Just thought I'd write a post in between shifts. What a difference a week makes - last sunday I didn't finish at work until five pm, we were absolutely packed. This week was more your average week and it was pretty chilled out from about two onwards. I think I prefer regular sundays. So I'm sitting here with my bowl of penne verdure (penne with vegetables) before I go back to work. Not working in the kitchen at all this weekend, which is strange. We're short on floor staff so I'm out there again, mainly doing bar work. Surprisingly it all came back pretty quickly. I'm churning out those coffee orders just as fast as I used to.
And now that I'm on I can't think of anything to write about. Typical. I wish I could somehow electronically record my thoughts while I'm working. I'd come up with some pretty interesting posts then. Hmmm...Oh I'm going to buy the new Apple MacBook. I'm quite excited. There's a few questions I have to find answers to, like whether my iPod will work with a mac after being used with a PC and whether I can use our house's wireless broadband with a mac (can you tell I don't know much about computers?) but I'm pretty much decided. It's surprisingly cheap too, $1550 with the student discount. I can't wait to have a functioning laptop again. My trusty Acer Travelmate finally died this year when we networked it, it couldn't really handle all this new stuff.
I'm kind of tired too...I blame a certain someone for keeping me on msn about an hour longer than I intended.
-R
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Here We Are At The Transmission Party
One year ago today, Georgina introduced me to Franz Ferdinand (literally). It still stands out as one of the best days of my life. So I thought to celebrate a year I'd relive some of the fantasticness of that day.
(Oh and Paul and his wife Esther very recently became parents for the first time. Congratulations :))
*sigh* what fun times we had.
(Oh and Paul and his wife Esther very recently became parents for the first time. Congratulations :))
*sigh* what fun times we had.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
He won't deceive you, or tell you the truth
It is with much trepidation that I present to you my first recording. With apologies to Neil Finn, here is my version of Not The Girl You Think You Are. I had to change the vocal line which was too low for me, and am really unhappy with how it starts, but I haven't managed to find another starting note. Also the sound quality is shite because I don't have any proper recording equipment (which also means I did it all live - no recording piano and voice separately for me!).
Not The Girl You Think You Are
-R
Not The Girl You Think You Are
-R
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
A look of afar, A secret smile
I bought Second Thoughts today and have listened to it once so far and absolutely ADORE it. The songs on this that are the same as Mental Notes (Walking Down A Road, Titus, Stranger Than Fiction, Time For A Change) are different versions, and for the most part they're better. This version of Titus absolutely kicks the Mental Notes version's ass. The solo is now trumpet instead of guitar I think and it sounds much better. It's also a much richer sweeping sound in general, living up to its full grand potential. The remaster sounds excellent, I just had a huge grin on my face while listening to Lovey Dovey as it sounds so damn good now, even through my shitty mono computer speaker. I'll take it downstairs for a listen some time. Ohhhh and I nearly forgot, the last song, Woman Who Loves You comes complete with a Noel Crombie spoon solo! When I recognised the song I was like 'ohhhh pleeeeeaaase have the spoon solo' (I have it live ont he DVD) and when it came on I jumped out my chair and did a little cheer :D It's fucking legendary. I was going to get Second Thoughts and Dizrythmia this week as I worked quite long hours on the weekend and got good tips, but there was a Beatles T-shirt on sale for $10 so I got that instead. It's white, with the 'HELP' semaphore logo in black across it. It made me laugh. I just realised I think it's my first band t-shirt too. Not bad then! I'm wearing it tonight to trivia.
Hmm I seem to have lost my paragraphing ability. In a bit of a hurry cos Brendan's gonna pick me up soon.
-R
Hmm I seem to have lost my paragraphing ability. In a bit of a hurry cos Brendan's gonna pick me up soon.
-R
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Winter Lovin, that's the best kind of lovin
Well, I'm not too sure about that, Mr Freedman. It's been bloody cold, even for someone like me who claims to enjoy cold weather more. Well, it was bloody freezing this morning at any rate. My sister had rowing at 6 am at the yarra (if it's not swimming it's rowing - when will she learn to choose a sport that's conducted at a civil hour!?) and I stupidly offered take mum to breakfast this morning. So at the highly improbably hour of 6am I found myself sitting in a freeeezing cold cafe at the Queen Vic Markets. I've never seen that place so empty. It was about 5 degrees this morning. Unbelievable. I was wearing a ridiculous amount of clothing and it didn't do all that much actually.
So I'm being a bit lazy tonight - so tired after being up so early. I was meant to go to a Something for Kate secret gig at the Evelyn (well it's not a secret now but it's on now, so it's not like I'm ruining it for anyone) but it's so cold and I'm so tired and I don't like them enough to bundle up and head out again. I only know a few of their singles anyway, so this prevents me from feeling guilty about passing up such an opportunity. Trust me if it were a secret gig for Jebediah or something I'd be the first one there.
So anyway there has been new music this week, which will become a weekly thing. There's the Split Enz re-masters to buy so I'm buying one a week in chronological order (apart from True Colours, which I bought first because it was really cheap). This week I bought the first album, Mental Notes, recorded in 1975.
