His Guitar : Day 56 #100daysofwriting

He plays his guitar
Like a natural
Like breathing
With a lazy rhythm
Fingers in slow motion
Weaving colours
Bursting into imagination
He plays in a way
That makes me want to paint
Big swirls of colour
With both hands
Makes me want to dance
Naked under pine trees
Makes me want to sing
Secret songs of summertime
He bites his lip
In concentration
Maybe to hold back
The explosions of genius
Intense concentration
Across his brow
Belies the lazy rhythm
Paint, pine, song
Swirl before my eyes
The tempo picks up
Carrying me away
The lazy strumming
Beats like birds wings
Against my heart
Breath catches
Music swirls

Creative Catch-Up (What I watched in May) : Day 6 #100daysofwriting

I have been asked by a fan and creative benefactor to write an update-slash-newsy post. Don’t be fooled, I don’t get paid to write my drivel, but I am emotionally supported and encouraged. I’ve decided to report back on some of the beautiful creative influences who have crossed my path over the month of May. These are unsponsored so no Barry Ronge fanciness here, ok?

Performance: La traviata by Verdi (Opera)
Venue: Artscape
Date: 9 May 2015
I fortunately work for a company who support Cape Town Opera, so most years I manage to snag a pair of tickets to a production. This year it was my Dad’s turn as my date. I’ve actually seen “La traviata” before but the two productions differed in interpretation, so it was quite refreshing. This production was set in the 1800’s while the former was set in the 1920’s. Cast were all students of UCT Opera School and were outstanding – there is much hope for the future of Opera in South Africa. Short plot summary: “That opera about the prostitute with TB”

Performance: Hello Dolly
Venue: Baxter
Date: 14 May 2015
Edgemead High put on a musical every two years and I know a staff member, so naturally went to support. I am a little bias because they put on “Little Shop of Horrors” previously and I’m a total fan. The kids gave it their all, I loved the quirky sets and it was a fun night out. Some real talent shown for singing, comedic timing and dancing. Short plot summary: “That musical about the meddling matchmaker, not Fiddler On The Roof”

Performance: The Pervert Laura by Louis Viljoen
Venue: Fugard
Date: 15 May 2015I love intimate theatre, I love a physiological thriller, I love South African play writes. Rounded up some friends and went to witness this “dark psycho-drama”. Would I tell my parents to watch this? No, but I absolutely loved the play and it was honestly the most disturbing play that I have ever seen. Got a chance to chat to the cast afterwards which was so special. Short plot summary: “That play about the girl who got messed up by her dad”

Performance: Tobacco and the Harmful Effects Thereof (based on the Anton Chekhov play)
Venue: Fugard
Date: 25 May 2015
Again, intimate theatre. Like I mentioned, I’m not going for a professional, researched approached. A friend and I attended this play because tickets were on special and we had heard that it had won an award/been sold out at Grahamstown. Primarily a one man show, with loads of straight faced jokes and physical comedy, I was in hysterics. The title gives nothing away about the play and initially I thought it may be education. It is a comedy with a hidden dark side. It is still playing till 13 June so I would recommend that you see it. Short plot summary: “That play about the subservient man who loses the plot”

Performance: Joshua Grierson and Fruit Vendor (musical performance)
Venue: Alma Café
Date: 29 May 2015
I’ve known Josh for years (The first one, Fruit Vendor’s name is also Josh) but haven’t seen him perform for a while. His style is dark and makes me think of Nick Cave’s twisted love songs. It’s great to watch him play, the gap between man and guitar sort of blur. Between his smoky voice and the rain, I was inspired to write a dark poem when I got home. Fruit Vendor on the other hand sings happy songs and flashes his dimples (I’m not sure if he actually has dimples but his smile felt dimply). The subject matter itself isn’t necessary light however. The venue is also an experience, home styling cooking and live music, perfect for a Winter evening.

"If you hurt inside, If you confide in me again..."

In 1997 a boy made me a mixtape and hid it in the hedge next to the gate at school.
The music on that mixtape shaped my musical education and was the soundtrack of my teenage years.

This song "Said Sadly" was on the tape and has always had a really special place in my heart - it's a really beautiful, heart twisting ballad...

I've missed the nights were Billy Corgan sung me to sleep.

night all

xxx

New Project!

Given that I didn't want to write a load of posts on beer on THIS blog, which is supposed to be healthy, I've started a side project {The Paine Kids}. You will see links to the latest posts at the bottom of my page.

I will be covering our beer tasting in a number of posts, interspersed with info on music that Brother (The Squire) and I love, moustache facts, anything really... The Squire will even pop in for a guest post every so often :)

 

www.kidpaine.blogspot.com

Tell The World....

"I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the World I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the World that I'm coming"
                                                          - Skylar Grey (Coming Home)

I got addicted to the P Diddy version while travelling last year. I remember discovering it on the playlist on the plane just before I landed in London, tears pushing to get out as the fields rolled out beneath us. I felt so emotional, this was my first trip outside of CT, I was about to see my best friends from school (strange how so many of them ended up across the sea), I'd done something brave, and I'd been travelling for about 19 hours on a smidgen of sleep...

I felt like I was about to escape reality and that all my mistakes would be washed away, I'd be reborn in England. I was forever changed by leaving everything at home for a month. I grew, my eyes opened, I was inspired. 

It was my theme song on the way home, when I was really coming home.... almost like a prayer that I had changed for the better, that I would still be me, that my kingdom would remember me....

When Granny was sick and dying, she kept saying that she was ready to "go home"... I knew she didn't mean back to Pinelands. On the day that she died, I put the P Diddy version on and howled during the chorus.

And now, I have discovered the original Skylar Grey version by accident, and it is soooooo utterly moving.

"She's flirty, turned thirty. Ain't that the age a girl gets really dirty?"

This is me embracing 30.... loved this Scouting For Girls song for ages, and secretly was waiting till I could be "dirty thirty"... however, I did forget about this song until I heard it yesterday morning while walking - viva ancient iPod :)

 

 Let's get this frikken birthday started!!! Whoop whoop!

Musical Glass!

Quite the move on from the usual connotation of "making music with glass" which usually describes blowing over the top of a bottle or running your finger around the rim of a crystal glass. These crazy Australians (figures hey?) have made full blown music!

Some more info and other musical glass thingies here http://glassart.craftgossip.com/2009/12/14/australian-glass-percussion-project-music-with-glass/ and here http://blog.glassquarterly.com/2009/12/11/on-other-blogs-australias-long-running-glass-percussion-project-discovered/