(Warrnambool Standard 1/10/98 - Arts and entertainment - compiled by Kylie Smith and Anthony Bunn) - Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved.
Warrnambool zydeco rhythm and blues band Hot Tamale Baby will appear alongside blues luminaries from Australia and the US at a festival this weekend. The Great Southern International Blues Festival, gearing up in Narooma on the New South Wales south coast, will feature Chris Wilson and the Crown of Thorns, the Black Sorrows and the Bondi Cigars, as well as US acts such as the Chris Gain Band. Hot Tamale Baby's Peter Lucas said the seven-piece outfit was looking forward to playing, but also to kicking back off the stage and enjoying the cream of the Australian blues scene. The band will return to the south-west for gigs in Port Fairy and Warrnambool on October 10 and 11.
Farewell gig for musician
Warrnambool Standard 8th April 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
THE Warrnambool music scene will farewell one of its best-loved musicians and teachers this weekend at a gig in memory of Peter Lucas, founding member of the band Hot Tamale Baby. The 48-year-old Woodford man died of a heart attack last month, seven years after being told by doctors a genetic heart condition meant he had only six months to live. Peter’s wife, Sue Mellersh-Lucas, said the Sunday afternoon gig would be [a] way of finalising a chapter and saying goodbye. “Music was very important to Pete, I know that he was much loved in the local music scene. There are a lot of people who would like to say goodbye this way.” The gig will also feature the launch of Hot Tamale Baby’s recently completed self-titled CD. The CD’s release follows recent recognition for the group, with an Australian Roots Music Award for best female vocal performance and successful appearance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Sue said the pair was in the process of planning the CD’s launch at the time of Peter’s death. “I felt (launching the CD this Sunday) was the only thing I could do, I’m not giving any thought at the moment to what Hot Tamale Baby will do.” She said many people who had known Peter had pulled together to make the gig a success, helping with everything from cooking to setting up the sound system. Students from the South West Institute of Tafe arts department, where Peter was a lecturer, had made posters and were decorating the venue. “I have had loads of people wanting to help out, who feel it is important for this gig to go on,” Sue said. “My girls and I have had enormous support ... it’s been a wonderful thing that people have been wanting to say thanks to Pete.” Among the performers at the Old Collegians football clubrooms on Sunday afternoon will be Marco Goldsmith, Lee Morgan, Piffen Yonnies and Slap ‘N’ The Cats. The afternoon, including raffles, a sausage sizzle and full bar, will kick off at 2.30pm. Tickets are $5.
HOT TAMALE BABY CD LAUNCH
by David Dawson. Previously published in Beat Magazine April 1999 - ©Copyright D. Dawson 1999. All rights reserved
Soulful Shipwreck Coast combo Hot Tamale Baby honor late co-founder Peter Lucas with a posthumous CD launch, tribute and benefit on Sunday in Warrnambool. Lucas, 48 and suffering a genetic heart defect, died early on Sunday March 14 after a massive coronary at the Hawthorn flat of his two daughters - both university students. Peter and singing spouse Su Mellersh-Lucas fronted a swag of Warrnambool roots bands including Emu Creek, Eureka, Rock Wallaby and Kaleidico before forming Hot Tamale Baby. The band recorded its self titled album, featuring seven original tunes penned by Peter and Su, at Tony Peel’s Warrnambool studio, in 1998. Although the band frequently played live throughout Victoria, NSW and South Australia it was only at the 11th hour the CD was entered in the second annual Australian Roots Music Awards in Warrnambool. Hot Tamale Baby surprised no-one but itself when Su won best female vocal performance for the band’s cut of its tune Blues For Tibet. Ironically, the January win was the 21st wedding anniversary of the duo who renovated the old Woodford post office on the banks of the Merri River. Peter, who was given six months to live by doctors in 1992, defied medical opinion and lived for another seven years by adopting eastern medicine and religion. Lucas lived long enough to savor the success of his