I don't have a lot of un-remastered tracks to compare to the remasters, as my only other Split Enz album is a best of, but from what I do have off Mental Notes (Titus and Time For A Change)the sound quality is markedly different. At first I thought Eddie Rayner (Enz keyboardist and now producer) would just tweak the mix, but he's gone back and used different takes, and the result is very impressive. In terms of sound quality it's superbly clear, like the tracks were recorded yesterday, and the tracks now probably sound more like how the band wanted them to sound like in the first place. The first track, Walking Down A Road (and one of my favourites from the album) really shows off the superior sound quality, the drums and bass really clear and popping out. There's also two bonus live tracks on the end of the album, 129 (Matinee Idyll) and Lovey Dovey, which is my favourite Split Enz song at the moment, with a quirky little chorus and Eddie's *fantastic* piano, especially the bridge. In the live version the band calls out 'Come on Eddie, if you please, play that bridge on the ivories'. I cracked up when I heard that. Eddie is a seriously talented keyboardist/pianist and his use of synthesizers to add colour to the songs was really something too (I could write a whole lot more about this album and the band members' individual instrumental virtuosity but let's leave it at one lengthy pragraph).
I also bought 'She Will Have Her Way - The Songs of Tim and Neil Finn', which is a bunch of Aussie and New Zealand singer-songwriters covering Finn songs. It's kind of a mixed package with some good covers and some...well, crap ones. I personally believe if you're going to cover a song then you should give it your own flavour. Therefore Natalie Imbruglia's cover of Pineapple Head pisses me off because it sounds *exactly* the same as the original, but with a chick singing. I'm also not a huge fan of Renee Geyer's Into Temptation because it was a really cheesy sounding electronic drumbeat. Surpisingly I actually kinda like Kasey Chamber's Better Be Home Soon, very simple arrangement with just acoustic guitar and violin. And her backing vocalist sounds EXACTLY like Neil Finn (although the liner notes say it's someone else). My favourite cover on the album however is Sophie Koh's rousing version of Charley, a classic Split Enz song. The original is an almost mournful, heart-wrenching ballad but Sophie and Co (not pun intended) have upped the tempo to a stomping, feel-good indie pop gem that the disaffected 'yoof' in me loves. That's my idea of a cover right there.
My sister borrowed the new Muse album, Black Holes and Revelations, from a friend today but I haven't listened to all of it yet, so a review on that next time. I like Muse but haven't really taken the time to hear all their stuff. My siblings adore them, so it looks like we're all going to the Big Day Out to see them next year. I have to say I really dig Supermassive Black Hole. It's so damn funky and so unlike their other stuff. So stay posted for that one.
Anyway an early night for me. I have to be at my sister's school tomorrow at 9am to accompany her on Missy Higgin's Nightminds. Geez, am I her slave much? Haha. She'd better sing it well.
-R
PS I'm really excited about buying the second Enz album, Second Thoughts, next week, even though it is kinda like Mental Notes Mach II as there are a few duplicated tracks. But it has Matinee Idyll, Sweet Dreams, Lovey Dovey and Late Last Night, which I all *love* and can't wait to hear the remastered versions of. So expect a lengthy review about that one!
So I'm being a bit lazy tonight - so tired after being up so early. I was meant to go to a Something for Kate secret gig at the Evelyn (well it's not a secret now but it's on now, so it's not like I'm ruining it for anyone) but it's so cold and I'm so tired and I don't like them enough to bundle up and head out again. I only know a few of their singles anyway, so this prevents me from feeling guilty about passing up such an opportunity. Trust me if it were a secret gig for Jebediah or something I'd be the first one there.
So anyway there has been new music this week, which will become a weekly thing. There's the Split Enz re-masters to buy so I'm buying one a week in chronological order (apart from True Colours, which I bought first because it was really cheap). This week I bought the first album, Mental Notes, recorded in 1975.
I don't have a lot of un-remastered tracks to compare to the remasters, as my only other Split Enz album is a best of, but from what I do have off Mental Notes (Titus and Time For A Change)the sound quality is markedly different. At first I thought Eddie Rayner (Enz keyboardist and now producer) would just tweak the mix, but he's gone back and used different takes, and the result is very impressive. In terms of sound quality it's superbly clear, like the tracks were recorded yesterday, and the tracks now probably sound more like how the band wanted them to sound like in the first place. The first track, Walking Down A Road (and one of my favourites from the album) really shows off the superior sound quality, the drums and bass really clear and popping out. There's also two bonus live tracks on the end of the album, 129 (Matinee Idyll) and Lovey Dovey, which is my favourite Split Enz song at the moment, with a quirky little chorus and Eddie's *fantastic* piano, especially the bridge. In the live version the band calls out 'Come on Eddie, if you please, play that bridge on the ivories'. I cracked up when I heard that. Eddie is a seriously talented keyboardist/pianist and his use of synthesizers to add colour to the songs was really something too (I could write a whole lot more about this album and the band members' individual instrumental virtuosity but let's leave it at one lengthy pragraph).
