Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Babes being babes.

This week has been a massive struggle between finding time to do the things I really need to do and experiencing everything I want to. I've been ill for two weeks now and desperately need to catch up on the things I've missed (mostly done now) but there is SO MUCH happening outside the sphere of university life. It's quite distracting.

Alice and I are rubbing noses. She started it.

First and foremost...
I'M HOSTING AN AMANDA FUCKING PALMER HOUSE PARTY!
FUCK. YES.



I could not be any more excited about it without becoming physically ill. As I'm writing, Amanda's Kickstarter is quickly approaching 17,000 backers with an average of about $50 pledged per person. The money is going towards her new album/tour/art book and it's sounding RIDICULOUS already.You can get the first single FREE from her website now!

I need to actually blog about this properly rather than keeping on just mentioning it like this. One day. It will be a long blog. There will be lots of feelings.


SHE JUST REACHED $800k!




Anyway. To life.

I went to see Kimbra Monday night. She is gorgeous and her band and songs have evolved into something truly spectacular since seeing them last year at The Astor and later Southbound 2012. When she runs on stage with those unreal legs with a huge grin on her face you can see her get lost in the joy of performing. It's infectious. I found myself staring at the amazing woman in front of me thinking 'this is the shit. She's made it. Completely. Move over world, etc.'

Then I looked a little closer...

I don't mean to assume I could read her every thought...but I sensed something that worried me. She looked put off when even the smallest thing went wrong. Things that nobody else cared about that she was bringing unnecessary attention to. The time that comes to mind first is when she was playing Wandering Limbs and was struggling with the vocal distortion...Which she was doing all live; a feat in itself. She ended up starting the song again, apologising profusely. It was clear that she was beating herself up about it. It was a little heartbreaking.

It sometimes slips my mind that this unbelievably talented, mature woman is only 22- less than 2 years older than me. She must be plagued with insecurities like anyone in their early 20s...maybe that's why she insists on the costume changes and such...filling up her performances with distractions...maybe? I don't know. All I know is that she doesn't need it. I guess she hasn't been around long enough to know she has it in the bag yet.

I thought about this shit while walking to my car. When is the right time to consider ourselves successful? I think I'm a complete failure some days but whenever I voice this, people tell me that I'm talking rubbish and studying physics and chemistry at university is success in itself. Maybe I'll never be completely satisfied with my life and my achievements. Maybe no one is.

Then I thought of this:
My heart lightened. We already have it all if we're doing what we love. I wish Kimbra knew it too.

Alice is dreaming. So should I.

LOVE x




Saturday, May 19, 2012

A Medley of Music News

Hello.
I am stuck in a fickle. I was going to write a blog this week...and then decided against it numerous times. I actually started typing, had almost finished and then deleted it all a few days ago. I'm going to attempt one now as my brain is to mushed to attempt to finish my lab report but there are too many thoughts in my head to allow sleep just yet so...here. bleurgh.

Firstly, I am terrified of my blog turning into too much of a self-absorbed, angst-ridden teenager's diary. I guess that's what it is...but shh, don't tell anyone. I want to write about things that have happened in my life for myself more than anything else, as I've said in previous blogs. It helps me truly appreciate and remember the good things that have happened and I always finish writing them feeling a buzz of achievement. Feelings consisting of:

YES. MY LIFE HAS MEANING. I DO THINGS AND THEY'RE REALLY FUCKING GREAT SOMETIMES.

Which is good. Thinking about good things is pleasant.

So first, I will talk about music.

There have been SO MANY gigs I have been to in the past few weeks that really deserve mentioning. I will at least tell mention Florence and the Machine. She is one spectacular woman.  Her unbelievable voice paired with her captivating stage presence made me literally cry with happiness. She spun and leapt around the stage, maintaining her vocals effortlessly. In contrast, her quaint mannerisms while speaking and humble appreciation of her audience was a beautiful thing to behold. This is a shitty photo from my phone for you. I only took two, I promise. I'm not one of 'those' people who has their phone up the entire night...



