i will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind

i won't change direction, and i won't change my mind

 

 

in the wind we hear their laughters

in the rain we see their tears

 

Through my love of their tunes, i have learnt about a lot of world issues from U2. Especially when i was younger. We live an extremely sheltered life in Australia (with said shelter comes the fact that we live in the best country on the planet, after seeing 30 countries on this road trip so far i think im allowed to make that statement) and as a kid growing up i learnt about the struggles in Ireland, South Africa, Central America, etc through their music. I used to think Sunday Bloody Sunday was about Bono having a hangover. Then i got to understand it all a bit more. And ive been fortunate to go to some of the places that the band wrote about while ive been travelling. So cool to put images to their words.

 

One of their songs – Mothers Of The Disappeared (from the Joshua Tree) – is not really a great song musically, but the story behind the lyrics is very powerful. I don’t pretend even for a second to fully understand (or comprehend) the full story behind the song, but my understanding was enough to make me want to learn and see more when i got to Buenos Aires. I wont paraphrase, so if you have time, read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers_of_the_Plaza_de_Mayo

 

The mothers gather each Thursday at 3pm at the same place they originally gathered - in defiance of the regime at the time - to seek answers. Plaza de Mayo. They have a short meeting. They pray. Then they march. They march in a circle. They then march towards to the government building that holds the answers to their questions. Then they have a short rally. Still wanting answers as to where their children (and grandchildren are).

 

Last Thursday I went along and witnessed one of the most intense things ive ever seen. The hurt is still in their eyes. A moment ill never forget.

 

Then i went and saw Motley Crue for my first time ever. Awesome setlist and they did Home Sweet Home and that made me think a bit.

 

Some days out here you get some yin and then you get some yang. Days like last Thursday it all kinda fit together for me for some strange reason.

 

 

 

goodnight seattle we love you

Cheers is better than Frasier but Frasier is most likely the best TV show spin off ever.

 

Just sayin

 

Cause thats what i do.

 

But anyway, Seattle is a really cool city. Some friends hate it. Yes my POV is tainted by the music stuff, but the city is bewtiful with the water and the Space needle and the EMP and the way the sky is hellishly dark at times but the city is sunny. Its got hills to walk up, hills to walk down and then it rains and then you walk past a Starbucks. Then you walk past a club or cafe or something and you read the sign and realise you own a rare 1991 bootleg from the first time Nirvana played Teen Spirit ever inside there and you go ‘no way’ and then you walk past another Starbucks. Then it rains again.

 

 

 

just ask the axis (he knows everything)

Well, she's walking through the clouds,
With a circus mind that's running wild,
Butterflies and Zebras,
And Moonbeams and fairy tales.
That's all she ever thinks about.
Riding with the wind.

When I'm sad, she comes to me,
With a thousand smiles she gives to me free.
It's alright, she says it's alright,
Take anything you want from me,
Anything.
Fly on little wing.

 

 

 

** virtual hi five / fist pump to K Town **

 

Jimi. You make me smile. Even when i don’t think i need to smile. The black and the white flow into colours when i hear you.

 

Photos 934/6/7 are pics of the actual guitar he played at Woodstock. To see it up close like that gave me shivers and it wasn’t cause it was freakin cold in Seattle that day. I stood there in front of it (contemplating stealing it) and listened to that very performance on my iPod. Amazeballs.

 

Sambora taught me to air guitar. Hendrix taught me to perfect my moves. Margaritas help.

 

Jimi’s from Seattle. Seattle = aural win.

 

RTFO,

 

adam

 

 

 

 

 

frances farmer will have her revenge on seattle

But I didn’t get to be arms aloft in Aberdeen.

 

Cause i didn’t go there.

 

Nor to his house.

 

Cause thats sad.

 

The crazy lady with the good first record and amazeballs second record (with the hot hot hot hot Melissa Auf Der Maur on bass) either killed him or drove him to end it himself.

 

And thats sad.

 

It scares me how much their kid looks like the dad.

 

But anyway i went to the EMP Experience Music Project there.

 

I had fun.

 

It was the only reason i went to Seattle this trip.

 

Sure ive always wanted to come here.

 

I mean, who hasn’t wanted to come here where it all started for Dave and Ed and Stone and Mike and Kurt and Jeff and Layne and Krist and Duff and Jerry and Sean and Mike and Matt and even the Presidents and the gardeners of sound and many more like Buzz and TAD and Mr Arm and that infamous record label that started all the fuss (fuzz) in the first place.

 

Im glad they started all the fuss (fuzz) when they did.

 

And then there’s Jimi. That man should be a saint. Fact.

 

Back to the EMP. I get lost sometimes you know. Sorry.

 

Got there when it opened.

 

Kicked out when it closed.

 

8 hours.

 

Coulda been kicked out earlier for drooling.

 

Same as the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland.

 

This is my kinda museum.

 

I did the Louvre in Paris in 3hrs flat. Tour guide said you needed 3 days to see it all. Pfft, i was out before lunch. Records to buy and i was hungry.

 

Where was I?

 

Oh yeah Seattle.

 

Seeing the kit that turned me in to a Grohl fanboy was awesome.

 

Kurt’s guitar with the infamous graffiti sticker on it was awesome.

 

The Mtv Award for Smells Like “TEAM’ Spirit was awesome.

 

The smashed guitars.

 

The demo tape.

 

Stage props.

 

It was all there. So damn cool.

 

Never got to see them perform. Coulda. Shoulda. Didn’t. Sad face. Too young isn’t an excuse.

 

It was typical Seattle weather there too.

 

‘4 seasons in one day’ the song went.

 

But they from Noo Zeeland. Sort of.

 

Im from Australia. Sort of.

 

I think ill go there too.

 

But ive been there.

 

Already.

 

Back then.

 

Seattle is nice. Ill go back.

 

I miss the comfort in being sad

 

adam