JULY ROUND UP

Looking back on July it's no wonder I have only just finished writing it up. What a busy but fun month!

 

I started the month on holidays - and truly it seems like eons ago. I didn't go away, just had a week and a bit off, was lovely to recharge the batteries and get out and about.

 

I spent a couple of days wandering around the East End of Newcastle, the beaches, and enjoying the unseasonal warm weather. I caught up with friends, did lunch, sat in the park and daydreamed, read at the beach, checked out Olive Tree Markets, and stayed up late watching Le Tour de France.

I had my niece and nephew to stay a few days and we had a great time, shopping at the local bookstore, checking out the Wildlife photography exhibit, heading to the beach, and going to Blackbutt with C.

I also caught a screening of The Big Lebowski at The Regal. What a fun night, with bowling, beers and hotdogs. People dressed up and just great to see a favourite film on the big screen.

 

A and I went to The Cambridge and saw Dan Sultan. He is so good, such a consummate performer, he was unwell but gave his all for a fantastic rocking (and well sexy) night. The support were Stonefield, a rocky band of 4 sisters, loved them too!!

I somehow got suckered into being part of ABC radio's Treasure Hunter. A longtime fan I knew the show well, but whilst I devour crosswords, cryptic ones are just not my thing. But my friend R needed a partner for the morning and so I went along to the ABC studios, nervous I would be of no assistance at all. The lovely Jenny and Sophie made us feel at ease and we were off and running. Once it starts, you really don't have time to think you are on the radio and the listeners that text or ring in are so delightfully helpful, you are not on your own either. R was definitely the brains of our partnership, having done it a few times previously, I learnt a lot and got right into it. And I found it much easier than I expected, or maybe we were just lucky. But we found the 'treasure' with minutes to spare. I said after I'd do it again...and I would.

 

Once back at work, things were go go go. We had a screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which I sat in on and it was delightful! I took a seniors social media class, did a school visit, and spent time working on a new program that helps seniors with technology; they are shown by school kids.

 

I also caught up with K and V for chinese at the always divine, Chinois, and then a show at the Civic Theatre, An Evening with Groucho. Frank Ferrente is an American actor who specialises in Groucho Marx, and boy we were in for a treat. He arrives in character and two hours later our cheeks were sore from laughing. I wouldn't call myself a Groucho fan, but I was surprised how much of his shtick I knew...I guessed from MASH, lol!!! If he ever tours again, I highly recommend seeing him.

 

I also got back into walking at Green Point, and discovered a new trail that takes me to a fabulous look out. July Bookclub was Virginia Woolf, caught up with friends at Talulah, the new dumpling place on Beaumont, and Grainstore, and got some reading done at the beach.

 

You can read my book, music, movie and DVD reviews here.

 

Final score of the month was getting my broken turntable working again!!!

And then there were some amazing sunsets.

JULY REVIEWS

What I've been watching

 

I caught up with two previously unseen classics, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946, Barbara Stanwyck) and Witness for the Prosecution(1957, Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich, directed by Billy Wilder). Both were overly melodramatic but lured you in. The acting was fabulous and the stories intense.

 

I also caught up with Gangster Squad which I loved, great story, cast, and highly stylised set design and cinematography; and Dom Hemingway, a gritty British drama about a criminal out of prison, with charismatic performances by Jude Law and Richard E. Grant.

 

I only saw two documentaries this month, the very odd Apollo 18 and the superb In Bob We Trust. Apollo 18 is supposedly footage from the final moon landing, and it is more Blair Witch than anything else, part of me wants to believe what I saw happened, but I doubt it very much. I don't want to say any more, watch it if you are interested! In Bob We Trust, is about the wonderful Father Bob and shot over the past few years from when he was told he would have to retire. We see a lot of the amazing work Bob does, the people who help him, and hear a lot of his honest and wise thoughts.

 

I've watched a lot of television this month - there is so much great tele out there, the list of what I want to catch up on is never ending. Thank god there is nothing much good on regular tele.

 

I've been watching Medium the past few months and finally finished up the entire series. I found the finale a little disappointing, her husband's storyline was not to my liking, but ultimately I liked the last season. It had reached it's end point I think, and whilst the stories within each episode were always intriguing, it was the sense of family portrayed that made it worth watching.

 

S2 of Veep was as funny as the first. Julia-Louis Dreyfuss is hilarious as Selina, Vice President of the United States! She is self involved, sassy, clueless, and rude. The team that surround her are equally as funny, especially the wonderful Tony Hale, as her sycophantic assistant Gary. Full of sharp, quick political dialogue, and loads of trademark JLD physical comedy, this series created by Armando Iannucci (Thick of It) is a stunner.

 

I finally caught S1 of Orange is the New Black and instantly loved it. The range and depth of solid, quality female characters is mesmerising. The entire cast is superb, I don't think I have a favourite character at this point. It is mostly lighter fare, funny and witty with extreme dramatic moments that make your jaw drop and tear up. Excellent writing too. I look forward to S2.

