sim salla bim
bar rome 1924
well folks i just did the melbourne writers festival
3 gigs over 3 nights
weird i suppose
seeing i’m not a writer really
i mean lyrics are lyrics
a great lyricist is not necessarily a writer
its not a given
anyway i gotta slightly literary air to me
so i do my first gig on thursday
its at a really nice venue northcote social club
i’m on between lisa miller and a poetry act johnny hammer n little miss x
when i get to the gig its not a bad sized crowd
it seems they were mostly there to see me
which i dont take for granted
maybe a couple of hundred people maybe a little more or less
anyway i get off to a good start when i play ancient world
this makes me smile and the audience make me smile
it wasnt how i’d planned it to be it was better
i had planned this smooth singer a real pro
but it soon just unravelled into me
but i didnt mind myself so much
and the songs came flowing out ok
i fluffed n blew a few small things
i was a little rusty on guitar but it was ok
ok is ok , ok?
i wasnt fucking mozart
but i wasnt a total hamfisted turkey
i was something else
i began to open up a bit
told some stories behind the songs
grant would enjoy hearing me tell of our jack frost days
i do 2 frosties songs and i stop to annotate them for the crowd
it all comes off smoothly
i explain where grant n i are coming from
how we came up with our stuff
it was a mysterious mystical process
grant had broken up with miss a b
and all his songs were informed and energised with his melancholy hurt
he turned his sadness into beautiful songs
shot through with his tender through to jealous outbursts
so i told em about some of that
i played ok as i said
but it was a warm night
the audience and i had no pretensions with each other
they were supportive and protective
they tried to enjoy what i did and they did
they understood it and it was a relief like rain coming
so no barriers
a lovely audience
thank you i needed that gig
i came off and i was happy
i nipped round to the little lords and had veg lasagne at 11 oclock
with lovely avo salad
next day
me n martin k drive for miles out to a photographic studio somewhere
on melbournes sprawling outskirts
we drove for ages to get there
we do a photo shoot in our tuxes
our new album is called white magic
so we’re like 2 magicians or scientists or billiards players
or some pair of crazy inventors
a bit of dry ice smoke n voila
instant esoteric geezer
i pick up a slender chrome tube
martin has a little crystal ball
hey this is me as erskine
you finally get to see him folks
that dusty old fraud doing tricks
anyway what a great session
what a great new record
the guy doing photos is a brilliant bloke too
knows what to do thats for sure
one of these will be our album artwork
hey presto !
anyway that night do a gig with a bunch of writers including bryce courtney
i get to meet one my all time faves china meiville
who wrote the scar which is an incredible fantasy
we chat a bit n hes every bit as entertaining as his excellent books
i was starstruck and i pounded him with questions
he cut an imposing figure
quite a bit taller than me
in his mid thirties i guess with shaved head
one ear has many many weird piercings
and hes totally buff
like hes in amazing shape
just short of body builder
he looks like a stunt man for a character in his own books
folks this guy is a real genius
it was kinda weird to talk to him
his books are a total detailed n sometimes fucked up universe
on his world its more laissez faire
life is cheaper and things are more random
apart from humans there are other cactus-men
and lobster men
and mosquito men
and these all coexist uneasily
and things get outta hand easily
so meeting the author of all this fantastic madness was extraordinary
my actual gig was 2 quick songs n bobs yer uncle
afterwards i went for ten minutes to a boring party
i dunno i felt uneasy
after a few conversations i split
i came home got an early night
been eating too much sweet stuff n have put on weight
damn
just goes to show ya
this morning did a little photo shoot with glenn bennie
then we rehearsed new gb3 album with band
wow very very good band too
tight and controlled
i am amazed at how they reproduce the songs so faithfully
we rehearse for a few hours
i split to do a gig in town
i end up sitting around with dave graney having a chat
dave graney is a mercurial type
hes got quite a look going half dapper half camp
hes got a good schtick too
hes funny n urbane n knowledgeable on a wide range of things
we just have a general rave
i play a couple of numbers not that well
ive added a new verse to ancient world
the girls down in nineveh
give their love forever
the temple whores’ll have ya on the floor
the ladies down in ur
with the whips and the fur
they say summer is super in sumer i’m sure…
anyway that gig was ok you know
i just talked to dave for a while n that was that
thanks con n family for goodies
nice to see big smiles kate who was smiling of course
sam sejavka was there
we had dinner together
but sam felt a bit under the weather n left early
that leaves me here hombre
in my 5 * hotel big deal nice view
melbourne is a huge vibrant city
i love it i love its residents
