The Killers, Sydney 11 November 2007

Just came back from The Killers gig in the Entertainment Centre. Positively surprised. Have never heard of them until attending Corbijn's premiere last month; they covered Joy Division's Shadowplay for the movie and soundtrack. And they've done it rather well.

Atmosphere was one of the best I've seen in Sydney for years. Let's face it — unless there's U2 or Red Hot playing, Sydney audience generally sucks. People don't sing, hardly clap, and typically just stare, listen and sip beer. That's a better scenario, of course, the worse one is when people chitchat, fuck with their mobiles and don't bother to pay attention to a gig they spent some 100-plus bucks for.

This one was different. People did listen, did clap, did scream and did sing along. Might have had something to do with prevalent age group and sex present. Teen chicks, basically.

They closed the concert with classic Helter Skelter, the song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles and U2 stole back (as Bono said). I've done a little Google search, yet couldn't find them performing this one before. Quite an encore.

The bottom line: Rock and Roll is alive and doing fine. Gdnya, fellas.

Oh — and the setlist:

Sam's Town * Enterlude * When You Were Young * Bones * Somebody Told Me * Smile Like You Mean It * Reasons Unknown * Tranquilize * This River Is Wild * Read My Mind * Shadowplay * Bling * Mr Brightside * Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf * Mightnight Show * Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine * All These Things That I've Done * Exitlude * Helter Skelter

Movies - October 2007

I'm lazy, lazy, lazy!

Summer's all over the place and I'm hiding behind blinds not letting a single blade in. Switched off the aircon to save the planet. Therefore slowly dying myself.

Anybody to save me?

Have seen few flicks worth mentioning. Red Rock West was a surprisingly decent one, Little Fish was strong and the winner is Corbijn's Control. This guy, while spending almost 30 years in England is so remarkably Dutch. He's witty, he's smart, he's laid-back and very pro. One can almost touch his conscience. Definitely knows where he's heading and what he's doing at all times. You've heard it right. He's smart. Smarter then anybody thinks he is. Thumbs up.

Anyway, here's the list before I jump off the balcony.

1. Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále (2006) (disappointing)
2. An Officer And A Gentleman (1982) (predictable, narrow)
3. Team America: World Police (2004) (very South-parkish, huh, very trendy)
4. Little Fish (2005) (Kate, Sam and Hugo are great in this little Aussie gem)
5. Charade (1963) (a must for Audrey Hepburn admirers)
6. Knocked Up (2007) (good chill)
7. Red Rock West (1992) (Mr I-Can't-Act-Any-Better-And-Any-Different-Than-This delivers a classic)
8. Naked Lunch (1991) (lucky I fell asleep; repeatedly lucky!)
9. Conrol (2007) (Corbijn's an instant legend!)
10. 1408 (2007) (Cusack is one of few actors who are even worse than Cage. Flick's alright)
11. Crank (2006) (if you wanna get killed, Jason Statham is your man)

That's it, kids. That's it. I have to pay taxes, so excuse me while I kiss the sky.

How do you sleep?

— Attacked Lennon his former bandmate McCartney ironically through a little rock tune from Imagine. However, there is no irony involved in the title of my brainless post.

While having a piss a minute ago, I came to realise how irregular my sleep patters are. I sleep whenever I feel like, minus eight-odd hours I have to pretend I'm a human capable of reasoning to pay my bills at the end of the month.

I sleep when I come home, passing out at any time, quite often being in coma until well after midnight, then being wide awake until early morning hours, going out when people are coming back from parties, sleeping through the sunny weekend days without the need to go anywhere or expose myself to light.

With no drugs involved, ladies and gentlemen. I'm just an owl. For years now.

So long!

Johnny has announced the federal election to be held on 24 November. As voting is compulsory I have no choice left but go and cast the ballot. Won't have a hard time deciding between all them democratic communazis.

I'd prefer this country — and the world, for that matter — to concentrate on sustainability. I may be a dickhead tossing my life away in an urban jungle, hidden in high rise shadows, experimenting with various joys and writing empty lines, yet I would want to die feeling the kids are left with chance to outlive 21st century.

