Yes, as the title would suggest, I had an amazing weekend. My gorgeous sister Petrina visited and we went along to Live Earth Sydney. It was an amazing day - such a great atmosphere and fantastic acts. Just as a note to everyone who read the articles in the paper and were wondering, I have to recommend that seating is a good way to go for events like the one I attended on Saturday.
The place was packed to the rafters and I have to say it was the biggest concert I've been to in terms of crowd numbers. I think I've been to bigger festivals, but for a one-stage show it was a pretty impressive crowd.
The absolute highlights of the day are very closely tied. John Butler Trio are an old favourite of mine and I've seen them play a few times before, but this was by far the best gig I've seen. They also clearly have the greenie credentials and were really fired up about such an enthusiastic crowd and it really showed.
Seeing Crowded House live was a pretty amazing experience. It was great to see a band I enjoy who I had thought that I would never get to see. The crowd went wild and it sounded like every person there was on their feet and singing along with every word. And they've still got it - they have a real ability to make a connection with the crowd on a really personal level.
Runners up were Missy Higgins, Eskimo Joe and Blue King Brown, who I had never heard of before, but who's CD I will be putting on my birthday list.
Even the weather stayed good for us (which is a big ask given the weather chaos this winter) and all together it was one of those days that you just never want to end.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Very tired
I'm very very tired today. Very tired. Ask me why...
It's because last night I went to see Pink in concert with Ronene and Danielle. It was GREAT!!!!!!
There is just something about live music, especially a big concert with screaming fans.
Plus she copied my hairstyle. :-)
It's because last night I went to see Pink in concert with Ronene and Danielle. It was GREAT!!!!!!
There is just something about live music, especially a big concert with screaming fans.
Plus she copied my hairstyle. :-)
Friday, May 11, 2007
Black Hole Sun
I love trivia. At one point in my life (not too long ago) I even participated in a regular (and quite, successful, I might add) trivia team.
During that time, however, the one thing I learned, was that every successful trivia team needs to have a good spread of people who are good at different topics.
During this time, I came to realise that music trivia is really not my thing. I'm not too bad with top ten hits in Australia 1989-1993 (something to do with being at boarding school and the fact that sneaking downstairs early on a Saturday or Sunday morning to the common rooms to watch Rage was forbidden).
Nonetheless, I am a big fan of SBS's Rockwiz music trivia show. I certainly can't answer too many of the questions, and most of the guests I seem to be ridiculously oblivious of, but I enjoy the format and the show in general.
But what I really love the most about the show, is the very last segment shown. To give you a bit of background; each team has one singer/musician as a contestant. Then right at the end, they get the unlikely pair to sing a duet to an even more unlikely song.
Somehow it always works. No matter how unlikely.
I know that this show normally airs on a Saturday so I'm a little behind. I'd like to defend myself by stating my philosophy of taping everything I like on VCR timer so I watch TV, the shows I enjoy, when I want to. I never miss them and I rarely end up watching things just because they're on.
So anyway, It's Friday night and I'm watching last Saturday's TV. Let's move on.
Last Saturday's Rockwiz had Glen Shorrock, a sentimental favourite (is it too trite to mention the concept of "reminiscing"?) and one of my absolute favourite contemporary singers (Australian of otherwise, she's that amazing) Katie Noonan (if you ever get the opportunity check out the duet she did with Spearhead's Michael Franti for The Panel's soundtrack part 2 - plus if anyone has a copy of Elton John's Yellow Brick Road that George did on Rove a while back please let me know).
Well, at the end, they did the customary duet - would you believe they sang a version of Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun. It was totally sensational. I've just rewound and watched it 4 times in a row and may do a few more times before I head to bed.
If you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it. Or maybe I'll let you borrow it from me....if you ask real nice and get to me before I tape over it (Gray's anatomy is on Sunday, after all!)
During that time, however, the one thing I learned, was that every successful trivia team needs to have a good spread of people who are good at different topics.
During this time, I came to realise that music trivia is really not my thing. I'm not too bad with top ten hits in Australia 1989-1993 (something to do with being at boarding school and the fact that sneaking downstairs early on a Saturday or Sunday morning to the common rooms to watch Rage was forbidden).
Nonetheless, I am a big fan of SBS's Rockwiz music trivia show. I certainly can't answer too many of the questions, and most of the guests I seem to be ridiculously oblivious of, but I enjoy the format and the show in general.
But what I really love the most about the show, is the very last segment shown. To give you a bit of background; each team has one singer/musician as a contestant. Then right at the end, they get the unlikely pair to sing a duet to an even more unlikely song.
Somehow it always works. No matter how unlikely.
