It's life, Jim...

Watching the International Space Station pass silently overhead is a wonderful thing. I don't know why it makes me feel so good, but it does.
Is it the notion of solitude, of separation from this crazy place? Is it admiration for the work of the engineers, the scientists? Or something else?

A flashback to sitting on the floor as a young lad, the whole infant school watching the grainy, flickering image of Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on what must have been a 20-inch black and white screen. It was our telly. My Dad had bought it to school. This meant I was a pretty popular kid, for a few days.

This tiny but bright object, arcing through the heavens. At 28000 km/h. With people on board. Wow.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

The first week of the rest of my life...

Now that Christmas and New Year are done, and people are finding their way back to work, my newly-acquired vagabond musician lifestyle is beginning to feel a little more real.
If the last week is anything to go by, I will be busier than ever, now that I am standing on my own two feet.
I've played three shows, with one more this evening, so public appearances have been healthy. I've also spent so much time on other aspects of my music it's not funny. I have managed to tee up a few shows through January and February, sorted out my public liability insurance and a few other similarly boring grown-up things, completely revamped my music site, reorganised the music room/studio and rehearsed some new songs. I've had another article published in a national glossy music magazine, and have set up a series of review gigs for Fringe time.
My new-found role as full time squire of the house and land has also seen me gainfully employed in gardens, kitchens and storage facilities alike. All good fun - it's nice to potter around the property, doing the old man shuffle.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

looking back

Last night I waved goodbye to the busiest year I have ever had, musically.
In the first half of 2012 I played 24 times. Not too bad, I guess. About a gig a week.
From July 1 until New Years' Eve, I performed 96 times. Ninety Six. In just 184 days. Wow. I made my mind up mid-year that I was going to play more and I certainly made it happen.
No wonder I'm tired.
Memorable gigs included playing at the Irish Club for the first time, appearing at the Balaklava Races, launching the Yours Truly CD at the Grace Emily, playing at The Union in Sydney, singing my songs at the Semaphore Music Festival on the Busker's Stage, doing my thing at the Tarlee Community Fair, playing a Hank Williams tribute show, surprising Ken Stewart at Bondi Beach with a set of Urban Guerillas' songs, appearing at Shimmering West during the Fringe Festival and, of course, entertaining folks across five states and territories as I rode the rails on Australia's great trans-continental trains.
I've put two CDs out, and appeared live on Three D radio and Radio Adelaide. I've run a series of songwriters' workshops, had poetry published, and a bunch of my other writings have appeared in local and national magazines. I've played in a few duos, learned a ton of other people's songs, and met some brilliant folks along the way.
It's been a hoot, and I can only hope for more of the same in 2013.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

A time of great change

I cannot remember a time in my life when I have been quite as busy as I have been in recent months. Most of it has been excellent, but I have had no time for reflection; it's just been one thing after another.
Work. Trains. Sydney. Music, music, music. Family. Perth. Planes. Christmas plans. Sickness and health. Gigs. Gardens. Darwin. Birthdays. Full house. Guitars. Long goodbyes. Life out of balance.
I walked out of the office last Friday and I'm not due back until 2014. I'm hoping that 2013 will be a period of consolidation. Of taking stock, and getting things organised. How punk rock of me.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Transcontinental man

I get around.

It's been an extremely busy time since the middle of the year. I'd decided that I was going to seek out as many opportunities to play as I could, rather than sit around lamenting the dearth of venues willing to take a gamble on original music. Of course, I figured that I'd have to make some compromises in terms of what I would play, and the type of venue I'd play at, and the amount/type of consideration for which I'd be happy to play...

Since winding myself up and heading out I've played on trains, in cafes, in pubs, under marquees, at markets and in halls. I've played in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. I've played when I've been feeling happy, sad, energetic, tired, ill and workman-like. I've played for decent money, for pizza, for train rides, for beer and for free. I've played in front of big crowds, and to empty rooms. I have played.
By my reckoning, I've done 64 shows in 135 days since July 1.