I also bought 'She Will Have Her Way - The Songs of Tim and Neil Finn', which is a bunch of Aussie and New Zealand singer-songwriters covering Finn songs. It's kind of a mixed package with some good covers and some...well, crap ones. I personally believe if you're going to cover a song then you should give it your own flavour. Therefore Natalie Imbruglia's cover of Pineapple Head pisses me off because it sounds *exactly* the same as the original, but with a chick singing. I'm also not a huge fan of Renee Geyer's Into Temptation because it was a really cheesy sounding electronic drumbeat. Surpisingly I actually kinda like Kasey Chamber's Better Be Home Soon, very simple arrangement with just acoustic guitar and violin. And her backing vocalist sounds EXACTLY like Neil Finn (although the liner notes say it's someone else). My favourite cover on the album however is Sophie Koh's rousing version of Charley, a classic Split Enz song. The original is an almost mournful, heart-wrenching ballad but Sophie and Co (not pun intended) have upped the tempo to a stomping, feel-good indie pop gem that the disaffected 'yoof' in me loves. That's my idea of a cover right there.
My sister borrowed the new Muse album, Black Holes and Revelations, from a friend today but I haven't listened to all of it yet, so a review on that next time. I like Muse but haven't really taken the time to hear all their stuff. My siblings adore them, so it looks like we're all going to the Big Day Out to see them next year. I have to say I really dig Supermassive Black Hole. It's so damn funky and so unlike their other stuff. So stay posted for that one.
Anyway an early night for me. I have to be at my sister's school tomorrow at 9am to accompany her on Missy Higgin's Nightminds. Geez, am I her slave much? Haha. She'd better sing it well.
-R
PS I'm really excited about buying the second Enz album, Second Thoughts, next week, even though it is kinda like Mental Notes Mach II as there are a few duplicated tracks. But it has Matinee Idyll, Sweet Dreams, Lovey Dovey and Late Last Night, which I all *love* and can't wait to hear the remastered versions of. So expect a lengthy review about that one!
Monday, July 17, 2006
A three hour blink, and I'm back in the game.
Hmmm. Last post was my 100th post to this blog and I didnt' even realise. I was going to do something big for the 100th but these things tend to not get noticed at whatever ungodly hour I was typing.
I managed to break my record for least amount of sleep on a working weekend (Saturday night, Sunday double). I think I slept a little less than three hours. Surprisingly I felt okay yesterday, I just started to get a little sleepy towards the end of the dinner shift (where thankfully I was back in the kitchen, in my element). It was a quiet shift and standing around twiddling your thumbs can lead to drowsiness. But a good thorough cleanup changed all that. Ten minutes scrubbing the oven doors clean and I was back to normal (and those oven doors have never looked so good).
The fed square thing turned out to be a huge waste of my time that could've been better spent sleeping, but at least I got to catch up with Den and finally see his apartment so it wasn't a total loss. It was a Video Hits thing so you can imagine the type of people that turned up (let's just say that at nearly 20, I felt rather old). It was bloody cold too. Shit happens though. At least it didn't rain.
Anyway I'd better go do housework before my parents return from Fiji (Ohsnap!) tonight. I think I'm going for coffee with George :) And probably some form of mischeif in the city.
-R
I managed to break my record for least amount of sleep on a working weekend (Saturday night, Sunday double). I think I slept a little less than three hours. Surprisingly I felt okay yesterday, I just started to get a little sleepy towards the end of the dinner shift (where thankfully I was back in the kitchen, in my element). It was a quiet shift and standing around twiddling your thumbs can lead to drowsiness. But a good thorough cleanup changed all that. Ten minutes scrubbing the oven doors clean and I was back to normal (and those oven doors have never looked so good).
The fed square thing turned out to be a huge waste of my time that could've been better spent sleeping, but at least I got to catch up with Den and finally see his apartment so it wasn't a total loss. It was a Video Hits thing so you can imagine the type of people that turned up (let's just say that at nearly 20, I felt rather old). It was bloody cold too. Shit happens though. At least it didn't rain.
Anyway I'd better go do housework before my parents return from Fiji (Ohsnap!) tonight. I think I'm going for coffee with George :) And probably some form of mischeif in the city.
-R
Saturday, July 15, 2006
I'll never learn
I'm at Den's place in the city. We're going down to fed square in about...four hours for a free gig of Something For Kate, Wolfmother and Augie March. It's four AM. I'm working a double tomorrow. Today.
Whatever happened to me never doing satuday night again? I'm not out I suppose. We've just been chatting and catching up for the past couple of hours. George and I didn't get here until 1 anyway.
Anyway I think we're going to try nd get some sleep before heading out to find food. We're all kinda starving but it's too bloody cold to try and head into the city right now.
Four AM! What the fuck is wrong with me.
-R
Whatever happened to me never doing satuday night again? I'm not out I suppose. We've just been chatting and catching up for the past couple of hours. George and I didn't get here until 1 anyway.
Anyway I think we're going to try nd get some sleep before heading out to find food. We're all kinda starving but it's too bloody cold to try and head into the city right now.
Four AM! What the fuck is wrong with me.
-R
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Holiday snaps
I've been so used to not using the computer while on holiday that I've only bothered to get on today. I got back on monday so it's been sitting here within my reach but unused for three days. It's been nice not going on the computer actually.
I still have my cold but I'm slowly getting better. I'm hoping to be feeling better tomorrow night because work put me on the floor this weekend. I'm kinda shitting myself because I've forgotten how to waitress. Maybe I can just do bar stuff but I doubt it. The menu's changed too so I have no idea what's for eating.