I know that this show normally airs on a Saturday so I'm a little behind. I'd like to defend myself by stating my philosophy of taping everything I like on VCR timer so I watch TV, the shows I enjoy, when I want to. I never miss them and I rarely end up watching things just because they're on.
So anyway, It's Friday night and I'm watching last Saturday's TV. Let's move on.
Last Saturday's Rockwiz had Glen Shorrock, a sentimental favourite (is it too trite to mention the concept of "reminiscing"?) and one of my absolute favourite contemporary singers (Australian of otherwise, she's that amazing) Katie Noonan (if you ever get the opportunity check out the duet she did with Spearhead's Michael Franti for The Panel's soundtrack part 2 - plus if anyone has a copy of Elton John's Yellow Brick Road that George did on Rove a while back please let me know).
Well, at the end, they did the customary duet - would you believe they sang a version of Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun. It was totally sensational. I've just rewound and watched it 4 times in a row and may do a few more times before I head to bed.
If you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it. Or maybe I'll let you borrow it from me....if you ask real nice and get to me before I tape over it (Gray's anatomy is on Sunday, after all!)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I shall say this only once
It's inevitable that there are going to be some songs that you like more than others. It's always been the case and always will be. I like to think of these as "Repeat Songs"
These days it's fairly easy to have your fill of whatever your particular repeat song might be. There's a repeat function on my CD player so that whatever song I've pressed it for loops to eternity. I have the same setting on my MP3 player. If I happen to decide after the song is finished, in any case, I can flick backwards with a touch or two of a button.
Somehow, though, I don't feel as though this is always a good thing. Back when I was younger, and cassettes were the newest fandangled media for music storage, you really had a to work to get your repeat song played.
It involved precision timing and a whole lot of guess-work. Rewinding the tape, maybe counting to 10, hitting play and then possibly having to adjust several times. It really seemed so satisfying and good to be able to play your favourite song twice in a row. Any more than that and you really had to love that song...the effort soon started to outweigh the reward.
These days, being able to easily achieve repetition may have served to cheapen our attachment to our repeat songs. It's the equivalent of having that song put on high rotation on the radio.
I guess too much of a good thing can be a bad thing after all.
These days it's fairly easy to have your fill of whatever your particular repeat song might be. There's a repeat function on my CD player so that whatever song I've pressed it for loops to eternity. I have the same setting on my MP3 player. If I happen to decide after the song is finished, in any case, I can flick backwards with a touch or two of a button.
Somehow, though, I don't feel as though this is always a good thing. Back when I was younger, and cassettes were the newest fandangled media for music storage, you really had a to work to get your repeat song played.
It involved precision timing and a whole lot of guess-work. Rewinding the tape, maybe counting to 10, hitting play and then possibly having to adjust several times. It really seemed so satisfying and good to be able to play your favourite song twice in a row. Any more than that and you really had to love that song...the effort soon started to outweigh the reward.
These days, being able to easily achieve repetition may have served to cheapen our attachment to our repeat songs. It's the equivalent of having that song put on high rotation on the radio.
I guess too much of a good thing can be a bad thing after all.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
MP3 Ettiquette
Is it ever okay to sing along to the song playing on your MP3 player? What if...
- The song is really, really good?
- You've been drinking? (actually cancel that...probably not such a good idea now I think about it)
- It's late at night?
- You sing quietly?
- There's nobody else around (or you think there isn't)
And what about dancing? Do the same rules apply? Can you push the envelope a little further? Or tapping your feet? Nodding your head?
there's a whole world out there and I really don't know the rules. Can anybody help me? Or am I going to be left to my own devices...could be embarrassing......
J.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Dancing Queen
I started Bollywood Dancing classes last night. I love dance classes as a great way to get some regular exercise, blow off a bit of steam, and have a lot of fun doing it. Just for the record it’s certainly not because of my natural talent and coordination (as any friend upon whose carpet I’ve spilt red wine will tell you). I’ve done several Salsa classes, Hip Hop Dancing, Belly Dancing and the enigmatically-named Solo International Dance Excitement. To continue with the hobby, I was talked into Bollywood dancing this semester.
Now just to get this straight, I’m not a Bollywood fan. Not to say that I’m not a Bollywood fan, it’s just that I can’t remember ever actually having seen anything even remotely Bollywood related. Unless “Bend it Like Beckham” counts. I just went along for the reasons outlined above, along with my fellow dancing queens Ronene and Bernie.
Well, let me tell you…Bollywood Dancing is shaping up to be the most fun of the lot. I really think in these cases that the instructor can make or break the class. Salsa was instructed by a hot-blooded latin lady who was an absolute hoot (and occasionally her very attractive assistant…mmmm). Hip hop was the young funky slip of a thing who turned up early to practice all the moves and took things quite seriously.
