I know I said I would stop but once I published that post I realised I had forgotten so many things that I love! So please indulge me...
Being a science nerd I find it amazing that monotremes exist only in Australia. What the hell kind of animal is that, anyway?! Warm blooded egg layers!? Crazy little guys.
Fuck yeah! Movie of my youth. Love love love Looking For Alibrandi.
AMAZING fashion industry. Photographed is Romance was Born, my absolute favourite label, pictured with Jenny Kee- the O.G. nut-bar Aussie designer. Fuck yeah!
The fact every single town is established by a pub in the sense that it is not a formal town unless there is a local pub.
Ok. I know it's not native here but Australia has SO MANY Jacaranda and Aussie spring-time wouldn't be Aussie springtime without them!
I don't know if it's the summer, or just growing to accept it, but lately my appreciation for my home country, Australia has exploded. This is coming from someone who, two years ago, would have called myself an outright American and denied any ties with Australia. Sure my family are immigrants and I don't have any real roots in the Australian history but I can safely say I am indeed an Aussie.
I can't seem to get enough of Australian music from the 80's and 90's, such as Nick Cave, TISM, Gangajang and The Church. I have begun collecting kitschy Australian clothes and craving the beach, beer and Vegemite toast all the time! I, previously a militant vampire, refusing to let my skin, which is naturally a olive hue even see the light of day, am beginning to tan.
Of course there are many aspects of Australian culture that embarrass me, for instance, the idea that if your family heritage is not of English background then you are a foreigner- Don't even get me started on the amount of levels that that concept is wrong. Australia, a country founded on stolen land and developed by convicts is now a land of freedom to be whoever you want and multiculturalism and anyone who see's that in a negative light don't deserve to live here.
I am also disappointed in the state of our education and health system but I am also thankful we have what we have.
I also hate the fact that even educated journalists say "Junta" instead of pronouncing "hunta" as it should be, but thats just a little side note...
Yahoo Serious? Who else but Australians could come up with something so stupidly original!
The way Australian's say "Gum nut".
Loves it!
Cannot believe the amount of friends I have who are Australian and have not seen the Mad Max trilogy. Just disgraceful!! It's only the best movies ever and the costuming is heaven. Just heaven.
Im going to stop myself here with the photographic homage (also, you Aussie's out there; It's pronounced "oh-majhh") to my island home. But I will leave you with my favourite TISM song that perfectly encapsulates the culture of Australian high schools and is just all-round the best song- And my current ringtone!
So I arrived with "Bifl" in tow to meet at the iconic Golden Tree meeting point in Chinatown. We met up with some friends and headed to my personal favourite food court in China Town for a pre-show feast. It was an inner struggle between ordering soup from Happy Chef (the Original and the BEST) or BBQ duck. I settled with the duck thinking that, since my new years resolution is to become veggo again I should indulge in my favourite meat dish as much as possible until then. In the Sussex Centre food court there is a delicious Chinese BBQ stand just one store over from Happy Chef. It displays the typical hanging duck and pork and has two loud and bossy women at the counter shouting orders. The meat was perfect, as usual. Crispy skin with fatty, juicy heaven inside. It cost $9.00.
It is served on a bed of rice with a bundle of steamed chinese broccoli on the side with a absolutely gorgeous sauce of five spice, hoisin and some secret ingredient that causes me to drool at the memory of it. On the side they serve an incredibly minimal "real" soup of just some chicken bones and carrot. Very bland but at least it provides a hot salty liquid to wash down the richness of the duck.
The drink counter in the food court also offers a glass of house wine for a reasonable $3.80. It tastes like grape juice and metho but it does the job.
The "Bifl" and her Japanese katsu and my cup of wine.
After polishing off the meal we all headed over to a nearby pub for some pre-drinks. Had a wicked time shooting the shit and indulging in a few, so much so that me missed the Gorillaz opening song after assuming it would start around 10 (how wrong we were).
"Fortun8" bar at and Mountbatten Pub.
My drink of choice (house sparkling).
THE SHOW:
Ok. I was only mildly excited to see them after a dull review on behalf of a friend that attended the Melbourne show earlier in the week. I'm not too keen on the their new album and had heard that they barely performed any other songs. However, I was pleasantly surprised when upon arrival (one song late) we were welcomed by "Last living souls" accompanied by an awesome video of two zombies (very 28 days later-esque) on a MASSIVE screen behind the performers, which provided me with something entertaining to watch the entire show when I couldn't see the band due to my height. The animation Jamie Hewlett has been creating for the Gorillaz never really grabbed my attention until last night. Not a fan of Tank Girl and I just thought that it was a cute touch to the band. How wrong I was. The animation played a HUGE part in the show and was mind-blowing. The creativity and character development was fantastic considering, it's based entirely off the premise of being on offbeat animated band. Every song had it's own video with a mixture of "Pixar style" animation, real life and 2-D animation.
The music itself was very true to the recorded versions, with the exception of "Clint Eastwood" which I was slightly disappointed to hear the original lyrics of the verses (Deltron's rapping) had been changed. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon lived up to their rock idol statuses playing perfectly and with the same style of jerky dance moves they showcased back in the Clash days. They most certainly "Still got it". A highlight, for me personally, was the amazing New Orleans-esque, brass section that could bust moves while playing a trombone. That must take some serious talent. I also would like to mention that I noticed the stringed section of the band were a group of hot babes dressed as sailor girls, most likely by choice of the self indulgent lead singer Damon Albarn, but a good choice at that. They certainly had my "Ball and chain" interested!
All in all, the show was definitely worth the cost of ticket (I think roughly $140, however mine was a gift, lucky me) and the sacrificing of ego as a 50 year old woman gyrates on your leg and rubs her hair in your drink/mouth. If they ever tour again, or near you, I most certainly recommend seeing them live if you are a fan.
The stained glass is an example of the animation quality.
Will tune in soon with a review of "El Cuervo Cantina", the new, supposedly authentic Mexican restaurant on Enmore Rd, Enmore.
Tonight I will be attending the Gorillaz concert in Chinatown. In true personal fashion i'm feeling more excited about the prospect of dining with friends and having a few drinks in Chinatown BEFORE the show. I'm not a HUGE fan of Plastic Beach and from sources I hear they play it in it's entirety (Well DUH). However it should be fun to see the whole gang including my personal favourite, Mick Jones (previously and member of The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite) live in concert.
I'm just dreading the "mosh pit". Although at the tender age of 19, I feel i'm too bloody old to wrestle a couple of 13 year olds and sweaty men to get to the front and do... what exactly? Shake the performers' hands? Hear the music so loudly you have a ringing in your ears for days to come? Lose a shoe? No thank you! You will find me towards the back, beer in hand, boogying down.
Fingers crossed we will get to hear my favourite Gorillaz tune, Clint Eastwood!
Will write about the show and dinner w/ photos tomorrow.
