Saturday, October 31, 2009

CHAT - installment 2



From Garden Shed recordings and crazy roadtrips to Melbourne, this week i catch up with Keyboard/Accordian whiz Michael Carney.



Mike McCarthy
Alright Mr Carney, so i'm vaguely recalling a recording session in a garden shed, you were there weren't you?

Michael Carney
yes that's the first time I played with you

Mike
and we were recording for Wisdom is Delight. So was that your first 'gig' with me?

Michael
yes, under the pump from the get go.

Mike
nice... i do recall thinking i must be crazy to get you in on that session because i really hadn't heard you play very much..
i had a sneaking suspicion you'd be fine though.

Michael
I agree, a brave decision. The funny thing I remember about that recording was that I was lumped in the same room as Pete Harding on congas. The engineer ended up having to separate us because of the noise I was making by sliding on the keys!
(It was spilling into the conga mics)

Mike
haha yes i thought that was funny too.. it was extremely tight.

Mike
So from there we started to gig that album (Wisdom is Delight) a little. Were there any memorable gigs for you from that time?

Michael
I guess a first gig's always memorable. It was at Green Point School for a fete, out on the oval. The MC gave you a great plug advertising your first album 'Wisdom is Desire'!

Mike
haha yeh not the last time that kind of thing has happened...
I turned up to a venue that had done their own posters for the gig and i was down as Mike McCartney...
I remember being down in Melbourne with you early on in the piece...how old were you on that first trip south?

Michael
I'm not sure how old I was! I remember we developed a penchant for op-shopping on that trip. Probably because there wasn't an incredible lot to do in all those little towns we visited. We played a bit of putt-putt golf too, didn't we?

Mike
yes we did.. i think i won...

Michael
I was sure it was me.

Mike
quite likely...
that trip was pretty funny, can you share a highlight from that tour... and don't say 'backseat games...'
this was 2002 maybe?

Michael
Yes that sounds about right. Tthat means I would have been 19! I remember Matt Jacoby (from Sons Of Korah) put on a beautiful little house concert. Up until that point I had never experienced a house concert. Was a really relaxed and comfortable setting with interested listeners. It was a really encouraging thing for me to experience at that time.

Mike
At that stage did you ever think you could make a living from playing music? Or were you looking to go down a different career path?

Michael
I think at that stage I was studying Sound Production at North Sydney Tafe. I was working a little bit with a post-production engineer in Crows Nest who specialised in TV. That was the career I was quite intent on at that stage.

Mike
Nowadays you also hold a degree in Communications, yes?

Michael
Yes. After finishing at TAFE I applied to go to UTS for a degree in Media Arts and Production, still in that trajectory of working in sound and/or film production.

Mike
You've continually used all those experiences yet haven't entered full-time work in the field, what has motivated you to continue pursuing gigs, recording and teaching music?

Michael
I can't really say it's been a controlled decision, sometimes life makes decisions for you in a way. Whilst I was studying at UTS (Sydney University) I was playing music for part-time work and upon graduating I was offered a job at a school for piano teaching. I took it and since that point my life/work has been in music. It could have gone other ways quite easily I suppose.

Mike
Are there moments where you just think GOSH being a musician is the craziest life? what the heck am i doing?

Michael
That thought has definitely run through my head whilst trying to stay awake, driving home from Sydney after a late and uninspiring gig. Also the absence of steady routine can be difficult. For the most part though, I don't have too many meltdowns!

Mike
We've been playing music together for almost 10 years now and we've traveled quite a bit together...what was one of those moments where you just thought "this is so funny" or "this sux get me out of here!"?

Michael
As for a "this is so funny", I think it was the gig Shan mentioned in his interview. Where we turned up to 'Sylvania' instead of a bikey fair at 'Silverwater'. By the time we rectified the situation we were playing to a bunch of stallholders packing up their displays. Actually maybe this gig counts for "this sux get me out of here" too!

Mike
True...So we've learnt from these experiences and now your working on a new project a long way from Silverwater bike club meets...can you tell us a little about the M Carney/David Rowson Collab?

Michael
Dave and I have been friends for quite a long time, and it's funny, he's a filmmaker who has a massive interest in music, where as I'm a musician who really loves films. Because of that, I think we've both really taken an interest in each other's art forms. Dave would show me a film which I’d be astonished at, and he would always be interested in my instrumental compositions.
We first collaborated on a film he shot called 'Architecture Down'. He shot a series of building reflections in puddles around the Sydney CBD, and put one of my pieces to the images. We liked the chemistry and decided to make more and more projects like this.

Mike

And now you have released 'Tears of a Candle' as a cd/dvd, a full collaboration between two artists! Where can people go to find out more?

Michael
www.tearsofthecandle.com

Mike

Great, well i've appreciated your time and it's a joy playing music with you mate!

Michael

Same to you Mike.

Mike
Any last thoughts or comments?

Michael

Thinking back on all of my music experiences, it's playing with you that I've learnt a lot about leaving space for notes, words, rhythms to breathe. I think a lot of people learn to breathe again listening to your music, as I have done.

Mike

Oh thank you! That is encouraging to hear.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

CHATS with the band (installment 1)


In this, the first installment of CHATS with the band, I catch up with Shannon Kelly (drummer/fisherman). From Biker gigs in Western Sydney to playing in front of 25,000 people at WYD 09, Shan shares thoughts from his time playing music with me and fellow band members.


Mike
Shan, you've been playing kit (drums)for me for the last...how long exactly? 5 years?

