Far From the Madding Crowd has got me. I have about 100 pages left and it’s really just amazing.
I don’t even like this story but Hardy is such a phenominal writer of sentences. Jesus can the guy make ’em. Sentences. His are my favorites.
The atmosphere is intoxicating, too. Complete and intoxicating. When I think about this book during the day it makes me want to stop whatever I’m doing and read more. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I’m done. Read “Tess” I spose.
If you bother to read this just be forewarned that it starts slow. Really slow.
It took me exactly my entire flight home from Adelaide to Sydney to San Francisco to Portland to finish this kinda-silly pop adventure tale. Perfect for airplanes. The airplane movies of books.
I found it strange how many people asked me “how’s yer day been” yesterday in Sydney. Ironic because that day had been spent exclusively in vans, airports and airplanes. “Bad” would be the most accurate answer when one includes the fact that I was, and still am, recovering from losing my voice almost entirely.
Well it’s a new day, we’re in Adelaide (“Rad-elaide”) and I’m going to hopefully nap until my voice returns. I will be aided by Thomas Hardy’s “Far From the Maddening Crowd”. Let’s just say that ol’ Tommy was a writer of a “windy” nature so I should be out cold in just a few minutes.
I’ve hitched a ride early with Cut Copy so that I can hopefully play drums with Dan Black.
Uffie told me she’s partied every night. Somehow she still sings exactly like her records. Damn. I’m jealous…. and yes the dude on the left is rocking the keytar.
Kelly from Block Party’s other band. A little more electronic on record but kicks a lot of ass live. He rode back to the hotel with us last night. He’s got a cool vibe.
New Young Pony Club. Fuck yes. Badass chick drummer and a real sick disco bass player. I’ve dug every song so far but I’m gonna have to split in ten cuz we’re about to play.
Now, about this book.
Kurt Vonnegut wrote a little thesis called “Why They Read Hesse” which describes it perfectly.
Then add some superpowers and alien intrigue.
I’m not saying I didn’t like it, but it’s definitely for kids. Also, the first half is more well-written than the second half. The book Is part of a forthcoming series, which desperately wants to be made into a movie, by the way. Lastly, the name of the author is the fictional wiseman of the other planet and if the author actually remains anonymous I shall be both impressed and jealous. But I have my doubts.
Yesterday was spent in bed recovering right up til the gig. Which was awesome. I got some real sleep last night but am still very tired. Another 10 hour night should fix it.
Well this isn’t a real Tasmanian devil but it does look quite lifelike, wouldn’t you say? We’re flying back to Melbourne today for the Parklife show tomorrow. Also I have a book reading/signing at a club called Cherry. I think its tonite at 6pm ish.
I did not buy this because of the author’s amazing name. I did not buy it because it was the only book on the entire rack NOT about more fuggin sexy vampires. Nope, I bought it because it has basically the same plot as Mike Allred’s “Red Rocket Seven”, which, next to “Micronauts”, is my favorite comic book of all time. I’ll letcha know how it goes.
Day 6
My first hangover headache of the tour. Coincidentally, I seem to have lost an entire bottle of Advil. I’ll have to do yoga to get my head back on straight. Gonna have a big oyster day.
Barilla Bay oysters. The best in the known world.
Took a tour of the as yet unfinished museum at Morilla. Got the hardhat on and bossed some people around. You know, the usual. I don’t know what it’s going to be called, but if you Google “Hobart” and “Morilla museum” some interesting stuff should come up.
I’m bartending a small martini party in my hotel room. A lot of Seals and Crofts, Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, Christopher Cross, you know the drill. And yes, those are more oysters.
Well it’s obvious that we’re in the last city on earth before Antarctica. You see how they can’t even afford whole cucumbers here? They have to just make do with cucumber foam. Like they have one for the whole island and they just pass it around and everyone gets to us a little of its essence. And you see that plate? It’s just a slate tile probably leftover from when they remodeled the fireplace or bathroom.
It’s a hard life here but you know what? It makes me respect these people even more.
When I drink bottled water I don’t really know what to look for so I just go for the name brand.
This is my brave crew who are off to Tasmania with me now.
I happened to meet Gordon Ramsey’s head chef (Melbourne) and he’s meeting us at the Hobart restaurant he used to work at.
We may have to fight off Tasmanian devils and that crazy kind of bird that eats sheep and can break into cars, but if you look closely at each of these faces you’ll know that we will succeed. Each of us has stashed a 9 year old bottle of Bordeaux wine for this occasion so we’re fighting for more than just our lives here, we’re fighting for our religion.