Last night I was watching Max (a music channel on cable) and they had a half hour of clips from their 'sessions' where they get musicians to perform a 'live and intimate' set in front of a small audience. I stuck a tape in to record it, luckily, and got an amazing version of KD Lang singing Hallelujah. The last song was 'Won't Give In' by the Finn Brothers, then I was going to hit the stop button, but before I could, Do You Want To by Franz came on, which was cool, then the next one was It's Only Natural by Crowded House. Two of my favourite bands. What are the odds? It's kind of strange watching DYWT now, it actually takes me a while to remember that I was there.
Anyway yes, I have some holiday snaps to put up. I should get a photobucket because Flickr sucks when it comes to organizing photos, but I can't be bothered.
Obviously there are more but I can't be stuffed resizing all of them, then uploading them, then linking. I might break it up into parts or something.
-R
I still have my cold but I'm slowly getting better. I'm hoping to be feeling better tomorrow night because work put me on the floor this weekend. I'm kinda shitting myself because I've forgotten how to waitress. Maybe I can just do bar stuff but I doubt it. The menu's changed too so I have no idea what's for eating.
Last night I was watching Max (a music channel on cable) and they had a half hour of clips from their 'sessions' where they get musicians to perform a 'live and intimate' set in front of a small audience. I stuck a tape in to record it, luckily, and got an amazing version of KD Lang singing Hallelujah. The last song was 'Won't Give In' by the Finn Brothers, then I was going to hit the stop button, but before I could, Do You Want To by Franz came on, which was cool, then the next one was It's Only Natural by Crowded House. Two of my favourite bands. What are the odds? It's kind of strange watching DYWT now, it actually takes me a while to remember that I was there.
Anyway yes, I have some holiday snaps to put up. I should get a photobucket because Flickr sucks when it comes to organizing photos, but I can't be bothered.
Obviously there are more but I can't be stuffed resizing all of them, then uploading them, then linking. I might break it up into parts or something.
-R
Sunday, July 02, 2006
I can't think of a title. I'm on holiday.
So here is an unexpected update. Trust my workaholic dad to bring his wireless enabled laptop on holiday. Actually he's not really on holiday. He goes into work during the week. Last week he was in Mt Isa, which is further away than I thought. Apparently it's the same distance away from Brisbane as Melbourne is, but in the opposite direction.
Anyway the Gold Coast's been very nice this week. It's not exactly hot, but it's pleasant enough during the day. The sun's been shining all last week, but we're getting showers this week, so tomorrow we're going to Wet and Wild for the last bit of sunshine (can't believe I'll be running around in my bathers in the middle of winter). It's been pretty restful, which is always nice on a holiday. I've got a bit of a sore throat but otherwise my cold is pretty much gone. The only danger is that it's been ricocheting around my family so as soon as someone is better they catch it straightaway again.
Other than that, nothing fantastically interesting to report. I'll be back in Melbourne in a week and I'm looking forward to getting home and my own bed again (at the moment I'm sharing a sofa bed with my sister) but I'm enjoying myself here too.
Oh and it's exactly one year since george and I went to the US. Sigh. Good times, good times. The year's gone so fast!
-R
Anyway the Gold Coast's been very nice this week. It's not exactly hot, but it's pleasant enough during the day. The sun's been shining all last week, but we're getting showers this week, so tomorrow we're going to Wet and Wild for the last bit of sunshine (can't believe I'll be running around in my bathers in the middle of winter). It's been pretty restful, which is always nice on a holiday. I've got a bit of a sore throat but otherwise my cold is pretty much gone. The only danger is that it's been ricocheting around my family so as soon as someone is better they catch it straightaway again.
Other than that, nothing fantastically interesting to report. I'll be back in Melbourne in a week and I'm looking forward to getting home and my own bed again (at the moment I'm sharing a sofa bed with my sister) but I'm enjoying myself here too.
Oh and it's exactly one year since george and I went to the US. Sigh. Good times, good times. The year's gone so fast!
-R
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Sleep when you're dead, or something.
I should never go out on Satuday nights. I know that now. But I had to last night! Marika's friend Nick is down from England (he's a champ), and at lunch yesterday we decided we would take Nick on a bar hop after Stef and I finished work. I've never been out in the city on a saturday night before, it was really cool. Marika, Nick, Stef, Brendan and I headed out about midnightish. Went to Robot first and luckily a group was just leaving so we got a spot to sit down. Funnily enough every single time I've been to Robot (and I've beena few times), I've always sat in exactly the same area. Two girls that I know were sitting close by, but there were so many people milling around that I didn't get to say hi.
After a drink (and some freaky guy coming up to me and offering me cigarettes/lung cancer - he was just strange) we headed to Gin Palace, which is my favourite bar out of the few I've visited. Again we were lucky, there was a little spot with a couch and some armchairs free around a couple of tables, so we settled in. I had peach schnapps and lemonade for the first time. It was very good.
