bye bye Andrew McMillan

My good mate, NT writer Andrew McMillan passed away last night at home in Darwin, surrounded by pals. He outgunned a September prognosis and died in style with plenty of good grass, bourbon and morphine to ease his way. He felled a range of projects en route over the past year which would have flattered a well writer.

Here's a poem I wrote for you Andrew. I read it for him on one of the trips I was lucky enough to make to stay with him in recent months, and he seemed to like it too. It's pretty rough, but now's the time - so here it us.

BRING ON THE BLACK HORSES
(for Andrew McMillan)

bring on the black horses
the rustling muslin, the arched necks and stiff
boot-polished, lifted hooves
bring on the warped trumpets
the single-malted kisses
bring on the dancing doorbell
the endless parade of collaborators and
ex-lovers, friends
- super-efficient, all at once
bring on the dongas under
a mighty host of outback stars
the campfires and the stray, hard-drinking guitars

bring on the recordings, the
theatrical reworkings, the gigs, the ABC crew
whatever – bung it on! flick on
the gorgeous haze of pain-busting
hunger-hefting THC wafting over
the tropical orgy of palmfrondfernery
out there beyond his gecko-clicking patio
where graceful torresian pigeons swing
feeding upside down and at 3am
orange-footed scrubfowl yodel like
partying maniac Martians
(Andrew approves)

turn on the afterburners
the head
the steroids
the @^#^&*! nicotine
the sauvignon of each persuasion
the bourbon, don’t forget the bourbon -
turn it on!

here they come!
come in!
at Andrew’s, home is where the floor is
there are swags enough for all – none
shall be refused

stories stream through him
mad hatter passing round a dormouse
rolling up another
grinning like a crack in the desert floor

bring it on!
the ceremonial day approaches!
the burial site has been divined
the journey of the wack magi
will soon be heading
deep inland

Melbourne - fireworks taking themselves too literally

2012 was the first New Year I woke to where both my kids were staying off elsewhere, separately doing their own things with their own friends at their own parties. It was a bountiful eve, driving Sienna up into the tangling hills of Research, hairpin bends writhing like a a cut snake, moon a cantelope slice hanging fat near the horizon in the warm air, pygmy possum eyes glowing overhead as we climbed and climbed and I left her at a high stone gate with friends and wound back down and home to absolute peace and solitude. Just loved it. In the afternoon of 1/1/12 went over to my lover's and we spent a sensational day partying, dancing, singing and whatnot ... Lots of whatnot. A very happy 2012 to all of you.

For Harvey James

stealing away ... For Steve Prestwich

Death doesn't mess around ... Except when it does. Age's sombre march can have many mis-steps. Lost two old friends recently, both in their 50s. Harvey James's loss we saw coming, his lung cancer spreading. Steve Prestwich's second, fatal bout with a brain tumour came out of left field.

Writing obituaries is an honour and a fierce challenge. You deal with the fresh grief of those closest. There's often family dischord, and people are angry and easily upset. Yet with luck the tribute stays up on the net for people to read from anywhere, for a long time. Like a vitual headstone in space. It's an important memorial to read about the marks artists make on the wall of life.
Artists can get too easily forgotten in this country, in my opinion. Vale.

I've never used a toilet as portrayed in pictures 1 and 2 in this official poster on a Swinburne University toilet wall, but I guess at sometime someone has, or else they wouldn't have put this up, right?

This in East Brunswick outside 3RRR after I did Aural Text review of Black Inc.'s 2010 Best Austraian Poems. More moody Melbourne rainskies. Just loving this rain. Cool, cool summer so far.

Trees out Dad and Sue's window

Storm surge North Melbourne

This bizarre apparition appeared up the road when I exited a pub in North Melbourne late last week. It was so transfixing I nearly got wiped out by the 4WD coming down the road in the shot shortly afterwards when I went to cross the road. Big downpour included.

Paulfactor

You gotta love this. Paulfactor
Living Music participant/
performer/writer and DJ on
the Living Music Radio show,
Mondays 3-4pm on the magic 3CR
and coming up in Word on the Street.
Don't mean a thing if you
ain't got that bling

Looking forward to these shows ... I'm back on the publicity trail again, but only for a good cause like
LIVING MUSIC’s 2010 crew present …
WORD ON THE STREET
Underground Loop Vol IV LIVE CD LAUNCH
Old Council Chambers, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton
Three shows: Thursday 25th November 6pm &
Friday 26th November 1pm & 6pm
FREE but to avoid disappointment please book Ph: 9329 0503 / info@livingmusic.com.au

Imagine you’re young, you’re in trouble, the world is bearing down like a tornado. Music can be a release - even a transformational magic carpet ride. But in order to get your act off the ground, first you have to skill up. Find a mentor, a studio and some boon companions. That’s where Living Music comes in.

