DARK DAYS

I'm watching the news again out of necessity. What could bump both the pandemic then the most appalling invasion and conflagration in Europe since last century as a more urgent story? More local natural disasters of a never-before-witnessed scale.

These floods are beyond belief. They come so sly yet sudden, obliterating lives and livelihoods. Leaving the poorest so much poorer. My heart goes out to those I know and don't know amidst the displacement and chaos. It's especially hard to appreciate from here but I hope a brighter day will come soon.


Wednesday March the 2nd ~

I moved anything half valuable (there's not a lot to be honest) out of our back shed where the creek is last night, expecting the worst to arrive here by morning. It has just begun. Seems tonight and Thursday morning will now be the most perilous.

Given I've gotta drive in to the city to play Swingin' at the Speakeasy I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and assess on my return tomorrow. You'll find me spinning (out) for free in the sandstone cellar of Palmer & Co, mere metres above the hidden rage of the subterranean Tank Stream, from 10PM til about 2AM, after Sarah O'Connor live.


Friday March the 4th ~

A year or three back I started a weekly residency at Sydney's iconic Hollywood Hotel, the very week that it's founding matriarch, Doris Goddard, died. Yesterday would have been her 92nd birthday.

To lose such an iconic personality from the helm of this one-off community enterprise was devastating for all concerned. The licensee Mark bravely battled on through the aftermath of this traumatic loss, emerging from lockouts only to hit a pandemic. Last year he finally passed the baton on, choosing the new owners, from a field of many, based on culture rather than capital. I played a raucous closing-night party then the old girl closed for some much-needed TLC.

After a fastidious and honourable restoration that has been faithful to the unique public house Doris forged in this often-tawdry etch-a-sketch of a town (see The Lansdowne), the Hollywood has reopened and once again begun programming some of the liveliest musical acts available. I'm stoked to say that I will also be returning to that hallowed bar this Friday evening, relaying a five-hour set from 9PM that will incorporate threads from the oft-unseen fabric of personalities and places that truly exemplify Sydney's greater nature. Free, for all.


Saturday March the 5th ~

On Saturday you'll hear more resonant selections of sound fashioned into something of a story sequence on Jack Off, stripped of most interruptions to let you soak in your own reflections. That's 3 til 5PM.
By 9 that evening I'll again be snug within the opulent surrounds of Dean and Nancy on 22, sharing songs to galvanise and bear up our shocked spirits at this awful time. Solidarity and peace people x