mikeyd1986
Mar 6, 2020
EBONIVORY | GLASS OCEAN w/ CHINO SATURN & INTROSPECT @ THE WORKERS CLUB, MARCH 2020
I was honestly in two minds about writing a review for this gig tonight but I figured that I should considering I made the effort to attend it and was looking forward to seeing the Ebonivory boys in particular.
Unfortunately my sleep deprivation really took it's toll on me this week, having periods of 3-4 hours in which I was wide awake and couldn't fall back asleep. It was extremely frustrating for me considering I have tried many different things to help with my sleep problems.
So by tonight, my sleep debt had accumulated to an unbearable level and I was really feeling beyond exhausted at this point. Still, I was determined to come out to this show tonight mainly because of the quality lineup of bands but also because it was supporting a really important cause - for bushfire relief!
When I walked into the band room at The Workers Club, it literally looked and felt like a sauna with the smoke machine put on full blast. I actually felt pretty chilled out and relaxed tonight, even confident. That was until the room began to get really packed.
Obviously I wasn't anticipating an attendance of over 120 people. Mild claustrophobia set in and made me feel uncomfortable but I did my best to ride it out and focused on taking deep breaths. Also around 9.30pm, my energy levels began crashing fast.
Despite having a long black coffee from Maccas two hours prior, sadly it wasn't enough to push me over the line. So I left after Chino Saturn played. I'd normally feel guilty for doing this but I was genuinely wrecked and didn't want to force myself to stick around through constant yawns.
INTROSPECT are a Sydney-based progressive rock band. They had a very distinctive, otherworldly sound with dreamy melodic sections and epic guitar riffs soaring high into an alternate dimension. Guitarist Jamie had some technical difficulties early in the set but the band managed to pull through, even tossing in an impressive drum solo. It was a great performance considering this was their first time playing in Melbourne! https://introspect-prog.bandcamp.com/releases
CHINO SATURN is the latest musical project from Melbourne based singer-songwriter Jayden McGrath. Performing with a full band tonight, his style of music is a combination of ska, drum n bass, electronic, funk, rock and pop. His vocals came across as deep, powerful and confident with a free-flowing light hip hip vibe. His lyrics are very personal and straight from the heart. I was very impressed by how unique he sounded especially when combining such a diverse range of styles!
GLASS OCEAN are a five-piece ambient progressive rock outfit from Sydney and Melbourne! Check out their latest release "Atalante Instrumental Medley" here - https://glassocean.bandcamp.com/track/atalante-instrumental-medley
EBONIVORY are a five-piece progressive metal band from Ballarat in Victoria! Check out their latest single called "Explosions After Dark" here - https://smarturl.it/explosionsafterdark
mikeyd1986
Feb 28, 2020
WINDWAKER w/ Tapestry & Heartline @ BANG! February 2020
I never thought I’d see myself back at BANG! again especially after all the bad experiences I’ve had there in the past. From being socially excluded to trying my hardest to be a Destroy All Lines promoter (and failing to connect with the other elitist hosts) to rude security guards on power trips, things didn’t really end on a positive note for me. I also was finding that the loud nightclub vibes inside the venue just weren’t aligning with my own! I just didn’t fit the mould of most people who attended BANG! (extroverts, party animals, millennials, smokers, obnoxious drunk people, superficial people with huge egos). Plus I am getting older!
Now at 33 (and turning 34 very soon), going out to night clubs isn’t high on my priority list these days! In fact, I’m usually ready for bed by 9.30pm. Plus I’ve also had significant health issues from depression and anxiety to fatigue and insomnia. All of the things pose a threat to me continuing to attend local gigs especially late at night! I’ve literally had to use stimulants such as caffeine and pre-workout supplements as a crutch just to stay alert and not doze off into the evening.
So when this show came along, I was initially hesitant especially when I saw that the doors would be opening at 10pm. How on Earth was I going to stay awake and focused until then let alone when I got inside the venue? This week I had the double whammy of deciding to stop taking my prescription sleep medication due to increased side effects and dependency.
Plus my roster at work has recently changed to early starts on Sunday and Monday as well as afternoon starts on Tuesday and Wednesday! I’ve also had a fairly hectic schedule with grocery shopping, cooking, housework, appointments with my OT, support worker and counselor and gym sessions to fit in too. That’s a lot of stuff to adjust to in one week but I was determined to persevere and push through the struggles and the sleep deprivation.
