More Than A Feeling by Boston.

• Cool (and dirty) sounding guitars – Tick. A good rock song needs to have a distinctive guitar riff. One that you will remember, and it needs to sound good. More Than A Feeling has this.
• Ups and downs – Tick. A good rock song isn’t just a “wall of sound” from start to end. It has peaks and troughs, light and shade. More Than A Feeling by Boston is a constantly evolving song from start to end with plenty of ups and downs.
• Soaring Vocals and Harmonies - Tick. Some of the best power rock harmonies you could ever listen to.
• Epic Guitar Solo – Tick. One of my favourite guitar solos of all time. Memorable and iconic. It’s not the longest rock guitar solo ever performed, but still awesome.

More Than A Feeling by Boston surely must be the most well rounded rock songs that has a bit of everything in it. It can appeal to everyone as it’s not too heavy or soft. Just good, solid, punchy 70s rock. It has been covered many times by many bands and artists, but as usual nothing beats the original. VH1 rated it as the “39th best hard rock song of all time”. I wouldn’t really call it hard rock. It’s just rock. It only reached number 5 on the US charts when it was released in 1976.

I Reckon Australia Day needs to be a True Public Holiday… And by “True Public Holiday” i mean most shit needs to be shut. And by shit, i mean EVERYTHING.. If we must close for Good Friday (a religious holiday of little importance to alot of people these days) then we need to close for Australia Day; the one day that we can be Proud to be Australian and have a day off for it… In lieu; we will donate the following unimportant days:

Labor Day (Created by Labor and the Unions for no other excuse than to fuck over businesses and give people a random holiday)
Good Friday (You can eat hot cross buns at work; why do you need to stay home…)
Easter Saturday (I never understood the meaning of Easter Saturday; so it must not be anything.. Move on)
Easter Sunday (Why do these people need so many bloody days off..?)
Easter Monday (FUCK…! It’s not over yet…?)
Queens Birthday (I love the Queen, but i don’t think we need to have a holiday for it… Its her day; not ours)
Boxing Day (So… Boxing day test match and the Sydney to Hobart start… That’s cool, but its not a real holiday is it…?)

I reckon for all of those days, people should be given an extra week Annual Leave… So… Then people can take their holidays when it is meaningful; not when they are scattered around the year. So.. The only days the Country should shut down for are the following:

AUSTRALIA DAY (Where the southern cross is patriotic and not bogan)
ANZAC DAY (Needs little explanation; other than for everyone to say thanks to those who died to save our country)
CHRISTMAS DAY (Let the Christians have one day; since we took the rest from them)

Furthermore;

Horse Racing isn’t important – People don’t need a day off..
If the Carnival is in town – More excuse to work and not go near the Carnies.
*Insert your stupid public holiday below; and condemn its existence*

Did i miss any…?

And… HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY…!

I reckon the lineup was terribe, but the people came anyway. There must have been 50,000 of them there. Mostly 16 year old girls wearing very little clothing. Southern cross tattoos were out in force too.

The day certainly lived up to its name. It was big. It was hot, messy and loud… Pretty much exactly how it is meant to be.

There are tents and stages everywhere. A quick walk past the “Boiler Room” tent was quite amusing. A lot of very, very happy people bouncing up and down to a DJ standing behind his decks. The tent was packed with fans with water bottles, glow sticks, starry eyes and grinding teeth. I can’t stand the doof doof style music but at least these punters were having a lot of fun. I hate to admit it, but the amount of people in the Boiler Room proves this style of music does have its place at a rock music festival.

The first band I got to see was Grinspoon. The crowd that swelled around the Orange Stage were not disappointed. These guys are practically a part of the furniture at The Big Day Out. Front man Phil Jamieson put almost every other performance on the day to shame. He is a flamboyant character and put on a great show. They played all the favourites you would expect from the Grinners. Stand out song was “Champion”.

Next it was time for a feed. The lines were long, but they have soooo many staff on so you never have to wait more than 5 minutes for food or a beer. No chance of food poisoning from food sitting around for hours at the Big Day Out. The people eat it as fast as they can cook it, so everything is always hot and fresh. Oh, and expensive. $8 for a mid-strength beer. $11 for a mid-strength Woodstock Bourbon can.

Next we head off to check out the Green Stage. This is a smaller stage, but under an enourmous tent. At 3 or 4 in the afternoon, shade is your friend. The amount of lobstered, sunburnt kids out there was staggering. Anyway, the Green Stage found us listening to a band called the Alabama Shakes. It was a weird experience because all of the kids in the crowd seemed to know the band and all the words to the songs, yet I have never even heard of the band. What was even weirder still is the style of music did not suit the demographic of the crowd at all. The music they play has a very heavy blues influence and is very laid back, cruisy music. I loved it. The lead singer is a big black lady, and holy shit she can sing. I will definitely be listening to more of this band in the future and I am so glad I wondered into the Green Stage tent and saw them.

