Fritz

GD name checked in the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYC5JASqWnI

Spending the holidays trying to read only hard boiled and/or noir fiction and I'm loving it. Next up:

I'm really getting into this:

Magazine Called Sunset Cars Can't Escape Poor Places Born Alone All indicative of Mr Tweedy's gift for songwriting.

That was great.

At Least That's What Chicken Said.

My guitar. Actually it's a friend's which is on long term loan but I've written a bunch of songs on it. It's been very good to me so far.

My home. It's such a busy time for me right now - Christmas shows to play at numerous schools but when I return home to my family in our house amongst the trees (we're high up off the road in a tree-filled suburb of Sydney) I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. It's bliss.

For the coffee I make for myself each morning. Not only am I saving a heap of money not buying takeaways, but I love the process of grinding the beans, boiling the pot and I've got a good taste going, too.

The two lorikeets that have visited our balcony these last few mornings. Their happy, contented chirping has made for a wonderful start to each day.

As always, I am ever-thankful for my wife.

Augie is great in this clip. Doesn't deviate from his basic riif at all. Even in the solo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXr2vH-Co6I

Out of the blue I decided to download a show I've never listened to before (and there are many) based on high numbers of seeds on etree. I found 7 May 1977 and am listening now. Oh man, this is glorious. "Don't you let that deal go down!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVdFGGpgw18

That is pretty cool. I'd love him to come down here to Australia but if he's only getting sixteen people to a show in the U.S., well...I don't like the chances.

Funny quote from Leon Russell in an interview I read today, talking about bands he didn't understand: "I also didn’t get the Grateful Dead. I played one time with them at the Armadillo Club in Austin, played for five hours, and I didn’t understand them anymore at the end then I did at the beginning.” http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/Preview+Leon+Russell+chose+leave+spotlight/9144340/story.html

Foghorn Stringband. Fun and very tight bluegrass which I enjoyed way more than I thought I was going to.

A collection of very nice tributes here: http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/37442/Iggy-Pop-Patti-Smith-and-John-Cale-lead-Lou-Reed-tributes

"Life's like bacon and ice cream that's what life's like without you..."

A musical giant. Rest in peace.