MUSEUM: STAR WARS EXHIBIT

LOCATION: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

DATE: Saturday 28 March, 2009

WITH: Amanda, Karen, Malcolm, Lachlan, Charlotte

We had such a fun family day this warm, sunny Saturday back in March. We met at the Powerhouse, Amanda is a Star Wars fan and subsequently Lachlan also is a fan. The exhibition was pretty good, for all ages. Lots of geeky techo stuff and lots of hands on good for adults to play with and enjoy and good for inquisitive little hands to check out. There was heaps of actual costumes and props and ships and so forth. Lochie got to check out Luke Skywalkers pod and have a go on a simulated vehicle of a similar nature. Charlotte was rather fascinated by the simulator and rightly gave another kid a mouthful of cranky when they got in her way! We saw Darth Vader, Chewie and Yoda amongst others. There was a small stage show with robots and R2-D2 which was great, but a little long for the littlies. Then there was the shop!! Not sure what excited us more the exhibit or the toys to take home. Day continued with lunch at Darling Harbour in the park, then a trip to the Maritime Museum. Mal and Lochie enjoyed a tour of the ships in the harbour, us girls chose to sit in the sun and chill. The museum itself was also very entertaining for all of us.

PLAY: THE SEED

LOCATION: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

DATE: Saturday 18 April, 2009

WITH: Mary

The Seed was Mary's choice and she convinced me to come along, and I am so glad that I did. This was extraordinary and powerful. A young girl and her father travel to his homeland of Ireland to visit his father. The father is a Vietnam vet, the grandfather an old toughie who may or may not have worked with the IRA and the daughter has serious issues of her own which unravel as the play continues. Each one of these actors were rounded, brilliant and touching. You found yourself laughing one minute and bawling the next. The actress playing the daughter wrote the play and it is semi-autobiographical. How she manages performance after performance is nothing short of amazing. Mary really related to the "Irishness" of the story, but you did not have to be Irish to enjoy it. This was truly powerful and one of the best plays I have seen in a long, long time.

PLAY: SOMETHING LIKE LOST, SOMETHING LIKE FOUND

LOCATION: Playhouse, Newcastle

DATE: Saturday, 13 June, 2009

WITH: Mary

This was a great little play by local theatre company. Set around a youth centre and school, an amateur filmmaker is making a documentary about teens and their feelings. The film maker uncovers more drama than expected with a missing teen and another's relationship with an older teacher/politcal figure. The acting was great and passionate and the filmmaker was actually filming on stage which added extra dimension and tension to the play. It was incredibly funny but also very harsh and confronting.

The B-52s

B-52s

How I love these guys, the costumes, the hair, the oddness. I could have included Rock Lobster, or Quiche Lorraine or Planet Claire or even Love Shack but that would have been obvious. I choose the songs that back why I really love these guys, great pop sensibilities with really soaring harmonies and vocals. Their new album is not bad, they still have it, never seen them live, shame, not sure how they would be these days, they do look a little botoxed, but hopefully they sound ok!

TRACK EIGHT: Deadbeat Club
Both tracks are from my favourite album, Cosmic Thing. The harmonies are high and lush, the beat addictive on this one. Highly listenable and makes you get up and dance.

TRACK NINE: Roam
A little rockier, but still perfect pop. This is a standout, "hip to hip, rockin' through the wilderness" - yes please! Not normally a fan of 'clapping' in songs, a bit wanky, but I always clap with the claps in this one.

PAT BENETAR

BENETAR, PAT

Pat Benetar was great, so rock and so 80s. Her songs were rocky and good, but the chosen track just stands out and takes you back in an instant.

TRACK SEVEN: Love is a Battlefield
Starts off with that very 80s drum (possibly machine?) and keyboards riff. Then there is the spoken/sung starting lyrics: "We are young, heartache to heartache we stand, no promises, no demands love is a battlefield", then those fabulous strong, woah, woah, woahs. And the forceful "We are strong", her voice is on fire here, yet vulnerable. Had me hooked from the start, but that just keeps you there, determined and rough, cool and rockin'!!! And then there was the dance, come on, you KNOW you know it!!!!

