musings

the blues pirates are debuting at the untidy, er unity hall pub tonight, this’ll be interesting taking this lineup into that room. hope you locals can make it, it’ll be different.

finally got down to move the rest of my furnishings n files out of the old office. since I’d originally moved there when the kids came back, everything’s been in a state of limbo as to whether to hang on to it. but it’s good having everthing in one place again, even if it’s in boxes strung all down the hallway.

apologies to those of you who’ve ordered cd’s, see above post for chaotic explanation. I hope to have everything mailed by this coming monday. ditto with clients awaiting updates and such.

one of the aussie music instrument distributors is about to start bringing in johnson guitars, including the entire resonator range. I’m going to the warehouse next week to have a browse, think I’ll be a kid in a candy store. just in time too, as I’m hoping to start the new album shortly and it’ll be pretty dobro-heavy in sound.

another week has slipped thru my fingers, it would seem.

the benefit gig we held on second life on tuesday (local time) was a huge success, by SL standards. after 18 artists back to back for nine hours, we raised over L$170k in inworld currency, which works out to about $700 USD. not a fortune, but it’ll help mark out with his post-hosiptal bills.

anyone heard ‘falling at your feet‘, from daniel lanois‘ new album, with bono on guest vocal? great stuff.

another weekend’s worth of local gigs are upon me, so I’ll have to come back to this later.

the floodgates seemed to have opened on my muse, I’ve been writing again like mad. the new album will have a solid theme, that’s mainly helped my focus on the direction for the songs, and it’s something I’ll discuss at length very soon.

last weekend’s gig with jadie at the merton was huge, I’m hoping the crowds finally kick back in. it’s been a slow start to the year, not just for my residency, but all around. election years, uncertainties, war, what is it good for, etc. typical year, in many ways, no?

one my of second life musician buddies has been paralysed with a stroke, we’re holding a big benefit live show inside SL today, which is why I’m up so early. you can tune in at www.wickedkarma.com:9051 - I’ll be on at about midnight west coast USA time, or 5pm sydney time.

from one of my recent sunday sessions, a short clip of karl broadie, nick payne and meself performing dylan’s “you ain’t going nowhere”

link is here.

can’t tell you how proud this makes me.

every city neighbourhood (and many rural) seems to have their token lunatic wandering the streets, yelling at invisible foes. ours is usually staggering up and down the main street out front, but I occasionally hear him out back.

so this morning, I’m in the kitchen (at the rear of the flat) and hear what can only be described as someone dragging a series of cats thru a reverse-cycle air conditioner backwards with a blender involved somewhere. our local looney’s back, I thought. then after a short time, I sensed a bit of melody and realised it wasn’t the dude after all, but rather the female vocalist fronting the jazz band at the club next door.

think me best a&r days are behind me. or perhaps not…

last nite’s baldy gig was a ripper. great crowd, good vibe and plenty o’ red-lining at the p.a. desk. today’s sunday session should be a more sedate affair, with rob luckey as my main guest. I’ll cruise a bit and delve into the gram/townes catalog for my set.

there’s another offer on the table to return to a cafe situation. we’ve been hemming n hawing it over, the deal is great, but the current trade figures are a little underwhelming. I gotta admit, I do miss being a foodie a bit, and with fall and winter on the horizon, I’ve gotten kitchen clucky again.

led a group o’ folks to hang at the welcome pub last nite as it was deirdre’s last shift before heading back to ireland. so we toasted and bemoaned the loss of one of the best barpeeps on the peninsula.

being the first weekend of the month, I’ll be at my usuals, the bald rock tonite and the merton tomorrow. for the baldy gigs, I’ve officially changed my position to “stunt guitar”…. if you’ve been, you’ll know why.

picked up my daughter’s school photos the other day, any friends or family who hasn’t been emailed one yet, lemme know.

I’m starting a new residency, once again here on the balmain peninsula - there’s an entire city out there, plus several large towns all around, and yet I can never seem to get out of the neighbourhood. the last saturday of each month will find me at the riverview pub in balmain. the ‘riv’ used to be one of the premiere venues in its day, but it’s been let go a bit in previous years. even though you haven’t been able to see the river for nearly a hundred years (due to housing), it’s still a funky place and the new management are keen to make a go of it.

heads up notice - on sunday august 5th, we’ll be hosting a “jamm for genes” show as part of the annual genes for jeans national fundraiser. I’ll have dozens of musical guests, plus some other local celebrities for an all-day event. mark your calendars and those of you interstate, make your flight bookings (yes, that means you, annii).

according to my diary, today is labour day holiday in china. something kinda ironic about that notion, dontcha think?

from the late, great warren zevon:

“It’s a damned hard way to make a living, having to die to get ’em to know you’re alive.”

a new book is out, edited by his widow, and available all over. it’s called “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”.

y’all who are regulars at my sunday sessions know that I often perform “carmelita“, in his honour.

last sunday’s sessions were mucho enjoyable. bg rich, fiona and andi made the trek over the mountains to do a blue valentine set, then were again joined by rich’s spidermate ged. a pleasant surprise was ged bringing the uberfab rebecca hancock along to do a few tunes as well, I hadn’t seen her in a couple of years and it was a delight to hear her again.

to add to the melee, simon bruce is out from the states and did a set with leroy lee, who’s just nailed the support for the upcoming missy higgins tour. then jonny gretsch got into the act before I reclaimed the stage (well, floor, anyway) to finish off a couple o’ tunes with fi and rich, out of the setlists from the old mudgee days.

woulda been a good night to have had a webcam running, I must look into that soon.

happy b-day to the gypsy gal’s mother, sylvia (well, that’s her anglicised name). hope I have a tenth of your energy if/when I reach that age.

running late for a meeting, more later.