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One day in 1995, while I was 16 and at school in the UK, I got talking to a guy called Brian Douglas. And we talked about music, and the different bands that we liked. Whilst I was hopelessly mainstream and citing things like U2, Crowded House, and Pearl Jam – this guy was just pulling names out of the air; bands I’d not only not heard, but not even heard of. And two of these (American) bands were Sebadoh and Slint.

To prove what a badass he was (and that he wasn’t just making these names up), he told me that his older brother had gone to the public library (no less), borrowed some vinyl records of these bands, and then tape recorded those mother-lovers. Not only this, but he could do me a copy if I gave him a 90 minute TDK. And lo and behold, I soon had in my grubby mitts a copy of Sebadoh – Bakesale (on side A) and Slint – Spiderland (on side B). In 1995. And I listened to those bad-boys on my walkman. A lot. And I fell in love with them.

Fast forward to 2011, 17 years later. I’m 33, living on the other side of the world, and I wake up singing Not Too Amused to myself (the track above).

And just because I’ve woken up with the song in my head, I look up Sebadoh on the mighty Interwebs. And then I find that they’ve just re-issued a remastered version of my beloved Bakesale, so I have a chat with my wife and we nip into town and pick up a copy from JB. And then while listening to it I decide to look up some album reviews for old times sake… and discover that Sebadoh (who disbanded a long time ago) have RE-banded to tour their old album as a farewell. And that they’re playing in Australia. 70Km away from where I live. In 16 days time.

This is genuinely one of those moments where I understand why the phrase the truth is stranger than fiction rings so true – I mean, really – you just couldn’t make it up – I’m absolutely psyched. I was convinced that I’d missed the boat by a good 15 years+ on this one, and that there was no way I could ever experience a Sebadoh concert in the same way that there’s no way I can go back and stand about one foot further to the left of my mate swinging a golf club when I was 10; what’s done is done, and fractured skull be damned.

But this is like going back and fixing a mistake. Like seeing Nirvana or INXS or the Beatles or something – today. Or in 16 days time…

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P.S. – Bonus awesome track because you’re unequivocally worth it, and because I can:

P.P.S – Also, I still really like the Slint album, it’s just not what I’m writing about today.

Post-Gig Update: It was a great show; a little bit shambolic/bad-luck tinged (gig review: here, PDF of gig review: here), but we had a ball and it was awesome just to be there. Also got a T-Shirt and had it signed by Lou Barlow, so I thought I’d take a pic before the marker washes out!

Get well soon, baby – love you to pieces. xXx

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My darling, my sweetheart, my wonderful wife got me a couple of bits and pieces for Valentines Day…

And by a couple of bits and pieces, I mean a box full o’ everything that makes me happy!:

• Hot beef jerky
• Expensive Belgian beer (Hoegaarden)
• This month’s Edge Magazine (this month for Australia, that is – we’re 3 months behind the curve!)
• Limes! (I love limes! No, really! Half a lime squeezed into ice-cold water with a bunch of ice-cubes is teh bomb!)
• Music & Video (a CD and series 1 of Brothers & Sisters – mainly because it has Brenda from Six Feet Under in it!)
• Sour sweets
• Hot sauce & a hot-chilli plant
• Lovely, lovely Coffee (Vanilla flavour & Toffee flavour! Yum!)
• Imported Root Beer!
• A new watch (okay, so it’s a candy watch.. but it’s made up for below!)

Woo-hoo!

Oh, and only a frackn’ 250GB Playstation 3! And a PlayTV PVR (records/schedules recording and playback of TV, even HD stuff!). And a copy of Little Big Planet!

ZOMG! And God of War III is coming out soon!

Get in!

I must’ve done something very, very good in a past life…. Oh, and I got her a single red rose and a card. Must do better next year!

Ah, got reminded what I did in the past: Last year I got her a laptop… Swing, meet Roundabout

and wit will not fix a nights partying!!!

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

My all time favorite poem…… words to live by…. (forgive the typing, its late yanno )

More info about the poem here.