‘Non Muu Muu Pink Flower Dress Stitching,’ Brunswick, 24 January 2012, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH – GIDGET FEMINISM

Australian writer Tim Winton liked watching Gidget when he was younger.
In the 2009 ABC surfing documentary Bombora Tim Winton said that whilst growing up isolated in Albany, the female role model Gidget inspired him and first got him into surfing.
Tim Winton also wrote Lockie Leonard : Human Torpedo the Australian teen fiction still studied in schools since the early nineties.
What many teachers and parents don’t know is that Lockie Leonard alienates rebellious young people with presenting a sickeningly thoughtful young man and his slow entrance to puberty.
It hurts outsiders and rebels without causes.
In the story Lockie Leonard attempts to deal with stresses from his family, moving and a new highschool, all of which seem exciting to outsiders and rebels who long for these changes like they prefer storms to calm waters.
Lockie Leonard also does not like how naughty his pubescent girlfriend is when she desires to tongue kiss, in between other exploits like smoking cigarettes.
When we were introduced to the Booker prize writer’s novel in high school I longed to re read The Outsiders for its identifying bunch of brotherly camaraderie and strong characters like Ponyboy, Darry, Dally, Sodapop and Johnny. Also more drawn to the causes of rebels like teen lovers Romeo and Juliet I thought it was better to sneak out then get up at dawn healthily with a bowl of cereal for a surf.
But then I was more drawn to character of Alibrandi’s  friend who had a boyfriend with a car and went out to parties rather than her ditzy complaining angsted Year 12 private girls school problems.
Though drawn to Beat poetry culture perhaps shared with their beach parties I could not identify with the character of Gidget presented to us when we were already finishing high school, through repeats of the tired program on commercial television.
I had already enough information to make my decisions as a female in the mid nineties and the Sally Field bouncing cleanliness of Gidget could teach me nothing.
If someone called me Gidget I would have thought it an insult though apparently it is seen as a compliment.
Apparently long ago in the early sixties girls didn’t have any role models and looked to Gidget because she wasn’t ‘a bimbo’ and she surfed, and this represented a counter culture against the female socialized goals of getting married and raising families.
To my nineties standard Gidget seemed ‘bimbo’ with her pigtails, and rolling eyes and moodiness, and she made it acceptable for teenage girls everywhere to claim changing hormone levels as an excuse for attention seeking.
To my teenage adult eye it seemed like she was annoying and I didn’t want to look at her for an extended half hour. I preferred to go to my room and listen to music; and wasn’t the girl that changed moods so often that people would ask, “What’s wrong?”
Likewise I didn’t spend my high school chatter talking about boys that I wasn’t nor was with, for I had more important things to discuss with my school friends.
Nowadays teenagers would laugh at Gidget on television and diss her on their twitter pages, as they preferred to chat on social networks when rejecting crap television.
Yet there are still people that tell me to identify with the ancient Gidget as a feminist.
“You would really learn a lot from Gidget Alicia, she could really open up your world,” said one older male this week and it came across as insult when hearing it for the forth time.
It was as if I needed to regret not watching a TV program that wasn’t around when I was growing up just to satisfy his own teenage fantasies.
I had to take it patronizingly as it was again torturing my whole adolescense and strong music pedigree that had put me ahead in every way without watching a TV program.
Familiar with the 1960s Sally Field female surfer character I had already rejected and again didn’t think she had a thing to teach me this week.
Growing up without Gidget I was angered by her dated character, and episode situations.
Surprisingly Gidget had quite an age group following from the 1960s and repeats, that believed her important enough to rank her as a female feminist, yet her character had still come across as silly rather than strong to my generation of females or from my inland mountain range of tastes.
She did not seem like a person that I should aspire to be, and I placed her in American Television context alongside Leave It To Beaver  and The Brady Bunch.
Gidget was old, man. It was a repeat they served up to us for no reason other than being patronizing to younger generations.
They must have repeated it four times, I can’t really count though.
I was just told the same thing four times, and wasn’t heard by the male who decided to recommend a Gidget form of sixties feminism to me and I didn’t need it on repeat.
He had watched Bombora and felt there were other men who liked Gidget and felt justified.


My generation would see real stories of Australian female surf champions reign over the international sport communities with more glamour than the push up bikinis and the surf fashion endorsements that followed.
Gidget is just vintage bikini feminism from 1965 and it was way out way before I was born, and you can live way over there man, but we will be on the beaches right here.

POPULAR MUSIC – PATHS OF PAKRITI.

ALICIA BEE conducts a short interview in English language via email with Norwegian art school graduates, psychedelic rock band PATHS OF PRAKRITI main songwriter JON REIER SYLTE.
ALICIA BEE – You write the songs and get other people to help you play them. How much of the music do the other people write on their own? eg. chords, percussion adds, or keyboard?
JON REIER SYLTE – I write a complete piece of music with all the chords and lyrics, and then other people help out with filling in the blanks sort of speak. This could be in the form of laying down drums, organ, piano and percussion etc, mostly to get different inputs on the songs and the fact that I can’t play drums or piano that well. Sometimes people will make up their own solos and stuff. But the basic backbone of the music I normally write completely on my own.
ALICIA BEE – What sorts of music LPs did your parents have when you grew up?
JON REIER SYLTE – My father had a lot of LPs while I was growing up, among others the complete Beatles collection and basically a lot of 60s and 70s music both Norwegian and foreign. I didn’t start listening to them until I got really into music for real when I was about 14-15 years old. And then it was The Beatles all the way.
ALICIA BEE – What music inspires Paths of Prakriti?
JON REIER SYLTE – Everything inspires us to make good songs. The song is really important to me and the tapestry of music, lyrics and harmony woven together into a complete piece of music. So I would say that writing a really great song is always the focus. So it doesn’t matter if the song was written in 1956 or in 1996 as long as it’s a great song it will stand the tests of time either way. The most inspiring music for me is always completely on a very emotional level. But my main influences when I started out was no doubt the 60s and some 70s music. I was really into the whole San Francisco scene 1965-67 with the Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, The Count Five, Blue Cheer etc. And also the LA music at the time with bands like The Doors, The Byrd’s, Buffalo Springfield and Love. Also of course, discovering the whole British invasion bands was also a cool thing with The Kinks, The Beatles, The Rolling stones, The Who and The Yardbirds, all great bands.
But the band that had the biggest impact of that area on me personally is probably the Velvet underground.
I also was very into punk music and grunge music when I first started playing the guitar. Kurt Cobain is probably the one person that got me to buy a guitar and start playing.
Nowadays though it’s everything that fascinates and flatters the inner ear, everything from classical music, folk music to modern day electronic dance music if you will.
But what I really despise is singer songwriters in pain!
Wops, guess I’m finished.
ALICIA BEE – Tell me about the art school where you first recorded the demos that would form PATHS OF PRAKRITI.
JON REIER SYLTE – Well, it basically started with a 4 track recorder I had in high school, trying to write songs and get a hang of it. That is almost 9 years ago, but the real music didn’t start until I bought a 32 track Korg D3200 in 2008 with the money I got from working in a meat factory. The Axis Mundi record was recorded on this device. The people playing on the record we all came together during 2002 when we attended what we call here in Norway ‘musical college’. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences in music with the same basic outlook so it makes for interesting collaboration.
ALICIA BEE – What other psychedelic rock bands are there in Norway?
There are some psychedelic rock groups but not that many to be honest.
The best ones who would maybe fall into the genre are bands like: Motorpsycho, Maribel, Serena Maneesh, The Dipsomaniacs and Rancho Relaxo. These are all great bands.

POPULAR MUSIC – ANTISKEPTIC GOODBYE GOODNIGHT DVD

El Shaddai Records had pretended to close the Antiskeptic story as promised by producing this DVD package as a nice goodbye present for the fans of Christian punk band that had followed them in their short 10 year career.
The memory package allows fans to watch the final set played in Melbourne on September 20 2008, and gives audience goers in attendance a chance to relive the big gig.
Highlights of the singalong include ‘Cold Side Of The Moon’ and the ‘I’ll Follow’ encore.
A guest guitarist joins them for a song reminiscent of last few years of live shows in Melbourne.
Secondary to the long set value greatest hits performance, is a fun documentary look at ‘Jimmy Was Always Thinking’ start out days and their old video clip filming processes.
Central to themes some may recognize from final interviews, included in the documentary is Andrew’s request for fans to accept the bands decision to end.
For many part of the grieving process would be remembering the band through Goodbye Goodnight DVD.
For those fans not able to accept the end, click on their website link above for future shows.

POETASTER – IAN MCBRYDE : THE FAMILIAR.

Ian McBryde uses short words and lines, often complete non rhyme freeform poetry, placing one poem per page undetected to me with theme but placed as favorites and easily readable.
He compares humans to animals, and is concerned with heavy crime.
Murderers Oswald, Son of Sam, and Charles Manson and collected with poems about the Australian news stories of the Hoddle Street massacre and Karmein Chan murders.
He wants to cut with these subjects using their namedrops as weapons to shock the audience into attention.
House themes occupy the domestic title, covering continents with his background of experience in Canada, America and Australia.
Upset by some of the violent words I am drawn to the beauty of his tamer poems; The Aviary and Ontario.

POETASTER

New Bikini by Alicia Bee 2010 ©

I have got my eyes set on a new bikini pair,
They are too expensive; I guess poor girls shouldn’t stare,
They cost three hundred American dollars each piece,
I’ve got four pairs in my suitcase but wanted the spare,
All that money spent on bathers really leaves you bare,
I have got my eyes set on a new bikini pair.
All that gold wrapped around some lycra underwear,
Just a splash of designer to go with breasts and hair,
I had already spoke the words to that lecture speech,
The third world don’t have any bikini I’m aware,
There are too many fancy clothing stores right near beach,
These fashion supply shops will never make you seem rare,
They are too expensive; I guess poor girls shouldn’t stare.
I’m in another world and normally wouldn’t care,
Money spent on material that covers the least,
They are too expensive; I guess poor girls shouldn’t stare,
I have got my eyes set on a new bikini pair.

Rabbit in the Bush by Alicia Bee 2010 ©

In the bushland on North Shore the ghost of old Rabbit hides,
You may see it at Sunset when homesickness comes in tides,
To make it on world stage you’ve got to be best at Hawaii,
Take a stand for your career and give the wave a ride,
Life is the only sentence for which humans all applied,
In the bushland on North Shore the ghost of a Rabbit hides.
People have hit the reef surfing here before and then died,
The summers are not that hot but some white people have fried,
You can learn to surf on any brand of board that you buy,
You need to find your chosen voice not keep it on the inside,
Just take the sport up here, don’t let the Wolf Pack make you shy,
Don’t talk about it like you did; or we will say you lied,
You may see it at Sunset when homesickness comes in tides,
Australians have a go so they can tell themselves they tried,
There’s a secret beach where everyone goes in the sky,
You may see it at Sunset when homesickness comes in tides,
In the bushland on North Shore the ghost of a Rabbit hides.

END. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE GIDGET FEMINISM.
ALICIA BEE © 2012.

PHOTOGRAPHY –

‘Dead Rooster’, Selby 1996, printed Brunswick 2011 for ‘Good Mourning’ Fringe Festival show, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH – THANKS! TO THE RABBIT WITH FANGS

Happy New Year, it is 2012! The Millennium is a whole Chinese Zodiac celebratory 12 years old very soon on 23 January.
Hop along rabbit; it’s time to ENTER THE DRAGON times.
Put your tie on and bow with respect for the magical dragon because good fortune is coming this way for everyone.
In personal summary, though 2011 was successful with art and writing, I could not escape the casual hell that a rabbit with fangs might give you if they think you are part of the garden lettuce that they want.
Am I a piece of rocket? Kos? Iceberg or other salad leaf I asked the Rabbit?
Do you think I am a vegetable or fruit?
THAT was never yours to harvest, you thieving rabbit it was mine ALL MINE.
Do not steal the food that we need for our own salad making.
The lettuce was never there for you to take.
Why do you keep doing that I asked the Rabbit?
Officially I have asked for help to keep the pests from my garden.
We are currently researching organic pest removal for a number of bad butterflies, caterpillars and mealy bugs with claws, but until I can get rid of all these problems that are eating holes in all the leaves; we aren’t seeking approval from NASAA for our dirt just yet.
Still chasing that same rabbit back around the calendar and down those mining holes that will form my historical writing career for the state museum, but I am likewise very proud to have my books in our libraries.


THE MUPPETS have a new movie coming out in Australia on January 12, tomorrow, called MUPPET DOMINATION.
(Maybe someone else can do something with that line because I cant use it in my own work.)
MUPPET DOMINATION has a main character that is a pig, and another that is a frog, some bears and chickens, and several funny looking puppets formerly created by JIM HENSON.


JIM HENSON died in 1990 and had a big funeral with many puppets in attendance. As he wished no one wore black and Harry Belafonte sang TURN THE WORLD AROUND.
Six Muppets performed songs, and later Big Bird (of the large yellow walking species) sung the ‘Its not easy being green’ song.


Looking back at the year that was elevenses, I have compiled a chart of the greatest hits makers found below.

DISCLAIMER.
THIS BLOG IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH DISNEY MOVIES.
MISS PIGGY JOURNALISM IS A MUPPET BABY OF GONZO NEW JOURNALISM.
MISS PIGGY READS BOOKS ABOUT GRIEF BY JOAN DIDION AND STORIES BY TOM WOLFE, AND IS NOT YET FINISHED WITH HUNTER S THOMSPONS HELLS ANGELS ASPIRING TO ONE DAY INTERVIEW ALL OF THE MOTORCYCLE GANGS OF THE WORLD.

POPULAR MUSIC CHART 2011 – BY ALICIA BEE

THE GREATEST HIT  SONGS OF 2011
1. WENDY SADDINGTON – FIVE PEOPLE SAID I WAS CRAZY
2. WILCO – DAWNED ON ME
3. TOM WAITS – SATISFIED
4. ALICIA MANCEAU – FARAWAY EYES
5. AMY WINEHOUSE – OUR DAY WILL COME
6. BLOOD COMMAND – HAND US THE ALPHA MALE!

POPULAR MUSIC – BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART.

American Christian metal band BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART are almost a decade old on their glam tattooed vintage style tour bus video tapes. As a product of the YOUTUBE age they all recorded updates as they toured to keep fans in touch with their travels and inspire their support. Above is not a tour update nor official video clip but one of the first songs I heard from the band that got me interested; SHE WOLF from their 2008 ‘Pedal To The Metal’ album. I interviewed Drummer Slater from BBABH about the videos, Christianity, faith and getting a tattoo of your beliefs. As a faithful Christian Slater doesn’t enter into discussion on Buddhism, nor reincarnation but he does mention that their music attracts fans of all religions.

ALICIA BEE – I have been researching BBABH on Youtube while waiting for the single and discovered a number of tour updates created over the years.
It is one of the first times I have gained knowledge on a music act solely on Youtube before I have a CD in my hands, but there are alot of videos to entertain.
In the tour update videos I heard about the guy that broke into your bus, the bus breakdown in Texas and how Tyler assaulted a security guard and was subsequently arrested in Scotland.
What made you guys approach the camera and Youtube so easily?
SLATER – We live in a YouTube generation. MTV is dead. Fans feel connected when they get to see how their favorite artists live day by day. We want that connection with the fans, so we make videos. Plus we’re always doing stupid stuff, so we get it on camera so we can look back in the future and have a laugh.
ALICIA BEE – Does a member of the band generally film? Who handles the Facebook/Youtube web comments?
SLATER – We all have iPhones or whatever, so we all get footage. Our lead singer, Tony, is a professional photographer, so sometimes he pulls out his camera and gets some footage. We don’t have a PR company or label run our social networks. We enjoy communicating with fans, so we each individually get on and respond to comments and stuff.
ALICIA BEE – So when something happened did you feel compelled to make a video update?
SLATER -Yea, why not? We want the whole world to see the life of BLESSED!
ALICIA BEE – Were the update videos Youtube only releases?
SLATER – They were only videos…
ALICIA BEE – How did you go about making the updates, did you discuss the content, or point and shoot? How often did you do more takes?
SLATER – We never plan out what we are gonna say or do… we just hit record and go for it. The results are usually better that way.

ALICIA BEE – There was an update where a fan got tattooed with your autographs. Do you guys know how to tattoo?
SLATER – Tyler is a pro tattoo artist. He travels around the world doing guest spots. Over time, he has showed the rest of us some tattooing tricks, so we each know how to do autographs.
ALICIA BEE – Did you ever feel bad for that fan that got it done? What is your ethical statement about BBABH tattoos on fans?
SLATER – This guy was a huge fan of the band… and he begged us to do it. We tried to convince him otherwise, but he insisted. Funny thing is, two of those members are not in the band anymore. We wonder to this day if that guy has got a cover up. Many fans have sent us photos of having tattoos of the band name and/or lyrics from one of our songs. We think its cool. If our band or a song has changed someone’s life enough to have them want that inked on their body for life, then we obviously have done our job right. Get tattoos, there is nothing wrong with it, just don’t get something you will regret.
ALICIA BEE – Tyler and Tony seemed to be scarily tattooed all over their bodies. How many tattoos do they both have?
SLATER – All of us have tons of tattoos, except for Shred Sean. He has none. Tyler is a tattoo artist, so it’s natural for him to be covered. He has a bunch of random tattoos. The coolest is his left arm “He-Man” sleeve. Tony has a bunch of random tattoos as well. The most significant probably being his chest piece. He proposed to his wife with it. The tattoo is her full name with some roses and reads “Will you marry me” with a yes and no box under. She tattooed the check mark yes. I have a huge wolf chest piece because I’m hungry like a wolf.
ALICIA BEE – Do the other members of the band feel pressured to have tattoos?
SLATER – No. We each have tattoos cause we want them, not because we have to have them to look cool. We would look cool regardless. Tattoos are expensive, but Tyler tattoos the band for free. When we have free time on the road, Tyler gets to work on us. Sometimes he does draw something up and says, “Hey, I’m gonna tattoo this on you now…” We just go with it cause he’s so good.

ALICIA BEE – I have to admit that I was most impressed by the big moth you found and took on tour. Did you find out what breed it was? How long did it live?
SLATER – We always find animals and insects on the road and keep them as pets. We feed them and take care of them until they run away or die. The moth and the band had some creative differences on the last tour and the moth decided to go pursue other ventures.

ALICIA BEE – Please find attached drawings of some moth and butterflies that I used to illustrate my last poetry book about dead people and grief.
I think you should write a song about the moth because I am really into them.
They are entirely good content for much rock and roll metal fans, and would make a stunning muse.
ALICIA BEE – I am Buddhist, and though I don’t often talk about reincarnation, I made a joke out of the illustrations in THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED to suggest that in our reincarnated life we come back as BUTTERFLIES (or MOTHS), BIRDS or FLOWERS. Do you ever mix your Christianity beliefs to combine with other faiths?
SLATER – No. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
ALICIA BEE – What do you think of reincarnation? Does that translate to the resurrection of Jesus for you?
SLATER – We do not believe in reincarnation. We believe that when you die, you either go to Heaven or Hell for eternity. Jesus didn’t reincarnate, he resurrected, to do what he said he was gonna do and to prove that he is the one and only true Son of God.

