musings

if you haven’t yet seen this clever tune from pete denahy, check it out.

I occasionally play a little sports club in a nearby suburb. it’s what we in the biz call a ‘take the money and run’ gig, as there’s not a lot of appreciation for quality music from the largely inebriated crowd focused on one or more of the big screens around the room. I’ve played it a couple of times prior, but this day saw the club hosting an all-day cricket comp on the greens, with the bar open from 9am.

highlights of my eve included:

having my start time changed four times within an hour;

after playing two eagles songs back-to-back, being approached by a large drunk who insisted that I ‘play some of the eagles’. I then played another, only to be met by him half an hour later with the same request;

watching some guy stagger across the dancefloor with a life-size inflatable shane warne doll;

getting drowned out by those watching the soccer grand final on one set of screens when the cricket fans kept turning up their screens;

and, to cap the night, I ended with that old chestnut, ‘american pie’. it may have been the first time that I’ve played that within the greater city area, as it’s usually reserved for those far-flung country villages, where novelty itself is a novelty, along with proper english, teenage girls without prams, social graces, and footwear.

come to think of it, last night’s crowd could’ve fit the above as well.

it’s a glamorous business, innit?

is it possible to listen to led zeppelin and not try to play airdrums? I think not.

I wonder if I should get a lavalamp for the studio. all the wanky interview scenes I see on tv always seem to feature a lavalamp in the background, although I must admit, I’ve never actually seen one in any of the real studios I’ve been in.

they should allow the salvation army folks who solicit donations in pubs on friday nights to carry guns. like a real army. bet their takings would increase.

why am I always wearing a light-coloured shirt when I’m making a tomato/red wine based pasta sauce?

does anyone know how governments function, and more importantly, how can me make them stop?

nothing much to blog about, as I’ve been hit with a nasty bug. as mark knopfler wrote, ’sometimes you’re the windshield….’. anyway, I’m on the mend, have a lot to catch up on and will be back with something (hopefully) witty, informative and enlightening.

hopefully.

“If you’re over 50, can stand up straight and remember the words, there is work for everybody.”

- David Crosby

one of the great rock n roll moments was the time that keith moon passed out during the who’s 1973 concert in san francisco. they pulled an (then) unknown drummer from the crowd to finish the gig. that guy, scott halpin, passed away yesterday, which prompted me to chase up the classic footage here.

we’ve got houseguests this week, the gypsy gal’s pal mary is up again for her annual sabbatical from adelaide. gracie, if you’re reading, clean the house and no parties.

I’m playing the baldy tonight with the tonedogs, filling in for the regular residents. drop by if you’re in the ‘hood.

today was something of a historical day as the australian prime minister, on behalf of the parliament and the nation, formally apologised to the “stolen generation”. it’s a complex topic, if you’re unfamiliar with it, I’d suggest starting to research here and here.

as I hadn’t had enough coffee this morning, I got confused and ended up saying sorry to the pepsi generation. I always was a dr. pepper kinda guy, even though you can’t seem to get it here anymore (thanks, cadbury-schweppes).

flippancy aside, it’s been an interesting move from a relatively conservative government. indeed, one talkback caller I heard today asked, “other countries did much worse and haven’t apologised. why should we?”.

did someone say rhetorical question?

during a radio interview with the aussie heart foundation this morning, it was revealed that the mcdonald’s chain has over one million australian customers annually.

when one considers that our population here is 21 million, that’s a frightening statistic. doubly so when one then considers their customer base in, say the usa, where fast food is more of an openly acceptible substitute for nutrition.

supersize me, indeed.

had a good gig on saturday with the blues pirates. the sando pub is a funny place, still very rough-n-tumble though the new management is trying to slowly gentrify the place. had a laugh when some local (who probably should’ve stopped drinking the day before) took offense to my song, “I ain’t buying no war”. he was cool once I pointed out what the actual lyrics were.

is it true that the majority of modern music listeners only hear the music/rhythm and not the lyrics? sure seems that way at times, and explains some of today’s pop muzak.

afterwards, I dropped into hunter & suzy’s monthly gig for a guest appearance. it’s always fun rockin’ out that normally sedate country crowd.

I missed the flood’s cd launch on friday, anyone go?

yesterday, I enjoyed the first sunday without a gig in over two years. well, can’t exactly say ‘enjoyed’, as we were in the midst of a two-day major house clean. the move’s been rescinded, and we’re staying put in the old flat til at least year’s end. so there’s carpets, paint and furniture rearrangement afoot, and I’ll just have to put up with the parking congestion. the price of life in the city.

this week’s musical events: I’m joining chrissie pearce for a couple of slide pieces for her poptarts spot tomorrow, also as we’ve had a cancellation at the baldy this saturday, I’m bringing in the tonedogs for some blues.

but I don’t mind, I dig the rain. must be the positive ions in the atmosphere.

did the first show with the new band last night. since they’d all just returned from the annual country music fest, we didn’t have so much as an hour to rehearse. nevertheless, I threw a bunch of tunes at ‘em, many of which they didn’t know, and came off splendidly. it was the first time in probably a decade that I’d played ‘french cafe’ and ‘hey dealer’ with a band, and the first time ever (I’m pretty sure) with ’still waters run’, which we’d recorded for the 2nd hillbilly moon album. I’m really looking forward to tightening the set up over the next several weeks.

the tree-change has been postponed for a year, at least. looks like staying in town’s the best option for ‘08. the gypsy gal’s back, we’re moving over a suburb or two into a bigger house. the growing developments in this area are making my daily life a nightmare, especially when it comes to loading p.a. gear, parking etc. so it’s time to move along.

anyone catch tom petty & the heartbreakers on the super bowl halftime show? a short but classy set, I wasn’t disappointed at all but I’ve read quite a few online forum comments from folks who thought otherwise. what did they expect? tp to come soaring in on a golden flying vee, with lasers and rockets exploding while mike cambell’s wardrobe malfunctioned? whatever happened to just appreciating good music?

and happy b-day to wendie d.