 

But Downton Abbey S4 was my tele highlight this month. I almost didn't watch this as whilst I loved S1, S2 and S3 left me a little less enthused. However, I feel S4 is the best season they have produced thus far, a heady mix of romance, dramas, embroils, and sweetness. I loved the storytlines for both Mary and Edith, the new characters, and was left shocked by the storyline for our beloved Anna. I also am finding my favourite character to be the delightful Tom. And have been giggling at the sharp friendship formed by Penelope Wilton (Isobel) and the formidable Maggie Smith. As always her lines continue to amuse. Add in Paul Gaimatti and the return of Shirley Maclaine, royalty, and the roaring 20s (oh my, the music and the costumes) and I did not want the season to end. It is escapism of the highest order especially in times where the world seems like too much. Ohhh and Dame Kiri as Dame Mellie was inspired, emotional and grand!

 

I caught a great 4 part series called Venice Revealed by Peter Ackroyd which was fascinating and stunning visually.

 

And my favourite viewing was The Ronnie Wood Show. Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones, has a radio show (who doesn't these days?) and he plays his favourite tracks and each week has a guest in to do the same for part of it. The show is filmed and parts of it are put together for this. It was fantastic. His range of music was mostly old rhythm and blues, with unexpected tracks popped in. His guests included Slash, Mark Ronson, Pattie Boyd and Paul McCartney. Loved hearing all these amazing people talk music.

 

What I've been reading

 

Bully for Them, a selection of essays from interesting Australians about being bullied at school and how they survived. People like Marieke Hardy, Benjamin Law, Missy Higgins and Eddie Perfect.

 

Afternoons in Ithaka by Spiri Tsintziras was a great little memoir about her life here in Australia and in Greece, and the travels back and forth over the years. It's about fitting in, people, family, and most importantly culture and food. It also includes recipes for the family dishes she talks so lovingly about.

 

Love life by Rob Lowe and Let's just say it wasn't pretty by Diane Keaton were both disappointing follow ups to their first memoirs. Both have taken the random story type memoir for their second offering, and in Lowe's case it comes across a little like name dropping and less informational, and Keaton's was trying to take the line of looks don't matter, but I didn't buy it. I do believe that and that is why I really love Keaton, for her this is how I am, take me or leave me style. The book didn't really support that attitude as I thought it would...or should!

 

Kate Ceberano's I'm Talking was interesting, but nothing terribly new in there.

 

I've been reading Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf for Bibliotweeps Bookclub. I've not read any of her fiction before and must say I struggled to get into it. But once I found her rhythm I was fine. What a beautifully written, superb piece of prose. I cannot wait to read more.

 

My favourite story this month was We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. It is a family drama that starts in the middle, works it's way to the beginning and then moves towards the end. It's about a lost family member, what has happened to her, and the subsequent implosion of the family after this incident. And it has a twist! I found this a fantastic page turner, and have halted reading it as I will schedule it for a bookclub soon and want to finish it closer to that. And so it sits on my coffee table mocking me and making me want to pick it up and finish it. More next month!!!

 

What I've been listening to

 

Indie Cindy by The Pixies! Oh I loved this so much, especially track 2, Blues and Greens, which is perfect pop.

Blank Project by Neneh Cherry – the long awaited new album by Neneh after a troubled period was definitely worth the wait. On first listen I wasn’t that impressed, it had gotten rave reviews and I didn’t agree. But Blank Project is a slow burn and after a few listens I had it on repeat. There are some songs I am not sure about but they are indeed interesting. I do particularly love the title track. The subject matter is dark and controversial, but she really does sound good, and it is much different to previous albums…more laid back, trip hop rather than funky and pop.

I've been listening to Talking Heads, Hoodoo Gurus, and Simon and Garfunkal in the car and at work.

JUNE ROUND UP

Looking back I guess June was busy, yet it didn't feel that way at the time.

I started the month with much laughter seeing The Trip to Italy at The Towers with A. This is the second trip with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan. I loved the first trip, and this one, set in Italy was as good, if not better and certainly equally as funny. Rob and Steve (as potted versions of themselves) travel through Italy staying at lovely places and eating incredible food. The food and the scenery was outstanding, but really it is their friendship, and slight rivalry that makes the film. Jokes, one-upmanship and loads of impersonations had us laughing so much we were crying and snorting (well, ok, that was just me!). If you haven't seen this, you really are missing out of something!

Work has been busy with the lead up to School Holidays and Naidoc Week and planning activities. We have been going out into the community and talking to schools and had our monthly movie night, this time, Priscilla. The 500 Words Writing Group I facilitate is growing, welcoming new members each time. The stories I wrote about this month are: Taking a wrong turn in Rome, My last day with my Pop, and how I felt when Lost ended.

