Heaven Among The Yearlings – Sweet Vibes at Basement Discs

The Yearlings are an alt country duo from South Australia , and being heavily influenced by the music of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, coined their name obviously from the Gillian Welch album Hell Among The Yearlings. That’s not to say they are complete copycats, despite the sensibility of their music being closely aligned to the back woods Americana sound of that other famous duo, The Yearlings have their own seductive style and write their own distinctive songs.

I know I’ve been cynical about The Yearlings in the past, but they won me over again with their short set at an in store at Basement Discs at lunchtime today.

The Yearlings are husband and wife team Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson, and they have a fine new CD called Sweet Runaway, several songs of which they played today.

It was a set of great sweetness - beautiful songs, great accompaniment and divine harmony singing.

Check them out on their website or My Space.

If you’re partial to artists like Gillian Welch or The Audreys, you’ll love The Yearlings.

2010 Spring Racing Season – Week 7 – Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

Typhoon Tracy

As I will be attending the races at Moonee Valley this coming Saturday, it’s pleasing to see it boast an excellent program of racing with two Group Two races, the feature race being the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Formerly known as the Feehan Stakes, this race over 1600 metres (a mile in old parlance) has always been a good indicator for the Cox Plate being almost a mini Cox Plate itself. This year it has attracted a top class field of eight runners that include Whobegotyou, Shoot Out and Typhoon Tracy. Alas, So You Think is being saved for next week’s Turnbull Stakes, so I won’t get to see him in the flesh. However, I’ll be more than compensated by seeing long time favourites Shoot Out and Typhoon Tracy.

Whobegotyou won this race last year, beating Mic Mac with Singapore mare Jolie’s Shinju running third. He faces tougher competition this year, though Shoot Out will be racing at Moonee Valley for the first time. He was taken to Moonee Valley for a gallop earlier this week, and it was observed that he didn’t handle the track all that well. Of course that may change on race day when he’s got some opposition to chase. Typhoon Tracy, recently awarded the 2009/2010 Champion Racehorse of the Year, is a winner on the course and has drawn an inside gate which will pretty well ensure she takes up a forward position without expending too much effort, so may this time give Whobe a run for his money.

One of Lloyd Williams Melbourne Cup hopefuls, Rundle, looking at his form, could surprise as could the other Williams runner, old warhorse Zipping, who runs well fresh. Bart Cummings’ stable is represented by Brightnight and Precedence, but the 1600 metres could be a tad too short for both of them.

Whatever the result it looks a top notch race, though of course my heart will be with Tracy & Shoot Out.

The Group 2 Stock Stakes, also run over 1600 metres is restricted to mares four years old and upwards. I’m looking forward to seeing Faint Perfume and her arch rival Valdemoro racing, but they face real competition with the in form Ghostmilk from Peter Moody’s stable. Ghostmilk loves the wet, has won on the course so is top choice and will probably start as favourite.

Though it hasn’t rained as much this week as it did last week, the Moonee Valley track will most likely be rated slow at best, with the weather bureau predicting showers for Saturday - hopefully not too many in light of my attendance at the track.

As well as the two Group 2 races, the Group 3 McEwen Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres has attracted top sprinters Reward For Effort and Hay List as well as speedy mare Rostova, so along with some interesting Listed races the racing card for Saturday is of excellent quality.

In Sydney at Rosehill the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes is the feature race. More Joyous, who began her spring campaign a fortnight ago with a win in the Sheraco Stakes, is one of the main contestants in the field, along with Sniper’s Bullet, Black Piranha and Brilliant Light.

And the winner is…

Julia Gillard!

Yes folks, Australia now has a Government after weeks of suspense (??), watching the Independents make up their minds.

It is my preferred outcome; I did vote for Labor after all. And Julia Gillard, now Prime Minister for real, is a refreshing change from the god botherers of the past. Besides living in sin, and being childless, she is also an atheist. What more could you ask of a Prime Minister!

However, she won’t have an easy time of it, bedding down as she must with a group of very independent Independents and a hostile Opposition. Challenging I’d say. Let’s hope she’s up to it and manages to go full term.

It will interesting to see what unfolds in the coming weeks, months and years.

Aussiecon 4 – A brief review

I don’t know why I bothered going to the Science Fiction Convention, as I must admit I found it rather a tedious experience. I failed to find any of my old friends from my days at Space Age Books back in the 1970s, other than Justin of Slow Glass Books who had a table in the dealer’s room.

