One Geek

Eric Bibb’s music makes the world seem like a good place. It is so hopeful, I like it.

“We can’t afford the luxury of hate”

From Got to do Better by Eric Bibb

At Bluesfest I saw Ziggy Marley twice.
I love the man, he is awesome.
Such good music, and a presence.
Plus even though he must hate it he played some great covers of his Dad’s songs.

Other performances of note:
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars - Danced my heart out as did everyone there.
Mojo Web - Funnest guiter I have seen in a long time. Including walking around the tent drinking beer and playing guitar and then slide guitar using that beer can when he got back on stage.
The Borderers - Fun Irish and Scotish music
Kassey Chambers - Great music, and a beautiful romantic duet with her man.
Xavier Rudd - Best dancing music and all round fun music. Great also to see acknowledgement and respect of indigenous people
The Sunshiners - Awesome Pacific Islander band with fun covers and crowd participation.

What good am I if I say foolish things
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
And I just turn my back while you silently die,
What good am I?

From Bob Dylan’s What Good Am I?

I just listened to the tropic of conversation.

First impression awesome. The last song india brought tears to my eyes, so evocative, so powerful. My experiences in this great land add more to it. It’s a song so filled with hope and love. The other songs are really good too, but india is my favourite on my first run through.

Bob Dylan is so good. Such a poet. Though I know why I avoided him, in less then a year I have brought 8 Bob Dylan albums not including the best of I brought. He is a dangerous artist for a collector I tell you.

There shall be no dosa club tonight as I am in morning. Today is not a good day to be going to India next year. All the excitement about U2 would be far to much for me to cope with. Does anyone who didn’t get tickets want to go binge drinking with me tonight?

Actually that’s a lie. It just didn’t seem like many people would be able to come and I may as well have a week off. This is only the second Monday I’ve cancelled Dosa Club since it’s inception I believe.

We will be back next week though I assure you and don’t forget the 19th, our special Christmas Dosa Event.

Take these hands
Teach them how to carry
Take these hands, don’t make a fist, no
Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth, give it a kiss

U2 Yahweh

U2 are playing Sydney but on the 31 th of March at Telstra Stadium. I don’t think I can hang around two extra months for even U2.

The sacrificies I make for returning to India. This is a sad day for me.

http://www.merchantsofbollywood.com.au/

Anyone want to come and watch it with me?? Could be fun..

Alternatively anyone just want to watch a Bollywood DVD with me and drink Chai?

Just watching more Live Aid and BB King is performing at a Jazz festival. He has the men in the crowd singing “Rock me” and the women sining “All night long.”

I was sittin’ in a crummy movie
With my hands on my chin
all the violence that occurs
Seems like we never win

Love and mercy that’s what we need tonight
Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

Brian Wilson

Great words. I love it.

Today was one of the most beautiful days in my life. I can’t quite explain how or why it came to be that but I’ll do my best.

Today was the wedding of Emily and Martin. It was the best wedding I have been to in my life. It made me cry a lot. But the tears were of joy not sorrow. From the moment the bridesmaids started walking down the aisle to colour blind by Counting Crows, (played acoustically by two fantastic musicians) I was sold. The day and the service were both so authentic, a true expression of love.

I am a very cynical person and yet the whole service I did not have a cynical or even sarcastic thought. Every stage of it was true to the people involved. The vow’s and prayers were honest and extremely meaningful. Declarations like “Do you want to share your life with me, all your joys and pains, all your hopes and failures with all your body, mind and soul?” Are truly moving. The way they included God also was great.

The music was well chosen. It fit beautifully with the service. The messages given were very authentic. They somehow managed to get a Catholic, an Anglican and a Uniting Church minister together to run it.

The reception was also great. It was very homely, who would of thought it being in their house and all. I loved it also. Speeches that are usually the most painful part of the wedding were good. Martin’s Mum who has come out from Peru for the wedding was particularly good. Emily of course was great and Jo was fantastic too. However Martin simply shone in his speech, sure he stumbled through it but his feeling was there for all too see. Struggling to put into words (in English his second language, though I am sure he would have had trouble in Spanish too) what is surely his great love for Emily just made it all the more real.

The variety of people who were there was also outstanding. There were people from nearly every walk of life. So good to see that happen. The food was fantastic and all were genuinely happy about the wedding (as far as I could tell). I even joined in some dancing tonight. That’s how good the night was.

Emily is a person who has greatly enriched my life. It is wonderful too see her so happy. Her journey has not been very easy through this life. She is an inspiration in her passion for justice and her love of humans particularly the outsider.

I can remember finding out a bit about Martin in Australia whilst Emily was still over in Peru. Gemma’s trip there helped us too learn a bit more about him. Then sharing with Emily in the struggles of trying to get Martin a Visa. I can still remember the joy and excitement I felt when whilst in Raxaul I find out that Martin’s Visa had been processed and accepted. The other time I really remember is meeting Martin at the airport on my return from India. It was exciting to finally see him, he embraced me a stranger as his friend.

Martin who I barely know is still one of the most kind and openhearted people I have met.

Emily and Martin may the Lord God in His power truly bless you. May you live out your days together through the joys and pains of this life. May you live up to the grand promises you made today.

I am going too stop now, though I could go on forever. But it’s past midnight so the day is over.

Listening to How to Dismantal an atomic bomb I am still blown away by how good it its.

It’s very special. I think Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own is my first fav. Although all the tracks are fab and will become favorites soon. I feel very special knowing I got the UK and Japan only Fast Cars. Fast Cars feels like it’s the track which gave the albumn it’s name. At least from the lyrics. Pretty fun track.

I wonder when Steve is going to release his new CD. I wonder if he’ll release it in time for Christmass.

Just put on The Very Best of Cream. It’s a really fun CD. I haven’t listened to it in ages. I wasn’t sure I felt like it, but now I am really getting into it. Which is good.