Yrae Chronicles

Say what you like about the Hilltop Hoods but they're from my city--my SUBURB, even!--and I love them.

( Hilltop Hoods - 1955 )

Never has a song sounded so Adelaide.

I don't tell 'em where I'm from, I tell 'em where I'm close to
And I can go through an Atlas and show you on a map but
You'd still look me sideways and treat me like I'm backwards

SO. GODDAMN. ADELAIDE. To Poms and Frenchies I had to describe where I was in relation to Sydney, which for Europeans is two or three frigging countries away, and they still wouldn't get it. People who haven't even heard of Adelaide, Poms asking me how to pronounce it... like... she was your queen, guys, we just named the city after her.

Tryna put where I'm at on the map 'cause where I'm from
Would never get a mention

Well I mean. That's unlikely to ever happen, but damn if they're not trying, and seriously I cannot emphasise how important that is. Everyone famous from Adelaide no longer lives here, and often they try to hide the fact they're from Adelaide at all. Adam Hills splits his time between the UK and Melbourne. Lleyton Hewitt lives in Sydney. Sia lives in the States. Cricketers and footy players disappear as soon as they're good enough for an interstate team to snatch up. There's a reason we're parochial in SA; because if we don't love ourselves, literally the entire country will just keep making jokes of us, anyway.

But the Hilltop Hoods are still here. They don't hide it; they take pride in it. And I goddamn love them for it.

Good god there's a lot of internets to catch up on when you've been doing stuff two nights in a row, especially when Talechasing is being so fabulously spammy X3

My iPod doesn't seem to be shuffling all that much. It's played three Florence + the Machine tracks in a row. I don't HAVE that many Florences.

Soooo yes. Thursday night I went to the Musica Viva concert Mum and Dad couldn't go to due to being in Turkey. There was minor panic in that I think I may have thrown out the tickets, mistaking them for tickets to something else I'd been to recently like movie ticket stubs or something. I fluffed around with Bass, who put me onto Musica Viva directly, but they needed the credit card holder to ring them directly to reissue tickets and then it'd be $3.50 per ticket. Credit card holder is in Turkey. But the amazing lady at Town Hall was able to hand write them out for me with a wave of her hand and an "It happens all the time. People lose them or just get down here realising they left them in their other handbag. No trouble at all, love!"

So yes. Would've gone with Anna P but the poor girl got an ear infection D: So I went with uni friend Alex instead. It was fabulous <3 Trio Dali are a violinist, chellist and pianist, two Frenchies and a Latvian, and they were great. Mum and Dad have been Musica Viva members for long enough that they're right in the front row, close enough to literally see the sweat on the musicians' brows. The chellist was especially into it, with these brilliant facial expressions to match what he was playing--the joy at the bright happy bits, stern and severe as the music got dark, surprise when things suddenly went BANG even though he was the one playing it. When he was plucking the strings he sort of bent forward like he was creeping around on tiptoes. It was fantastic XD Love a bit of classical music <3

Last night we just bummed around the city a bit. I reached another monetary target at my last paycheck, so went to my favourite shop ever, Ikeguchi, for my reward present to self. Normally I get beautiful jewellery, because I would absolutely buy them out if I had the money to, but this time I got one of the gorgeous leather-bound books that I've had my eye on for YEARS. Bigger than A4, made of beautiful paper, black leather cover and it is amazing. I'm not entirely sure what to use it for. I'm considering using it for my portfolio, now that I'm actually accumulating physical stuff rather than just purely digital, but not sure yet. I'll just sit and look at it for a while first 8D

Footy today~ woo!