I saw a lot of concerts this month: Tim Freedman, Wagons, and Lloyd Cole (where I was lucky enough to 'work' for and meet him) at the fabulous Lizotte's.

I also took my parents to see The Glenn Miller Orchestra at The Civic Theatre.

I spent time with family and friends to celebrate birthdays, farewells and just to catch up at The Olive Tree Markets, Talulah, The Landing, The Royal Inn, Graze, and The Grain Store.

And of course got up to my usual reading, watching and listening.

And I caught a couple of films at the Sydney Travelling Film Festival with J.

The first film was Rock the Casbah, a drama set in Morocco about a family reuniting to bury their father, Omar Sheriff. His presence looms large over the three days they are together and after the initial mourning, personalities and secrets are unveiled. This was shot in the most stunning locations, not least the amazing family home. The large cast was superb, and whilst the plot was dramatic, there was plenty of light humour scattered through. 

The second film was Richard Linklater's Boyhood. There are not enough superlatives to describe this magnificent film. Masterpiece does seem to be the best description. A coming of age film, shot in such a unique and original way, it defies categorisation. Linklater cast a young boy of 5 and filmed Boyhood over 12 years waiting for him to age and indeed come of age. This was such a leap of faith on his behalf, it could have been a disaster, but it wasn't. With Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke as his divorced parents, and Linklater's own daughter, you watch these people evolve over 12 years. And it is pure magic. The film clocks in at almost 3 hours and I could have sat there for double the time. This is simply a film to be seen, it has been garnering rave reviews and it should. Arquette and Hawke are brilliant and believable and simply stunning in this. But it is Ellar Coltrane, who is the star. His portrayal of a version of himself from 5 to 17 is nothing short of a miracle, from a cute kid to an awkward tween to an almost Ethan Hawke lookalike teen, he simply shines. Without Coltrane this movie simply would not be, and what an extraordinary performance it is. I cannot recommend this film highly enough, it is one of the best films I have seen in a long time.

And nature put on a fabulous show as always.

Sunset on Beaumont Street

Kookie at Greenpoint

Rainbow over Lake Macquarie 

Sunrise over the cemetery, Blacksmiths

Sunrise over Swansea, no filter (never use filters)

Looks can be deceiving, bitterly cold at Greenpoint

JUNE REVIEWS

DVDs watched

I thought the adaptation of The Book Thief was good, but not great. Excellent casting, but so much of the beauty that is the book was completely missed. I was not surprised about this. I really enjoyed Lovelace. I thought it was compelling with a superb cast, this could have so easily gone the titillation route and it did not. What Maisie Knew was a bit of a mess, great cast, but sloppy script and acting, yet an underlying sweetness that made me watch it to the end. The Big Wedding was not as bad as I thought it would be. Huge cast pulled together as a large modern family attending a wedding, predictable and a little lazy in parts, it was ok.

My pick of the month was Saving Mr Banks.  I knew I would like this, but the whole Disney/Tom Hanks (two of my least favourite things!) double act kinda made me cringe. But you know they weren't bad at all. But really this is Emma Thompson's film. I have worshipped at her altar since I can remember, she is just a stunning actress and made this very unlikeable character interesting and adorable. The supporting cast was magnificent, great character actors doing their thing. I particularly loved the song composition scenes.

TV on DVD

I've been whipping through some TV series.

Californication S6 was ordinary, in fact it's been ordinary since S3. I do love Duchovny but it's time to move on. Restless was a British mini-series with Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery finding out her mother, Charlotte Rampling, was a spy during WWII. Hayley Atwell played a young Rampling in the flash back scenes and it was an edge of your seat drama. Excellent acting and great story. I cried my way through The Big C finale. Laura Linney was outstanding in this black comedy. The supporting cast brilliant, it was always going to end I guess but I was sad to see it go. American Horror Story: Asylum was a delicious mind fuck with Lily Rabe stealing every scene she was in.

I've also started to rewatch Medium. I used to love it but as always commercial tele messed around with when they showed it so I just never finished it. I picked up where I left off mid S4 and been powering through. Patricia Arquette is fabulous as the mother/psychic. Whilst the psychic storylines are fascinating (although mostly very far fetched!) it is the sense of family the show portrays that I admire. The middle daughter is particularly funny!

Show of the month was True Detective. The best new thing I have seen this year I think (along with Fargo, more on that soon!). Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey are brilliant, in this true crime series, as two detectives with very different styles and personalities who don't quite see eye to eye. Shot beautifully and layered so intricately, this is superb viewing and not to be missed. I could say more, but...spoilers!!

TV on TV

I do love Call the Midwife, as I have previously mentioned not really subject matter I would have thought would appeal to me, but it is the characters, the time period, and such great stories that make this series wonderful and heartwarming viewing. And S3 was no exception, I particularly loved the changes in the girls as life gets in the way. I believe there will be a 4th series and will be curious to see how things progress. Offspring returned with widowed Nina and has pretty much broken me every week since. Powerful and quite possibly manilpulative storylines have had me wishing I had brought shares in Kleenex! Possibly the strongest season yet!

