Reminders

I bumped into someone from my past today and it was good to see them.

Sometimes people walk into your life randomly and it takes you by suprise. In many instances they have exited without the chance of a goodbye.

These random interludes are like little reminders – flashpoints - from your past. They may have been really significant, but for whatever reason (there could be a thousand... or just one) they arn’t in your life anymore. Occasionally you will see someone and you really wish they were.

I find that it’s these people that often have an amazing ability of reminding you where you’ve been, where you are and where you want to go...

Sober Train (Part 3)

Next Friday is the 9th of April which means 3 months off the drink and essentially a target reached. I haven’t wavered yet. I’ve definitely enjoyed parts of not drinking, but it does have its moments. This weekend I’m going to “Bluesfest” in Byron Bay, which will no doubt be one of those challenging moments, full of temptation. The beach, a festival atmosphere and live music are definitely conducive.

Which brings me to a topic I touched on in my first blog on this issue but never said much about - the way that occupations, environments etc influence our social habits – and the propensity to drink.

I can only talk from my own experience, but I acknowledge that many of the professional and recreational environments I have moved through in my own career have not only condoned drinking but have at times, it must be said, encouraged it.

To provide some examples: In recent years I have been a rugby player, worked in the legal profession, worked in the music business and have tried to be a writer… Each of these vocations are very different. Perhaps the companion to each however is the alcoholic bevvy. Looking at it openly, alcohol does play a significant part in the social fabric of each – for quite different reasons.

In the rugby culture, drinking can be a way of celebrating a win, commiserating a loss, winding down after a game, part of club nights, team building and creating camaraderie – the reasons are many and varied….

In the regimented, precise, pressure cooker of the legal profession, it’s a way of blowing off steam. My own experience working in law was that when Friday night ticked around, the overwhelming compulsion was to make a b-line to the nearest bar. I once heard that the term “going to the bar” was quite literally just that (I haven’t substantiated this yet…) but drinking has traditionally been associated with the pastimes of lawyers, barristers even judges alike – to negate the mental rigors of practice and “take the edge off”.

The Friday night relief session is a phenomenon that I have not experienced so much being out in business for myself or when working in the creative spaces. But then again, when I was working in the music business, sometimes you had to double check what city you were in, let alone what day it was…

I remember being on the road once in Melbourne. We had done a live television appearance on “the Panel”, before racing across town to the Northcote Social Club where we were promoting our own sold out concert the same night. We just made it. Afterwards we had a few drinks as one invariably does in those circumstances – the next thing it was 4.30am on a Wednesday morning and I remember thinking that was pretty bazaar.

You could do that a few times a week and the weekends kind of became meaningless. The live music space is a very “free” environment and everyone comes out to have a good time. When you are working in venues, in an at times stressful yet very fun context, the temptation to drink is always there.

Drinking and writing have always been aligned. I don’t need to rattle off the list of writer / alcoholics – it is extensive. Drinking puts you in a head space that lends itself to introspection, reverie and analysis – which writers love. It’s a romantic coupling, but equally a potentially destructive one.

So without wanting to put a negative spin or over generalize the drinking cultures of these professions and undertakings, drinking pressures can come to bear in a number of ways.

I do think it’s wrong to say you have to be a big drinker because you choose to do this or participate in that... such cultures are present in some things more than others - but you make your own calls about that and live with your choices.

Certainly I take ownership of the choices I have made around drinking and don’t put them down to the things I have decided to do. It can be useful to acknowledge that those pressures are there, though and see them for what they really are.

I’ll wind this social / psychological barrage up now…

One major thing I have noticed while being out, is that I have gone looking for entertainment. Conversation is great, but as the time wears on, just standing round talking garbage loses its gloss when everyone else is charged up.

I actually think there is something in this. Modern venues have geared themselves exclusively around drinking and nothing else. Most don’t bother with any kind of entertainment anymore. This was certainly not always the case. I tend to think that if the Government wants to combat binge drinking a thoughtful place to start might be in compelling venues to offer more to patrons than just getting them drunk. It could be a great change.

I will post one more debrief on this project / blog series with final thoughts… getting off the booze for a few months is really not a big deal, but as the first quater of the year wraps up, I am glad I did this..

PS -
A final confession - one of the reasons I’m tapping this out in an internet café in Byron was that I needed a time out from watching everyone enjoying themselves in the bars and in truth, was killing for a beer!...

