Tuesday, September 19, 2006

You must see us. 10 compelling reasons why

You must see us
FLIGHTLESS BIRD Uni Bar, 19 Oct. 4 pm.

We (certificate students of Electronic Music Unit Adelaide Uni) have devoted a whole year to preparing this one gig and we need you. Why?

1.This line up will never play again. We don't want to panic you but if you don't come to this gig you've missed your one chance.

2. OK so you don't care. Well how about - The door is free and the beer is cheap.

3. It's week 11 and what else are you doing? Surely you aren't studying yet? Or if you have started studying, your diligence earns you this gig.

4. if you come along, we will talk to you and then everyone will think you are cool because the musicians talk to you - Jeeze we may even kiss you*

5. What if we play the best gig you are ever going to hear, and you miss it. Wont you feel foolish?

6. What if we are the worst bands you are every going to hear? you'll need to see us - we could be so bad that you become bitter for years. Which could be the fire that fuels your first fucked up twisted murder novel (if you haven't already written it), turning you into an overnight gothic sensation and suddenly Tarantino wants to make your book into a movie, the whole world loves you. All because you came to see us.

7. What if we become rich and famous? Imagine how much cred/money/attention from attractive members of the appropriate sex you will get if you can say that you saw us back in 2006 in our first ever gig and then you can get even more cred/money/adoration by coolly complaining about how much we've sold out, and how good our old stuff was, even though it was shit, and you only thought that because of the beer, and the fact that we kissed you.

8. Perhaps your great love - the one and only - the one you are destined to be with - will be at the uni bar that night. This gig could be your one shot at true happiness. If you miss this, you could be lonely and miserable for your whole life. Don't be a complete idiot, Don't throw your life away. Come along. Destiny awaits.

9. Failing that, maybe you'll get drunk, meet someone else drunk, and snog with them, happily and noisily in the corner, completely oblivious to anything else going on around you including us. Thanks a lot. We thought you were coming to listen to us, not snog some drunken floosy in the corner all night. Great audience member you turned out to be.

10. If no one turns up we will cry. Could you face yourself knowing you made us cry?

FLIGHTLESS BIRD
Uni Bar, 19 Oct. 4 pm.
Three bands. Two hours. but there's only one YOU.


*(certain terms and conditions apply)

Friday, September 01, 2006

The music of motherhood, children and turtle money games

Tyrell was up first - with excerpts of music he has written for games. His music was APPROPRIATE, he wrote the sort of music that one would expect to find in a game. (Tyrell's music was not dissimilar to the WofW music emanating from the next room as I write.) Kind of hypnotically lovely, mildly sad (oh that Dorian) and musically restrained.

Tyrell, you dag, don't be scared to break away from cheesy twelve bar blues for the kiddies will you? What do modern children like? Check out Chalk Music . These guys are keepin' it real for primary school kids and are based in Adelaide. Also http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/ has some truly awful music that my children have grown - unfortunately - very fond of.

As your career progresses - I hope you find a way to marry your commercial concerns with your adventurous musical spirit. (Maybe that's a challenge in any career, delivering what is APPROPRIATE and still finding ways to take risks.)

The first surprise about Poppi's work was how - well- conventional her composition felt. You can go a long time without hearing easily accessible music in these parts! So it was a surprise. Her construction was flawless, exquisitely constructed, and managed with a careful and gentle hand. The second surprise was how powerful and moving her understated work was. Tears streamed down my face while her work was playing. I cried as I walked to the bus. at the bus stop, on the bus and walking home. Damn - I've started again now! Makes you think eh? About how cathartic and therapeutic art can be for us. My first labor was obstructed - long, excrutiating, humiliating and at some stage I couldn't take the pain any more and decided to give up and die, which consequently meant it abruptly ended with an emergency caesarian. The experience of this was immediate pushed aside by the emotional and practical business of a new human being. In the years since those events, I haven't experienced any artistic or public expression around this, except by Poppi. Poppi KEEP GOING.

Given this, please understand Joshua and Albert that I didn't take in much of your work in, except that the saxophone tone was lovely in the jazz recording.

After trying to listen to musique concrete works with open ears and open heart for some time - I think it's been a long enough to form an opinion. It suques.


Blackburn, Tyrell presentation at University of Adelaide, 31 August 2006
Doser, Poppi presentation at University of Adelaide, 31 August 2006
Schulz, Joshua presentation at University of Adelaide, 31 August 2006
Webster, Albert presentation at University of Adelaide, 31 August 2006