Sydney, NSW to San Francisco, CA

What a flight! Thirteen hours of no sleep, only to be given the third degree by four different customs officers.

As I stepped out of the airport is started raining and it took me forever to find where I caught the bus. It was then I questioned, “What am I doing?” The bus into the city took about an hour and dropped me off in the middle of downtown. From there I walked to Pacific Tradewinds Hostel, only to be told it was full. Ended up at the Green Tortoise. I had to wait a while to check in – make sure there was another vacancy.

After checking in I decided to start with a wander around San Francisco’s Financial District. I thought I’d take a walk up to Naag’s place in Clay Street – bad idea – huuuuge hill. Not only that but no one was home. This I find out later is because Chris and Casi don’t live here anymore.

Columbus Tower, San Francisco

I walked back down to the hostel to try and get some sleep. About two hours later, Casi called the hostel – woke me up from a half-sleep – and told me she was picking me up from the hostel to meet up for a drink. So, finally, I met Naag’s fiancé. And if first impressions count, she is a champion. We walked up to a bar on Grant & Green and met up with a couple of their friends – Hamid, Jeff and Jill. Then Chris arrived. It has been over two and a half years since we last saw each other and it was great to catch up. We headed around Columbus to have dinner at the Steps of Rome – an Italian restaurant. From there we kicked on to Shanghai Kelly’s to party on until two in the morning. A great first night in the US, but I desperately need some sleep.

Certified Male @ Star City Casino

It could not have been great, because 10 years later I have no recollection of the night, but on the 11th I went to Star City Casino to see Certified Male. I honestly don't remember who I went with, let alone what it was about - but I have the ticket stub to prove it.

Sprung Monkey & Henry's Anger @ Manly Fisho's

What I remember (in 2024)
Went with Graeme from Optus.
Night 2 of a big weekend. Bernie & Benno had DJ'd an event in Darlinghurst on the Friday. I went from that to home and then straight to work, and from work straight down to Manly, then caught the ferry home afterwards.  Next night I went to the Clovelly an onwards.  It's rough turning 27.

Henry's Anger was brutal, and Sprung Monkey was as fun as always.

The Crap Facts

This is my 183rd concert.

Manly Fisho's is the 45th venue I've seen a concert.

This is my 4th concert in Manly.

This is my 177th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 180th concert in Australia.

Henry's Anger are the 242ndh band I've seen.
This is my 4th Sprung Monkey concert.

Filter & Shihad @ Metro

What I remember (in 2024)

Went on my own.

After Filter's set, crowd went into a chant calling for Shihad to come back.

The Crap Facts

This is my 182nd concert.

This is my 40th concert at The Metro.

This is my 48th concert in Sydney.

This is my 176th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 179th concert in Australia.

Filter are the 241st band I've seen.

This is my 7th Shihad concert.

Australia vs Pakistan @ Sydney Cricket Ground

This was a Christmas present for Mum. I had bought her tickets to the one day cricket second final at the SCG between Australia and Pakistan. It was hard to imagine that she had never been to a game. We sat in the Upper Messenger Stand, facing west. As you can see below we got a great view of the sunset as the lights cam on at the SCG. Australia blasted a quick 337 after 50 overs and had the crowd entertained. In response, Pakistan could only manage 185 , leaving Australia to win the game by 152 runs and take the finals series 2-0. I'm pretty sure Mum had a great time

 

Sydney Cricket Ground 

The SCG - Australia v Pakistan

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat.

Result: Australia 7/337 (50 overs).  Pakistan 185 (36.3 overs).  Australia won by 152 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead, in the best of 3 finals.

Man of the Match: Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Crowd: 38,123

Peg & Unseen @ Lansdowne

The Crap Facts

This is my 181st concert.

This is my 3rd concert at The Lansdowne.

This is my 4th concert in Chippendale.

This is my 175th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 178th concert in Australia.

This is my 7th Peg concert.

This is my 14th Unseen concert.

Big Day Out @ Gold Coast Parklands

Went back to the Gold Coast and to Parklands for the Big Day Out. An absolute scorcher of a day, but definitely a good day out.

Magic Dirt set a scorching tone to start the day.

I sought shelter in the tent to se Shihad, Something for Kate and Beth Orton.  Beth Orton was beautiful, really mellow and very different to mst BDO bands.

Primal Scream were better than I thought (again in the shade of a tent).  I was surprised by how many songs I knew.

But definitely the highlight was the Hellacopters. With only a small crowd, under the tent, while everyone else was at the Red Hot Chili Peppers, they whipped up a rock and roll frenzy – a wild end to a great day.

Big Day Out, Gold Coast

Magic Dirt

Atari Teenage Riot

Something For Kate

Hellacopters

The Crap Facts

This is my 180th concert.

Gold Coast Parklands is the 44th venue I've seen a concert in.

Southport is the 33rd city I've seen a concert in.

This is my 2nd concert in Queensland.