So long, Johnny!

Summer

Temperatures over thirty, tee glued to a body a bit more than desired. Few strokes in a pool, a starting shot next to an open balcony afterwards. Twilight. Jazz, a call to London. Mate; bringing pizza, asking for bourbon and a cookie. A move, a club. A bunch cheerily knocking back already. Rugby against England, we are being chopped. Full glasses in, empty ones out. Full glasses in, empty ones out. Terrible music. Treble cutting ears. They're tryina get rid of us. Out!

Hey, Armand! Night street chances, chill with Ministry of Sound, more alcohol, more joy. Decibels for sleeping neighbours. Last gulp, a street again.

Moving on; hwstgn Floyd. It's closed already, boys, fuck, three a.m, I'm kinda sleepy. One shout, bro. Fuck boys, quick. Local metal fans playing air guitars better than Slash, Hammet and Frusciante together the real ones. Three rounds, before Floyd cuts short kids' holidays.

Potenia. More and more glasses, floor packed by weirdos. This will never end.

Final bourbon well after sunrise. City's awaking. Sunnies, heading to bed. Sleep. Sleep.

Movies - September 2007

While softening on partying, evenings are getting longer. Window-licking local video store. Browsing through titles long forgotten and miraculously found again. Catching up on Hollywood classics and Hollywood trash and managing to go through few Czech gems, too.

1. Goya's Ghosts (2006)
2. Scarface (1983)
3. Ray (2004)
4. I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)
5. I-See-You.Com (2006)
6. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
7. Interview (2007)
8. Love And Other Disasters (2006)
9. Underworld (2003)
10. Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
11. In Her Shoes (2005)
12. Štěstí (2005)
13. The Mating Habits Of The Earthbound Human (1999)
14. Proč? (1987)
15. Live Free Or Die Hard (2007)
16. Rok ďábla (2002)
17. Grandhotel (2006)

The best one this month? Guess Scarface comes quite close, though just quite. Štěstí, known as Something Like Happiness outside of Czech Republic is my tick. Le cinéma par excellence.

Being back

Got back to the City after a two-day trip to beautiful beaches, picturesque seaside resorts and tranquil unspoiled nature. Splendid. Back to high rise jungle. Decided to dine out. Quickly jumping stairs (lift ain't eco-friendly, babe!), passing deserted hallway, godforsaken gym, empty pool (but for the water, 'course), and then?

City's pulsing through the night, rush, vibe, bang, race, flow, blitz, the whole spastic population made it out tonight. Including me.

No more words needed, babe. Respect!

Third stone from the Sun

Sitting under the waterfall. Calm, serene, relaxed. Jungle's purring around, sun's biting from high above, sky's blue, water's, too. Tranquility. So much has been left behind, so little's happening, there's no need to rush. Civilization's so yesteryear!

Ain't that a well? Ain't that the world fallin' down? Ain't that a mobile ringin'? Ain't that a car buzzin'? Ain't that a life passin'? Ain't that somebody freakin' out?

Waking up's so hard to do.

Slowly but surely

A spring day. Getting up too early, then sleeping in a bit too long. Sun's already teasing naïve but courageous chicks to bare their flesh. One has to love it. Hmm.

Clocking in, confirming figures are still on track. Charming. Disappearing for lunch to a nearby coffee shop soon, having a great chat with a random chick and the favourite waitress. Having the usual without a need to order. Kindly declining to hit Jim Beam with meal. Slipping back to office just in time for pup serving beers. No thanks, it's definitely sucking.

Heading for dinner, giving a go to movies, Steve Buscemi's Interview. Wondering what Theo would think, were he still around.

Party later tonight. Compulsory, of course, at least it feels that way. Shall we have anything? Shall we go nice and clean? Shall we shave? Bath, cigar and scotch, how about it? Minus scotch, how about that?

Few calls concerning the show. Yeah, hon', coming, will be there by midnight. Cool. Don't worry. Love you, too.

Playing with the mobile, then switching it off. Why not? Earplugs, Ursiny, midnight beach like in the old days. Suppose circle has to close.