ALICIA BEE – How much does religion mix with the rock metal band when BBABH tours?
SLATER – When we play live, we are putting on a show. We are not preaching or trying to force our beliefs onto our fans in the crowd. We love our fans, no matter what they believe. When we are on stage and our fans are screaming & shouting our songs back to us… then we have done our job. We do offer prayer and support for our fans and the bands we tour with. Being a Christian is just a way of life. We are still normal, imperfect people, saved by the grace of God, who are just trying to have fun, put on a show, and change lives for the better through our music.
ALICIA BEE – How often does Christianity theme in the lyrics?
SLATER – Some of our music reflects our Christian beliefs and some doesn’t. Some of our songs are just typical songs about life, love, or personal experience. None of our songs are contradictory…its all good, fun, and clean.
ALICIA BEE – BLESSED word in your title is the CHRISTIAN sounding signifier that could stand you apart as a Christian band, how much of your audience is aware of the religious element?
SLATER – Some people would assume, but the “Christian reference” in the band name wasn’t intentional. The band name was a result of a personal experience of the founding band member. He was cheated on by a girl he was about to marry with someone close to him… he had a life changing experience because of it (for the better), and he was “BLESSED by a broken heart.” We didn’t make the band name to come off more religious.
ALICIA BEE – How do you get away with singing about the devil?
SLATER – Because the devil is a huge part of Christianity. He is the darkness to the light. The bible talks more about Hell than Heaven. You don’t just sing about your love, you also sing about your enemy.

ALICIA BEE – I’ve listened to your single FOREVER and note a certain kind of scene-ster music industry analysis with lyrics like “did what I could to make it in the scene”. How much do you write for yourselves, or other bands?
SLATER – We write and produce all our own music. We always have a studio on the go, and we write songs all over the world. A few of us have some side projects that we write music for. Shred Sean has a instrumental project. Tony has solo R&B project. Sam Ryder has another band in the UK, “The Morning After.” I am a producer myself, so I am constantly recording, writing, and working with artists on the road and at my home studio in Orlando, FL (Solid Rock Studios). Music is our life.
ALICIA BEE – Do you think bands have to stay forever young to keep going?
SLATER – The best bands of all time are the bands that stick together. Legendary bands like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Aerosmith are still touring. Why? Because they stood out among the rest. They had a sound and image that wasn’t like anyone else. They put out amazing records and put on amazing live shows that still have millions of people coming to see to this day, decades later. Blessed doesn’t want to be a band that is here today and gone tomorrow. We want to influence a generation… bring back real Rock n’ Roll and take the world by storm for decades to come!
ALICIA BEE – Can you estimate how long BBABH will stay together?
SLATER – “Forever”
ALICIA BEE – What would be one negative reason you would quit the band?
SLATER – Well many bands call it quits because they can’t make a living doing it. They have tons of fans worldwide, but because of music piracy, fans don’t buy records anymore. Fans don’t go to shows anymore like they use to either. We are in a generation where fans like to have their cake and eat it too. Enjoy music for free and never care to see those bands live. Just because a band is signed and has a record online and in stores doesn’t make them rock stars. They need support. Any band can’t make it if fans continue to steal from them.

POPULAR MUSIC – PATHS OF PRAKRITI : DARK HORSE

POETASTER –

Tiddalick
Alicia Bee © 2010

A female frog jumped down from the green mountains,
Middle city dry from rock she drank the fountain,
She could go another mile on the harsh concrete
Rough as desert, manmade structures hurt her silk feet,
Many games (of) leapfrog before they started counting.

Frogs feet shouldn’t live inner city (when) they’re hurting,
She jumped north to the swampland to start digging and dirting,
Amphibians got a place right there in the street,
Tiddalick bent down in prayer with tongue drank the creek.

North creeks began to empty when more frogs came bounding,
Female frog leapt south for river waters certain,
Faithful Yarra source away from the NEW frogs you meet,
Brown water of my home town mother natures’ feat,
Selfish well would drought too if all begin founding,
Tiddalick bent down in prayer with tongue drank the creek.

Burma Monk
Alicia Bee © 2010

I can see the anger in his young eyes,
He is just now understanding the world,
He prayed till knowing the militia lied,
He thought they’d listen to peaceful protest.

Is his confusion the beast unfurled?
His action before tears have been cried,
Realisation aches while others lips curled.

Noble while other religions have pride,
Quiet while other people take rocks furled,
Until then thought they had a stronger side,
He thought they’d listen to peaceful protest.

Liberty Statue
Alicia Bee © 2010

Free at last! Free at last! Our lady has liberty,
Seven years in prison is too long for a woman,
A day of celebration in capital city,
Democracy for Burma is our simple sermon.

Tears of joy from girl and boy for the release of their mother,
Militia are smiling along with the fishermen,
This happiness will last a full day for another.

When will all the political prisoners be free?
Now they’ve let her out they should release her brother,
American peace fighter would you swim across the sea?
Democracy for Burma is our simple sermon.

END. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE A RABBIT WITH FANGS.
Alicia Bee © 2012.

PHOTOGRAPHY

‘Organic Dinner with organic pototoes, organic beans, organic veal and organic tomato sauce’, May 12 2011, Brunswick, photo by Alicia Bee.

POPULAR MUSIC – GOTYE / KIMBRA : SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW.

We all know that JULY 2011 stalker anthem ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ may have just replaced the MAY 1983 STING / THE POLICE single EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE  in our recent music memory, to remind us that someone is always trying to call our old number listed in the past AMID directory.
This is dedicated to all the people of the past year that I have blocked on Facebook, who have become just like a spick or specks program that doesn’t repeat.
Please don’t call, or email me or contact me in person.
You have given me space to have more friends and meet more positive people on social networks.
If you are really upset just listen to the song above for music therapy, or if you’d prefer to leave this page, just listen to THE POLICE.

PUBLIC SPEECH – THE REAL THING : ARIAs and COLA.

2003 was the year I thought the ARIA Awards spelled Australian Music patriotism though I hadn’t yet sat through a gruelling 6 hour event.
The ARIAs will never seem the same again in spite of who wins and whether the choice seems legitimate, or a pop label decision.
Part of the feeling of torture of sitting through an ARIAs came from the enclosure conditions of the event, that did not allow people to leave the building and return.
If you choose to leave early they will tell you that there are no PASS OUTS, and that if you leave you cant come back, which is the same restrictions they put on ALL AGE events and other concerts.
You may not want to stay in that room all night.
That year in 2003 I also produced two draft articles about the ARIAs that made enemies not of moguls like Mark Pope and the ARIA board, but media staff too scared to know their jobs and allow writers to do their own.
As they were unpublished I thought this issue could return to that golden year of the ARIA awards and find out what it was that stopped me attending any other award ceremony to date and kept me from watching the television broadcast.
Though some people would think that such a change of heart and enthusiasm for The ARIAs shows far greater troubles, it has not curbed my love of Australian music and I still work in the industry.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE 2011 ARIA AWARD.

The 2011 ARIA Award ceremony was highlighted with the best tweets and status updates from a panel of Australian music media screeners who watched from home, or attended the event and submitted one line reviews on Facebook that did little to break the happiness of my little world when I checked emails in between watching a VHS copy of THE SKATEBOARD KID and a 2010 documentary on THE DOORS entitled WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE.
Social networking has been the most positive method of reviewing the event since the 2003 ARIA, and my preferred way of gaining ARIA news for the past few years.
Lets take a step backwards and look at some highlights of my past writing about the ARIAs.

PAST – 16th ARIA AWARDS 2002.

This article I only wrote for journalism school to practise a new method of feature article writing. I didn’t care then that it wasn’t published as it was just a class exercise. The article made reference to the TV sponsorship of the Australian music event, and give you an idea of my political beliefs that formed the basis for my column editorial.

WOULD YOU LIKE MCDONALDS WITH YOUR ARIA? BY ALICIA BEE

The 17th ARIA Awards will again be sponsored by international companies like McDonalds and Coca Cola. Although the date has not been set the October Australian music award ceremony will be televised on Network Ten, who choose the sponsors last year.
The 2002 television broadcast sold eight sponsorship packages to McDonalds, Coca Cola, Midouri Illusions, Colorado, Australis, Trident, Starburst and Daihatsu.
“In all honesty I don’t think the industry was there drinking coca cola,” Mark Pope, event producer of the 2003 ARIA Awards said.
The industry were treated to the hospitality of a Midouri Illusions sponsored after-party, while the new vanilla coke was offered in the gold area.
Banners of the companies were displayed in the foyer which was the only reminder of sponsorship to the inside music industry.
“The only complaint we had was from a rabid vegetarian who didn’t enjoy their meal,” Pope said.
Viewers at home sat through six commercials multiplied by twelve advertisement breaks.
Network Ten gave figures that said the television audience was up by 60% with a 1.25 million viewing audience.
Although Network Ten has commented that sponsorship packages have not been finalized Pope was confident that last years sponsors would return.
“Everybody was pretty happy and most will come back (as sponsors),” he said.
A post ARIA press release quotes, “Ten is proud to have delivered the best ARIA awards ever we look forward to another superb Awards telecast next year and to continue to promote and support Australia’s music industry across their network schedule.”
The 16th Aria Awards were the biggest yet and were compared to the Grammy and MTV awards.
The brief of the 2002 ARIA awards as decided by the ARIA board, and listed on the website was to ‘create an awards show with credibility and relevance to the music community – a show that would stand alongside the Brits and the Grammys as a world class music event from one of the world’s greatest music producing nations’. The ARIA board also wanted to extend an invitation to the fans who wanted to attend the event.
Held at the Superdome, the event offered seats to the public as a form of revenue for the $A1M show.
Network Ten sold its own advertising to collect their share of revenue.
Last years eight sponsors were a result of the network “approaching clients and companies expressing interest in the sponsorship packages,” said Peter Van Dyke, Network 10 marketing department.
Network Ten cannot comment on the sponsorships for this year until signed and closer to date.
“Sponsorship in sport or entertainment is pretty much a fact of life these days,” Pope said.
It is not a part of sponsorship selection criteria to search for Australian products for the event.
When asked whether AUSBUYS products could be sought to buy back Australian music Pope said “that’s a good question.”
The brief for the event also included a return to an event where the music industry has ‘fun from the outset of proceedings’.
The music industry is said to have enjoyed themselves on the night, while “in the past the night seems to have been endured rather than enjoyed” said Pope.
Past awards offered cramped seating, while last years event seated guests with a meal and drinks.
Opinion from inside the music industry was closed and several top heads declined to comment or have an opinion on sponsorship of the Australian music event.
Michael Chugg, music promoter said, “I have no problems with this, this sponsorship enables the producers to produce a world class show which they did last year & I’m sure (will) do an even better show this year.”
“I neither eat maccas or drink coke but millions of Australians do & none of these people will think twice about the sponsors but they will cast a critical eye over the telecast,” Michael Chugg warned.
Pope said that the television broadcast is the best way of promoting Australian music which is the ARIA’s goal.
“The ARIA’s brief is to promote music, we all know that to reach a number of people is to get it on TV, because its on TV there are commercials,” he said.
The event staged in Sydney is not now only about the enjoyment of those working within the music industry and the television broadcast extends the event to those in other states.
The Superdome seating also allows room for fans, “until recently tickets had never been open to the public. Last year 3000 tickets were sold to the public and there’s more room, we can fit 7000,” Pope said.




PAST – THE 2003 ARIA AWARDS REVIEW

This is the article written later in the year for my BRAG streetpress column called ‘ROCK AND ROLL LESSONS’ that gave music industry advice for new bands.
This issue was cut after the editor ALISON JONES received a 20 minute complaint call from then so called industry insider PHIL TRIPP suggesting that any kind of ARIA negative publicity would not be needed at all, after he had already scolded me for writing the first article above in which he refused comment.
It was just a few weeks before ALISON JONES quit, and the year before PHIL TRIP spent many moaning emails suggesting that no-one loves him and that he would prefer to breed LOVE BIRDS (true story).
Just in case you were getting excited about the ARIA awards or were very disillusioned if you watched it, it was felt with all good judgment that I needed to remind the readers that the ARIAs is a really long and boring night.
This article editorial columns should have been published in streetpress in October 2003, but it took the squeeze as too negative.
This article will never be too negative, the 2003 ARIA awards will go down as the most boring in Australian music history – THE YEAR DELTA WON EVERYTHING just before she announced she was well again from HODGEKINS DISEASE.
I got so bored of working in music in Sydney and choose to relocate back to MELBOURNE, for THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME at the worst times of our lives.
HUNTER S THOMPSON himself was rejected by many editors, and as MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST follows in the same experiential GONZO journalist rants of ego, you have to read the article that was cut from STREETPRESS in 2003 because an industry insider complained.

ROCK AND ROLL LESSON # 66.6 – Don’t go to the ARIA Awards for Career Advancement by Alicia Bee

Delta Goodrem wore a pink Lisa Ho dress (2011 ed I will never wear that label again).
I wore a khaki dress from Grace Brothers and sandals for the election.
The rest of the rock stars and music industry sat at tables in front eating while the live crowd watched.
It is obvious to sit through an award ceremony, that this is a music industry where votes are decided by moguls, men and money and far away from the Australian music fan.
The ARIAs awards ceremony is a really boring night for those not eating in the audience.
While our local music needs patriotism, I’m not sure how much we can put our hands together for a music industry that thugs its way to raise a male rock band and sells the bum of Kylie, Delta or any other piece of Australia.
Girl, boy; don’t think you are going to get anything for your music life out of watching the ARIA awards live at the event at the Superdome.
Stay home and watch it on TV, get pissed, and count the number of McDonalds and Coca Cola advertisements you have to sit through, while the dads at head office thought that those companies would sell Australian music to a wider public.
Lace it all up in Mount Franklin riders as you travel up and down the record company highway while Phil trips in the gold arena about how good rock was and someone spews another INXS cover for the Dinnegan party.
Thankyou Johnny Farnham for soundtracks to family holidays and our Australian music past but we are old enough now to know what we want.
(When this article was cut I repeated to the editor that “John Farnham said ‘we can write what we want to write’ in You’re The Voice,” so I shouldn’t be censored, but she never really knew the album).
It is good there are categories for awards in other genres like country, world, classical and soundtracks.
I still believe in the songs and records, but a room full of wrong fat men in an international record label is not music to the young and free who wanted a hometown without Maccas.
The people at these tables loved the event, and joked themselves through the night about who’s fucking who in a bible belt.
‘Are you ready Mr Music?’ you may ask as you play musical chairs for a better view and contact, but it’s not worth the nightmares days later.
Don’t sell your music to them before you did it for love.
The Waifs won the awards as Australian idols ‘Miss Independent’ this year, and you can.
Don’t go to the ARIA awards for career advancement! It’s too long to sit through.

POPULAR MUSIC – KURT VILE : BABY ARMS.

Check out the LOVEBIRDS in this video clip for the PHILEDELPHIA act Kurt Vile’s single ‘Baby Arms’ from the album Smoke Ring For My Halo. Directed and filmed by Todd Cole entirely on the Windows Phone.

POPULAR MUSIC – MARK GARDNER : THE GREAT DIVIDE EP

Sometimes people have to leave Melbourne to know how good it is. From a new vantage point overseas, interstate or on tour sometime musicians can get homesick.
Though Mark Gardner has heard my story of homesickness when living in the city of lights and the many trips from Sydney to Melbourne, his EP is about his own feelings on his family home somewhere on The Great Dividing Range.
Loving his country, Mark gives lyrical references to the Southern Cross, magpies and Australian living.
Loving his wife he dedicates the EP and songs to his family.
Though it is not clear from his long list of Australian music influences Hearts On Fire seems to be inspired by Koori rock, lyrics are punched and spoke with respect and celebration though Mark Gardner’s heritage is not Aboriginal.
Track 3 starts like many Australian folk songs with a didgeridoo.
“Across the borders, through the desert plains, I see the farmers dancing in the rain,’ sing the lyrics that with backing vocal call out for a chorus wanting to write their own national anthem.
“Some sing from the Alice, I sing from the great divide,” sings Mark Gardner from the South in popular community radio single The Great Divide.
Brass trumpet player Mark Gardner proves his ska influence seen from playing in The Loonee Tunes and The High Tides with simple EP highlight the House Of Love track influenced by Madness.

POPULAR MUSIC – MELISSA MAIN : ME YOU KITCHEN NOW EP.

Melissa Main  started recording her Me You Kitchen Now EP in a sharehouse kitchen because she enjoyed the acoustics of the practice space. I bought an oven glove and tea towel from merchandise at her launch where band members and guest all wore aprons, it’s as homemade as GIT and the best of the girls of our past.
The newest Claire Bowditch that played before me this year and said she’d be my friend. She is a folk performer that plays guitar and uses vocals, and has produced a simple acoustic recording perhaps using only vocal microphone amplification as desired.
Melissa Main is the kind of new performer that amazes, to make you wonder how long it will take for her to be bigger; feeling lucky that you knew her somewhere in the past.
In spite of similarities to Claire’s voice, Melissa Main suggests she is not one of her influences.
Folk, jazz fun vocals with playful synchopation known in the live context to enjoy a loop backup of vocals; that we were all familiar with long before Kimbra gave us the instruction manual.
Melissa Main is a vocalist with strong range who showcases many styles on this release. Live she will charm with big white teeth, smiling through while she sings each word.
Female anthem ‘Amazons’ reminds us that the Belljar Hotel deserves some respect and could be sung to feminist music camps and other wild women communities that needed stronger role models that they weren’t getting on video hits.
‘Stretch Out The Sunset’ is the only example of loop vocals on the recording that reminds us again, many women have sung their own backup to the lead vocals for a past of endless sunsets.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE WEEKEND PEOPLE : LP 2010.

The Weekend People liked t-shirt weather by The Lucksmiths and want you to get up out of bed, take your Killing Heidi Mascara and yesterday’s makeup off and fall in love with melodic pop of the Australian folk rock genre.
They have some guitar builds they heard from 90s bands like Pollyanna or the Internationalist day of Powderfinger and they have made some scarily tidy choruses ‘All The While’ in between their song structures.
They have composed their emo lyrics a little differently to the seniors who instead of sitting on couches suggest hiding underneath the covers, and further berating women that are ‘running to any man that will take them’, or people that sit ‘alone in their towers’.
I think they were at the Corner Hotel the night Glenn Richards from Augie March and his Friend The Murderer decided to kill for they use the same big themes with songs like ‘Murder On The Mind’ and ‘Thief’, suggesting that musicians are all innocent criminals who should be protected as artists from the crazy talk about media influence over youths.
On the other side of the Bob Dylan Tribute night the bands in our ‘Smaller World’ are healthy and happy playing in groups with females as equals, and will catch you if they see you are upset to say a friend is always closer nearby.
I made a trade with them for the live music booking, and make a pact with the song that their CD will be played in my sharehouse for at least a month.
They have a final lyric that says ‘you’re no better than me’ so it will sit with Tom Waits Bad As Me as I make my complaints to the captains of industry.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE WONDERFUL LIVES : THE HUMAN HEART WILL TAKE YOUR LIFE LP 2011.

