wisdom. humilty. guitars. Cody Chesnutt. All below.

Hey there. Had a good week? It’s been another week of incredible lessons coming my way let me tell you. Lessons in relationships, love, humility and commitment to an action.
Let me explain a few of them.

I shall start with humility, which is something I strive for, and every now and then it seems very easy to believe what folks say when people rush up to you on the street and tell you that you do a good job. It’s a lovely experience, a complete stranger having that kind of reaction to you in public. Someone you’ve never met telling you that you’re ace. Having your ego massaged like that in public is delightful, especially when you’re having a bad day, and you can easily get drunk on the experience, however – the moment you believe it – you’re gone. I’m very lucky that people feel that they can approach me like that (and believe me people who hate my guts approach me with the same regularity) however you can’t believe it. I guess in my experience my heroes, or idols in this respect (if you’ll pardon the pun) are Guy Sebastian and James Mathison. Guy’s so humble at all times, the fella has a voice that opens a portal to his soul so that you can see inside, yet you’d never know by looking at him. He’s confident in his ability, but never allows his confidence to get the better of him. I wanna be like Guy. He’s great. Jim’s another thing altogether. He’s a genius in front of the camera, yet completely downplays any ability when away from it. He can do anything, yet acts like it’s his first day on the job when people compliment him. These to people inspire me to be humble and hold fast against getting caught up in the world of self-inflation. I’m doing well thanks to their inspiration..

I’m super excited about going to the grand final in Melbourne with my big brother. We rarely get a chance to hook up – I’m very keen on having a few beers with him. He’s very wise. That’s the only word I have for him, he’s a wise, wise person. He’s the oracle, just without the cookies. I go to him when I need answers to tricky questions, and I’m not talking pub trivia.. He has the answers, and the way to follow..I think he needs a cave atop a mountain or something instead of his office. Go you Swans!

A few weeks ago I told you about a friend who quit her job – well now she’s off to London to make the world fall at her feet. Yumi organised her farewell, and in putting the show together (yes there was a drag show, Yumi and Maya doing jazz Ballet and a Metal Band), Yumi asked if I would play guitar and sing some songs with another friend Adam Zammit. In particular, would we play ‘More Than Words’ as a farewell gift to Emma. Out came the six-string, on the net for Tab I went hunting, and after a few weeks of practice, we had it together. Tricky harmonies and metal finger-tapping finish and everything. We even played an encore – ‘When I see you smile’ except we changed all the lyrics where it said ‘baby’ we sang ‘Emma’. It was great. What was really great was being up on stage again. I think I should pay my Mum back for all the years of Guitar and Bass lessons, orchestra camps and driving me and my amps to rehearsals by actually pulling my finger out and playing in a low key acoustic duo thing. I used to play in bands all the time, that was all that I did, I like it. I like the calluses forming again on my fingers, I like the smell of my guitar when I pop the case in the morning, I like the feeling when you nail a tricky guitar part that sounds exactly like it does on the record, and you think ‘cool – I can play this bit that I never thought I could play’. I like hitting the harmonies right with my friend, and I like seeing people smile and sing along from the stage. I think that’s my new project. I’m writing it here so that I’m committed to doing it. If you all know about it, I’ll be accountable for making it happen. If I don’t get it together, you’ll all know that I fell short of a goal. So there. You’re involved in it now whether you like it or not. It’s out there and I’d better make it happen, so I’ll get back to you soon with a progress report.

What are your songs of the week? – here’s mine

Look good in Leather – Cody Chesnutt
(I know I’m vegan but it’s a great song)

She Talks to angels – The Black Crowes
(the guitar’s in open tuning trying to learn this one)

Late Registration – Kanye West (what an Album!!)

The Golden Age – Beck (from his heartbreaking Sea Change record)

Well I’ve got to get over to Idol. Have fun this week, keep posting things on those message boards, I always get a kick out of reading it, good or bad – it’s very interesting. Take care of yourself Xx andrewgthatguyfromv@yahoo.com

Hmm a few album reviews and a few equations… x a
Hey guys, thanks for all the awesome emails over the last little while.

There’s a particular person who emails only using lyrics from emo songs, which is quite funny. This person asked me the other day

‘Do you think people get what they deserve?’

I had a giggle, then thought for a moment, what do I believe? Well.. here goes.

I believe in Karma. I believe that

Good thoughts/actions = good things happening to you.

Bad thoughts/actions = bad things happening to you.

Bad things happening to you when you’re full of good thoughts/actions = double good things coming your way.

That was a bit deep to start with wasn’t it? Best lighten things up.. I’m obsessed with new music again, after a hefty amazon.com adventure. Sometimes I get in the habit of listening to a few favourites and not really going outside of those realms of my record collectoin. At the moment, it’s all about Kanye West and his album Late Registration  – prophetic visions of hip hop’s future on this album. I can’t tell you how impossibly fresh this record sounds. He’s Chuck D, Marvin Gaye and Pharell Williams all at once. Incredible stuff. Magic Dirt have a new album out and it’s so great. Adalita, Dean, Raul and Adam have recorded the best album of their career. Their maturity in songwriting and performance is second to none, and Adalita is still the hottest woman in this country with a guitar arond her neck. And DAMN she can play that thing. I’m also becoming obsessed with a style of music coming out of the super-gangster clubs of Washington DC called Go-Go. It’s been around since the 80′s but it’s still insane party music that will flip your lid. A go-go band traditionally has one or two keyboard players, a bass player, drums, percussionists, a guitar player and a few singers and MC’s. Just all time party music all about the one. The go-go swing is not to be messed with. It’s relentless funk that will melt your brain. A lot of the albums I’ve been tracking down are all live, and all it makes me want to do is see these bands live! Unfortunately, as a few of the albums come with Live DVD content, I can see that the gigs all happen in clubs chock full of gangsters that NO white fella from Australia could ever set foot in. Ever. Oh well.

Earlier this week I went and checked out Bernard Fanning’s solo set at The Basement. He’s recorded a country sounding record. It’s so great. Bernard is a brave guy making such a departure from the ‘finger, but it’s great. There were even mandolins on stage at one point. Superb. The album’s called Tea and Sympathy. Buy it when you get a chance. It’s all time.

Can’t wait for the Aria’s can you? Jim and Yumi are presenting a few things on the night and they’ll be all time I tell you. So great. I’ve been hitting a few golf balls. I suck at it, but it’s fun! 

What have you been up to? What websites are you surfing? Are you playing too much internet poker like me? What’s the latest ferak you’ve met on the net? (I’ve met a few through the email address below let me tell you!) Let me know how you’re going – a special hi to the people reading this for the first time after googling me when they finished watching Idol. G’day!

Thanks for reading this shit I sprout every now and then. Here’s some things to do between now and next week.

1: Learn to play your favourite song or

2: Learn the lyrics by heart to a song you’ve never heard before.

3: Go to bed early, and get up before six o’clock to have some fun before you have to be at work/school/uni

4: Email me about a band I’ve never heard about.

5: Have fun, pash someone, enjoy the breath going in and out of you..it’s only happening now, so enjoy it right now.

Take care of yourself  xx andrewgthatguyfromv@yahoo.com

Hi. I’m kind of surprised that someone has used my user name to start a myspace account. If this is you, could you please email me so that I can chat to you about this? That would be tops. Or if anyone knows who it is, just drop me a line.. Cheers. (cue CSI:Bondi theme music) x andrewgthatguyfromv@yahoo.com – I wonder if they’ll post this one?