Gareth's soapbox

In the Pines 2009...

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:08:52 GMT

...was fantastic. Epic. So epic that I'm still recovering today.

Good people, good music, good drink, good food, good times :)

Tour 'n Biz

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:43:42 GMT

So next month, our lightning tour of the east coast. Sydney and Melbourne. Poster by the talented drummer & artiste Ash:

Should be fun. If it's anything as fun as our last trip, well, it'll be .... ummm... a whole lot of fun. It'll be interesting to play in Sydney, that's new territory for us. I've never spent more than a few hours in the city between flights, so it'll be good. And Melbourne is great, we love Melbourne.

I'm quite excellent at the moment, thanks for asking. Someone put a smile on my face recently. Tomorrow night we play at Timothy Nelson & The Infidels's single launch at Mojos. Sunday is In The Pines. Last year's In The Pines was great (we played). This year will be too I think. Note to self: Don't get TOO drunk.

Picnic

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:40:46 GMT

No one got stabbed or molested at the Perthbands picnic in Hyde Park this Sunday. This means it was a success.

We played a gig at a Male Strip Club on Friday night. It was... memorable. Actually it was hilarious for every reason but the music, which was lost in a muddy, incomprehensible din.

Deville's Pad is good. I dig it. I've been there sober and had a great time, I've been there with a few drinks and had a great time. Win. Although perhaps it's only a matter of time before word gets out and the paramount crew invade.

Really don't enjoy the job at the moment (one month and I am out of that area) but everything else is hunky dory.

Next month: We (the band) do Sydney and Melbourne. Touring. Flights are booked. Oh yeaaah. Although when Will does his European trip later in the year, I shall have to find some other way of occupying my time. Another band? Helping the needy and old? Croquet? Knitting? The world is my oyster.

I need to get to bed earlier.

Knowing me Knowing you AHA

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:11:12 GMT

I need some sleep. One early night. So much going on at the moment, but it's all good, but yes, I need sleep.

Went and saw Steve Coogan last night at the Convention Centre. It was great. Sorch and I were in the seats near the back, Will and company were in the third row (bastards!). Out of Steve's characters, Paul Calf really didn't work that well but the others - Pauline Calf, Tony Ferrino and of course Alan Partridge - had me in tears of laughter. It was great to see Alan Partridge in the flesh, particularly when he was berating a heckler in typical Alan style. A great night.

Tonight we rehearsed in a new place, a factory unit in Wangara which is deserted at night, no other bands. We've ditched the Osborne Park rehearsal studio after repeatedly being dicked around there with dodgy equipment and rooms getting double-booked. Will has written this song and we've pieced it together in two rehearsals and it's fucking great. At least I think it is.

Should get that sleep now.

Everybody knows this is nowhere

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:18:12 GMT

- Went to Bunbury for Easter Saturday/Sunday. Mainly to see my grandmother - I hadn't seen her in ages, perhaps a year and a half. Bad. Because she's 90 in a week or so and she's in a home. So we had easter with her, which was good.

- Friday was an alcoholic mess. Today was a very nice day.

- I am highly amused by John Safran being nailed to a cross in the Phillipines.

- Apparently one of our gigs in Sydney has been cancelled due to a slack promoter or venue booker. I feel like Spinal Tap:

Marty: "I was just wondering, does this mean uh...the popularity of the group is waning?"

Ian: "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no...no, no, not at all. I, I, I just think that the.. uh.. their appeal is becoming more selective".

- Still haven't received my stimulus payment. I need to be patient. More patient.

- I've been watching all the Blackadder seasons and episodes in order again. Genius.

- Going to see Steve Coogan tomorrow night at the Convention Centre. Mainly to see him do Alan Partridge, another one of my comedy favourites. Clearly I am attracted to characters who are complete bastards.

WHAMMY!! I mean BACK OF THE NET!!! I mean WAMI

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:56:15 GMT

So the nominees for the 2009 WAMI awards have been announced. And there are mentions for us. Which is nice.

