I have an article up on New Matilda about the wonderful book, Torture Team by Philippe Sands: http://newmatilda.com/2008/09/02/just-following-orders
And you can see the panel I did at the Melbourne Writers' Festival with David Sedaris, David Rackoff and Don Watson (What's funny about America?). This is minus my witty introduction - it only has the introduction to the guests - I had many a great line about bosoms and glitter glue and Santa vomiting and spray on cheese.
Also, if you like Augusten Burroughs. Part one of the interview that Steve and I did with him on Aural Text is up.
Static, went so well at the Melbourne Writers' Festival. My love to Sean, Nathan, Kieran, Quinn and Lisa.
I will be at Port Fairy this Saturday night to be part of the show again which is so exciting! It is part of the Ex Libris Port Fairy Book Fair.
I'm performing and paneling at the MWFthis year. There's so many great writers. On my radio show Aural Text over the next few weeks, we will be talking with Rachel Cohn, Augusten Burroughs, Barrie Kosky, Margo Lanagan and Philippe Sands.
Melbourne Writers' Festival
Static: white noise writ large Date: 29 August 2008 Time: 8.30pm – 10.30pm Venue: BMW Edge
Three spoken word performers, one musician, absolutely no interference!
A collaborative poetic work to reach through the TV set of our minds into the unknown, the alien, the other. Featuring Nathan Curnow, Sean M Whelan & alicia sometimes, with musician Quinn Stacpoole.
Commissioned by Going Down Swinging. Supported by Arts Victoria.
I'm paneling two sessions:
Art and Motherhood Date: 31 August 2008 Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM Venue: BMW Edge
Do the roads to artistic fulfillment and family happiness cross? Join singer-songwriter Clare Bowditch, Catherine Deveny, LIsa Gorton and Rachel Power as they discuss art and motherhood with chair Alicia Sometimes.
What’s funny about America? Date: 22 August 2008 Time: 4.00pm - 5.00pm Venue: BMW Edge
Do David Rakoff, David Sedaris and Don Watson have their perspectives on America skewed at the same angle? trope
trope is a new space in Second Life promoting creative writing in virtual environments. The panel features trope's creators alongside the Melbourne-based writers selected for the first iteration, discussing the dynamics of this intersection between literature and new media and the poetic possibilities of virtual spaces.
trope is supported by the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, through Write in Your Face.
Participants: Cristyn Davies, Elena Knox, Sarah Waterson, Matt Hetherington, Alicia Sometimes and Bel Schenk.
Two exciting things. One is that Short has been released by Black Dog Books and I'm in it with other wonderful people:
Short: a collection of interesting short stories and other stuff from some surprising and intelligent people
edited by Lili Wilkinson
“Life is too short for a long story.” — Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Our best-loved writers, alongside our newest and youngest authors, present to you short, a collection of interesting short stories and other stuff from some surprising and intelligent people including Carole Wilkinson, Andy Griffiths, Michael Panckridge, Michael Gerard Bauer, Karen Tayleur, Tessa Duder, Scot Gardner, Alicia Sometimes, Michael Pryor, Sue Lawson, Julia Lawrinson, Chris Miles, Pat Flynn, Trudy White, Bill Condon and Simmone Howell.
Liner Notes is on again. This time it's The Cure's Head on the Door album. Bar Open Thursday May 15, 8pm. Guests include Sean M Whelan, Mandy Beaumont (QLD), Emilie Zoey Baker, Klare Lanson and more.
I have been featured along with other writers such as Arnold Zable and the Sleepers crew in Tiger Airways Magazine. Who knew?
Also, dinosaur is finally up on Monkey Punch Dinosaur. Check it out. Don't worry, I won't quit my day job.
I have just read Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz's new book on the New York Poetry Slam scene, Words in Your Face. It's a fantastic read. Even has Australia's own Steve Smart in the first parts. I highly recommend the read if you love words, poetry, slamming or any kind of well researched history. I had the pleasure, along with Stella Glorie of interviewing her all the way from NY. At the Bowery Club no less. She's an amazing writer and an inspiration as a dedicated and passionate artist. Do read it. For those in Australia, Amazon is a good start to get her book. Look out for the Charlie Rose bit. Loved it.
Featuring with Dragan Dragojlovic from Serbia Sunday February 24, 4pm Australian Poetry Centre 'Glenfern' 417 Inkerman Rd East St Kilda Victoria, Australia.
Liner Notes Vol 3.
Liner Notes is an ongoing series of readings that are a spoken word tribute to classic albums of our time. In 2006 it was Bowie's Hunky Dory, in 2007 it was the ultra-cool Velvet Underground's Banana album, in 2008 it will be Madonna's, Like A Virgin.
