TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Monday, January 22, 2007

5:02 PM
Posted by jodi rose

So there I was at the state theatre ticket office, where the very helpful VIP door person made a few calls, got the magic word from the lovely ben - who was already in 'control position', but had the power to open sesame with a nod - and whisked me inside to the dress circle. I've never been up there before, it really is like being in the gods, almost touching the largest chandelier in the southern hemisphere. The audience was amped and over-excited, electrical anticipation crackling through the room. Of course the real magic was Lou, whose voice is something out of this world, so intimate and grainy, wrapping you in his world of decadence and sin. The set was amazingly sumptuous, those paintings of decadence and decay highlighting the musical ambience, and floating behind the beautiful short films. Gorgeous, an absolute treat for the senses. I had to get up and dance during the encores, along with most of the audience, who seemed equally thrilled to be there. Next stop, Berlin.

Met up with Sofie and Simone yesterday, had a private tour of the carriageworks and long chats with everyone we saw - it's great to have this space open and to feel part of the community of local artists. Found our way to uberlingua in the decrepit abercrombie hotel for a drink afterwards - it's quite a trip, amongst all the glossy shiny sydney bars, to find one that is almost abandoned, with a secret entrance through the back garden, and old ratty couches everywhere. Stumbled into the dank musty bar where surprisingly you could get a drink, and chilled out to the mix of world, dub and various beats. Fiona dropped in for a while with Sam, having finished their spruiking duties for the performance space and video installation, but we scared him away with raucous tales of debauchery in new york. mainly from simo, who had just returned from a trip there with circus oz, then holiday in cuba - we're planning to go back this year for revolution day on 1 jan.

Drifted on to the spiegeltent and checked out the bossanova - more sedate than we expected, then sim talked to some friends who waved us in to see la clique. Different line-up to melbourne, but still the wonderful hula-hoop, trapeze and burlesque artistes, and a sense of glamour and subversion. Delicious. All up it's been a great festival experience, the only thing I really wanted to see but missed was the slieemansongs but can catch them in europe over summer. Just love seeing all those sold-out shows - such a VIP princess.

Today has given me a reality shock with short temp admin job - renewed focus to get all those proposals written up and funding applications in. Although, the money always comes when you need it, just takes a little faith sometimes, and some ingenuity.

This morning I woke from a dream in a taxi leaving the carpark of some theatre, huge crowd outside, when I see mr lou reed in his red t-shirt, and say hey, Lou! thanks for the f&*kg amazing show, I loved it! He leans in, kisses me lightly on the lips through the window and jumps into his chauffered black SUV, speeding past the crowd. I felt so peaceful and happy when I woke up.