In order to enjoy these sort of conventions, I guess you have to be part of the fan scene or a writer in the genre. I eschew clubs and fan type activities, being something of a lone wolf, and even if I do enjoy Science Fiction and Fantasy, it’s not the only genre I read.

I consulted my old diary last night to see what my impression of the 1975 World Science Fiction Convention was. Apparently I was less than inspired then as now.

However, here’s a photo from the costume parade of Aussiecon 1 in 1975. I am the one in the middle, dressed as Kali the Destroyer from the Roger Zelazny novel Lord of Light.

Back to the future … I did manage to capture some of atmosphere of Aussiecon 4 in photos…

The Convention Venue in the Melbourne Convention Centre

The Dealers Room where you could purchase books, t-shirts, posters and assorted paraphernalia.

There was a table displaying an array of old Hugo Awards. This one struck me as being quite striking and beautiful with an Art Deco style .

Pretty well de rigueur, you’d say, someone dressed as a "Star Wars" Storm Trooper outside the dealers room, who kindly posed for this shot.

Cat girl or demon? She obliged me with this pose.

A few more Storm troopers collecting for charity.

I attended a book launch for Deborah Kalin – an excuse to sit down, as my legs were aching from being on my feet for three hours. Old age is setting in. Deborah was launching Shadow Bound the second book in her fantasy series The Binding, which I must admit I have not read.

After that I decided to call it a day, caught a tram to Elizabeth Street and dropped into a TAB to watch the running of the Makybe Diva Stakes - which by the way was won by last years Melbourne Cup winner Shocking -before catching another tram home.

So a change of scene for Saturday, not overwhelmingly exciting, but interesting I suppose.

Next Saturday I’m going to the races at Moonee Valley to catch the action of the turf. More my speed than Science Fiction Conventions methinks.

Moody Acoustic Music for a Rainy Day in Melbourne

For a change, instead of a week day, Basement Discs presented an excellent Saturday afternoon in store performance by Brisbane band The Gin Club yesterday.

They were worth the trip into the city despite the nasty weather – a windy wet day, though not particularly cold for once.

The Gin Club are a seven or eight piece outfit, and each of the band members appear to be multi skilled, swapping instruments, and taking turn about to lead the singing. Band members are Ben Salter (pictured above), Adrian Stoyles, Scott Regan (also above on the right), Brad Pickersall, Conor Macdonald, Bridget Lewis (on cello), Ola Karlsson, Dan Mansfield and Angus Agars. Not all of the abovementioned were present yesterday.

So how would one describe their music? It’s kind of dark and moody, and reminded me a bit of the Willard Grant Conspiracy, sort of folk rock, quite beautiful with the songs having engaging melodies and offbeat lyrics.

All the vocalists (most of the band) were blessed with great voices and the harmonies were swooningly lovely.

It was yet another superb Basement In Store. Check out The Gin Club on their web page or My Space.

2010 Spring Racing Season – Week 6 – Makybe Diva Stakes

So You Think - photo by Pat Scala/The Age

I won’t have much time this week to study the form or even write with any detail on the racing this coming weekend, despite there being some fantastic races scheduled - five Group 2 races, the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600metres, the Danehill Stakes over 1200 metres and the Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400 metres at Flemington and the Chelmsford Stakes (1600 metres) and the Furious Stakes (1400 metres) at Randwick in Sydney.

I should have guessed last week that So You Think was the one to beat, despite the track conditions. He’s a splendid looking animal and showed his outstanding class winning the Memsie Stakes, out gunning Whobegotyou and Shoot Out. I was disappointed that Shoot Out didn’t win – serves me right for being sentimental about him and Typhoon Tracy, though neither was disgraced in their runs, finishing as they did in the first four. I look forward to the rematch at Moonee Valley in a fortnight, where I hope to have the pleasure of witnessing the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes in person.

Anyway, the Makybe Diva stakes looks almost as interesting a race as the Memsie Stakes. The acceptances include Rebel Raider, Heart of Dreams, Danleigh, Vigor (who won this race last year) and Monaco Consul to name a few of my favourite horses competing in it. Another heavy track is on the cards, as it has rained again this week and is supposed to bucket down on Saturday. The drought is definitely over in Melbourne, after years of fast tracks while it lasted.

