Australia day, be proud!

so australia day comes to a close. ive gotta say, things have changed around here. i really cant remember having the desire to wear an Australian flag or paint the flag on my face. but thats what all the kids are doing these days. it really bothers me. i find it offensive and ultimately aggressive. what do you think a bunch of these drunk fools with flags draped around them are going to do or say when they walk passed say, and Asian or indian? do these kids look at these races as one of their own? i doubt it. i don't see our flag now as anything other that a symbol of ignorance and xenophobia. its a pity, the mob always takes over. i say change the flag, and then lets separate the bigots from the free thinkers every year. those who hold onto the old flag are the bigots, in case you didn't get it. i know it all started in Cronulla, and maybe the lebanese there were pissing off the locals and things got out of hand and possibly the worst moment in Australia history flared up, with thanks to Alan Jones. in the name of reclaiming the beach thousands of drunken young white Aussies went on a lets bash anything thats not "Aussie". all draped in the blue red and white. now when i see these kids wearing the flag i think its a sign of respect to the white boys down at Cronulla. maybe its not. you know theres a bumper sticker ive seen around that says "fuck off we're full"with a map of Australia bordering it. where does this come from? i cant get my head around it.

JJJ had their hottest 100 today and although i didnt think it was much of a year for songs, i did enjoy the countdown more than previous years. the winner "little lion man"by Mumford and Sons is deserved and definitely a song that is ageless, has a really powerful moment midway that builds up to the final chorus backed by banjo plucking and harmony's. classic stuff.  if you don't want to listen to the whole song skip to 2.30 to see what i mean



They are playing at Laneway this weekend, which im looking forward to. im not sure if i'll catch them though. They are playing at the same time as Daniel Johnston which is kind of annoying.

it funny, an old friend Mick used to be really passionate about music until something changed in him that removed that love along with most of pop culture. but last year he text me out of the blue to tell me he loved the new Kings of Leon song "Sex on fire". This wasnt a big track for me, i loved their previous albums, saw them support the Strokes in 2003 and witnesses a moment of unfound talent. However Sex on fire was the tacky song that all the radio played every day and i knew at that point i'd never see the Kings of Leon live again. Anyway, that song went to number 1 last year on the JJJ hot 100.

This year Mick asks me if i like Mumford and Sons. once again probably the only album he's listened to all year. And look what happens. their song goes to number 1.

dada

heres a photo of my little girl. taken at christmas time at the Peninsula. i wanted to put this picture up to mark the week that she said dada. it brought tears to my eyes. I'm not sure if she's calling me or if she just likes using that part of her tongue when she talks. either way its a beautiful noise.
I saw Up in the air tonight at the the cinema. it wasn't as great as id expected, a little depressing and uninspired to be specific. and as Sarah's sister said, without Clooney, it could have been unwatchable.

Did anyone see Ricky Gervais at the golden globes? genius. when he realises he might have gone to far in bagging out Paul McCartney he simply points to his AIDS badge. "oh look' he says" my broche"
annoyingly the youtube footage of the moment cuts just before he points to the badge.

its Australia Day on tuesday. Mark Seymour from the Hunters and Collectors wrote an article today in the Age about moronic nationalism in ths country.
read it http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/aussie-i-love-it-but-leave-me-out-of-the-flagwaving-20100123-mri8.html

vale rocknroll

i went and saw Kelley Stoltz on the weekend. it was meant to be part of a festival at the corner hotel. although it became less of a festival and more of a very low profile group of gigs. it was to be called Summertones, but one US band, brightblack light pulled out, and one of the other headliners Rowland S Howard, unfortunately died. uncommon circumstance. Rowland S Howard used to be part of the Boys next door with Nick Cave and wrote the song Shivers. he would have relaxed financially after the Screaming Jets decided to cover it and all the bogans bought in. Nobody of the mainstream would know of him. i used to see him walking around St Kilda, a more deathly figure i had never seen. tall and gaunt, pale and sick. i knew he was more than just your average junkie, there was a certain direction in his step that didnt only suggest heroin. then i saw him on stage at last years ATP festival and recognised him as the death man on the street. i hated him live but have since learned that his health was so bad that it was a struggle for him to play. i now have his latest album POP CRIMES. its quite brilliant in parts. he would have been great to see on the weekend if he hadnt died of liver cancer. they found him dead with a plectrum in his pocket. A poet to the death.

Kelley Stoltz is a hero to me because he writes and produces and does everything himself at his own apartment. his music evokes the beachboys, lou reeed, leonard Cohen etc. and hes a grassroots performer. ever go to a gig of his and youd be guaranteed to meet him before the show at the bar. he was doing just that on the weekend, but i didnt speak with him. he hasnt released a new album so i couldnt tell him what i thought of it anyway. it must be hard for these guys. they get great reviews, play some good shows to packed pubs, and think im getting somewhere here. but their albums dont chart and next year they tour and they have half the people at their gig. the momentum is gone. it must be so depressing. i felt that for Kelley on the weekend. and his new stuff was really good. wasted talent. too good for the general public i guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMmccSRqfDM

i have a top 7 tv shows of 2009

i'll write them up next post when i work out how to add youtube clips to the post. advice anyone?

back in town, party down

ok its been awhile since my last post. no excuses, i've been lazy. however in that time i have written a 900 word fable for a competition run by some bar in St kilda. so i guess my writing time has been taken up there.

it was a great time over Christmas. The girls and i travelled to the Mornington peninsula, spent 5 nights in Shoreham, and basically relaxed. Runs along the beach in the morning, cellar doors in the afternoon. the good life. the quietest NYE i've ever had in adult life. although it was kinda cool to watch the lightning display and the storm knowing i could have been walking the streets to some crap party in the rain.

back at work now enjoying the slowdown of January.

ive been watching some great shows on foxtel of late. the new Entourage, and Dexter. but also a great show called Party down, which features all the usual suspects. hilarious.

a moment"

nerd at a party to a movie director: "excuse me sir , but i wouldn't pay shit to see your non- alcoholic Edgar Allen Poe fight vampires"

"yeah, well nobody gives a fuck what you think."

"yes they do sir, i'll have you know, i have a very prestigious blog."

theres some incredible stuff coming out of the States, all showing on non free to air tv.

i read the Road over the holidays.

one of the great books no doubt. its strange because for some reason i was of the belief that this book was written in the 60;s. i'm not sure if this increased the enjoyment of the book, but i will say i was a tad disappointed when i learned it to be a newish release. either way, some beautiful moments. when the man is trying to tell his son that he must put the gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. emotional stuff. cant wait to see the film, nick cave does the soundtrack. i watched the Proposition on the weekend, and his music in that, not to mention his story, was quite moving.

bringing my top 5's next post. shan't be long