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It took me 3 months to get the crew together to vote on their next voyages. These are factors in a self managing system. 

Something must be working, 10 years on we still enjoy one another's company.

After a review, the crew voted to remain at anchor in Sydney Cove for the time being, I get it.

2017 was a rough year; you know it has been a heck of a year when it takes 18 months to get over the previous 12.

Preserving the union, in our sense, has been a guiding principle.

After four years on campaign and the effort of the cancelled fifth last year, I am careful to observe the effect on us all.

It's a years worth of work for each tour, it's worth it. Collective work. In that time we have continued to do live shows and record. 

Casting an eye back across the albums so far, it's easy to see that Geomancy has been a factor, all the way back to location recordings for spacejunk.

Over the Midwest Triptych we followed the sounds. Being there changed what we made. What we wrote. What we learned. Everywhere feels like home, Kansas City Gold leading to Defiance.

On our return the the guys went internal with the 5D project.

Rosie said the current crop feels as if we're continuing in a Sydney Canon, a tradition. It sounds like here.

Mr Wizard says he listening to nothing but old school, yet he's writing some out there stuff too.

Reading these signs it tells me that where we are, is the best where to be, to do this work.

In light of that, we're postponing our 5th US tour to 2019.  We'll miss all of our friends over there, and we'll continue to monitor the very turbulent times they tread.

One of the great things about doing this current project is proximity and time.

We have time and we're close to the studio. That means some of the scheduling can be a little 'flexible', allowing guests to come in for example.  

We can also switch recording blocks around to suit circumstances.

Our great and guiding light is Practicality, Practicality, in all endeavours. Most endeavours. Some endeavours.

Ok. Where Possible.

Each of the projects we had done has had it's own process. The secrets of this one are starting to become revealed. I'm having a ball.

I've also made a scad of mistakes already. Melodies. Blech. Written errata. Terrific! Further forging may remove undesired elements.

We continue.

Here's some of Rosie's next overdub session.

A good two solid days of work last week.

Thanks to John and Peter for taking part in the Local Influences concept.

We're influenced by what, by who, is around us.

Look out for the next invite.

Actuality in Void

Brother Bill has been swapping reading material with me, which has led to some terrific deep think. Brother Bill switches on to stuff at a scary rate. 

We're dealing with some Sun Tzu action right now. Void and Actuality.

Uh oh. I feel soapbox happening. Nope.

So yeah. 

Doing things is actuality. In a time of void, it's the right thing to be doing.

Happy Chinese New Year! Us Southern Barbarians are paying thoughtful attention.

100 years of Silence

I have been listening to some conversations within the Tribe of Sydney musicians.

Let me lay it out for you: in the 1980's, Oz and Sydney had a massive music scene. It dominated the planet.

Amongst the Blues/Roots players there was a rich tapestry of venues and bands. 

As the world changed, as the digital age emerged, as other factors, such as societal changes in attitudes towards Drinking, 

No Drinking.

Less Revenue.

Less bands.

Audiences who don't dig cover charges.

Who are struggling to make rent in Sydney as she eats her own.

Ouch huh?

Last week the BFS hotel decided to not open Mon-Wed, thus wiping out one of the last Jam nights in Sydney. Ouch.

It's merely evolution, as the city sheds it's skin. Plus ca Change, eh?

I've heard some stories. The phrase 'lowest point in music in 100 years' comes to mind.

Ironic that we're feeling so positive huh?

LGAT's

I was doing some research into Large Group Awareness Training, specifically the dangers of those who use the natural inclination of humans to believe in things.

When I consider the stories from the Tribe Of Musicians and hear of venues who prey upon their Belief, I shake my head.

It's the natural order of things to change.

Music is part of our species. It's not going anywhere.

It may be that Venues and Musicians have parallel but diverging interests. Music may go with a beer, but not with Chicken Parma and a bustling bistro.

It may be that Digital Media, Games, Electronic Instruments, these are the way forward. Who wants to invest so many hours in the skills of guitar? 

The scuttlebutt of Gibson's demise comes to mind. Yet as Twain said, 'reports of demise greatly exaggerated'

We set a minimum of being able to do a good job.

For places where there is no longer any economic basis for it to occur, that's not possible unless subsidised by the musicians, either through forgoing survivable pay rates or by doing a low cost production.

I theorise that not being able to pay for a soundo reduces the quality of the show. It's not even about the labour, it's about having another brain there to make the sound situation work. Band can't do it from behind the mic's. I mean, sure, they can try, yet that's adding another layer of stress to the folks trying to play you the music. Running your own PA has been along mainstay of the Aussie Bar Band. It's a classic form. 

Maybe these are merely descriptive moments, leading to no conclusion.

Maybe silence is the sound of the ecosystem resetting.

We're busy making things.

More this week.

From yesterdays recording session.

Off for another session in an hour. Here's some of yesterdays work.