The Wonderful Lives believe the devil made them bad and admit to hearing voices in their head. It’s okay they grabbed some old records and listened safely to them in the right environment.
Apparently songwriter Lucas Preddey stole Neil Young Harvest from his old man and mother while searching for a Heart Of Gold and came up with a Polka for their funeral in Old Man Ocean.
Leaving the country influences in songs like Way Out To Sea a deep throat Nick Cave inspired crooner asks his babe to stop crying.
He continues his gothic style singing in The Dirty Bride this time as Roland S Howard had once altered his voice to sound like The Birthday party after Nick sung his song for so long.
There is danger in the dirge, a burial and the same old bones they moved from Melbourne.
‘Hells Bells,’ lyrics tells they shall dig a hole and bury bones like they too wrote The Book Of The Dead.
Apparently The Blue Mountains is much like the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne and The Wonderful Lives sing to the same mountain girl that likes going op shopping for vintage jewellery or shoes in Katoomba.
The party on the hill asks for a ‘bottle of rum’. They want to drink, getting drunk till they are through the process.
Then they again bring out the dead and play with the bones of those they have murdered.
The Wonderful Lives are As Bad as Tom Waits or other drunkard poets that don’t stop till they are dead. But that’s how I like them.

POPULAR MUSIC – JACKALS : 5 TRACK EP 2011.

The best place to get music and art fliers on Sydney Road Brunswick is the chain record store TITLE. I got TITLE to price compare to JBHIFI when Tom Waits Bad As Me stopped playing for free early last month.
With my pocket and travel money I grabbed me a Flipper CD and some recorded spoken word poetry by PIRI THOMAS, then on the way out grabbed The Jackals release that was offered for FREE.
Melbourne band Jackalls didn’t read my blog to know that music lovers who buy records may take a liking to their 5 track CD and left a pile near the door so again to reward the score I write instead of playing a sport.
Their bass driven danger blues rock sings a whole Country Heart home from the Retreat, Edinburgh Castle, Penny Black and venues nearby where they have or will play and I’m guessing that’s why they gave it away.
I hear them beating around the bush and wonder what local radio show might give them a go.
I feel some crazy horseriding Cramps, rockerbilly silly vocals on some classic model rock instruments.
I imagine they could be eating spaghetti in a western Brunswick Hotel like The Union very soon.
Their cinema scape beats make you picture an older band with a vintage hearse carrying their equipment back around the same old haunts that they typed into the gig guide 20 years ago, and that just could mean they sound experienced as a Jackal.
Sit them alongside my love of wolf names next to Wolfmother, Wolfpack and Midnight Wolf in an Adalita DJ set at a Brunswick venue.

POETASTER –

THE BELLJAR by Alicia Bee.
[Belljars are currently in fashion,
The blogs and book have been written,]
We are like living organisms watched in their own terrariums,
I am like a seventies houseplant that should never live in the city,
but survive with water and glimpses of sunlight.
I was once my fern tree living in Bondi displaced from the forest gully in a building of cockroaches,
that did not survive summer under the care of Sydneysiders.
I am now an inner city organic garden in Brunswick,
living on my orchard and vegetables I stay in Melbourne,
surviving with backyard and belljar supplies on water and glimpses of sunlight.
I have arranged the rocks and moss so that animals and reptiles may visit the terrarium.
They enter through the roof and bring supplies, and are watched to stay nights surviving on water and glimpses of sunlight.
I am now a modern macramé hanging tree fern, green and full from the indoor incubation,
creating rainforest conditions in amongst this swampland suburb, surviving in the glass of this city, with water and glimpses of sunlight.




END. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW VS THE REAL THING. Alicia Bee © 2011.

PHOTOGRAPHY –

‘Round Dead Rat Bones’, 24 September 2011, Brunswick, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH – EVENTS BY NUMEROLOGY

When your numbers come up you know it’s your time, and this Friday as all digits align to 11, I know its going to be just another day; like New Years Eve St Kilda, or a birthday, but again the event will launch something very special for me.

“If you can see – the numbers all go to 11, look, right across the board 11, 11, 11,” Nigel Tufnel explains in the famous scene from Spinal Tap mockumentary which has been used as social network subliminal advertising for my book launch event (yes, it was calculated to spread the scene through sharing on public walls).

In primary school I had foreseen that this date would occur somewhere beyond 2000 in my years as an adult in a world that is very different to the one that was known.

As we had always observed REMEMBRANCE DAY’s elevenses in school minute silence, it occurred to me then that perhaps the most significant date to watch out for would be in the year 2011.

In the industry we have had Christmas gigs, New Years, Final END of Year Parties, Public Holidays in all states, Labour Day, ANZAC DAY gigs, CUP DAY, GRAND FINAL DAY, special birthdays and death day celebrations, and numerous TRIBUTE NIGHTS and BENEFITS of every single thing from Friday the 13^th to Halloween for our devil’s rock and air guitar salutes to give promoters something special to make the date significant amongst WEEKLY RESIDENCIES, and the flow of streetpress and radio shows, that churn out each month making music more like FACTORY WORK than living the LEISURE LIFESTYLE that it is supposed to be when we quit our day jobs.

But never before have music events celebrated the number 11 on this coming date 11/11/11.

I think all dates that have multiple numbers should also be promoted in this way and the music industry should be more open about its love of the mystical relationship between counts and measurements of time. Mathematicians and those that use their phone as a calculator to add and divide the door money booty, will all agree that Eleven is by far the most famous number from the Spinal Tap Documentary.

After that the numbers 3 and 4 are also very lucky to music people, and those fans of Led Zeppelin extend favoritism to numbers 1 and 2.

Some Christians feel that 7 is the most significant spiritual number.
Repetition of the number 6 is often seen to represent the mythical devil.

And for others the number 11 simply means ‘tea time’ and teetotalers all over the world take their Elevenses break as a human right of each work day.

To fathom the majesty of this date clocking understand that these double digit repetitions are quite rare.

The next big gig of this kind will occur on 22/2/22, however next year 12/12/12 will also be significant.

Look ahead to big celebrations of the Long Player record during the month of March in 2033.

Events that have alignment in the day and month can also be celebrated though it is better to have the year combined which makes the 11s in Friday’s date so collosal.

My big gig dates for 2011 were 24/5/11, 3/9/11, 2/10/11, 9/10/11 and this one 11/11/11; and that was enough for me to think it be the best year yet.

NOTE: One other movement that marks this date occasion is called ONE BREATH ONE WORLD which has organized a worldwide Qi breathing meditation in celebration of world peace on Friday 11 November at 9:30pm.

They believe if they can get lots of people globally to breathe at the same time, they can build up an electrical energy in their bodies that feels like a soft humming vibration.

In their own words; “Experience the ULTIMATE ENERGY at this once in a lifetime celebration. Globally we will synchronize BREATH & PRAYER for healing our planet. This is a rare opportunity to maximize your physical and mental potential. On 11-11-11 the Global Community Unites for a Live Broadcast live at this cosmic celebration. Using special yogic breathing we will create
 a massive Power Breathing Prayer Circle for WORLD PEACE.”
So those of you that cant make the BOOK LAUNCH  gig, think of us at 11:11pm on 11/11/11 when we make a note of the time and date, or join in on the breathing movement for ONE BREATH ONE WORLD from 9:30pm.

PRESS RELEASE – ALICIA BEE LAUNCHES THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED POETRY.

Melbourne writer Alicia Bee’s second collection of poetry captures the limbo left from the grief and funerary process of loosing loved ones, which she likens to an injured state in a hospital.

THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED celebrates the lives of the deceased in prose, and asks those that are left behind to respond with meditation, tears and anger.

Tributes to dead people are boxed in the first book section like a museum collection of lifelike stuffed animals; that remind us that our memories preserve mortality after the grave.

The cringe surrounding emotions, fear of discussions of suicide and melancholy, are made taboo in glorious detail in this important release designed to change your reaction to death.

Alicia Bee writes about her relatives, friends and dead pets; exploring aging and the afterlife, in a book that tells us again that it is okay to think about the dead and the lessons they have taught us.

If poetry was ever described as depressing the form is taken as strength, for Alicia Bee revels in the dance of macabre arranging this dried flower display as a shrine for your bookshelf.

Alicia Bee’s first title BATHERS ON THE BEACH is available through direct sales, Brunswick Bound bookstore and Readings Carlton.

Join us for the launch with music entertainment this Friday night in St Kilda.

THE GOOD FOLK CLUB presents a launch of THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED poetry collection by ALICIA BEE with bands BURN IN HELL + SLACQUER + CHARM + MARK WOODWARD on FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER at ST KILDA BOWLS CLUB at 66 FITZROY STREET ST KILDA from 8pm, its $11 entry ($25 with book).

Jewellery by Daughters of Cambodia.

PARADE – CAMBODIAN FASHION WEEK

CAMBODIA just held its first national FASHION WEEK from OCTOBER 27 – NOVEMBER 5 2011. I found out about it because band CAMBODIAN SPACE PROJECT  let me know of a gig they were playing last Friday 4 November 2011 where INDEPENDENT designers KEOK’JAY, EBONY DESIGN, THE VINTAGE SHOP and DAUGHTERS OF CAMBODIA got together at GASOLINA venue in PHNOM PENH to celebrate the occasion. MEREDITH TRLICA of DAUGHTERS OF CAMBODIA acted as our ambassador for CAMBODIAN FASHION WEEK, explaining a little about INDEPENDENT CAMBODIAN FASHION.

ALICIA BEE: Has the first Cambodian Fashion week been exciting?

MEREDITH TRLICA: It’s been great to see all the cat walks and designs. It’s really exciting to see Cambodian Fashion is growing!

ALICIA BEE: Have you made many extra sales from new people who are holidaying in Cambodia for the week?

MEREDITH TRLICA: Yes our sales are doing really well this week.

ALICIA BEE: Who are the main fashion labels that are taking part in Cambodian Fashion Week?

MEREDITH TRLICA: Water Lily, Sentosa Silk, Jasmine Boutique, Keo’K Jay, and Eric Raisina

ALICIA BEE: How many independent fashion labels is there in Cambodia?

MEREDITH TRLICA:  LOTS!

ALICIA BEE: Where do you sell your clothes?

MEREDITH TRLICA: We sell our products in our shop near the riverfront as well as all over the world. We have distributors in the UK, America and Australia, and we will ship to anyone anywhere!

ALICIA BEE: What does your label do? What type of clothes and material do you use?

MEREDITH TRLICA: Our label gives freedom to victims of trafficking. We make night ware, t-shirts, and fashion accessories. Our products are made with cotton and recycled materials.

ALICIA BEE: Tell me about this show- How did the idea come about?

MEREDITH TRLICA:  The show came from the band “Cambodia Space Project”, they are aware of our organization and wanted to promote Daughters and raise sponsorships for our clients. We are so excited they came to us with the fabulous idea!

ALICIA BEE: How did you know the other labels?

MEREDITH TRLICA:  Through visiting their shops, and previous events ie advertising and networking.

ALICIA BEE: Are you a fan of the band ‘Cambodian Space Project’?

MEREDITH TRLICA:  Absolutely!!! Srey Tee has an amazing voice!

POPULAR MUSIC – DEEP STREET SOUL

Melbourne raw funk act DEEP STREET SOUL are my competition for the best Friday night gig on 11/11/11. They launch album LOOK OUT! WATCH OUT! on Friday at THE ORDER OF MELBOURNE 2/401 Swanston Street. HOT OFF THE PRESS PUBLICITY lined up an interview with MAY JOHNSTON the newest vocalist to the band.

ALICIA BEE: How did Deep Street Soul find you (please tell me the story)?

MAY JOHNSTON:  I went to see funk legend Marva Whitney perform at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne on Xmas eve 2009.  At that time; I was singing with another soul band and some of us decided to go together to see the show.  Deep Street Soul was playing the support & when they came on; I could not take my eyes off the drummer – I dug his playing.  The guitarist and Hammond player were both fantastic & the bass player was so tight with the drummer.  I kept saying to my husband “I have to sing with that band”.

When they finished playing their set, Papa J (bass player) walked past and I stopped him to tell him how awesome the band was.  It was short and sweet.  I went home that night so inspired that I jumped online to their Myspace page  and sent an email just to say how much I enjoyed the show & if ever they were after a fill-in vocalist to give me a call.  I received an email back from the guys and we kept in cybertouch (they would probably call it cyberstalking) sporadically from that point onwards.

A year later I was walking out of my day job around 4pm & got a call from Papa J which went something like this, “our regular singer has pulled out of a gig last minute, hypothetically if I asked you to come do a gig with us tomorrow night, could you do it?”  I didn’t have to think about it and immediately said yes (which I think shocked him) -  I also didn’t tell him that I had just got my twisted ankle out of a cast the day before, had no car and had a recording session that would take up the entire next day! But as I told my husband that night, I just really want to sing with this band so I just had to say yes, even if it only was for one gig.

I got the music a couple of hrs later – 2 sets of songs I’d never heard before! I spent pretty much the whole night learning songs.  The following evening I took the train from Werribee to Parliament; I limped onto the tram and then hobbled up 2 flights of stairs to the gig, no one knew but I was actually in excruciating pain with my ankle when I was singing in the first few songs but I loved every minute of it.  The rest is history; I started doing fill in gigs when their other singer could not perform & eventually they asked me to join the band & be a part of the new album, which I’m proud to have been a part of.

ALICIA BEE: Can you act as a reviewer and describe the sound of their first album as you heard it?

MAY JOHNSTON:  I think that the band stays true to the genre of funk by not steering away from the natural rawness of the genre, instead they honour it by just letting it be real – and that’s a powerful thang!

ALICIA BEE: Did their music make you compose lyrics or did you sing something that they had written?

MAY JOHNSTON: The guys had already tracked the album by the time I came on board. I’m not sure what they expected when they asked me to pen some lyrics & vocal melodies – and I think they may have been keeping their options open as they had already put together melodies and words for two of the songs LOL, but they gave me free reign to go to town on the songs ‘Look Out, Watch Out’ & ‘What She Said’.  I guess they must have been happy because they also asked me to put lyrics to one of their old instrumental B-Sides’ “Deep Street Strut”.

ALICIA BEE: What were the first lines that you started singing when you first rehearsed? eg. was it Watch Out lyrics?

MAY JOHNSTON: No rehearsal – it was a few handshakes and ‘nice to meet you’s’ and ten minutes later we were on stage! But in terms of writing & singing on the track ‘Look Out, Watch Out’, it was the first song I wrote lyrics to & it just sort of poured out.  That’s what a good groove will make you do.

ALICIA BEE: With so much white soul coming out, did you guys want to sound more funky or teased afro genuine black?
MAY JOHNSTON: For me personally I just go with what I can hear and feel.  In terms of the whole whitey doing black funk thing – one of my absolute favourite songs is the great Linda Lyndell – What a Man (Stax) track, her voice is the very essence of a funky soul sister.  More recently you have the whole funk revival being led by UK girls like Alice Russell & Ria Currie and locally we have Kylie Auldist so I don’t think color comes into it so much these days.  It’s all about paying your respects to the past, not about ones race or nationality.

ALICIA BEE: Do you have any advantage singing soul music? what training or upbringing did you have?

MAY JOHNSTON: Singing soul lets me feel free as it can thrive on improvisation.  Singing soul & funk is like giving your own personal testimony; preaching or telling it how it is about heartbreak, your man leaving you, you’re your sister taking your man, losing your faith in love, feeling down, moving to the music or grooving to what is in you.  It’s all about feeling it; movin with it & letting your soul sing.

ALICIA BEE: Can you finish this sentence please? Since Amy Winehouse started singing ‘soul’ music has…

MAY JOHNSTON: Since Amy Winehouse started singing “soul” music, she has reintroduced the very best of what soul music has to offer into the public consciousness.

POPULAR MUSIC – ANTISKEPTIC

When ANTISKEPTIC ended their band in 2008 singer ANDREW KITCHEN sent a thankyou to his press mail list for their support over the years; with a warning of the later release of a DVD package of their final show, and a request asking for interested email addresses. Polite as their first performance, they sent me a DVD for review and answered questions for interview in the same feel good friendly manner as our fresh FREEZA faced phase many years before ANDREW KITCHEN got the gig at THE PUSH. (The DVD review will follow soon in a later blog.)

ALICIA BEE: How many times have you watched the DVD of the 2008 final performance?

ANDREW KITCHEN: I have 3 kids … so the simple answer is that I haven’t actually watched it from start to finish yet. I probably have seen the whole thing in sections, but not in one sitting.

ALICIA BEE: Any regrets about outfits or onstage comments during the DVD? Confess them here for a feel good sharing moment-

ANDREW KITCHEN: I made so many fashion faux paus during our career, that from about 2006 onwards I stuck to a uniform. Long sleeve white shirt, tight black pants and slip ons. Previous to this there was an array of poor fashion choices. I’m a musician … I’m not a fashion guru. Apparently you are meant to have the know how to wear the right thing as well as play and write music. Would anyone want to her Jennifer Hawkins sing? Eick!! I think that I quoted the Mastercard or American Express advert at the gig between a couple of songs …something like ‘Finishing your band, in your home town, with a room full of friends = priceless.’ I don’t regret saying that.

ALICIA BEE: What have you done since 2008?

ANDREW KITCHEN: See answer 1. In 2006, I was offered a job at The Push as the Artist Development Project Coordinator. I’m very lucky to hold this position, because it means that I can do my bit to help the new and exciting bands coming through the ranks. I’ve also developed some skills in landscape gardening, which I’m really enjoying. I have also ridden my bike about 25,000 k’s … which is more than half of the circumference of the world.

ALICIA BEE: Do you remember your first shows? We got Antiskeptic to play a FREEZA gig up in Emerald in 2001 (with Addiction 64, Sound Like Chicken and The Lads), Do you remember that show? Can you say anything about that show?

ANDREW KITCHEN: I have vague or vivid memories of pretty much every show. And yes I recall the FReeZA gig in Emerald … I remember being on stage knowing that we had to be at the airport at 5am the following morning for a flight to Brisbane and worrying that Sean would simply refuse to get out of bed to get to the airport on time.

ALICIA BEE: Did Antiskeptic have a hey day with peer bands like those old names?

ANDREW KITCHEN: ALICIA – I’m not sure what you mean by ‘those old names’?

