 |
view previous entries |  |
| 2007: june : July : August : September : October : November : December | ||
| 2008: January/February : July : | ||
| | gig guide | contact | biography | projects | music | career | merchandise | journal | home | |
| From My Desk | ||
 |
| click to enlarge |
| (c) Coast Living Magazine |
Well. I've started this blog at least five bloody times over the past couple of months, but then something invariably comes up that affects the flavour of it, or the significance of what I've been trying to say, or even worse, when I read back the draft I sound like a demented, ranting fool. Yes, I get cross with life sometimes readers just like everyone else (though you can translate 'life' to 'the people in charge', grrr) and then my editor (substitute Coz) wisely waits until I've calmed down somewhat and suggests 'perhaps a different way of expressing yourself dear?'
Actually she doesn't really have to say anything, (and if she did, it wouldn't be couched in quite such delicate terms) as she knows full well that after I've 'vented' I'll later take out the red pen and slash through the potentially offensive bits myself. And if you're wondering what the dickens I'm going on about, you can usually trust that any angst I have with 'the people in charge' relates to poor ol' Paris. But never fear, after this month's AGM, I think we are finally making some headway on that front. Make sense? No, me neither. But stay tuned and all will become clear … one day. … Right, so here goes version 6 of my latest blog, no turning back this time!
July '08 saw me taking on the role of 'The Narrator' in Blood Brothers again, this time for a short season at Newcastle Uni, and then on the following week to … 'Coffs Harbour' for a couple of shows! As you know, I love doing the ones when you can actually go home afterwards. We played at the very beautiful, heritage listed, Coffs Harbour Jetty Memorial Theatre that is kept alive by … I don't know what, but whatever it is, it deserves better. I honestly don't get how some people just don't appreciate what they've got. The Theatre in Coffs needs a great deal more support than its getting. And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump again, 'that's all I have to say about that'.
But what a great play/musical 'Blood Brothers' is, take another bow Willy Russell! And hats off to JJK Productions too. The show in Coffs Harbour was the best yet I think. Some hugely talented people who had by then refined the show to something pretty special. Coz's mum, (age unknown, polite cough) and her girls (9 and 10 years old) came to the Saturday matinee, and insisted on going back again that night. What can I say, the show has universal appeal even if I don't!
The end of July, and Cups and I did a couple of 'Uncorked' shows in Brisbane, which made a nice change from the turgid business meetings that seem to go on forever and get nowhere that I'd been attending. Fair dinkum, I can't believe there are people that actually do this for a living. Who'd be a pollie for god's sake? We then headed off to Kemp's Creek Bowling Club in Sydney (I know, I have a dig at bowling clubs every now and then, but honestly, they produce some truly appreciative audiences) and I was able to show Cups some of my old stamping ground (well sort of). He just stared at me sorrowfully and shook his head, but hey, I remember having some great fun out Cabramatta and all points outer west. It's where I learnt to play guitar after all.
(Okay, admittedly there wasn't all that much else to do.) But have you noticed how some of the best contemporary music comes from the areas that are less economically advanced than the others? I tell you, there's a thesis in that theory. I'm also continually amazed by how many successful Australian artists migrated here from other countries in their young years. (There's a story there too I'm sure, but I for one am not gonna touch it!!).
After a full house at Kemps Creek, we were up bright and early the following morning (and I mean early, it was a 6am flight, much to the dismay of my loved one's hangover) to head to Adelaide to watch an amateur production of Paris. I have to say, it makes me a little sad sometimes to see how enthusiastically amateur casts throw themselves into their roles when they do Paris, and how much they love the show, and yet professionals are just too scared to take it on because of the sheer scope of the thing. Hopefully Dave Mackay (Paris co-writer) and I have done something to overcome that fear by sequencing all the orchestral music onto a program called 'RADAR' (very clever, anyone musical should check it out), which should bring the cost of staging the show down considerably. We shall see.
Early August saw quite a few sold out Jon English/Jonahs Road gigs in a row in South East Queensland. Always handy, as the guys just keep getting tighter and tighter. I really love working with the Jonah's. Their harmonies are like an extra instrument. It's great being able to just busk over the top of them sometimes. Allows me to get right into it. If you have a mo, check us out at www.aussierocklegends.com/jehollywood.html. It was only our second gig together and they'd already nailed it even then.