  

And then there was Fargo. What a refreshingly brilliant series this is. Great characters from the biggies of Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, to the wonderful supporting cast. Much like the film it is set in the mid 90s, with quirky characters, lots of snow, and much more death. Gruesome death! Beautifully filmed with great dialogue it's Twin Peaks meets Northern Exposure and I cannot wait for S2.

Music

I listened to a lot of Lloyd Cole and Henry Wagons this month due to seeing them both live. I really enjoyed the new Paloma Faith. My work background music was a lot of Neil Young, Bob Seger and Nick Cave's Lyre of Orpheus. I bought a stack of new CDs, but not yet listened to them!

  

Books 

Shy by Sian Prior - this was an interesting read, part memoir, psychology, self-help, and sociological book. Essentially it’s about parts of her life as a shy person, but really it’s much more than that. It’s not a straight memoir, it uses other people who suffer similarly and examples of information she has found regarding shyness. It explains situations she has been in – as a child and as an adult – when she has suffered badly. It is also a potted expose on her partner “Tom”, a musician and writer (and womaniser) with a drug problem. How his presence and love helped her and how when he suddenly ended their relationship how she coped…or rather didn’t. This is beautifully written and fascinating to read. As an introvert who at times suffers from shyness, although not to Sian’s extent, I really related to and understood a lot of what she was writing about. However I was left wondering what she really hoped to gain from this. It was obviously a release, a reach out for others like herself to see they are not alone, and for others to gain an understanding. But I guess it was the ‘character’ of ‘Tom’ that bothered me. For those that know Sian dated and lived with Paul Kelly for a decade, it would be obvious Tom is Paul, and in every interview I read she said she called him Tom to protect him, but then why mention it in every interview? And really much of what was written about him was no real news. It just struck me as odd and was at the back of my head the entire time I was reading this and I found it detrimental.

The gardener of Versailles: my life in the world's grandest garden by Alain Baraton - This was a magnificent read and my book of the month. Alain tells the story of Versailles from his perspective and how he became a gardener there; to live there and eventually take on the role of head gardener. He describes the gardens and how the work has changed (or not) over the past few decades of working there. He weaves in historical aspects of Versailles and important aspects of his own life. He particularly loves the trees, some there for centuries. Stories of the revolving door of visitors from politicians, films stars, workers, tourists, and regulars are endlessly fascinating. It was also beautifully written and the turn of each page brought a new delight or magical tale. The only negative thing about this book was no pictures. Having been there I could picture in my mind most of the places he wrote about, but still visual depictions would have been lovely. Even so, this is a remarkable book, one I highly recommend.

Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith - this was out Bibliotweeps bookclub title this month and I must say it didn't grab me. I only got about 5 chapters in. Whilst the detective interested me greatly, I just did not care for the remaining characters (which is normally not something that bothers me) or the story (something I do need to care about). I read a lot of murder mystery as a kid and a teen and I just don't read that sort of thing anymore. It wasn't that difficult to read, just not that interesting to me.

LLOYD COLE

When I was a teen, I was a huge Lloyd Cole Fan. Those first two albums, Rattlesnakes and Easy Pieces, I practically wore out. He was suave, had a great voice, and used fabulous pop-culture references in his songs that appealed to my precocious side.

 

Oh yeah, it was Lloyd Cole and the Commotions...but who cares about them. For me, it was all Lloyd!

 

So the years pass and Lloyd turns up on Spicks and Specks, still looking suave...this was about 4 years ago.

 

And then a few months back I noticed Lloyd was touring and he was coming to Newcastle. I was keen to go, a few people were interested but it all fizzled out, and to be honest I forgot about it.

 

When I was at Henry Wagons I was lamenting about not going. The following night my friend A passed on a link to the Lloyd Cole fanclub on Facebook. The fans sell his merchandise at the shows for him and they had no one lined up for Newcastle.

 

I gave it a little thought (why? who can know!?!) and immediately joined the club and sent the coordinator a message. Less than an hour later it was all sorted, I had the gig!!!

 

And so, on a cold rainy Friday night in June, I headed to Lizotte's to take up my position as door bitch...I mean Merch Chick! (I have always thought I would be great as a door bitch)

 

Part of the deal was I got 2 tickets to see the show, and of course asked A, since I would not be there without her. But she was sick, so J kindly stepped in.

 

Leading up to the show was quiet, didn't sell a lot. But I saw a lot, watching the fabulous staff at Lizotte's do their thing, and people arrive excited for the concert. I do love to people watch and that made the evening move fast.