ALICIA BEE: So it’s not left hanging- I meant – Addiction 64, Sounds like Chicken and The Lads bands from our Freeza show in the question before, that for me sounded very like bands of that year and time a decade ago.

ANDREW KITCHEN: Right … sorry I didn’t realise it was a reference to the last question.

Answer: Yes, I actually booked Francis from Addition 64 (now from The Resignators) to come and speak at a music industry conference that I am running called ‘Face the Music’ at the Arts Centre on November 18 + 19.

ALICIA BEE: Have you spoken to many other bands about what they now do? Had any reunion type family get togethers with band members since the band ended?

ANDREW KITCHEN: I still see Nick and Sean very regularly. I live right near Nick and we catch up every week or so. Sean is a FReeZA worker and so I see him through my work at The Push.

ALICIA BEE: Did Antiskeptic have a ‘hey day’ with peer bands like those old names?

ANDREW KITCHEN: I’ll have a go at the question as though you asked ‘Was there a period that you remember when punk / rock scene was really thriving?’

For sure – probably around 2002-2003, when bands like Seraphs Coal, For Amusement Only, Bodyjar and One Dollar Short were getting great support from live crowds and radio alike.

ALICIA BEE:  Do you have any bands that you loved playing with alot? Are they still around?

ANDREW KITCHEN: We probably played with Bodyjar a fair bit and it was great to take Gyroscope on their first national tour, as well as Kiss Chasy and After the Fall. Those crazy kids in I Killed The Prom Queen were really hitting their strides and I’d never seen live hardcore / metal like that before. Gyroscope are the great survivors, but pretty much all of the other bands have split or are just hanging in there. It’s a long hard road rock and roll – a lot harder than most people realise.

ALICIA BEE: How often would you mention Christianity in your live shows?

ANDREW KITCHEN: Very rarely. I never verbally denied it when asked in interview or conversation. I was and am proud to be associated with the tag ‘Christian band,’ though I erred on dropping that tag too regularly myself. As soon as you say it, people think that you only play in churches … which we didn’t, or that all of your songs were about God … which they weren’t, or that we never drank … which we did (albeit in moderation).

ALICIA BEE: Why did Antiskeptic stop playing?

ANDREW KITCHEN: There is a logical end to all things in life and one thing that our culture is not great at, is letting people finish something and move on. We were all ready for change and to have our weekends back. We were mates, we weren’t in debt and the fans were there for us. It felt like a logical place to stop. Our life demands were rising … parenting, full-time work etc etc … and we were all entering a phase where we simply wanted to be more present and available for our long-neglected friends.

ALICIA BEE: What is on the DVD?

ANDREW KITCHEN: Rock and roll goodness – is the short answer.

A DVD of our last gig – each and every song, A bonus disc, just of the audio (for those people, like me who can’t figure out how to get audio off a DVD), A doco on the band and the last gig, An audio commentary, A photo gallery of the life of the band … and I think that is about it. Also – the packaging is amazing. Like STUNNING.

ALSO IN POPULAR MUSIC: Check out this new video clip from The Taylor Project.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE VAGRANTS: STAND LP REVIEW.

The Vagrants  sound like a motorcycle couple riding the band name around to the same old haunts wearing denim, tattoos and a leather jacket for protection.

The Vagrants are the kind of 70s blues rock that Fleetwood Mac made a fact of happy unions (in the album before they all split on Rumors of course).

Hell, I even see angels wings around their victory ‘V’ sing, making them seem as fanghouse as the Coffincheaters or Outlaw motorcycle gangs, and you best make friends with them because its easier to do business this way.

Pat your old friend on the back at a gig and join their following.

They sit in Australian music next to Electric Mary and Eastern suburbs bands aged 30-50 that I know from standing on the local radio towers sky high at Mount Dandenong late at night after drinking at the hotel.

Stand Up LP sings of ‘no rainbows at the end’, an agnostic need to believe, and ‘catching raindrops’ in their ‘Angels’ song.

‘Talk to your soul’ speaks of the need for silence to listen to inner thoughts.

You could do a sharpie dance to ‘Accelerated Kharma’ with Suzi Quattro if you would just Stand Up and join them.

Other bonus live tracks include older songs, ‘We’re Gonna Go’ and ‘Why Me’.

Self described in Steve Iorio’s New York voice as ‘Aussie Pub Rock’, The Vagrants are an independent band led by female vocalist Renate Ludwig.

POETASTER –

Tahiti ‘10.

By Alicia Bee 2010©

Andy Irons never made it back to Hawaii,

He died in the Grand Hyatt at Texas Airport,

Extreme sports people think they are never gonna die,

The last title he took down was at Tahiti.

He was born in the hospital on Oahu,

He went to the surfing school that are wave taught,

He well never see the baby child that grew.

He abandoned Puerto Rico for Kauai,

When he missed the wakeup call that was when they knew,

To return to his own doctor and pregnant wife,

“Last time I saw Andy was Tahiti ’10.”

END. Alicia Bee © 2011. THANKS FOR READING I LOVE YOU LIKE EVENTS BY NUMEROLOGY.

PHOTOGRAPHY –

‘Mr Kitly’s Hanging Garden # 4’, Brunswick, Saturday 29 October 2011, photo by Alicia Bee

PUBLIC SPEECH – THE PET WOLF THAT DIED

I had a dog; it weighed more than many men at eighty kilograms.
It was an Alaskan Malamute a breed which appears like a wolf.

It would howl at thunderstorms, and loved the ocean.

The dog’s name was Jonty, though it died in 2007 I may never own or look after a pet like it.

Larger than life; the size of a bear, she was a member of the family.

The breed in the Grinderman promo above is more like a Siberian Husky, however they had made it appear quite vicious and domesticated breeds are trained away from such nature.

You can see from the promo this is a very expensive clip designed to promote Grinderman amongst other great label artists like KELLY ROWLAND and BEYONCE.

When I was a teenager the book WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES was popular amongst feminist book club circles.

I didn’t get through the introduction of WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES, but had never read THE FEMALE EUNUCH which also came in a time before my birth.

Sometimes though, I would take a run in the hills with my pet wolf and just run really fast.

For there were times when I liked to run, in spite of all aspects of my lifestyle.

I was once a runner, and won many races.

So I guessed that I was a woman who ran with the wolf.

This is one thought I had when running with Jonty in the hills.

‘I am running with the wolf,’ I would say to myself.

I would run to the hills many times to be with the family and the wolf in the windy trees.

And now the dog is dead, so I cant do that anymore.

And it has been a long time since I have run with the wolf.

After the Fringe Festival show that included my dead pet photos, I have this week added 2 more poems about pets to my new title THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED launched in less than a fortnight in ST KILDA. One of the poems is printed below.

THE GOOD FOLK CLUB presents a launch of THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED poetry collection by ALICIA BEE with bands BURN IN HELL + SLACQUER + CHARM + JAMES HAZELDEN on FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER at ST KILDA BOWLS CLUB at 66 FITZROY STREET ST KILDA from 8pm, its $11 entry ($25 with book).

PEDESTAL – AUTOLUMINESCENT ROLAND S HOWARD DOCUMENTARY

Nick Cave lies like a junkie to say he thought Rowland S Howard should have sung ‘Shivers’ on their 1979 Boys Next Door LP ‘Door Door’.

‘Dogs In Space’ director Richard Lowenstein suggested in the question forum that it was clear Nick Cave was untruthful and the audience would know the lie, when he stares with his junkie blue truth right into the camera and says that Rowland S Howard should have sung ‘Shivers’, the song he wrote for former band The Young Charlatans.

Rowland S Howard wanted his documentary to be truthful and share information on his drug periods so it was only part of the real story to include a lie from Nick Cave on the ‘Shivers’ statement, as it was always there.

Those that have ever contemplated why Nick Cave sung the vocal of the poignant lyrics would know the issue was always a part of Rowland’s professional life and he was open to talk often about the song.

This documentary opens up a little more about his music story outside the ‘Shivers’ gift to Australian Folk music history.

Autoluminescent is a long feature documentary about Rowland S Howard’s music career since the late seventies; his bands, collaborations, and time spent living in Australia, England, Berlin and America.

It includes recent footage of the Rowland S Howard that we knew in Melbourne over the past 5 years from junkie days to hospital treatments and more healthier times of live music including a festival show.

Interviews with a cast of international musicians take it away from the Rowland S Howard funeral tributes with the locals we know and love, making it a story that helps many understand the importance of his contribution to music.

The duration of film really allows you to feel closer to Rowland’s life knowing that the lead character dies only makes it seem more like the two hours is sharing a slice of his story.

Rowland was a cool kid in 1970s Melbourne, they partied and played in bands. When they went to England, the band took their girlfriends and the whole entourage lived together. What a fun time they would have had! Can you imagine the birthday parties of The Birthday Party people back then? See the documentary and find out what Rowland S Howard thought of England.

Watching Autoluminescent is like glimpsing an era of another time provoking the same nostalgia I had for stories about Australian music journalist Lillian Roxan or those great yarns about The Factory.

People who are in the right place at the right time in the time before we were born have this envy.

This documentary reminds us of a fleeting part in time and that NIck Cave and Rowland S Howard were once the coolest kids in Berlin.

Rowland’s story covered several periods in Australian music and will touch people differently as they deal with drugs and the interviewee statements.

I just hope it reminds people around the world once again that the cool kids came from Melbourne.

This is an important Australian music history documentary that I am proud they are presenting to the world. I hope you can see it in New Orleans, Berlin or England and know that Rowland shared a piece of history there.

Or for the locals you can see it just at the Elsternwick Classic, Cinema Nova or Belgrave Cameo.

NOTE: These cinemas are my favorite cinemas in Melbourne and I think all films should do a run at these places ONLY. Now known as the COOL THREE CINEMAS TO COOL KIDS IN MELBOURNE AND BERLIN.

Strange Wolf Wine list.

PEDESTAL – STRANGE WOLF

BAR  Enter via Strachan Lane, near Exhibition + Collins Street, Melbourne.

Maurice Manno one owner of the new inner city bar Strange Wolf says they haven’t yet planned Christmas and New Years parties, but bands will play occasionally. The venue close in quick step to Pony and Cherry bars, adds another music nightspot in between Ding Dong.

Walk down the stairs into the den, and take a look at the plants.

STRANGE WOLF have several windows providing daylight from Exhibition Street above that give atmospheric areas for hanging plant displays along the East wall. I suggested getting solar powered panels in place of the glass bricks to retain the lighting lost, after a later 8pm darkening dulled the art of the design features but they are not yet in place (it really would not be hard to make solar power happen and their embracement would mean a big deal as a statement about clever design for our venues).

Several plants sit in large square alcoves hanging from under the street windows beautiful in the natural light. The plants are grown from a root system that is wrapped in a string like ball shaping starting from a small base rather than a large pot of dirt.

The hanging ball plant displays were first seen by me at Mr Kitley  on Sydney Road in Brunswick (photo above but better photos on their website), a shop that displays hanging plants and homewares with art pieces and books. Mr Kitley tells me hanging plants of the ball style base were also seen at the Melbourne Design Market and they would be creeping into offices, houses and more venues around this town because it is now hip to own a terrarium.

What Strange Wolf and Mr Kitly share is the idea of bringing plant appreciation back into inner city venues where it is cool to be without cigarette pollution.

Who knows how long till hanging gardens will return us to Babylon, but go stand next to the plant exhibition at this cool venue STRANGE WOLF.

The Grace Darling owners have a wood display above the bar similar to The Workers Club decoration in appreciation of open framing and naked or natural tones.

A too large bar end at the entrance will direct drink buyers to an orderly area closer to the taps, (but that one may only make sense when you get there and measure you arms across the bar).

DJ music and friendly strangers most nights for after work drinks.

PERFORMANCE – KING CANNONS + JACKSON FIREBIRD + THE STRUMS SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2011 at THE EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB.

KING CANNONS wrote a folk song titled CALL FOR HELP a while ago; and it was answered by a full house audience of friends and fans who know the lyrics and want to follow them when they tour. As opening track the song played with purpose and feeling reminds us that we are at a show for a band whose time is now. The shock is enough to alert senses and keep audience interest with a feeling that their glass is full enough, till the end of the songs they had waited to hear.

Retaining this energy for the set by playing staring at the crowd KING CANNONS have started a movement that is worth the experience.

Dressed all in black except for one pair of brown dress shoes on the singer, the six piece love every song of their uniform rocker set; know and understand the lyrics and keep up the healthy tour of dates momentum for a tour closure with a spot on set without encore.

JACKSON FIREBIRD remind us that THE WHITE STRIPES were right to have a twopiece. This duo is powered by drums that compliment guitar and lead them to battle for each song.

Rock and roll radio pop, short songs with tight finishes make Cock Rocking on a Rock Solid base the formula to make punters smile.

What sells them impressively is a drummer that will also handslap a plastic box for their preferred extra sound, which is more noted in percussion than one who shares cymbals with the greats. See them again at a festival.

THE STRUMS had the best merchandise on the table but had played while I was not writing a review for the mandolin soundcheck of The Taylor Project at The Penny Black, or the first songs of Perth band The Volcanics at The Retreat, in between going to cool bars like Ressurrection.

THE STRUMS have put a magnet on a mousetrap with their name and this fascinated me greatly in the safe environment of the after gig merchandise social area even without the enticement of French cheese attached.

They will play again in Melbourne with ISAAC GRAHAM on the ‘Pickin Up Momentum Tour’ on Saturday 17 December at The Grace Darling Hotel.

In the mean time look out for their single review below.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE STRUMS : TWO AND TWO IS THREE

A working class hero punk lyric anthem over fast chord changes about being frustrated at not being heard. THE STRUMS just may have rewrote ROWLAND S HOWARD’s SHIVERS with their lifeline mention of depression and use of strong words with the same male intention; but rest assured that they have not been contemplating suicide, as it doesn’t suit their punk style.

“Its not suicide but its certainly not a happy life,” is the throwaway statement of angst from a songwriter whose antagonists are brickwalls or the ‘man with a suit’, (who within this rhyme is ‘playing the flute’ in a Pied Piper like taunt).

Note also that Rowland S Howard had copyrighted the lyrics ‘suicide + but’ in that order, but this is a new punk version of the Australian folk song that really doesn’t suit the style of the gothic 1979 recording as known to be sung by Nick Cave.

‘Two and Two step’ is the new detention of a punk genre in the Myspace zone for those kids bored with Triple J, Grinspoon and Reality TV.

(My guess is that ‘Two and Two’ makes age 23 punk songwriters, though readers of my reviews know my numbers don’t always add up either. 23 if only I could be. 23 can you remember me?)

POPULAR MUSIC – SLACQUER

My good friend Merry Prain has convinced her sister to continue playing bass for her band Slacquer with Phil Lawrence on drums in spite of familiar sibling distractions. Whilst ‘Music By Number’s is a new 2011 release it contains four old songs recorded with two female lineup versions of former band Lacquer which they numbered in a formula on the CD notes.

‘Lacquer 1’ songs started their dual harmonies as school based singing style of sounding like a girl band with songs like ‘Baby’ that form the pop melodic character of their present live set.

‘Lacquer 2’ tried to create more division in their chord and vocal changeovers and become louder with tracks like ‘Wall Of Sound’.

One track called ‘Shoeboxes’ recorded by Lacquer 2, is a song about a girl who keeps her concert tickets and memories in old boxes. If it hadn’t been written before Merry knew about my collection of shoes and setlists it could well have been another song ode to feet like mine, but I have been reminded a few times that it came before in a time when they wore work uniforms for their first gig at the Tote (I was there).

When they worked out the newest lineup and added the special super S to their name becoming Slacquer they wrote ‘Rock And Roll Baby’ perhaps the fullest vocal recording on the ‘Music By Numbers’ release. This is where they are at the moment, providing sibling supporting harmonies in a tighter three piece more practiced from playing Shoeboxes so many times.

POPULAR MUSIC – THE CLOWNS EP

When this Melbourne four piece from the south east gave away their EP at City Polyester Records looking for new listeners I picked up a copy always willing to get something for nothing. CLOWNS play with the bands of their day; Chaos Kids, Epics and The Bennies and could look every bit the pierced lip skip punk bunker of the suburbs that created The Living End and British India. Watch them Repeat After Me  now as they wear school uniforms and photocopy their fliers in someone else’s office in true do-it-yourself build-it-up band dreams on the sand of the Mornington Peninsula.

You may be watching their band at a club in Prahran or wondering if the St Kilda clowns have adopted them as rock and roll orphans.

I stamp their hands at the door with the same ink we used on the FREEZA shows at the turn of century (23 how we used to be).

Still yet to play festivals and ALL AGE sober shows, and enjoying the beer tokens.

POETASTER –

Alouette Alaskan Wolf

Alicia Bee ©

We had a pet wolf as big as any grown man,

She’d howl at thunder or the moon and couldn’t bark,

If you stared into space she’d point to understand.

Alouette Jonty, my dog, come back home and play.

We would let her be wild all over the state park,

Didn’t kill but with energy she had ran,

As domesticated she would come back at dark.

We took her to the beach before they made a ban,

She was over the waters on the landmark,

She didn’t know any of the songs I sung,

Alouette Jonty, my dog, come back home and play.

Dead Roos

By Alicia Bee ©

I don’t travel on the National Highway,

Because I cry at all the dead kangaroos,

They leave the dead roos on the road where they lay,

The unnamed bodies don’t get a funeral.

The journey straight up takes hours of eleven,

Ladies take a tea stop on the distance cruise,

The rear vision mirror is hogged by women.

By Coburg I was looking for things to say,

How long is the song on the way to heaven?

If you take the plane ride you don’t need to pray,

The unnamed bodies don’t get a funeral.

Pharlaps Body

By Alicia Bee ©

When I come around it will be riding Pharlap,

I’ll be taking every country on the map,

Its not the great war myth that flies my dreams across,

Im riding his taxidermy with wings to flap,

For solving the murder I don’t need your handclap,

When I come around it will be riding Pharlap.

I need to find out what they did with my head cap,

All action happened before I had the nap,

The skeleton’s in Wellington being flossed,

Died in California through violent mishap,

Its because Pharlap always worked for the boss,

You can’t feed them water straight from a running tap,

I’ll be taking every country on the map.

I was hiding the book while riding in my lap,

A well full of water is not to be a loss,

(Back in the capital for a heart with lip gloss)

I’ll be taking every country on the map,

When I come around it will be riding Pharlap.

END. Alicia Bee © 2011. THANKS FOR READING I LOVE YOU LIKE THE PET WOLF THAT DIED.

‘Backyard Dandelion #2’, Brunswick, 28 November 2006, photo by Alicia Bee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeTja7JXK9A

PUBLIC SPEECH – OCCUPYING MY TIME IN MELBOURNE

When the Occupy Melbourne protestors wished to claim the city square and challenge corporate greed against the poor world they parked themselves on Swanston Walk, Collins Street and near high end bling brand stores right outside the Melbourne town hall.

