There’s comfort in melancholy

A friend recently made the observation that I always seem sad in my blogs. Perhaps that’s the Piscean curse, pulled by deep currents and emotional tides. There’s nothing to worry about, tis the nature of the beast and the seas I swim in.

 

On Friday I woke feeling tired and ever so slightly creased. Something had shifted like luggage in overhead lockers but not settled back into place. Seeing my father had set off a chain of thought about mortality and the futility of winning a point. All we can do is journey through, do our best and show kindness to people. Good friends and family, our health, a well-stocked larder and love. Fuck the rest and all who cast off looking for more.

I busied myself with cleaning the house from top to toe in readiness for my ten guests due later for the annual end of summer gathering. Luckily my iPod was on fire which helped focus and brightened the mood with a life raft of the great and good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVHRqDjSku0&noredirect=1

If you're so funny 
Then why are you on your own tonight? 
And if you're so clever 
Then why are you on your own tonight? 
If you're so very entertaining 
Then why are you on your own tonight? 
If you're so very good-looking 
Why do you sleep alone tonight? 
I know ...'Cause tonight is just like any other night 
That's why you're on your own tonight 
With your triumphs and your charms 
While they're in each other's arms...’
It's so easy to laugh 
It's so easy to hate 
It takes strength to be gentle and kind 
Over, over, over, over 

Later a trickle turned into a flood and by 7.30 the house was full and my dining room table groaning under the weight of a wondrous spread of food. I counted my blessings to work with such a beautiful, funny, articulate and talented bunch of people. The high point was Mike H playing Kate and delivering a beautiful heartfelt version of Hope There’s Someone which was a wonderful surprise but returned my thoughts to turmoil, albeit briefly. My ability to bounce back leads me to believe there will be someone, someday. I’m certainly popular in some (hind) quarters.

http://vimeo.com/12824413

Hope there's someone 
Who'll take care of me 
When I die, will I go 

Hope there's someone 
Who'll set my heart free 
Nice to hold when I'm tired 

There's a ghost on the horizon 
When I go to bed 
How can I fall asleep at night 
How will I rest my head 

Oh I'm scared of the middle place 
Between light and nowhere 
I don't want to be the one 
Left in there, left in there 

On Sunday evening Mike R treated me to a delightful supper at Pompoko. It was a rare pleasure to eat out in these days of austerity and sample at least one of the delights of Japan again; the other is 8 hours ahead. I feasted on Gyoza Dumplings and Prawn Shouga Yaki Don, both delicious. The lovely N told me later that the word pompoko describes the sound made as you pat your belly which made me smile and like the place even more. After a quick pit stop at Marwoods for a palette refreshing tea, we headed for the Dome and a night of stirring sounds.  

 

John Grant was splendid as expected and the new material sounded great too. He ended his set with a blinding version of the Queen of Denmark and I could have left then before the headliner and been satisfied. John was looking mighty fine too as usual (swoon).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_oNylzsY7I

I wanted to change the world
But I could not even change my underwear
And when the shit got really really out of hand
I had it all the way up to my hairline
Which keeps receding like my self-confidence
As if I ever had any of that stuff anyway
I hope I didn't destroy your celebration
Or your Bar Mitzvah, birthday party or your Christmas
You put me in this cage and threw away the key
It was this 'us and them' shit that did me in
You tell me that my life is based upon a lie
I casually mention that I pissed in your coffee
I hope you know that all I want from you is sex
To be with someone that looks smashing in athletic wear
And if your haircut isn't right you'll be dismissed
Get your walking papers and you can leave now.

And if you can handle a bit more, here’s Sinead O’Connor’s take on the song. Needless to say it fits like a glove and I look forward to her contribution to John’s new record due in the New Year (you will hear the screams).

http://vimeo.com/43301877

John started his musical life in a band called the Czars but it was not a happy marriage and by 2004 he was the sole remaining member. Despite critical acclaim (check out the sublime swansong ‘Goodbye’ album) the band sold next to nothing and John pretty much gave up. He was living in New York working in a hospital as a Russian medical interpreter and waiting tables when Midlake sponsored his return to the studio.

John still plays Little Pink House as part of his set and it’s here for your listening pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJFr1ipOcwA

 

Efterklang took to the stage soon after swollen by the Northern Sinfonia to deliver epic crystal clear sound shapes. It was quite beautiful and lovely to see new and old instrumentation subtly meshing to form something different and true. Both sides complimenting rather than battling as is sometimes the case. Here’s the track ‘The Ghost’ performed at the Sydney Opera House earlier this year. Enjoy until the next time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwkoJ33be7U