We've been nominated for Favourite Newcomer (public voted awards) along with Apricot Rail, Boys Boys Boys & Tame Impala.

I know what you're thinking ... Tame who??.

Joking aside, I think Tame Impala are a forgone conclusion for the winner. HOWEVER, if anyone would like to vote Will Stoker & The Embers, you'd go here to do it: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25273956-5018921,00.html

Also Luke and Ryan got nominated for best guitarist and best bass player respectively. So that's nice.

I need to go buy booze before it's Good Friday and I won't be able to.

Baba O ' Rly?

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:53:16 GMT

Great weekend. Awesome. Deserves an Eljay post.

Friday night was a huge epic night of alcoholic debauchery and general fun. I had a monster hangover on Saturday morning, but survived it. The Friday night bender seems to becoming a regular occurance. I'll probably have to knock it on the head soon but right now I'm having a lot of fun.

Saturday night Will and I went to The Who at Members Equity Stadium. It was a great show. Nice to see 60 year olds leaping around and rocking out, and it didn't look ridiculous... 'cos it's the 'oo, innit? They played all the brilliant hits you'd imagine - My Generation, Baba O'Riley, Won't get fooled again, Who are you (cue lots of young 'uns probably going "oh it's the song from CSI!! ROFL LOL Twitter!!!"). They played one or two songs I didn't care for - Eminence Front, one of their eighties abominations... well, it's not really that bad, but it's not as good as the earlier stuff. But yeah, Daltrey sang well for the most part ("Behind Blue Eyes" - brilliant, and I curse Fred Durst forever for Limp Bizkit's flaccid cover) and Townshend windmilled and played great guitar. Townshend's stage banter was great too. And Zakk Starkey on the drums - Ringo's son - genius. It was a great night.

Been chillin' today. Not really doing much. I caught a rodent in one of our "humane" rat traps a bit earlier this evening. Released it into the park, but kind of flung it out of the trap with such force ("Rat! Ewwww!") that I may well have killed it. Oh well. It'll only come back and get into our food.

Over. Out. Under. Sideways. Down. Out. The. End.

Gimme Danger

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:07:59 GMT

It seems like all of my LJ posts are inspired by being slightly (or very) drunk.

Actually I read the last one the morning after I made it with a great deal of trepidation (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trepidation). But actually it was fine. I'd wrote it after a night out, and I read it whilst sober and went ... "yeah... that's pretty much right, that is".

There is some really good stuff happening with the band at the moment (which my devoted LJ readers will know - and be utterly sick of - is my favourite topic). Song on the next WAMI '09 CD compilation (but I didn't mention that just in case it's a secret at the moment). We had a music video in some St Kilda Festival, although that's really down to the talent of the director. And we recorded a demo of the song we'll do as a single last night in Will's bedroom. It actually seemed to sound OK. And May 13th-18th: Sydney and Melbourne. I'll be all Underbelly, trying to create a drug-smuggling empire in between gigs whilst wiping out opponents, both real and imagined.

I went to comedy tonight and it was good.

I find that sometimes I stay at home a lot and be a bit of a Hermit, and sometimes I'm a total "GO OUT EVERYNIGHT AND DO STUFFFF!!" kinda guy. Right now I am the later. It's good, I'm enjoying it. Making friends, doing things.

And this brings me to my current job, which I don't really like. I don't really like the area I am working in now. Fortunately for me, fate has noticed this and I've been told I'm being transferred back to my old area in May (right before the band's tour - high five). Nice.

I'm tempted to go on all about me and women but I don't really do that kind of thing on teh internets where people can read it. I like to play the cards close to the chest. Because you gotta know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.

Ok that really made no sense. It's Kenny Rogers - it's not supposed to.