Occupy Melbourne protestors were joining a worldwide protest against Wall Street capitalism and were willing to stay for as long as it takes to get their message across.

At the time I was having one of the best weeks of Arts, music and fashion in Melbourne in 2011. Empathetic to the protesters that represented so many other people in our country and the world; I managed to take in the Occupy Melbourne protest from the punter street level over a few days this week whilst ‘just doing my job’.

According to Assistant Commissioner Fontana, riot police were numbered 400, that’s 4 to every 1 of the mere 100 peaceful protesters that camped out to say they didn’t agree with corporate greed.

However because the Queen of the Commonwealth was coming to Melbourne for perhaps the last time, certain powers suggested it was time at the end of the week to clean up the mess left from the dreaded campers who had stayed too long in an area formerly known as the middle of Melbourne.

On Friday after being served an eviction notice to move on, the protestors were fenced in, and forced to move along as police ripped up their tents and made media comments about the buckets used as urinals to shame those who stayed days on the Occupy Melbourne protest.

What was perhaps more upsetting than the police’s general insult and distaste for the protestors as dirty when they spoke to the media and public, was the mood of the abundant riot police who stood around to watch and turned it into a circus for youtube.

Police were using terrorist techniques on protestors who were vocally repeating ‘peaceful protest’, and choosing anti-violence as their defence.

Police however were aggressive and more often caused the violent incidents that hurt so many of twenty people that were arrested.
They blocked off the City Square, and Swanston Street including the footpath, and pointed all blame on ‘those people’ with prejudice and insult.

Often laughing, excited by the public event the 400 police staff were a shock to onlookers who could not understand what would cause such violence from a protest.

This collection of 400 police were training in their first big protest, and due to the sheer number it seemed like a social gathering of an overconfident police force that did not know that most of the people who walked on the footpath and worked in the buildings actually supported the protestors as much as they too love Melbourne.

Cameras and phones clicked to record the overuse of violence as arrests were made, but they had occurred anyway even as protestors claimed non-violence in speech.

Even later at 7pm the riot police who gathered to ‘protect’ the still fenced in city square were rolling about in laughter at the social gathering.

Young police women giggled, as their male colleagues did arm exercises climbing the temporal fence.

Their presence was no longer needed but all had stayed taking up a base at the city square protest site like they wanted to stay overnight.

You could call the after party celebration a ‘bachelor and spinsters ball’ for police, who wanted to hang around after a day that they thought they could pat themselves on the back for a job well done.

They don’t know that their ‘rally’ and ‘protest’ experience needs some more training in ‘peaceful negotiations’, and perhaps even some real ‘loving kindness’ or other pacifist professional development and that they were still wearing their uniform and embarrassed themselves like a urine bucket being spilled on Swanston Street.

Arrests still leave protestors with grazed cheek to the ground as the least of the injuries, frequent cuts, overuse of capsicum spray, only add to the strong tide of insults and remarks that shame even our country who’s recent history is founded on convicts, squatters and settlers, not cops that wanted to wear their uniform.

>>>  This week says goodbye to the Melbourne International Arts Festival, official closure of the Melbourne Fringe Festival and the opening of the summer festival season from The Queen of The Underground. Pick some flowers, put a ribbon in your hair, and buy a new hat.

POLICE BEAT –  REPORTING THE INCIDENTS.

At 3:06pm on Friday 21 October 2011, on the corner of Little Collins Street and Swanston police still blocked all people from walking along the footpath whilst protesters and a strong contingent of the police were outside Bourke Street one block away.

With shopping bags, after getting my hair styled I could have been confused to support police in the plight against the protesters when asking why I couldn’t walk on the footpath.

When it was refused I asked them who I should complain to, and one police officer was all too happy to start his well trained attack on anyone who talks to them.

“Right, okay what is going on here?” demanded Inspector Glenn Jackson the male Caucasian that stood over me in an aggressively all too happy to turn his energy on the next incident laughing tone.

“I was wondering who I can make a complaint to about this procedure, I don’t think the footpath should be blocked off, the protest is up there, why cant we walk here?’ I asked simply.

“You can complain to me, this is closed here, you will have to walk around,” he yelled.

“I don’t think this is necessary, this is Swanston Street Walk if you are trying to return the city to normal why are you blocking it off this far down?” I asked.

The police were blocking off the city square in what seemed like a 2 block clearance as if the protestors held a bomb or something so violent that the space was necessary for the public safety.

Yet as the protest moved down the street they had only closed the area surrounding the square to stop the return of any people to the area rather than protecting the public safety.

“You can’t block the footpath though! THIS IS SWANSTON STREET WALK!” I told him just being assertive reminding him of the importance of the Melbourne street.

“If you want to blame someone blame those people down there,” Inspector Glenn Jackson ranted in raised voice attack attempting to point the blame of annoyance on the volunteer protestors that had spent the week camping out for the rights of so many people. He raised his right arm and swung the direction blame at the protestors suggesting a hatred and distaste when using the words ‘those people’ like they were ‘dirty’ and should be frowned upon. His voice echoed the hatred seen by many police who laughed at the protestors as the cause of the problem, as if it was a violent war between them and the force.

“I don’t have a problem with them at all, I just want to walk on the footpath, I just wondered who to complain to other than the people here,” I asked quietly.

“And I am telling you, that its those people down there,” he ranted in attack this time louder.

“Don’t speak like that to me, you are yelling at me, you don’t need to yell at me,” I spoke with reason.

Inspector Glenn Jackson laughed patronisingly at my complaint and reaction.

“And you wonder why people hate police when you act like that,” I commented with sarcasm.

“It’s all part of the job!” Inspector Glenn Jackson laughed at me, enjoying his power over the team as he flung both arms out as if the whole world understood him and the police force.

“What? being hated, or being rude to people is part of your job?” I asked rhetorically.

As the police officer ruffled his vest as if to arrest me or get out a weapon or notebook, I suggested, “I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I am just walking on the footpath.”

Deciding to end the conversation I walked down the Collins Street detour as advised, but after 20 metres went back to get the police officers name to make my own report.

Politely asking the first police officer what the man’s name was, he said that he was not aware of his name, and I should look on his badge.

So I got closer and took a note in my book.

Needless to say other police officers were not rude, as some quiet and respectful graduates and had not yet gained the prejudices the rest of the police force had from 20 years of experience.

Inspector Glenn Jackson was the senior officer that acted to keep this group of police officers in line and he unfortunately spread a mood of prejudice over the actions of other officers and the statements they too would have made to the public.

This air of smug confidence carried through to the close of Friday when I left the city in what seemed sickening to some onlookers.

The Office of Police Integrity would never do anything over a report like this, and to make frustrations worse I’m sure so many complaints that could surface after this protest will also be ignored by the useless department; so here are my recommendations for the Australian Police Force listed just here on my personal blog.

If you wonder why I had made such a report, or why people protest at all remember “I am just doing my job as an Australian citizen who loves my country”.

iF you wonder why I had written a blog at all, (in your extra time reviewing and reading MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST) remember “I am just doing my job occupying my time in Melbourne walking on the street”.

POLICE BEAT – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POLICE FORCE FROM MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST FOLLOWING HER WITNESS OF THE 2011 OCCUPY MELBOURNE PROTEST.

* All police need more training in peaceful negotiations. Perhaps professional development courses for all police on a ‘non violence ‘ retreat would be something this industry needs. It is hard for police to understand negotiations when most of their training time is spent in weapon and violence experience. Police courses need to be adjusted to include core communications subjects so that they can actually talk to the people.

* All police need more experience in communications – talking to public, criminals and victims in a way that engenders truth, understanding and less aggression. Most police do not have a strong communications background, are unable to speak to most members of the public and have little experience with the world outside their schooling, police training and conservative upbringing. Police need experience in understanding their communities, understanding protestors and their arguments before they deal with them and hurt them. This would involve volunteer time, taking to people when not policing, and again a shift in police training. I am not talking about undercover police spying on industries as some people have confused this as training.

Could a police officer hold a conversation in a Centrelink line or a pub? Could a police officer take a yarn on the block in Redfern or Smith Street to Aboriginals? Do police officers understand why the people were protesting at these events?

* All police need training in making statements to the public and media (and should question ‘can I say that as an Australian Police Officer’) as so many of the public have phones, cameras or other devices that the police are also under watch at all times. It is unfortunate that the police force has no real body of complaint service to deal with their many mistakes in procedures. Every statement to the public should be seen as a public statement to the media as that person just may be a blogger, journalist or media professional likely to record what they say.

* Police need training in arrest procedures so that so many people are not hurt during forced ground arrest. Perhaps a cushion could be used when an arrest needs to be made, or it could be achieved without forcing people to the ground. Again communication can make this procedure a gentle swift process that does not cause violence, or needlessly insult the person. Again we must question why people are being arrested at a peaceful protest anyway.

* Police officers that wear uniforms should not be seen joking and laughing at crowds or protestors. Police should take their jobs seriously, and be concerned at all times about the safety of the protestors and public. This exercise seemed more like a bragging statement in police power over protestors and a social get together of police.

* Police officers who are not needed at the incident should be sent home or to their local police station to work, instead of ‘hanging out’ and enjoying the ‘after party’. Officers vastly outnumbered protestors at this event, but they were seen to stand around, act badly and bring the name of the police force down by taking the seriousness of the event and passion of the protestors as a joke. Police officers should not be seen wasting time at the tax payers expense. Why so many officers wanted to hang around late on a Friday rather than go home or continue real work was the biggest joke.

It was obvious that many officers saw this day as a ‘day off’ or way to end the week without working.

*The Police Force does need an independent complaint service that does not serve to waste time and protect the police force as their sole goal as The Office of Police Integrity has done for so long.

Too many police mistakes are covered up or ignored, instead of scrutinised and the police industry has done little to improve performances other than keeping fit doing their chin ups on the temporary fence while they waste time each day.

They will have to get a lot fitter if they ever want to be taken seriously in this state whilst police training at institution will need to rewrite its courseline to improve graduates before they get to a police officer with a gun and uniform.

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

PEDESTAL – THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED BOOK LAUNCH

I have a new book due out on one of my favorite dates of all time – 11/11/11.

When in primary school I worked out that numbers would align in double digits like this it seemed like a date so far into the future. Reminding myself over the past decade that one day we would have this date coming, I promised myself that it would be ‘one louder’ quite rock and roll and bigger than the 10^th of November.

When deciding dates for the occasion of this collection of poetry I choose REMEMBRANCE DAY as a good way to celebrate these odes to the dead in poetry.

Some details are below;

PRESS RELEASE

THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED BOOK LAUNCH WITH BANDS ON 11/11/11

THE GOOD FOLK CLUB presents a launch of THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED poetry collection by ALICIA BEE with bands BURN IN HELL + SLACQUER + CHARM + JAMES HAZELDEN on FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER at ST KILDA BOWLS CLUB at 66 FITZROY STREET ST KILDA from 8pm, its $11 entry ($25 with book).

Melbourne writer ALICIA BEE launches her second title of poetry THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED at The St Kilda Bowls Club with bands on FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2011.

The date makes history as REMEMBRANCE DAY and marks the first time in our lives when the date, year and month align with the magical number 11 in double digit repetition.

Some people have been waiting a long time for this date.
As there wont be another date like this till 2022, ALICIA BEE asks you to remember the date and join them as they celebrate in ST KILDA.

THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED is a collection of poetry about dead people, grief and discusses what could be termed as the WOUNDED period of people’s lives.

If poetry is already seen as depressing then this collection revels in the cringe of feelings about the death funeral process; making fascination with the macabre and sadness a celebration.

THE ST KILDA BOWLS CLUB is often a venue for the ‘wake’ of music industry deaths and was chosen as a location that reminds of funerals, lawn bowls, and elderly people and mostly for punters rock and roll music.

BURN IN HELL are St Kilda locals who headlined the annual A DAY BY THE GREEN FESTIVAL right on that very grave plot 66 Fitzroy Street. They give us the assurance of blues pub rock keyboard dirge in a send-off that commands us to remember our names in the afterlife.

SLACQUER are a female vocal led punk act from the north of town made of friends and siblings. They added a letter to former band name Lacquer, and wrote more songs to keep playing. They love to bring their kit, bass and guitar down to St Kilda to make some sound loud and also like to wake the dead.

CHARM are a bunch of music fans that tried their hand at guitar and formed a band just two years ago. Since then they’ve played many of the pubs around and toured to Sydney. Ask them if the band name relates to VOO DOO and the afterlife.

JAMES HAZELDEN has been playing with THE GENTLEMEN CALLERS and was onstage this year at the ARIA HALL OF FAME AWARDS. Recently he toured 3 continents to promote a debut solo album. When James was young his dog died, and he has been writing comedic rock about squid, murderers and ghosts ever since.

Come pay your respects to the dead, heal with poetry and music at St Kilda Bowls Club on 11/11/11 its only $11 entry.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=303827519633049

http://www.burninhell.com.au/

http://www.myspace.com/slacquermusic

http://www.charmband.webs.com/

http://jameshazelden.com/

POPULAR MUSIC – THE APRIL MAZE

After 6 years of occupying a living space and act together Todd and Sivan from duo The April Maze got married recently and posted some photos for their friends and fans on Facebook.

In Facebook style, and to mark the special occasion I have posted one of the photos above. Here the photo is by Lilli Waters & Laura McGuire whilst clothing is by Jason Chalmers.

They are on tour in November so get along to a show and ask to see the rings on their fingers!

The April Maze

www.theaprilmaze.com

Fri 4 November – The Front – Canberra, ACT

Sat 5 November – Woden Valley Festival, Canberra, ACT

Thurs 10 November – Bottlerocket Bar & Cafe, Nowra, NSW

11-13 November – Music at The Creek Festival, Braidwood, NSW

Nov 18 – 20 – Commonground Festival, VIC

Sat Nov 26 – S.A. Folk Centre, Adelaide, S.A.

Sat 3 December – The Shack – Narabeen, NSW

Fri 6 January – Gulgong Folk Festival, NSW

Mar 2 -5 – Nannup Music Festival, WA

PUB – THE EVELYN 20 YEARS WITH THE KIDS

Occupying a place in Brunswick Street history for 43 years, The Evelyn this month celebrates 20 years under the management of ‘the kids’ Johnny and Ida.

Get along to a show buy a bottle of sparkling wine and celebrate music in Melbourne with one of these gigs.

~Mondays in October~

Private Life and guests: Axolotl + Straight No Chaser + The Fox Party + Ainslie Wills + Secretive George + Ainslie Wills FREE Entry

~Tuesdays in October~

Hiatus Kaiyote + Killbot Kindergarten + Harmless + James Laneous VS Domino VS The Voodoo Shaman $10 full, $5 concession

~Wednesdays in October~

Grolsch Grid Nights: Nicolette Forte + High Society + Joe Oppenheimer + Kane Muir & The Rag-Time Kids + The Madness Method + Jarek + Sunday Chairs + Catherine Sietkiewicz FREE Entry

Sun 23 Oct Decortica (NZ) + Ennis Tola + Anna Salen $5

Thus 27 Oct Aus Youth Climate Coalition Fundraiser: The Pretty Littles + Kate Martin + Left Feels Right + more! $12

Fri 28 Oct San Salvador (album launch) + Live@Subs + Il Savant! $12

Sat 29 Oct The Bon Scotts (Album Launch PICTURED) + The Tiger & Me + Kikuyu

$15 door, $12 presale thru Moshtix

Mon 31 Oct (Melbourne Cup Eve) DIAFRIX + Lotek & RUCL + Class A

$20 door, $15 presale thru Moshtix

Extra information can be found at our website, as well as direct links to presale tickets. http://evelynhotel.com.au/

Tote Carpet Framed on Office Wall 2′, June 14 2010, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUB – THE TOTE 30 YEARS.

The Tote has long occupied a place in Melbourne Music history as one of the regular venues  to see live bands. In November they celebrate 30 years of live music with a series of events curated by former bookers, musicians, bands and individuals.

Though some would suggest that the Tote could have closed doors in 2009 there are still many that know that such reality could never dry out a venue with so much punter and band support.

Monday 31 October 
DYNAMO + KAMIKAZE TRIO + TOGA ROCK
curated by The Gionfriddos

Tuesday 1 November
 EVEN + SNOUT + MINIBIKES+ THE SWARM + 
BECKY LEE & DRUNKFOOT (USA) + WU-B-Q
curated by Wally Meanie (Even, Meanies, ex Tote Booker)

Friday 4 November
WARPED + POPPIN MOMMAS + DON FERNANDO + YIS
curated by Nicole Tadpole (RRR Respect The Rock, ex Tote Booker)


Saturday 5 November
DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS + BRAT FARRAR
Front Bar Residency!


Saturday 5 November
LITTLE UGLY GIRLS + THE NATION BLUE 
+ LEGENDS OF MOTORSPORT + IVY ST
curated by Tom Lyngcoln (Solar/Sonar, The Nation Blue, Harmony)

AND in “Cobra” returning to it’s birthplace for one special night: GROUSE featuring DJ duos, Ann Ominous vs Blowing Chunks, Blaberunner vs Commission Flats, Whisky Business vs Sexxx On Dexxx.

Sunday 6 November 
CONWAY SAVAGE + VAN WALKER & THE LIVINGSTON DAISIES 
+ PONY FACE + ALEX LASHLIE + ROESY 
curated by Pure Pop Records

Thursday 10 November
CELIBATE RIFLES + SEMINAL RATS + FANGS
curated by Zombie Dog

Friday 11 November
THE ONYAS+ SWIDGEN + BACKSEAT ROMEOS (Adelaide) 
+ THE SHIT HOTS (Ballarat)
curated by The Onyas

Saturday 12 November
DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS Front Bar Residency!
with THE NUFTYS + KAMIKAZE TRIO

Saturday 12 November
THE TWERPS (Album Launch) 
TERROR OF THE DEEP (NZ) + DARREN SYLVESTER + PEAK TWINS with DJ Dry White Toast
curated by Chapter Music

Sunday 13 November
THE MEANIES + THE SPLATTERHEADS + MORE
curated by The Meanies

Thursday 24 November
“THEE CONVICTS”
curated by The Age – EG

Saturday 19 November
DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS
Front Bar Residency!

Saturday 19 November
JOHNNY CASINO + LITTLE MURDERS + THE PAINKILLERS + THE ALOHAS + THE DUNHILL BLUES + CRYSTAL THOMAS AND THE FLOWERS OF EVIL + MOLTEN UNIVERSE + SOLE STICKERS + MASS CULT + 
MIDNIGHT WOOLF + THEE MIGHTY CHILDISH + THE NO REAL NEED + RUSSIAN ROULETTES + DIGGER AND THE PUSSYCATS + 
WRONG TURN + LORD STREET SOUND + THE CHEATS
curated by Off The Hip

Friday 2 December
GUITAR WOLF + MORE
curated by Goner Records (USA)



Saturday 3 December
SIXFTHICK + GENTLE BEN & HIS SENSITIVE SIDE
curated by Spooky Records


Sunday 4 December
GUITAR WOLF + MACH PELICAN + SPAZZYS curated by Julian Wu

The song that introduced Mach Pelican to Melbourne dance audiences in 1999.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6GPpSE0YAY

‘Muscle Mary’ setlist, 21/10/11 Cornish Arms.

