I've finally settled in back at home.
I spent most of November trekking around the US -- Phoenix, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. Then straight off the plane to an off-site meeting (for work) up on the Central Coast for the first week back.
On my US sojourn I saw some great sites, went to some fantastic sporting events, ate a heck of a lot of food (New York keeps getting better every time I go there in this respect), and spent some quality time with friends and family. An early Thanksgiving with the family in Philly (which took a couple of days of prep) was a highlight.
But man o man, if I needed some diet and exercise before I left for the US, I really need it now. Damn you beer! Fortunately it's summer time!
Looking forward to catching up with folks during a few weeks off over Christmas, as well as getting to plenty of Sydney Festival events in January.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Waters of Mars
Wow... what a pleasant surprise.
The tension and dilemma throughout this episode really made it captivating. A great overarching plot, only occasionally let down by the details (plot devices, "ancient north martian" etc.)
But any negativity would be picky, and not representative of my true and lasting impressions. Considering the absolute crap the last 2 DW specials have been, this episode restores my faith a little, going so far as to say this should be counted as one of the finest of the New Who.
On the strength of this work, it looks like the tenth Doctor might meet a fitting end!
The tension and dilemma throughout this episode really made it captivating. A great overarching plot, only occasionally let down by the details (plot devices, "ancient north martian" etc.)
But any negativity would be picky, and not representative of my true and lasting impressions. Considering the absolute crap the last 2 DW specials have been, this episode restores my faith a little, going so far as to say this should be counted as one of the finest of the New Who.
On the strength of this work, it looks like the tenth Doctor might meet a fitting end!
Monday, 15 June 2009
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Plex
I've done quite a bit of work on my media center in the brief slots of spare time I've had lately.
Have replaced dodgy hardware (mobo AND power supply) with reliable parts.
Have replaced dodgy OS (Vista) with reliable OS (MacOS).
Have replaced merely competent media center (MCE/VMC) with absolutely brilliant Plex!
I am much, much happier with the setup. Plex is a fork of XBox Media Center. It's MacOS only, and designed to maximise the beauty of a 1080p display.
Plex has a wonderful interface for browsing through your TV or Movies collection, integrating tvdb/imdb (respectively) info and artwork. I must admit I still struggle with the Music interface when I go into Library mode, but the navigation is straightforward when dealing with it as "files".
The only thing missing is native tv recording functionality, but Plex does make it easy to launch a 3rd party app, so I'll sort something out there shortly.
This now means there's only one Windows box left in the house.
But not for long...
Have replaced dodgy hardware (mobo AND power supply) with reliable parts.
Have replaced dodgy OS (Vista) with reliable OS (MacOS).
Have replaced merely competent media center (MCE/VMC) with absolutely brilliant Plex!
I am much, much happier with the setup. Plex is a fork of XBox Media Center. It's MacOS only, and designed to maximise the beauty of a 1080p display.
Plex has a wonderful interface for browsing through your TV or Movies collection, integrating tvdb/imdb (respectively) info and artwork. I must admit I still struggle with the Music interface when I go into Library mode, but the navigation is straightforward when dealing with it as "files".
The only thing missing is native tv recording functionality, but Plex does make it easy to launch a 3rd party app, so I'll sort something out there shortly.
This now means there's only one Windows box left in the house.
But not for long...
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Bugger Part 2
Ugh... looks like a motherboard problem for my MCE, which will ultimately require an OS reinstall. Look out Vista, the Angels have spoken.
I'm on a mission from God!
I'm on a mission from God!
Bugger
My Media Center started to show signs of hardware instability at around Easter. Then, after returning from the US about a week ago, I noticed the thing was coughing and choking, in an "unbootable" state. It's either the CPU, the memory, or the board, but my biggest issue has been finding the time to diagnose/test/fix.
However, with a problem comes opportunity.
There's been a number of things I've been unhappy about under the current Vista set up, and I ponder whether I should redesign the whole shebang. Let's face it: Vista is The Thing That Should Not Be. I've seen various people manage to work around Vista's shortcomings to create an efficient work environment, but anyone who thinks this interface is well designed has their head in the sand.