Liner Notes Vol 3. A spoken word tribute to Like A Virgin by Madonna. Wed 20th Feb, 8:30pm. Bar Open, 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Victoria.
Other guests: Phil Norton, Chloe Jackson Wilmott, Ben Pobjie, Sean M Whelan, Steve Smart, Emilie Zoey Baker, Dan Lee, David Prater and Terry Jaensch.
I'm a fan of monkeys. And dinosaurs. I am nearly finished a small film comic (not a comic film) of a monkey punching a dinosaur. It's for Adam Ford's baby (creatively speaking) and you should submit. Here's one still from the one I'm making. Will keep you posted. Both of you.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Barry Hill for Radio National's Book Show. You can have a listen if you wish.
Barry Hill is an acclaimed writer in several genres, having won Premiers' Awards for poetry and non-fiction.
Most recently Broken Song, his biography of Australian anthropologist TGH Strehlow, won a National Biography Award and the Tasman-Pacific Bicentenary History Prize.
Barry Hill is Poetry Editor of The Australian, and lives in Queenscliff, Victoria, where he has been writing full-time for the last 30 years.
His most recent books include The War Sonnets, by Picaro Press and Necessity: Poems 1996- 2006 by Soi3 Modern Poets.
Of course it's nearly Christmas and what would Christmas be like if you don'tElfyourself.
You should read Mr Behemothhere, he has lots of funny things to say. All I can ask is 'does it matter anymore?' You should read Mr Ben Pobjie'stakeon theChasers' song aboutdead celebrities and the moral outrage that followed.
Now aren't drug users just going to buy toysfor their next fix of fantasy?
I have a review of David Prater's book We Will Disappear onRadio Nationaland a review of poetry books one should be reading over here.
I have been tagged by atomicladybomb to come up with 8 random facts about myself.
The Rules of this tag:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules. 2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself. 3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them). 4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.
Eight Random Facts:
1. If I think about the fact that I have knees I just freak out and have to stop what I'm doing.
2. I love reading about American history and politics.
3. I never liked colouring books. Or rulers.
4. I've always wanted to see an earthrise and until I was about seven it was on my 'to do' list.
5. I first learnt to read Japanese through Snoopy cartoons...
6. Dad would tell every boy I liked that I loved the Bay City Rollers even though I'd never heard of them (and I still can't name a song they do).
7. I've seen Bob Dylan in concert about eleven times and each time I hang out to hear 'Desolation Row' (and it still hasn't happened).
8. Because Emilie mentioned her crush on David Attenborough, I must confess I thought Carl Sagan was the coolest guy ever when I first saw him in the early 80s. Love that pop science.
This is great Jon Stewart news for all you Jon nuts...
Come along this Wed 3rd October, 8.30pm to see some fine Velvet Underground love at Bar Open upstairs.
A spoken word tribute to The Velvet Underground's amazingly influential debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, otherwise known as The Banana Album! We choose eleven of Melbourne's finest writers and randomly assign them a track each. Their mission: to respond in whatever way they see fit.
A totally unique event, meshing rock and roll adulation and spoken word theatrics. Eleven classic tracks, eleven writers respond. Performances by - Laura Jean McKay alicia sometimes Lee Kofman Emilie Zoey Baker Geoff Lemon Eddie Burger Justin Heazlewood Sean M Whelan David Prater Ben Pobjie Crazy Elf
Hosted by Michael Nolan, and featuring The Mime Set as house band.
Wed 3rd Oct Bar Open upstairs 317 Brunswick Street Fitzroy 8:30pm start $8/$6 entry.
It's been so long. I promise to write more. I really do. This is a pic of Arlo. He's very cute and he already knows what he wants.
If you've ever want to know what a five star prison in Austria is like: go here. There is such a thing as talkingurinal cakes! And I quote: "When a man steps up, the motion-sensitive plastic device says, in a woman's voice that is flirty, then stern: "Hey, big guy. Having a few drinks? Think you had one too many? Then it's time to call a cab or call a sober friend for a ride home." I need to get out more.
The best worst commercial ever. If only I could rap like that. Hang on, maybe I do rap like that.
I will be doing some gigs soon attending the Broken Hill Poetry Festival and the Mornington Peninsula Writers' Festival. I will be chairing two sessions at the Melbourne Writers' Festival. I am slowly getting out.
Also, check these two sites out to see other things I've been doing. The Red Room Company website is great and I've reviewed Terry Jaench and Cyril Wong's book Excess Baggage and Claim forRadio National. It's a great book, you should read it.
If you love independent radio and you listen toAural Text or you love books or spoken word, you should subscribe to Radiothon 2007. RRR is just wonderful and they (we) need your support!
Finally if you need a DJ name you must trythis. I was DJ Project Ho. Hey, new career!!