By the way, don't tell anyone this but the gig is pretty easy for me, I only get to do the second half. Okay, I know that's what everyone else does, but I was the jerk in the 80's with the Foster Brothers who loudly proclaimed;
"Why do we need a support act? We don't mind playing the whole night and just have an interval!" and therefore making a HUGE rod for my own back. The thing is, the Jonahs are getting quite a following out there and more and more of their own fans are turning up to the extent that pretty soon I'll be doing the first half, so don't be late!
Then it was frantically rushing around, dotting 'i's' and crossing 't's' before heading off OS for a month. My son Jonno came with us in order to start his own around the world adventure with nothing but his guitar and wits….Geez, good thing he's a truly great guitar player….Just kidding mate.
First off, Jonno and I spent a week in sunny Warlingham in England with Dave Mackay et al catching up on updates of Paris. For those who don't know, Dave is an Aussie who married an English girl and has lived in England for the last forty years, whereas I am pommy born and have lived in Australia for - well for a very long time. Anyway, I'm pleased to say that in a week of what can only be described as sheer creative heaven, we engineered some changes to Paris that resulted in something very close to what we both agree on - not always an easy feat with two opinionated co-writers. That sounds dramatic, but Paris has always been about 85-90% right, just needed tweaking. Well it's been tweaked and I reckon it's about as good now as it's ever going to get.
Funny thing, in England (being an ex-pat and all) a very rare and significant occasion took place. It was mid-way through the Olympics and back home we were getting pretty used to Australia over-achieving to hell, in the first week at least, (what with the swimming and all) but in the second week while we were RIGHT THERE IN THE UK the Brits started winning!
Not the odd one that they (we) usually pick up, but bucketloads of gold medals. Of course the wags had to say they won most of them in sports that involve sitting down, but it was amusing to be part of the sheer infectious disbelief that took over the country - to the point that some people were having a quiet dig at David and myself as being representative of the Aussies! Careful, very careful, the cricket starts real soon guys. (Just read that back, didn't mean to sound patronizing. Sincere congratulations to all participants in the Olympics. I believe it is the pinnacle of human endeavor nowadays, and mere mortals like myself can only look on in awe and wonder.)
I digress. Next stop Berlin.
I'd never been to Berlin before and so had no real preconceptions. We were there to meet up with Bettina and friends who are interested in doing a summer season of Paris in 2010 (plus just quietly, Dave and I have been approached to write the music and lyrics for a new musical over that way - something I said I was definitely up for). I was only in Berlin for two days but in retrospect (and remember I've been to a lot of places in this long career) I have to say Berlin is up there with the best. The culture and people are cool in the extreme, and the hospitality, efficiency, and genuine friendliness is to be experienced to be believed. Given its history, I guess I was just surprised to find Berlin quite a 'serene' place.
We arrived at the airport and sailed through customs. Each arrival has its own customs counters (can you believe that?) and then right there as we came out of customs was our luggage waiting on our gate's own little carousel! We picked up our bags, walked out the exit which was 20 feet away if that, and stepped into a cab that swept us out of the airport without so much as a speed bump. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes. How extraordinary is that. I mean, maybe we just caught them on a good day, but it sure impressed the hell out of us - especially Coz who had spent two hours in the check in queue when she left Sydney the week before.
We made good headway with Bettina etc, and found ourselves with a day off to do the tourist bit. It was a beautiful, mild summer's day. We had; Afternoon Tea at the Brandenburg Gates, we went to the Pergamon Museum to see Schleiman's recreation of the Gates of Babylon, and the recreated Athenian walls with all the re-rendered statues in all their glory, to full scale. Then we had a good laugh when Coz complained;
"According to the guide book the remains of the Berlin Wall should be here somewhere, but I'm buggered if I can see it!"