(It reminds me of the South Park episode where Mr Garrison invents the gyroscopic motion vehicle that puts the airline industry out of business, but has a rather uncomfortable operational shortcoming.)
Anyhoo... I do think Windows continues to be the "easy option" for an underlying OS due to the requirement for an MCE to have a lot of unusual hardware drivers, but my natural UNIX biases are now whispering in my ear from both shoulders.
What tends to give those "angels" even more credence and momentum is that I think the main application -- Vista Media Center -- is merely competent in it's design, but a little frustrating in providing users minimal choice in customisation.
A possibility that has piqued my interest is MediaPortal, a port of XBMC to take advantage of modern hardware, while also allowing to record off a tuner (yay!) I will minimally evaluate this option before I undertake any major changes to the underlying OS.
Anyway, I just need to summon the willpower to start the hardware troubleshooting process...
However, with a problem comes opportunity.
There's been a number of things I've been unhappy about under the current Vista set up, and I ponder whether I should redesign the whole shebang. Let's face it: Vista is The Thing That Should Not Be. I've seen various people manage to work around Vista's shortcomings to create an efficient work environment, but anyone who thinks this interface is well designed has their head in the sand.
(It reminds me of the South Park episode where Mr Garrison invents the gyroscopic motion vehicle that puts the airline industry out of business, but has a rather uncomfortable operational shortcoming.)
Anyhoo... I do think Windows continues to be the "easy option" for an underlying OS due to the requirement for an MCE to have a lot of unusual hardware drivers, but my natural UNIX biases are now whispering in my ear from both shoulders.
What tends to give those "angels" even more credence and momentum is that I think the main application -- Vista Media Center -- is merely competent in it's design, but a little frustrating in providing users minimal choice in customisation.
A possibility that has piqued my interest is MediaPortal, a port of XBMC to take advantage of modern hardware, while also allowing to record off a tuner (yay!) I will minimally evaluate this option before I undertake any major changes to the underlying OS.
Anyway, I just need to summon the willpower to start the hardware troubleshooting process...
Pigs Garbage
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead.
It's been out for almost a month now, so I don't count this as a spoiler :)
It's been out for almost a month now, so I don't count this as a spoiler :)
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Test Season
With the Crusaders pipping the Blues, and the Reds predictably doing their best impression of Swiss cheese against the Canes, the Tahs have missed their spot in the S14 semi's.
(OK, that's a harsh call on the Reds - they did show some spirit. If the Tahs had allowed one less Lions' try, they'd be ahead of the Crusaders on the table in terms of points differential.)
Either way, Winter is upon us and the Aussies are out of the Super 14 -- that means it's Test Rugby time!
I thought I'd get my choices out there for a squad of 30 (starter/depth) before Robbie announces the squad -- I'm sure he's on the blower already!
Without further ado:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson / Ben Alexander
Fat Cat has had a very strong season, consistent scrummaging and a high work rate around the park. Alexander is also an excellent young prospect, with generally good performances with the odd flashes of talent in the limited time he's had on the paddock. One ponders WTF has happened to all the front row talent coming out of Queensland. It's not like there's a lack of raw product up there.
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau / Stephen Moore
Three weeks ago I would have actually put Moore ahead of Polota Nau, but I think Polota Nau's recent performances really demonstrate that when he concentrates on his throwing, his unbelievable athleticism makes him the no-brainer pick. Both Hookers have actually struggled with consistency this year, and I'm starting Polota Nau, but if he starts throwing badly I'd instantly sub him for Moore to give him a wake up call.
Tighthead Prop: Al Baxter / Guy Shepherdson
It's funny to be saying this, but Baxter has actually become a dominant prop. It was less than two years ago when opposing front rows were targeting him, but all of a sudden under Michael Foley's tutelage, Baxter has become a star. Shepherdson is merely competent, but I'm not sure he's shown enough to be a genuine Test player. If Matt Dunning suddenly emerges he could get pipped. Either way, with Ben Alexander able to play both sides of the front row, Shepherson may not even get a lot of time on the bench.
Lock: Nathan Sharpe / James Horwill
The Wallabies suddenly find themselves with a group of locks that are very inexperienced. The talent pool generally has a season of test experience or less. Sharpe seems to have responded to Robbie's wake-up call, and his experience leading the line out could make him a valuable asset for at least another year. James Horwill is the future leader of the second row, but has spent too much time injured this year to be anything other than depth. He may emerge as that leader before the Test season is over.