It's time. Sample of happiness. Let's make a summer!

Movies - August 2007

Judging by the number of movies I saw last month, one could guess I did nothing but stared at screen. Yeah, right. Actually, right.

1. Solyaris (1972)
2. Backbeat (1994)
3. Gattaca (1997)
4. Il deserto roso (1964)
5. Exils (2004)
6. La Môme (2007)
7. Vratné lahve (2007)
8. Dark City (1998)
9. Apocalypse Now Redux (1979/2001)
10. Blow (2001)
11. The Score (2001)
12. Once Were Warriors (1994)
13. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
14. Cashback (2006)
15. La Cité des enfants perdus (1995)
16. I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry (2007)
17. Grandma's Boy (2006)

The word of the month is creepiness. About half of the above listed flicks were creepy in one way or another. Take Cashback. I loved the short and it's no different to feature. Though critics hate it for its obsession with female parts. So what? Have anybody ever dared to shoot a scene like the one with Swedish boarder for a mainstream movie before?

Darlo

Sleepless city veins flowing underneath starless skies. Fair dinkum pubs, burger joints, gay bars, international take-aways, posh eateries, unyielding owls moving up and down the streets. Somebody asks for a cigarette, somebody else for a change. Some talk, some don't. Some sit, some lie, others walk or hang around. A fellow is readying his bunk on the steps of a bank. Lovers, friends, suits, hoodies, young or old, everybody's equal or pretending to be. Every mood, every thought, every feeling, all mixed and flavoured by babel of languages, spiced by every possible human race.

I like this place, possibly more than I wish to admit.

Wintery day

Stayed at home. Sort of. Didn't make it to work. Slept, listened to music a lot (amongst others also B3, they're cool), had a cookie, wandered around. Post office, Korean take-away, music shops. Listened to Filip's L.S.D. over and over. Enjoyed the city.

(This city is so self-centered. New Yorkers must love it, except for its miniature size. So do I, of course, though I had to blend in. It wasn't too difficult as I'm a quite self-centered jerk, too. Enough.)

Loved the walk, gardens, park, China town, all electronics shops, Pitt St mall, nameless backlanes and wintery sun above my head.

Wintery bears an ironic remark as it was well over 20°C.

Such a fine day.

Movies - July 2007

Took me a while to compile this list as I hardly put down any note last month. Guess it has something to do with winter. Though it only felt like winter for about two weeks at the beginning of the month and it's getting warmer since. Thank you very much, dear global warming.

Looking at titles, it was a pretty average month. Oddly enough, the best movies I had seen were the oldest ones, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the French Connection. It makes sense as these are classics and one might find difficult to find oldie scum.

1. Román pro ženy (2005)
2. The Number 23 (2007)
3. Smokin' Aces (2006)
4. Spun (2002)
5. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
6. Enemy Of The State (1998)
7. The French Connection (1971)
8. Miami Vice (2006)
9. Proof (2005)
10. Black Snake Moan (2006)
11. A History Of Violence (2005)
12. Casino (1995)
13. The Last King Of Scotland (2006)

Have seen neither Harry Potter nor the Simpsons. One day their time will come.

No sports

No sports, said Sir Winston sometime in last millennium. Yet I wonder. Does ego exercising count?

If it does, I'm about to be a sportsman for next few weeks.

Will I not write anything about the matter, I'm not much of a sportsman.

Will I not write anything at all, then ego exercising is a sport, however, as any other sport, can be deadly.

Fingers crossed.

Junkie

Off to a party last night. Having a strange feeling, a really weird one, though I don't think it had anything to do with Friday 13th. I just felt like not going anywhere, switching off the phone and lying in a bed. Pretty dull. I went anyway 'cos she asked me to.

Meeting her was a surprise. So different, so flashy, so uplifted. So happy. Almost high. It felt awkward, odd. It didn't seem natural. Drugs, thought I immediately. 'Course it was the first thing crossing my mind — guess I cannot think of anything less artificial due to my previous experiences.

Suspecting something tricky, I was slowly backing off, keeping aloof from her. Had three drinks and decided to split.

