the silly season continues

there's a backpacker's place just a couple doors down from where I live. the noise echoes at the best of times up and down the alleyway, but this holiday season has seen a huge influx of young english tourists, including a few stray barmies, all primed with plenty o' both alcoholic and post-teen spirits. their "honk if you're horny" campaign, aimed at the main road beneath their balcony was amusing, but it's now going into its 72nd straight hour... ah well, in another day or so, this too shall pass.

every year about this time, I'm invited along with a bunch of music biz pals to submit our annual top ten releases list. I'm still editing mine, as it certainly hasn't been a stellar year in creative music. aside from the ever-prolific mr. young, both toms, waits and petty, and his royal bobness, it's been slim pickins indeed. I'll post my final list in a day or so.

they gypsy gal's doing a private catering gig tomorrow night, the whole house has become canape alley. I'm off to way out west sydney to do a club gig (oh joy....), and will hopefully see some of you at the merton tomorrow night for the new year's bash, complete with front row seats for the fireworks.

get on up

I always feel a level of sadness when I read of the death of another major music icon, but the passing of james brown seems even more poignant. it shouldn't come as a real surprise I suppose, since I'm heading towards 50 and most of my musical heroes are in their 70's and 80's. I guess it's but another reminder of the passing of time and that the older we grow, the quicker the years fly by.

james died while on tour, still performing, still vital, still giving us his all. now that's inspiration.

so this is christmas

complete with the usual silly season trappings. a few chrissy parties last week, then I drove to the mountains to play a gig at a new venue. there wasn't many there, but a couple pals dropped in to guest with me, which made the night more enjoyable.

the chrissy eve bash at the pub was a little on the quiet side, which didn't bother me at all. afterwards, I caught the wolftones at the untidy, er, unity and did my usual guest spot. was good to catch up with a bunch of pals, including jackie bristow, who's back from the states for a little while. she'll be my featured guest at the merton on jan 21st. spent christmas day with friends, and have a day or two to clean the place before my kids arrive.

I'd like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season, and let's hope for a better year ahead.

checking in

another week has slipped away, christmas parties etc. I've started cleaning up the new office, the paint will be a huge job but it's necessary, trust me. the last guy who had it for reasons known only to himself and his psychiatrist painted one wall and all the skirtings and window frames a bright blue. that's fine, if you're a gorilla, but it gives me a headache.

yesterday was the annual chrissy bash at the merton pub, and it was a huge one. kicked off a 1pm, by about 3 the places was packed and stayed that way till nearly midnight. tonight's the big rock party, the 26th year and it's always a long night. so I'll try to get some updates along the way.

we're about to officially launch big rock radio, but some people are having problems with the autostart. anyone wanna try clicking here and see it your media player opens? let me know, if you would.

26 years

last friday marked the 26th anniversary of the murder of john lennon. over the past coule of hectic days, amidst the bedlam that was my weekend, I read a few artciles and blogs addressing it.

one of the more salient points that struck me was the notion that lennon's legacy - not his musical one, but rather whom and what he stood for - has been diluted over the past two and one half decades. in an era where the cult of neo-celebrity has reached unprecedented heights, does the voice of a lone individual still carry any weight? the american conservative right is still vilifying the dixie chicks, david hicks remains at guantanamo, and just as many are mourning rather than celebrating the death of pinochet.

I wonder what lennon would have thought of today's media climate. what would he have said about the illegal election that ensconed a puppet of the oil industry into power? and then to watch said government lead an invasion into a oil-rich sovereign state, against the wishes of the united nations and most of the citizens of the free world? how would john lennon have felt about the destruction of the musical mecca of new orleans, and the needless deaths of so many people whose only downfall was not have been born white and affluent?

even if he was still with us, would his voice be heard, or would it be trashed, hijacked and eventually silenced by a media controlled by the extreme end of one political/social cult?

imagine.

henry lime rocks

my pal burton (can't seem to find his url at the moment) has just finished shooting a new film, the mind of henry lime, the 2nd comedy by the bright blue gorilla team. I was invited to play a bit part, but couldn't make it across the pond for the california shoot. the trailer is here, have a look, it's gonna be a corker.

I've got a few private christmas parties on this week, which is handy with the holidaze coming up very soon. my sis cheryl is moving back to queensland, she's stopping in on her drive up from melbourne. it'll be great to see her, it's been a few years now. we've never been a particularly 'close' family, but we always keep in touch and make sure everyone's okay. got the news from a cousin in the states that two more of my aunties had passed on as well, the torch is being passed to the next generation, it would seem.

big rock radio is up and active, but it seems a few folks are still having some problems with the link. if you have a moment, click here and see if it automatically opens a player (or prompts you to), and lemme know?

found an old pic of chris turner's big rock band, circa 1989, with meself, irish john, mark evans (ac/dc), ted pepper (saints), and others all with more hair than nowadays. have a giggle, if you must, here.

happy b-day to justin, percussionist extraordinaire.

np - tom petty / highway companion

wake me up when november ends

had a bunch o' work on this week, so it kinda went by like a blip on a radar. the domestic situation has been sorted - finally. my daughter and the rose are both coming to live here, my son is coming for a few weeks just after christmas, and the monkey boy will arrive mid january.

so with only two moving in, we don't desperately need to move house, which is a huge relief. I've managed to score a great lil office suite with a nice view of the harbour bridge. as much as I enjoy working from home, the return to routine will be welcome, I feel.

speaking of time passing, I read a comment on the music news about the other day marking the fifth year passing of george harrison. five years? five, already? sheesh, has it been that long? amazing.

so this stonesfest thing is scheduled for tomorrow, my time. because we've been having trouble getting folks to play the early show, I have to, which means another 5am wakeup call. so my first spot is 7am, then again at 3pm, then off to the bald rock for the 8pm gig, then the merton tomorrow for the usual sunday residency. it's only rock n roll.....

anybody else have problems with wireless mouse(s), er mice... uh, what the hell is plural of a mouse? I'm about to go thru yet another one, they always seem to die after a month or so.

happy b-day to my niece, kyley.

np - harry nilsson / one