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN

Love Belle and Sebastian, they are perfect pop I think. Have all their albums and just always feel light and breezy listening to them. I discovered them back in the about 2003 when Dear Catastophe Waitress came out. Both tracks are from this album and they are the tracks that sold me on them. I knew I was on to something good when soon after Rory Gilmore was wearing a Belle and Sebastian t-shirt on an episode of The Gilmore Girls. (Man, I miss that show...wished I was a Gilmore Girl, I know I would hold my own!) Isn't it funny how when you discover something new, you had never heard of up until that moment and then all of a sudden they are referenced seemingly everywhere you look?

TRACK FIVE: Step into my office, baby
This is quirky and jumpy and and goes between that style and cute little sweet sections, it works. The lyrics are amusing, " Your place or mine", " a chance of overtime". Ha! I also like the groovin' slow section towards the end that cruises back into the jumpy bits.

TRACK SIX: Wrapped up in books
This is another pop gem , fast rhythm, sweet lyrics, slow bridge, lovely piano, good guitar , great vocals. And there are not many songs that reference books, "our aspirations are wrapped up in books."

THE BELLAMY BROTHERS

BELLAMY BROTHERS

Not much to say about the brothers, I have no idea if they really are even brothers. I have their best of and it is not bad, a few other good tracks, but the selected tune stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

TRACK FOUR: Let your love flow
I love, love, love this song, it is one of those songs that really makes me smile. It always reminds me of those early, heady days of new love, the sentiment may be a little hokey, but thats kinda how you (I?) feel. Great, clear open guitar playing and great harmonies, I do love singing this one. It is a little bit country, but I love a little bit country. It is unoffensive and sweet, but in the right way!

THE BEE GEES

BEE GEES

Ok, I only picked one track from the kings of Disco, what was I thinking? I think it was just difficult to single more than one out, I love the early stuff like To love somebody and Massachusetts and all the Saturday Night Fever tracks and even later ones like Tragedy and You win again. I think I remember thinking I could not choose and just stuck with my favourite.

TRACK THREE: You should be dancin'
Great beginning with that thumping bass line and then the funky guitar and then those amazing vocals, fast and high. Then there is the brass section - unexpected and it totally works. This song is guaranteed to get you on the dance floor, every, single time! And if you don't - there IS something wrong with you!

BECK

BECK

I like Beck and understand he is an acquired taste, but he is clever and funky and well, cute! I have also always been amused his last name is Hansen and didn't he come out around the same time as that kiddie group Hansen? I secretly think he is the older, hipper brother they disowned, he he...

TRACK ONE: Beer Can
From the opening riff you are hooked, well I am! It's a funky guitar and a great bass line. His lyrics are always a 10 course meal, they take time to digest, Beer Can is no exception. It is a funky song, "just shakes your boots and let it all hang loose." His songs definately have heaps of samples and experimentation in them, which make them difficult to add to mix tapes, I think Beck needs to be heard with Beck. So that is why it worked out well to begin this disc with him. And to paraphrase that old Woody Allen saying, I prefer the older stuff.

TRACK TWO: Devil's Haircut
Love the reverb on this one, again funky, great rhythm and more inspired lyrics. His singing is almost monotone on this and it really works. Then it ends with the mad distorted, almost Waits like vocals, fabulous!

DISC TWO: BECK TO BOWIE

1. Beck - Beercan

2. Beck - Devil's haircut

3. Bee Gees - You should be dancin'

4. The Bellamy Brothers - Let your love flow

5. Belle and Sebastian - Step into my office, baby

6. Belle and Sebastian - Wrapped up in books

7. Pat Benetar - Love is a battlefield

8. B-52s - Deadbeat Club

9. B-52s - Roam

10. Bjork - Human Behaviour

11. Black Sorrows - Daughters of glory

12. Black Sorrows - Hold on to me

13. Blondie - In the flesh

14. Bon Jovi - Always

15. Bon Jovi - Bad Medicine

16. David Bowie - Man who sold the world

17. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust

18. David Bowie - Starman

19. David Bowie - Golden Years