Friday Night.

Its Friday night, and I'e been gearing up for this night for the last few weeks or so. I am involved in a band that plays corporate functions where the staff get up and sing and we back them up. quite fun really. The last time I did one of these gigs was about a 18 months ago, so as you can imagine I was quite rusty.
It's now 2.20am I just got back and thought I'd share the experience.
Firstly I must thank my father's GPS which I borrowed for the trip into Sydney, which helped considerably. I am normally a good navigator and quite good with maps, but not when I'm driving at the same time :)
So I found the place quite easily. Quite a nice function room on one of the wharfs on Sydney Harbour, very nice views, nice setting, well presented.
The rest of the band were already there (even though I was quite early), and I suddenly recognised some familiar faces of which some I had not seen for over two years.
The stage reminded me of a matchstick, quite long but stuff all wide, so instead of the usual triangle formation, we all had to set up in a line with the drummer in the middle.
I set up my 88 key keyboard which weighs a ton, and even more when it is in it's road case which I tenderly refer to as a child's coffin as it would probably be of the same dimensions, hooked up my Laney amp which weighs another ton and I was ready to go. well not quite, with these functions the musicians normally turn up before everyone else to set up and then wait a number of hours until it is time for them to play, so it was now the waiting game after a quick sound check.
We all chatted amongst ourselves, caught up on the last 2 years, talked muso talk, met a few celebrities which were judging some of the acts for the night, drank a few ales, had our meal, watched the clients arrive in their crazy costumes ( it was a theme night ), and smoked way too many cigarettes.
OK we were ready to go, ( the schedule was running around 45 mins late as usual for these type of functions). The acts were made up of different department members from this firm, some were listenable, others were average, most were awful, but still entertaining in sadistic sort of way. Most singing way beyond their range, others fighting over microphones, some even falling off the back of the stage. Everyone had fun including the band.
The strangest thing about the night was that the musicians on either end of the stage, couldn't hear each other, so I couldn't hear the guitarist, and he couldn't hear the keys. We got through it OK though.
The night ended on a great rendition of 'Hey Jude' with the crowd coming in on the 'na na na' bit with a choir of slurring voices not wanting the song to end.
We then watched the slow exodus of partiers shuffling through the exit doors wondering if many of them would actually make it home without incident, and of course there were those who decided to stay and continue the revelry even though the lights had come on, the exit doors open, and the function centre staff have started clearing the tables and begun packing them away. These are the same that play chicken with you as you are trying to carry a ton of amp back to your car, or try engage you in conversation during the same.
Anyway, after having successfully packed away the gear and gave my farewells to the band members, I slumped into my car ready for a long drive...no GPS this time...I knew my way home.

I am what I hear.

One of the greatest rewards to come from the act of creation, whether it be an art form or a physical object, is being aware of the effect it has on others. Unfortunately often the artist has a general idea whether their creation is accepted or viewed in a positive light, though is not aware of more personal impacts.
Today I thought I would offer a list of my top 3 bands or artists who have changed my life of influenced me greatly.

Firstly I need to mention the influence of a radio station which is a national youth network in Australia called JJJ (pronounced Triple J). Without them I would have never heard many of my favorite artists. During my teenage years, they provided me with a wealth of quality music and commentry. These days I still enjoy listening to them (as opposed to the top 40 stations) , though as I am older their impact is not quite as strong but I still certainly enjoy their content.

So on with the list:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - St Nick is truly magic, his music simple, his lyrics poetic his presentation preacher like. His Old testament style language combined with a passionate presence and detailed imagery really conveyed his subject matter totally. Albums like 'Tender Prey' and 'The Good Son' literally didn't leave my car CD player for months.
Having experienced Nick and the Bad Seeds live a number of times, the intensity and passion generated by each performance was unlike anything else I have experienced.

Tom Waits - A true master of musical genres. This man can do anything from a touching ballad to skeleton music and pull it off brilliantly. Detailed imagery, the husky voice, the sometimes quirky subject matter, the original concepts all combine to make the perfect troubadour. He reminds me of a Tenor that has lost his way. All of his releases have been consistently great, but my favorites are 'Swordfishtrombones' and 'Frank's Wild Years', I recall being totally blown away upon hearing both these albums. 'Frank's Wild Tears' was especially close to my heart as at that time I had left my full time job to take up a music career, and related to much of its content.

TISM (This is serious mum) - If you are not an Aussie you are not likely to know the likes of TISM. They were a Band that basically didn't take themselves or the music industry very seriously, though managed through their mockery of the industry to become quite popular. Their early material was raw and poignant, sometimes cryptic lyrics were incredibly well written. Law suits came at them like wildfire as they parodied and sometimes shamed popular artists, celebrities and bands in their songs. Their identities were always hidden by balaclavas or similar face covering headgear. Their concerts were a creative theatrical event often with something goofy going on behind the band. Hitler Ron Barassi ( the bands voice) often broke into spoken word diatribe attacking the evils of the music industry and Aussie culture. Tism fans were loyal, dedicated, fun loving yobbos who would often slag the band as much as the Band slagged them as being mindless sheep.
Unfortunately the band did their final gig a few years back, there was always hope for a reunion, but their lead guitarist (Token Blackman) passed away earlier this year. ( most of the band were in their 40-50's). Tism were pure energy.