And just as I was walking to the lift, I glimpsed a radiant babe zealously pashing some lucky bastard. Oh, so that is it.

She had just fallen in love.

Movies - June 2007

I had no time to watch movies last month. At all. Being too busy saved me from hallucinating over my existence and being unable to catch up on my favourite booze made me a sober man. And then, retox. I saw six movies over a period of 24 hours and got decently liquored twice in a week. Nothing to be too proud of.

One more thing (very Jobsy, innit?): this was the very last weekend when one could smoke in pubs in Australia. It's all over now, thought I, enjoying a very last indoor cigarette while surveying a crowd of teenage chicks in my corner joint.

1. Roming (2007)
2. Shooter (2007)
3. Code Name: The Cleaner (2007)
4. Catch And Release (2006)
5. Music And Lyrics (2007)
6. A Good Year (2006)
7. Stranger Then Fiction (2006)
8. U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
9. Hoří, má panenko (1967)
10. Efter brylluppet (2006)

Recharging

The battery in my laptop has just died. Just few sketches before I follow.

Met a smoking hot chick the other day but was not ready for a deal of a lifetime. Or rather summertime. Forgot to call her back to ask anyway.

There's no sunshine rays anymore, there's blades. And it's getting tougher. Never again a place or a car lacking aircon. Summers in Prague stretch nicely over five months now.

I hoped to recharge, yet I'm far worse off than before. Looking forward to intergalactic flight through expanding universe of tiresome tattle straight into my big brass bad. Mobiles off. Doors locked.

Soullessly slipping away.

Passing out.

Movies - May 2007

I got through few intercontinental flights this month, yet I didn't spend a second watching flicks over the clouds. And back on Earth? Looks like I wasted more time watching others then living my own life. Sucks. Hope it can only start slowing down from now. Though, it's winter, so I wonder.

1. 10 Items Or Less (2006)
2. Because I Said So (2007)
3. Taxi 4 (2007)
4. The Business (2005)
5. À bout de souffle (1960)
6. Bird (1988)
7. Perfect Stranger (2007)
8. Une femme est une femme (1961)
9. Nochnoy dozor (2004)
10. Paris, je t'aime (2006)
11. Employee Of The Month (2006)
12. Kouř (1991)
13. Notting Hill (1999)
14. Čtyři vraždy stačí, drahoušku (1970)
15. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
16. Kopytem sem, kopytem tam (1988)
17. Účastníci zájezdu (2006)

Plus, I saw a great interview of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates from All Things Digital. Good for these long hours in the air. Otherwise waste of time, too.

Movies - April 2007

April was gone in a blink! There's a list, minus the usual trashy comments.

1. Sabrina (1954)
2. Boogie Nights (1997)
3. The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
4. Rafťáci (2006)
5. Factory Girl (2006)
6. Das Leben Der Anderen (2006)
7. Alpha Dog (2006)
8. The Painted Veil (2006)
9. Paris - When It Sizzles (1964)
10. 300 (2006)
11. Bra Boys (2007)
12. A Love Song For Bobby Long (2004)
13. Half Nelson (2006)
14. Everything Is Illuminated (2005)
15. Idiocracy (2006)
16. Requiem pro panenku (1991)

Can't believe there were that many!

Paddington Blues

Forth day sober. Low pressure, narrow footpaths, hours at work are ticking away slower than usual. Office bash, attendance almost compulsory, quick stroll through a park right into a cage of four walls. Guitar, demos, mail, litres of sugar water and irrefutable desire for a cigarette. Can't be. Joyous news of tax cuts for the next financial year on a telly. Vote, bitch, we feed ya.

Fabulous!

A street. Young night pulse decorated by hammered seventeen-year-old chicks forgotten in hypnotising centre of crazed warhols and primitive hopefuls after a weekend. All good, movie clubs crowded by semi-intellectual jerks, midnight bookstores hiding young couples in love, darksome fellows on stairs passing a pipe around, guess Charlie Parker's one of them.

Pubs are hives of tireless night bees.

Blackcurrant juice instead of a fix. Thirst still hurts.