Holiday mode

I’m still in holiday mode: cruising along at work; a bit of handyman stuff around the house; relaxing in the evenings; that sort of thing. I think it’s a bit of school holidays vibe which flows onto the traffic. My theory is that good traffic (if there is such a thing) means you’re more relaxed at work and it all flows from there. While I say this, it took me an hour to get home this arvo due to some hairyness on Concord Rd – boo! It’s funny how a stressful experience can have such an impact. Maybe I shouldn’t let it stress me so much. Triple J’s feature album this week is Fever Ray, they played a song off the album this morning during which I felt quite relaxed. It’s funny too that such a small thing can have such an impact.

On The Go

‘On The Go’ playlists on the iPod are my preferred method getting my music fix. Hooked up to the stereo I’ve had the Arctic Monkeys, Spiderbait, Jimmy Hendrix and Powderfinger randomised as the soundtrack to a morning of coffee, washing and washing up.

Strangely (or maybe not) I usually combine artists of the same gender in a playlist – the switching between male and female vocals is a bit much. Regina Spektor, Joss Stone and Cat Power is a good combo from the ladies. How do you do it?

Coldplay – Violet Hill

Click here to get a free copy of Coldplay’s new single Violet Hill from their upcoming album Viva La Vida. I think it’s only free for a week – just found out it ends today.

Smashing Pumpkins Last Night

Went to see the Pumpkins at the Hordern with Lach (my bro) last night and they went off! I saw them when they were here in ‘99 and have to say I enjoyed their old style better but there was no faulting them for the 10 year hiatus and new band line up (who it seems are better musos than the old team but look weirdly similar – Eurasian guy and blond chick – marketing ploy?)

Great review of the gig here with photos.

Live in Concert

Almost a week ago my brother-in-law, Nick, called me up out of the blue to offer me a spare ticket to see Jack Johnson in Centennial Park. I took it. Awesome! Such a sweet concert and great weather. His voice was amazing. Jack and the band had a kicking competition off the stage using a beach ball the crowd was bashing around.

This week I’m going to see The Smashing Pumpkins. They were one of my first favourite bands – I went to see them on their Adore tour in ‘99. I’m really looking forward to it.

What’s your favourite live music performance?

All Mankind

Richard Beeston and the boys have been hard at work on the new album. Check out some of the tracks and pre order it at allmankind.net.

Blokes

I’m a bloke and I was just reading an insightful and thought provoking post by Dan (as recommended by Dave) about music and men. We’re doing some thinking about how to do music at North Rocks @ Night. One of the things I’m thinking about is singing up the front. Here’s some of what Dan wrote:

Another factor is who you stick up the front. If all your music leaders are girls then why are all the backing singers girls? At nitechurch we have 3 guy band leaders and a couple of guy backing vocalists. I’m always trying to encourage our guys to take up the mic. It gives example to guys in the congregation.

What songs are you singing? Are you always singing about Jesus being beautiful or lovely or ‘darling’. These are fine to sing at times but what is your diet? So many christian songs are girly. Don’t buy into it wholesale. Sing about Christ’s victory, his strength, our mission, His leadership. Guys get that stuff. We get the other stuff too and I’m being stereotypical but I’m just saying be careful.

Read the rest here. Well worth it.

Something else blokey is this – the new Indiana Jones teaser!

I love the quote “You’re a teacher?” “Part time”

Gordo’s Thoughts on Music

Thoughtful post from Gordo about the music at ENGAGE and what it might mean for our churches. Read here.

Old but New

Just arrived home from my second of four night shifts after making an unscheduled pit stop at Withams Coffee roasters after a spur of the moment desire to get fresh beans. They great thing is they are 3 blocks from the hospital and just off my route home. It’s bean a while (he! he! he!) since I had any of their stuff – I had easy access to it when we lived at Gordon and can’t really think why I stopped because it’s fantastic. They’ve a new logo, bought a massive new roaster, started using a WEGA machine and have a new barista who is awesome (I had a hot chocolate – beautiful milk). I bought 250g of the Super Mocha ($10) a brother of an old blend they had called Columbia Medellin Excelso to which I was rather partial.

I’m also listening to a pommy bloke called Scott Matthews – sweet tunes! Check him out here.

Catch you all later. I’m off to bed!

Church Yesterday

Church last night was particularly great.

Gordo spoke in Isaiah 1 after doing a overview of the whole book last week. I was challenged to 1. cease evil, care for the weak, seek justice from 1:16-17 and 2. remember that we have the smae offer of fogiveness and cleansing through Jesus from 1:19.

We stayed late afterwards talking. A few of topics I covered were: HP & TDH, Facebook, Mobiles, Bible Study and Edward Norton movies (some of my fav movies incl. Fight Club and 25th Hour & The Score).

The music was awesome. Some great songs and funky band.