I'm a bit tired, what with a day job also requiring some attention, but this is exactly what I planned to do. It's all part of getting myself set up for 2013.

www.bleakumbrella.com

Up the (Bondi) Junction

A quick jaunt over to the east coast for a surprise birthday party.
Ken Stewart, Urban Guerilla and Yours Truly stalwart, is having a big birthday so I'm off to Sydney.
Up early on a Saturday morning. I could do with a couple more hours rest but that's the price I pay for loving you the way that I do.
Adelaide Airport. Under construction.
Security. No drugs, bombs or nail scissors, thanks very much.
Exit row seat - bonus. And why not? I'm six foot three. Thank you for noticing, Virgin.
An hour late out of Adelaide, 45 minutes on the tarmac in Sydney. Some kind of worldwide computer glitch. Millenium bug I reckon, just a bit late. Take your time, I can stretch my legs out and carry on reading.
Sydney airport is heaving, full of grumpy, impatient faces. Glad I'm heading in the other direction...
Train into city. Central. Banana skin on seat. People are so considerate.
Lunch. A burrito the size of a football. Pure Blonde.
Freddie Flintoff and Bill Tarmey (died this morning, RIP Jack Duckworth) autobiographies. Seven dollars well spent. Backpack now full. And heavy.
Train to Bondi Junction. A thirty minute walk through the local area. Allsorts around here. Bondi Pavilion.
Help with the party set up. Tote those tables, lift those chairs.
People filter in.
Memory Lane.
Ken is surprised. That's the thing about surprise parties...
Friends and family feel the love. Musical tributes. Ken joins me on stage - you can't keep a good man down. Folk punk is the new black.
And then, it is over. Remove posters, stack chairs, say goodbye.
A couple of hours' sleep. The morning sun hurts my gritty eyes. Airport. Fly. Finish my Wreckless Eric book. Arrive home.

www.bleakumbrella.com

Billy Bragg

One of the highlights of my trip to the west was heading out on the Friday night and seeing Billy Bragg perform. I haven't seen Bragg for a good few years so I was pretty happy that I managed to pull it off, despite my initial discovery that I'd be out of the state when he appeared in Adelaide.
I'd bought the Perth tickets well in advance so it was something of a relief to be actually standing there, ten yards from the stage. Nothing had gone wrong, everything had fallen into place.
Jordie Lane opened the show and did a great job, no doubt winning himself some new fans.
After a short break, Billy Bragg appeared on stage.

The first half of the performance comprised the latest instalment of Bragg's ongoing Woody Guthrie roadshow, presented in equal parts story and song. Although Bragg suggested it might be a warts 'n' all recounting of the Guthrie legend, it was, in fact, a warm and friendly tribute.
After a short interval, Bragg returned to the stage, strapped on his Telecaster and played a bunch of his own songs. Fifteen of the Bard of Barking's classics from times old and new. As much as I like Woody Guthrie, this was what I was waiting for. High points included The Price I Pay, Scousers Never Buy The Sun, Sin City (with Jordie Lane), I Keep Faith and the sublime Tank Park Salute. Sure, some of the introductions to songs are getting a bit long in the tooth for those of us lucky enough to own multiple concert recordings, and there was a tendency to perhaps bang on just a little too long, but I think most of the audience very much appreciated an artist who is willing to connect with his audience.
After a generous performance, Bragg finished the evening with an updated Great Leap Forward, and crowd-favourite New England (dedicated to Kirsty McColl).

At the end of New England, he put down his guitar, saluted, threw his tea bag at me, and left the stage.

Setlist:
Guthrie (partial): Ingrid Bergman, Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key, Slipknot, Go Down To the Water, Another Man's Done Gone, All You Fascists
Bragg: The Price I Pay, Sexuality, Distant Shore, Tomorrow's Going To Be a Better Day, Greetings To the New Brunette, Must I Paint You a Picture, Scousers Never Buy The Sun, Sin City (with Jordie Lane), The Milkman Of Human Kindness, Levi Stubbs' Tears, I Keep Faith, There Is Power In a Union
Encore: Tank Park Salute, Great Leap Forward, New England

www.bleakumbrella.com