With this new class, the instructor is an absolute hoot. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard and so long. You’ve got to love a class that starts with jumping in the deep end – no instructions! We did get to a bit more structure later in the class. There were more classical moves…like “picking apples” and “pointy fingers”.
Bring it on, I say…and namastase!
Now just to get this straight, I’m not a Bollywood fan. Not to say that I’m not a Bollywood fan, it’s just that I can’t remember ever actually having seen anything even remotely Bollywood related. Unless “Bend it Like Beckham” counts. I just went along for the reasons outlined above, along with my fellow dancing queens Ronene and Bernie.
Well, let me tell you…Bollywood Dancing is shaping up to be the most fun of the lot. I really think in these cases that the instructor can make or break the class. Salsa was instructed by a hot-blooded latin lady who was an absolute hoot (and occasionally her very attractive assistant…mmmm). Hip hop was the young funky slip of a thing who turned up early to practice all the moves and took things quite seriously.
With this new class, the instructor is an absolute hoot. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard and so long. You’ve got to love a class that starts with jumping in the deep end – no instructions! We did get to a bit more structure later in the class. There were more classical moves…like “picking apples” and “pointy fingers”.
Bring it on, I say…and namastase!
Friday, July 21, 2006
More than halfway there
Did anyone make a new year's resolution this year?
I did, and I have done pretty well with it so far, even if I do say so myself. I suppose it helps that I chose to do something that I thought I would enjoy and have actually enjoyed even more than I thought I would.
I decided that it was time I made music a part of my life. So I've bought more CDs this year than I think I have in my whole life before. I sorted through all my old CDs and threw out a stack that were damaged in an unfortunate incident a while back and that I hadn't bothered throwing out when I played and they didn't work and I just put them back on the stack.
I've been to see a bit of live music this year already, and hope to see more.
I love when New Year's resolutions turn out like that.
So what am I loving right now?
I did, and I have done pretty well with it so far, even if I do say so myself. I suppose it helps that I chose to do something that I thought I would enjoy and have actually enjoyed even more than I thought I would.
I decided that it was time I made music a part of my life. So I've bought more CDs this year than I think I have in my whole life before. I sorted through all my old CDs and threw out a stack that were damaged in an unfortunate incident a while back and that I hadn't bothered throwing out when I played and they didn't work and I just put them back on the stack.
I've been to see a bit of live music this year already, and hope to see more.
I love when New Year's resolutions turn out like that.
So what am I loving right now?
- Desert Lights Something for Kate
- Black Fingernails, Red Wine Eskimo Joe
- Tales of a Librarian Tori Amos
- A Grand Don't Come for Free The Streets
- Street Signs Ozomatli
- Thirsty Merc Thirsty Merc
J. :-)
Friday, July 14, 2006
What's hot and what's not
Do you ever read those articles in magazines? I thought that I might put my own personal list out there.
What I'm loving right now
The new handbag I bought at lunch, the new album from Something for Kate, Blistex complete moisture lip balm, the whole Superman revival thing, the 2 new vegetarian products from Sanitarium, all the visitors that are coming to see me, my new favourite cocktail - Hibiscus infused vodka with wild lime juice (called a Pink, and available from Summit), Chambourcin.
What's not in the good books
Dentist visits, noisy neighbours downstairs who play techno music too loud every night until late (am I getting old?), numbers that don't add up when they should, the fact that it's another 3 hours until the weekend really starts, getting excited when the bus driver handed out new schedules for my regular bus route (after I made a seemingly well-received suggestion to the Sydney Buses a couple of weeks ago that they review the bus timetable given all the new recently-built and approved apartment buildings along the line), only to discover that they've actually cut the number of buses down. Who was the @*&% moron who decided that in all his infinite wisdom???????
I think I'm gonna start taking the train next week
What I'm loving right now
The new handbag I bought at lunch, the new album from Something for Kate, Blistex complete moisture lip balm, the whole Superman revival thing, the 2 new vegetarian products from Sanitarium, all the visitors that are coming to see me, my new favourite cocktail - Hibiscus infused vodka with wild lime juice (called a Pink, and available from Summit), Chambourcin.
What's not in the good books
Dentist visits, noisy neighbours downstairs who play techno music too loud every night until late (am I getting old?), numbers that don't add up when they should, the fact that it's another 3 hours until the weekend really starts, getting excited when the bus driver handed out new schedules for my regular bus route (after I made a seemingly well-received suggestion to the Sydney Buses a couple of weeks ago that they review the bus timetable given all the new recently-built and approved apartment buildings along the line), only to discover that they've actually cut the number of buses down. Who was the @*&% moron who decided that in all his infinite wisdom???????
I think I'm gonna start taking the train next week
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