When the Alabama Shakes finished it was time to go and see The Killers back on the Orange Stage. Anyone that read my article I wrote the day before The Big Day Out will know I wasn’t looking forward to seeing them. They were OK I guess. One thing I was impressed with is how many songs they had that I knew. I thought there was only 2 or 3. Lead singer Brandon Flowers’s voice gets a bit annoying after a while. It’s got a bit of a whine to it.

Just a 10 minute break later and the Blue Stage next door lights up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were good. Not amazing, but good. The absolute stand out song was “Under The Bridge”. They played a variety of songs from lots of different albums. I had a concern about young, new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer playing some of the old Chili Peppers classics. He has a very unique style, but he did stay fairly true to the originals. Flea did a great job firing the crowd up with his swearing and his antics. Not to mention his insane bass playing ability.

All in all it was a good day and I had heaps of fun. I don’t know where the Gold Coadt Big Day Out will be next year, but I will be there.

I reckon Breastfeeding is natural and some people in society just need to shut up. Most of us; being products of the 80′s and earlier, were breastfed. Animals in their habitat are breastfeed. I don’t understand why some people have issues with it.

Recently, a local council pool asked a breastfeeding lady; who was at the water’s edge to find somewhere else to breastfeed her newborn. They didn’t care she was also trying to watch her two older children whilst they were swimming. She was so embarrassed she took her kids and left the pool complex. She asked for a refund on the way out; only to be told no.

The act itself doesn’t hurt anyone.. It provides the necessity of life to a small child and personally; i think its a great thing.. I would put money on the fact that some fucking prude was the one to complain about this; and cause this woman to be treated in this way. This PRUDE needs to understand that Breastfeeding; in QLD like most states; is a “Protected Attribute”… Meaning… If a baby is hungry; there is legally nothing you can do to prevent a breast from feeding him/her…

There is one thing though. Some women are great at disguising their actions at times; and that is awesome too..! Especially the fact that the women would feel more comfortable; as well as others…

Breastfeeding is great. You wont ever see it that often; so some people should just shut the fuck up and let nature be nature…

Lets start with Red Hot Chili Peppers, the headline act. Also one of my favourite bands ever. Unfortunately since John Frusciante left the band, my interest level in the Chilis has decreased somewhat. His replacement Josh Klinghoffer is a great musician, but his guitar style has changed the fundamental sound and style of the band.

If you don’t agree, then you have obviously not heard I’m With You, the Red Hot Chili Peppers latest album. It’s a soft pop/rock album that borders on easy listening background music. John Fruschante was the mastermind behind the albums Californication, By The Way and Blood Sugar Sex Magik. All classic albums with many good songs on each album.

And how is this all relevant to the Big Day Out on the Good Coast tomorrow? My biggest fear is that the Chilis will only play songs off I’m With You. I want to hear Songs like “Around the World”, “Breaking The Girl” and “Danny California” (and many more). All Frusciante songs.

Ok, the other reason why I reckon The Big Day Out will be shit. Basically the lineup is terrible. The other so called headline act is The Killers. Besides that song “Somebody Told Me” (I don’t even know, or care, if that is the actual song title) and Mr Brightside, have the Killers even had another song in the charts? 2 songs = Headline act? What a joke.

If you go through the rest of the lineup, you are met over and over again with disappointment. I posted on my Facebook wall asking if there any other bands worth watching that I might not know about. I got a reply from one of my 16 year old cousins friends. She listed 4 bands and their best songs. Yew beauty! Something to look forward to? I looked up all of them on Youtube and you guessed it, all TERRIBLE! None of these bands have any right to be on stage at a rock music festival. Most of them didn’t even use a real frigin drum kit. All electronic crap. “Warp” by The Bloody Beetroots was one of the songs mentioned. Go look that one up. It has no place on stage at the Big Day Out.

So basically my expectations are so low for the Big Day Out Gold Coast tomorrow that if anything slightly above average happens, I will be impressed. Stay tuned for my post BDO review.

I Reckon Bernard Tomic is a misunderstood bloke. He gets slammed day in; day out for his attitude; but he plays a sport that is all about attitude. Take John McEnroe.. He had a huge attitude and doesn’t get looked at like and scrutinised like Tomic does. Tomic just wants to go out there, without the bullshit that Rafter and Tennis Australia want him to do; and play good tennis. Not 2 days after telling Rafter to go blow himself, Tomic beat Novak Djokovic in the Hopman Cup.. In straight sets mind you…! People just need to let the bloke play.