I chose to come out to BANG! again tonight partly because I wanted to support the bands playing (It’s a pretty stacked lineup). But also because my social life has significantly suffered lately. Namely, I miss hanging out with friends and band mates. I truly do! I’m learning to take more chances in life because holding back just leads to disappointment and regret. Maybe I will have a good time tonight. There’s only one sure way of finding out.
After my boxing class with CinFull Fitness, I made my way down to Jordanville station to catch the train into the city. Thankfully the class actually gave me a much needed boost of energy and stamina. Lining up outside the venue with the usual riff-raff, we didn’t get inside until quarter past 10. Then we were forced to wait inside the beer garden area until they were ready to open the main bar area. It honestly felt like being herded in a cattle pen and it was slightly uncomfortable until I met up with my friend Jordy Shore. It was nice to have someone to break the ice with.
One of the biggest things that continues to annoy me about BANG! is that they never run on time and tonight was no exception! Heartline were meant to start at 10:15pm but got pushed back to around 10:30pm. Of course some people would see that 15 minute delay and think “big deal” but it’s difficult when you have to rely on public transport to get yourself back home safely. Plus I’ve always been a very structured person and that includes keeping to a schedule and being conscious of what the time is.
Once we got inside the main bar area, my worries seemed to deflate and I actually felt pretty chilled out for once. My brain was still in sensory overload mode though, taking in the emerald green chandeliers with forest-like foliage hanging from the ceiling and the crowd of familiar face. I was positively buzzing when it came to meeting all my friends and band mates. I’ve really missed them all so much!
I’ve never found it easy to stand out in a crowd so I have to rely on making eye contact and finding the right moments to speak up. My anxious thoughts always tries to derail moments like these “Don’t interrupt anyone! You don’t want to piss anyone off!” Of course when it comes to local gigs, musicians are always busy and therefore the “perfect” opportunity to say hello to them simply doesn’t exist. I had to be brave enough to JUST DO IT, just put myself out there and I did it.
Honestly the vibes tonight were so friendly and positive that all my past perceptions and bad experiences about BANG! seemed to dissipate into the background. I was legitimately surprised that I was actually having a good time tonight but I was also very glad that I was. I really needed this. I guess I’m growing to like this venue again and that is saying something.
HEARTLINE...This was the band that I was most giddy to see perform live! I’ve been supporting this Melodic Metalcore band from Adelaide, South Australia since the middle of last year and tonight was their first ever show in Melbourne. Their stage presence was majestic, confident engaging and passionate. Frontman Luke Taylor did an awesome job getting the crowd pumped up and they were equally as excited to participate. They simply blew my socks off tonight and I was super proud of them all for finally breaking into the Melbourne scene! Set List: Twenty Two, Crystal Eyes, Weightless, Essence, Covert. https://music.apple.com/us/album/essence-ep/1478821238
TAPESTRY...Formerly from Darwin and now relocated to Melbourne, this five-piece Melodic Hardcore band just never seems to disappoint. They are lovely and humble musicians with supreme talent and high quality songwriting. The band played tracks from their 2018 EP “Ghost of Me” for the final time tonight plus a few other surprises for older fans. The audience was immediately captivated, singing along to many of their songs. Eventually frontman Tom Devine-Harrison launched himself into the crowd of people near the stage, making a physical and personal connection with them. They were amazing! Set List: Ghost, Ember, Dark Shade, Retrospect. https://music.apple.com/us/album/ghost-of-me/1353365058
WINDWAKER...Even though their set was on really late (they didn’t start until 12:15am), I was determined to stick around for one of my favourite Melbourne-based Alternative Heavy Melodic Hardcore outfits. I was stoked that they managed to draw such a moderately large crowd for their headlining show tonight. They poured their hearts out in this 45 minute performance, covering both their “Fade” and “Empire” EP’s for the final time tonight. Frontman Will King was as passionate and inspiring as ever with a beautiful vocal delivery and a confident stage presence. He won the crowd over very easily and it was good to see the band send it tonight! Set List: My Empire, The Destroyer, Castaway, Arrested, Grey World, The Sitch, New Infinite, Bring Me The Horizon medley. https://music.apple.com/au/album/empire-ep/1448666181
mikeyd1986
Feb 15, 2020
TAME IMPALA – THE SLOW RUSH (ALBUM REVIEW)
One-man band Kevin Parker from Perth, Western Australia has been a self-confessed loner and perfectionist. His latest record, The Slow Rush, which comes five years after the release of 2015’s Currents, is aptly titled as it implies that Parker is in no immediate hurry to put out new music. It also homes in on the concept of time, and Parker’s relationship with time. Early 2019 single Patience, which sadly didn’t make the cut for this album, is probably the best representation of this as well as the ever-evolving experimentation of his trademark sound.
