Because you would cry, and that makes me happy

[

music

|

Tipper - Ruck

]

Its weeks like this that make me glad I'm alive.

Im flittering around a town lost in a confusing buzz - from pop princesses to weekend indie kids, Sydney has decided to chuck a Canberra, and back a winner. Given that the tribunal looked kindly upon Sydney Swans captain, Barry Hall, and diddnt suspend him for punching someone in the guts last game, all is on track up here for a triumph on the weekend, as the Rugby town sends its team down to beat a West Australian team at the home of airial ping-pong, Melbourne. And its fantastic - everyone up here is getting into the swing of things, even though virtually none of them were an expert on Australian Rules football before the last quarter against the Saints on Friday night.
Its like a miniture Sydney 2000 vibe really, but maybe im just nostalgic for the one time I saw this city really shine.

Sydney during the Olympics was an electrically good time. It was a time of relative innocence for me - I remember being crammed into the manning bar, agreeing with Liz that we were "so damn sick of this song" when the Timo Mass remix of Azzido Da Bass's "Dooms Night" got played, well before its useby date (that came at the end of the summer, a good six months later). I remember Katie A and I deciding that we would be drum and bass djs, just so we could be the Matt & Kayla of Canberra. I remember Cameron Webb, and his complete lack of abillity to save some of his cigarettes/alcohol/whatever for later, and getting as wasted as possible, as soon as possible, as often as possible. I remember Utopia's at Australia's Wonderland. I remember walking along the street with a discman, enthralled by "When The Pawn Hits..." for the very first time. I remember cases of beer drunk watching front end loader washing machines. Infact, to quote the legendry Waldo completely out of context... "You remember Mambo No5??? I remember YOU".

Things have changed. Theres no way either Liz or I would be at Sublime@Manning these days. Dooms night has gone through like 5 kitch/over-it/wow this is awesome and back again cycles. Katie now lives with a better dj than me, and doesnt want to do it herself. Who knows where Cam Webb is? Wonderland has closed down, and Utopias are for people 10 years younger than me. Fiona Apple is just about to release her amazingly long delayed third album. Chris is overseas. And jumping on the Swans bandwagon wont quite rouse the feelings like it did to Tim Freedman, when he noted "My city is a whore, thats opened its legs to the world, jumped up and down in pastel shirts, and lathered up thinking about designs for t-shirts... youve gotta love this city for its body and not its brain..."

In 2000 i was one year back from being overseas. This afternoon, i travelled out to the airport to put my sister and her friend on a plane to the light fantastic. Stop over in Singapore, to be sure, where she is going to hang with her best friends sister, and participate in an over 30 populated Rockstar INXS finale party. Seeing her off were my bewildered parents, Bens tight knit but amicable family, a teary Erin, a more robust Brynn, a silent hates goodbyes Saouri, her brother, a Groove and a James. Lunch was excellent by all accounts, and not too many tears were shed. She is going to have an excellent time, and no doubt Europe will be a much less safe place now that Isabel and Ben are on their way.

Following that I came back home and conducted an interview, scheduled to be Ajax, but pointing out to him in the first second that he wasnt actually playing the Canberra leg of Bang Gang's Ministry Of Sound Mashed 2 complilation launch tour, he handed me over to the amicable Gus Da Hoodrat. Kind of like a cheekier version of milkbar_nick, Gus and me had a pretty nice chat about the ins and outs of running a different, but important party. Being weekly, im not sure how long their lives will be, but when they are in town im sure we will have a great time.

But with a skip in my step, I quickly headed out the door and across to Newtown. I can never really get there soon enough, and the 50 or so minutes it took to travel there dragged. But soon enough I was camped outside Newtown train station, and tentatively crossing the road was the one that I had come to visit, my darling Beccy P. Speaking my language, we had hugs, beer and chats. Louise called and wanted to hook up, so as Bec and I went off to eat (at a really magical Sushi Train place), Lou trekked in from Marrickville and met up with us for a beer or two post dinner.

Going back to Bec's place, she ran me through her astonishing (as per usual) JJJ mix-up set, which will go to air this Saturday night, and showed off a whole heap of her new records as well... I went through my recent order

Gorillaz - Dare (DFA mix) (Parlophone, 2005) 12"
Sleater Kinney - Jumpers (Sub Pop, 2005) 7"
Maximo Park - Graffiti (Warp, 2005) 7"
Gossip / Tracey & The Plastics - Split (Dim Mak, 2005) 7"
Blues Explosion - Crunchy (Mute, 2005) 12"


And can i just add that looking at their website, Dim Mak has to be one of the coolest record labels like EVAR...

All of my records i ordered above are shit hot, especially the DFA remix of Blues Explosions "Mars Arizona". Yes.

Anyway, its not records, or buzzing towns, that make me glad im alive... its warmth from friends. From having my head pressed against that of many other on Sunday afternoon, to the happy and heartfelt hugs from my homegirls Bec and Lou tonight, i get the feeling that people would cry for me in an airport too, but also send me away knowing that i was doing the right thing.
Luckily you dont have to cry just yet.

_____________________

Coming up we have a fantastic weekend. I would be most happy if as many of you as possible could make it along to the Gorman House on Friday night for One Night Only, the play that has captured the hearts and minds of the population at large, and will have its concluding performance to include me in it on that day.
On Saturday night, Hermitude are joined by the fantastic Roots Manuva at the ANU Bar, and Tilleys is the place to be Sunday eve.
_____________________

1:50 AM - Sep. 22, 2005