I am rambling. Today was a triumph for either comedy or cruelty - it's your call. A friend told me she wanted to prank a guy friend for April Fools: To get someone to leave him a voicemail message on his phone pretending to be a Doctor delivering ..*cough*.. sensitive ..*cough*.. news. I offered my services. Dr Gorath informed the poor fellow he had probably contracted chlamydia from his last sexual partner and should come in for tests. It was all in good fun, and I think I was pretty damned convincing as the droll Country Doctor inviting the young fellow in for a urine sample or two.

I've got lots of new music to listen to/absorb at the moment. Which is good. I mean, it's not new music as such, but it's new TO ME. Iggy and The Stooges, more Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, more Neil Young, more Stones. When I was a teenager listening to Led Zeppelin I felt guilty, like I should be listening to current music. But really, fuck current music. It's shit anyway.

The drink sodden end.

Riffing

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:57:35 GMT

Hmmm....In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern, refrain or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition (though they are most often found in rock music, Latin, funk and jazz).

Anyway I am listening to The Beatles - Day Tripper. Brilliant. No argument.

We're playing on Sunday with Mile End. Hopefully it's good.

Went out to a gig tonight. And last night.

Sent a possibly inflammatory sms to a friend. Hopfeully it wasn't.... you never know. It wasn't meant to be offensive or anything. Sometimes things can be misconstrued. Misundertood.

PAPERBACK WRITERRRRR!! PAPERBACK WRIIIITITEERRRRRRRR!!!!!

God I love The Beatles. I mean I've really grown to love The Stones ("Beggars Banquet", Let it Bleed", "Sticky Fingers", "Exile on Main Street" - some of the best rock albums ever) but The Beatles, I think somehow everyone gets them.

In fact, one of the worst things ever is that I played bits of Sgt. Pepper era Beatles on the car stereo whilst driving down south once and a girlfriend didn't dig it. Also she objected to me playing The Police in the car. The love of my life so far, but dear god did she have the most fucking atrocious taste in music.

I"m only writing that - being quite candid - because I am drunk. I will fight you.

Now I am listening to Elenor Rigby. Genius. Again, I will argue with you. Ooops. Did I say fight? I have anger management issues. Like the Adam Sandler movie.

The best review I ever read/got

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:02:47 GMT

Awww Lyndon you're the greatest. I didn't even pay him to write this:

It must be said that Will Stoker & The Embers were in fabulous form this fine Black Friday. Amidst their usual meteor storm of vitriolic rock and roll, the lads delivered a rendition of the Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ whereupon Stoker entreated everyone to “twist on the fucking floor.” Lo and behold, we did! and were joined by the man himself, when he wasn’t wielding the twin rifles of the ‘Extreme Hunting’ game - the Embers meanwhile growing rowdier - Gareth B. Bevan (the B is for Badass) attacking his guitar with a beer jug before attempting to saw his amplifier in half with the guitar neck, toppling it in the process.

Hehehe. I thought that was pretty cool. Although the "on" light on my guitar amp doesn't work now. So that's not so cool.

Show me the way to the next whiskey bar

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:43:32 GMT

It's Saturday night but I keep feeling like it's Sunday night, in part because my Friday night was a big night. I went to the Rocket Room, watched bands, ran into heaps of friends and got quite pissed. Ended up at Marnie and Bernadette's place playing singstar and drinking more. Woke up this morning on a couch with a doona and pillow going "Where the hell am I?". Got up to face the inevitable hangover. Left the girls a thank you note and walked off to catch the bus into the city, where I would then catch a train home. Got coffee, went to 78's and had a laugh with Chris about singstar, beards and bad albums. Caught the train home, ran into Kelly (ex-gf) waiting for a bus. Chatted to her, walked home, had shower, proceeded to feel more normal. Had invite from Sam to drink beer at hers ("Come over for a hair of the dog!"), went, drank beer and felt pretty alright, hangover having been soundly defeated.

Quite tired now though.