Sober Train (Part 2 – Update)

A short blog – for a change…

A brief update on my sobriety progress: still chugging along, some seven weeks along the track – gathering steam. A few significant revelations from the scenic journey thus far:

· You can go without beer on Australia Day.
· Chinese restaurant karaoke does not improve when you are sober, but is equally amusing.
· It is possible to see one of the world’s biggest rock acts (ACDC) whilst stone cold and still have a good one.

I will get a bit more involved in my next blog on this topic…

Sober Train A-Comin’ (Part 1)

I made a decision early this year to stay sober – alcohol free – for an extended period. I made the decision for a few reasons. So far so good – but, it hasn’t been that long just yet.

I took my last tipple on a deck at Yamba on the 9th of January. It was a good swansong - moonlight beaming across the water, breeze off the ocean and a good late night conversation with my dad and my brother over a few drinks, which we don’t get to do all that often.

Given the fact we had plundered the contents of the esky before going home, I think my last drink was a lukewarm, organic apple cider that my brother’s girlfriend had somehow snuck into the supply chain. It was horrendous and I only lasted a swig on that before it hit the ol’ bin in disgrace…

The challenge at this stage is to make it to my birthday - 9 April - without indulging. So a few months… I enjoy a good red too much to ditch it forever, but I think the challenge and experience will be illuminating... I’ll re-evaluate after that.

Bob Dylan wrote the album “Slow Train Coming” – his most “religious” album – in the aftermath of some religious experiences at a time when he was in personal crisis.

At the time, Dylan’s marriage had collapsed, he was getting the worst reviews of his life, his touring was being met with ridicule and his health was poor. The week before his profound experience, a member of the crowd at one of his concerts had thrown a silver cross on stage. Not one to normally pick things up off the stage, Dylan did this time and he kept it.

The following week at another show, he felt terrible and thought to himself – “Well, I need something tonight that I didn't have before.” When he looked in his pocket he had the cross. Later, in his hotel room, Dylan is said to have witnessed a vision of Christ; as Dylan himself recalls it: "Jesus did appear to me as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords ... there was a presence in the room that couldn't have been anybody but Jesus... put his hand on me. It was a physical thing. I felt it. I felt it all over me. I felt my whole body tremble.”

The experiences of this time renewed Dylan and, it is widely believed, probably saved him from an “early grave”. They led to his writing “Slow Train Coming” and took his career in a new direction with a newfound enthusiasm.

Sometimes a challenge or an inspiration - however profound or simple, can make you look at the world with different eyes. It need not be “divine” as in the above example. It could be something very simple. But it is a conversion nonetheless. A conversion in thought or from a routine – perhaps a very stale routine.

For these next few months I will be looking at the world with exclusively sober eyes. It is a change of view. It has already been a bit of a challenge. For instance - I would have really liked to have had a couple of cold beers on Australia Day. I almost succumbed… I really like wine with food. I like having a spirit to relax and write sometimes.

My main goal is for it to be a productive time. I think alcohol can be very positive in a social context – it loosens people up and is oftentimes good for lubricating conversations.
But it also “takes” and can suppress productivity and destroy opportunity. It’s a powerful drug – frequently underestimated and easily abused.

I think the charges levelled at wider Australian society and perhaps the younger generations in general regarding a “binge culture”, are legitimate. Much like the hard drinker who reluctantly accepts their problem, Australians hate to admit it, but in truth, it’s blatent. I’ve looked at this a bit already in terms of reading. It will be good to explore it on a personal level. My own drinking has been “substantial”.

Another goal during this period of sobriety is to be observant. I will use this blog as a bit of a platform in this respect.

The feeling of not having any alcohol in your system is a good one. You do feel, physically, much better. That’s another part of the challenge on a personal level – with a desire to do more serious training again to get myself back into old fitness levels (and clothes sizes!), alcohol related sluggishness is one less thing...

I was also further encouraged down this road, by the thoughts of a mate, Dave Butler, who has also recently undertaken a booze sabbatical. He is participating in a movement called “Hello Sunday Morning” in which drinkers take the challenge of going sober (most for considerably longer than I am) while documenting their thoughts and impressions. You can read Dave’s blog at: http://hellosundaymorning.com.au/?cat=174

As a muso, Dave spends a lot of time in what I would consider to be one of the most “free” environments in our culture: that of the live rock concert. Having spent a bit of time in this space myself, I know how conducive it is to behaviour like heavy drinking.

