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?