Parker seems to answer the question during the song’s chorus (Just growin’ up in stages…living life in phases. Another season changes. And still, my days are shapeless). He lays down a 70’s inspired glam disco groove with permeates throughout the whole track like a sample on repeat. There’s also a sonically distorted piano loop, soft electronic synths and the distinct sound of bongo drums with conjures up a hazy summer music festival type vibe. And this is pretty much just a taster for what’s in store for the rest of The Slow Rush.
Opening track One More Year contains a shimmering melody, stuttering vocal effects and a rollicking drumbeat! Compared to Tame Impala’s previous albums, this is probably the most unusual of tracks to start a new record on especially with Parker opting to do some spoken-word rambling over the hypnotic house beat (We got a whole year. Fifty-two weeks. Seven days each. Four seasons, one reason, one way. One year from today).
And yet bizarrely, Parker manages to make it work with his complex sonic arrangements all blending together seamlessly. Instant Destiny on the other hand seems to move us into more familiar territory, more akin to the sound of Tame Impala’s last record Currents. But at 3 minutes, it’s a short-lived moment and far from representative of the album as a whole.
His official first single for this album Borderline underwent some radical changes including a shorter track length (3:57 compared to 4:36 of the original YouTube release) and a deeper, groovier bassline. Whilst I can certainly appreciate these changes, I prefer his original release as it seemed more natural and organic! Sometimes I feel like Parker’s perfectionist tendencies gets in his own way. It’s the classic case of having too many cooks in the kitchen spoiling the broth! He’s well intentioned in switching up this arrangement but to me it seems like a rare misstep.
Speaking on the original release of Borderline, it’s probably one of his best compositions to date. He delivers a mellow, stripped back track complete with beautiful harmonies, organic percussion, lush instrumentation (piano, bongo drums, flutes) and his usual stream-of-consciousness styled lyrics (There I go. Quite a show for a loner in LA. Askin’ how I managed to end up in this place. And I couldn’t get away).
In terms of musical influences, Parker seems to pull a page out of almost every decade of music! From Led Zeppelin to Daft Punk; From Aphex Twin to Radiohead; From Quincy Jones to Van Halen, the listener will most likely find themselves scratching their heads thinking “I’m sure I’ve heard that guitar riff or that drum beat or that synth line from somewhere before”. It’s a clever way of creating familiar sounds without blatantly sampling or ripping off an artist which Parker does very well on this album.
Posthumous Forgiveness is the most personal track Parker has released to date. It’s presumably about his late father, reflecting on the difficult relationship they had and finding a way to forgive him. The intro sounds like something from a Quentin Tarantino film (like Jackie Brown) but it progressively evolves with increased synths, repetitive drum loops, funky guitar riffs and blissful melodic stretches. It’s a deeply emotional track and one of Tame Impala’s best songs to date!
Breathe Deeply seems to combine influences from both the R&B and dance music worlds! Vocally this probably the best he’s ever sounded, pushing his falsetto vocal tones to their limits. Lyrically it shows a new-found confidence that we’ve yet to see from Parker until now (If you think I couldn’t hold my own. Believe me. I can). On track further adds to this with its swirling sonically manipulated aesthetic and upbeat hooks. He also highlights on the fact that he’s finally found love (The hardest part is over, adjusting makes it slower. So glad you’re coming over, I want to bring us closer).
Recent single Lost in Yesterday is easily the most catchy and accessible track on here. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad though. It’s a standout in terms of its groovy melody, funky basslines, Parker’s falsetto vocal range and memorable lyrics (So what was I ever afraid of? Why did I worry? And why was I ever so brainless? Head in a flurry). But compared to most of this album’s tracks, it’s pretty middle-of-the-road by Kevin Parker’s standards.
It Might Be Time fares better in terms of putting the focus back on this album’s central theme of time, specifically reflecting on what you’ve done with your life and comparing that to others (And suddenly. All my friends are growin’ up and movin’ on. I must be missin’ something). Closing track One More Hour is an epic 7 minute opus which sees Parker pulling out all of his impressive sonic tricks like a funky piano loops, buzzing guitar riffs, colourful synths, kaleidoscopic melodies and loud machine gun-like drumming.
After a 5-year gap between records, I think most fans were naturally worried that Kevin Parker had set the bar far too high for himself with 2015’s Currents. So, it’s a huge relief and a pleasant surprise that he manages to live up to those enormous expectations (for the most part). The Slow Rush is a record that documents the organic evolution of both Kevin Parker as a musician and a human being.