The things that I had against the evening were no fault of her own. Maybe I'm just getting old and sentimental but I really wish that musicians like Florence didn't play at the Burswood Dome. Yes, it's fucking enormous and the stage is ridiculously large and well supervised but the sound is shit. I don't know why. I should look into the physics of it...but something to do with the pressure in the dome makes the music sounds like it's being played really far away or in an outdoor venue. The atmosphere isn't right. I don't know. I will figure it out and have another massive whinge about it.

Big also means douche bags. You can never escape them and Florence's crowd was pretty full of them. Fucking Perth. One man actually pretended to be having an psychotic episode just so he could get a little way in front of me. The motherfucker was tall too. What an insensitive creep. Who does that?

BUT YES. Yay, Florence is beautiful but I'd really like it if next time she does a few smaller gigs at better venues.  They would still be able to have spectacular stage design in other places I'm sure. Belvoir? At least having to drive for a few hours to get there would sift out some of the massive douches. Sigh.

In other (but still music related) news, CROWD FUNDING IS GOING CRAZY RIGHT NOW. I plan to dedicate a blog to it soon as there are many very exciting things happening that I can properly articulate right now. Too tired. Too sick.

BUT.

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE:

Amanda Palmer KILLING IT on KICKSTARTER:
   


The beautiful Tom Dickins and OUR NEW ALBUM (yay!)




and none other than the BEN FOLDS FIVE people!
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benfoldsfive
It didn't have a cool widget on the site but I've given you the link above so GO LOOK! IT'S BEN FOLDS FIVE FOR FUCKSAKE!

I am so excited about all of these projects and seeing how they develop. THIS IS THE FUTURE OF MUSIC so you better go and see what it's going to be like.
Epic. That's what. No lowsy labels. No rules. Freedom.

LOVE x


Monday, May 7, 2012

The last thing I say about Melbourne, I promise.

Okay, I think I have almost loved Melbourne enough on this thing...and I have recent life developments which I want to talk about.

LIKE MY HAIR! It's about 2cms long now! Exciting!
...and other things that are far more exciting than that, I promise.

Yana and I went to Melbourne Zoo the Thursday we were there (26-04). The animals were in fine form and their keepers were well informed and engaging. It is obvious that their breeding programs the zoo were working and were well publicised throughout the zoo, allowing visitors to look behind the scenes and view many enclosures of young animals. Perth Zoo has amazing breeding programs in place too but the public awareness of this fact is less than adequate. It was great to know that the $20 I paid for entry was going to be invested in both public awareness and conservation. Not to mention  recycled water and paper was used throughout the entire place. Gosh darn, these kids have thought of everything.


The monkeys were adorable and their enclosures were absolutely amazing. Below is a (fairly poor quality) picture of baby and its parents. Cuteness overload. 
Butterfly house! I miss the Perth one so much...
I'd post the rather homoerotic photo of two lions but I'm scared it'd get flagged or some shit. I also can't be fucked finding my camera. I'm guessing that particular breeding program isn't going too well...
So yeah guys. The next time you're in Melbourne this place deserves a god damn visit.
That night I went out with a friend to see Mojo Juju at The Toff. She features in Kim Boekbinder's music video for "Stalker". That is literally all I knew about her. She was unlike any other performer I had seen. Awesome.
The Toff also stood up to its admirable reputation, complete with adjoining rooftop bar and restaurant  below. I was pretty much in heaven.
We then traipsed on over to Cherry Bar where it was Soul Night. Such fun!

The next night was most people's last in Melbourne so we all met up at The Corner Hotel to see An Horse. I've been wanting to see the place ever since Megan Washington broke the standing record for the number of sellout shows there (five!).  

[I just have to pause this blog to eeek at Amanda Palmer RTing me. Twitter is going crazy on me. I need a life...]

ANYWAY. The Corner is a beautiful venue complete with excellent sound and red curtains that open and close in between sets. An Horse completely rocked it and they were lovely when I stumbled over my words when I met them after. Crush totally developing.