the coolest city in australia
im just too hedonistic to live here
i just like that bondi weather sorry and the pool
anyway
great to hang with martin kennedy
we had a good time doing the magician shoot
nice to rehearse with gb3 with gigs coming up in syd n melb
all my true n original fans who came along
man, i appreciate you guys
you are the core of my sanity
finally a weird moment
i started painting a commission portrait
to snap me out of my painting dry spell
although i stall halfway through a painting of hotel womb
yeah i was painting the song on commission
its a hotel foyer
theres the guy who commissioned it, theres me, theres an armadillo
theres a native girl theres a guy screaming at the desk n blah blah
but i just havent been able to finish it off
i bit off more than i could paint it seems
anyway so im doing this commish of this couple
and i been working on the guy for about 2 weeks
from this photo hes sent me
and i know this face with its glasses n little beard
a kind of vaguely uni student face i guess maybe a bit older tho
a reasonable intelligent looking kinda geezer
so i’m standing there today talking to someone
when my mind goes
whoa theres your painting walking past
and i start to think i’m finally cracking up
coz my mind has recognized this archetypal face now
cos i been working hard trying to get him right
and this painting side of my mind
that knows this guys face so well
is confused to see that face over there
and it looks just like my painting of him
seeing the actual guy was a bit overwhelming
when i wasnt expecting it
i was totally confused for at least a moment
i never realized the guy was from
melbourne
i thought he was an austrian or something
it was disorienting anyway for a short time
he turned out to be another diamond geezer
i hope i can nail the painting for him n his mrs
so thats it my friends
my report
see ya next week at van park
you gotta come
its a whole new bag
You’re not really a writer? You had me fooled.
You know I read for a living and thus am very picky about what I choose to spend my time with. Trust me, I would not be checking the TTB every day if you were not a very talented writer.
would be there in a flash if it were a few suburbs instead of a few states
thanks for the invite
hope lots of others take it up
Steve, great blog tonight, best one for ages, however long ages is? Sounds like you had a great time and you were happy. Good stuff. I love Melbourne, just dont get there often enough. Shoffy
Excellent !!!!! I can tell by this blog entry that those old batteries of yous are almost completely charged. I hoped and prayed that these past couple days would be fulfilling for u, and reading about about a near-stalking of a esteemed writer made me smile. Isn’t that ironic, thats what many of us do (become awe-struck) when we are in you presence. Did anyone record parts of these events so u could post them for the masses to enjoy? If not, it was a pleasure to here u describe the shows, it made me feel like i was in the audience, or backstage with u. About the weight thing, sweets will do that to you-but a little concentrated exercise,yoga and cleansing will get u back to ur boyish figure…LOL !!!
AsAlways,
BrokenToysAndHeros
Also- that is a great picture u posted from the photo session, very mysterious and full of wonder. Martin K looks like one of those early vacum/encyclopedia salesmen that makes his employ-door to door. You would be the muscle to ensure the patrons pay-up.
Austrian, Australian — eh…same difference.
I was just wondering if you’d gotten started on that painting…guess I know the answer now. How cool for the guy who commissioned it to have you recognise him…I bet that will make the painting even more special.
The HW one sounds amazing…someday I want to see that one!
~
I’ve been seeing some of the photos from the KK photo shoot — gorgeous! What spiffy album art that will make! White Magic…nice title.
~
“it wasnt how i’d planned it to be it was better
i had planned this smooth singer a real pro
but it soon just unravelled into me”
Someone sent me a recording of most of this performance and I’ll tell you it was better than ok, it was delightful. That came through so clearly, even in a recording. I can only imagine how much more wonderful it was actually being there. “…unravelled into me” — I think this is a big part of what made it so special…a good and supportive audience allowed you to let down your guard and just be you…and that’s pretty damned special. This performance radiated a wonderfully joyous shared experience. Even made me happy.
I enjoyed listening to most of the first show, too bad the recording didn’t catch Ancient World.
The magician pics have been showing up on fb one at a time. Each one I like better than the last and to date this is my fav. I impatiently await the new album.
Funny about the guy in the painting. I saw a young Steve Kilbey in the park yesterday. He wore a hat like the older one and shorts too, yep and the same beard. Looked like he must have been caught up in some sort of time-space warp and got spit out in a park in C-ville, GA. He was pacing about the parking lot looking kinda lost.
That was great. Thank-you!