The Three Sixties will be playing their thumping music at Bar 303: 303 High Street, Northcote on Friday December 22 8pm. Beautiful guests are The Thoughts and Emilie Zoey Baker.
There will be lots of Christmas festivities, surf sounds and Steve Mc Queen love. Klare Lanson will be on keyboards again riding high, Cliff Booth will bang those drums, Andy Crowder will wow you away and I will be thumping my axe.
I have joined the My Space life. I now have two. Like peaches. One is for The Three Sixties and the other is for myself. It's great to make friends. How often can you say do you know The Ramones, Sonic Youth and The Stooges personally? Well, it might not be all exactly real, but that doesn't matter does it?
I said I wanted to go rollerskating and I did. With others. To the depths of Scoresby. The scene of my first date. For those of you who don't know the suburb of Scoresby it is an interesting 'place' to grow up in. South East, formerly very leafy and very suburby if I may make a new word up. The skating rink does not look look this. (For those who are not Arrested Development fans, Barry Zuckerkorn says everything looks like balls). It was so much fun. We glided, crashed, had lemonade, played video games, visited VFL park, dropped in on my parents. We were sixteen and there was no stopping us. Sure we were older than most of the parents there and as Klare said, there were no cute guys, but it was fun. A blast. Anyone watching the soccer should see this real game with the Netherlands and Germany. Funny.
Thought I might share some funny things I've been looking at during the week: I love Harrison Ford, I wanted to marry Han Solo (or at least have an affair with him) since I was little but Harrison Ford in the last decade has made the same film over and over again. Really. See what you think. Ever wondered what would happen if you made Han Solo a wind up toy and put it in front of pet food? If you've ever been a fan of Bob and Doug McKenzie, then you will appreciate their Star Wars story, parts one and two.
Then I moved from learning all I could about Harrison Ford and moved onto Bob Dylan. What if Bob watched the Gilmore Girls? I needed to find out. Then I knew I'd stop at wondering what if the Gilmore Girls went into Star Wars territory. Silliness. And here's a useless but farm animal orientated game to play.
Thought I'd leave you with a few images from the Luster gig the other night. Thanks to all those who came, there were many. It was a blast. As Corky says: the hotdoggin' style I use is fun. And Elvis is alive and surfing in Australia.
Stay tuned for more gigs. Thanks To EZB, Sean and Steve for photos...
Okay, so anyone who comes to this site knows that I'm playing in my band again for the first time in nine years. Why hadn't I for so long? Because I was expermenting with other things.: the uses of sage, the clean look of a fresh frock, poetry. It will be fun. The other band members are the wonderful Andy and Cliff, two rock mainstays in the Melbourne scene, extremely talented. They've never stopped with the rock. Andy plays guitar with a wonderful amp, Cliff plays drums. I thump my axe. (Actual instruments may be different on stage). This time we are joined by Klare Lanson who will be in charge of 'the sound' and keyboards. Expect fun.
This is happening Wednesday May 3rd at Bar Open, 317 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, upstairs, 9ish. If you are in Melbourne and you want to join us, please come, sit back and relax. If you write poetry, the theme of the night is SURF.
Last night I played music at Babble. Exciting stuff and as always when playing music I can feel a sense of nostalgia, especially when playing the Bee Gees or you know, Neil Diamond. I needed to play Sesame Street stuff when I woke up this morning and remembered this. Someone needs to put that back on the dance floor. This is also funny but has NOTHING to do with music.
I thought I'd put these two images in for nostalgia, of course with one I had to protect the innocent, so some altering to the image may have happened.
What did this monkey find funny? And the famous monkey washing a cat on Letterman. Bliss.
not in facts: but truths
you always said your were capable of being extended. i imagine you: dinking Jim Jarmusch to school funding a New York picnic drenching yourself in cocktail skipping on a layer of chenille puncturing a few paragraphs elevating speech into monuments teasing thoughts from tongues spoonkissing Greta Garbo biting into an exquisite bedsit weaving silk into lasagna politicking with the suburbs ruffling ceramic fingers silhouetting your life into droplets remixing the Velvet Underground loosening the nerve of ten eyebrows surfing the artificial cashcuff bragging about Kenneth Koch weeping into new numbers lumbering into my words.
Thought I'd go through some old stuff yesterday, discovered old coins I had from everywhere: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Mexico etc. Found old Australian sixpence and threepence. Question is where did I get them? Some, of course, are from my travels, the rest I must have 'found' somewhere. Maybe dad chucked me one or two. My favourite was a made up coin from a pizza place that used to be in Knox City called Billy Bob's. On a Sunday you could listen to badly animated Australian animals doing the whole Beatle's White Album. Isn't that nutty?And fantastic? $5 pizza and 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road?' Bliss.
