Monday, May 29, 2006

Ohh about fucking time

I've just waited for this page to load for 10 minutes, no exaggeration. I'm on broadband. There is clearly something wrong with this stupid piece of shite AKA the computer. I might defrag it after this.

Anyhooo. I just (or not really just now, recently) re-read my Whitlams review. You can tell I wrote that one in a hurry eh! Changing from present to past tense, clumsy sentences...eurgh. I actually groaned out loud. And to think I sent submitted it to a webzine! I'm ashamed.

I went to the Pisarro exhibition on Wednesday. It was good. I was interested to see how his style changed, especially his experimenting with the neo-impressionistic stlye at the end. Oh who am I fooling with this arty jargon? I enjoyed it, end of story. I like the magic in painting - up close it's just a thick disc of pale yellow paint, but step back and it becomes a luminous sun, it looks like it's actually giving off light, you know? That kind of magic.

Dad got a new guitar! So fucking excited. He got a lovely sexy beautiful Martin & Co. DC-15E Cutaway acoustic dreadnought with pickups, and a Fender Junior DSP amp. The guitar sounds AMAZING. Really rich and warm in the lower registers epsecially. Great action too - I can actually play a G major chord on it! Yay! Unusual colour, quite dark, I think it's rosewood but I'm not sure. It's matte too, no varnish. I'm learning 'that Everybody song by REM' as Alex Kapranos so eloquently sings it, because it's the easiest piece on the fingerstyles DVD that dad bought. I'm finding it difficult though, playing such a large guitar is challenging, as well as the chords. Plus the steel strings really cut your fingers up. I can only play 15 minutes at a stretch for now but hopefully I'll build up.

Oh yeah and I dyed my hair really intense black. It's pretty cool. My sister says I have Aeon Flux hair. As long as I don't have emo hair that's cool.

So that's me up to date. I'm going to sleep now - going to the gym with my mum tomorrow, then finally picking up my new red silk 50s style dress. I got paid tonight, hooray. I might post photos of the dress some time. Hopefully the computer won't be so fucked next time.

-R

Saturday, May 20, 2006

The Whitlams gig review

THE WHTILAMS
Corner Hotel
13 May 2006

The Whitlams are out to promote their newest album, the two-disc Little Cloud, and the Corner is packed with eager punters. The support acts, The Live Room and Kate Miller Heidke, are warmly received. I can take or leave The Live Room's po-rock acoustic guitar and violin, but Kate is the surprise of the night. Admittedly I was not expecting very much, having only heard one of the quiter songs on Tripl J, but she blows everyone away with her amazing soprano voice, fantastic songs and adorable personality. My pitch-perfect brother later informs me that she reached a high D (the one two octaves above a middle C).

The Whitlams come out to raucous applause. Tim Freedman is undisputably the frontman, being the singer, keyboardist and only surviving member of the original Whitlams, but the current line up of Jak Housden on guitar, Warwick Hornby on bass and Terepai Richmond on drums have now been around longer than the original, and they have a strong rapport with the audience and each other. They play a long set of twenty or so songs, starting with what is probably their biggest hit 'No Aphrodisiac' and then playing a mix of old favourites and sogns off the new album, with Tim playing a few songs solo in the middle of the set on his piano. As is tradition, the entire audience sings 'Charlie no. 2', providing the backing vocals for Tim sitting by himself at the piano. The interaction between Tim and the audience is less rock star and fans and more like old friends.

The crowd is suitably tranquil, as The Whitlams style is laidback pop songs and ballads, allowing Tim's smooth voice to carry the melodies, but the more upbeat numbers get everyone moving. They come out for two encores, closing with the ever-popular oldie 'I Make Hamburgers', the hour and a half long set leaving punters happy and sated. Tim and co may have been around for a while now but they still put on a cracker show.

There are photos at my flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/worldofcheese) but blogger's being a biatch and not letting me add them. So go see them there.

-R

Friday, May 19, 2006

Just a quick update...

...so that you all (well, Brendan anyway) will stop bugging me. Not so detailed, because late hour+lack of sleep = the brain, she no work so well right now.

Actually I don't really know what to say. I went to JB Hi-Fi Bourke St today where Tripod did an instore promoting their new DVD. I wasn't going to get it but of course I did. Worth every penny, it's an absolute pisser. They could easily be a serious band if they wanted, musically they are very talented, amazing voices and great tunes. I'm glad they choose to make us laugh though. Fact for the day: Gatesy is not an original member. He came in a couple of years after Tripod first started, to replace another guy or something.