I swear, one of my new year's resolutions will be to post more regularly so my entries aren't just filled with dot points. In the meantime, DOT POINT ENTRY!

o So I've been riding to work since the weather started fining up in October, and have only missed maybe three or four days since when it was raining and crap in the morning. Coupla weeks ago I had my first... well I'll call it a crash but really I was going no faster than walking speed and fell over. But yea. Riding between a line of parked cars and a line of cars waiting at the traffic lights, plenty of room, until a ute decides when I'm about a metre from his wing mirror to turn left. I ALMOST made it between the two cars but clipped my handlebar on the mirror and fell over. Bruise on one knee and a scab on the other, but my bike's handlebar kinda bent up at right angles. So I have a new bike now! It's black and green and has freaking SUSPENSION and it's pretty awesome. I love it a lot. Also the metro tickets I haven't been buying for public transport have just about paid for it anyway so yay!

o I WROTE TWO CHAPTERS. I haven't completed a chapter since NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. This is big news and requires CAPS.

o Smells like Teen Spirit is apparently only #2 on this Music Max party rock anthems countdown. Given that Max would like this song to top every countdown they do from love ballads to the big hair countdown*, I'd like to know what beats "here we are now; entertain us" in that. Stay tuned.

o Three weeks of annual leave started today! THIS IS AWESOME AND ALSO REQUIRES CAPS. I haven't had this much solid time off since school.

o Sweet Child of Mine. I disagree with this.

o So far in my Christmas haul of work and my amazing housemate Anna P: Shitloads of chocolate, biscuits and lollies, Swarovski crystal necklace and matching earrings (more on this later), and a bike helmet and riding gloves. Naughty girl bought me TWO presents. If I'd known I would've gotten a selection of cheeses to go with the cheese board. She's too good to me <3

o I got so pissed off with my other housemate on Tuesday night that I decided not to give her her present, so Anna P and I split the box of Haigh's choc chip shortbread biscuits between us last night. Basically, Mum invited them both up for my standard Tuesday dinner in the Hills last week. Sunday, housemate was finally able to say she wouldn't be free. Tuesday night, as Anna P and I were working out logistics via text, I got the message that the said Anna could come a bit later and pick up housemate on the way. 'Nah she told me she wasn't coming' I replied. 'Yes she is, I just talked to her,' says Anna P. 'Damn... woulda been nice if she'd told me.' I say back. Call Mum, who is able to get another piece of salmon out of the freezer cos she's awesome and just has spare pieces of salmon hanging around. As one does. I get up there, apologise profusely, etc and so on. Anna P and housemate arrive, housemate says nothing~ and does nothing~ and carries on the night as if she was expected there the whole time. This all pretty much confirmed my dislike of the girl, but the clincher? As Anna P was praising the salmon and the mango and avocado salsa and the frankly awesome potato wedges and the salmon and how awesome my Mum was... housemate said nothing. She LEFT without saying thank you. SO GLAD SHE'S MOVING OUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I have been TRYING all year to like her but omg. I don't care what you think about me, you can dislike me for whatever reason, but my mum? Who has made special concessions for you with SALMON? And you can't even be arsed to say thank you? No. Fuck you. You're not even getting politeness out of me anymore.

o Why is Kiwiland releasing a trailer for The Hobbit a YEAR before it comes out? That's just cruel and unusual punishment.

o 30 degrees on Sunday, oh yeah o/ But drizzling. YAY MUGGY =|

o I get more excited about giving my presents to people than getting them. Bring on Christmas Eve~ with the awesome lunch and the pressie giving~ and then Christmas DAY with the awesome lunch~ and the pressie giving~ and yeah I'm not going to hit my target of 80kg by the end of the year am I? YAY CHRISTMAS.

o The Swarovski crystal sparklies? Boss and Boss Lady have sold the franchise =0 Graphic Designer and Accountant are owners as of January 16, the day I get back from leave. FRIGGING BIG NEWS. Not much will change first up but EEE exciting stuff. Boss will be hanging around for a year, and Boss Lady will be in once a week to do finishing (stapling, collating, hole punching, that kind of thing) but still, BIG CHANGES AFOOT.

o I forgot to bring my tablet up to the Hills tonight. This sucks cos I was going to do my Secret Santa tonight. BALLS. I'll just have to make it particularly awesome over the course of the week. While I'm on LEEEEEAVE omg this is awesome.

o I swear this will be the last giant dot point entry, really.

o Lol LJ wank. I really don't care enough about subject lines to move, what is it, five journals? tpyo, HB, yrae, the Thrai (hah like that gets used anymore but whatever)... four journals. It does amuse me that the people who are getting the most worked up over it have already ditched LJ.

o I made a thing! Which I am clearly announcing at the wrong time but whatever. I'll point back at it in July.

o I bought a commission :D I love that everyone so far has seen Ackerley with fluffy red-brown hair. Hey I might even add them all to bloogum some day wouldn't that be a novel idea?

o Holy crap Dexter. I've been waiting six seasons for that. laksdghalksd want next season now kthxbai.

o THE END.



