Music I've been Missing - 2006

It's been a while since I've done one of these. But today my memory was piqued by a conversation I had with a friend about our music tastes.

I mentioned Camille's Ta Douleur from her album Le Fil and couldn't quite hum the tune. And I couldn' sing the lyrics as they're in French. I love the sensuality and beat of the song. I first heard it in 2006 and recall traipsing through Sydney streets the day after the Darren Hayes concert at the Opera House to buy her CD.

This memory of Ta Douleur reminded me that 2006's music was the music I've been missing.

The first half of 2006 was a difficult time for me. Without going into too much detail, because of my no blogging about work rule, I was not coping at work and my health was suffering dramatically. I had 40 sick days in nine months. The situation was awful - it consumed me. I lost confidence. I lost the ability to believe in myself. And sometimes the ability to smile. The only thing I could think of to temporarily escape the situation and get 'Carly' back was to move home with my parents for four months in June of that year.

This move worked wonders. I gained confidence. I only had one sick day. I recovered. And I got Carly back.

Albury is a small town. And with small towns comes a limited choice... homogeneity, I guess. I find it hard to do things alone like I do in Melbourne because everyone goes out in groups. People go to nightclubs but all I want to do is see a band at a pub. And there is a commercial radio station that is pretty bland (sorry Ash, I know you read this!).

The move to Albury meant I was no longer commuting on the train - I drove 60 minutes to work and back each day. When I left Albury in 2003, I listened to the commercial radio station When I returned in 2006, I soon found out that this station was not for me. I couldn't bear Snow Patrol, Justin Timberlake or Kelly Clarkson after a week. So to save my sanity, I switched to Triple J.

I loved the tom foolery in the mornings with Jay and the Doctor. I loved hearing Robbie Buck on Friday afternoons when I finished early. And I loved Hack on my 5:30 trip home. Sometimes I'd drive further just to listen to more of Hack.

The music I discovered on Triple J was awesome too. And when I think about it now, I reckon those four months back in the country weren't so bad. I loved this way of discovering music. Just listening to the radio and hearing songs I liked. All because I chose to listen to another radio station. I got to do that more.

I got my health back on track.

I met some new people.

I saw some old friends.

I learned some new skills in a different job.

I saw Darren Hayes at the Opera House.

I hung out a lot with a boy I liked.

I spent time with my parents and dogs.

And I returned to Melbourne in October to a brand new beginning - and have never looked back. SO MANY opportunities have come my way since I moved back home and returned to Melbourne.

And in 2006 I discovered this music on Triple J.

Regina Spekor - Fidelity.

Regina is wonderful. I adore her quirky lyrics and vocal ability. I've seen her live and she is breathtaking.


Bob Evans - Nowhere Without You.

This is where my love affair with Bob Evans began.


Angus and Julia Stone - Paper Aeroplane

And this is where my love affair with Angus and Julia Stone began. I saw them later in 2006 and they were AMAZING. And I've followed them ever since. Been to every tour in Melbourne, plus one at Hepburn Springs, since 2006.


The Infadels - Love like Semtex

I can't say I know any other music by The Infadels. But I really enjoyed this song. Someone told me what semtex is. It's a cement.


Pony Up - The Truth about Cats and Dogs (is that they lie)

Like with Love like Semtex, I don' know any other Pony Up songs. This YouTube clip has reminded how cool the song is, so I may need to explore Pony Up.

Gotye - Heart's a Mess

This came on my iPod tonight on the train trip home, and I still found it as divine as I did in 2006. I feel like I'm moving in water when I listen to it.

Eskimo Joe - New York

While I'd been a fan of Eskimo Joe for a few years leading up to 2006, New York would have to be my favourite Eskimo Joe song. And seeing Kav Temperley live on Saturday night reminded me of how great Eskimo Joe are. I love the huskiness of Kav's voice.


The Eagles of Death Metal - I Want You So Hard

This song is a bit of fun! There's something sexy about the lead singer. It's the bogan in me lusting, I think. Again, no further Eagles of Death Metal consumption.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Phenomena

I don't think I am cool enough to listen to this band. But I still listen.

Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control

Again, I don't think I'm cool enough for Gossip!

On Australia Day 2007 I went to a Triple J Hottest 100 party. It was a great day with great songs.

2006's music was definitely the music I've been missing. I am so glad the temporary move enabled me to discover these wonderful artists, many of which I still listen to today. And I credit it to helping get Carly back.