Happiness is a warm gun

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:00:25 GMT

Work is still a place of immense stress, feeling awkward, feeling clueless and generally feeling shitty at the moment. I make mistakes all over the shop and it's because I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK I AM DOING because NO ONE HAS SHOWN ME PROPERLY. Thankfully nearly all of the customers I am dealing with are very nice and the jerks and nutjobs (there are definitely nutjobs) are few and far between.

I went to the gym today, in part to make myself feel better and shake the gloom. It worked for a little bit. I went and exercised and felt a bit better about things.

But in general I'm not really terribly happy with the situation at the moment. The only thing I really like is being in the band and playing music. That's probably quite a sad way to be. I feel like I should change my job, change where I live, change my lifestyle, change my attitude... change lots of things.

Some fucking little neighbourhood shit keyed the side of my car last night, possibly because they were making a bit noise in the park and Mike told them to shut up. Lucky me.

I don't think I'm incorrect when I say the last time I had a holiday, like some actual time to chill without any work or commitments, was September 2002. Since then I've been almost non-stop working, studying, playing, etc etc. I remember a little while ago I was unemployed for two months, but that actually wasn't like a holiday at all. I felt like shit, and had no money for food.

In Summary: DOOM. DOOM. GLOOM. DOOM. RANT. BLAH. DOOM. GLOOM. GOTH. RRAARRRR. BOO.

Ulcer

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:45:38 GMT

I don't think I'm really enjoying the area I am in now at work. I'm basically being thrown in the deep end. I mean I seem to get that at every job, it's become how I learn, and I am a quick learner. But when you're actually dealing with people... it can be stressful. I've been quite stressed. It's only been two weeks in this new position and I'm already thinking about my options in getting out of there.

It sucks that I work for a government department because I can't really go into any detail; I can't whinge about my work in detail. Because potentially it could HARM THE NATION. Harr harr. But seriously.

Anyway yeah. Work is a pain. I'll either adapt or leave.

My friend and former housemate Paulo is getting married right now. I've never even met his bride. I think I got invited to the wedding on fb but couldn't attend as it is in the Phillipines. But I'm very happy for him and hope it all goes well.

We have two gigs this weekend - Friday night at the Railway Hotel in Freo and Saturday night at the Rosemount. Cool. Bring it on. Only one more day of work drudgery to get through.

B is for Bereavement

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:26:18 GMT

Our much beloved family dog Tammy passed away today. She was really old and had a poor quality of life at the end there, so it was no surprise, but of course we still feel really sad about it. And we have to keep it a secret from my sister until she gets home from her holiday.

We got her as a puppy, when we (my sister and I) were still in primary school. She was the best. She had a really long and good life. I feel quite crushed.

Happenings

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:52:16 GMT

An update is probably about due:

We went to Margaret River this last weekend to play gigs. We played at the Bush Shack Brewery on Saturday afternoon and Settler's Tavern on Saturday night. We were supposed to be playing at the Colonial Brewery on Sunday but this gig fell through for some reason. The Bush Shack was hilarious. Free beer. And boy, did we drink it. We played four or five sets, I forget exactly. No one was really listening to us but it was fun. Being drunk made me do more singing than normal. The Settler's Tavern gig was amazing. By the time the full band played the place was packed and we went down awesomely. After the gig there was a mad scramble by the two single guys in the band *ahem* to pack up their gear and go and talk to the girls outside. Refering to yourself in the third person is silly.

I've just realised that Richard, who books the gigs in Margaret River and provides us with accomodation, he was in The Stems. I mean, I already knew that, but I actually looked them up on the internet (this wonderful new invention I've just discovered) and they were kind of a big deal, to paraphrase Ron Burgundy.

Tonight I went to see Rhys Darby (comedian best known for playing Murray Hewitt in Flight of The Conchords) at the Regal Theatre with Dave and Vikki. It started off a bit lukewarm, he came on as a different character, a NZ park ranger, with a infrequently funny comic sidekick. And the Intermission seemed long. But when he actually came out as himself and got into it, it was hilarious. He does quite visual comedy, lots of guesturing and madly flailing about, and he also does sound effects (really good ones). It ended up being a great show.

