World Wide Woozle episode #670

Hi everyone, and welcome back.

In this episode I was considering writing about the war, the price of petrol (gas for my North American friends), spending $300 million dollars, and maybe even football. After a bit of a think I've decided not to do that. There are so many things going on that are a total bummer and you can read about them somewhere else if you want to. I'm not ignoring the real world, just putting it aside for a little while. So, "sit back, kick off your shoes, start losin' the blues!"

Might sell my body on the internet

Remember I said I was rebuilding my digital music library? Well I'm there. It was a mammoth task but now there's a hard drive with all of my CDs ripped onto it. I'm not stopping playing CDs but I really wanted access to my own music library without having to rely on the corporate greed and algorithms of companies simply out to make a buck. The iPods work well and I'm sure I look very 2005. I don't like to sit still though and I have plenty of time on my hands. So I thought I'd investigate building my own music server. That way I can listen to my own collection wherever I am, including in the car. I used to be good at IT type stuff and I'm sure my brain will let me delve into a solution to make this happen. To be fair, it looks fairly simple just using a Raspberry Pi computer and a hard drive combined with a couple of pieces of software. Is it super nerdy? Probably. Is it unnecessary? Definitely. Will it be fun? I think so. Watch this space.

St. Vincent - Digital Witness - https://youtu.be/mVAxUMuhz98

Wearing badges is not enough on days like these

I like this next song a lot, and it's one I've performed live a couple of times. One day I'll do that again. As a result of taking a swing through Mark Seymour's solo back catalogue I stumbled across his version of Steve Earle's song, Jerusalem. I present it here without commentary other than that I too did not learn to hate in Sunday School.

Mark Seymour - Jerusalem - https://youtu.be/PPU6ndIHamo

Way up on high, the clock on the silo says eleven degrees

Let's stick with Mark Seymour for a moment, because I want to talk about his music in addition to that amazing cover version. Most of you will be familiar with his work fronting Hunters and Collectors, and I imagine it is hard for him to escape all of those classic songs. I would encourage you though to try something more recent. Mark has an instantly recognisable voice but also a talent for storytelling in songs in a similar way perhaps to Mick Thomas from Weddings, Parties, Anything. The songs sound like the places they are about as well as the people involved. In recent years I've spent more time in Melbourne than I ever did when I lived in Victoria. Walking the suburbs, riding the trams and trains, and finding the places that are comfortable for me. A lot of Mark Seynour's songs feel like Melbourne. Maybe I'm not describing that at all well. Have a listen.

Mark Seymour - Stars of Fitzroy - https://youtu.be/0gsCDHJd_E4

Hey, hey, mercy woman plays a song and no one listens

Years ago I went to see Mia Dyson play. I really enjoyed it, but not the crowd who managed to talk, eat, and drink through her super show. Wrong venue I guess. Mia is another storyteller, and I remember the audience actually taking notice after being told about this song. She'd met a woman who had been forced to give up her baby for adoption. All these years later, this track still hits hard.

Mia Dyson - Jesse - https://youtu.be/cLHOp_ts2uQ

I've come to talk with you again

Over Easter I walked up some big hills. I can't walk up them as quickly as I want to but, this is progress. The more I walk, the more I want to be away from the noise of cars. I can manage it most of the time in the suburbs and parks near my house, but getting into the bush is a total winner. During my hill walks I think I saw one person in three days. Perfect. I saw trees, echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, birds, rocks, and a cairn. This weekend I'm a bit achy so the hills will have to wait a few more days to see me again. I'm not at all grateful about this back injury, but somehow it conspired to point me to a place I feel at home which was something that was missing without my bike.

Icehouse - Great Southern Land - https://youtu.be/vp-Ew23q3JM

Tune in next time for Jeep news, there's been a slight delay!

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams, yet slips away from us..."

Queen, Who Wants To Live Forever, 1986.