Here's random tickets (that I've since taken off this blog just for space): the first is Bob Dylan doing the Mercury Lounge in 1998. I surprised my dad with these tickets, he didn't know this concert was on and it was his birthday, at first he thought I was taking him to a nightclub, gotta love that. Bob was metres away. Sigh. Next: 1993 Big Day Out. I went with my boyfriend at the time, Paul. I loved Iggy, Painters & Dockers and Nick Cave. Next: The Cure. Went with Paul to that one too. Screamed when I heard 'Primary'. I am a goofball. Finally: When I travelled in 2003 my friend Stephen (from Leighton-Buzzard) took me to see a friendly; Tottenham vs PSV Eindhoven. Not the madness of final's fever. But I loved it. Nearly as good as the rugby 7 that I saw on Friday night (by the way this guy spilled beer on me and just for the record, the police did take more than five mins to get there- not for the beer spilling but the biffo he had five minutes later). I am a yob (occasionally).
Here's a poster from when I was in a band. We were described as hula hoop grunge. We were called Luster but we are called The Three Sixties now. We are a mix of surf, spaghetti western and pulp pop. We will be performing for the first time in many years at Bar Open on Wednesday May 3 as part of Babble.
This is if you want to create your own band and not get off the couch. Or why not create your own nation?
Speaking of music, Christopher Walken loves cowbells. I remember coming home from a gig one night and saw this late on TV. Too funny.
I just finished watching the stoopid Oscars. Taped it. Why? Because of Jon Stewart. He is the business. I do have a thing for older men in suits who are intelligent and funny (or who are unshaved). The Oscars held no interest for me except George Clooney in bed with Jon. Also, Jon saying that Bjork was too scared to come to the event because Dick Cheney might shoot her. Nice.
Just wanted to throw in here that my time is well spent with intelligent people. David and Emilie are two very funky people. The thing is, we spent two hours drawing certain parts of the anatomy. Not roosters. Two hours. Why? Because that's what you do on Friday night. I don't have any originals but here's one from another website that could give you an idea. At least they didn't look like this. Bulk ace.
I'm excited that Sam Seaborn is coming back to the West Wing. SSSS (Save Sam Seaborn Society) must have worked. A little late to the party, but let's just embrace the fact he showed up at all.
Totally for fun, a Family Guy 'out take'. Sensitive material but funny.
Perhaps in blogs one should reveal a great deal about themselves but I find that difficult to do. So I will speak through pop culture.
If you like toy love, here's a link of Brokeback Mountain and Lego.
Here's another way you can put your name or the name of a crush or your grandma into this google. Googlism, I like it. Of course I started one off for you.
If you're at work and you want to watch a small movie thing about Scrabble and silly men, watch here.
For all you Arrested Development fans who like Star Wars too.
If you've always wanted to be a song writer and you need someone to sing your lyrics first, type here.
I just spent a weekend in Chewton with the Hedigan-Fords and stayed at their wonderful abode. I'm wondering where I can get a vista. I want a vista. When I awoke this morning the cat Zeffirelli started jumping on me and biting my nose. I was wondering if one could die by being bitten by a kitten, didn't think so, but then I remembered this guy who died by watching a lava lamp. As the Doc would say, heavy stuff. I wanted to die by being on a rollercoaster but now I'm not so sure. Someone might web-cam it. And then I'd just feel silly.
I also realised that we all like to dance, some more than others but sure, I like to jump up and down, especially to LL Cool J or The Stooges in my bedroom but some people just take it too far.
Did you ever play Tetris? I never did until recently (I know it's like just discovering a rubik's cube) but I'm hoping no-one ever played it like this.
Well I'm sure they'll be other life and death moments I'll have this week. More life for my poetry...
Here's a poem I've just written:
Geography
these idle thoughts & who can blame you Europe was always on the to do list, so how did you find yourself everywhere at once dreaming of interlocking spurs & mackerel skies? sun arise on the Kangaroo Paw she drives away the darkness First, the Arctic Circle, Norway, Mokenstrom, Devil's Tower, Wyoming & the sand dunes near Colomb Bechar, Algeria, an oasis of good luck Holding hands near the haffs along the Baltic coast, the spit & sandy bars whipping up your skirt Writing letters to the lakes of Finland, babies of glaciation all wool & hail proof, knowing the instant peace of escarpment Listening to the Polyphonic Spree in Rias the ribs of South West Ireland, so far from the mallee scrub, gullies leading home Entering into a heath, wishing for a solid plot line, inhaling the Crater of the Raoeng Volcano, Java & kissing stalagmites in Somerset, England. Only a postcard away from the Fiescher Glacier, Switzerland, great chocolate & better shoes. these visits & no-one to witness it, the nights, a montage You said this was over a scuffed heart, just a scratch really I'm glad you planted your ache in every continent, tendered it. Will add more bite to their seasonal fruits