I'm working in a different section at work now, and I'm not sure if I like it all that much. They have me doing the shit work. Dealing with the public can be challenging. We'll see if I last the 3 months until the contract finishes. I told the section manager today I would be needing four days off in May to "tour with a rock band, playing shows in Melbourne and Sydney". She said it would be fine, not realising that it is NOT NEGOTIABLE.

I'm sort of half housesitting my sister's place at the moment and looking after fish and plantlife here whilst my housemates are away.

I really need to get an early night sooner or later.

The News

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:24:07 GMT

Strange occurance no 1. I got an email today at work telling my contract was being extended three months, till late June. Which is great. Or is it? I'm quite annoying in a way. I got the email (same one everyone else non-ongoing got) two weeks ago telling us our contracts weren't going to be renewed and that we would be out of a job. So today, two days before I thought I was going to be unemployed... I'm not all of a sudden. I should be grateful, I think certain people were going in to bat on my behalf. But I'd geared myself up to find something else, and was on the job hunt. I had a interview with a job agency lined up on Tuesday morning. Now I'll still be at work, except I'll be moving to a different section, and I won't found out where until Tuesday. Helpful.

Strange occurance no 2. My car wouldn't start this morning. I had to walk to the train station. Which really isn't that far. But when I walked home, I tried my car again. Still dead. I have procurred a battery charger from mum & dad and am charging the battery overnight.

I'm bored. Really. Uninspired and bored. Still getting over that evil fucking dreadful flu/infection.

Ghost

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:59:33 GMT

I'm going to tell a story here that I already told on perthbands.com. About my morning.

I was actually up a bit early to go to work. I get to the train but a train is broken down somewhere are there are big delays. I end up jumping on a bus going in to town. The Bus is crowded since Transperth have bungled things as usual. I'm standing in the aisle.

Halfway through the trip I start to feel very bad. I feel weak, and my vision goes blurry. I don't want to be standing upright wedged in between people, but I am. All of a sudden, my vision turns into bright colours, bright lurid yellows, purples.... I can't make out anything outside the windows of the bus, and the people around me are just outlines. Bright outlines. I am freaking out. I want to get off the bus. I want to get out of the crowd of people, I want to sit down, I want to lie down.

I ask the guy in front of me (I described him on perthbands as "Alpha Male berk") for water. He says he has none. I feel like the reason for my virtual blindness is the fact that I've barely eaten anything for the last week. I feel like I instantly need food and water, or else. The schoolboy near the middle step looks and me and asks me if I'm thirsty. I say "Yeah... I feel really ill". I'm sort of leaning over resting my head on one of the poles. He asks if I want his fruit juice. He then takes a fruit juice out of his lunchbox and gives it to me. At this point my vision returns to normal. Which is strange because I hadn't even begun drinking it.

Anyway I managed to get a seat when some people got off the bus. And I had the mostly frozen fruit juice. When I got to work I bought something from Baker's Delight and made myself eat it all.

I'm pretty grateful to that kid. I offered to give him money for the fruit juice but he declined.

Temperature

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:56:08 GMT

It's almost 6am, and I think I've been awake for hours, but it's probably only one or two. I want to sleep but my body won't let me. I feel too hot, and then I feel too cold. I can't find a happy medium. I am still sick. I still feel quite shit.

See that my grave is kept clean

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:24:48 GMT

Crap. I wrote an entry and then accidentally hit the back key. Crap.

Basically the gist of it is I am sick. I am unwell. And we had a gig tonight.

But the good thing is I played Keyboards on a song. In front of an audience. And didn't stuff it up.

Sleep needed urgently.

Bend over please

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:02:55 GMT

Yeah, so I found out today officially that my contract won't be renewed; I will be out of a job in 2 weeks, despite "all my hard work, and helping other people and picking everything up so quickly, very sad to lose you" etc etc.

