Karaoke @ The Laundry 

[ Yeah it does kinda look like grainy 16mm film aye? ]

Ah Karaoke. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it in the past (mostly hate) although I do remember singing Imagine and California Girls with a group of friends a few years back that was a hellva lot of fun. I distinctly remember seeing one man propose to his girlfriend, singing a Barry Manilow tune that was well’85 outta tune. I couldn’t stop laughing but at the same time she did say yes so I guess he’s done the karaoke venture many times before in front of her, no surprises there. What shits me most with karaoke is the hardcore serial karaoke fans who do it every week and think they can sing when they’re fucking terrible. I was brought up to believe that if you really suck at whatever you’re doing after countless attempts, you should probably give it up. The serial offenders tend to do it sober as well which completely defeats the purpose of it in a pub/club environment. The fact these people enjoy it doesn’t make it right either. I say enter them all into the next series of Australian Idol and let Australia give them a reality check. It may be the only way.

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Friday, October 29 2004
 
Daily Life
 

Damien Rice @ Prince of Wales 2004 

[ Who says you need a band to be great? ]

Now THAT was a fucking great gig! When you think you’ve seen a band perform absolutely brilliantly you only have to see Ireland’s Damien Rice perform solo to realise that a talented musician with a few pedals and a guitar can do anything a band can, times 10! Although I’m not 100% sure, this was his first time in Australia and just when I thought nobody had ever heard of him over here, the show had sold out, full of fans, young and old, male and female. Sans Lisa Hannigan, Rice performed to the eager crowd at one of the last shows of his international tour.

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Saturday, October 23 2004
 
Music Review
 

Caulfield Cup 2004 

[ I think number 12 had to be put down ]

Ahhhhh the Caulfield Cup. A 50,000-odd crowd, a lot of fake tan and alcohol aplenty makes for a fun day out. Oh did I mention it’s actually a horse-racing carnival? I guess it’s not really important since the majority of punters were there just to dress up, socialise and drink. I placed a couple of bets only to lose so that started and ended my dealings with Cup betting. The organisers would have made an absolute fortune too since it cost $40 just to get into the carnival and then $4.60 for a can of Carlton Draught! With that factor in tow, I paced myself quite nicely and didn’t up embarrassing myself like so many others (although I’m sure I did later on that night at Duncans party but more on that further down). The main race itself was no big surprise with the favourite Elvstrome (which I pronounced Elvistrome for some reason) winning the race at 3.60 to 1. I can’t see myself going to another Cup unless it’s at the mercy of a girlfriend since the racing itself is incredibly boring. It’s 2 mins of joy in a seven hour day. Celebrity sightings included My Restaurant Rules Melbourne couple Peter and Tayissa (who were swamped by 18-year old fans and sat right next to our gathering), the legendary Bart Cummings and ‘the-beautiful-sexy-and-memorable-woman-James-met-at-a-party-
who-instantly-clicked-with-but-has-a-boyfriend’.

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Monday, October 18 2004
 
Daily Life
 
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