Star Witness takes on top filly Military Rose in The Danehill Stakes. He was beaten by Toorak Toff in his last run, and Toorak Toff won the Golden Rose last weekend. Still I do reckon Star Witness has a chance to redeem that loss in the Danehill Stakes, as long as he can hold out the likes of Soul, and Buffering , not to mention Military Rose.

The Let’s Elope Stakes is for mares and Dariana, who did not run in the Memsie, is nominated for this. She probably needs it longer but will be worth watching. You can’t underestimate the old master Bart Cummings as was proved last weekend.

Also running at Flemington is Linton resuming in the Sofitel, a listed race over 1400 metres. He’s one of Lloyd Williams Melbourne Cup contenders, and although only lightly raced, is a talented young stayer who I had the good fortune to witness winning the Alister Clarke Stakes in autumn at Moonee Valley.

Speaking of Melbourne Cup hopefuls, it’s great to see 2010 Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel beginning her spring campaign in the Group 3 Tramway Handicap at Randwick. 1400 metres is probably too short for her, but it sure will be interesting to see how she runs from a Melbourne Cup point of view.

Metal Bender will be facing off with Theseo and Triple Honour in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes and Parables seems to have the Furious Stakes field at her mercy.

I won’t be able to watch much racing tomorrow, as I will be otherwise occupied on Saturday afternoon, firstly with an In Store performance by Brisbane band The Gin Club at Basement Discs, then a visit to the World Science Fiction Convention which is being held in Melbourne this year.

Aussiecon 4, as it is designated, has been going since 2 September. I had no great desire to attend the whole shebang, so bought a day ticket for Saturday, where I hope to catch up with old friends from the Science Fiction scene of long ago. Aussiecon 1 was held in 1975, and was the first World Science Fiction convention held in Australia. I attended that one, and remember being on a panel with Ursula Le Guin who was the guest of honour that year, and also won the Hugo for her novel The Dispossessed.

So good blogging opportunities abound this weekend. More later

2010 Spring Racing Season – Week 5 – Golden Rose & Memsie Stakes

Typhoon Tracy - photo by Jenny Evans/The Age

The first Group One of the 2010 spring racing season will be run at Rosehill this Saturday. The Golden Rose is a race for three year olds over 1400 metres. It was won by Denman last year, who went on to dominate races in the autumn until his defeat in the Australian Guineas and subsequent exportation to the UK, where he never got to the racetrack. He’s now headed for a stud career, so we won’t see him race again, mores the pity.

This year’s field is a classy one, with top colts Squamosa, Masquerader, Toorak Toff and Hinchinbrook squaring off against talented fillies Solar Charged, Crystal Lily, Chance Bye, Sasa and Panipique. Hard to pick a winner here, but Squamosa probably has the edge, being unbeaten in all three of his starts. He has drawn an outside barrier, which may give one of the other runners a chance to snatch victory.

The race of the day however will be the Group Two Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Also run over 1400 metres, it has a whiz banger of a field comprising nine Group One winners in a field of fourteen, most notably Typhoon Tracy and So You Think taking on current star performer Shoot Out.

My loyalties will be torn watching this race, hoping on the one hand for a Typhoon Tracy victory, and wanting Shoot Out to continue his winning streak on the other. Perhaps they’ll dead heat like the outcome of the Australian federal election.

As well as So You Think, Bart Cummings has entered his star mare Faint Perfume, stayers Moatize and Brightnight, and old middle distance trooper Sirmione. Whobegotyou begins his spring campaign in this race too.

The track most probably will be rated slow – it has rained quite a bit this week. We know that Shoot Out has no trouble handling the wet, nor does Typhoon Tracy. It may be a worry for So You Think, who was scratched from the Liston for that reason. Whobegotyou is known to be averse to heavy going as well which brightens the prospects of my two favoured runners in what will surely be a tough competition. Go Tracy! Go Shoot Out!

Glad tidings! More Joyous is back in the Listed Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill this Saturday. She has been missing from the racing scene for a while after being spelled early in the autumn racing season.

Makybe Diva’s boy Rockstardom competed in his debut race at Geelong on Tuesday. He managed to run fourth; not a bad effort for a stayer in a short race. He’s a lovely looking horse and apparently has a beautiful happy nature. Hopefully he’ll go on to greater things as his career progresses. For a start, he’s being set for the Victoria Derby in October.