We stayed there until closing at 3, then headed out to find food...wandered around a bit in the freezing wheather...took photos at a blakc and white photo booth at flinders st...(sorry for the vague posting, I have to go eat dinner and go back to work real soon)
anyway it was a great night, and I got home just before 5, so got about 5 hours sleep before work today. I was hoping for a quiet day, but no such luck. Front of house were one short so when Iw asn't washing dishes I was out at the bar doing their glasses. I even got sent out with food at one point, and had to revert back to waitress mode for a few minutes. Seeing as I'd had a very bad night's sleep and I have a cold, I think I did okay.
anyway I'm off to eat and then work (yay). I'm going to Queensland for two weeks tomorrow and I won't be going out of my way to find a computer, so there might not be a blog for a while.
-R
After a drink (and some freaky guy coming up to me and offering me cigarettes/lung cancer - he was just strange) we headed to Gin Palace, which is my favourite bar out of the few I've visited. Again we were lucky, there was a little spot with a couch and some armchairs free around a couple of tables, so we settled in. I had peach schnapps and lemonade for the first time. It was very good.
We stayed there until closing at 3, then headed out to find food...wandered around a bit in the freezing wheather...took photos at a blakc and white photo booth at flinders st...(sorry for the vague posting, I have to go eat dinner and go back to work real soon)
anyway it was a great night, and I got home just before 5, so got about 5 hours sleep before work today. I was hoping for a quiet day, but no such luck. Front of house were one short so when Iw asn't washing dishes I was out at the bar doing their glasses. I even got sent out with food at one point, and had to revert back to waitress mode for a few minutes. Seeing as I'd had a very bad night's sleep and I have a cold, I think I did okay.
anyway I'm off to eat and then work (yay). I'm going to Queensland for two weeks tomorrow and I won't be going out of my way to find a computer, so there might not be a blog for a while.
-R
Friday, June 23, 2006
It's hip to be detached and precious
Haha I should stop underestimating the Socceroos. Well done lads. Although they're playing against Italy yet...even the more optimistic fans can't fail to see the likelihood of them losing there...But it's good to have them in the second round.
Yay for holidays! It's nice, doing whatever you feel like, no plans. Let's wander aimlessly around and just drink in the view because we don't have to be anywhere.
Oh shit! I was going to write a fairly hefty entry but I just realised I haven't packed yet. Haha go me. Hopefully I will be able to write another entry before I leave for Queensland.
-R
Yay for holidays! It's nice, doing whatever you feel like, no plans. Let's wander aimlessly around and just drink in the view because we don't have to be anywhere.
Oh shit! I was going to write a fairly hefty entry but I just realised I haven't packed yet. Haha go me. Hopefully I will be able to write another entry before I leave for Queensland.
-R
Monday, June 19, 2006
La di da da
I'm listening right now to this Bob Evans song called 'Rocks In My Head'. I LOVE the chord progression in it. It's G Bm Bbm Am C. There's something about that - that semitone drop from B to Bb then A, that just makes me so happy. I've played chord progressions like that on piano, in old jazz songs and such. I think there's a little three-quaver progression in 'Try A Little Tenderness'. Every time I play it, I think to myself 'Damn, that is a GREAT chord progression'.
Haha. I'm such a nerd. I was actually pretty proud of myself because I figured out the chords from watching Bob play at the instore - I can recognise a few chords now! hooray. Still can't play bar chords though. Le sigh. I just need stronger fingers. Acoustic guitar looks comically large on me too, like the bass guitar. My sister's decided she wants to learn bass, so I've decided I'd better learn guitar. And I've also decided, hard decision it was too, that instead of travelling I'm going to buy myself an electric guitar and laptop. I'll still learn bass though. The guitar will just be to jam with my family. I think it'd be awesome to play with Kathryn. She knows nothing about guitars but she has an ear for music. Today I was singing along to a Crowded House song that she'd never heard, and she came in perfectly with the harmony. Once her voice has matured a bit she will be a force to be reckoned with.
I went to the ballet last night, it was 'Giselle'. It's tragic and I wish I hadn't worn mascara because it was hard to not cry at the end of both acts. I'm a sucker, I always cry when you're meant to, those horribly emotionally manipulative moments with the strings soaring away and all the drama swirling. Pass the Kleenex please.
-R
PS Australia lost! I'm not surprised. They've got no hope against Croatia. Ah well.
Haha. I'm such a nerd. I was actually pretty proud of myself because I figured out the chords from watching Bob play at the instore - I can recognise a few chords now! hooray. Still can't play bar chords though. Le sigh. I just need stronger fingers. Acoustic guitar looks comically large on me too, like the bass guitar. My sister's decided she wants to learn bass, so I've decided I'd better learn guitar. And I've also decided, hard decision it was too, that instead of travelling I'm going to buy myself an electric guitar and laptop. I'll still learn bass though. The guitar will just be to jam with my family. I think it'd be awesome to play with Kathryn. She knows nothing about guitars but she has an ear for music. Today I was singing along to a Crowded House song that she'd never heard, and she came in perfectly with the harmony. Once her voice has matured a bit she will be a force to be reckoned with.
I went to the ballet last night, it was 'Giselle'. It's tragic and I wish I hadn't worn mascara because it was hard to not cry at the end of both acts. I'm a sucker, I always cry when you're meant to, those horribly emotionally manipulative moments with the strings soaring away and all the drama swirling. Pass the Kleenex please.