band, performed at the prestige Port Fairy Folk festival but died before the band could perform at the Apollo Bay festival. Now, the cream of the south west Victorian roots music scene are donating their services for the belated CD launch at the Old Collegians Football Club, Warrnambool, on Sunday. “Peter would have wanted his band to continue after his tragic passing,” former band mate and benefit organiser Wally Edney told Beat. “Larry Lawson has joined on bass for the gig and, hopefully, for other bookings that may eventuate. It’s also a benefit as Peter’s medical, ambulance and funeral costs need to be met. Peter had scaled down his work commitments because of his health and the need for quality time with his family. It’s now hoped the function will considerably help Sue and their daughters Sahr and Paije.” The function, starting at 2 p m, will feature two stages - accoustic and bands. Fellow roots music award winning singer Lee Morgan, former Blue Heat singer Marco Goldsmith, Peter Daffy, Richard Tankard and Duncan McKenzie perform on the accoustic stage. The bands’ stage will feature Zydeco Jump leader George Butrumlis & Friends, Lost In Suburbia, Slap N The Cats, Piffin Yonnies, the Warrnambool jazz ensemble and, of course, Hot Tamale Baby.
Musicians farewell a friend
Warrnambool Standard 12th April 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL'S music community came together at a gig yesterday to remember and farewell Peter Lucas, founding member of the band Hot Tamale Baby. More than 350 people visited the Old Collegians football clubrooms to hear Marco Goldsmith, Piffen Yonnies, Slap 'N' The Cats, Hot Tamale Baby and other performers sing in honor of one of the city's best-loved musicians.
Peter's wife and fellow Hot Tamale Baby member, Su Mellersh-Lucas, said yesterday she was impressed by the turnout. Many of the patrons had travelled from Melbourne for the day. "It's come together very easily. I had an army of people come forward. I've actually been forced to relax," Mrs Mellersh-Lucas said. "It's a tribute to the sort of person Pete was, that he could inspire this sort of recognition, and that's what a lot of people have been saying to me. He's here enjoying it, I'm sure. This is the sort of thing he loved. "Musicians are a very close-knit community and we're seeing it here this afternoon." Yesterday marked the launch of Hot Tamale Baby's self-titled CD, which Mrs Mellersh-Lucas said was focused on moving the band to the festival circuit. "This is very appropriate to launch it today, when all the people who are here are friends, so I know that they're probably behind the CD for other reasons." She was unable to predict the future of the band. "I haven't given it any thought, because Pete was the heart and soul of Hot Tamale Baby and without him it's very hard for me to make any decision," "It will take time, so in a way today is an important statement because it's a way for Hot Tamale Baby to say goodbye to Pete as well." Mr Lucas was 48 when he died of a heart attack last month, seven years after he was told by doctors a genetic heart condition meant he had only six months to live.
. . . (Report: TANYA DOOLAN. Picture: LEANNE GOURLEY)
Fitting farewell
Warrnambool Standard 15th April 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL said goodbye in style to one of its favorite musicians on Sunday at a farewell gig to Peter Lucas. It was a fitting tribute to the Woodford musician and teacher, featuring some of the region’s best talent, including Marco Goldsmith, Andy Alberts, Lee Morgan, Slap ’N’ The Cats and, of course, Hot Tamale Baby. Peter’s widow Sue Mellersh-Lucas, who put in a wonderful performance with the band founded by the couple, said she was delighted by the success of the gig. Around 350 friends, students and music lovers attended the afternoon. “It was an outstanding success — it was a real treat for Warrnambool to see so much local talent at one time.” She said she believed that Peter would have been there on Sunday watching the proceedings. “It was the sort of thing you couldn’t keep him away from.” Sue said in recognition of the community support she and her daughters had received, some of the money raised would go to district charities.
Sue Mellersh-Lucas, Peter Lucas, Brad Harrison, Mal "Knucky" Stewart, John Sycopolous
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