I’m totally convinced that Steve Kilbey is just as talented as Johnny Lennon and MACCA ! MACCA tops SK as a musician but SK tops MACCA as a lyricist. In short, it’s great that all three men have graced the world. More of the world needs to become cognizant of THE CHURCH.
>seeing i’m not a writer really
You’re a brilliant, gifted writer. Your writing has taught me a great deal about the craft and continues to inspire.
Sounds like things are going really well – great to hear about all the shows, though a bit envious of those in Australia who get easy access to all this stuff!
Hi again Kilb’s
The weather was awsome in Melbourne today.
On the way down,it woodend was pissing down
I get to Melb and it was warm and humid.
Headed home and get back to Woodend, and yep!
It’s still pissing down …. , “Typical”
But it is worth the crappy Winter weather here
Living in what i like to think as my personal paradise.
I really enjoyed your little do today at Fed square
I was hoping hard to meet you but really doubted that i would,
But then, at the end, i realized that it was all up to me.
I either go home on my merry way with just a memory, or, i take a dive into anxiety plus and come over and say hi and ask for your famous name in my book of you.
Like i said, i really didn’t expect to “meet” you , and i surprised myself and trodded off with my new mobile phone wallpaper of Steve Kilbey, Angela Barclay and Sam Sejavka.
What a cool day it ended up being,
Thankyou so much Kilb’s
And your singing and guitar wasn’t rusty at all.
It was just lovely.
The perfect thing for a sweet Saturday afternoon.
Enjoy your stay in Melbourne Kilb’s
And i’ll see you in Thornbury in November
I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Cheers
Ange
I beg to differ – You are a writer AND a superb lyricist.
Hotel Womb has always intrigued me…very cool that someone has requested a visual! I Gotta give some thought to the significance of the armadillo in your painting, as I’ve only seen them dead on the side of the road since moving to Texas. Perhaps seeing your painting would be the only chance I’d have to see one ‘alive.’ Will there be an unveiling on your website?
Happy painting, writing, playing, singing, creating…. Wow, I wish I was the female version of you!
sounds as though your’e in fine fettle my friend!
so glad your’e enjoying all these new departures……..
and…oh yes,
buy MEM’s cards people, they’re bloody awesome!
and…they come with a little book with an intro by SK……..
HOT TICKET when i sprout my wings i’ll be there in a second.
MEM
Wow! Sounds like you’ve been busy doing a lot of great stuff! I love the tuxes! I’m glad everything is going so well. I hope you picked Mieville’s brain about writing books, because you really are a writer. I would buy one of your books in a heart-beat.
that reactionary bliss both ways — an audience and a writer meet!
you know, I don’t remember his words specifically, but Henry Miller…
when we are reading a writer’s work it is truly for when the reader feels something that bonds in their own hearts… both shear joy and sorrow (are good)if it shows the connection of souls — and the dreams that are so vivid help to walk through what is our own path(s). That to write (/read) only for knowledge or to placate the culture of our society seems worthless.
I always thought he was so right (though I know(!!!) — I probably butchered his quote, but not his thought I hope).
My favorite authors bring lyric and a form of music to their writings; though, I don’t think many others are musicians too.
I could call a few towns home, but Melbourne is My Town in excelsis. My bones were picked clean in Bearbrass, exposing my soul; I sacrificed my twenties on the altar of excess in its bars and cafes; I bathed in wonderous golden light through three thousand shimmering Melbourne evenings; I opened and closed The Book there (but understood nothing I read). And yes, it’s the very town where I bought my rose tinted spectacles, the ones I’m wearing now with their filigree frames of lead. It’s been six years now since I left. Just six, but a whole life in those little grains of sand. Just hearing you whisper its name brings a smile and tear.
v
from one writer to another, YOU ROCK!!!
I knew that.
‘not really a writer’- well for what it’s worth, you are my favourite writer. some narratives are just breathtaking.
(Sim Salla Bim)
Wow K.B.P.P, I love the way the photographer captured you juggling both balls in the….. oh…. hang on….
Hi sk, it’s always a pleasure having you here in Melby, and to hear you talk about music and other stuff yesterday was so special, you’re always so interesting and funny, I could listen to you for hours (can’t say that for DG though!
. I feel so lucky that we see you here so often and look forward to all the gigs coming up!
Take care, stay positive and have a safe trip back home sk.
love always,
Princey
so many bad, bad daze this year and The Time Being was always the
bright spot of my day, glad to see things shine your way also Steve.
Can’t wait to hear the new Kilbey Kennedy. Loved this entry. What a glorious time.