The concert was wonderful. Just Lloyd and a couple of guitars. He sounded better than when I first listened to him. Men's voices do get richer with age, and he was no exception. He was funny and self deprecating, telling cute stories in between songs. It was what I would call a powerfully quiet performance. He played everything you wanted him to play in two sets with an encore. I was thrilled.

 

But now, the big moment.

 

J & I hightailed it back to our spot and sold heaps of CDs, and Lloyd came out to sign. He asked if I was Cathy, and I said yes, he said thank you and handed me a beer saying he hoped I drank beer (of course!), he then said he had one for my friend, and I introduced J. J & I exchanged looks that I think can only be translated as Yay (C) and Squee (J) Lloyd just bought us a beer!!!

 

I continued to sell CDs, and J took over official phone photography for those that wanted their photo taken with the man. And he was generous, kind, sweet, and funny to each and every fan. What a great thing it was to be on the other side of the table observing the punters gush or try not to gush meeting their musical hero. Some bought albums and posters from way back, others traded stories of seeing him at other concerts (Brixton came up a lot!), and some had poignant stories of what he and his music meant to their lives. And he loved every minute of it, not in a hey I'm a star kinda way, but in humble, interested way.

 

This went on for about 20mins, and then things quietened, I asked Lloyd to sign my disc and have a photo taken. He was just lovely, we chatted a little, and we were thrilled to be there.

 

We said out goodbyes, grinning from cheek to cheek, and floated out into the rain.

WAGONS

I first came across Henry Wagons on Rockwiz some years back. He was great, irreverent, witty, and charming. His music a blend of bluesy, country, rock that grabbed you. So when we found out he was playing Lizotte's with his band Wagons, A, L, & I were there. I had the new album and really loved it. but I was not prepared for what a great gig it would be.

From the moment he took the stage we were in the palm of his sweaty hand. He embodied every note that came out of him, moving like a powerful beast to the rhythm of the music, inhabiting the stage with such a primal presence I found myself moving physically closer as the night wore on...well as close as leaning over the table I was sitting at would let me.

In fact his stance on stage reminded a little of Nick Cave.

But he was more accessible than Cave, talking with great humour between songs and just providing us with a genuine show on top of the music. His band were tight and loud, and best of all, they all looked like they were having the best time on stage.

He talked about his influences, Elvis, Springsteen, Willie Nelson...including his fabulous tribute song to Willie, which we all joined him on at the encore. Wiiiilllllleeeee!!!!!!

As he belted Willie out and encouraged us to join in, he came into the audience and jumped atop the table next to us, a grinding, sweaty, hunk of musical agility. The audience cheered and sang, we were with him and the band every inch of the way.

And then it was over, we left riled up, thrilled for the experience and a little sad it was over.

Wagons, and indeed Henry himself, are a band that defies description, suffice to say, you must go and see them live now!!!!

THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

Last Sunday afternoon I took my parents to see The Glenn Miller Orchestra at The Civic Theatre. What a splendid time we had!

I’ve always enjoyed music from the 30s and 40s, especially standards and swing/jazz. It wasn’t music that was played much growing up – ours was a rock household through and through, but I remember my grandparents playing or singing the tunes. I knew Mum would enjoy the afternoon but was surprised when Dad asked to come too. They had a ball, much leg jiggling and hand tapping was seen, and possibly the odd singing along and maybe a few tears. Or maybe that was just me.

The Orchestra itself was incredibly professional, not a bum note at any point, in fact the entire show was one of the most professional, musically, I have seen. It was not a large orchestra, about 17 or 18 musicians, but boy they produced a grand sound. Fat brass as I call it, bending those notes and knocking it out the ballpark.

The band leader was a knowledgeable chap, with a great voice and sense of humour. Added into the performances were two soloists, a man and a woman. He was pure Sinatra in sound and she was as elegant as Billie Holliday with the most stunning costumes and beautiful voice. Three young girls in their late teens, did songs a la The Andrews Sisters, and their harmonies were sublime, perfect victory rolls, the cutest costumes, and swing moves. Rounding out the group were 4 dancers, swinging and being tossed around the stage, again great costumes. All of this added to the atmosphere of the show quite beautifully.

But it was all about the music, songs either written by Miller or arranged by him and the orchestra. Highlights were Moonlight Serenade, String of Pearls, Don’t sit under the apple tree, At Last, and Rhapsody in Blue.

Rhapsody in Blue was unexpected, a Gershwin tune and the ONE song I cannot live without. If someone told me I could never hear that piece again, I think it’s over the cliff for me! I had no idea Miller had arranged such a sweet albeit truncated version of it, it definitely brought tears to my eyes.

And of course show stoppers like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Chattanooga Choo Choo, and In the Mood. They brought the house down!

And then, there was the audience. Mostly an older audience, but I loved their reaction to songs, polite clapping, lots of gasping and ahhing as songs were announced, it was marvelous. And then there was this old guy, sitting along from us, who yelled out for a song very loudly at the end. That made me laugh. A good audience also makes a show, and this was a very good one.

