchestras). Five years of playing shows, two records and perhaps one of the most unique styles to come out of Melbourne, it was a sombre occasion. Then again, so were all of Martini’s gigs.

As a celebration and tribute of Martini’s songs, a massive lineup of guests was rallied to pay their respects. The MC for the evening was some – œclown’ named Piglet, who actually started off on the right foot reading a passage from – œThe Bible’ about how God needed a best friend. A boy named Alison took that role before becoming his rival and being sent to hell, renamed Martini. From there, though, Piglet was nothing but an annoyance – the kind of guy you constantly want to strangle.

First on the musical bill was Video Day, performing a very early tune of Martini’s, Bicycles as well as Party – œtill the Petrol Runs Out (a song they played when – œtouring with Santana’). They introduced it as a good sing along (which the song rightfully is), but then proceeded to drain all the sing along right out of it. The not-as-great-as-you-wanted-it-to-be intro was made up for by Abbie Cardwell though, who greatly impressed the crowd with her massive notes during Wild Man. Sticking around with her harmonica, Abbie joined Brothers Grimm next, who again produced Bicycles (because they loved those girls riding in Fitzroy) in their own slurring way. Dusty Love In Bedlam was also given a crack and the slurring sort of suited the song as everyone on stage began to party like the ghost of Martini would want.

The entertainment continued with Jelly Tub Rollers and Sophie Brous both paying homage to Martini’s songs. Clairy Baby Brown & The Bangin Rackettes were certainly dressed for a funeral and sang – œthere’s no news like bad news’ with some sort of twisted conviction. Messy makeup and giant black bows in the hair made them the kind of backing singers you’d expect for Martini.

Tommy Spender saved the evening’s early entertainment with his rendition of We’re All Just Monkeys. Looking like Buddy Holly, but not sounding like him, the man produced an electronic remix of the song on his computer and then sung his rendition over the top. The most creative of the night, Spender was the highlight pre-Martini himself.

*Eddie Perfect_ was still to come with his tribute to Martini’s parents and a very typical, theatre-esque performance up back on piano. Finally, The Conglomerate – made up of Harry Angus, Jan Skubiszewski and Ollie McGill – delivered Get On The Moth, which was great to begin with (with Angus reading the words he’d otherwise not know) before the lot of them meandered into a warped jamming session that went on a little too long. All in all, the – œtribute’ side of the night wasn’t as good as it could have been. There were some real stand outs, yes, but the tediousness of others really dragged at times.

Next was Martin Martini himself, appearing on stage alongside the original Bone Palace Orchestra lineup of Xani Kolac on fiddle, Ben ‘Angry’ Hendry on drums and Peter ‘The Dog’ Burgess on tuba to perform Party – œtill the Petrol Runs Out, complete with Martini’s megaphone – just like the old days. The returning members were obviously excited as they played, and the older fans of the band revelled in the unlikely reunion.

Joined by James – œThe Bison’ Macaulay on trombone and Sam Dunscombe on clarinet, the original BPO played their way through tracks such as April (about a girl Martini fell in love with for three days before finding out she was pregnant to another man), the party-favourite Stock Exchange, and the creepy Clowns Will Eat Me (which included a lengthy clarinet solo – the band have always loved their solos).

Whilst Martini was hidden up the back on piano for much of the gig, cheers couldn’t have been louder for the guests Martini had on stage. These ranged from a 6 year old singing – œyou can fall asleep when you’re dead,’ to the almighty voice of singer/writer/comedian Casey Bennetto performing Poor John – an absolute stand out! Farewelling this particular lineup, Martini then invited his mum to the stage to dance her way through Take Your Skin Off And Dance – which the packed room loved, even more so with the awkward expressions she had to some of his lyrics.

Not to be outdone, Martini then took to some dancing of his own. Tap dancing, no less. Getting the crowd quiet, Martini made his way through That’s What It’s All About like a beat poem, all the while tapping away solo on stage. That’s something you wouldn’t expect.

Switching the lineup to now include Natasha Rose on electric guitar, Jules Pascoe on bass and Aaron Light on drums, Martini finally came up from to bounce his way through We’re All Gonna Die – a fitting warning to all in the room. Good friend of Martini, Paul Capsis then came out so perform a very flamboyant and energetic Money in the Hole.

Now, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate introduction for the night than Party – œtill the Petrol Runs Out; however as fate would have it, Martini and the BPO didn’t get to run their tank dry at all – they were cut off early because of time restrictions. Capsis disappeared and with six minutes to go and with a bunch of extras appearing back on stage, they finished with The World Is Broken. The song featured impressing piano work from Steve Sedergreen but at this point it was all about the band, with Martini singing: – œI’ve seen the gates of hell / I’ve heard the funeral bell / The world is broken now…’ Couldn’t have been a more fitting way to bow out.
– œIt’s all over anyhow…’ And that was that. The band left the stage, never to play together again. The death of one of Melbourne’s cult bands – and a brilliant send off. R.I.P. The Bone Palace Orchestra.

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