This is my 177th concert in Australia.

This is my 6th Magic Dirt concert.
Atari Teenage Riot are the 236th band I've seen.
28 Days are the 237th band I've seen.
This is my 6th Shihad concert.

This is my 5th Something For Kate concert.
Something For Kate are the 350th time I've seen an Australian band.

Beth Orton is 238th band I've seen.
Primal Scream are the 239th band I've seen.
This is my 2nd Nine Inch Nails concert.

Nine Inch Nails are the 500th time I've seen a band in Australia.
This is my 2nd Foo Fighters concert.
Hellacopters are the 240th band I've seen.

Whitsundays Cruise, QLD

On the 11th, I took 2 weeks off and headed to Queensland. I flew to Hamilton Island with Bernie to meet up with everyone else (Bert, Kern, Reggae, Julie, Cam, Tim, Lena, Luvvo, Caryn, Dave, Bob, Linda, Toddy, Mick, Barnesy and Fitz) for a night at Airlie Beach before setting sail for 9 days around the Whitsunday Islands. What a trip! Was so relaxing enjoying the sun, sea and company. We took our 2 boats, Scholamanzi and Miss Elly, from port to port and spending day and night in total relax mode. The main highlight was our night out in Hamilton Island, which was with Woody – who I hadn’t seen in ages. After I docked the boat and an afternoon discovering the island, we headed out for dinner and partying on the island’s nightclub.

Barnesy, Linda, Robbie, Reggae, Julie, Woody & Bernie, Hayman Island, Queensland

 Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

Hamilton Island, Queensland

Boat Trip Crew, Whitsundays, Queensland

While I left the boat a day early, on the 20th, it wasn’t the end of my holiday. I flew back to Brisbane and made my way down to Lennox Head to catch up with Chris and Charlene Davy, before heading inland to Lismore and visiting Marieka and her mum.

Nick Cave @ State Theatre

I started the month fulfilling Dad's Christmas present. I took him to see Nick Cave perform at the State Theatre. While technically a solo show, he was joined onstage by members of the Dirty Three. He played a number of songs ranging from  Birthday Party and, mostly, Bad Seeds. Great show! And Dad enjoyed it as well.  We were, unplanned, sat next to Lobster and Carol, who had bought tickets separately.

The Crap Facts

This is my 179th concert.

This is my 2nd concert at State Theatre.

This is the 47th concert in Sydney.

This is my 174th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 176th concert in Australia.

Nick Cave is the 235th band I've seen.

Unseen @ The Lansdowne

The Crap Facts

This is my 178th concert.

This is my 2nd concert at The Lansdowne.

This is the 3rd concert in Chippendale.

This is my 173rd concert in New South Wales.

This is my 175th concert in Australia.

This is my 13th Unseen concert.

Homebake 99 @ The Domain

Area 7

Jon Toogood - Shihad

Something For Kate

Iota

Warren Ellis - The Dirty Three

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Reggae, Creany, Jen, Beck, Jody, Tammy, Craig, K & J.

Had a central spot in the shade where everyone came back to after heading their own way to see bands the wanted.

The Crap Facts

This is my 177th concert.

This is my 3rd concert at The Domain.

This is the 46th concert in Sydney.

This is my 172nd concert in New South Wales.

This is my 174th concert in Australia.

Gerling are the 233rd band I've seen.
This is my 2nd Eskimo Joe concert.
This is my 3rd Area 7 concert.
This is my 4th Something For Kate concert.
This is my 5th Shihad concert.
This is my 11th Frenzal Rhomb concert.
Iota is the 234th band I've seen.
This is my 2nd Dirty Three concert.
This is my 7th Porkers concert.
This is my 10th silverchair concert.

silverchair are the 500th time I've seen a band.

The Mark Of Cain @ Bar Broadway

What I remember (in 2024)

Went on my own.

Went straight from work at Optus to venue. 

Early John Stanier gig.  He was tight, and the band were brutally awesome in a small not greatly attended show.

The Crap Facts

This is my 176th concert.

Bar Broadway is the 43rd venue I've seen a concert in.

This is my 2nd concert in Chippendale.

This is my 171st concert in New South Wales.

This is my 173rd concert in Australia.
This is my 5th Mark Of Cain concert.

Craven Fops, Peg & La Huva @ The Globe

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Dad.

The Crap Facts

This is my 175th concert.

This is my 2nd concert at The Globe.

This is the 7th concert in Newtown.

This is my 170th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 172nd concert in Australia.
La Huva are the 231st band I've seen.
This is my 6th Peg concert.
Craven Fops are the 232nd band I've seen.

You Am I & Shihad @ The Metro

The Crap Facts

This is my 174th concert.

This is my 39th concert at The Metro.

This is the 45th concert in Sydney.

This is my 169th concert in New South Wales.

This is my 171st concert in Australia.

This is my 4th Shihad concert.
This is my 11th You Am I concert.

Arj Barker @ Comedy Cellar