-R
PS Australia lost! I'm not surprised. They've got no hope against Croatia. Ah well.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
I went out to see if I could fall in love again - that was my mistake
I haven't blogged for a while. I know. I haven't even bothered looking at my blog to see if there are comments telling me to get my lazy arse into gear. So here is a new one. And it may be a long one, just because I haven't blogged for a while.
First point of business: I saw Split Enz on monday night (hence the lyrical title). Evermore were the support act, and were pretty darn good. The only song of theirs I knew was 'It's Too Late', but I'm a fan now. My dad joked about booing the support act off - so he hasn't entirely lost his rock and roll roots! But anyway, onto the headliners.
Geez. Awesome doesn't even come close to describing it.
I'm not going to try and gush about how fan-fucking-tastic they were; It'd take me all week. I feel incredibly priveleged to have seen them perform (especially considering that they disbanded 2 years before I was born). It is telling of their collective songwriting talent, especially that of the Brothers Finn, that the songs still sound so fresh and exciting today. It was everything we could've hoped for and more. They came onstage under a shiny silver blanket, revealing typically strange suits (although sadly nothing on Eddie Rayner's red one-shouldered number) and a number of surreal backdrops. It was a long gig, something like 25 or 26 songs over two hours. Neil Finn pulled out Titus and really put Eddie on the spot for the keys solo, which he performed admirably for someone who hadn't played it in years. 'We'll have it down by Perth'. Tim Finn still dances like a maniac, arms and legs everywhere. Eddie and Neil had a frisbee throwing contest, which Neil won convincingly with a throw that soared over the court area of Rod Laver Arena and into the stands on the other side. Noel Crombie showed everyone how it's done with the spoons (and I've decided that's my next instrument). Of course Six Months In A Leaky Boat got the biggest cheer, but my personal favourite was the beautiful Message To My Girl. Strangely, or perhaps not very strangely, I wasn't on my own in the Generation Y stakes. The majority of the crowd were baby boomers but not by much. There were heaps of young adults and kids with their parents (like me), and groups of young 'uns there by themselves, testament to the legacy of Split Enz and perhaps also the Finn brothers.
Second point of business: On tuesday Brendan and I went to JB HiFi to see Bob Evans (AKA Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah) do an instore. Brendan learnt to never let me loose in a record store as I immediately snapped up a copy of the Crowded House promo vids DVD (well it was $11!) as well as the second Bob Evans album, Suburban Songbook. I really like his stuff, which is surprising as you can definitely hear some country influences in his simple acoustic guitar pop, and country's usually lower on my list of preferred music. Maybe part of the reason I like him so much is because he's Kev from the Jebs, and therefore was my reason for existing from the ages of 14-18. Nice bloke too.
Brendan decided he would hide at the back. Because that doesn't make him look strange at all...
Guitar's coming along surprisingly well, both bass and acoustic. I can actually do chord changes (albeit with simple chords like G, A and D major) now, rather than stopping for 5 hours to put my fingers down in the right place. I still can't play a bar chord to save myself, but a few weeks ago I couldn't change chords to save myself, so hopefully that'll come too. I'm wearing deep grooves into my fingertips, or at least that's where the skin hasn't come off yet. Bass is happening slowly too. I just discovered today that I can actually play off a real score when I found the bass part from 'It's Only A Paper Moon' (probably from my sister's short-lived stint as keyboard bassist in the school's stage band). Piano of course is going how it always is. I've got a song that I could probably record and upload any day now but I can't find the damn mp3 player that records things.
Actually that reminds me of something I was thinking when I was watching Tim and Neil Finn jumping around onstage together and bantering on Monday night (at one point Eddie and Neil were pretending to argue and Tim was breaking them up - 'look at everyone else, can't you at least act professional for just one night?!' lol) and wondering what it would be like to be in a band with one of my siblings. Either one of them could feasibly do it. Byron's very fucking coordinated and is good at pretty much anything he lays his hands on, but Kathryn's got the rockstar persona, man! She's 14 and probably more streetwise than I am. Not bad on a piano either, nice little voice and that...now if only we could somehow steal the Finn's songwriting ability, then we could make a go of this.
We were arseing around the living room tonight, walking using the same arm and leg, then tryign to skip, then running (which is really hard) then doing 'jazz runs' and basically cracking each other up. It was quite silly but I haven't laughed like that since God knows how long.
Shit, my wrists hurt. Too much guitar! I'm going into the city tomorrow. I might go have squiz at that bloke who's trying to set a world record for the world's longest DJ set, 100 hours or something. Be interesting to see if he makes it.
-R
(how's that for a post, suckers)
First point of business: I saw Split Enz on monday night (hence the lyrical title). Evermore were the support act, and were pretty darn good. The only song of theirs I knew was 'It's Too Late', but I'm a fan now. My dad joked about booing the support act off - so he hasn't entirely lost his rock and roll roots! But anyway, onto the headliners.
Geez. Awesome doesn't even come close to describing it.