Lock: Will Caldwell / Peter Kimlin
This pick may surprise a few people, but Caldwell has quietly done everything that has been asked of him this year, and has had a huge influence of the Tah's strength at the set piece. What makes this more remarkable is just how bad this bloke looked two years ago after both Dan Vickerman and Al Kanaar went down with injuries, and both Caldwell and Dean Mumm were forced into the Waratahs starting line up. This year Caldwell has looked strong at the set piece, and a great presence at the breakdown -- the only area where he is not particularly accomplished (yet) is as a ball carrier. Peter Kimlin obviously has a lot of a talent as a more versatile player (capable of playing in the back row), but I think Caldwell is a better "pure" lock. Either way, a ton of young talent in the second row.
Blindside Flanker: Dean Mumm / Ben Mowen
It would be very tempting to put Ben Mowen as the starter. In the last three weeks he's had a coming of age, being massively influential in three Waratahs wins in the republic. Great work rate, ball carrier, and tall enough to factor into the line out. But Dean Mumm proves to be consistent no matter whether he plays in the second row or at blindside, and you need those dependable performances in Tests. Mitchell Chapman could be an alternative dark horse, and if McMeniman could get through a season healthy he might factor as well, but it's all academic when Rocky Elsom gets back from Leinster.
Openside Flanker: George Smith / Phil Waugh
Not much explanation required re George Smith. Possibly surpassing McCaw as the world's best this year. Waugh's gritty performances and leadership pip David Pocock here, but you'd think Pocock would be the 31st player if you expanded the squad by 1.
No 8: Richard Brown / Wycliff Palu
Palu's got more talent than Brown, but struggles with consistency and sometimes fitness. He was also underwhelming last year in the Tests after a strong Super 14 showing. On the other hand, Brown not only gets better in terms of realising his potential week-to-week, but also shows consistency. Either way, Palu can have considerable impact off the bench.
Halfback: Luke Burgess / Josh Valentine
Burgess has given much stronger performances in the second half of the season; for a while he was looking like a possible one season wonder. Will Genia might have challenged him for a starting spot if he was healthy, but in his absence, Josh Valentine's performance this year pairing with Matt Giteau makes him the choice for depth. Albeit a distant second.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau / Quade Cooper
Giteau started the S14 season with confidence we've not seen him with at #10, and by the end of the season has become a dominating player here. It could be scary to see what he can do with a Test level forward pack setting the platform for him. As depth I've selected Quade Cooper, who I would expect to show different form in a scenario where he doesn't feel like he has to carry the whole team.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri / Drew Mitchell
While Tuqiri has lost some speed, he still has a massive presence around the park. Beyond strike power, he dominates with big hits and tackles, and in recent years has shown considerable leadership. Drew Mitchell has scored some good tries for the Force this year -- he still has games where he makes major mistakes, but when he's on the wing (instead of fullback) he shows Test level talent.
Inside Center: James O'Connor / Ryan Cross
James O'Connor not only shows flashes of brilliance in combination with Matt Giteau, but has a lot of upside and will only get better. I've also put his center partner from the Force, Ryan Cross as his backup. Cross is always right on the cusp of the Test squad, and occasionally plays a bench player, but he's got some genuine talent and could shine if he had to play in a starting role. Where's Berrick Barnes in the equation? Hold that thought...
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock / Timana Tahu
Stirling Mortlock is still a world class Center. I think he has good leadership, but whether he should maintain the captaincy of the Wallabies is another question... Tahu has realised his tremendous talent ever since the Tahs installed the Halangahu-Beale-Tahu combo. Robbie might see Tahu more as a 12 and Cross more as a 13, and I'm happy to be flexible on that, but I think both are quite flexible players.
Right Wing: Lachlan Turner / Adam Ashley Cooper
It is unfortunate Digby Ioane is out for 6 months after what can only be described as a break out season. If Ioane was healthy, he'd be starting on the right wing, probably bumping Ashley Cooper to depth at fullback, and bumping Cameron Shepherd out of the squad altogether. In Ioane's absence, Lachlan Turner provides similar big speed/big play impact, notably saving a number of tries by holding up ball carriers over the goal line this year. Ashley Cooper is undeniably talented and may be the next best Outside Center after Mortlock, but he's had not only injuries but also a heck of a lot of up and down games this season.