Thank you so much Steve and your beautiful guild 12 string guitar <3 It was the loveliest afternoon I've had in a long while!
Safe travels home, and a wonderful Dad's days with your children
Counting down the days for Sydney and Van Park, woooo!
x
busting a boiler to hear the new sk/mk album…..
i LOVE china meilville….have just finished reading ‘the city and the city’ and it blew my mind…….have you read it? what did you think? i want to read his latest one, ummmm, what is it, my mind’s a blank at the moment but i couldn’t order it because the publisher had ‘issues’…….was it the kraken?
damn, all’s i know is i want to read it rather badly….god i love a good book….
love always….
You may not see yourself as a writer SK, but as far as I am concerned both your songs and your poetry tell a story. Hell I’ve even listen to some of your music without lyrics that trigger my own over-active imagination to visaualise images that tell a story, so please believe in yourself a a writer the way I do.
Also, the VERY best of luck with the musical not to mention your birthday on 13th!!!
.
.
you are someone who tinkers with words
you see how they sound
you hear how they look
you see them back to front and inside out
you see them as something that can be cut up and recycled
as something at once inane and indispensable
meaningful and meaningless
maybe there’s a better word for what you do with words than ‘writer’
You have a really interesting life and get to meet so many talented people and do cool things. I’m really excited about the new album with MK. The last one is incredibly impressive and so beautiful. You two are a good fit. I hope things go well with Van Park. Wish I lived close enough to go see it and your gigs.
I adore the photo of you and Martin K. Brilliant photography – what a great session!
yep, that was me – and believe me, it was such a surreal moment for me as well, not to mention my brother and friends, who had i hadn’t told about the painting, and didn’t know what was going on when SK recognised me and approached us
but i definately appreciated the chat Steve – we couldn’t stop talking about it all night
Hello, hope everything’s ok and u had a lovely Father’s Day with the kids yesterday……Melby already feels cold and empty without ya
.
Hey, I forgot to say how much I loved hearing “Nothing Inside” and “Fly” the other night, beautiful songs they are.
.
Good luck with the play this week sk and keep us posted ok.
Take care and lotsa love,
Amanda
Wonderful blog.
Well, if we devoted fans can’t exactly be the apple of your eye, at least we are the core. Ha ha. By the way, have you ever eaten the seeds of the apple? They are delicious – taste sort of like anise.
And if you are not a writer, I am not
Your friend from Pennsylvania
can’t find it, the one copy gone
looking for days, maybe soon it’ll come
back to my hands for a listen once more
to remedy the Sabbath, torn to the core
found some Paw in the nick of time
hard sound thick guitar, most sublime
not in comparison to friends now gone
did I lend it to my brother
should I ring his home
the radio’s the same, tepid and voidly void
record shop memories, Bus Driver, pink floyd
looked one more time in a closet by the garage
maybe soon spinning, soothing, my desert mirage
Looks like I’ll have to move to Melbourne then.
Love
Lady Di
Hey hammer here thanks for mentioning us in yr blog…we got on 15 or so minutes after you n threw my poetry and thundering guitar bass n drums into the solus of those people who remained.
I liked our easy chat in the band room, like we were old friends.
All the best ….little miss x….
Hey hammer here thanks for mentioning us in yr blog …we got on 15 or so minutes after you n threw my poetry and thundering guitar bass n drums into the souls of those people who remained.
I liked our easy chat in the band room, like we were old friends.
All the best ….little miss x….
sorry to repeat i put up the wrong mutherfuggin website!!!!
Yo!!….
……am now reading the third bear by jeff vandermeer……bloody good stuff…..
love always……
wow…you’ve been a busy man! sounds like things are going well for ya though. very good to hear! loved the blog today. i’ve been very busy here as well…that’s why i haven’t commented much lately…between work, kids…especially my 1 year old hurricane sophia, and a lot of recording for a new project i’m working on…haven’t had too much extra time. trying to come up with a band name…hate doing that. they all either sound like too much or boring to me. it’s just me and jay ( you’ve met him with me and anthony ) from my previous band on our own…songs are going great. we’re not sure if one of us are going to sing or try to audition for one??? my birthday was sunday and spent most of the night recording drums/percussion/bass and mixing…so a day well spent…
anyway…take care sir
griffo
Ok, 4 days is waaay too long, is everything ok sk? Please come back soon
Just checkig…don’t publish this – but are you OK Steve?? nothing for a few days not even approved comments?? Please just a one liner to say you’re OL. I hope you are. Bit worried.
love
BS Kate