The temptation to drink is omnipresent in our social environments I think, but is also more pronounced in some occupations and scenes. I’ll try and broach this in my next blog, among other things, from aboard the sober train …

The Enigma of "Judgement"

One way to look at life, is that it is the composition of many value judgements – made constantly. Made in moments, in split second intervals; made consciously and unconsciously; influenced by an exceptionally diverse range of things.

These can also be considered, “decisions”. Instincts play a role – a significant role. But I do think it is the sum total of these judgements, the trends in these decisions, the consistencies, that play a big role in the overall scheme of a person’s life. Much more so than the so called “big decisions” or turning points.

I have been thinking about this a lot for a while and find the whole idea pretty fascinating. Human judgement never ceases to surprise me. But I think the exciting idea to grab hold of is that we are constantly making judgements and it is these judgements that unfurl not only the present but the future. The decisions to put yourself in particular environments and company is, in my view, one of the most significant things we are constantly doing - a lot of the time "unconsciously".

Personally, I’m not sure how good a “judge” I am... We all like to think we possess great judgement, but I think the truth is, human judgement wavers wildly. Some of our judgments are based on gut, rebellion, compliance, politics… they are not always informed or “true”. But they are our judgements/ decisions nonetheless.

There is great truth in the saying that “everyone has their reasons.” It’s freedom and tragedy in one. A decision that is utterly perplexing to one person might well make sense to another for very compelling reasons. I am absorbed and intrigued by how different people make decisions. I’m curious as to how I myself make value judgements about other people. I still don’t have a “formula” for how I judge anybody (nor do I think I should - I don't believe life should be formulaic). While I might think I can read and understand a person, it is also important to understand that most people, in their public lives, "act", most of the time, so what you are seeing is a performance, of some description (most of the time).

This is a late night thread to an intricate philosophy… But if anyone cares to share their own thoughts on human judgement, I’m very keen to hear…

Jive Talkin'

The Jackson Jive – Australia’s hottest new, racially intolerant touring ensemble…

I confess amazement at the furore that the “Jackson Jive” skit, performed on “Hey Hey its Saturday”, generated in international media. In keeping with this hysterical reaction, I’m throwing in my two cents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmaF7Pys7OI

My initial response, was that it was mildly amusing; due to, I suppose, the ridiculous presentation. My initial thoughts were not (consciously) “race”; I probably found it slightly more entertaining than several other “red faces” skits I’d wasted my life on over the years – which is not saying a huge amount...

When Harry Connick Jr, the guest judge, reacted the way he did, his remarks momentarily suspended my indolence and I reconsidered the act for a moment (through Harry’s eyes). I figure his objections were within reason and certainly somewhat courageous, on reflection.

The easy thing for him to do would be to toe the line, cringe through it and make a dull joke. But that’s not what he believed and so he stood up and said something. It’s bulltalk to say it was a publicity stunt. He was genuine and I admire him speaking his mind.

And then the whole affair became a media event. If this happened twenty years ago when this skit won red faces (which, is, I think, entirely possible had the “wrong person” been in the judge’s seat), I suspect the whole matter would have “contained” in the moment and any follow-on ruckus neutralised by the apologies that were offered at the time. This reveals the true star in this story – namely, viral video, and the way it perpetuates news in contemporary media.

Rather than bang on about the influence of video, and viral communication though, I’ll focus this blog on the hot issue, which is “blackface” and racism – in the context of an otherwise very innocent, benign skit.

There are good arguments on both sides.

The taboo behind “blackface” in a performance context, is an antiquated but significant symbol of an important resolution in race relations. It is fair to say it was most prominent / significant in America. You can learn more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface

When you understand the tradition of “Blackface” a bit better, you can certainly see how the Jackson Jive’s little piece may be interpreted as the regressive resumption of a dead gimmick. And why Harry Connick Jr, raised in New Orleans, in the African-American jazz tradition with many of his close friends and colleagues African American performers - puckered.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with what Harry Connick Jr said – he was right of course, and his sensitivity is understandable. He felt it was out of order and he was true to his internal litmus. Aussie’s shouldn’t get so touchy just because someone expresses an opinion that may run against the common grain. That’s where we show our own immaturity.

However, there was nothing much wrong with the skit, in my view – for the reason that it lacked the necessary ingredients of intent and general awareness which I feel must distinguish racism from everyday insensitivity. It was a classic example of ignorance and misunderstanding.