Well she wasn't quite leaning on it, but if it chose that moment to fall down she would have been squashed! Funny, but I do know what she means. She expected something monumental, when in reality it's only just tired, segmented pieces of concrete covered in free earth grafitti. I suppose reality is all a bit like that, when you consider the political, humanitarian, and just plain horrific implications of those crumbling ruins you expect something, well, monumental! Enough said, but if you're there go to Checkpoint Charlie museum and discover some stories of bravery that make you totally inspired.
Jonno and I did very macho, blokey, farewells the next day, and I left him there on the streets of Berlin with me staring forlornly out the back window of the cab as we drove away. Misty, yeah. I love him you know. But Skype and Facebook are wonderful things to stay in touch with these days. I remember when my oldest daughter, Min, went overseas on her own in her younger days, and she got very homesick being so far away from everyone with limited contact. I ended up doing a mercy dash to Austria to bring her home. Her mother said it would do her good to stay and she'd adjust, but Daddy's girl was lonely and I couldn't stand it. I was always a pushover when it came to my kids, and didn't they know it!
After Berlin, we flew to Miami to catch up with Peter Evans, an ex-pat Aussie now living there, and a huge Paris affectionado. Boy, what a contrast in airports! We pushed and shoved our way out, to be hit by a wave of wet air, loud Spanish, honking horns and traffic jams. Welcome to the US! Peter has great plans and has been waving the Paris flag for quite some time in the States. Unfortunately, apart from a fabulous day out on Peter's boat, the weather in Florida was 'inclement'. How's that for British understatement! It was Hurricane Gustav, followed by all his mates. I'm not kidding, compulsory viewing was 'The Weather Channel'. Stinking hot, humid, but give me a break - it's the tropics, and it's not as if we don't have them in Oz. It's a bit like having Christmas in Darwin and complaining about the heat.
Anyway we had a very productive three days with Peter and Rita, along with director Norlan and his wife Charmaine, who came down from Tampa, getting all re-enthused about Paris and me showing them the UK upgrades. The final night we took on South Beach. It's the Gold coast on steroids with a Cuban accent. Aussies will understand exactly what I mean by that, but for all other nationalities, it's fun, loud, in-your-face, hot and full of tossers! Great really, definitely NOT boring.
Coz, Peter and I took off to Las Vegas the next day. Another place I've never been to, but I'm sure enough of you have been so I'll dispense with the need to give you my impressions. I will say though that the poker machines lining the airport lounges certainly give you an immediate indication of where you are! If you haven't been and you get the chance, you have to go - just once - to fully realize man's capacity for total absurdity. We DID see three shows back to back;
'Love' the Beatles spectacular, (WOW WOW WOW!)
'Phantom', (WOW-ish) and,
'Ka' (WOW WOW).
I may be being a little unfair to 'Ka' as it was at the end of a long day that encompassed visits to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam, so jaded and wonder-saturated were two things that applied BEFORE we saw 'Ka'.
'Cirque de Soleil' are definitely the business though! Our goal was to see what can be done with sets these days (if you have millions of dollars to spend), and the results were just staggering. The special effects on Ka in particular were absolutely mind boggling.
Ceasar's Palace suffered much the same fate as Ka really, I mean it's hard to go 'ooh aah' at all the statues when the week before you'd seen the real thing at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Nonetheless we had an absolute ball and can't wait to get back OS again. Coz and I have vowed to start learning German soon. (I hope this old dog can still learn a few new tricks!).
LONG flight home, and straight back into it. September was half over by the time we got back into the swing of things, not that there was much time for R&R mind you, a couple of new Jonahs gigs, one at the new 'Basement' in Sydney. I'd stayed away from the Basement for a number of reasons in the past, mostly because from what I'd heard it was full of miserable out-of-work musos, who just sat there complaining about how;
"That should be me up there! I could do it better…AND faster!"
But I was pleasantly surprised. I'd seen Brian McFadden there recently and thought it must have been a 'furfy' because the crowd seemed very happy and not a bit grumpy with their lot in life. Lo and behold, they were just the same for us….Well not the same people, just the same vibe, so I guess I've been under a misapprehension for all this time, and YES I'd love to do it again - particularly considering the dirth of gigs in the Sydney CBD. The Jonahs killed them as usual….Same story at Asquith Leagues the next night.
