NEWSLETTER 9

27 AUGUST, 2004

Best regards to all subscribers to the Self Tort website. I was pleasantly surprised to see the list of subscribers has grown quite significantly. My apologies to those who may have subscribed and not received a personal email from me. Registration to the site is supposed to generate an email to me, but this has not been happening. So a few of you out there have snuck up on me.

One big source of traffic for my site has been my review of the 'Cotton Keays & Morris' concert last September. I have received a stack of emails asking about the band's CDs and DVDs and a quick check of Google revealed that I am the first search result for the band, which has led people to think I am their official website. It's pleasing to see, though, that some who have come to the site for that reason have also subscribed.

I should also invite any subscribers who wish to cease subscription to contact me and that will be done immediately. Apparently that's the law now, but what would I know about that.

And now to the news since the last newsletter.

Firstly, Mortdale pub, some months ago now, lost not only a great bloke and mate, but also one of its famous nicknames when Craig Fleming, better known as 'Koala' passed away in sudden and unexpected circumstances.

Craig had been a regular at the pub after a fallout with the board at the local RSL. Craig not only won his stoush with the RSL but found as a result of it a better place to enjoy and beer and a laugh. Craig worked for many years with Customs and such was his ability in his chosen field that he was awarded a 'Churchill Fellowship'. During the Sydney Olympics he was seconded to the Anti-doping Program of the Australian Olympic Committee, and made headlines before the Games for warning about the increase in use of performance enhancing drugs. During the recent cycling scandals about equine growth hormone, one patron (I think it was 'the Frog') made the comment that Koala would have his wry smile on his face about the developments.

On the day of Craig's funeral two strange things occurred. The first occurred during the wake when on the Sky Channel it was noted that a horse with Koala in its name was running. The patrons saw it as an omen bet and there was a mass run on the PubTAB. The horse won much to the delight of the patrons. Later that night the pub had to be shut half way through the night because of a bomb scare. The whole pub trotted outside to wait for it to be cleared, with everyone standing in sufficient proximity to the building that if it had gone up they would have been no better off than if they had stayed inside drinking. Whether the bomb scare had anything to do with Craig's passing, in light of his rabid anti-drugs stance, I can't say.

Craig was there most nights that I played and was generally there till the end. Irrespective of how well I'd actually played, Craig would come up, shake my hand and say 'Great set mate'.

Vale Koala.

On a lighter note, in July I received the following email:

'Hi... We are looking at doing a fun promo based around mide life crisis...we want to giveaway a sports car, and love the poem by B. Ralston, and were wondering would be able to use some of the lines in it for our promo.'  It was from Eddie Hriba who is in the promotion department at Mix 106.5 FM. Nothing further has come from it but at least it was a promising acknowledgement.

On the same day I entered 'Six O'Clock Swill' in the Songwriting Society of Australia's ('SSA') 'Bite the Bullet' night. You enter an unlabelled CD of a song which is played to a couple of industry types. I was not there at the time but was told by the Society President Pete Scully that Jim Shipstone, formerly of BMG music had loved the song and given it great praise. I haven't received the Society's newsletter which contains the review but hope to get a back issue to up load to the site.

And while on the subject of the SSA, in August I performed a set at the Society's monthly concert. I was really pleased with what I've been told about the review but have not seen the printed version. I hope to have it soon to put on the site for some PR.

In the meantime I performed at the SSA's monthly concert in August. The following review of the performance appeared in the August edition of the SSA's 'Songsmith':

'Brian Ralston took to the stage and performed his fine songs with the aid of a backing cd and his own live acoustic guitar playing, with Gav reviewing.

Six Oclock swill had a definite Pink Floyd feel about it circa Wish You Were Here period with its grand structure and melody. A huge song that revealed hugeness and depth and a backing track (created by Stewart Havill??) that allowed those qualities to shine through, an excellent song.

I Hate Homework was a humourous take on a youngsters dislike of drudgery of something that encapsulates their lives for 12 years or so. Excellent build up to the chorus, good lyricism and, musically, a very Redgum influenced song in the vocal patterns and folk-style. Hey, if the Wiggles get a hold of this it could make its creator a fortune!

Frankensteins Bride had an upbeat tempo, Elvis Costello style. Lively in Mersey beat/ New Wave way, including the vibe of the Cars or XTC, although it also had a feel of a modern musical. Its lyricality - and humour - drove the song. A Brilliant creation! 'My heart started pumping, as you started thumping me like Frankensteins Bride'.

Mid-life Crisis was a whimsical and cheerful look at its subject matter, but I couldnt help detect a hint of melancholy in it. An excellently crafted and tempered pop song, but Brians guitar and vocal only would have been good to hear too.

Either way it was an excellent set from Brian Ralston who performed excellently written and crafted songs with great lyrics.'

The August gig at the Mortdale was huge. It was designated as a fundraiser for the parents of Jasline Rowley. Jasline had passed away at the age of 18months after suffering from a tumour for most of her life. Her parents had devoted themselves to her care and treatment, and as a result had suffered significant financial sacrifice. In keeping with the humanity of our present society (and don't get me started on this Howard government) the NAB, yes the NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK, were threatening to exercise their mortgagee's power of sale over the parents' home.

I spent most of the night playing auctioneer with Tony Zammitt rather than playing music. Danny Green, the boxer, attended to speak at the preauction dinner and donated a stack of gear for the auctions. The night raised, in round figures, $50,000 which was a huge effort. I'm pleased to say that after further negotiation by the family the NAB appears to have pulled its head in.

Since the last newsletter, apart from my pub gigs, I've played at a 21st birthday party, a 60th birthday party and a 70th birthday party which is a pretty wierd split. Having played at a 60th earlier in the year I am coming to the unfortunate view that I might be better placed concentrating on the 'Nursing Home Circuit' rather than the 'Pub Circuit'.

I have had three recent sessions at Sound Dog Studios, with another scheduled for next Monday. I've completed versions of GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME for the upcoming CD, and of I HATE HOMEWORK for the Kids' Songs project. The other two kids songs are recorded but need to be finally mixed. I've also laid down the backing track for a new song tentatively titled 'Harlequin'. Next week I hope to complete the remaining kids' songs and Harlequin (subject to finishing the lyrics for the latter) and hopefully start on one of the remaining tracks for the CD.

You can hear samples of the studio version of I HATE HOMEWORK by following this link. Samples of GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME are located here. Please have a listen and let me have your thoughts and comments.

I have a gig coming up at Redfern RSL on FRIDAY 8 October, 2004. A mate of mine who some subscribers will know, Peter Butcher, has taken over the management of the club and is looking to introduce live music. The opportunity of future gigs at the club would no doubt be enhanced if I can bring a bit of an audience in, so I would invite subscribers to come along and bring their friends and family. Please pass the word.

Don't forget, I'm back at the Mortdale on FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER, 2004 from 8-12. I don't think I'll be allowed to play overtime this month so get there early.

Don't forget, if you want full copies of any of the songs on my site please let me know. I'm still no further advanced with the host expanding the uploading capacity to allow full songs to be uploaded. But I am only too happy to send CDs containing the material to subscribers and visitors to the site.

I would appreciate any feedback you might have on the material.

Regards

Brian Ralston