Two sets that came in at just over 2 hours, we were thoroughly entertained and left the theatre, beaming grand smiles, humming those tunes, with a little skip in our step! 

Freedman does Nilsson

When I heard Tim Freedman was doing a Harry Nilsson tribute show I was curious. A fan of both it seemed a good thing. No one I knew was interested, it's pretty niche I guess. Then a friend was going with other friends and there was a spare seat at their table. So despite a busy and tiring week I left work and headed for Lizotte's.

 

Tim has previously done a tribute to Randy Newman, another songwriter I adore. Nilsson had released a tribute album to Newman in the late 60s, so this was the genesis for the Nilsson show. And what a show it was.

 

His style and voice worked beautifully with the work. It was an interesting set, with a mix of Nilsson and Newman songs. The Newman songs did feel a bit cheaty, and he certainly didn't exhaust Nilsson's catalogue, but I love Newman so it did make me smile. Of the Nilsson songs, written or recorded, I knew almost all of them. Although some I had no idea that he had written.

 

In between songs Tim told stories of Nilsson's life...as Nilsson. It mostly worked, but he needed to work on his accent. This he admitted towards the end of the show. Nilsson was quite the character with a tragic life, but in the short time he was here he made amazing music and got up to a lot of fun. He hung out a lot with other musos, including the Beatles. He indulged in a famous lost weekend with John Lennon and worked musically with Paul McCartney. I knew that Keith Moon and Mama Cass died in the same bed, but I didn't know that bed belong to Nilsson!

 

I could have sat all night and listened to the stories and songs. The range was impressive and who doesn't love Everybody's Talkin'? Freedman did a pretty good job on it.

 

The second set was all Tim and The Whitlams, a lovely mix of hits and the melancholy. No Hamburgers, but Louis Burdett always has me jumping!

 

So in all, quite the experience, I would have like more Nilsson and less Whitlams (been there, done that!).

MAY ROUND UP

May got off to a lovely start with a musical weekend.

A and I headed to Newcastle Folk Club on a cold Saturday night to see the stunning Kavisha Mazzello play. The club operates out of the Church Hall in Beaumont Street and it was as you expected. Lovely people, sandal count high (even on a cold night), and home made supper. The first half of the evening was members playing small sets, and it was mostly good. Occasionally it went down "A Mighty Wind" direction and took itself a little too seriously. Then Kavisha played a small set of her tunes, before coming back on after supper to sing from her new album of 18th Century Italian Folk Songs and they were divine, accompanied by her brother from time to time. Kavisha is a born storyteller, through her songs, and stories about the songs and her amazing life. We left warm and smiling, with our soul well and truly fed.

The next day I headed back to the same venue for the yearly Record Fair. Each year gets busier and busier, and the cool stuff gets less and less. I still managed a stack of interesting and weird, but couldn't stay long, so many of these dudes lack the personal hygiene needed for a crowded, small warm space, you need to leave for fresh air! I headed into Newcastle Farmers Markets for lunch and some fresh food for the week after.

As a new member of Newcastle Art Gallery, I was lucky enough to get a guided behind the scenes tour of the Gallery. You can read about that here.

I do love Eurovision, well not really the music, though sometimes it is good. I love the spectacle of it and well, taking the piss. And since joining Twitter, Eurovision weekend is always a blast, with Tweeps trying to outdo each other with witty commentary on the event. This year we managed to convince the fabulous Grain Store in Newcastle East to stay open a little later and show the Final on their big screen. And so a bunch of up dressed up Eurovision Style and headed in for drinks and laughs, we even had wind machines set up (fans). It was a great night, with truly wonderful friends, but I guess one of those times where you had to be there!

Work was busy during May, with my 500 Words Online Writing Group growing due to exposure the previous month at the writers festival. Our movie night was Raising Arizona, and we celebrated the Biggest Morning tea. Local artist Fern Martin came along to talk about her art and techniques and had us all transfixed. And my good friend, Susan Whelan spoke at Charlestown Library with her collaborator, Ursula about Children's imagination. So proud of her and what a great turn out for a cold Monday night. Oh and a computer upgrade AND year 7 visiting for their annual research visits!

Our Bookclub discussed Major Pettigrew, you can read about it in my May Reviews. My big concert of the month was the APIA Good Times Tour at the Civic Theatre with C & E.

I saw a few movies, Fading Gigolo with L, before seeing the new Jarmusch, Only Lovers Left Alive at Film Society. In between I had a lovely dinner at Cazador.

Fading Gigolo was a comedy/drama written and directed by John Turturro. He plays a florist who becomes an escort pimped out by Woody Allen, his friend, who is in need of money after he shuts down his second hand book shop. The film is like a Woody Allen film never made, a secondary/interwoven storyline involving Vanessa Paradis and Hissadic Jews is also fascinating. Turturro and ALlen are fabulous, and the supporting case of Paradis, Liev Schreiber, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara is superb. It's more melancholy and dry wit than laugh out loud funny, but it's worth seeing.