There will be a Whitlams gig review and photos soon, probably tomorrow. I'm writing it for a webzine so it'll have to be up. Meanwhile I should probably get some sleep before I fall asleep here.

-R

PS I have a myspace at http://www.myspace.com/bobthemelburnian and you may check it out if you wish. Can't remember if I've plugged it before. I should work out how to put links and shit on too shouldn't I.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

New musicness

New bands I've discovered recentlyish and really like:

The Grates: from Brisbane. Energetic guitars and drums rockin along with Patience's sweet and sassy vocals riding high over the top. The girl has energy. Standout song: Trampoline. I defy you to sit still while listening to it. www.myspace.com/thegrates

The Long Blondes: Fun vintage sounding guitar pop with sweet vocals. They have a guitarist called Dorian. Standout song: Once and Never Again. The first song where I have felt like the singer read my diary and then wrote the song to sing especially to me. www.myspace.com/thelongblondes

Bricolage: More guitar music you can dance to, a la Franz Ferdinand. All catchy, clean sounding guitary riffs and groovy beats. Standout song: The Waltzers, with a distinctive and instantly memorable two note riff bopping along. www.myspace.com/bricolagetheband

Sorry for the absurd reviews. It's 2:35 and I'm tired.

-R

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Survey

I used to get a lot of these in the email from a certain friend. Here's one from the franz ferdinand forum. I'm bored.

1. Are you allergic to anything? If so, what?
Sulphites (in food), and nickel. And idiots. They make me turn violent/disdainful.
2. What is your religion?
Catholic
3. What was the last thing you ate?
Lasagna
4. Give me a summary of the last dream you remember having.
I was running through Crown Casino with a complete stranger, then he kissed me. It was weird.
5. What do you plan to do when you get out of highschool? If you are out of highschool, then what do you do?
I'm at university and on weekends I'm a dish hand.
6. Are you homosexual, bi, Asexual, or straight?
Straight
7. What is your earliest memory?
going under the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a boat, in my mum's arms.
8. Who is your favorite band/artist?
Possibly Franz Ferdinand
9. Who is your 2nd favorite band/artist?
possibly Interpol, which has risen rapidly up the ranks.
10. If you could change anything about your phsical body, what would it be?
my ass.
11. If you could change anything about your personality, what would it be?
I would be more confident.
12. What is your favorite commercial?
The citroen C4 one where the car turns into a dancing robot.
13. What is your favorite one hit wonder?
Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. More for nostalgia than anything else.
14. Who was your first celebrity crush?
Kieren Perkins when I was 7.
15. Do you think your weird?
Nope. I feel like I'm the only normal one and everyone else are the weirdos. Actually yeah I am a little strange.
16. What is your opinion on George Bush?
The missing link between monkey and human.
17. Do you have a thing for emo kids?
Actually, the look is growing on me. I dig pale skinny men. Pale skinny men with floppy fringes and black skinny jeans is nice. But lose the My Chemical Romance t-shirts and the attitude, please.
18. Do you like boy on boy action?
I'm a straight girl. Of course I do! Just like guys love girls together.
19. Do you like girl on girl action?
That one, not so much.
20. Do you read slash fiction?
I have, and it freaked me out. I don't want to think about the members of my favourite bands having sex with each other. I'd rather think about them having sex with me.
21. What eye color turns you on?
Blue
22. What is your eye color?
Dark brown
23. List a few of your friends on this forum.

24. Do you post at any other forums? If so, which ones?

25. What is your favorite website?
franzferdinand.org or youtube.com
26. What do you like to do when you are bored to make the time pass?
listen to music
27. Do you like to read?
yep
28. Who is your role model?
I don't really know.
29. Who is your favorite female celebrity?
Cate Blanchett. She's beautiful and luminous and gracious and elegant and all those things I'm not.
30. Who is your favorite male celebrity?
Ioan Gruffudd.
31. Do you enjoy answering these questions?
um yeah...don't know if I'll regret it later on though.
32. What kind of music does your mom like?
James blunt...and pop jazz like Michael Buble and Mark Sholtez. And Eva Cassidy. And of course 60s pop like The Beatles.
33. What kind of music does your dad like?
The Beatles, Diana Krall, Billy Joel...he plays guitar so lots of pop songs from his youth.
34. What is your favorite cartoon?
mmmm probably Family Guy
35. What is your favorite television channel?
The food channel
36. What country do you live in?
Australia
37. What time is it where you are?
11:37 am
38. How was your day?
It hasn't exactly started yet
39. If you could be a mod in this forum, would you?