I had a couple of days to catch up with myself before heading to Bris Vegas to catch up with Cups and (gasp) ACTUALLY REHEARSE SOME NEW STUFF. Well we figured we were going back to Perth and we couldn't trot out the same old three times in a row could we?
Actually I left earlier than Cups to go to Perth so that I could do some work with a good director friend of mine, Mark DeFriest, in Rockingham, WA. We have been working on a new film project that I'm really starting to get a good feel about. More on that later dear bloggers. I stayed at Mark's house for a week and a bit, broken up by gigs in Karatha, (yeah back to the tropics, hey do you hear me complaining?), and another night at 'Friends' restaurant with Clyde and co. 'Friends' is rapidly becoming one of the premier gigs in Australia. Clyde started out with an honest to God 5 star restaurant overlooking the Swan River. Then he decided to add entertainment, simply because he could! Only a small stage, and small PA but for those who could adjust (most of us), it's one of the most rewarding gigs to do, and boy do you get looked after. If anyone (including Sarah Greenski) gets the chance you must look up 'Friends', guaranteed by me!
I still find it hard to believe that Perth doesn't have 'clubs' as such. It's a beautiful city, but sadly I think the people are a little starved for national entertainment. Let's face it, it's a long and expensive trek to the other side of the country if you're a band with nowhere in size to play between a pub and an entertainment centre. Still, having no poker machines has got to have its advantages I reckon.
A couple more WA gigs in Collie and Ravenswood in the first week of October, then a visit to an extraordinary place, 'Poons Head' Recording Studios down Fremantle way - all to do with that new project I mentioned. I took Deakie (keyboard player and fiddler of all machines music related) with me and he was in seventh heaven! A few more days R&R and script writing with Mark DeFriest, during which time I also introduced him to the joys of 'Garageband', and then it was off home again.
Back east for about two days and then Cups and I headed south to do a gig at DMC, (Duntroon Military College) in Canberra. It was a charity turn for Cystic Fibrosis - the same one I'd been MC for the year before, but this year it was even bigger and better. The mess hall was the venue this time, and it had never before in the history of the College been opened to the public. Pretty impressive. Daryl Braithwaite was there and we spent about an hour at sound-check just wandering around being suitably awe-struck.
Did you know Daryl's quite a keen photographer? In fact when he's not on stage, I can't remember a time when he's not had a camera with him. He says he 'likes it, and it relaxes me'. Now Daryl and I go WAAAY back to 'Samuel Lilith' and 'Sebastian Hardie' days (bands guys, not people) so I can only assume he has literally thousands of photos somewhere. Talk about a chronicle of Aussie rock! When I mentioned publication, or a 'coffee table' book, he said he'd never thought of it…..Duh! Do it man, I'll buy it for one.
As I said the charity was for "Cystic Fibrosis" a particularly nasty affliction that needs all the research it can get. Part of the 'description' of it involves putting a thin straw in your mouth and breathing through it for a few minutes. Hyperventilation, and dizziness occur within two minutes, and that's just sitting down. With CF you spend 24/7 like that. What more can I say. CF has no rhyme or reason, it's a lottery to see who gets it, and sadly it always goes to those who least deserve it.
So, the gig was me and Cups, Daryl Braithwaite, Joe Camilleri (again), and Vanessa Amorosi. Greg Birch (the organizer) probably went a little overkill with the entertainment in reality but I'll tell you no-one complained. Can I just say that Daryl is singing as well as I've ever heard him! Bastard!
Joe Camilleri is a national treasure, and Vanessa Amorosi is really as good as you think she is. Apart from Vanessa, her sister is dynamite as well. (I've given Vanessa a Paris CD and asked her to think about singing Cassandra. I think she'd be great.)
You DON'T NEED 'Idol' guys!!!!!
Where was I? Oh yeah, Coz had a good time too. (Nice frock darlin'). Each celebrity had to host a table, and I had the pleasure of being host for the 'Ocean and Earth' surf company table. John and Mark apparently don't just run the company, but they are very keen surfers too. Living inland and being busy chaps, they use choppers to carry them and their surfboards around the country to wherever the swell happens to be up. Well being the generous soul she is, and with us living in surfing heaven on the East Coast, Coz informed me next morning that we might need some landscaping done as she'd kindly offered our front lawn to them as a helicopter landing pad!!
