Inspiration

I know I recently posted about Coldplay bringing out their new album and I don't mean to go on again on the same track but it's not my fault that my two favourite artists happen to bring out new material within two weeks of each other.  

John Mayer is probably the biggest inspiration for me musically and watching this DVD I just felt inadequate as a musician and songwriter.  It's almost disheartening but only for a second.  Then there's a tiny glimmer of desperate, misguided hope that maybe one day you can pull off something remotely close to how good this guy is, and that's enough to push you on.  I think you need to be reminded every now and again of just how inadequate you are in order to get better.  But in the meantime I'll watch this thing a dozen more times and try to steal some ideas.     

Despite not having the means at all I bought a new delay pedal.  I'm searching for inspiration in sounds and I couldn't help myself.  I'll regret it later when the credit card bill comes in but for now hopefully it'll spark something great to justify the interest I'll have to pay.  

If you've only seen John Mayer in the light of pop singer and haven't seen him live then check out this concert.  I don't think anyone can not be inspired at least on some level by this music.  

Back to Basics

Played an acoustic show last night and it really reminded me of the days before the band when I'd play small venues by myself.  It was really liberating.  When you're not locked into a strictly rehearsed set you can just do things on the fly.  You have to work hard though because you've got nothing to hide behind except an acoustic guitar. 

We were tucked into a corner of this bar/cafe just near the entrance and people were at the bar just a metre or so in front of me.  It's such an intimate experience playing music to people like that.  You're not separated by a stage or lights or anything.  You play and they either like it or they don't and that's it.  Bare and exposed.  Great fun though.  I hope to do more stuff like it.

Worth the wait

Recently whenever I want music I usually just download it from iTunes.  I always used to buy CDs but these days the convenience is too great to ignore.  So I save buying CDs for the albums I've been hanging out for.  And I usually get them as soon as they're released.  Today Coldplay's new album got released in Australia and so I made the effort to get to the record store.  I'm listening to it as I'm writing this and so far I'm liking it a lot.  Fair bit different but that's what you want from your favourite bands when they release new stuff.  Whenever I listen to new music by one of my favourite artists I always have a sudden urge to try and write something new myself.  So when I'm done listening to the whole album I might go and pick up a guitar.  Buy this album but.  Quality. 

Machines using dirty tactics

Ages ago I made it a point not to carry any coins around.  First it means I don't have annoying change weighing me down but second and more important is that I'm much less likely to spend money.  If I've got change it's waaaaay too easy to spend it, whereas if I have to break a note then I probably won't.  Good theory yeah?  I thought so too.  This is a new vending machine that just got put in at my work.  I don't know about you but I reckon this is just unfair.  And guess what.  On the first day it was in I broke a ten dollar note to buy some Shapes.  I feel like this machine has broken some vending machine by-law or unwritten code of conduct or something.  I'll just have to stop carrying cash altogether.  You know what will be next though - "insert credit card here".  When that happens I'm stuffed.     

I thought it would never get here

I ordered some new gear the other week from the far away place that is the US and it finally turned up on my doorstep today. I love ordering stuff online because it's awesome when you get a delivery in the mail. The only other mail I get these days is bills. I think when I placed the order I chose the cheapest option without realising just how long it would take to get over to oz. And it didn't have tracking on the package either so about a week and a half in I was starting to get a little worried. But it's all good. I now have this brand new pedal in my hands and I can't wait to play it.

Does this even work???

Apparently Australia isn't good enough for mobile blogging...

Best game everrr

This here is probably one of the best two player games ever.  I was living with my brother until recently but he left and in the process took his ps3 and his massive lcd tv with him.  So I've cracked out the ps2 for the first time in years and am thoroughly enjoying this game.  Yeah!!!

Introducing myself and the start of lo-fi

Hey I'm Dave.  I play in a band called The Quills - check it at myspace.com/thequills or thequills.com.au.  I've decided that in the absence of an awesome camera I'm going to embrace the lo-fi of my camera phone so I can capture everything on the run.  I'm so sick of being in situations where I wish I had a photo of something so I figured this is the best way to make sure I never miss anything.