Australia Day Shenanigans in Hollywood

You know how some nights, the stars are aligned and there’s this... energy in the air? It's palpable. You know when everyone is just in sync, up for anything, all wanting to have a really good time all at exactly the same time? Last night was like that. Everyone wanted to party hardy and everyone did.

I was drunker than I’ve been since I was 19 and I'm really not quite sure how I got that drunk. I was drunk out of my mind, completely out of control and dancing like I’ve never danced before. And I was not the only one. There were 100 plus of us. The tiny bar and patio at Crane's were bursting at their American seams with singing and dancing Australians. Sadly, we forgot the camera so we have no visual evidence of this which - as it turns out - is very fortunate indeed.

Favourite moments from the night:

1. The Take Home Chef telling me after I sang, that I’d been great. FYI ladies, the Take Home Chef was alone, I'm pretty sure straight, and very handsome. And he cooks. Sigh.

2. Watching the husband, Matt Ellis not only dance (very, very rare) but get down, whilst singing along, at the top of his lungs… “The first black First Lady, yeah!" So you can better visualize this...



3. Singing the Australian National Anthem drunk (but apparently well I was later told).

From Australia Day Hollywood

Thanks for the photos Karen & Jansi. What's the point of having a fancy camera if I can't remember to bring it with me? Click on the image above to view the whole album.

4. Adopting new pets, the hilarious and totally adorable Swedish triplets.

5. One of the Swedish triplets (all in the band Snake of Eden – yes, you read right. They really are too much) jumping up on stage during Matt's cranking set. He pulled out his blues harp and jammed to "Hey Mister", much to the crowds' delight. "Thank you Michael Monroe," Matt announced at the end. You might note a resemblence to those fellow Scandanavians, Finnish band from the 80s...

6. Dancing and shouting along, squished up together (who doesn’t want to be squished up against the Take Home Chef & Holly Valance?) to Andy Clockwise’s rendition of “Great Southern Land”. And ladies, Andy Clockwise is now officially single.

Such a great night of GREAT, Aussie music with sets by Aya Larkin, Carla Werner and D Henry Fenton in addition to Andy Clockwise & Matt Ellis. So here's hoping your Australia Day was as wonderful as ours out here in Hollywood, California!