* If you've heard a better premise for a music countdown, I'd like to hear it.

OKAY SO. I have my cd on, I'm a happy 'narti ^-^ Currently on Burn Your Name which was number 3, and it was SO BEAUTIFUL. They projected on the big screen behind them those flying lantern thingies from the video clip, and akljfsghas I couldn't grin wide enough. SO GORGEOUS. I got goosebumps, and not from the cold XD

So yes. Support act 1 was some guy from Queensland with a guitar and a mate, and they weren't bad! They were there for about half an hour, followed by support act 2 who was Jet (who are known for such songs as Cold Hard Bitch, Are you gonna be my girl?). They were brilliant, too :D They're probably about the number 2 band in Australia, after Powderfinger. I never liked them to begin with, cos they seemed to just do covers in ways I didn't like, but probably the last album or two I've started liking them, and after seeing them live I think I'm a convert. They were fabulously gutsy and I want them to be on the live recording >>

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And they told us that we "were shitting all over the Melbourne crowd" XD They were clearly lying, but it was nice of them to say XD And their lead singer held up his cup of beer and said how they always like coming back to Adelaide. OH and for one of the songs they got one of Powderfinger's guitarists up to play with them :D How often does the lead act help out the support act? I know, it was Jet, but STILL. I grinned. I grinned a lot through this concert.

(Hee.
Guitarist-whose-name-I-don't-know-sorry: We're going to play a really old song we haven't played yet on the tour. We tried it once, and I did try to sing it, but it.. it didn't really work >>
Bernard: Hey don't sell yourself short!
Guitarist-whose-name-I-don't-know-sorry: Yep, there he goes >>
I didn't quite catch Bernard's interruption the first time around. Live recording is awesome.)

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And then~ POWDERFINGER. THEY WERE SO WORTH WAITING FOR. Bernard Fanning, lead singer, came out with a jacket and scarf, poor love XD; And then, as I said, later complained about it being so cold~ XD; It didn't rain, though! And we weren't cold in the crowd so I'm happy. They're Aussie, we expect them to take the piss X3 Out of themselves as much as us XD

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"So this next one is off our brand new album from... last year :D"

Sail the Wildest Stretch was pretty gorgeous, too. They had a good mix of good gutsy songs and the pretty slower ones, too. No Stand Yourself, which is probably my favourite of the brand-new-last-year album, but when they've got a repertoire of about a hundred songs they can only play so many, and it was a farewell tour, not a promoting the last album tour, so they didn't favour Golden Rule over any other album from the years.

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Halfway through they buggered off and put up some weird space thing on the screen. No idea what was going on there--they were only wearing jeans and tshirts/jackets so it's not like they had a costume change. Then we noticed people were turning around and sure enough, they'd rocked up on a mini stage in the middle of the general admission section :D We were about halfway between said mini stage and the main stage, so we had just as good views there, too X3 Recording seems to not be as good from there though. The guitar just cut out a bit XD;

To come back they left the drummer to have a drum solo while the rest of them walked back, then Bernard Fanning did Nobody Sees which was faaabulous. Voice + classical guitar = beautiful. They're some of my favourite songs, the ones with just a bloke and his guitar. LOVE.

And oh god My Happiness <3 <3 My favourite of the evening. My cheeks hurt from grinning so much. They got the crowd to sing one chorus, with just a tiny bit of background strumming to sort of keep us in time. Goosebumps~ it was fabulous. 10,000 people all singing at once, 'spretty special. alksjdghasl LOVE.

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I squeed. How often does the main act even acknowledge the support act, let alone invite them on stage? NEVER. I wonder if they ever even meet, but clearly these guys are good mates. Aussie music industry, people, our top bands are all mates cos there aren't many of them XD

I don't know this song~ but I will do shortly after listening a few times over X3 I mean, obviously remember it from last night, but didn't know it before then. "Two things you have to know about this song. Number one, it's really, really old. Number two, I have a guitar solo at the end, so pay very close attention." And then he proceeded to be a Real Rock God and played said solo with the guitar behind his head. And fell on the floor to play it on his back. I lolled X3

Eeeeeeee On My Mind <3 They so hammed it up for this one XD SO MUCH FUN~ I love Powderfinger.

