Recently, the trendy tiki-themed venue, The LuWOW in Fitzroy, Melbourne, housed the launch party celebrating the release of  The Infernos‘ second album, titled ‘Still Fired Up’.

There was a smokin’ hot lineup of Melbourne music talent including; Rosie & The Mighty Kings, The Flyin’ Saucers, The Pacific Belles  and DJ Emi-Lou. I loved it how there was an amalgam of originals and covers.  I even just couldn’t help singing along when ‘Walk This Way’, a song by one of my favourite bands as a teenager, Aerosmith, was performed with modern rockabilly energy.  Thankfully for those around me, the volume was cranked up enough to drown out my voice.

However, not only were the musicians on the stage talented, but the rock and roll dancers who attended the evening also had me in awe of their impressive skills as they tore up the dance-floor. Just watching them made me want to start taking some dance lessons. Instead of getting in their way, I kept to what I knew well and talked to all the people I knew, made new friends and took some snaps from the evening with my trusty Canon DSLR.

Loretta Lowbrow & I

My very first (and rather unsuccessful) attempt of a bathroom selfie with an SLR. From left to right that’s yours truly, Jessi-Marie, Sarah, Loretta Lowbrow & Gemma.

As well as some great music to light up the evening, there was also a fabulous pinup competition run by Rouge Noir and sponsored by Vivien of Holloway Australia and Christine’s.  Therefore, I arranged prior to coax my girlfriend Jessi-Marie to enter.  I dressed her in one of the red Vivien of Holloway circle dresses from my studio wardrobe, styled her hair and applied her makeup.  She has the most gorgeous long eyelashes like a dolly so I didn’t even need to bother with falsies on her!

Jessi-Marie & her boyfriend Matt

The pinup competition was  and independently judged by the gorgeous Betty Belle from The Pacific Belles and Pandora Porcelain, so I thought it would be a bit of fun to enter too.  My outfit was my classy and glamourous Vivien of Holloway leopard print sarong dress with matching bolero from Christine’s since I thought it a rather fitting choice to wear leopard since the launch was held at a tiki bar.  Not that I really needed an excuse to wear leopard as it is my favourite print.  (The girls up the street have even dubbed me the leopard queen!)  My shoes also verged on the wild side, being Pleaser Revolver 709‘s from Shoe Me Gorgeous.  I brought along my black Bettie Page purse and was also accompanied by ‘Boris’ my latest vintage fox adoption who I just had to have because he was pretty unique with two bodies and oh so soft.  Although he is very old, he is still hanging around.

Jessi-Marie & I

Of course, it just so happened that I had to be up first and loose my footing and as I climbed up on stage, stumbling like I had a few too many bourbons.  Just my luck!  Hopefully I gave people a bit of a laugh though!

Straight after me, it was Jessi-Marie’s turn.  She didn’t fall over and looked drop dead gorgeous!  I was so proud of her as she twirled and courtseyed in those bedazzling heels.  Aside from Jessi-Marie, the other stunning pinups that entered the competition included Marjorie May Fair, Vicky Lee, Trixie Belle, Miss Holly Wouldn’t, Eva Las Vegas, Tiki Doll Tara, Margarita Monday and Lissy LaVette.  They all looked fabulously gorgeous in their outfits with perfect pinup hair and accessories to match.  It was really amazing to hear their different backgrounds and how through their love for pinup, they have achieved both confidence and fantastic friendships.

The pinup competition entrants from left to right: Tiki Doll Tara, Marjorie May Fair, Lissy LaVette, Trixie Belle, Miss Holly Wouldn’t, Margarita Monday, Eva Las Vegas, myself and Jessi Jamison.

Although we each received a prize including a fabulous discount voucher to Christine’s and a copy of ‘Still Fired Up’,  there could only be one winner for the major prize and that was the gorgeous Eva Las Vegas.  She wore her fuchsia Pinup Girl ‘Birdie’ dress with her Hell Bunny petticoat, vintage lilac hat, vintage gloves and of course a beautiful smile.

The pinup competition winner, Eva Las Vegas.

After the pinup competition, it was time for the spotlight to be shone on The Infernos.  Hence, the rockabilly trio comprising of Don Wycherley with his bass, Steve Bird playing guitar and Dave Rogers keeping the beat on his drums, played some of their smokin’-hot tracks from their new ‘Still Fired Up’ album.  The contemporary rockabilly energy that they performed their  repertoire of a smokin’ hot explosion of original songs, as well as rare ‘50s and ‘80s covers was brilliant.  Witnessing them in real life is just amazing and they do Melbourne’s rockabilly scene proud.  Everyone screamed for an encore!

The Infernos

The Infernos’ guitarist Steve Bird.

The Infernos’ guitarist Steve Bird again.

The Infernos’ bassist and lead vocalist Don Wycherley.

The Infernos’ guitarist Steve Bird and drummer Dave Rogers.

Rockabilly trio, The Infernos with the lovely Go-Go girls dancing to add an extra spark to the performance.

Oh, and for the record, I was in those heels all night taking photos without going SPLAT.  I even managed to balance on steps, crouch and crawl on the platform at the corner of the stage to get some shots.  Well, that was until one of the go-go dancers had to kindly negotiate with me to get off that corner of the stage which turned out to be on the platform she needed to dance on. Whoops!  Sometimes I get a bit carried away when I have a camera in hand.

My pretty revolver heels from Shoe Me Gorgeous

I had such a grouse night but unfortunately had to leave too soon.  Another unfortunate thing was the fact that my car got booked for being in a permit zone even though we all swore that I could park there.  Looks like I can comprehend complicated cases and legislation for a law degree but I can’t comprehend a silly street sign.  Oh well.  The fact that I got slugged a $90 parking ticket didn’t detract from the fun I had at the CD launch though and I’m dying for an excuse to go back to the LuWow again.

Jude & Nick. Clutches apparently make good weapons.

It was a fabulous night and it was exciting to see everything come together so perfectly and the new CD officially released for such a talented band.  Credit must be handed to Christine Bitomsky, the band’s manager, for her amazing efforts at promoting and booking the band over the years, as well as assisting with the production of the album and organising the night.

Kudos must also be given to everyone who helped make this night such a success from those who worked their derrières off behind the scenes, to those who came along to celebrate this awesome milestone for The Infernos.

♥ Mallory xoxox
HIGH HEELS  & WHITEWALL WHEELS

P.S.  For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a promo that was filmed earlier on in the year at The LuWow for the Inferno’s smoking’ hot track titled ‘Hot Lover’ for your viewing and listening pleasure.