PERFORMANCE – DIGGER & THE PUSSYCATS + WOLFPACK + MUSCLE MARY FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 2011 at THE CORNISH ARMS SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK.

There was an era when it felt we occupied The Cornish Arms, probably when The Good Folk Club and The Good Country Club hosted Tuesdays and Wednesday residencies for a time in 2006. This gig was my introduction to Brunswick and the first time I had been since a late 90s Rainbow Hotel gig introduced the address as a foundation venue in Melbourne. Carolyn Moore and company were owners, Dave Rule regularly did our sound; and we enjoyed drink cards each week with regular Brunswick barflies, our punters and the new acts.

I remember vintage dresses, peaches, the bubble machine and Carolyn Moore telling me that Champagne gives you hangovers and beer does not so many times.

Walking into the Cornish Arms these days you would be greeted by the smell of pizza as it is served to the many tables that line the south wall for restaurant meals. The venue has changed owner twice since those times and the music booking has taken different approaches as they tried to work out how to run the Cornish Arms Hotel.

For the first time since 2007 I went along to the venue to see a full show of a rock line-up.

I wondered if it were at all possible to occupy The Cornish Arms like those days, and whether events would build the venue back into the music destination as it was before. After being turned into a restaurant is it at all possible that we could have punters again in a pizza venue?

Judging by the line-up the booker would like to have a band venue like others around Melbourne, something to compete again with The Evelyn and The Tote, but we will have to wait and see.

Before the rock and rollers can take up their own residency occupying a home at any of our Brunswick venues they have to know that it has a history of owner shake-ups, booker devastations and final gigs that could halt a full migration to the west side of the road.

MUSCLE MARY  included the legs of Clancy Anne whose over the knees black lace-up boots are noticed alongside the fantasy of her female bass-line and pretty features.

Always known to review clothes I take note of such things as the male lead singers female pants and belt choice that combine to make their onstage getup planned and show worthy enough to set up from the rock set.

Jimmy is the snearer on guitar and vocals that writes the jokes and leads the songs and band direction through the set and will distract the punters in the right direction to listen to their music.

“I don’t know about you but when I pass a butcher I get turned on,” he joked before launching into song.

Though it was said they had their first gig, they are not inexperienced in pacing themselves through a performance.

WOLFPACK were an Adelaide based band featuring Tom drummer from Sin City, back with his tummy muscles loading and unpacking his kit for another show. If they were in town for the weekend it would have been a tour where they also played The Espy, but they now call themselves a Melbourne band if only for confusion and to gain local support. “Sorry we are from Adelaide’” said the lead singer in contrary to online descriptions that they are Melbourne.
This time round Tom curates WOLFPACK featuring the female lead counter Chrissie Amphlett style vocals  from Laken ( similar to Tash from Sin City) with wide eyed Gwen Stephani punk poses and hand directions. Laken fakes masturbation on stage, points towards her vagina, and grabs her crutch in frustration like Michael Jackson invented. There is nothing shocking or new about her raunch that asks us to listen to her lyrics with playacting, pointing and hand signals.

All the guitar comes from a female with short white Cobain influence styling and boystyle band tshirt and jeans Nina who lead the music through each song with Tom’s drums. Simple two instrument sound on all punk songs that allow concentration on the lyrics.

DIGGER AND THE PUSSYCATS are the duo, not Kamikaze, though I had forgotten and questioned my knowledge of their music at all till PICK UP AT PONY and FASHION VICTIM reminded me of past conversations with them at gigs. Hunched over SAM was leading the warm-up performance that will prepare them for the TOTE residency next month, when he repeated well known stories about past girl friends, line-ups and ANDY’s red colored pubes.

I have long argued against the validity of FASHION VICTIM as a song, for it insults nicely dressed females who wear BLING BRAND labels and makes DIGGER AND THE PUSSYCATS look like bogans from Traralgon or Doncaster in the same clothes they have been wearing for the past twenty years.

I wonder how they will pace themselves with the onstage chat over the next month, because they had repeated all their old stories onstage at The Cornish Arms, and just may have used all their stories and segues on Friday. Nonetheless, ever faithful to the process of playing and producing something new they have a record single that plays from the middle outwards that they will sell to anyone that wants to pay.

POETASTER –

Lady Ga Ga

by Alicia Bee ©

It is vanity time for women; it is the lady ga ga,

Been talking so long; they get used to the sound, radio ga ga,

Don’t you like my body suit you can see my muscles and hair,

Been a nice ride, but I wasn’t ever your slave ga ga,

Hope you like my words, for Im gonna get paid-io ga ga,

It is vanity time for women; it is the lady ga ga.

You got some nice songs, get better before you are laid ga ga,

Are you traditional? Do you think you need a maid ga ga,

Don’t you like the fashion, you cant talk you know that’s not equal or fair,

You look pretty tired do you get like that after you’ve played ga ga?

Don’t you have strong arms, boy we make a funny metrosexual pair,

No I don’t stop, I keep going 24 / 7 night and day ga ga,

Been talking so long; they get used to the sound, radio ga ga.

Don’t you know Ive been born? I am a female jesus in May ga ga,

Watch me as I spin around the room, I don’t care if you stare,

It is vanity time for women; it is the lady ga ga.

Been talking so long; they get used to the sound, radio ga ga.

Queen of The Underground

By Alicia Bee ©

They didn’t even scratch my underbelly,

I wouldn’t let them go down undercover,

I am the heroine you see on the telly,

Tell them I am now Queen of the Underground.

All of the rolling stones wrote too many songs,

Bill Wyman raped me so I took a new lover,

All of the rights taken turned into their wrong.

My power came slow as the waves were swelling,

For all of my trials justice took too long,

I detect odour as the bodies smelling,

Tell them I am now Queen of the Underground.

END. ALICIA BEE © 2011. I LOVE YOU LIKE OCCUPYING MY TIME IN MELBOURNE.

‘Rotten Apple (The last 2010 Apple)’ Unnumbered, 17 December 2010, Brunswick, Photo by Alicia Bee.

‘Rotten Apple (The last 2011 Apple)’ Unnumbered, February 2011, Brunswick, Photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH  (PATENT) – The Year Of The Apple (PATENT).

The time lapse photography apple (PATENT) has been on my desk next to my computer for the past year since the hobby project started.

Though I stopped taking photos of that apple somewhere after the Castlemaine Dogs In Space special; and my hard drive really got too full of countless photos of apples, bands, and flowers.

The state of the apple hasn’t changed much since early February 2011 from when the project started last November, but it remained there on my desk anyway, reminding me that the rotting process of the dead can be swift but the drying stage takes longer.

Touching the apple now I poke it with my finger (PATENT), and find it is hard and may not change form much more.

The shrunken head of glorious fruit now wrinkled and without any moisture could have been moved ages ago but I have been far too busy this year (PATENT).

The rotten apple has become a symbol of several projects that have been launched in the last year that have been building over time (PATENT).

It is time to move that apple away from my desk and start again (PATENT).
Though never an original idea the time lapse photography project was fun to do and I imagine doing another very soon.

I want to know how other things rot, and will explore new photography projects.

In padding this little talk about APPLE, I need to take you to the SINGULARITY SUMMIT 2011.

It has been seven weeks (PATENT) since the 2011 Melbourne Singularity Summit ended National Science Week and though given my $130 complimentary tickets (PATENT) to review the conference I have been doing so many things on computers that failed to write it up (PATENT).

PUBLIC PRESENTATION (PATENT) – MELBOURNE SINGULARITY SUMMIT August 20 – 21 2011

I attended Saturday afternoon of the important summit, seated away from others and took notes about important things I picked up from several talks. Not to ruin any worldwide lectures of the Singularity Summits with too much review content that retells the plot, let me construct this review in a simple numbered list form (PATENT).

1. I was happy to chat with a new Melbourne artist, 2 wine appreciating friends, a music industry contact who I had interviewed for a recent history documentary, all at this event and had my photo taken amongst important guests.

2. My mistake to take the seat (PATENT) of one regular Summit punter caused some confusion amongst the lecture theatre order at the breaking of a kind of social understanding unknown to me from my several universities.

3. Many futurists use models of ‘bees’ and ‘ants’ to discuss how computers are programmed and send information which interested me greatly being a queen bee with my own drones and hive (PATENT).

I also like movies about bees and ants, and these models helped my simple Arts mind to focus on understanding the computer science lectures.

It is my recommendation that they use more references about bees and ants (PATENT) throughout the entire lectures to retain my interest or that of those outside the technology industries.

4. Most lecturers at the Singularity Summits use Powerpoint presentations as they travel around the world, though in this program they spend little time on the graphic design of pages which is very disappointing. Though their knowledge of computers is amazing it is from a programmer rather than designer background and we all know that though they are cleverer in making animation and websites work using HTML + BASIC they cant design people much better than stick figures and that is why some computer programs General User Interface comes out looking so boring that only geeks like it.

I was largely disappointed by all powerpoint presentations, and think that all experts should use their computer more wisely to create an amazing presentation that shows the worldwide stage that they know what they are talking about (PATENT).

I know that current high school students produce better Powerpoint than these worldwide computer experts. So they should go back home and spend a little time on making themselves look better for the next Summit.

Within their pages there was a lot of tacky graphic images added to the Powerpoints information that were pathetic in their general meaning, broke copyright laws by their inclusion and failed to give correct photo and artist credits.

Most Powerpoints showed error in page design, sometimes spelling, were wrongly spaced and for me distracted from the concept that we were discussing the future of computing.

That said I was impressed with the local electronics lecturer Ray Jarvis who had designed a nice Powerpoint to go with his presentation “The envy of Roboticists – AI Operating in the Material World” that contained nice fonts, locally produced photos and good spacing.

5. Artificial Intelligence is not going to be around for at least 20 years. Robots still look rather basic like 1980s toys and characters found in movies since the 1960s, though I thought that technology was far more advanced, there is still a long way to go.

6. They reckon that we will have service robots doing a lot of human jobs by 2020.

7. Someone reminded us that Steve Jobs was sick and would probably resign from Apple.

My concept of the standard of Robotics was based on those found in science fiction films since my birth, and strangely characters such as C3P0 from Star Wars are still a long way back in the future.

PUNK PADDING – The Apple that died.

I will take up now where TOM WOLFE left us in the 2000 HOOKING UP story about SILICON VALLEY ‘The Two Young Men Who Went West’ that was first published in Esquire 1983 as ‘The Tinkerings of Robert Noyce’, and ask you to consider the advances in technology since my birth over thirty years ago that coincided with the start of the APPLE COMPUTER company.

Consider Apple computers, your first computer, computer games, calculators, adding machines, BASIC, HTML, first generation websites, third generation interactions and the return of WEB 2.0 this century.

Take a square picture from your family album and upload it to your facebook.
Then use your digital camera to take tens of thousands more photos and you will have thought about a rough history of APPLE and ALICIA BEE over the years (PATENT).

In honor of the death of Steve Jobs, I thought about my dead apple and choose to make this blog the most forward imagining look at the future of MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST (PATENT).

DISCLAIMER : The concept of the ALICIA BEE + 1 or PLUS ONE is nothing but a thought of the FUTURE of NEW JOURNALISM and the MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST in the computer blog age.

Miss Piggy talks about playing herself in ‘Muppets In Space’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZOHe5LluSY

PROJECTING FUTURE PRODUCT –  Designing The Alicia Bee + 1

Perhaps the most exciting single thing that I thought about during the Singularity Summit 2011 was the concept of a cloned ALICIA BEE robot (PATENT) that would take over future music cities and help me to do my job on an international level.

I could review several gigs at once, all over the world using the limited vocabulary of my own descriptive passages (PATENT). The robot would be programmed to write MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST (PATENT) style articles without me even working, which leaves more ME time for shopping, holidaying, taking photos and poetry.

I imagined the first designs for the ALICIA BEE + 1 (PATENT) or simply the AB + 1 (PATENT) as being quite plainly a boxed like NED KELLY robot with DOLL PARTS, RED HAIR and a RANGE OF AMAZING OUTFITS.

1. NED KELLY DESIGN (PATENT)- Due to the limited technology of the world most robots these days are still quite square, something like what Ned Kelly had fashioned over 130 years ago.
I like that this design would give a recognizable symbol of rebellion, and Australian folk hero status.

In choosing the letterbox slit on the helmet design I hope that my robot would be accepted all around the world including Muslim countries where it can work as a journalist while respecting the local laws for not showing its female face though only of artificial mechanical life.

This is also inspired by the BAGISM of John and Yoko who believed that putting a bag over their face would show a message about what is important to the media and how we communicate with one another (refer any discussion of ‘What is Bagism’ to the “WebChat” here.

Perhaps the symbol of lifting the KELLY BAGISM (PATENT) helmet from all AB + 1 robots will be the strongest image of changing social times and the feminism of the future.

Note: I joke here to draw parallels to the famous Hermes Kelly Bag, a style by the brand that was coined after Grace Kelly who had become Princess Monaco held the Sac à dépêches bag in front of her pregnant belly in a 1956 photo in LIFE MAGAZINE. When the public began calling it the “Kelly” bag the name was adopted by Hermès, and the bag became popular. All robots should have distinct recognisable design of a princess and designer fashion elite aswell as peace campaigner.

Please note that though there is a helmet design at the front the robot will have long hair at the back and a fringe at the top similar to my trademark cut.

2. DOLL PARTS (PATENT)- Saying that the ALICIA BEE PLUS ONE should have really long eyelashes (PATENT) around its eyes that you can connect with through the letterbox slit area, similar to children’s doll parts that illustrate the unique features of my own character while still hiding behind the square helmet.
Think the maximum mascara lash extention from a week of makeup (PATENT), and you will recognize the eyes of this special communication feature on our robot model.

The makeup eyelashes above is done by Nefertara makeup;

http://nefertara-mymakeup.buzznet.com/user/photos/custom-doll-eyelashes-made-nefertara/?id=65189841

This doll here is found online by the artist Yuri who takes photos of dolls. Check her out at; http://www.flickr.com/photos/damayork/sets/72157612776346541/detail/ 

3. RED HAIR (PATENT) – The hair is really important because everyone knows me from my hair, and no one else has the color like mine therefore the ALICIA BEE robot should be recognizable by beautiful hair. Though never before has any dye company been able recreate the unique hues of my red hair (PATENT), the future could still bottle such a mixture of strawberry blonde but they will call it ALICIA BEE after it is perfected for my robot. Any robot made in my honor should have long red hair (PATENT), which is wavy in my style and human like rather than synthetic (PATENT), instantly recognizable to people around the world as ALICIA BEE hair. People should say, that “AB +1 has really good hair”, or “you know that’s an AB+1 because of the natural hair, just look at it”.

4. RANGE OF AMAZING OUTFITS (PATENT) – Most computer programs and robots have a limited amount of possible outfits to be worn, though the ALICIA BEE PLUS ONE has what is renown as the most choices for clothing available for a robot model (PATENT) in history and that is another of its unique assets on the futuristic horizon. Creating possible outfits from a really extensive wardrobe programme (PATENT) of thousands of clothing items means that on any occasion worldwide all ALICIA BEE Plus One robots would never be wearing the same thing; though always in style. Unique personality can be given in color combinations and accessories.
I cant wait to see the AB+1 upload all those photos from the best music locations around the world.
When the ALICIA BEE PLUS ONE becomes available book the AB +1 to review a gig near you or interview someone.

NOTE: This is a (PATENT) (2011) design for a personal robot and any online geek that thinks I am underground and may be ripped off should not create their own ALICIA BEE + 1 in my design.
For those that think that this is a message for the afterworld of robot designers to create such a model close to my description they would be wrong.

ALICIA BEE and MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST do not want any companies to make a robot in her honor, unless, of course, we come to a commercial agreement.

POPULAR MUSIC – Elephant Eyes : I Want to Know SINGLE

I Want To Know is about the burning life questions of a young world that is turning. For Elephant Eyes the important dilemmas always relate back to love.

Placed in a silver card envelope in a single full of sweet pretty singing parts this one track given to punters free is a taster or a band who should play in town more often. Listening to her, the main female vocalist asks you to take a peak inside their Ballarat de ville story, where already our hearts have been won from the names like The Mavis’. This is their male female vocal song that could come closest to sounding like The Mavis’.

Awkward timing changes reflect decisions made in rehearsal rooms that everyone has made before (PATENT). Elephant Eyes are just about ready to understand another recording studio and working out where all the music parts meet their unique singing style. Quiet snare and bassline accompany the vocal driven song.

They are paddock green grass that is this century (PATENT), so they didn’t know their ‘Lies, Lies Lies’ repetition reminds, reminds, reminds the oldies eyes that Dallas Crane Lent ‘Mr Meddle’ from Pink Floyd when he borrowed the album from me and Jonco in Shit Creek in just another B-hometown (PATENT).

I listened to this band because they have a song that mentions Ballarat as an old Gold town. Look out for more jazz in their live set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_BAVlQhqCA&feature=player_embedded

POPULAR MUSIC – SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR

SKIPPING GIRLS VINEGAR is sending a monkey into space with an MP3 player of their music and messages from their fans. The monkey will rocket up to 132 000 feet, then who really knows what happens that high in the sky.

They ask you to leave a message on their Facebook  fan page.

My message to the universe is;

PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

I HOPE YOU LIKE THE WRITING AND PICTURES.

I HAVE A POEM ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN ON MARS THAT I WROTE.”

Skipping Girl Vinegar launch a new single tomorrow night at the Northcote Social Club, while they play at many other venues.

THE CHASE THE SUN – Single Launch Tour Oct/Nov 2011

Friday, 14th Oct – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, VIC
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton
301 High Street Northcote VIC 3070

Friday, 21st Oct – VANGUARD- NSW
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton
42 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

Thursday, 3rd Nov – GOLD COAST ARTS CENTRE – QLD
With special guests Jac Stone & Ishtar 
135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

Friday, 4th Nov – JOE’S WATERHOLE – QLD
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton
Memorial Drive, Eumundi, 4562

Saturday, 5th Nov – BEETLE BAR – QLD
With Myles Mayo and The Trouble With Templeton

Friday, 11th Nov – FRESH – TAS
With Special Guest and The Trouble With Templeton

Saturday, 12th Nov – REPUBLIC BAR – TAS 
With Special Guest and The Trouble With Templeton

MORE DETAILS: http://www.skippinggirlvinegar.com/shows

POPULAR MUSIC (PATENT) – ALEKS AND THE RAMPS

Melbourne’s Aleks and the Ramps release a new digital single; Middle Aged Unicorn on Beach with Sunset on October 27th through Gaga Digital.