I'm not going to try and gush about how fan-fucking-tastic they were; It'd take me all week. I feel incredibly priveleged to have seen them perform (especially considering that they disbanded 2 years before I was born). It is telling of their collective songwriting talent, especially that of the Brothers Finn, that the songs still sound so fresh and exciting today. It was everything we could've hoped for and more. They came onstage under a shiny silver blanket, revealing typically strange suits (although sadly nothing on Eddie Rayner's red one-shouldered number) and a number of surreal backdrops. It was a long gig, something like 25 or 26 songs over two hours. Neil Finn pulled out Titus and really put Eddie on the spot for the keys solo, which he performed admirably for someone who hadn't played it in years. 'We'll have it down by Perth'. Tim Finn still dances like a maniac, arms and legs everywhere. Eddie and Neil had a frisbee throwing contest, which Neil won convincingly with a throw that soared over the court area of Rod Laver Arena and into the stands on the other side. Noel Crombie showed everyone how it's done with the spoons (and I've decided that's my next instrument). Of course Six Months In A Leaky Boat got the biggest cheer, but my personal favourite was the beautiful Message To My Girl. Strangely, or perhaps not very strangely, I wasn't on my own in the Generation Y stakes. The majority of the crowd were baby boomers but not by much. There were heaps of young adults and kids with their parents (like me), and groups of young 'uns there by themselves, testament to the legacy of Split Enz and perhaps also the Finn brothers.
Second point of business: On tuesday Brendan and I went to JB HiFi to see Bob Evans (AKA Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah) do an instore. Brendan learnt to never let me loose in a record store as I immediately snapped up a copy of the Crowded House promo vids DVD (well it was $11!) as well as the second Bob Evans album, Suburban Songbook. I really like his stuff, which is surprising as you can definitely hear some country influences in his simple acoustic guitar pop, and country's usually lower on my list of preferred music. Maybe part of the reason I like him so much is because he's Kev from the Jebs, and therefore was my reason for existing from the ages of 14-18. Nice bloke too.
Brendan decided he would hide at the back. Because that doesn't make him look strange at all...
Guitar's coming along surprisingly well, both bass and acoustic. I can actually do chord changes (albeit with simple chords like G, A and D major) now, rather than stopping for 5 hours to put my fingers down in the right place. I still can't play a bar chord to save myself, but a few weeks ago I couldn't change chords to save myself, so hopefully that'll come too. I'm wearing deep grooves into my fingertips, or at least that's where the skin hasn't come off yet. Bass is happening slowly too. I just discovered today that I can actually play off a real score when I found the bass part from 'It's Only A Paper Moon' (probably from my sister's short-lived stint as keyboard bassist in the school's stage band). Piano of course is going how it always is. I've got a song that I could probably record and upload any day now but I can't find the damn mp3 player that records things.
Actually that reminds me of something I was thinking when I was watching Tim and Neil Finn jumping around onstage together and bantering on Monday night (at one point Eddie and Neil were pretending to argue and Tim was breaking them up - 'look at everyone else, can't you at least act professional for just one night?!' lol) and wondering what it would be like to be in a band with one of my siblings. Either one of them could feasibly do it. Byron's very fucking coordinated and is good at pretty much anything he lays his hands on, but Kathryn's got the rockstar persona, man! She's 14 and probably more streetwise than I am. Not bad on a piano either, nice little voice and that...now if only we could somehow steal the Finn's songwriting ability, then we could make a go of this.
We were arseing around the living room tonight, walking using the same arm and leg, then tryign to skip, then running (which is really hard) then doing 'jazz runs' and basically cracking each other up. It was quite silly but I haven't laughed like that since God knows how long.
Shit, my wrists hurt. Too much guitar! I'm going into the city tomorrow. I might go have squiz at that bloke who's trying to set a world record for the world's longest DJ set, 100 hours or something. Be interesting to see if he makes it.
-R
(how's that for a post, suckers)
Monday, June 05, 2006
I (think I) can die happy.
OH MY FUCKING GOD.
I'm so glad I decided to go online tonight, despite the late hour.I went on the Franz Fan Forum as usual and in the Australian thread they were talking about some webchat with Franz. At first I thought I'd missed it but and was kinda pissed that I'd decided to watch the last ever Blue Heelers even though I haven't watched it for years and didn't recognise anyone. But then I read further and realised it was starting in half an hour! So being the dutiful friend I am I jumped on MSN and luckily George was on so I alerted her (and she's posting a blog about this too).
So anyway we both logged into this chat thing, and we waited for Franz to come on. It turns out only Nick came on because apparently the rest of the band was watching Kaiser Chiefs. The chat was moderated so only certain people could post things and at first both George and I weren't 'voiced' as it were, so we kinda sat there growing incredibly impatient with waiting.
George was voiced first and she asked some questions about them meeting Bowie and other Bowie-related queries (surprise, surprise!). She's blogging about this too so I'll let her tell you her side of the story.
So anyway I finally got voiced without even realising it and posted my question more than once by mistake (which made me feel like a complete fool). My exact question was:'Hey guys! Hi Nick, I was just wondering if you remember me. You kissed me ont he cheek during your Melbourne gig this year. It was the most rock and roll moment of my life. Thank you. (I'm the other aussie girl who was at the DYWT shoot in NYc last year - it was incredible!)'. Someone pointed out that I'd posted my question a few times. Whoops.
BUT.
Nick replied to my question! I honestly thought he wouldn't. This is what he said:
*dies* Omigod. Omigodomigodomigod. Excuse me while I go completely fangirly. I'm sure you understand.