The Basement Birds at the Forum

Filming didn't go ahead as scheduled yesterday because of the weather. But last night was the Basement Birds gig. The night sky was heavy with clouds and it was icy, but my rainy, windy and slightly disappointing day had a silver lining :)

For the uninitiated, the Basement Birds are Australia's limited edition supergroup, comprising Kav Temperley from Eskimo Joe, Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah and also known as Bob Evans, Josh Pyke and Steve Parkin who used to play with Bob Evans. I've been a fan of he former three musicians for many years so it was an honour meeting them and seeing them live.

My ticket included the concert, a soundcheck, tshirt and meet+greet. Not bad for $90.

The tshirt is very cool – it is always nice to get an arty tshirt, and not a lazy one with just the album cover printed on the front.

The soundcheck was more of a very intimate acoustic couple of songs. It was in the smallest room I've ever experienced seeing a band in. So small that I was too close to get the full band in my photo (a nice problem to have!).

Before they played two songs (Waiting for you and Ghosts), Kevin said that Steve likes a bit of Q&A.They called for questions. And I actually had two questions prepared – I wanted to dabble in music journalism last night. I asked them one question in front of the other VIPs at the meet and greet. I was a bit nervous.

Because of your other musical commitments, The Basement Birds are a (sadly) fleeting band. I see you as a bit of a modern day barbershop quartet. Is there a chance that when you're all in your 60s we will see you appearing in barbershops across the country doo-wopping away?

They laughed at this question and answered it with lots of humour. I wasn't able to record thei answer but here is a summary.

Kav said the Basement Birds are setting them up for retirement, and they can perform like this when they are young and handsome. Josh said their next album will be called 'Superannuation'. Kav said he saw a barbershop quartet on TV before Friday night's gig and thought that could be the Basement Birds someday! They also did a bit of a do-wop at the end of Waiting for you.

After the performance, we queued to meet them and have photos taken and stuff signed. As my Basement Birds CD is already signed, I took in my Bob Evans and Eskimo Joe CD covers and told them to all sign them. Kav said it's the first time he'd signed a Bob Evans CD. They also signed my ticket.

They also asked me what my other question was. So I asked them this:

You have all been around playing music for a while. You currently have a huge social media presence - blogging, Twitter and Facebook. How has this made a difference to the promotion of your music compared to before social media was huge?

The question wasn't really answered, but they did nod at the mention of the social media stuff. There was a discussion of the age of their respective bands and I said Jebediah were too out there for me back in '97 as I was listening to Savage Garden. Kevin laughed and agreed Jebediah were far more out there than Savage Garden.

I was so honoured Kevin remembered my name, too.

Thee pics were taken – an attempt to be tough, where Kevin laughed, a Blue Steel one, and me with the band. They were all so nice. It was a great opportunity.

Tough one. Except for Kevin's dimples,

The Blue Steele one.

And the one with me. Sigh.

The stage had vertical rows of kite like birds. They looked cool in different colours of stage lighting.

I met an old friend there who I met back in 2006 at a Bob Evans gig at the East Brunswick Club. I made a new friend, Stephanie, and met a friend I've been talking to for a year on Twitter and Facebook – we 'met' due to Bob Evans tweets, and also share a love for Rush. Clare has an awesome blog about Art Attack.

The Sun Orchestra played first. They were folky and melodic. The singer then went on to play keyboard and lapstrings in the Basement Birds. I liked them but I need to listen to more of their music to get a proper feel.

Then Old Man River came on. I'd seen them a few years back at The Sleepy Jackson, but don't remember much. The band was so joyful last night – it was a great set. I'm going to be following more Old Man River from now on.

And then the Basement Birds. Wow. It really struck me how distinctive their voices are. Kav's is beautifully husky. Josh sings with Australian strine – I love how his accent shines through. Kevin sounds like Bob Evans but every so often I think 'this song sounds like Jebediah'. And it was brilliant to hear Steve Parkin sing for the first time. Together they are harmonious, melodic and funny.

They played most Basement Birds songs, plus covers of Sarah Blasko and The Presets. My favourites were Holly, Bus stop and Waiting for you.

During Bus Stop, which usually features Julia Stone, four girls from the audience got up to sing 'never been that good with numbers'. They were so cute, it was a great opportunity for them. I talked to two of them afterward – of course they said it was amazing! Thinking back now, I would have gotten up there too, but I didn't hesitate due to potential embarrassment, but for the fear of climbing over the barrier!

Sorry for the quality of the pictures - it's so hard with the smoke machine, lack of flash and movement.

Thank you Basement Birds for coming together - I really hope this project will continue for a bit longer, or that we'll see you 'round as a barbershop quartet.