40. Do you smoke?
nope
41. Do you drink?
not very much, which means I get drunk really easily
42. Do you think I'm crazy for thinking up all these questions?
quite.
43. Who is your least favorite celebrity?
Ashlee simpson
44. Are you single?
yep
45. Are you a feminist?
not really...
46. Are you sure?
yep
47. When do you predict the world will end?
whent he sun swallows it.
48. Do you believe in Aliens?
yes, there's got to be something out there
49. Do you believe in Big Foot?
nope
50. Have you ever visited Alaska?
nope
51. Do you wish you could be Darth Vader?
nope
52. What is your full name?
Oh come on, I've revealed my real first name. You can expect more than that.
53. Are you lying to me?
nope
54. Are you pregnant?
lol God I dont think so!
55. What is the weather like where you live?
cloudy. windy. cool.
56. Are you a good speller?
yes
57. If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Alex Kapranos. He loves food, has had some incredible life experiences (okay his whole life is an incredible experience) and is by all accounts and from limited personal experience, a really really friendly and nice guy. I'd love to sit down and have a good meal with him and talk.
58. Who is your favorite member of Franz Ferdinand?
possibly Nick.
59. When did you last go to VicRoads?
When I got my Ls in 2004
60. Have you ever drove a car?
Yes
61. Do you like the thong song?
nope
62. Have you ever beat up someone?
nope. I fight like a girl.
63. Have you ever been beat up?
nope.
64. Are you an early bird?
god no
65. When did you last visit franzferdinand.co.uk?
this morning
66. which do you like better, Omigawdzzilla or omigod?
omigod.
67. Do you have your own website?
well duh
67. What's wrong with you?
what's wrong with YOU?
68. What is a word you often use?
'like'. As in, 'I was like' and 'it's like'....I hate it!
69. Are you a wanker?
hahaha...no.
70. Do you believe in magic?
nope
71. Do you have braces?
nope
72. Do you have any rotten teeth?
nope
73. Are you afraid of the Dr.?
nope
74. Does Franz Ferdinand own you?
nope. But they can if they want.
75. What are you wearing?
pyjamas.
76. What is your favorite subject in school?
Lunch break.
77. Are you stupid?
What's with the abusive questions?
78. Do you often accessorize your style?
yeah
79. Do you like to wear dressies?
more so now than previously.
80. If you had a kid, what would you name it?
depends on whether it was a boy or girl.
81. What are you favorite types of jokes?
Dead baby ones.
82. Do you ever get your nails done?
nope. I'm ashamed to show others my enormous callous and that I bite my cuticles (I used to bite my nails)
83. When did you last go to the salon?
Last weekish
84. What current song do you really like at the moment?
Once and Never Again by The Long Blondes. I feel like she looked at my life and wrote the song just for me. Keep an eye out for them.
85. Are you bored?
Why else would I be doing this?
86. Does your school serve good cafeteria food?
Uni has a range of cafes but I'm tight and I brign my own lunch
87. If you could change your gender, would you?
nope
88. Which is better, proper english or omigawd leik internet txt talk!?
proper english.
89. Do you use swear words?
fuck yeah.
90. What do you think will happen to yourself after you die?
I will be cremated and my ashes scattered in all my favourite cities.
91. What would be your dream come true?
to make a living as a bassist
92. Beauty or brains?
brains
93. Do you wish you were famous?
mmmm it'd be kinda cool I suppose
94. If you could be any animal, what would you be?
dog, mine are so spoilt
95. If you could be a child again, would you?
nope. I was so impatient to be 18, I'd hate to go through all that waiting again
96. What was the last mistake you made?
I can't remember, I make too many of them to keep track
97. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
nope
98. Where are you right now?
in front of the computer
99. Are you depressed?
nope
100. Do you have any tatoos?
nope
101. Do you feel better now that you answered 100 pointless questions?
erm...nope

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Just to clarify...

One of my friends (I won't name names) thought my big news is that I'm gay. Well, as plausible as that may seem, believe it or not, that's actually NOT my big news. Rest assured, all will be revealed at some point.