The rest of the chat was fun too. George and I nearly wet ourselves with excitement when he replied to her saying that he loves Oscar Wilde. Apparently his grave is covered in kisses. (what is it with Nick and kisses? Not that I'm complaining of course!)
So there it is. A very pleasant sunday night surprise for me. I honestly was not expecting to be chatting to my number one highly unrealistic crush and receiving a virtual kiss from him when I logged on tonight.
Needless to say, I'm very fucking happy tonight. VERY fucking happy.
-R
I'm so glad I decided to go online tonight, despite the late hour.I went on the Franz Fan Forum as usual and in the Australian thread they were talking about some webchat with Franz. At first I thought I'd missed it but and was kinda pissed that I'd decided to watch the last ever Blue Heelers even though I haven't watched it for years and didn't recognise anyone. But then I read further and realised it was starting in half an hour! So being the dutiful friend I am I jumped on MSN and luckily George was on so I alerted her (and she's posting a blog about this too).
So anyway we both logged into this chat thing, and we waited for Franz to come on. It turns out only Nick came on because apparently the rest of the band was watching Kaiser Chiefs. The chat was moderated so only certain people could post things and at first both George and I weren't 'voiced' as it were, so we kinda sat there growing incredibly impatient with waiting.
George was voiced first and she asked some questions about them meeting Bowie and other Bowie-related queries (surprise, surprise!). She's blogging about this too so I'll let her tell you her side of the story.
So anyway I finally got voiced without even realising it and posted my question more than once by mistake (which made me feel like a complete fool). My exact question was:'Hey guys! Hi Nick, I was just wondering if you remember me. You kissed me ont he cheek during your Melbourne gig this year. It was the most rock and roll moment of my life. Thank you. (I'm the other aussie girl who was at the DYWT shoot in NYc last year - it was incredible!)'. Someone pointed out that I'd posted my question a few times. Whoops.
BUT.
Nick replied to my question! I honestly thought he wouldn't. This is what he said:
*dies* Omigod. Omigodomigodomigod. Excuse me while I go completely fangirly. I'm sure you understand.
The rest of the chat was fun too. George and I nearly wet ourselves with excitement when he replied to her saying that he loves Oscar Wilde. Apparently his grave is covered in kisses. (what is it with Nick and kisses? Not that I'm complaining of course!)
So there it is. A very pleasant sunday night surprise for me. I honestly was not expecting to be chatting to my number one highly unrealistic crush and receiving a virtual kiss from him when I logged on tonight.
Needless to say, I'm very fucking happy tonight. VERY fucking happy.
-R
Saturday, June 03, 2006
I'm feeling so uninspired. I've been sitting here in front of the screen for five minutes now, trying to think of a subject for this post, because it's boring when I just tell you what's happening with me, and it also means I have nothing to tell Brendan when I see him because he's read it all here.
Right, I'm going to talk about trends, fads and that kind of thing. Why do people follow them? It's something I'm actually quite curious about. What in our head makes us actually really like the look of a trend (let's say, flared jeans) only to really think it's ugly a few years later? The jeans themselves haven't changed in appearance but our perception of them has. Would we still find them cool if it weren't for advertising cramming the next big trend down our throats?
I have to admit I have found this happening a lot with myself. Take skinny jeans for example. I used to think they were absolutely horrible and swore I'd never ever wear them, let alone own a pair. Yet a couple of months ago I went out and bought a pair of black skinny jeans from Sportsgirl and I love them. I don't know how I came to like them. Maybe because I saw people I actually admire wearing them - mainly musicians. Maybe I am more influenced by advertising and popular culture than I'd care to admit.
However on other trends I've gone backwards - like my view on suntans. I used to always want to be a toasty golden brown just like in the magazines, and I suppose I'm lukcy in that I tan quite easily so I generally was pretty tanned, but recently I've done a backflip and now I actually find pale skin much more attractive.
So what's your take on trends and how you follow them? Do you find yourself following them after disliking them at first like me, or are you completely immune to advertising?
-R
(hey, for an uninspired girl I reckon I did ok! Even if it did take me half an hour to write!)
Right, I'm going to talk about trends, fads and that kind of thing. Why do people follow them? It's something I'm actually quite curious about. What in our head makes us actually really like the look of a trend (let's say, flared jeans) only to really think it's ugly a few years later? The jeans themselves haven't changed in appearance but our perception of them has. Would we still find them cool if it weren't for advertising cramming the next big trend down our throats?
I have to admit I have found this happening a lot with myself. Take skinny jeans for example. I used to think they were absolutely horrible and swore I'd never ever wear them, let alone own a pair. Yet a couple of months ago I went out and bought a pair of black skinny jeans from Sportsgirl and I love them. I don't know how I came to like them. Maybe because I saw people I actually admire wearing them - mainly musicians. Maybe I am more influenced by advertising and popular culture than I'd care to admit.
However on other trends I've gone backwards - like my view on suntans. I used to always want to be a toasty golden brown just like in the magazines, and I suppose I'm lukcy in that I tan quite easily so I generally was pretty tanned, but recently I've done a backflip and now I actually find pale skin much more attractive.
So what's your take on trends and how you follow them? Do you find yourself following them after disliking them at first like me, or are you completely immune to advertising?
-R
(hey, for an uninspired girl I reckon I did ok! Even if it did take me half an hour to write!)
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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