Middle Aged Unicorn on Beach with Sunset is the first computer listening of Aleks and the Ramps’ forthcoming album due for release next year.

They also re-release their first two albums; Pisces vs Aquarius (2007) and Midnight Believer (2009).

Aleks and the Ramps launch single 
Middle Aged Unicorn on Beach with Sunset in :

MELBOURNE
on Thursday 10 November
at Buffalo Club.

And SYDNEY
on Friday 11 November
at The Gate.

And then they play again in SYDNEY
on Sunday 13 November
at the Newtown Festival.

PATENTS – MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST + ALICIA BEE INVENTIONS

The dead (PATENT) Steve Jobs still has an amazing 313 patents to his name, while Bill Gates only has 9 in his life so far.

The New York Times listed a good description of the patents that range from different computer parts and casings, to phones, power and plug adapters and different media players. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/24/technology/steve-jobs-patents.html?hp.

As inspiring as that is I rushed around and patented everything that is original about this blog for an issue special and didn’t come close to his total, but then was only working for a day in the whole of the past 35 years at itemizing my inventions.

Some ALICIA BEE inventions of the past 30 years include;

Dress over pants (PATENT) (1979)

Hot pink and purple (PATENT) (1984)

Hot pink and black (PATENT) (1985)

Hair ponytail half up and down (PATENT) (1989)

Mascara without eyeliner (PATENT) (1990)

Stussys worn by a girl (PATENT) (1990)

Travelling To The City for parties (PATENT) (1990)

Not dying hair ever (PATENT) (1990)

The First Muse (PATENT) (1991)

The creative response essay (PATENT) (1991)

Travelling To The City for parties and returning for morning school (PATENT) (1991)

Modeling when not considered beautiful (PATENT) (1991)

Correspondence VCE learning when younger (PATENT) (1992)

Not Wearing The Same Outfit All Year (PATENT) (1993)

Making Surreal Films That Don’t Make Sense and have a long soundtrack (PATENT) (1994)

Vans shoes at gigs in Melbourne not Converse (PATENT) (1994)

Repeating the photographic negative in reverse (PATENT) (1994)

The handmade Chinese Checkers Table (PATENT) (1995)

The handmade ‘Love Heart’ table (PATENT) (1995)

Handsewn Couch Covers (PATENT) (1995)

Black Boys in a vase (PATENT) (1995)

Taking Domestic Photos and presenting them as art (PATENT) (1996)

Using old photography paper (PATENT) (1996)

Out of focus photography (PATENT) (1996)

Doing all universities classes in One Day and Working Full Time (1997)

The Alicia special pasta (PATENT) (1998)

The Alicia Pizza (PATENT) (1998)

The Alicia Flavoured Damper (PATENT) (2001)

The unique film review style (PATENT) (2001)

Australian Souvenir and History Décor (PATENT) (2001)

The Superior Magazine Style Community Radio show (PATENT) (2001)

The Alicia Roo Bolognese (PATENT) (2002)

Gumboots at a Music Festival (PATENT)(2002)

‘Good Stuff’ phrase (PATENT) (2002)

Being a Music Journalist at Journalism School (2002)

‘Cool Buddhism’ religion (PATENT) (2003)

Growing Hair To Be A Mermaid (PATENT) (2003)

Travelling to Every Music Festival in Two States in the one year (PATENT) (2003)

Dissing the ARIAs (PATENT) (2003)

Becoming Immortal (PATENT) (2004)

Dissing Rolling Stone (PATENT) (2004)

Waisted Belt trend (PATENT) (2004)

‘Good Folk Club’ music event (PATENT) (2004)

‘Goodstock’ music magazine (PATENT) (2004)

Printing large A1 Music Poster in Black and White (PATENT) (2005)

‘Good Country Club’ music event (PATENT) (2005)

‘Highway 31 Revisited’ music event (PATENT) (2005)

Bubble machine at all events (PATENT) (2005)

Eating of Too Much Paneer Meals (PATENT) (2006)

‘Every Good Girl Deserves Fruit’ music event (PATENT) (2006)

‘The Good Booking Agency’ music booking agency (PATENT) (2006)

The new Miso Soup (PATENT) (2007)

‘The Good Wine Club’ (PATENT) (2007)

‘The Good Folk Song Competition’ (PATENT) (2007)

Taking Too Many Photos of Self Portraits for Facebook (PATENT) (2009)

‘Bathers On The Beach’ book (PATENT) (2010)

‘Grey Hair’ photos (PATENT) (2011)

‘The Book Of The Dead And Wounded’ book (PATENT) (2011)

The long list of patents could go on and on as so much is forgotten and I cant waste anymore time on this in the middle of the day, but you should just remember that ALICIA BEE is an INVENTOR not a copy cat and that though trends repeat; she is often the only one who does them first in her town and city in the world.

POETASTER (PATENT)

Written after the death of Steve Jobs (PATENT)

Processing The Information (PATENT)

Alicia Bee

Basic logic tells us all to shutdown,

And turn the computer off for a while,

Electric train breath makes a sleepy sound,

(You should) Leave time to process the information.

Make your own statement to the internet,

He had typed it all out in a word document,

(Just because) Someone died, you don’t need to get upset.

Smiley faces turn other check to frown,

The machine listens to each command sent,

(The) Technology is always going to be around,

(They) Switch technology off in the house,

(You should) Leave time to process the information.

END. Alicia Bee © 2011. THANKS FOR READING. (PATENT) I LOVE YOU LIKE (PATENT) THE YEAR OF THE APPLE (PATENT).

PUBLIC SPEECH – THE FOUR DOOR SEDAN SOUTH OF THE BLACK CAT

There is a black cat that is going to follow me for the rest of my life. It is the advertising image for my debut Melbourne Fringe Festival show GOOD MOURNING.

The cat is also replicated 3 times in the FRINGE program making another artwork ‘Dead Cat 3 times’ in honour of Grinspoons breakout single from 1995 shown above (produced only because the FRINGE PROGRAM wanted a landscape rather than the portrait shot).

Three copies of ‘Dead Cat 3 Times’ were made in sepia, black and white and color; and the cat would have had 9 lives but for the portrait. It was featured 10 times on the walls, a further 25 times in printed photos, then 1000s of times in poster, flier and program form for the Fringe Festival advertising.

The photo is one I took in 1996 of my first pet cat ‘Ebony’, who died prematurely when attacked in our yard by a neighbor’s pitbull terrier (leaving another argument for the toughening of laws against attack dogs).  Recently I lost a second black cat ‘Ned’ who was meant to be the companion for ‘Ebony’ but had survived all these years till 2011. The night before the exhibition the missing black cat from the neighborhood signs around our suburb was located and coaxed from under our house.

The pet owners laughed also at my black cat flier.

Originally the cat was a simple portrait taken for my media photography class, just one year out of high school and the completion of my Year 12 photography CAT.

All through VCE we had joked that our assessment tasks really were like an animal.

I had cut pictures of cats eyes and put them in my art sketchbook and all seniors had laughed about it because the CAT acronym was then new and would later be outphased from the high school curriculum as a major grading task.

In the next year after high school I just took some photos around the house and they formed part of my photography folio for my media course.

The black cat image always looked good in its formality, because the pet had held the pose so strongly, as if understanding the process of photograph taking; it had seemed to model for me.

The photograph itself had looked vintage in its production when produced on old paper given as a gift. It wasn’t going to be my final artwork as the content seemed too domestic for the art I wanted to create at that age it was just a practice shot.

But it came out in the past 5 years when I was reviewing my old photography and had be hung in my office with a series of other dead pets and animals that formed the inspiration for the Good Mourning show.

Black Cats are superstitiously seen to be unlucky, and if that is true then ‘Good Mourning’s ‘Dead Cat’ could symbolize an exhibition that was devastated by bad luck – if you saw it like that.

We had three successful hours of so many beautiful punters with gracious thankyous, and comments. Some people were moved to tears by the artworks, and had it truly seemed like a successful day of sunshine that had fought of the rainclouds.

The Fitzroy police station make record of ‘handbag theft’ via ‘break and enter’, though when the bastards broke the car window it was even more costly to replace the glass, the tint, the bag, the camera, the wallets, the makeup bag, than the money that was taken in the form of $20 change.
At the time of dealing with the crime and police there was noone else to man the exhibition and GOOD MOURNING FRINGE FESTIVAL show closed early, doomed with ‘black cat bad luck’ or the needs of criminals that hurt more than they know when they commit what they think is simple crime.

After 4 hours GOOD MOURNING closed for the day because of PETTY CRIME from idiots too greedy to respect that EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO LIVE IN PEACE.

You could blame the black cat, or a depressing black dog, or the ladder or broken mirror found also as part of the exhibition; but to blame the criminal for the crime would be a task too great for the police and justice system in this country and there shall be no compensation for victims of this crime.

The broken window is not covered unless you pay the $500 excess for insurance.

The bag, camera, all personal items, cards wallet and the privacy of photographs of children left on the camera are now the property of the criminals who put their fist through a car window for $20 in coins.

You could say that we live with an impending doom looming on the horizon and that good things don’t last for long for people like us.

You could live in fear of the bastards coming again to commit crime and bully honest people who are just trying to live their lives.

Or you could see our home as a lucky country free from the crimes of ancient civilization and convict criminal past, instead of a hellbirth of punishment for the duration of your young and free life.

Thieves wont kill the show, which is back next Sunday 9 October for exhibition in all its glory.
And for the criminals’ records, I never saw a black cat as unlucky nor a hat on the bed as a warning; and wont take lightly to suggestions of karma coming back at me for I am a Buddhist. My karma is still stronger than all of their armies and I wont be stopped from living my life.

If that black cat that is stalking me is really causing all of these problems it should know that it has been dead a long time and it has no business hanging around the house.

If the black cat is the same pet that is in the photograph then its spirit is welcome to stay with me a lifetime.

PUBLIC ART – FRINGE SHOW GOOD MOURNING

Good Mourning (it’s the new black)

Freelance journalist and published poet ALICIA BEE presents her photography, words and installation art in GOOD MOURNING, showing for only two Sundays in October.

Reflections on aging interact with responses to grieving in a show that comprises photos of rocks and dead cats, poetry, and found objects including seafood remains.

ALICIA BEE will launch THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED on Sunday 2 October as part of the exhibition.

Freelance journalist ALICIA BEE published her writing about music and other subjects till poetry title BATHERS ON THE BEACH was launched late in October 2010.

The event signaled the first presentation of her creative writing outside journalism. The result and support encouraged her to show the GREY HAIR photography exhibition in MAY 2011;

a coming of age announcement that ALICIA BEE was a member of the Arts industries.

Included in the GOOD MOURNING EXHIBITION will be photography, poetry, and a found object installation of a midden.

The GREY HAIR photos will seen in the exhibition, alongside images of past pets.

THE BOOK OF THE DEAD poetry book will be launched on Sunday 2 October and available for sale, as are

canvas reproductions of some highlights of the book.

ALICIA BEE also presents ARTIST MIDDEN, a found object installation of seafood bones, shells, and more.

Fringe Exhibition Name: Good Mourning.

Subheading : ‘its the new black’

Media: Visual Art + Literature; photography, found objects, books, canvas.

Artist: Alicia Bee.

Venue: Studio 7A 238 Brunswick Street Fitzroy

Dates: 2 + 9 October 2011.

Entry: donation.

Blurb: Good Mourning explores grief, aging, the dying of humans and animals.

Images of dead pets along with a found object midden installation are displayed with photography and funeral music.

Alicia Bee also previews ‘The Book of The Dead and Wounded’ collection of poems at the show on Sunday 2 October.

http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/good-mourning/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRVY4kbcG94

POPULAR MUSIC – BETTY AIRS

Sydney four door sedan BETTY AIRS remind me of BLACK LIPS or BLACK MUSIC done by white boys who have nugget on their cheeks and black lipstick and black eyeliner like LUKE STEELE.

Perhaps you should consider their name to be (BLACK) BETTY AIRS for the melodic punk pop is darker than the lyrics suggest; tougher than their betty skater SYDNEY TATTOOS from THE ILLUSTRATED MAN.

(Please note their music is above this line not below line for their particular BETTY ANGST. Look up, okay, up up NORTH okay ’cause the link is not loading a video openly on the page)

I know there is a cat and a dog called BLACK BETTY, and it is also the name of a car; but this is a long time since a sydney movie played BUY ME A PONY and does not sound at all like OLD MAN SAM.

Here their JUVENILE single reminds us what its like to kiss a young and free band as they tour our country. Check them out at these CHEAP HOTEL ROOMS, to speak to them in person; but remember they are the young ones.

THE ‘JUVENILE’ TOUR

Thursday 20 October ALHAMBRA LOUNGE Brisbane w/ Velociraptor

Friday 28 October HOTEL METRO Adelaide w/ Bad Dreems

Saturday 29 October CROWN & ANCHOR Adelaide w/ Bad Dreems

Saturday 5 November ROXBURY HOTEL Sydney w/ The Bungalows, The Ganasch

Saturday 19 November YAH YAH’S Melbourne w/ Red Aces, APES

Saturday 19 November PONY Melbourne 2am slot

POPULAR MUSIC – BLOOD COMMAND CD REVIEW

When I first heard Norway’s Blood Command  it was the day of the recent massacre in the country that left 77 dead and 96 injured. It was also the day before Amy Winehouse died and I had that violent incident at the Dan Brodie sharpie Video Clip Shoot. For the weekend Id left their video clip on my computer wanting to listen again to the first Norway band since Turbonegro replaced classical music, but it was a long busy one.

After the massacre news their clip loaded suddenly on my computer along with a Wikipedia page for Lillian Roxan. For the duration of a few songs I couldn’t remember why the pages came up or how this Norway band had come to me and tried logical rationale. Shock slows the brain and I had to remind it that Blood Command had sounded fine on Friday, but ‘Summon The Arsonist’ wasn’t meant to warn of a terrorist attack or societal violence from a country that had just lost so many young people at a summer camp from a psychopathic mass murderer.

If titles scare you then ‘Schizophrenic Summer’ could anthem your ideas that screamo music is angst driven early 20s punk that you don’t listen to anymore ‘cause you hurt your fat knees on your skateboard.

What on Friday had seemed new music had later opened to taunt my existence as a music journalist who left too many pull up windows open for the longest weekend.

As I listened more I understood exactly where I was on Friday and the hole that left a cringe for the sound from the massacre could only be rebuilt with more Norway music.

I thanked the label for the CDs and said it came just when I thought Norway all dead.

Hopefully they’ll send more music from Norway so this blog will cater for Australian music and the Norway metal primarily in memory of Lillian Roxan, the 173 victims and how scary it was to watch the news; I think Norway metal is a bit tamer.

Blood Command sing of arson, schizophrenia and murder, in the fantasy of art punk genre. Their weapons are instruments, knives the symbols of sexuality cutting the hurt of predjudice and societal rules to energetic rhythm designed to tire repressed fuel with response or to encourage ‘dance like nobody is watching’.

Their screaming female vocals pierced through the walls hurt from sadness and psychological trauma of a weekend from hell. Their own repetition of the Sex Pistols “kill all hippies,” taunted and I tried to wonder again why the sign for anarchy is so close to a peace sign. All ‘outsider’ teenagers have drawn both of those signs.

Like Sex Pistols they try to destroy and uphold their national image by creating music to serve their country.

Rest assured youths like these are stashing weapons of instruments and records in their bedroom waiting for their chance to take over the world peacefully even if they don’t think they are influenced by hippies.

At least they can listen to Blood Command’s newest release, or take a therapy course from an old folk song Turbonegro’s All My Friends Are Dead.

Norway music Note: Psychopathic murderer Clayton Weatherston tried to appreciate Turbonegro’s Party Animals LP when holding us hostage in the Dunedin Hotel, and he is quoted to say that he was not influenced at all by the music, apparently his logical economics brain never had a music appreciation.

POETASTER

The Dead Weather

Alicia Bee ©

It is the season for grieving,

Grey clouds above are raining,

Religion is for believing,

Dead Weather is hailing at cars.

They were all dead in the army,

Before they picked up poison pen,

States are waking to the alarm.

Living in peace is deceiving,

You shouldn’t get used to the calm,

Dont know what they are conceiving,

Dead Weather is hailing at cars.

END. Alicia Bee © 2011. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE THE FOUR DOOR SEDAN SOUTH OF THE BLACK CAT.

PHOTOGRAPHY –

‘Orange Flowers 1′ -Sunday Read Series, Brunswick, Sunday 18 April 2010, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH – SPRING; THE AUTUMN MOON LIGHTS MY WAY.

It is Spring in Melbourne once again, the football games are finishing, horse racing is almost about to start; but more excitingly the music festival season is going to take us all for another 6 months of play.
Be prepared to jump in puddles in your sunglasses.

Mindful of the Brunswick garden flowers and that SPRING means it is AUTUMN on the other side of the world; I consider that the time is now to launch a fashion label based around the AUTUMN color range which is presently having a good time in all other Fashion label ranges.

You may be aware of my skills in writing journalism, and also of the 2010 publication of my poetry book Bathers On The Beach and a forthcoming THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED 2011 release.
You may also be aware of my photography skills, a recent GREY HAIR exhibition that currently has a regional show at BURRINJA CAFÉ GALLERY and an upcoming FRINGE FESTIVAL SHOW – GOOD MOURNING which features PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY, and a found object installation.

As busy as the queen bee could be scene to be, the time might be now to launch my own FASHION LABEL called ALICIA AUTUMN, though I am just putting it out there as an idea for feedback and to SCARE PEOPLE.

Call me a TALL POPPY, but I think we are all capable of doing great things and there is no parameters to the mediums which artists like myself can work.
So I thought again of AUTUMN and the colors that make it so earthy.
I have often been described as AUTUMN; the ORANGE color of my hair like deciduous tree leaves that have died, the GREEN of my eyes like that of the evergreen trees that are left green in FALL, and my love of brown monk clothes the color of EARTH and WOOD.
I AM ALICIA AUTUMN.
When I was 14 in 1990 I met none other than POPPY KING in a chemist in Camberwell Melbourne and once commented, “I can never find any makeup to go with red hair”. Do you know what she said? “You need AUTUMN”
I didn’t tell her that Australis did have a brown alike to the invention of her first lipstick color – AUTUMN.
Remembering POPPY KING’s words and also reading this week that ALANNAH HILL didn’t start her own fashion label until she was 35, it dawned on me that again AUTUMN was my answer.
Rembering also that VIVIANNE WESTWOOD was a school teacher before a fashion designer, and there is still time left in the AUTUMN of our lives I ask you to consider if I have any style at all?

