NEWSLETTER 4 - 27 JUNE, 2002

DON'T FORGET

MORTDALE HOTEL - 5 JULY, 2002

8-12

The end of the financial year is fast approaching, and I really should be engaging in some creative accounting, but what the hell, things have been happening.

The best news I''ve had of late is that full versions of my original material which has presently been recorded have been uploaded to mp3.com.au. Access to the material can be gained via the following url: htpp://www.mp3.com.au/selftort. The site is an avenue for artists to publish their original material via the web. There is no copyright problem with downloading the material on the site as the artists have consented to their work appearing on the site. After you've had a chance to hear my stuff in full, take the opportunity of going to the home page and have a browse around. If you register to the site, and there is no fee, you can participate in reviewing material on the site and enter the chat room if you wish. Any subscriber to this newsletter is invited to review any of my material on the site if they so wish.

Can I also suggest you go to the pages on mp3.com.au of the following artists:

Christian Laki                                  BeNNeTT                              Saucepan Bach

All of the above artists are members of the Songwriting Society of Australia. I am impressed with their work and encourage subscribers to take a listen.

If you see or hear of any other local artists (whether live, on CD or on the 'net) let me know.

This Self Tort site has had a number of developments in recent times. The LATEST NEWS page has been updated. Towards the bottom of the page is a list of new songs which have been added to the live repertoire. I think I am confident enough now of the original songs to include them in the live repertoire. Don't forget to let me know of any songs you think I should cover.

The PICTURES page is now up, although only a handful of photographs have been considered by my ISP to be suitable. This is not to suggest that the others contained 'adult themes' or anything of the sort, just that the quality was thought to be too poor. Unfortunately, only one Sirrah photo survived the cut, that being of Graham Doust on drums in about 1974. More success with MidLife Crisis, with some three photographs passing muster. Now that the initial pictures are up I will update my scanner with a view to filling out the page more. Even if some of the pictures are a little hazy, they will at least provide some historical perspective.

I don't think there are many current subscribers interested in midi files but for those who are I have added the midis of Unvictorian Victoria and The Fall to the MIDIS page. Please note that the files on that page may need to be played around with and the most recently added certainly do (the drums are presently playing in a piano channel). I would suggest that rather than playing them by direct link you download them and open them up in your sequencing program. I will do some work to them over the weekend but feel free to adjust them yourself. If you come up with something interesting let me know.

The Jack Bruce page on the Influences section of the site has now been completed, with my perspective on Jack's career, some MP3 samples and some images. A number of subscribers to my site are Jack Bruce fans and I would invite them to let me know if they think I have got anything wrong or if there is anything further that they think I can add to the page. I've seen two reviews of Jack's 'A Walk Down Abbey Road' - one didn't mince words and called it a load of shit. The other was more positive, at least about Jack's involvement, although it was quite critical of Todd Rundgren. Apparently Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad (one of Homer Simpson's favourite 70's bands and arguably the worst 3 piece band in rock history) also appears on the show which is a bit bizarre.

There are now a number of links added to the RELATED SITES page of my site (no direct link available). There are two links to Jack Bruce related sites including one run by my e-mail pal Dennis Lawrenson. There are also links to the homepages of a number of fellow members of the Songwriting Society of Australia, plus a link to the Society itself. If you know of a site which you think subscribers might be interested in please let me know the details so it can be added.

I've also added a link to the site of another e-mail pal, Marc Wickert. Marc's site is a martial arts site and as those who know me well will attest, it hardly comes into the category of a 'related site' to me. Nonetheless, Marc is a great guy and if you have an interest in martial arts have a look.

Those of you who have been to recent gigs at the Mortdale will know that I have been doing some duos with Natalie Clay. Nat is a great singer and hopefully this collaboration will continue. I asked Nat if I could put up a picture of her on the site. Her boyfriend Brett had doubts as to the sort of site or pictures I was intending. But Natalie has now subscribed to the site and hopefully will convince Brett to agree.

MidLife Crisis played as a threesome last Saturday night for the 50th anniversary of St Kieran's Catholic Church School at Manly Vale. The job was at Balgowlah RSL which is somewhat inconveniently located well away from Balgowlah. It is actually in the middle of Seaforth and contains no entrance at its advertised street frontage.

