The evening Graney was scheduled was wild - nasty winds and flogging rain, I almost did not go! But at the time I was about to leave it subsided enough for me to head out, I am pleased I did. This was another of the Look Who's Talking series from Maitland City Library. Dave Graney - a sublime lyricist and underground musician - was there to talk about his book, 1001 Australian Nights. I had purchased the book about a month earlier, and had only picked it up days earlier when I heard about the evening. I was only 1/3 of a way through it but was enjoying it thoroughly, I could have rush read it for the evening, but it is the kind of book you want to savour, take in the prose and think about what he is writing about - the last book I felt that way about was Patti Smith's Just Kids - he is in good company.
I arrived at the gallery with a few minutes to spare, time to grab a wine and find a spot. As I made my way to the bar, I spotted Dave with his partner, Clare Moore, chatting to someone in the small crowd that had gathered. I was impressed, a regular guy, interested in those around him (as I had garnered from what I had read of his book so far). He saw me and smiled, I was one of two people wearing a beret in the crowd! I was wearing my Emerald vintage Kangol (purchased from Shag, a favourite vintage store in Chapel Street, Prahran), the other person was Dave himself - in a cap-like beret, cream with red detail. Maybe he is just a friendly dude and he happened to catch my eye as I dashed for a wine, or maybe he liked my beret - I'll never know, but it was a cool moment.
I could have sat with some of the Maitland Librarians - but they were at table at the very front of the room ( a cafe within the Gallery). I much prefer the back to the right (I'm a creature of habit if nothing else!), so found a chair and sat down, Clare took the spare chair next to me. I felt a bit excited, but did not want to act uncool - that would be so un-Dave! She seemed excited and nervous for Dave, I found that heartwarming.
Dave read passages from his book - starting with the introduction which details him having a serious medical condition in Paris. It is a shocking start to the book and the program, however Dave reads it (much like I imagined when I had read it a few days earlier) with self-deprecating humour. I won't divulge any more - you should get the book and find out yourself! In between passages he added anecdotes and other asides, his humour was sharp and dry, and he was very Melbourne in his counter culture which I loved. I laughed a lot, as did Clare, sometimes the crowd did not laugh as much as we did, we shared conspiratorial glances. At times he seemed unsure of himself or even a little fragile in the sharing of these tales, this was unexpected but lovely to see. At times I could feel Clare sharing his fragility. These were real people, not superstars, sharing parts of their lives.
Dave told a funny story about another night in he had played in Maitland, as you can imagine he had some challenging people in the audience, including a football team, he tread carefully, which made it funnier. Clare was genuinely worried for him. The story went down well, they should not have been worried. After an hour he finished up and asked if anyone had any questions, at first there was an awkward silence around the room. But someone rattled off a question, realised Dave was kind (his persona can sometimes be seen as sneeringly, but he really did not come across that way at all) and the questions (some good, some not so good) flowed for another 30 minutes.
He then joined a local bookseller and people lined up to purchase books and CDs, and have him sign them, he seemed shy about all of this. Meanwhile I chatted to Clare, a stunningly beautiful woman, but a normal person. They drive from town to town themselves, lug their own equipment, organise where they stay etc etc. All very normal and very non rock'n'roll. We chatted about the Maitland Gaol, they had played a gig there a little while ago, and she seemed a little unstuck by that, I concurred. We also talked generally about this tour, where they were headed next, and the new addition of nights like these, which break up the music part of it, it was taking a toll a bit on Dave's voice. It was nice to chat to someone about the kind of thing I would normally love to chat to someone about after such an evening and have it be someone part of it - if you know what I mean! I took my book for Dave to sign (to Cathy, Best Wishes, Dave Graney), he seemed impressed I brought my own copy. We had minimal chitchat, and he posed shyly for a photo. I said goodbye to Clare and finally let my geeky fan-ness out by telling her I loved her theme tune (I really do!!) to Tony Martin's A Quiet Word With. She could have just said thanks, but she told me Tony liked to work with her, they both shared the same quirky sensibilities and he was very easy going to work with which she also liked. Brilliant!