Mid October, and it was back to the tropics with a Jon/Jonahs run to Far North Queensland. Jay, my nephew, decided around about this time to also get his license cancelled (I know Jay, it wasn't your fault, they shouldn't hide those speed cameras in tunnels and then sneakily change the speed limit on you). Now getting your licence cancelled is a hassle at the best of times, but it spelt a real dilemma on this occasion as Jay was supposed to drive all our backline gear up to Nambour on the Sunshine Coast so the crew could take it all from there to Mackay. (To put that in perspective for non Aussies, it's about 1000 k's from Sydney to Nambour, and then about the same again from Nambour to Mackay - a 10 to 12 hour drive each leg.)
Everyone's flights were booked with no name changes allowed, so we couldn't swap drivers. But what to do? No license, no drive! I was all prepared to do the right thing, when a surrogate driver popped up and offered to drive all the way from Sydney to Brisbane in 'the Kombi', then wait around up there for five days for us to do the tour, then drive all the way back to Sydney just to transport our gear. It seems the person in question had always wanted to 'play roadie' and had some spare time and wanted to be useful.
Now far be it from me to rain on anyone's parade when they want to help, but I was a little reticent about this. When Jay said he'd keep her company however, I reluctantly agreed. This may seem like I actually had any sort of say in the events, but trust me, when my mother makes up her mind to do something, well, good luck trying to stop her. So Sheila, my 86 year old mother, had a little trip up-country in her Kombi with her grandson for company and a truck-load of guitars, amps, and drums. No problems. Thanks mum! (The look of disbelief on the crews' faces when she arrived was something to behold apparently. I wish someone had taken a photo for my book!)
FNQ was GREAT. Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, and Atherton. Full houses everywhere. The word is getting out as I said, and everyone is having fun up there. We ran out of CD's to sell after three gigs and ran out of miles in Atherton. Have to share a couple of emails with you that we got afterwards to demonstrate how the cross over of our audiences works. … Oh alright, I'm plugging the show. But it's fun folks, I have to! (Hope the authors don't mind me using their feedback by the way):
"I just wanted to say thank you for an incredible night to Jon. I was at the Cairns show last night. I was absolutely captivated. I had never ever heard most of his songs as I'm one of the 'kids'. Jon English will never be old!!!! Love and mega admiration from your new fan, Tracey Latimer"
(If you're wondering about the reference to 'old', my dear nephew has been known to introduce me on stage as being 'incredibly old, but incredibly good'. Hmm).
And this:
"Just wanted to say what a great show 18 Oct Atherton. Really enjoyed seeing Jon again. Have been a big fan for many, many years. He really was fantastic. Love the band Jonah's Road, but enjoyed Jon and his great voice once again. Out to buy another CD. Faye Warnock."
Nothing like a bit of favourable feedback to puff up the ego, even if I am blushing. Anyway, we really did have a good time and all the venues and accommodation treated us wonderfully. Coz could live up north, but it's a little too hot in the summer for me. There I go again complaining about the weather in the tropics. Well I'm getting to be an expert, I've been in both tropics in two months.
There's a lot of good stuff coming up, including talk of a new sit-com (there's that project again). Did anyone watch 'Time Trackers' over the school holidays? My grandkids and stepkids loved it (and they didn't have to, believe me they would have told me if it sucked!). I'm pretty sure it'll be out on DVD soon. I did get an email through the website saying that the show was 'an insult to Jon's intelligence and ability', but hey, like I said it's a kids show, and as long as the kids liked it I'm happy. I'm hoping to hear about series 2 soon. Another trip to NZ to film would be very cool. I've also been rehearsing 'Buskers and Angels' which is now due to start in February next year in Newcastle. Watch out for Amy Vee as Angel, sensational!
"Life is like a wheel, spinning around…" and I'm sure enjoying the ride folks. Hang in there with me.
Love,
Jon.
| design by krewlgrafix.com |