After we had set up and guests started to arrive, we began to get a little nervous. Costa in particular noted 'I think they've got the wrong band'. By the time everyone had arrived the age demographic was in the area of 95% of those present being over 50. The remaining 5% included the band, the waitresses, and a small table of those in their early 20s. Breaking down the stats further revealed that of those over 50, 65% or more would have been over 60, with a decent whack of those being over 70. We scoured around to see if we could do any waltzes, foxtrots or pride of erins (should that be 'prides of erin') and started off with some dinner music of the sort you generally get at weddings.

To our surprise, by about the fourth song of the dinner music about 3-4 couples had finished their entrees and had joined the dance floor. As they sat down for their main meals they were replaced by others who were slightly behind them in the pecking order for meals. The dinner bracket lasted for about an hour, with a break for Costa to replace a string and a couple of speeches. Our concerns were exacerbated during the speeches by the introduction to the audience of various members of the priesthood who were scattered throughout the crowd. By the end of the bracket the floor was full and it remained so for the rest of the evening.

We should have realised. This is the third job we've played for the St Keiran's crowd and each time we worry that our music might not be suitable for them. On each occasion they have been a fantastic crowd of people and one of our favourite audiences. We were asked to play a couple of encores and 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' was specifically requested. During this, a large proportion of the males present (and some suggested that this group included some of the priests) proceeded to start a 'Full Monty'. Mercifully, our version of the song is not sufficiently long enough for any atrocities to occur and when we launched into our last songs (as always 'Johnny Be Goode/Roll Over Beethoven') no unclad wedding tackle was in evidence.

I am back on at the Mortdale Hotel next Friday 5 July, 2002. In addition to the songs listed on the Latest News page I have been working on a couple of others including Led Zeppelin's Going to California, and Rock and Roll, Lou Christie's 'Lightning Strikes' (this is a song that for some unaccountable reason I really liked in the early 60s - vocally it requires a cross between Barry Gibb and a eunuch, so I might need a few drinks and increased security before I do it), and, if I get enough drinks and security, a Joe Cocker version of 'Murder on the Dance Floor'.

I am hoping that some photographs will be taken that night for inclusion on the site, and an attempt will be made to take a video from which excerpts might be posted.

Australian rock music is taking its own walk down memory lane with 'A Long Way to the Top' scheduled for September, involving a huge list of acts from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Apparently Stevie Wright is even being taken out of formaldehyde for the gig. A number of performers (eg Glen Shorrock, Ross Wilson) will be appearing in more than one guise. I was interested to see that Taman Shud are listed to play. One of our subscribers, Dennis Lawrenson sent me some Shud material recently. I remember seeing them on 'GTK' in the late 60s/early  70s but had never heard their recorded material. Dennis and I both agreed after hearing their stuff that it would be interesting to hear their work in the light of today's improved production techniques, particular the recording of the lead guitar. Now we'll have our chance. I will be going with a group of friends from Lugarno. If any other subscribers are planning to go, please let me know and we'll try to get together for a drink. I will post a review after the show in the 'Opinion' page.

Whilst this Newsletter is primarily designed to promote my music I am happy to post in the 'Opinion' section or in the newsletters material from subscribers. So if you want to submit an opinion on anything, a review of a show or CD, just send me an email. I will retain an editorial right of veto but if I consider a submission ought to be included will not otherwise tamper with your material.

For those who are on the edge of their seats waiting for the result of Lugarno O/35s soccer team last weekend, I'm sorry but after the gig at Manly I was too tired (but not emotional) to turn up and play. The Isport.com.au page hasn't been updated. My friend Janice Robson (also a subscriber) thinks we had a draw. Roger Craft, who played for some of the game can't remember if we drew or lost (nice of you to take such an interest in the game Rog). This week we have a local derby against our mates/dealy foes Forest Rangers who ended our unbeaten run in the first round. Now is the time for revenge.

Thanks again for subscribing to the site and for the comments you have provided.

Brian Ralston

aka Self Tort