I'm looking at the APS website, but honestly I feel like going back to the private sector where they really seem to reward hard work more.

We'll see. I'm tempted to defy everyone's expectations and go and be a guitar teacher at the Sound Centre or something. That would be fun.

Hostile

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:49:15 GMT

I'm kind of annoyed, bitter, angry, ranty, resigned to my fate etc etc.

My contract expires in 2 weeks. I've done really well in this job, excelled in it. But in all likelyhood I'll be out of a job.

There are people there who are permanent staff who cannot do their work - they are quite hopeless - and myself and other non-ongoings end up doing quite a lot of their work for them. They will stay and I will go. This irritates me.

In my head this was a crazy bile-dripping absolutely rage filled journal entry/blog. But I can't seem to translate that to the actual computer. Shame.

I'm also angry about my financial situation, which is, to put it mildly, fucked. And so if I don't get employment RIGHT AWAY after this current job finishes up, I am gonna be fucked.

It's all fucked. Get fucked, world.

Hey Hey My My

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:05:16 GMT

Being up the front for Neil Young with my mates tonight is easily among the best moments I've had at a Big Day Out. Amazing.

The Big Day Out and the search for a ticket...

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:30:02 GMT

...isn't going all that well. Nothing yet. I really want to go, because if don't, I will regret not seeing Neil Young, just like I regret missing Joe Strummer at a previous Big Day Out. It's one of my regrets in life, missing Strummer. I don't wanna miss Neil Young too.

GAGAAAAHHHH!H!!!! *Rages*

An ode to Blixa Bargeld

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:38:55 GMT

Not really. It's funny, I've quite got into Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and The Birthday Party lately. Funny because I play in a band that is apparently hugely influenced by them, or like we're some lame rip-off version. I disagree of course. But there are definitely worse people/artists/bands to be accused of being hugely influenced by. Like Nickelback.

Not really been inspired to do LJ anymore.

Possibly might get my temporary contract renewed at work... it'll be 15 people out of 40-50 that get to stay on at work, so we'll see. My supervisor thinks I'm the really good at the job and that I should get my contract renewed. I just think she's nice and that she should ditch her on-again off-again boyfriend for good and perhaps... hmmmm... yeah.

I've got one or two friends being kind of dicks lately. I'm all angry and just don't like being fucked around by friends. So I guess I'll just leave them be for a while.

We played our last Hydie residency show tonight, and the vibe was kind of shit. I usually like to speak in concrete terms, but I am a believer in "the vibe" (the general feeling and ambiance of something). To quote The Castle, "it's the vibe, it's mabo, it's....". Anyway tonight I think the whole thing went out with a disappointing whimper. Which is a shame because up until now it's been pretty cracking.

Over and out.

Fun weekend.

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:09:29 GMT

I had a fun weekend. It started when the air conditioning gave up at work on friday arvo, and I found myself finishing work at 3:30pm. I actually wanted to stay back and work later, but everyone else was leaving so I eventually left too. I walked down to the foreshore and watched the Kings Park fire. Thewest.com.au had said it was under control, but it didn't look under control to this observer.

I then went to the Hula Bula Bar, eventually meeting Scott and Sarah there for a beer or three, before training it home. I then went to Kim's birthday party for more beer and Joel's excellent food.

Saturday night I went to Ash's housewarming. He has a nice house. I was spending the evening sober and was driving, and so decided to leave and venture to Deville's Pad, a place I kept hearing about from friends. So I went. And it was a cool place. I met friends, had an excellent time, and did so sober, which is good because sometimes I feel like I can't have a good time without drinking.

This evening I had gone to the Hydie to watch some bands and ended up playing an impromptu gig with Luke, which was fun. I didn't know the chords to his songs but jammed along, playing his newly acquired '72 Gibson SG with bigsby tremelo (for all of you guitar afficionados out there............*cue tumbleweed*). It was fun, I hope it didn't sound too crap.

Hooray. Weekends. Hooray.