I really need to end this Melbourne love-fest at some point so I will leave you with these dew things...
1) Lawrence Greenwood is a total babe. He sang old Whitley songs and his new songs and read poetry. All the good things.
2)When walking down Brunswick street to get to Lawrence Greenwood on my final night I was caught in a moment. It was growing dark and raining ever so softly. I had never felt more at home in a place. My eye's welled up with tears as I silently said goodbye to the beautiful city. A city I hope to soon call my home. 

That is all. I will stop myself there or I may never stop. 


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Melbourne: Day 1

Have a look below if your confused.
General gist: I went to Melbourne and now I'm talking about it.

I didn't sleep on the plane so I think I'll just transcribe what I wrote out of my sheer boredom.

25/04/12 1:45am
So, here I am on a plane to Melbourne. I've barely had time to think about the days ahead yet the fact that I'm going to be virtually alone in a city I barely know is both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

This was planned sleep time. I had it all sorted; 4 hours of erratic, underwhelming rest. This plan seems unlikely now however due to the fact my chair doesn't recline. I'm not doing it wrong or trying hard enough. It just doesn't work. Also, it seems as thought the seat in front of me has acquired all of my seat's recline ability. Feeling claustrophobic in my tiny little pod of existence.

 I don't think I can recall seeing a more beautiful view outside my window. stars span the sky like a think, glittering spider web. Looking p at them gives me a similar feeling to the the prospect of the next couple of days: so overwhelming but at the same time I feel wonderfully empowered. I embrace both the stars and my near future as someone would with anything they love. Amanda Palmer's cover of Creep is playing through my ears. All is good in this current miniature world. Possibly not ideal (I could be unconscious instead) but how could I complain? This flight cost me $100 and I am going on what feels like my first big adventure. I do not fear the mistakes I will inevitably make because of the stories they will create and the lessons I'll learn.

I feel free; uninhibited by the expectations of my own city. Fuck, it's a fantastic feeling.

***what follows is a song about a falling girl and and a drawing of a weird bird thing. I was really tired. Don't ask.***

I got in on Wednesday at 6am. It was 10 degrees centigrade and raining- very Melbourne it seems. The Tiger Airways baggage claim was a shed virtually open to the elements. It was a bit ridiculous but I can barely complain. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I chose to fly with them. Almost. I was also in Melbourne so no matter how tired or sore I was I didn't care. I was so excited.

After I finally figured out how to get to Yana's apartment we walked a very quiet Brunswick and Gertrude street as nothing is open on ANZAC Day morning. We did however look at a lot of churches and walk through Captain Cook's cabin. I felt very cultured.

Now for the part where I talk about why I was actually there. Finally. Kim Boekbinder's gig was the first time I had met pretty much everyone from the Amanda Palmer fan base over East. They are such an eclectic group of people with very different lives and occupations but are all supporting this same wonderful music. It's like a little family. They all adore music so much and more importantly, the people that create it. I feel incredibly honoured to now be included in such a wonderfully close group of people.

Now, for the night itself... I was expecting great things and I definitely got that. Brendan Maclean opened for the night. I had only heard one of his songs before the night and followed him on twitter because he is hilarious. He sang some truly beautiful songs which got me laughing and tearing up simultaneously. You know the shit's good when that happens.


Kim Boekbinder is so hard to explain. Impossible even. She is something that needs to be seen and heard to be believed or understood. But trust me: she was wonderful. She got down and danced with the crowd mid-song and gathered us all round her when she played her last song on the ukulele. She is a beautiful, utterly inspiring creature and I am so proud to be supporting her while she makes her next record. It is sounding phenomenal and I think I've almost fallen in love with her synth as much as she has. This is a song from her first solo record:


And this is where you can support her crowdfunding extravaganza! http://www.theimpossiblegirl.com/

Not only was the music amazing that night, there were almost as many musicians in the crowd that I admire tremendously as simply fans of Kims. It was fantastically surreal and special. They were all out there to support someone they love. I tried desperately not to fan-girl out over everyone. I did give Tom Dickins a hug though and stumble over a few words with Brendan regarding how beautiful ballet dancers from New Zealand are. Sigh. One day I will be less socially awkward. One day.

And then I was tired and went to bed. Like I am doing now.

LOVE x