Only Lovers Left Alive is a Vampire film of sorts. I say of sorts, as you don't see much Vampire action at all. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are very old vampires, Eve and Adam, and are in their respective cities of Tangier and Detroit, languishing in darkness. Eve travels to Detroit - all night flights - and they meet again after centuries of being together. Plot is limited and set design is highly stylised and stunning. The dialogue is witty and clever, there are many rushes to get 'blood' which they drink rather than killing, and their laid back lifestyle is turned upside down when Eve's younger sister, Ava (Mia Wasikowska) turns up. Supporting cast is Anton Yelchin, John Hurt, and Jeffrey Wright. I really loved this.

A group of us saw Romeo and Juliet at The Playhouse later in the month. Whilst only an amateur production, it was really good. With an all teen cast, the leads were luminous and just right, with stand out acting from the ladies playing Mercutio and Nurse. Yes, lots of females played men's characters, and were addressed as women and why not!?! The script was traditional but dress and movement on stage modern, and it worked. It was very enjoyable and I had forgotten how very physical and brutal the play was.

I've already written about my wonderful day in Sydney for the Sydney Writer's Festival and Vivid, and I rounded the month off locally with morning tea at Bella Beans with T, and lunch with R at Hippos.

Life is good, you only get one chance, you gotta have fun

And as always, much walking and photography of sunsets.

MAY REVIEWS

I didn't realise how much I had been reading, watching and listening to until I wrote up this month's reviews, and these were only the picks of what I've been up to. Still need to listen to more music and read more, but getting there.

DVDs I've watched

   

Sons of Anarchy S4 - started off slow and the same old, same old. I almost gave up, but so glad I didn't. Things got very heated this season with all manner of deceit amongst the players happening. It was also the most grotesque season I have seen, in terms of murder and body count and what you saw. Yikes! The acting as always was great.

Nurse Jackie S5 - how I love this show, a perfect mix of drama and comedy. Merrit Weaver as Zoey continues to shine and be the stand out character after Jackie herself. I loved the thread of a new love interest for Jackie also. As always the season was way too short.

Spies of Warsaw - war mini series starring David Tennant, I enjoyed it but wanted more.

Fargo - This is my favourite new show! Taken from the superb Coen Brothers film, it fleshes the story out a little more and a little meatier. Similar characters but not quite, and a brilliant cast headed by Billy Bob Thornton (surely his best character to date?) and Martin Freeman. It's the same dark, wry humour as in the film and shot so beautifully. If you are not watching this, you are missing out on something!!!

Movies watched this month were Thanks for Sharing, a film starring the gorgeous Mark Ruffalo, about sex addiction. The trailer looked good, the film not so much.  Cafe de Flore was an intriguing French film with the ever jaw dropping Vanessa Paradis about reincarnation. Two separate stories set in two eras with similar themes, were the characters reincarnated? To be honest, no so sure about this tenuous link, but the stories and acting were great. Best taken at face value I think. Alan Partridge Alpha Papa starring the incomparable Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge was really funny, It was a silly premise with silly characters, but silly in the usual British way which means loads of laughs.

My movie of the month was The Best Offer starring Geoffrey Rush. Rush's character, Virgil, is a auctioneer who manages to collect an array of art himself due to collaborating with his friend Billy, Donald Sutherland, who bids on items Virgil is actually auctioning. Virgil is eccentric and obsessive and when approached by a young woman, who he never meets, to auction her large collection of art, the story turns into a psychological thriller. A seemingly side plot of Virgil taking mechanical pieces to a young restorer weaves it's way into the intrigue also. Sidebar: the mechanical pieces turn into a magnificent...ooh, that would be telling. I really liked this and didn't see the twists coming, which is always a sign of a good thriller. I love any story to do with art, and there is so much beauty in this film, you will be left gasping. Rush is superb, as are the supporting cast. This is a must see film.

I also saw a lot of great documentaries this month, Scatter my Ashes at Bergdorf's was a documentary about the classic New York department store. It was interesting, and filled with great New Yorkers and style icons. Ultimately vacuous as such things often are, I was still intrigued by this beautiful piece of architecture and those that inhabit it. The Rise and Fall of The Clash was disappointing to me, it was a bit of an expose of their downfall. I found it soap opera-y and irritating, sure things did not go smoothly for the band and there was infighting, but there was also greatness, and it was the negatives that were focused on here. To me it was not an even account, but then I am a fan. 