Shannon
yeh that sounds about right I think

Mike
i guess 'shelter and the sea' was the first recording you played on, right?

Shannon
yeh the live recording was a blast, nice way to get chucked in the deep in with recording..... we're live and no mistakes!

Mike
yeh that's how we learn best sometimes...

Shannon
true

Mike
so do you remember the first gig we played?

Shannon
ha, I do... it was the walk for cancer gig up in Newcastle where we would have an audience....... if they were walking past us at the time......( I also just met my wife so I was trying hard to impress her)

Mike
and you did...yeh i remember that one! One of the many strange gigs we've done. What would be the 'strangest' gig you've done for me?

Shannon
way too many to choose, I think the first one was a good way to start..... and I'm sure there is plenty others... that interesting gig where we mixed up the suburb in sydney, ended up in the east, should of been in the west..... got there late, and played to an angry bunch of bikies

Mike
now that was fun! i remember i got you guys to wait in the car while i tried to sort out the money after that one...i think i got you to keep the car running...just in case.

Shannon
yep you sure did..... like a protective mother bear you were

Mike
shan, i'm listening back to 'calm wind' and i'm noticing how the rhythm section shows such a great deal of 'restraint' but it's still solid. Did you approach the sessions with a 'plan in mind'?

Shannon
Percussive and creative was the plan, and the rest just kinda happened on the day. It may of been the 14 coffees a day, but that was a pretty memorable few days.... the band just seemed to gell

Mike
i agree. I'd thrown you in the deep end again...recording live!

Shannon
yeh, learnt so much though

Mike
we rehearsed quite a bit for that recording, right?

Shannon
yeh i think we did a few but its funny how things changed in the studio

Mike
did you enjoy the lead up to the recording? was your playing evolving around that time?


Shannon
the process of practicing for, and doing my first main recording was pretty special, a very new experience.__And my playing definitely changed, I had to learn a greater level of sensitivity to get the sound that you were after..... and to be honest, that recording changed me as a drummer, and formed my style of how I approach drumming and music today

Mike
i feel like i learnt to 'simplify' on that recording, my approach was became a 'less is more' i think...

Shannon
alot more listening would be the best way to sum it up, more creativity aswell

Mike
that's key hey!
On the DVD you and Tim have a deep discussion about 'double dipping' has there been a resolution to the debate?

Shannon
no, and I think it will always be a sour point, ha! I know I'm right, thats the main thing

Mike

What has been the 'highlight gig' with mike mccarthy?

Shannon
now thats an easy question..... World Youth Day in Sydney for sure, playing to alot........ ALOT of people. And just the whole lead up to playing, it was by far the best, although there has been some close seconds with many small, intimate gigs, where we played great and everything just seemed to work

Mike

yeh that was a lot of fun. the lead up especially

What are you presently working on in the musical arena?

Shannon
still the usual teaching, and the odd gig with soultraders ( which is really the Mike McCarthy band re adjusted)

Mike

Well it's been a pleasure chatting Shan. We have a gig on the 27th Dec at Lizottes, Kincumber i should let you know of hahaha..looking forward to playing some more music with you mate!

hopefully you're about?

Shannon
oh great!I was looking forward to a gig with you!! See ya there and good chatting to you too mate

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Black Saturday

How the blackened dice falls
and tinder burns
bracken forlorn
this sticky sap curse

money with blood
destitute pets
and a deathly still air
after raging winds

oh love it's gone
the dice fell odd
none could've known
your summer spot

run Laurie fast
Jimmy hide in the bath
towels and blankets
long tightly charred

It's coming, it's rushing
too hot and quick
a thousand wild horses
passed over head

Rumbling lasts
months on end
seventh of Feb
again and again

again and again.

*Black Saturday destroyed 2,029 houses and killed 173 people. I had been in the Kinglake area a week before this tragic bushfire, everything seemed so dry and all the houses seemed so vulnerable to me.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tuesdays at Norm's

He'd only heard of this world in Tom Waits tunes, Hollywood...movies. Not too familiar here. He was losing his will in this place, Norms Diner, drinking filtered coffee and eating two scoops of ice-cream from a bowl. Meticulous, withdrawn.

On the corner of La Ciegnega you could see him through the clear plate windows, not as lost as he seemed. From an outside perspective you could almost think he fit the picture.

"things aren't too bad...I could be lost at sea", he ponders
"then what do you do? Fish, eat, wait and survive the days best you can...picture death or avoid it with delusion. Think about the cremer the waitress might bring any second...she re-fills for the third time. How many people have drank from this cup?"

He recalls the taste of beasts, red blood flavour of sirloin, smells perfumes of the sea, mineral perfumes. He breathes out slow whilst the waitress casts a sideways glance.
The streets are so straight, traffic stops and starts, brake light red, traffic light greens that guide the city tide. This dangerous earth.
He wanders who it is that pays all these people to dress so smart? to walk these streets? Perhaps a wind blows to stir the tree and the US dollar is gathered by the quick and deep pocketed people whilst the rest are left to search the vacant streets for trees of their own. All he wants is a re-fill of coffee, another shot at the lights just to hear them go "POW!" when you hit it.

The black liquid comes as does relief and addictions circular motion continues without relent.

"We're all stuck, all reliable on someone, something or anything but ourselves." he challenges himself.
"How do i get 'there'? Where is the best spot to buy film near here?"

He feels better for coming here... to Norms Diner, leaving thoughts out there in the air, where birds will intercept, formulate the seed that might gently fall and find soil, good or poor, to begin its journey back skyward to reach some other eternal traveler.