Fullback: Berrick Barnes / Cameron Shepherd
We have some fairly thin positions on the Wallabies -- depth at tighthead prop and halfback are particularly noticeable. However, that's nothing compared to the dearth of talent at fullback. As a former fullback himself, this must scare the heck out of Robbie. While he doesn't have ideal speed, I think what Berrick Barnes possesses in terms of decision making, kicking skills, defense and leadership make him a great possibility for a position swap to fullback (also allowing James O'Connor to pair with Giteau). The alternatives are ugly; Turner's kicking is still very raw, Ashley Cooper is much more suited to wing or center, Mitchell is more suited to wing. Cameron Shepherd scores tons of points for the Force, but to me does not look like what you would expect from a Test level fullback, especially in terms of the consistency of his kicking -- maybe Robbie's tutelage will help here?
Hopefully Robbie can take advantage of an extra couple of weeks of training!
(OK, that's a harsh call on the Reds - they did show some spirit. If the Tahs had allowed one less Lions' try, they'd be ahead of the Crusaders on the table in terms of points differential.)
Either way, Winter is upon us and the Aussies are out of the Super 14 -- that means it's Test Rugby time!
I thought I'd get my choices out there for a squad of 30 (starter/depth) before Robbie announces the squad -- I'm sure he's on the blower already!
Without further ado:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson / Ben Alexander
Fat Cat has had a very strong season, consistent scrummaging and a high work rate around the park. Alexander is also an excellent young prospect, with generally good performances with the odd flashes of talent in the limited time he's had on the paddock. One ponders WTF has happened to all the front row talent coming out of Queensland. It's not like there's a lack of raw product up there.
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau / Stephen Moore
Three weeks ago I would have actually put Moore ahead of Polota Nau, but I think Polota Nau's recent performances really demonstrate that when he concentrates on his throwing, his unbelievable athleticism makes him the no-brainer pick. Both Hookers have actually struggled with consistency this year, and I'm starting Polota Nau, but if he starts throwing badly I'd instantly sub him for Moore to give him a wake up call.
Tighthead Prop: Al Baxter / Guy Shepherdson
It's funny to be saying this, but Baxter has actually become a dominant prop. It was less than two years ago when opposing front rows were targeting him, but all of a sudden under Michael Foley's tutelage, Baxter has become a star. Shepherdson is merely competent, but I'm not sure he's shown enough to be a genuine Test player. If Matt Dunning suddenly emerges he could get pipped. Either way, with Ben Alexander able to play both sides of the front row, Shepherson may not even get a lot of time on the bench.
Lock: Nathan Sharpe / James Horwill
The Wallabies suddenly find themselves with a group of locks that are very inexperienced. The talent pool generally has a season of test experience or less. Sharpe seems to have responded to Robbie's wake-up call, and his experience leading the line out could make him a valuable asset for at least another year. James Horwill is the future leader of the second row, but has spent too much time injured this year to be anything other than depth. He may emerge as that leader before the Test season is over.
Lock: Will Caldwell / Peter Kimlin
This pick may surprise a few people, but Caldwell has quietly done everything that has been asked of him this year, and has had a huge influence of the Tah's strength at the set piece. What makes this more remarkable is just how bad this bloke looked two years ago after both Dan Vickerman and Al Kanaar went down with injuries, and both Caldwell and Dean Mumm were forced into the Waratahs starting line up. This year Caldwell has looked strong at the set piece, and a great presence at the breakdown -- the only area where he is not particularly accomplished (yet) is as a ball carrier. Peter Kimlin obviously has a lot of a talent as a more versatile player (capable of playing in the back row), but I think Caldwell is a better "pure" lock. Either way, a ton of young talent in the second row.
