Monday, August 29, 2005

Burnt coffee grounds

It's a depressing time to be a lefty. I find myself reading the op-ed pages, the political news, scanning for nuggets of optimism. I drink too much coffee trying to bounce back up, but still I can't break the addiction. One day I know I'll see the headline, screaming up at me as I walk in the newsagent:


BRILLIANT BASTARD LOVECHILD OF HAWKE AND WHITLAM TAKES OVER ALP

HOWARD AND COSTELLO CAUGHT IN ROMP WITH GOAT-HOWARD DENIES BEING GAY

CONSERVATIVE HIGH COURT DECLARES DETENTION OF REFUGEES ILLEGAL

90% OF AUSTRALIANS WANT TOTAL SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE- NEWSPOLL

MURDOCH SELLS AUSTRALIAN MEDIA HOLDINGS TO THE UK GUARDIAN
and so on I fantasize.

Toasted my 33rd on Friday and Saturday nights at Bender, Bar 303, Terra Firma and Wesley Anne, bastions of the High Street boho scene. It felt good sitting with friends, talking, drinking, doing nothing-much slowly.

Good friends are better than a bottomless packet of tim tams.

Jammed with the band last night. They are very heavy. They reminded me how out-of-practice I am on guitar. In that they are tight, competent and high-energy this is good. Being mid-late 20s they reminded me of my age, though their sound had a good mix of influences. If it means anything to any of you I say Tool, Mars Volta, Alice in Chains...

It went pretty well. But joining would involve shelving my desire to vox, yet again.

I'll never have a rolls-royce voice, but I love singing, writing lyrics, even my own bastard form of dancing. Losing yourself completely to the sadness, anger, rage, love or optimism of the song in front of a crowd is amazing, it can't be described. Strengths. Dreams. Strengths. Dreams.

Hand me a long stiff drink, please.

They may not want me, that would make it easy. Easy, in my current state-of-mind, is good.

4 comments:

miaballerina said...

Who cares if you don't posess the vocal prowess of Freddie Mercury or dude from Mars Voltare. Just do it. One thing I learnt from the music degree is that music wankers are only elitist to balance out inadequacies in their life - such as the fact they're moronic dickheads.

Hmm... issues.. no?

I dig your headlines - if only!!! I think the most likely one is the Howard/Goat/Costello.

Armagnac Esq said...

Music is the seed of a hundred thousand issues =)

The guy from mars volta's voice actually really annoyed me, so that's a start.

BwcaBrownie said...

Headlines to enjoy?: 1.armaniac show at tennis centre sold out in 5 minutes.

2. armaniac makes the following vows, with respect to music: I will never pad shirtless across a stage in front of a microphone stand, festooned with fluffy boas. I will never destroy a hotel room. I will never brandish a handgun in order to bolster my street credibility. I will never, ever be seen at a party with someone whose profession is model/actress. I will never let them use an auto-tune device on my voice. I will never perform as a guest DJ, and especially not at 2am. I will shoot no commercials in Japan. I will not play at the annual shareholder's conference of any major computer manufacturer. I will not sign a management contract with anyone from Belgium. I will not get my nose, tongue or navel pierced. I will avoid Winona Ryder".link - from our Grauniad friends:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1558977,00.html/

Armagnac Esq said...

Actually I'm quite up with all of those.

Not inherently against piercings, but I don't want one myself.

Can I add- try, somehow try, not to sing in an american accent...

Now that's a toughie.