The time is now for AUTUMN once again, that is AUTUMN with splashes of SPRING colors like BRUNSWICK FLOWERS.
AUTUMN the changeable season of sun and rain, cold and the last breaths of warm summer air. RAINBOWS of a gay MELBOURNE sunshine, changeable climate and wild weather.
AUTUMN that is SPRING on the other side of the world.
SPRING that is AUTUMN always in Melbourne.
Melbourne the city of a FINE warm 20 degrees Celsius, always AUTUMN or SPRING except for about 2 weeks of WINTER and SUMMER.
ALICIA AUTUMN is music festivals in RAIN, HAIL or SHINE.
DESIGNER GUMBOOTS and SUNGLASSES with wool, and a summer dress.
Multiple outfits for the clever camper and traveller.
ALICIA AUTUMN is Melbourne weather.

My fashion label ALICIA AUTUMN features my personal style of NEW AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER CLOTHES worn casually with VINTAGE EUROPEAN BLING that makes it look a lot better, or cheaper depending on your interpretation of fashion.
I won’t leak the ALICIA AUTUMN designs on my blog, just be aware that the idea is out there and you never know what project I will be working on next.

COOL BUDDHIST LESSON THIS WEEK: Remember SPRING is AUTUMN on the other side of the world!

PUBLIC FIGURE – STEVE LUCAS

Steve Lucas guitarist frontman of the thirty five year old rock band X has recently announced his involvement in the CHILDWISE charity as ambassador.
On 22 September Steve Lucas appears in a CHILDWISE benefit at THE ESPLANANDE ST KILDA with X + LOUIS TILLET + JAMES BLACK + BRIAN HENRY HOOPER + COLD HARBOUR + MICK HARVEY + TANYA LEE DAVIES IN SUPERDARLING + FIREBIRD + NOMADIC FUNK + BAILEY JUDD & SAM & WILL + SHIPS PIANO & BRIAN NANKERVIS its $35 plus booking fee.

ALICIA BEE – Why did you get involved with Childwise?
STEVE LUCAS – I was asked to do a benefit to help stop child sex prostitution and the child sex industry. I said yes, because I always do. I think if I can help make a difference by getting up on stage and playing music I love then I should be damned to hell if I were to say no. Once I asked a few basic questions I gradually became more intrigued and more outraged. Initially I thought I’d do a few songs and pat myself on the back and that would be that. But then I asked for some literature in case I was called upon to do and interview to promote the gig and what I read appalled me. Australians make up 33% of successfully prosecuted child sex offenders in Thailand alone! You could say national pride made me get involved. You might say shame at the country that I love spawns the kind of person or environment that creates this want and need humiliated me enough to want to do something about it. Then I found out that they worked here – at home – as well as abroad and a new meaning was given to me. I was abused as a child. I had no voice to speak of it then as I do now. As I read about the grooming process I realised that I narrowly escaped that fate by sheer luck and intuition. I know what it is like to be voiceless. I fear my own sister was abused when I was too young to fight on her behalf. I agreed to do it because I could not have looked into a mirror ever again in my life without seeing nothing but a coward. I want to look into a mirror and see a man. One who is prepared to fight for others that believe no-one cares or that no-one will. As a musician I have friends and fans that I can hopefully encourage and enlighten. I have a voice and I am not afraid to use it. I became involved with Child Wise because they said they needed me I learned to see that I needed them.
ALICIA BEE – What do you do as an Ambassador for them?
STEVE LUCAS – I do every thing I can to educate and enlighten people. I do all within my limited circle to raise awareness and funding. I use what stature I have to get others to donate their time and skills and talents to help make the Child Wise Charity blossom and grow. I speak to people. I beg and implore people to donate time or money or expertise to strengthen the foundations of this wonderful organisation. I ring people, I write about it and I speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
ALICIA BEE – Have you done this kind of work before?
STEVE LUCAS – No, never. Up until now I have played countless gigs for countless charities. No tax write offs, you have to earn money for that luxury or concession. I just volunteered my time and my music and hoped that the money raised would make a difference. This one is… personal.

PERFORMANCE – FRIENDLY YEN LAUNCH 28 August 2011 NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB.

FRIENDLY YEN  provided everyone with drinks as an introduction to the former Canberra based rock band. New Melbourne refugees, or nu-northcote (or so they say at the NSC, wink) are young but will tour and play every venue before another millennium band bites the dust, and their singles kick in the doors of Triple J waves.
I can hear nu-metal with their tops on, and points go to guitarist Pat Lillicrap for wearing the Led Zeppelin tshirt because it always works as a fashion statement.
(Though Pat said ‘4’ was his favorite album, that’s the one with Stairway to Heaven, and he had never heard ‘Houses of Holy’; and he has a lot to learn about Led Zeppelin before trying to be them and make band history. Note here; in 1998 Dave Larkin at this same question had only heard Led Zeppelin Remasters – the one with 2 CDs not 4 CDs, so this is not necessary rule, but a mere note for Led Zeppelin fans that bands may not even know as much about music as you a fan musicologist, though can probably play better; and in Dave Larkin’s case will still pretend to be a real Led Zeppelin fan and play the Led Zeppelin tribute at the Palais last year though I begged him not to so many times because he wasn’t even a true fan, and didn’t like Led Zeppelin as much as say – Davey Lane http://www.myspace.com/davey_lane of You Am I would have played it more authentically but that’s an old argument and a new people from interstate places don’t need to take sides of the river on such silly issues even if they say they have burnt the Sydney harbour bridge or even the capital just to relocate).
Singer Jeff I was told has ‘pitch perfect’ voice, said my bio reading plus one robot; which he hits with his hands as he points to notes in the octave. When he sings his hands move commanding the audience to notice him accenting and inflecting each of his singing breaths and words finishing while he changes notes. It is very controlling, you many think he is what a mid 20s Ron Peno could have been like in hand signals. Though at the moment looks like he is fresh out of VOX Vocal school for rock musicians wanting to sing properly away from the dreaded NODE disease caught by many in their prime, perhaps even around the time they attend singing lessons.
I wondered if VOX Vocal School could possibly change their posters away from THE LIVING END, DREADNAUGHT, and the old school others to a new class of singers led by FRIENDLY YEN and all their friends as the day dawns on another group of bands offering FREE DRINKS for support of their new music.
Welcome to Melbourne Friendly Yen, we accept your rider as incentive anytime.

POETASTER

Harpy
By Alicia Bee © 2011.

Wings of a bird on a perfect female body,
She’s whispering on the wind controlling the weather,
Hair down to earth taken from houses of holy,
Harpy; heaven paved the footpath for you tonight.

Wearing a frilly dress because fashion is fun,
The human brain curse is she scares ‘cause she’s clever,
It isn’t a mess to break something and then run.

She’s original there is no other copy,
He tall boots are made for walking ‘cause they’re leather,
There is no award ‘cause she’s the trophy,
Harpy; heaven paved the footpath for you tonight.

END. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE SPRING AUTUMN MOON LIGHTS MY WAY.
Alicia Bee © 2011.

‘My Best Friend in Beaches’, taken from ‘Grey Hair’ Exhibition, Skenes Creek, May 2011, photo by Alicia Bee.

PUBLIC SPEECH : JOURNEY ON THE VALLEY PATH

I was born in the mountains to a hippy couple who studied Buddhism.

I drew a lot of flowers in my childhood after studying the painting of blossoms.

This week I have been studying Zen; again –

in a course that does not involve painting.

I am presently working on another koan.

I know nothing.

But can teach you this;

Chan is Chinese for Zen.

Already I had returned to Chan Painting and was given a title by my teacher last year.

My Chan painting name is JOURNEY ON THE VALLEY PATH.

This is about my journey as I learn to walk in the valley after living so long in the mountains.

This weeks Chan blossom paintings were not amazing and I preferred my other subjects but all still appear infantile when finished.

I don’t know if my paintings live up to my title and they wont be exhibited too soon, but continue to practise.

I still have a lot to learn about painting in black and Chan Painting because it is a big brush.

At the turn of the century there was a trend for boys in some rock bands to tattoo their band name on their body, which always seemed a little weird. However instead of laughing too hard I thought of a plan to get an army of followers to tattoo my penny tattoo to their arm (we will talk about this another time).

Recently I thought of developing my plan by following the trend of people that prefer to tattoo Asian characters to their bodies.

If I have online followers in the future they will tattoo these words to their back.

旅山谷的路径

(which means Journey On the Valley Path)

or 猪小姐记者

which means Miss Piggy Journalist.

Looks cool doesn’t it? An interpreter quoted $200 flat rate to interpret the 4 words, and said they got a lot of requests from people who want to get the phrase right before they inked themselves. I didn’t take her up on the offer and have been learning language online myself using GOOGLE TRANSLATE.

This also means that I wouldn’t advise anyone to tattoo that phrase above before it is checked by a scholar and my practice is developed more.

Get your friends to join the mail list, and become a fan online. We are not doing any tattooing at the moment, and you can learn more about Chan and Chinese characters generally before you make the commitment.

Read at bottom for my Haiku lessons and more understandings of the weeks events.

PHOTOGRAPHY : GREY HAIR TOURING TO BURRINJA CAFÉ GALLERY.

ALICIA BEE presents GREY HAIR EXHIBITION at BURRINJA GALLERIES from

1 – 25 SEPTEMBER 2011.

Former hills resident and frequently spotted local shopper ALICIA BEE launches her first exhibition of photography in the hills with a live music show on Saturday 3 September at BURRINJA CAFÉ GALLERY 351 Glenfern Road Upwey.

This debut series of photographs launched MAY 2011 at STUDIO 7A on BRUNSWICK STREET FITZROY has also had pieces shown at SHABANA JACOBSON GALLERY and BRUNSWICK STREET GALLERIES as part of the SMALL WORKS COMPETITION.

Featured in the exhibition is a PREVIEW of ALICIA BEE’s FRINGE FESTIVAL SHOW ‘GOOD MOURNING’ which will also show GREY HAIR pieces along with other photographs, and poetry.

Some shots ALICIA BEE took of beach rocks are used in an essay of natural geology aging and human concepts of GREY HAIR.
Chosen to help promote the exhibition is a great local acts that offers thoughtful new discussion on Australian folk music Penelope Swales performing acoustic.

THE GOOD FOLK CLUB + ALICIA BEE present

GREY HAIR EXHIBITION LAUNCH featuring

LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES by

PENELOPE SWALES on

SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2011 at

BURRINJA CAFÉ GALLERY at

351 GLENFERN ROAD UPWEY from

7PM, it will be

$9 entry (cover charge for music).

Facebook Event :

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=248120788534320

‘Roof’, Butler Mastering, Leichardt Sydney.

PRODUCTION : BUTLER MASTERING – PAUL BUTLER

I started a sound column when in Sydney at The Brag, which was later found in Beat and Mixdown, before it stopped because they wouldn’t pay me enough. It has become legendary as the first sound column in street press nationally, however it was often seen as an advertising marketing incentive and many magazines have published various sound or studio liftouts since and always will. Perhaps they wont remember that the sound column was started by a girl from Melbourne in 2003, who literally called every studio in two states (hundreds) for a period of time to stay in touch. Later I even made national calls for the Mixdown column but the cash streetpress paid couldn’t even cover the cost of phonecalls, can you believe the pennies they pay the street paparazzi? These days a lot more studios are online and you can email for a direct response.

What I didn’t know before interviewing Paul Butler  about BUTLER MASTERING was that instead of a biography he displays an interview from Drum Media exploring his world of sound, which was just found. That was the other streetpress! But don’t worry Im not jealous or anything; we all know which ALICIA (from the attic) really ‘ruled the world’, and who actually did it first.

See below articles the reference to the COPYCATS of BALLARAT, but pause here let go of any angry thoughts that I am a mean person before you read this interview with Paul Butler and remember this blog is MISS PIGGY JOURNALIST is a space for opinionated editorial.

ALICIA BEE – Have you studied sound?

PAUL BUTLER – Yep, formally with SAE back in 2001, it was a good base of information I guess but my real knowledge came from experience in the field. I’ve worked in many parts of the industry and with so many talented people that have really broadened my skills and helped me approach my true passion [Mastering] with a different mindset to most.

ALICIA BEE –  When did Butler Mastering start?

PAUL BUTLER – I’ve been operating as “The Butler” for about 6 years now, working with mainly Indie artists as I travelled with work [Radio & Live Production], the business [and myself] are now grounded in a new studio in Leichhardt [Sydney].

ALICIA BEE – What does the company do?

PAUL BUTLER – We’re a dedicated Mastering facility, mastering music for artists from all over the world. We have studio partners in New York and London which feed us work, as well as online [eMastering] for musicians from anywhere you can imagine… Nepalese Rock! Cuban Pop! South American Rap, we’ve done some interesting work.

ALICIA BEE – What was the last thing you learnt about in sound?

PAUL BUTLER – I’ve been delving further into [analogue] audio electronics lately, really enjoying learning about circuit designs and their effects in the real world.

POPULAR MUSIC : RAT VS POSSUM

RAT VS POSSUM launch ‘Fat Monk,’ single from their upcoming second album ‘Let Music & Bodies Unite’ at RAOB GAB which is also called The Buffalo Club at 22 Sutherland Street Melbourne on Friday 16 September 2011 with support from Horse Macgyver and Time Shield.
Tickets are $10 and only available at the door only from 8.30pm.
Rat Vs Possum are a HIP band and they introduced me to The Buffalo Club venue and taught me about DJs NO ZU, Toy Balloon and Nick Rave & the Bad Speed. We chatted online about Eastern religions and FAT MONKs and very basically about the band.

ALICIA BEE – Where is the Buffalo Club? what does RAOB GAB stand for?

DAPHNE SHUM – The Buffalo Club was named after the ancient burial ground for water buffaloes on which the venue was built, located in the Melbourne CBD. Can’t remember what RAOB GAB stands for although I feel like I’m exorcising demons and invoking the spirit when I say it out loud.

ALICIA BEE – What is a ‘Fat Monk’?

DAPHNE SHUM – We named our single Fat Monk because the main synth riff sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a fat monk strolling down the street. We’re deep like that. Right after the song was written I saw an actual fat monk hanging out in the city, so not only is the song deep, it was also prophetic.

ALICIA BEE – Have you studied buddhism? any eastern religion?

DAPHNE SHUM – Matt expressed an interest in tantra recently. It’s time for Sting to give someone else a go at being the musical spokesperson for tantra. As for myself and Adrian, we’re Asian so we’re basically zen mystics by birthright.

ALICIA BEE – Tell us the symbolism of the lotus?

DAPHNE SHUM – It’s a symbol of the flagrantly tasteless aesthetic orientalism in the artwork for our single. We can thank Oliver Hunter for that. Although when I compare his fat monk to the fat monk of my imagination, I realise we possess vastly different understandings of the word ‘fat’.

ALICIA BEE – Is Rat Vs Possum transendental meditation music?

DAPHNE SHUM – Maybe when slowed to 20 BPM. Or try downing a bottle of Dx before putting on our record and meditating.

ALICIA BEE – What has happened to Rat Vs Possum since its first Chinese Zodiac Year?

DAPHNE SHUM – Andrew went to Vietnam and had an allergic reaction after mistaking ornamental leaves in a vase for food, Adrian got laser eye surgery, Kieran’s house got robbed but the entire band’s gear was left untouched, I stopped needing to go to hospital all the time and started going to the gym instead, and Matt’s been trying to grow his hair out. That’s about it really. We also wrote some songs, played some shows, toured some, and are about to put out our second album.

POPULAR MUSIC : NEW SETTLEMENT ROAD – AMONG THE GENTLEST OF BIRDS LP.

When John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’ was sung in the primary schoolyard we’d changed the lyrics to Victorian references “West Virginia and Castlemaine” to counter the “Copycats from Ballarat” in a world of our own.

NEW SETTLEMENT ROAD is a familiar country journey to ‘Odelle,’ a house with a sweet female name. Local Victorian references found on New Settlement Road’s LP could take them on the ‘morning train’ from Frankston (if you too believed The Seekers Morningtown Ride was only a local ode to the south eastern train) to the dried Murray River with ‘Let The Rivers Run’ (from TV Series ‘All The Rivers Run’), but you may be confused when you find the song ‘Oh, My Home’ is actually written about The Kimberleys. Though they are a Mornington Peninsula band there are many phrases that you could sing anywhere; ‘cause worldwide there is a ‘city by the sea’ and a ‘rising sun’. There’s broken glass and cobblestones on the highway over the hills and in the valleys on New Settlement Road’s release.

Local music references also could come from the breath of graveled Lindsay Phillips trademark, while using the gardening tools of Augie March to understand how to write Bob Dylan for a band in Melbourne searching for “crowds to inspire”.

New Settlement Road are trying to catch the whispering on the wind romantically using daddy’s records like Donovan and Dylan in many songs chasing birds that migrate seasons to search for settlement and a home.

They mix working class submissiveness attitude and common sense country in ‘You May Not Have Control’ with other song lyrics that refer to kings and queens and “Bring(ing) down the Empire”.

They consider references to the afterlife in ‘Until I’m Gone’ with “skin and bones” in ‘Ben’ that could have buried a dog, but Im really into all that dead talk at the moment so its not macarb.

They are hoping for backing to do this all among the gentlest of musical genres, subtlety to the point of low-fi in song 4, against a too adventurous burst of big band noise later in the CD, but it’s a good sound of known  pockets of music they ‘lay down sally’ and only repetition will make it play more naturally and anyone can press repeat on a CD if they cant get the band to sound right.

They have the support of a chorus chant choir named ‘The Drunken Beasts’ found in ‘Briar Park’, and for their Australian music hotel sound they’d raised glasses in male voice giving us a drinking another anthem because already The Kill Devil Hills ruled the regional hotel and Cosmic Psychos owned the city pub.

Joining them in the folk rock waltz is Jen Anderson giving the recording the earth and acceptance that they were seeking in Woodstock’s Studio name. Listen for title song ‘Among the Gentlest of Birds’ for one of the subtlest didgeridoo additions to a white track from the back beaches.

NEW SETTLEMENT ROAD release AMONG THE GENTLEST OF BIRDS on SEPTEMBER 23 2011 preorder your copy here. New Settlement Road play The Empress on Saturday 1 September with Lachlan Bryers and the Blind Alley Band.

POETASTER : HAIKU BY ALICIA BEE

Designer gumboots

I can jump bigger puddles

Flowering in mud

Broken pencil lead

lost during more sharpening

shorter in hand

Mountain wind whistle

chimney becomes instrument

in wild weather

windy conductor

trees dance across snake gully

audience applause

Cockatoo ridges

white forest custodian

grace note reminders

lone ukelele

instrument of Pacific

island musician

acoustic guitar

singer songwriter on mic

local folk music

motorcycle noise

white envelope letter box

good news from afar

hot sun behind moon

a total lunar eclipse

earth in the middle

newspaper plastic

dry roll of daily headlines

flattened to read

light shower rainbow

kisses sky roof with smile

of clean teeth city

infused pot tea

poured soy milk bleaches brew

without stirring spoon

END. THANKS FOR READING. I LOVE YOU LIKE JOURNEY ON THE VALLEY PATH.

Alicia Bee © 2011.