Blindside Flanker: Dean Mumm / Ben Mowen
It would be very tempting to put Ben Mowen as the starter. In the last three weeks he's had a coming of age, being massively influential in three Waratahs wins in the republic. Great work rate, ball carrier, and tall enough to factor into the line out. But Dean Mumm proves to be consistent no matter whether he plays in the second row or at blindside, and you need those dependable performances in Tests. Mitchell Chapman could be an alternative dark horse, and if McMeniman could get through a season healthy he might factor as well, but it's all academic when Rocky Elsom gets back from Leinster.
Openside Flanker: George Smith / Phil Waugh
Not much explanation required re George Smith. Possibly surpassing McCaw as the world's best this year. Waugh's gritty performances and leadership pip David Pocock here, but you'd think Pocock would be the 31st player if you expanded the squad by 1.
No 8: Richard Brown / Wycliff Palu
Palu's got more talent than Brown, but struggles with consistency and sometimes fitness. He was also underwhelming last year in the Tests after a strong Super 14 showing. On the other hand, Brown not only gets better in terms of realising his potential week-to-week, but also shows consistency. Either way, Palu can have considerable impact off the bench.
Halfback: Luke Burgess / Josh Valentine
Burgess has given much stronger performances in the second half of the season; for a while he was looking like a possible one season wonder. Will Genia might have challenged him for a starting spot if he was healthy, but in his absence, Josh Valentine's performance this year pairing with Matt Giteau makes him the choice for depth. Albeit a distant second.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau / Quade Cooper
Giteau started the S14 season with confidence we've not seen him with at #10, and by the end of the season has become a dominating player here. It could be scary to see what he can do with a Test level forward pack setting the platform for him. As depth I've selected Quade Cooper, who I would expect to show different form in a scenario where he doesn't feel like he has to carry the whole team.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri / Drew Mitchell
While Tuqiri has lost some speed, he still has a massive presence around the park. Beyond strike power, he dominates with big hits and tackles, and in recent years has shown considerable leadership. Drew Mitchell has scored some good tries for the Force this year -- he still has games where he makes major mistakes, but when he's on the wing (instead of fullback) he shows Test level talent.
Inside Center: James O'Connor / Ryan Cross
James O'Connor not only shows flashes of brilliance in combination with Matt Giteau, but has a lot of upside and will only get better. I've also put his center partner from the Force, Ryan Cross as his backup. Cross is always right on the cusp of the Test squad, and occasionally plays a bench player, but he's got some genuine talent and could shine if he had to play in a starting role. Where's Berrick Barnes in the equation? Hold that thought...
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock / Timana Tahu
Stirling Mortlock is still a world class Center. I think he has good leadership, but whether he should maintain the captaincy of the Wallabies is another question... Tahu has realised his tremendous talent ever since the Tahs installed the Halangahu-Beale-Tahu combo. Robbie might see Tahu more as a 12 and Cross more as a 13, and I'm happy to be flexible on that, but I think both are quite flexible players.
Right Wing: Lachlan Turner / Adam Ashley Cooper
It is unfortunate Digby Ioane is out for 6 months after what can only be described as a break out season. If Ioane was healthy, he'd be starting on the right wing, probably bumping Ashley Cooper to depth at fullback, and bumping Cameron Shepherd out of the squad altogether. In Ioane's absence, Lachlan Turner provides similar big speed/big play impact, notably saving a number of tries by holding up ball carriers over the goal line this year. Ashley Cooper is undeniably talented and may be the next best Outside Center after Mortlock, but he's had not only injuries but also a heck of a lot of up and down games this season.
Fullback: Berrick Barnes / Cameron Shepherd
We have some fairly thin positions on the Wallabies -- depth at tighthead prop and halfback are particularly noticeable. However, that's nothing compared to the dearth of talent at fullback. As a former fullback himself, this must scare the heck out of Robbie. While he doesn't have ideal speed, I think what Berrick Barnes possesses in terms of decision making, kicking skills, defense and leadership make him a great possibility for a position swap to fullback (also allowing James O'Connor to pair with Giteau). The alternatives are ugly; Turner's kicking is still very raw, Ashley Cooper is much more suited to wing or center, Mitchell is more suited to wing. Cameron Shepherd scores tons of points for the Force, but to me does not look like what you would expect from a Test level fullback, especially in terms of the consistency of his kicking -- maybe Robbie's tutelage will help here?
