I'm feeling lazy today, all of which is aided by the fact that I'm home, on a rare day off from work. I've done the laundry, and some cleaning, and some mail...but pffffffft and screw this already. I'm done with the work thing this week, people. Maybe tomorrow I'll reconsider, but not today. The real job has left me feeling like I was the 'accidental victim' at the scene of a hit and run accident. An accident that must have involved a heavy-duty truck.
Thank God I also found TBS running one of my all-time fave movies earlier today, the classic "Almost Famous". (Although I'm still curious as hell as to exactly how much of that film was autobiographical for its director, Cameron Crowe, and which parts were/were not true.) I adore Cameron...other people still go see all the movies featuring certain stars, I, instead, go and must see all of Cameron Crowe's movies. I think I even own copies of 2 of his scripts...I'm that addicted. After watching his glorious ode to Penny Lane and the fictional band Stillwater, though, listening to some good music has been on the brain.
This afternoon I've furthered that goal and started peeking through the music files and racks here at the humble abode, and specifically for Aussie music. (Non-INXS fans: you're spared this time, especially as I can't find a decent...read: non-blurry...video clip anywhere of "Heaven Sent" or "Shake the Tree".) And, after a long delay in finding some decent videos to actually go with the sounds that all too frequently come moaning from my ancient audio system, I found some corkers from the blog's frequent video home YouTube. I hope you enjoy the following servings...old to some, new to others.
The day's been good to me, folks, and I hope it returns you the favour...even if you do nothing (like me) at all to deserve it. Live and laugh some, too.
The Easybeats performing "Friday on My Mind"...circa 1967. The rhythm guitarist here, George Young, is the older brother of Malcolm and Angus Young from Aussie heavy rock powerhouse AC/DC. And, no, I don't know what lead singer Stevie Wright did/took to be so happy.
Russell Morris from 2007 singing an acoustic (and much better) version of his 1969 song "The Real Thing". The original has got this ascending psychedelic feel to it, but actually this rendition is clearer, and seems far less manufactured. The lyrics are still a bit '60s, but is that really all that bad??? Excellent voice, excellent technicals.
Geoff Achison, Aussie guitarist extraordinaire, with fellow guitar master Lloyd Spiegel, performing "The Midnight Hour" in 2007. Hang with this one through the beginning, as it was not rehearsed and is an amateur quality video...but it includes a free guitar lesson, too. Hands down, though, Achison is best damn Aussie guitarist I've ever seen perform live. He is now State-side trying his fortunes out over here, especially in the South. Don't miss his show.
And, finally, one of the best for last...
Cold Chisel, lead by legendary Aussie front man Jimmy Barnes, back in 2003. Sadly, neither made it big here in the States, but they are a religion in Oz. I had the pleasure of seeing Barnesy at the Sawtell RSL Club back in 2006 (complete with their carpets which looked like bikini tops with balloons in one area...we tourists thought it quite amusing). Fantastic show (with his daughter, also a professional singer), and this was the finishing barn-burner. Ears were ringing for hours afterward (sorta symbolic for the music that trip, actually), but "Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye)" was well worth it.
Here's to all of the wanderers in the world (like myself), who are still looking to find themselves and their direction...whether it be in the US, Europe, Australia, or with 'some jaded Chinese princess' in Hong Kong. May we all get to where we're going, whatever path that may be, however long that takes.
The lyrics below are from the Cold Chisel website. As yes, in a nod to the irony of it all and as all my faithful readers will here will attest, I change the lyrics when singing this to: "You know the last plane out to Sydney's almost gone." Just because Jimmy Barnes and Co may want to leave Oz, doesn't mean I necessarily would.
"Khe Sahn"
Performed by Cold Chisel, circa 1978
I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh And my soul was sold with my cigarettes to the blackmarket man I've had the Vietnam cold turkey From the ocean to the Silver City And it's only other vets could understand
About the long forgotten dockside guarantees How there were no V-day heroes in 1973 How we sailed into Sydney Harbour Saw an old friend but couldn't kiss her She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land
And she was like so many more from that time on Their lives were all so empty, till they found their chosen one And their legs were often open But their minds were always closed And their hearts were held in fast suburban chains And the legal pads were yellow, hours long, paypacket lean And the telex writers clattered where the gunships once had been But the car parks made me jumpy And I never stopped the dreams Or the growing need for speed and novacaine
So I worked across the country end to end Tried to find a place to settle down Where my mixed up life could mend Held a job on an oil-rig Flying choppers when I could But the nightlife nearly drove me round the bend
And I've travelled round the world from year to year And each one found me aimless, one more year the more for wear And I've been back to South East Asia But the answer sure ain't there But I'm drifting north, to check things out again
You know the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Only seven flying hours, and I'll be landing in Hong Kong There ain't nothing like the kisses From a jaded Chinese princess I'm gonna hit some Hong Kong mattress all night long
Well the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone Yeah the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone And it's really got me worried I'm goin' nowhere and I'm in a hurry And the last plane out of Sydney's almost gone.