I heard one news reader on channel 10 the other day call Tomic “off the rails”… Hang on a second. If you want to see off the rails, ask fucking Bert Newton how his halfwit screw-up son Matthew is. That guy is a tosser; and more likely to get off the rails, then back on them, then off them again. Needless to say, Bert will point at the coke machine and ask where his money went and then make a hasty retreat for the nearest exit.

So; my message to the media… Leave Britney Alone… Oops, i meant LEAVE TOMIC ALONE… You don’t know him.. And when you can beat Novak Djokovic you can talk…

I Reckon someone in the US hates us Australian’s and our love for quality TV shows.. Channel 7 has been plugging “Last Resort” for 3 months or more; sucking people in with this awesome storyline; promise of action, adventure, drama and a fucking NUCLEAR SUBMARINE… Nothing says “this show rocks” like a submarine that can kill millions… Especially when; in your opening trailer you mention the president, nuclear launch codes; and the nuclear football (all making me extremely excited)…

Alas, my excitement will be misplaced… Once Again.. Last Resort has been cancelled after its 13 episodes in the US. Meaning, we will have 13 weeks of excitement and then require one long long long cold shower to rid ourselves of the Nuclear Submarine wood that will enivatably built up.

But this isnt the first time this has happened to me; or you. No, we all remember Terranova and what those American Pig Dogs did to that great show… I wonder what’s next…?

PLEASE; FOR THE LOVE OF GOD; TAKE NEIGHBOURS, HOME AND AWAY AND BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS… Thanks…

I Reckon Jamie Oliver is kidding himself; if the average Joe (Or Bomber) can cook a meal like his in 15 minutes.. Lets share my cooking experience from this evening with everyone.

Curried Sausages.. Seems easy… I Reckon 15 minutes passed by the time i bloody peeled and chopped potatoes and put them into water… Dont even worry about the sausages.. I FAILED MAKING MASH BLOODY POTATO… Dont even get me started on the rest of it; as i use Masterfoods Curried Sausage Mix; and dinner still didnt make it to the table in under 45mins…

So; what makes Jamie’s meals so appealing…?

Some poor barstard pre-chops shit; puts stuff into those little bowl’s and makes sure his pan is hot; and the kettle is boiled.. Where do i buy this little man from and how much is his going rate? But you know what’s worse? People that buy his cookbooks thinking they can make their own touch of “Jamie Magic” in 15 minutes… You Cant… I dont care how good you think you are; you cant… But at least you can pronounce the letters “Th” without them sounding like a “F”… Speech aside, this guy does do great things in society.. He has helped change the lunch menu of thousands of schools to more healthy meals… Too bad in Australia they don’t provide lunch.. Your Mum does that and the only thing that can hang around till Lunch Time without spoiling is a bloody sandwich.. Don’t get me wrong, i love Vegemite; but with all these Nut Allergies going around; my Nutella and Peanut Butter favourites when i grew up have been replaced with; you guessed it; Free Nut Butter and Sludge (Marmite/Promite/Sludgemite)…

However; i digress… I reckon Jamie Oliver is a Saint… Jesus can walk on water (allegedly; don’t get me started on religion)… Jamie can cook ridiculous looking meals in 15 minutes… We cant do either… Shit Happens…

Bomber…

On a personal note; my apologies on my absence-ness… Thank you all for your emails and requests for me to return… They were all heartfelt and touched me dearly…. (May or may have not actually received any emails… At all… Not even one…)

Me personally I don’t like REM. The majority of people DO like REM. One of my best mates, she hates U2 but the majority of people DO like U2. How a cult following of haters of Nickelback originated is kinda weird.

In my opinion Nikelback makes good music, in addition to that I reckon Chad Kroeger has a superb and iconic rock voice. It does border on pop rock sometimes, but still a heap better than most of the whining crap you hear from the “rock bands” these days. Chad Kroeger’s voice is big, dirty and husky. It’s the same characteristics that we fell in live with in Kurt Cobain’s voice and Eddie Vedders voice, just in Kroeger’s own unique way.

They have sold many millions of albums, so the haters can’t be right. Nickelback is a Canadian band. Maybe there is some sort of sour grapes occurring. Certainly any time a big New Zealand act tries to make it in Australia, they are usually shot down. This could be happening with Nickelback as a Canadian band trying to make a big impression in the US. Deep down I don’t think this is the case. It’s simply a weird phenomenon that has occurred with one particular band at this particular time.

After loosing Michael Hutchence the band was never going to make it. He was not only the lead singer, but a true “front man” with unique personality. It would be like loosing Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, or Soundgarden trying to make music without Chris Cornell.

At one point in their career, they were probably the biggest band in the world. It’s such a shame the world was deprived of INXS too soon.