Weekend of a champion was an enthralling documentary by Roman Polanski of Formula 1 great, Jackie Stewart. The documentary was originally filmed over a Monaco weekend back in 1971 and it is a heady time for F1, a shocking time for the players, death had been recent for other drivers, you can feel it so much you are on the edge of your seat. Originally released in 1972 and directed by Frank Simon and Polanksi, this version has an added section of Polanski and Stewart reminiscing back on that time. Stewart was at the height of his profession then and a lean sports machine, it was fascinating to see him look back over that time. Stunning shots of the race and Monaco, you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this but if you are you will revel in it. I know I did.

The worst documentary I saw this month was The Act of Killing. I say worst as the subject matter was just too horrific. It was well shot and in fact stunning in parts, so technically a grand documentary and one that was predicted to be THE documentary of the year, but I think the nature of the topic was just too much for people to bear. It is about Indonesian warlords re-enacting murders from their 'reign' in what ever film style they wish. This allows the most overblown and downright chilling scenes. I am in two minds about this film, it's intent is to obviously showcase the horrors done by these killers and let them 'hang' themselves and in a way that is what happens, yet the sheer reveling of these madmen was overwhelmingly grotesque. The film-makers were brave, and pretty much let the players do the talking. I guess what upset me the most was the lack of remorse shown by most of the men. I dunno, it left me cold and bothered and upset. I get the need to make such a documentary, but it haunted me too much.

My pick is the documentary that has been taking the awards away from The Act of Killing, and deservedly so. 20 Feet From Stardom. Wow, what a stunning piece of film making. Not only is this beautifully shot, but it's simply a great story. It was a story that had me shocked and sobbing but it was ultimately uplifting. 20 Feet from Stardom is about the back-ups singers, mostly African American women with the most outstanding voices. Women who should have been stars in their own rights but it just never happened. These women backed some of the most famous songs and for some in the 60s actually sang the songs but were not credited. 

The documentary focuses on a small bunch of women, whose careers spread the 60s and 70s. Each story is different, some were happy to remain that 20 feet back, other wanted the limelight and the stories are fraught with difficulty. Without a doubt Darlene Love's story is the most compelling. Phil Spector is now known as a nasty piece of work, but back then he was genius supreme...until you hear Love's story, and you realise he was always a monster. As a Letterman fan, I have always known and adored Love, but I never knew her story. This film gives these remarkable women the chance to showcase their talent. The stories are large, the personalities larger, the musicians they worked with also interviewed and of course the music played...this film is up there with Standing in the Shadows of Motown and Muscle Shoals, two of my all time favourite music documentaries. It's a must see for any music fan. 

Books I've been reading

Buying a Piece of Paris: finding a key to the city of love - Ellie Nielsen  I listened to this on talking book and to be honest it irritated me. It's about an Australian couple who decide to buy an apartment in Paris. Ellie is an actress - never heard of her - and comes across quite dippy, unsure whether she really is or it was just the reader. I stuck with it as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the descriptions of some of the areas of Paris, and the hunt for the right apartment, so it wasn't all a bust. 

Provence and the Cote D'azur- Janelle McCulloch - beautiful travel guide/small coffee table type book. Janelle has put together a few books like this and the design of the books are always stunning. This covers an area I have travelled through so was lovely to reminisce. It also made me want to visit some of the other places I didn't get to. 

Major Pettigrew's last stand by Helen Simonson. This was May's Bibliotweeps Book Club book and what a treat it was. Major Pettigrew is a widower living in a small English village and he strikes up a lovely friendship with the lady who runs the local store. The village is shocked as she is from Pakistan. This is a lovely story, comedic in parts, about race, class, and love. Essentially a love story, but there are many other layers to it and Simonson really takes you to the end in a non-typical way, which I thought was outstanding for a debut novel. It is not normally the type of book I would pick up to read, but so glad I did. 

The hundred year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. This was a delightful book about a man on the eve of his hundred birthday who decides to go on one last adventure. Feisty for his age he gets into all manner of trouble along the way, all the while police and nursing home staff looking for him. The story also goes back and tells about his life, which has been one long adventure. Likened to Forrest Gump, where our hero is placed in all manner of history, I was unsure about the flashback chapters, but they were cheesy like Gump and worked. This book made me laugh out loud numerous times, a sheer delight.

Chanel: an intimate life - by Lisa Chaney. This was way too long, the author needed an editor. Half the book was not about Coco at all, but about the life stories of people she knew. I find this frustrating when I am reading a biography. A little background on key people is always important, but not the the degree of this one. However I did enjoy the Coco bits, especially about some of her lovers and her escapades during wartime. What a fascinating woman and what a life and legacy. This was a spoken word book and the reader was superb with great British and French accents.

Music I've been listening to

Coldplay - more laid back and chilled than previous efforts, which is saying something! I like it, but like most of their stuff it needs more than one listen to appreciate.

Wagons – great new album, very rock’n’roll with a bit of blues and country in it. Loved from the first beat.

Beck – love this new album, very mellow but addictive listening

Kavisha Mazzello - after seeing Kavisha play earlier in the month, I've been listening to her music more, what a stunning voice.