Well hello again. It seems the "not so weekly" has remained just that, but alas my attempt to write last week's blog on the way home from Thailand was thwarted by an over-zealous hostess who decided that the computer would interfere with the navigational equipment... "Exactly!" I said. "I was hoping we could get lost so I can stay on holiday a bit longer... ".
Hostess - 1
Renny - 0.
And so I have made it home feeling rather refreshed after a month in Thailand. The stomach bug seemed to disappear after a few days (thanks for your concern), and the minor injuries sustained in the moped mishap seem to be fading away (although not as fast as my hard-earned tan...). Overall thoughts? Hey I had a great month, and it was worth it to head over for the experience. It was, after all, an all expenses paid trip to a resort hotel, and they don't come up all that often! And Phuket?, well that was, as Yolanda Thomas might say, a beautiful disaster. If that makes sense...
Would I do it again? Sure, but not on a regular basis. Because as good as it was to have a rest from the "real world" (as I like to refer to Sydney), there is certainly a limit to how many 4 hour gigs you can play to average crowds of around 6-10 people. And when, after having played a song to the best of your ability, you are greeted by a wall of silence, well that can be somewhat disappointing. Fortunately I had figured out a way to remove myself from the gig "experience", and play through the songs in my on little world. A world which needs no acknowledgement and no encouragement. A world which exists only for the duration of the gig before instantly becoming a distant memory. But despite acquiring the skill to find this "world" when I needed it, it is not a place that bodes all that well for a successful career as an independent singer-songwriter. A lucrative career as a covers artist perhaps, but that's not really what I am trying to achieve here... Not yet anyway.
Having made it home safely, I can't tell you how nice it was to be back at The Excelsior last Wednesday night - playing a show to people who wanted to be there, wanted to hear some good music. And it was also a real treat to share the stage with some of my favourite local artists - Kitch, and the guys from Move Trees. Just a great night, and reason enough to be back home. As I have mentioned before, we've got great lineups every Wednesday this month, and I'm looking forward to the rest. Ruby for Lucy, Sarah Bird and The Mules coming up this week (11 June).
The other great thing about being back home is that I can get to work on this album. To be honest, I really underestimated the size of the task - to self-produce, and do the bulk of the tracking at home by myself. It's as much a discipline issue as anything else, because it's all in my hands. Not that I need to be disciplined by other people, but it's been difficult to switch over to that slightly obsessive mindset - which is where I really need to be to get it finished. Fortunately I have moved back up to the northern beaches, which means I don't have motorbikes and garbage trucks waking me up 5 nights out of 7... And whilst I miss the proximity to the "action" (if that's the way to describe city living...), I am enjoying the peace and quiet up here. It's a beautiful part of the world - something I am reminded of whenever I go away and come back. We've got it pretty good here.
And finally - because I feel I should leave you with one more bit of useless information to add to the large quantity of useless information you have just read - I joined Fitness First. No, I can't believe I did it either... No I don't really know why... Yes i know I have signed a pact with the devil, but there was no choice. I knew I would be travelling... Needed to join something I could use in different places... For years, I have taken a stance against such establishments. And now I am just one of the crowd. Is all hope lost?! What have I become?!
Having said all that, listen up all you independent musicians, because there is certainly a benefit, and that benefit is this:
(I borrowed that style of speech from Kevin Rudd)
If you are on tour and you can't be bothered paying for accommodation, then you can crash in your car/van, wake up in the morning, go to fitness first, do a bit of a workout (if you're that way inclined), have a shower and a shave, get changed and VOILA! You are ready to take on the new day. Rejuvenated. Refreshed. No hotel necessary! You see I am full of ideas.
And I am also full of crap.
But I thought the fitness first thing was a good idea... At least till I sell enough CD's to pay for a hotel room... But I have to finish the CD first don't I.
See you next time.
Renny
PS - Did you know you can book tickets to the Hundred Club in London?!
www.wegottickets.com/event/29580
Not long to go now!!!
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