Hopefully Robbie can take advantage of an extra couple of weeks of training!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Head Above Water
Let me lift my head above water for about 2 seconds to say, the premise behind this game sounds pretty good...
Back to dog paddling...
Back to dog paddling...
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Sydney Festival 09
As I've mentioned before, it's been a bit difficult to blog lately as I've been so busy. Since the beginning of the year, I seem to have had a very busy social calendar, and work has been as hectic as ever. And when I haven't been busy, I have not been apt to reflection during my recovery periods.
Until now...
A big highlight for me has been the Sydney Festival in January. With years past, I've often either hesitated or left it late when buying tickets to Sydney Festival events. When I do get to the odd event in January I'm often regretful I didn't get to more. Not this year.
V and I decided to to book a bunch of events, putting blind faith into the typically dependable taste and quality control of the festival curators. We were not disappointed.
A summary of our attendance...
Lipsynch: An auspicious start -- we were absolutely blown away. The play went for a whopping 9 hours (including several intermissions), but we barely noticed! The story begins with an opera singer on a flight to Montreal noticing that another passenger is slumped in a seat, dead, with a baby in her arms. From here, a handful of characters are interlinked over many decades -- the story told in a zig-zagging non-linear fashion. An incredibly ambitious story spanning several countries and languages (English/French/German/Spanish), meanwhile interweaving amazing visuals and musical themes. Fast paced, complex and ultimately satisfying.
Fanfare Ciocarlia: A wonderfully colourful collection of gypsy musicians and dancers from the breadth of Europe -- many Romanians, along with Spanish, Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Macedonian (I hope I've got that right). Many different styles, beginning with flamenco style guitar, and graduating through different singers, dancers and brass/string instruments. Several audience members were dancing in the aisles of the State Theatre as the musicians played. After the show finished, the core of the Romanian gypsies re-emerged and then jumped off the stage and marched up through to the antechamber where they basically busked with their brass instruments for what seemed like an hour. Quite an amazing show.
Faith Healer: A challenging play made up of four monologues telling the story of Frank Hardy the Faith Healer. It begins with Frank setting the scene of his story, moving from town to town with his wife Grace and his manager Teddy. Grace, then succeeded by Teddy, follow Frank in telling their perspectives of their shared history -- Grace's story being quite depressing, and Teddy being quite entertaining in his cockney slang (despite the very dark subject matter). Part of the appeal of the play is that throughout, it is not clear whether Frank is merely a very talented showman or the genuine article. I thought it was a powerful performance, but the dark and stuffy conditions in the theatre made it difficult to maintain concentration all the way through (which is absolutely vital).
All Tomorrow's Parties: This might have been the most enjoyable music festival I've ever been to. The venue was Cockatoo Island, which necessitated a ferry ride to get to and from. Watching Rowland S Howard playing in sandstone ruins against a brilliant blue sky was a real highlight for me, as was seeing The Saints reunited for a very impressive set (despite some clear tension between Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey). Sadly, it's also the last time I'll see Mick Harvey play with the Bad Seeds now that he's left the band. The crowd was noticeably more mature (averaging mid to late 20's) compared to the typical music festival, and was definitely better for it.
Reggie Watts: What a dude. Amazing vocal range (10 octaves?) and mad skillz with a synthesizer, interspersed with with some interesting (absurd!) comedy between and within songs... Kept breaking into different accents and personalities. The set was only about an hour long, and left the audience wanting more. Not sure if he was a standup comic or musician, but either way I've heard he's returning to Australia for the Comedy Festival -- if I'm in country at the same time I'll definitely see him again.
Masters of Tradition: Each year, a 5 day music festival is held in the Irish coastal town of Bantry, where those considered masters of their craft play traditional Irish music in it's purest form.
A taste of this celebrated festival was played in a captivating set at the Sydney Opera House. A fairly amazing troupe of musicians (fiddlers, vocalists, guitarists, accordion and pipes) including the artistic director and MC (Martin Hayes) who also happens to be one of their most skillful performers on the fiddle. It is difficult to pick a highlight from such a quality line up, but my memories are drawn to one of the most melancholy sounds I've ever heard -- a reconstructed instrumental piece of (otherwise "lost") music played on the Uilleann Pipes (Irish version of the bagpipes). I believe the music was about a woman surveying and lamenting the remains of a battlefield. My gut stirred and my eyes were transfixed as this beautiful, powerful piece filled the concert hall.