As I left the gallery, it was still raining, but with thunder threatening much worse, I drove home happily, and the storm continued once I was safe inside. It was like something knew I needed to head out to partake in such a perfect evening - the kind that feeds my soul and puts a smile on my face.
I arrived at the gallery with a few minutes to spare, time to grab a wine and find a spot. As I made my way to the bar, I spotted Dave with his partner, Clare Moore, chatting to someone in the small crowd that had gathered. I was impressed, a regular guy, interested in those around him (as I had garnered from what I had read of his book so far). He saw me and smiled, I was one of two people wearing a beret in the crowd! I was wearing my Emerald vintage Kangol (purchased from Shag, a favourite vintage store in Chapel Street, Prahran), the other person was Dave himself - in a cap-like beret, cream with red detail. Maybe he is just a friendly dude and he happened to catch my eye as I dashed for a wine, or maybe he liked my beret - I'll never know, but it was a cool moment.
I could have sat with some of the Maitland Librarians - but they were at table at the very front of the room ( a cafe within the Gallery). I much prefer the back to the right (I'm a creature of habit if nothing else!), so found a chair and sat down, Clare took the spare chair next to me. I felt a bit excited, but did not want to act uncool - that would be so un-Dave! She seemed excited and nervous for Dave, I found that heartwarming.
Dave read passages from his book - starting with the introduction which details him having a serious medical condition in Paris. It is a shocking start to the book and the program, however Dave reads it (much like I imagined when I had read it a few days earlier) with self-deprecating humour. I won't divulge any more - you should get the book and find out yourself! In between passages he added anecdotes and other asides, his humour was sharp and dry, and he was very Melbourne in his counter culture which I loved. I laughed a lot, as did Clare, sometimes the crowd did not laugh as much as we did, we shared conspiratorial glances. At times he seemed unsure of himself or even a little fragile in the sharing of these tales, this was unexpected but lovely to see. At times I could feel Clare sharing his fragility. These were real people, not superstars, sharing parts of their lives.
Dave told a funny story about another night in he had played in Maitland, as you can imagine he had some challenging people in the audience, including a football team, he tread carefully, which made it funnier. Clare was genuinely worried for him. The story went down well, they should not have been worried. After an hour he finished up and asked if anyone had any questions, at first there was an awkward silence around the room. But someone rattled off a question, realised Dave was kind (his persona can sometimes be seen as sneeringly, but he really did not come across that way at all) and the questions (some good, some not so good) flowed for another 30 minutes.
He then joined a local bookseller and people lined up to purchase books and CDs, and have him sign them, he seemed shy about all of this. Meanwhile I chatted to Clare, a stunningly beautiful woman, but a normal person. They drive from town to town themselves, lug their own equipment, organise where they stay etc etc. All very normal and very non rock'n'roll. We chatted about the Maitland Gaol, they had played a gig there a little while ago, and she seemed a little unstuck by that, I concurred. We also talked generally about this tour, where they were headed next, and the new addition of nights like these, which break up the music part of it, it was taking a toll a bit on Dave's voice. It was nice to chat to someone about the kind of thing I would normally love to chat to someone about after such an evening and have it be someone part of it - if you know what I mean! I took my book for Dave to sign (to Cathy, Best Wishes, Dave Graney), he seemed impressed I brought my own copy. We had minimal chitchat, and he posed shyly for a photo. I said goodbye to Clare and finally let my geeky fan-ness out by telling her I loved her theme tune (I really do!!) to Tony Martin's A Quiet Word With. She could have just said thanks, but she told me Tony liked to work with her, they both shared the same quirky sensibilities and he was very easy going to work with which she also liked. Brilliant!
As I left the gallery, it was still raining, but with thunder threatening much worse, I drove home happily, and the storm continued once I was safe inside. It was like something knew I needed to head out to partake in such a perfect evening - the kind that feeds my soul and puts a smile on my face.
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