musings

my daughter has decided to return to her mother’s house to go back to her old school. I’m absolutely heartbroken, but it’s her decision, and I’ll support her in it. I think it’s a bit of a quick fix, grass is greener move, and I suppose time will tell. she’s always been one to look for the instant gratification, but being all of twelve I suppose I shouldn’t expect too much of her just yet. after spending almost all of her life in the country I guess she found day to day life in the city a bit overwhelming. I miss her terribly already.

it’s anzac day here, our national holiday where australia and new zealand’s war veterans are honoured. with this country committing more troops overseas, it’s becoming more of a target for the anti-war campaigners. still, it’s a powerful, solemn and popular occasion, which the aussies really take to heart much more that what I ever saw in the states.

still trying to finish off the blues pirates album, but chris and I can never seem to get our schedules in sync. I’ve got to get my compilation album mastered, which still needs a name (”cletis carr’s greatest non-hits” is my fave). then I’ve gotta address the re-release of my back catalog, which will be available digitally in a few days. and somewhere down the track, I need to start on a new album.

one of the upsides with casey-lee away is that I no longer need to schedule around the school holidays, so perhaps the uk tour will be back on the map. though I’d really like to be in nashville for the americana music conference in november. it’s hard to believe it’s been six years since I left, where the hell did those years go?

so with boris yeltsin gone, will the stocks in vodka companies plunge?

and happy b-day to the colonel, and to paddy.

here’s a little fun for you world travellers.

1. go to google maps.
2. click on “get directions”
3. type “new york” in the first box (the “from” box)
4. type “london” in the second box (the “to” box)
5. click on “get directions”
6. scroll down to step #24 (or so).
7. call me when you get there.

and we lose yet another rock legend.

I also heard the news today that new zealand icon max merrit is ill and in hospital. sheesh.

any good news? oh, I’ll have most of my back catalog available for digital download on the site within the week. and last night’s gig was enjoyable, with the orphans and karl broadie guesting. this week, fi and rich are winding their way down from the mountains, and the expected guest list is looking more and more interesting.

so two hours before the costume party began, I learned that the theme wasn’t 1899 period outfits… but 1399. blame that silly edwardian script font that people like to use on invitations. with a bit of quick scarmbling, and the help of a pal with lots of wacky stuff in her wardrobe, I ended up resembling something out of a monty python film:

It was pretty amazing to see so many folks dressed like something out of PBS doco, well all except Theo, who didn’t get the theme info at all and came dressed as an astronaut.

I’m playing a pal’s 40th birthday party tonite, and wouldn’t ya know it, she’s themed it “costume dress, pre-1900’s theme”.

those of y’all who know me in person know that jeans and tee shirts are about as costumy (costumie?) as I get.

this’ll be interesting….

before the music dies.

you can legally download it for only $10 USD too.

been following the aftermath of the don imus story with mixed emotions. I mean, imus was clearly wrong in his choice of words, but the sanctimonious sabre-rattling of the sharptons of the world is getting even more out of hand. as kinky friedman wrote in his op-ed piece, “…there’s something not kosher in America when one guy gets a Grammy and one gets fired for the same line.”

I guess, the kinkster can use the word ‘kosher’, cause he’s jewish, right? in the same way that sasha cohen can be irreverent as well. but it seems these days, in the u.s. anyway, if you’re not born into the club, don’t stand outside the door and call names.

especially during an election year, no?

anyone noticed how the themes of those annoying banner ads on websites have changed? used to be “whack the monkey & get a free laptop”, then it was “shoot the popstar & get a free ipod”, now I see “toss the fat oil c.e.o. and get a free ringtone”.

had a late dinner at my local leagues club last night, I noticed amongst the renovations they’re doing in prep for the new anti-smoking laws (which finally come into effect here july), a sign on the men’s restroom door advised that the disabled restrooms were now located upstairs. gives new meaning to the phrase “convenience”, no?

the annual aussie music chart figures have just been released, interestingly seven out of the top ten albums of last year are local aussie artists.

having a meeting today with the label guys to discuss marketing, etc. for the new guitar instrumental album [begin plug] (which is now available at cd baby) [end plug], and hopefully trying to finish the blues pirates album sometime before the end of the decade.

looks like my plans to play a couple weeks of shows in london are going to be delayed, as I’ve been offered some other work here in sydney during that period. so it looks like it’ll be closer to the year’s end now.

which was the title of an old dave clark five song I used to play. anyhoo…

from the “now I’ve seen everything dept: bon jovi action figures?

finally saw the latest scorsese film, the departed. still can’t decide if it made any sense or not, anyone else see it? and since team america, I still can’t look at matt damon without smirking. especially when his character gets shot. by alec baldwin, no less.

silverchair’s new album has gone straight to number one in the aussie charts. keith’s still hasn’t, in spite of being on the front of every tabloid for the last eighteen months.

on the ‘things to do’ list this week: finish off the blues pirates album, move the office back and pick up some more dc5 recordings.

… I eventually rose, allegedly. the planned nice quiet holiday weekend was anything but. good friday was spent cleaning house, as you do. casey-lee had a friend overnite, then headed up to the country for school holidays.

saturday nite’s bald rock gig was a ripper. the boys were on their game and the band played well, possibly the best in months. everyone was such a good vibe that when closing time came, the call to move to the bridge (which I usually duck) was unanimously taken.

I should take a moment to explain to my out-of-town &/or country readers about the bridge hotel. imagine the worst dive bar you’ve ever seen, double it and add in the cast of a fellini film. it’s sleazy, run down, the drink prices are astronomical and it’s the only place open west of the other bridge after midnight. I’d go into more detail about who or what was there and what transpired, but to be honest, I can’t quite recall it all.

so easter sunday was spent in the traditional rock n roll manner. drag oneself out of bed about midday, return half of the calls missed and find a good pub with a beer garden. I spent the first couple of hours as the only male at the table. anyone who’s seen “sex and the city” and doesn’t believe that women actually talk that way, well….

so after learning various intimate tidbits about a couple friends that I really didn’t want to know and teaching the bar staff how to properly assemble a bloody mary, the bright idea hit us to drag the whole crew back to the house for calamari & pasta. not sure what time we would down, but the sun was rising. again.

needless to say, my plans to relocate my office back to the house have been moved to next weekend. so I’m spending the remainder of the holiday weekend chilling in front of the “food channel”, listening to the gypsy gal’s tales of getting hit on by women at the bridge and wondering why someone would manfufacture pink lingerie with feet.