I'm really looking forward to next January...
Until now...
A big highlight for me has been the Sydney Festival in January. With years past, I've often either hesitated or left it late when buying tickets to Sydney Festival events. When I do get to the odd event in January I'm often regretful I didn't get to more. Not this year.
V and I decided to to book a bunch of events, putting blind faith into the typically dependable taste and quality control of the festival curators. We were not disappointed.
A summary of our attendance...
Lipsynch: An auspicious start -- we were absolutely blown away. The play went for a whopping 9 hours (including several intermissions), but we barely noticed! The story begins with an opera singer on a flight to Montreal noticing that another passenger is slumped in a seat, dead, with a baby in her arms. From here, a handful of characters are interlinked over many decades -- the story told in a zig-zagging non-linear fashion. An incredibly ambitious story spanning several countries and languages (English/French/German/Spanish), meanwhile interweaving amazing visuals and musical themes. Fast paced, complex and ultimately satisfying.
Fanfare Ciocarlia: A wonderfully colourful collection of gypsy musicians and dancers from the breadth of Europe -- many Romanians, along with Spanish, Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Macedonian (I hope I've got that right). Many different styles, beginning with flamenco style guitar, and graduating through different singers, dancers and brass/string instruments. Several audience members were dancing in the aisles of the State Theatre as the musicians played. After the show finished, the core of the Romanian gypsies re-emerged and then jumped off the stage and marched up through to the antechamber where they basically busked with their brass instruments for what seemed like an hour. Quite an amazing show.
Faith Healer: A challenging play made up of four monologues telling the story of Frank Hardy the Faith Healer. It begins with Frank setting the scene of his story, moving from town to town with his wife Grace and his manager Teddy. Grace, then succeeded by Teddy, follow Frank in telling their perspectives of their shared history -- Grace's story being quite depressing, and Teddy being quite entertaining in his cockney slang (despite the very dark subject matter). Part of the appeal of the play is that throughout, it is not clear whether Frank is merely a very talented showman or the genuine article. I thought it was a powerful performance, but the dark and stuffy conditions in the theatre made it difficult to maintain concentration all the way through (which is absolutely vital).
All Tomorrow's Parties: This might have been the most enjoyable music festival I've ever been to. The venue was Cockatoo Island, which necessitated a ferry ride to get to and from. Watching Rowland S Howard playing in sandstone ruins against a brilliant blue sky was a real highlight for me, as was seeing The Saints reunited for a very impressive set (despite some clear tension between Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey). Sadly, it's also the last time I'll see Mick Harvey play with the Bad Seeds now that he's left the band. The crowd was noticeably more mature (averaging mid to late 20's) compared to the typical music festival, and was definitely better for it.
Reggie Watts: What a dude. Amazing vocal range (10 octaves?) and mad skillz with a synthesizer, interspersed with with some interesting (absurd!) comedy between and within songs... Kept breaking into different accents and personalities. The set was only about an hour long, and left the audience wanting more. Not sure if he was a standup comic or musician, but either way I've heard he's returning to Australia for the Comedy Festival -- if I'm in country at the same time I'll definitely see him again.
Masters of Tradition: Each year, a 5 day music festival is held in the Irish coastal town of Bantry, where those considered masters of their craft play traditional Irish music in it's purest form.
A taste of this celebrated festival was played in a captivating set at the Sydney Opera House. A fairly amazing troupe of musicians (fiddlers, vocalists, guitarists, accordion and pipes) including the artistic director and MC (Martin Hayes) who also happens to be one of their most skillful performers on the fiddle. It is difficult to pick a highlight from such a quality line up, but my memories are drawn to one of the most melancholy sounds I've ever heard -- a reconstructed instrumental piece of (otherwise "lost") music played on the Uilleann Pipes (Irish version of the bagpipes). I believe the music was about a woman surveying and lamenting the remains of a battlefield. My gut stirred and my eyes were transfixed as this beautiful, powerful piece filled the concert hall.
I'm really looking forward to next January...
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