Subterranean – 5th May 2024

Like Jack, I ran quickly from my dreams
Eager to discover what it all means
In the moment, exploring the themes
Is anything at all what it seems?
– Put it down on paper
– To review this endless caper

I found a box and put time inside

Was it living or was it writing?
It’s only myself that I’m fighting
A jazz dance in the underlighting
Each pair of eyes met, newly smitten
Fresh fruit waiting to be bitten
Another story begging to be written
– Late nights spent on the town
– Running home to get it down

I found a box and put time inside

And when I meet my future me
I’ll open the box to look and see
Words pressed, sentimental free
Whether tragedy or victory
– Presented here from me to you
– A diary of everything I do

I found a box and put time inside

Submitted to No Theme Thursday and dVerse Meeting The Bar (bop poem)
Inspired by the movie The Subterreans, based on the Jack Kerouac novel of the same name, where one of Jack’s girlfriends criticises him for always running off to go and write about the events of the night whilst he could have stayed and enjoyed more adventures. For some reason, this interaction always stuck with me.
Either way, WordPress provides a box of time for our future selves.


Today I’m feeling:

Anxious this morning. I woke up well before my alarm thinking about going to Bangkok and preparing for school next week.

Starting to relax a bit as I wait for the plane as I leave control to others for an hour or so until landing again.

Today I’m grateful for:

The crazy mixed-up rail options in Bangkok for helping learn more about getting around and gauging travel times. It’s also helped me achieve 10,000 steps easily.

The best thing about today was:

Meeting old friends and new ones at the show tonight.  First Nampan and Pam from SpeechOdd. 

Then Team, who is a young uni student that contacted me last week trying to make connections to put together a screamo band. Later, another young guy called Poom bought some screamo from me so I introduced them to each other.

Of course, I met Arwith and his bandmates in Piri Ries.

I met Sano-san from Low Fat again and exchanged CDs. 

I briefly talked with Fern who is the owner of the venue.

Nampan introduced me to the High Voltage folks.

I also met one of the guys from ADxHD (Korea) who also plays in Struggle Session (China).

Another guy came up to me and asked if I was Shaun and if I remembered him? It was Sasha from Russia! I met him about nine years ago in Kuala Lumpur when we were both staying with Kimi!

It is a little sad to think how small our world is because it feels like there are so few of us interested in this music. But it is amazing to bump into random connections anywhere in the world.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Just my sweat. Thankfully I bought an extra pair of clothes as I was expecting this.

Something I learned today?

Coming from Don Muang, don’t get off the train at Chatuchak for Chatuchak market! Even the nearest station at Bang Sue is a fair walk.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

I left some stock free of charge at Heaven and Hell. Poowanat gifted me a CD in return.

I sold some merch at a discounted price at the show and also gifted the venue the Trumans Water and Flesh Narc CDs.

I took this picture because I finally got to see SpeechOdd play.

River Of Sorrow – 10th February 2024

When the bottle was empty of pills
There’s no time left to grow
Amongst so many ills
It’s the bitterest one to swallow

When the son takes the rope
Believing there’s no place to go
Those left now to cope
Traverse the river of sorrow

When attention wasn’t sought
And she suddenly became the show
Life is no longer a thought
Slipped into the undertow

So pass the many hours
That survivors will never know
And drift away the flowers
Along the river of sorrow


Today I’m feeling:

Fuzzy and weird. After a delicious afternoon nap yesterday I got into reading comics so much in the evening that I was up just past midnight. I shoved down some medicine in the hope of waking up flu-free and slept reasonably well until 11. I do feel better but fuzzy around the edges, eyes unable to focus 100%.

Today I’m grateful for:

Matt for buying me a drink and giving me half a pack of tramadol after running across to Central.

The best thing about today was:

Seeing live music in Chiang Rai. Punk, hardcore, metal! Who’d’ve thought?

Something I learned today?

A Wall Street Journal report says Iran is having trouble reining in “Iran-backed militias” and offers one reason why: The US killed the guy who was good at reining them in!

I took this picture because this was the venue for the show before dark. The sound inside wasn’t fantastic due to the stage being shoved in the corner which is circular. This made for some wild and interesting sound distortions from the guitars though.

Aching Bone – 15th October 2023

Everyone has got an aching bone
Something imperfect inside
The picture may be pretty
But there’s always something to hide

Flat feet, terrible teeth
The flaws remain concealed
There’s lipstick on the cover
In the morning the truth revealed

Bad breath and wrinkled eyes
The Botox is wearing off
The aching bone is constantly nagging
Unable to look pretty and cough

As I was waiting somewhere, my left foot aching from fallen arches, a pretty girl walked by, drawing my eyes. Perfect on the outside, what is her fallen arch? Her hidden aching bone?


Today I’m feeling:

(1.40 am) still awake with a headache.

