Website Of The Week <-right here

Oh Snap! You know I have free time, I mean really I do. No, REALLY. But sometimes you see things and you KNOW that no matter how much free time you have, no matter how creative you are, you would have never, EVER, come up with something like this. It makes you wonder how some people get paid, or conversely, shows you how some people never get laid. Regardless, this weeks site comes from the good folks at bestweekever.tv. Might I suggest you pay close attention to number 24 as he could be my next traveling partner, or possible wedding present, or poster animal for the next "Minnesota War On Canada". Either way, I hope you enjoy the shots.... I would never have "that much time" to take!

"I didn't choose life, I chose something else." ---Trainspotting---

It appears that all parties are go! Madness to ensue for those of you on the east coast as a one night only exhibition is in the works for may in the great beer guzzling town of Knoxville, TN. We are looking at an Australian vs. the United States in a tag team photo mania match. Should be good fun all around, artists on the night would be Bobbi Fabian, Sara Blair, Nick Dale and myself. Stay tuned for more details as it will be a throw down no holds barred east coast mayhem!

Perth by Night

Let's Start Anew

It's time for a "freshjive" I must say. My apologies for the absence. Let's say it was a learning curve, the balance of those who read versus how much of one's self you can actually unload without it being misconstrued or upsetting. The point has always been more of a public speaking forum than an actual place to get at or discuss specific people. So, on with program.

Are you shitting me?! I mean come on folks, I just took a walk through Sydney CBD and there were an insane amount of people looking for coins on street corners. I think to myself that this is nuts as I sit in a country that is constantly making it's citizens aware of the fact that they are fairing the financial issues better than most.

Maybe we are?! I, by no means, am a financial wizard.

I have a hard enough time coming to grips with sitting still... much less a "Global Financial Crisis". Thank god I have a fair amount of mates working in the sector that they do help explain a few of these dodgy dealings to me. So, in the midst of all this it might be time to say screw it.

Recently back from a fairly eventful trip from Perth and a death defying trip to Melbourne. It was good to get away, not that I really had anything to get away from, just felt better being somewhere else. I guess it is a problem I have always had really. There will be more images to follow as I did get out and about a little.... that is until I contracted the worst flu like virus I have had in years just 2 days before set to leave for Melbs. Needless to say I spent the whole time on the couch there drugged up trying to get through the crack head shakes it was giving me.

On the upside I rode a slick leather couch, compliments of Mr. Creber, right through my first earthquake. I have ben through them before but have never been awake or able to feel them. I must say it was pretty rad but left me questioning if I was crazy as Melbs was the last place I expected to be in an earthquake!

So that's the scoop, maybe I can get this blog sorted out now, get on track... wait, I don't run. No tracks will be involved in the making of this blog. That is, unless, I find myself on a train soon. Who knows?!

What If This Is It?

This sitting in one place is starting to become bothersome. It messes with your head, utterly and truly. All of the sudden you find yourself in a world financial crisis with jobs scarce and people in certain countries beginning to speak the word "depression".

Maybe I chose the wrong time?

Regardless this isn't cool. Mental stress reaches an all time high and there is no way to unwind. Thoughts become muffled, run together, and then become muffled into silence. It becomes so difficult to speak because everyone is feeling something. Meanwhile, a few thousand miles away, a 35 million dollar party goes off in Dubai. Maybe these people have the jobs? maybe they have the money? What is one to do. I can't say I have ever been afraid of not working, and while not afraid I do believe I am getting a little bored with it. Everyday becomes a struggle for head space and direction. I'm sure many people out there are feeling the same things I am.

On an even worse note, last weekend Fritz Hilpert of Kraftwerk has to cancel the Melbourne gig as he is in hospital with heart failure. Poor Fritz. I hope he is doing better. I heard rumors they did keep their Perth gig midweek but as to their appearance in Sydney this Sunday who knows?! I hope you are feeling better Fritz!

Website Of The Week <-right here

I might have found a new calling albeit a strange and mostly useless one. Who doesn't listen to music? (that was an easy one) Who cares what the A&R knobs throw at you online and on the airwaves? (getting tougher) Who cares enough to test out new tracks to have some kind of say against the big bad music machine? (shaazam!) Check this website. It appears that... well actually it works as I have already done it, that you sign up, test 5 tracks at a time, and then basically accrue points to download free tracks from amazon. Now I am not up to the free track stage yet, and if I were I am not sure I would find anything I like, but I would safely assume that compensation is easily made. You also get to decide what style of music you evaluate based on three choices. So next time you are bored and the thought hits you.... go out and check out ANY type of new music. It's that good stuff that makes the world go 'round!

Mark Farina

So I have been a bit slack. This whole having a job thing somehow solidifies the head every evening reminiscent of hardening concrete. That with the 2 day recovery from the gig has put me behind. It was a late one kicking off about midnight and finally got in about 5 am. Regardless, it was ROCK SOLID, and well worth the decade wait I have had to endure to see one the world's finest technical djs. He was on form with some seriously bumping beats. He dropped a classy Marvin Gaye remix of "What's Going On" along with some usual hip-hop inspired sounds. It was a constant bump, every time you looked around you didn't see a still person all the way up to 4 am. As for the djs I have seen, Mark Farina definitely was more approachable and willing to get down to the fan's level. This was really good to see, someone so influential in the music of this time who was just happy to be with anybody who was digging it. All in all I would say this was one of the top 5 gigs I have been privileged to be a part of... Thanks Mark!