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So what do ya do when you dont have a gig on this weekend? (shock, gasp)

You go to Vivid's opening night.

I have missed the last few seasons and thank heavens I got out to see it on a cold, wintry Sydney night. The MCA animation was simply mindblowing.

According to our very own Miss Penelope, who as we all know, is one switched on hipster, this years festival is the best yet. If you're a Sydneysider, get out and see it, it's worth it.

The Rocks hold a special mystery for me that is peculiar to Sydney. There's a depth of age there, tiny backlanes that were only known well to the inhabitants, useful bypasses for the times when scallywag behaviour had you dodging the Authorities (worked right up until the 80's....or so I am told)

Now, the back lanes are filled with stalls, electronic art installations and human statues. Mind blowing.

I'm in the midst of trying to come up with the next bunch of videoclip ideas and going out to see this stuff was just what I needed. Crikey there is some good work out there, and I didnt get half enough time to see it all tonight, so I might even be found wandering around the festival again over the next week :-)

It's FREE! It's bright and shiny! There's a Bridge! What more reason do you need? Go see it.

Man do I want some of those toys.... drool..Shiny!

www.vividsydney.com

Wow that was fun. I just did a Skype session with the lovely Jo Fitzgerald doing harmonies on the songs for the next album.

How awesome is this internet age? We're due to record her backing vocals and harmonies next week and we've been able to do the rehearsal online. We truly live in an age of wonders :-)

Looking forward to hearing the live versions!

Howdy Folks.

Rosie was in the studio today doing a dedicated session on the solo for Feel So Blue. 

At the request of Pete and Rosie, we gave them space, but they were kind enough to let me visit so I could take a few blog moments.

Our common refrain, from whomever is on the other side of the glass, is 'Less comments from the Peanut Gallery' as each of us try (LOL) to help the other guys out with (ahem) helpful suggestions...

The most helpful thing i could do was stay out of the way whilst they worked through ideas.

For your edification, here is how their session was going, I got a bit of the discussion on guitar tone and one of the takes.

Howdy Folks.

We played the Taverners Hill Hotel for the first time, and what a big night it turned out to be.

 The Taverners Hill Hotel is a hidden gem, just off the main drag of Parramatta Road, where Big daddy used to drive a Tow Truck. He told us last night that the 'Hill was famous, back int he day, as the site of a 1950's style burger bar replete with hot cars and the obligatory blonde. Now that I can believe, but the story of Parramatta Road as a Bush Track?

 Yikes.

I was surprised at the big turn out, considering it was our first time there.

Shout outs to Bobby, Rob, Sue, Frank, Frank, Big Daddy, Mika, Nigel, Austin, Kylie, Elsa, Anna, Ross, Kate, Pete...after that I lost track, so a shout out to you, Dear Reader, if you were there and I missed you :-)

The girls were hooting and hollering, Simon learned how to make Kamikaze's (no wonder the girls were hooting). There was dancing aplenty and a good night was had by all, and for some, a bigger night (and a berocca for this morning i guess?).

I had some technical difficulties with my in ear monitor things, when the battery died mid second set and then the replacement pack of batteries had three flat ones in there. That was confusing. I had a spare battery strategically placed in my harp case for just such an occasion and thought myself pretty clever to be able to swap out batteries whilst still playing (ninja geek skills), only to find that each battery in turn was a dud. WTF? They must have discharged by coming into contact with something conductive inside my case, first time that's happened. I love technology.

During the Bass solo in 'Scruff', Noodles played some disco in honour of Donna Summer and Mr Wizard almost lost it when I added in a few 'love to love you baby's" :-) 

All in all, a surprisingly good night at a surprisingly good little pub. Thanks to everyone who made th evening so much fun.

We've got next weekend off, then we're up to the Central Coast for a Brackets & Jam gig the Friday following. Meanwhile, there are more recording sessions for the album scheduled for  this week. More soon.

This is my Entry into The 2012 Rotary Cartoon Awards , I hope you can read the words , the shadow treasurer gave a speech to an economic forum in lLondon about welfare!