(3pm) When I finally got to sleep it was deep and with no real morning planned for, I slept until 11am and headed off to coffee and Tom’s new shop on the bus. Even then I didn’t quite wake up until I started browsing the books in the shop, of which he had curated a good selection and I picked up about five. It was good to see Tom too, he looks like he’s doing well these days. 

I walked over to Newtown which was really nice to do, past old buildings and streets I used to drive through.

I got to Moshpit and met Bob and Julian and the band turned up and I caught up with everyone again. Nicely nostalgic and not too weird, even though it’s a Sunday afternoon and I have other places to go to soon.

Today I’m grateful for:

Tom and 19th Nervous Breakdown for buying me coffee, giving me CDs and only charging me 20 bucks for 5 books and a CD. Good man!

Also to Julian for covering the cost of my ticket to the show today. Good man! 

The best thing about today was:

Catching up with Shouwang and Carsick Cars again and talking about the good old days, I suppose. It seems like in Beijing these aren’t the good old days anymore.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Apart from my sleep there was nothing much that couldn’t be easily handled. I didn’t even eat until 7 pm except a Snicker Bars which took off another piece of tooth after losing a bit last night whilst eating bread rolls. I guess that was out of my control but thankfully the filling is still intact so there’s no pain at the moment.

Something I learned today?

Thanks to Dave I learned too much about chickens and limestone. I’m somewhat jealous of people like Bronwyn and Dave who are just able to keep talking even if it’s not that interesting or relevant. I noticed Dave checking himself occasionally before he started wandering off into conspiracy land though he did end up getting into something but I can’t even remember what it was now because it was just so dumb.

Who do I need to spend time with?

I need to spend more time with Amy and to settle back into a comfortable routine that will work for me again. I know there will not be enough time to do all the things I’ve been used to and Amy will have me busy doing things.

I took this picture because it’s been a good while since I got my ears blasted at a show.

We got that attitude! – 9th February 2020

I am so happy and grateful for our friends taking care of our house and cats.

Ask truly curious questions that don’t have the hidden agenda of fixing, saving, advising, convincing or correcting.

Kate Murphy, NYT

To-do list

  • Talk with John (he will be busy though!) ½
  • Talk with Kyaw Kyaw and Zarni ✅
  • Get Kyaw Kyaw and Zarni to do TCRAH spot
  • Talk to as many people as you can ½

A very lazy day finished off by going to the show at Mohawk Bar. I met Kyaw Kyaw and talked with him a few times through the night which was rewarding and it was good to finally meet.

I probably wouldn’t have stayed around too long if I hadn’t met Christopher Luppi. As the older punk members club we swapped stories and he introduced me to a few others he knew. The evening passes quite quickly in the end. I had lots of opportunities to talk to more people but didn’t make the best of it, still a little shy and reserved.

Vialka, The Laurels, Ian Wadley, The Question?, Ten Thousand Free Men and Their Families, Divide By Zero, Przewalki’s Horse, Abortifacient – Club Consolador De Dos Caras, 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney, Australia – 23rd April 2008

Pic: inside Dirty Shirlows

What’s Cool and Unusual

wed 23

consolador de dos caras
la campana, 53-55 liverpool st, sydney
$10 8pm

this is the one we’ve been waiting for! and the line up has blossomed madly! first band will be on at 8.30 tonight so BE EARLY!

the laurels – the laurels are a 5 piece psychedelic/shoegaze band from sydney. first taking the stage in june 2006, the laurels juggernaut has accumulated accolades, guitar pedals and fans in approximately equal proportion.

Vialka – Vialka is an inflatable submarine that survived the commercial war. It travels unrestlessly around the world to explore the rich diversity of its cultures before it is too late. Vialka is a noisy comedy not ashamed of its own way by scorn or ridicule. It is an invitation to dance to steady explosive rhythms, terror melodies and experimental movements. It is a symphony for humble flesh through the high spirits of rock’n’roll. Globetrotting mavericks and dynamic two piece from everywhere and nowhere, Vialka unfailingly blow the minds of the uninitiated! With the world’s smallest and hardest hitting female drummer and ungodliest (un)bearded baritone guitarist, this band surpasses all expectation of the possibilities of popular music!

ian wadley – played with bird blobs, jandek , mick turner plus a whole list as long as your arm. have a look at the website for more info. Oh and also brother to greg of new waver fame

the question – Formed through a combination of too much time + equipment and lack of like minded individuals. no more sitting around >>>time to mess around.

as if these bands weren’t enough there will be other crazy shit going on in the front room:

TEN THOUSAND FREE MEN & THEIR FAMILIES

– 10kfreemen is the alias of Tom Gilmore, an Australian chiptune artist. Tom began making Game Boy music in early 2007 with very little exposure to the world of chiptune. His early minimalistic style developed with his exposure and increased involvement with the scene, along with the development of a live show to express himself to new audiences and expose a new genre of music to an unaware Sydney, Australia. http://10kfreemen.com http://myspace.com/thefloortom

DIVIDE BY ZERO

Often described as a mathematical anomaly, Divide is setting out togive a big lo-fi fuck you to mathematicians. ”Anomalise this, cunts” he has been heard to say, wielding a gameboy in each hand whilst shooting lazers out of his eyes. He also occasional designs flyers for No Frills.

PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE

In the wild, Przewalski’s Horses live in social groups consisting of a dominant stallion, a dominant lead mare, other mares, and their offspring. The patterns of their daily lives exhibit horse behavior similar to that of feral horse herds: Each group has a well-defined home range; within the range, the herd travels between three and six miles a day, spending time grazing, drinking, using salt licks anddozing. The stallions can frequently be seen sniffing dung piles to confirm scent markings, and playing out 8-bit tunes in Sydney.

ABORTIFACIENT

When not elbow-deep in recreational autopsy, Abortifacient likes to program Breakcore. Born in 2005, Abortifacient has taken his brand of Queensland Breakcore on a Japanese tour. Like a Gabber set at the Gympie Muster, Abortifacient’s live shows blend Psychobilly, Chiptunes, and Horror Film Fanaticism.

plus the usual DIY markets – bring your wares if you have something to sell

++++++++++++++++++++++

fri 25

‘stikki records’
510 king street, newtown , sydney
12.30pm all ages FREE

capa capo
death cage
rocksteady dub militia
squidd
doin it for the money
fuck oath.

its a public holiday so no excuses!

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

wolli creek outdoor acoustic entertainment society
1pm meet at turella station

harriet
trini
commonfilth
+ more

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

Name: Killerwatts System presents…
Tagline: Death from Above
Host: Killerwatts
Type: Party – Night of Mayhem
Time and Place
Start Time: Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 9:30pm
End Time: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 12:30am

Location: Dirty Shirlows Warehouse
City/Town: Marrickville, Australia

PASSENGER OF SHIT
MATT BLEAK
CAT-GRRL
DIABOLIQUE
DISLASYSTEM
DJ ZEITGEIST

see breakcore.com.au or killerwatts.info on the day for more info

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

vic on the park
Cnr Enmore Rd & Addison Rd, Enmore
8pm $10

Schrodingers Cat
http://www.myspace.com/schrodingerscattheband

Luca Brasi(Melbourne)
http://www.myspace.com/lucabrasinoise

Dining in Tuscany
http://www.myspace.com/diningintuscany

Hospital the Musical
http://www.myspace.com/hospitalthemusical

i really wish i could go to this as it’s luca brasi’s only show in sydney this weekend. i’ve heard good things about dining in tuscany and i still haven’t seen hospital the musical or schrodingers cat! in my absence you should go check it out! and then head on round to dirty shirlows for mad dancing.

++++++++++++++++++++++

sat 26

YR wherehouse (contact me if you need address details)
8pm $?

castings, onani, pfm, pagan dawn

++++++++++++++++++++++

sun 27

low tea
jura books, 440 paramatta rd, petersham
11am free

from kat thaw:

i’m really excited about this sunday!!! we’re having a big tea / cake party at jura bookshop, with music by loads of lurvely ladies and then a bit of a discussion about women in diy music and activism.

my good friend lena has come up from melbourne to grace us with her gorgeous sounds, louise has some new tunes for our listening pleasure, anna will tearour hearts out with her musical tales and i’ll play some little bits i’ve been working on.

there’ll be a huge spread of vegan cakes and treats! feel free to bring some along if you’re extra inspired. and we’ve plenty of tea cups to go around!

most importantly there’s going to be a discussion of women and queers in diy and activist communities in sydney, but more broadly as well. don’t be shy – come and contribute!

the whole thingo kicks off at 11am on sunday morning (27th april) so don’t sleep in too much or you’ll miss out on all the edible goodies! jura bookshop is easy to get to – a five minute walk down crystal street from etersham station, or a short bus ride from central station down parramatta road. it’s number 440 on parramatta road, just a block from where norton street meets parramatta road. just next to the flag shop and opposite the bald faced stag (pub) if that helps.

++++++++++++++++++++++

sun 27

thirroul neighbourhood centre
1pm $5

hospital the musical
mary jane kelly
run! hide!
sound the mute
hira hira
let me down jungle man gently

+++++++++++++++++++

get prepared for Malaysian screamo merchants DAIGHILA in sydney next weekend (sunday 6pm at hot new space Dirty Shirlows with amazing support from former republics, ohana and the thaw!)

+++++++++++++++++++

shaun/tenzenmen
++ i’ll either be at these events or wishing i was there ++