From a natty studio complex hidden behind a brightly graffed door in a North Melbourne alleyway come sounds of the street, beguiling, moving and fresh. Melodic hip-hop, torn-up pop, gentle Islander R&B and genre-defying tales of struggle and love all feature on Living Music’s new CD WORD ON THE STREET Underground Loop Vol IV.

And to mark the occasion, Living Music 2010’s crew present WORD ON THE STREET live in the Trades Hall Old Council Chambers over three shows November 25-26. The show’s concept is loosely based around the search for a shadowy underground figure called Motley, detailed in the title track, aided by a selection of songs from some of the one thousand-plus young people who’ve participated in the Living Music program this past year. Tracks crackle and growl with energy, harmonise with fine melodies, unfold with surprising skill. Words and music ranging from the most simple, sweet acoustic guitar to sophisticated, highly-arranged diatribes arise from a range of talented characters like Paul Factor, Trixide, Gabby and Saint Lu.

Backgrounds in youth detention, homelessness, family breakdown, disability, mental illness and substance abuse have touched participants of the Living Music program, an important avenue for musical composition, recording and performance for young people at risk since 1999. And, like the show and CD, assisted by the City of Melbourne, inspirational mentors have worked alongside Living Music participants - including key people from Rogue Traders, Dili Allstars, the Avalanches and Living End plus Mia Dyson, Mark Seymour, DJ Wasabi, Little G, Wicked Force Dancers. Current mentors for the Word on the Street CD and show are Motley, Mantra, Rob Sedky, Thomas Butt, John Favaro (Badloves) and Pete Satchell (Dallas Crane).

Andrew McSweeney, the very experienced head mentor, songwriter, producer and musician behind Living Music - who also plays with Kutcha Edwards - is very excited about the new show. “I can’t wait to see what people think. We’ve definitely struck some real talent at Living Music in 2010 and the CD has plenty of knockout tracks. We also get to present it onstage over three shows in the Trades Hall Old Council Chambers, which is a really cool old wooden amphitheatre with an exciting, intimate feel to it.”
BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES: Living Music, Andrew McSweeney. info@livingmusic.com.auPh 03 9329 0503/ Fax 03 9329 7857 Website: http://www.livingmusic.com.au/
MEDIA ENQUIRIES & interviews with participant Paul Factor or organiser Andrew McSweeney: Jen Jewel Brown 0408 898 338 jenjewelbrown@fastmail.fm
Living Music Radio Show with Paul Factor airs weekly on Mondays 3-4pm on 3CR
Supported by the City of Melbourne, the Department of Human Services and Artful Dodgers Studios through Jesuit Social Services.

Oh yeah - and speaking of Artful Dodgers Studios, they have their annual exhibition launching 5pm Tues 26 Oct and they say: “In our backyard you’ll discover strange flora and fauna – created with sculpture, painting, sound and moving imagery.” OK?

Who: Artful Dodgers StudiosWhat: Into The Shed
When: Tuesday 26th October – Saturday 6th November 2010
Where: Fortyfivedownstairs (45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne)
Email: info@fortyfivedownstairs.com

January 2009

Once upon an up and crumber, as Dennis Cometti might say, a body of public art began a journey.

nioce tatts Dane

AFL Players Association's most valuable player 2010
shot by Darren Tindale for Fox Sports

visibly inking up

Collingwood's Dane Swan is inking up at a great rate even as he works his way towards a second Grand Final in 2010, Collingwood vs St Kilda. I expect the Pies to put the Saints to the sword properly this time with a bit of Samurai strategy courtesy of canny Mick Malthouse (who'll be smart and lucky enough to get MM next?). And hopefully some straighter kicking (although please note, knockers, Travis Cloke is one of the best contested markers in the comp, which has to count for some space tokens, surely). Wish Prestigiacomo was in though.

more PI

shot by Paul Harris, Sydney Morning Herald

Lab Rat Solar-Powered Studio Palm Island

Heard a really great show today on 3CR, which isn't unusual. It was on Hip Sista Hop
http://www.3cr.org.au/hipsistahop
Hip Sista Hop

Hip Sista Hop Monday 1 - 2 pm
There was an amazing single mum on who was working with an org whose name escapes me now, but she casually mentioned she'd been in Palm Island working on several creative community projects powered by solar and wind. They played some of the music which was a real knockout, so original and Australian. Hip hop completely Palm Islandafied.

My favourite was 'Anybody Seen My Horse?' which was a little song based on a true search for a missing horse sung by a bunch of very young girls who sounded about 10. Blew my socks off. Apparently at the end of a flattening day of searching the jungle, the little girl's horse was found. Unfortunately it was pinched the next day. At least they got an astounding recording out of it, recorded by solar power.
If I can find out more, or a link to the music, I'll post it

xJ

Melbourne Stencil Festival (09)

I did a report on the Melbourne Stencil Festival 2009. with my fellow Swinburne student Morgan Riehl. Some of Morgan's neat shots of the fine collection are here ... (click on the heading)

Palm Island