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Strangely saw no sign of Sunsets, which is odd for the Sunsets Farewell Tour. Maybe they thought it would be too predictable. Or they were bored of it *shrug* It was awesome, even without Sunsets XD

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It was all fabulous. Worth every cent. alskdghaskj Want more~

Today was spent gardening at Anna P's :D Various veggies, including capsicum, zucchini, sweet corn, celery, some other stuff and a metric shitload of cherry tomatoes. I also bought cacti to put on my desk at work, because I figure I won't be able to kill a cactus. The thing only needs watering, like, once a month.

Angus and Julia Stone are awesome.* I love watching Julia's facial expressions when she's singing.




* Shut up, rest-of-Australia, I know I'm about 3 years late in finding them.

I'm glad to see the world through the winter palette,
The colour wheels stall between the green and blue.
No white, no snow-melt, no ice-bound lakes,
Just birdsong strung across a cobalt blue void.

Have I mentioned recently that I love Powderfinger? Yes? Well I'll say it again anyway.

My writing music, because I'm unsurprisingly in a writing mood. Also, my writing playlist has changed dramatically since I last posted it. Previously it was full of desert-themed music, but that doesn't seem to be fitting so well anymore. I dunno why, it's just not inspiring me anymore, despite still writing in a desert kingdom. Anyway! The new lot is pretty much six separate artists/soundtracks and with an extra five or six separate songs that are just awesome. Here, have some samples of them, because they're great for writing to. I can zip the whole album for you if you'd like =3 Good for essaying, too, not just stories.

1. Fourplay
Sample~ Swamp Jazz
Smooth jazz band, mostly lyricless and I've taken out all four of the songs with lyrics from the writing playlist anyway. Lyrics are distracting. Smooth jazz is lovely to write to, nice and relaxing, mostly piano and cool electric guitar, the kind of stuff you'd listen to over dinner at a restaurant playing live music as an aside. Nice background stuff. Three albums from them (4, Elixir and X) though they have many more, those are just the ones I've ripped from Dad's cds.

2. Armik
Sample~ Mi Amor
Classical Spanish guitar. Impossible twiddly guitar bits, gorgeous music that you can so clearly see flamenco dresses dancing on the cobblestones to. I love it <3 Also, this is the kind of thing I think of with Llayan music, but it makes beautifully delicate background music for any writing, really. Classical guitar is possibly my favourite instrument, so yes, much love.

3. Gladiator soundtrack
Sample~ Elysium
Not all of it, most of it's far too heavy for writing, but I've picked out the dozen or so softer songs. Probably more Raykin-focused with a fair bit of Middle-Eastern sounds (go figure for a movie set largely in Rome...) but lots of nice relaxing background melodies in there, too.

4. Noir soundtrack
Sample~ Liar You Lie
...I don't even know how to describe this. Modern gothic? No, not goth, proper gothic, with the echoing, indecipherable and almost tuneless chanting in giant cathedrals, fair bit of stuff with bells... but with a bit of a beat and a tune. Not enough of a tune to get distracted by it for writing, mostly piano with the slightly eerie vocals. It's beautiful and I love it.

5. Chocolat soundtrack
Sample~ Vianne Sets Up Shop
Oh god this soundtrack <3 I fell in love with it the first time I watched the movie, and I love it even more now. One of the big themes of the movie is the north wind and the change it brings to Vianne, and it's set during the month or so before Easter, so it's all woodwinds and violins with a rustling, late-winter-early-spring wind feel. Woodwinds are the major part, mostly clarinets and flutes, and it's just beautiful.

6. Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack
Sample~ Becoming a Geisha
Another soundtrack I fell in love with. It's got the Japanese feel to it, with the sorts of minor keys and the odd shamisen, but it's not overpowering or corny, just delicate and emotive. Mostly strings with a few woodwinds, beautifully smooth and with unique melodies that you just hum in the back of your mind even when you don't notice it. I love it.