In defence of the show, I would argue the vast majority of the Australian population has no reference point for the true political significance of this issue. To most, this was a pretty harmless little skit that did not say anything really controversial. That’s my personal view.

It’s also my view that this in itself evinces an embarrassing lack of education. Perhaps if more historical subject matter was taught at school level, it would be reasonable to argue that we should “know better”. I do believe that the amount of history taught at school level is deficient. Learning about the modern history of the world we live in is vital, for not only understanding our fellow man and the different paths nations have walked – but also, because it gives perspective.

Notwithstanding this, I studied history all through school and can’t ever recall bracing this particular issue…

My only personal awareness of “blackface” can be traced back to my remembering the decision to delete the “golliwog” character from Enid Blyton’s “Noddy” books – which I had read the print off as a tot. I remember when that decision was made in the 90’s thinking it was PC gone mad. Of course, “Golliwog” was a relic from the blackface tradition too, and it makes a bit more sense now, why they wanted to bury that character…

However, we do have to beware the political correctness illusion - particularly when it comes to comedy. It is vital we retain the ability to laugh at ourselves. Especially as Australians – we have much to laugh about, and we needn’t get so anxious for others to like us and our culture that we lose our sense of humour and can’t be criticised and jibed. Likewise the Americans, the Brits - everyone.

One of my favourite all time comics, is American, Don Rickles. Although commonly referred to as an “insult comic”, the tag is something of a misnomer, because there was a virtuosity in his venom. Check out his “roast” of Sammy Davis Jr here, for a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUcEQvU6LPE

In the context of this debate, this particular clip with Sammy Davis is very interesting.
It shows the great spirit this era of entertainers approached performance with and their great ability to laugh at themselves. A modern audience may be shocked at how “cutting” some of the humour was. But it was so very clever – and it was not malicious. It is so important we retain something of this. Skin colour and ethnicity is not important – which is the very reason it should be joked about – in the right spirit. Laughter and good humour is vital…

Other little observations of the Jive circus:

I noticed John Blackman, the V/O man and the best comedian in the “Hey Hey” outfit for mine, utters under his breath “uh – oh” almost as the act is introduced. A gut instinct that perfectly predicted the “sh1tstorm” to follow…

I think the timing of the skit in the wake of Jackson’s death may have been a trifling poor in taste, but in another way, it was these guys quirky expression of their love for the music…
Poor Jacki McDonald, the other co judge, was reluctant to even be involved in the show’s reunion and declined an earlier invitation. She has now found herself painted as the airy, “ignorant Australian”…

But finally, I would argue that one of the charming things about “Hey Hey…” is its “moments of purity”. It’s stumbles and its politically incorrect moments. There is vastly more patronising and offensive material on television than this. Satire and comedy is an important leveller and political correctness (PC) must be tempered, if not flattened, or we all run the risk of talkin’ nothing but jive.

End of an Era? Definitely Maybe.

One of the first groups I got into as a pre-pubescent 12 year old, was Oasis. It fell somewhere between the outro of the “Definitely Maybe” album and the curtain call for “What’s the Story Moring Glory” – which really broke, in Australia, in 1996 - my first year in high school.

I was a big fan. Oasis was mega in 1996. It was almost a cliché, of course, to be a fan of Oasis in 1996...

Run forward several years and I find myself working with a band called “Royal Engineers”, which some of my good friends have formed. Great musicians and artists. They had an “oasis like” sound - which they got criticised for , frequently (and unreasonably, in my opinion).

Big, swarming guitars. Psychedelic in parts. And the rock n roll lifestyle and ethos to match… They were one of the better and more important rock bands to arrive in the Brisbane music scene circa 2004 / 2005 – without a doubt (in my biased view).

We listened to Oasis a lot through those lively years, too, of course…

The other week I heard Noel left Oasis and they broke up. Oasis have been producing awesome rock n roll (and great music for that matter), for a good while. I suppose it was time. I guess the natural thought is that Noel will come into his own and Liam may suffer. But who knows...

The important thing is the band's musical legacy - some great, GREAT, rock n roll.

I saw them in 2005, with some of the Royal Engineers, in fact. It was a very fun night.
“Definitely Maybe” is still one album I play all the time.

If I ever need a “lift” before a night out or something, I'll drop on “Definitely Maybe”. I'm still mad fer it.