While there are still lyrics which suggest Parker still has moments of self-doubt and insecurity, there is a lot more optimism and confidence shining through here that hasn’t surfaced on his previous efforts. Perhaps his wife Sophie Lawrence who can be heard on the track Tomorrow’s Dust is the reason why Parker seems to be much brighter and more positive now. The future may be uncertain but for KP, he’s certainly got a lot to look forward to.
mikeyd1986
Jan 30, 2020
TRACES (CAN’T STOP ME AUST TOUR) w/ The Motion Below, Furious George & Elements @ The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, January 2020
I’ve been supporting this Heavy Melodic Alternative band from Tamworth in New South Wales since the release of their 2017 EP Change. They have a passion and a maturity beyond their years that I could really appreciate and resonate with. I was absolutely blown away when I first listened to their single Broken, being able to fuse several styles of music together and tie it together with Jack’s mesmerizing vocal delivery and inspiring lyrical content. And to top all of this off, they also record, mix, master and produce of their own music as well as film their own music videos and design their cover artwork. That is something to be truly proud of! https://tracesaustralia.bandcamp.com/album/change
More recently, I’ve been connecting with the boys online through social media platforms as well as several live-stream videos in which they hosted some Q&A sessions, a guitar play-through and revealing what they’ve been working on musically in their home-based studio. It’s very rare that you see musicians who are both extremely talented and extremely humble at the same time but this is the very thing I love about them. They take the time to connect with their fans and they also appreciate every opportunity they receive. https://www.facebook.com/tracesaustralia/videos/
To say that I was really excited to meet these boys in person and to see them perform live is an understatement. Today there was a forecast temperature of 37 degrees in Melbourne! I know what my limits are when it comes to extreme heat as I am very susceptible to its effects (light headedness, physical and mental exhaustion, dehydration, increased heart rate). But I wasn’t going to let this stop me from attending! I just have to be prepared for it by drinking plenty of water, wearing sun protection and pacing myself (resting when needed). https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/how-to-cope-and-stay-safe-in-extreme-heat
There is also the lingering threat of the Novel Coronavirus! I’ve honestly been in two minds about how seriously I should take this information with many conflicting news reports in the media and warnings from the Australian Government! Should we all be wearing face masks when we’re outside or around members of the general public? I don’t know! Are the media and the government covering up the truth? Possibly! It doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence when nobody knows for sure how deadly this virus really is.
But again, I wasn’t going to let this stop me from going out to the show! If I end up getting infected (I mean, I really hope that I don’t), so be it. That’s life! https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/novel-coronavirus.aspx
When it comes to preparing for and attending local gigs, my brain often runs through a huge mental checklist to make sure that I don’t forget anything (Tickets? Check! Water bottle? Check! Hat? Check!). Plus allowing myself enough time to get there is equally as important. When I got to Jordanville station, everything seemed to be running smoothly...until I heard the announcement from the loudspeaker (Flinders Street train will be delayed by 20 minutes). Just what you need on an extremely hot Melbourne day!
So of course I had to endure the now 41 degree heat while waiting for my train to arrive. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t make it to the show on time thanks to the delays but I found out that Elements wouldn’t be starting until around 8pm which gave me a buffer to work with. Getting off at Melbourne Central station, I swiftly walked up Elizabeth Street towards the venue (I was also busting for the toilet at this point)!
I noticed several people wearing surgical marks or respiratory masks but I tried not to let this deter me. I had a quick pit stop at the nearby McDonald's and bumped into Tom and Tori while I was finding a seat. Typically, my coffee was boiling hot and refusing to cool down plus I was running out of time! So I decided to finish it on the way. When I got inside the band room at The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, I could feel myself buzzing from the caffeine I just consumed! I was on a positive high, putting myself out there socially before the show officially started.
Of course my anxiety was trying hard to counteract this with unrealistic social expectations (Why isn’t that person talking to me? Hmm maybe they don’t recognize me with the hat on!) but I did the best I could to ignore it! Overall, I had a really good time and ticked off a lot of boxes which I hadn’t done previously.
ELEMENTS...To be honest, I really didn’t know what to expect from this Melbourne-based metalcore band! I knew that they were originally a duo consisting of Joshua Flint on vocals and Adam Haley-Perko on guitar. Plus they dropped a three-track release in October last year! Tonight they played their first live show as a five piece band! It sounded a little rough around the edges at times and they did have a few stuff ups but musically they absolutely smashed it with lots of heavy breakdowns and futuristic electronic samples. I think that this band has the potential to go a long way! Set List: Lucidity, Six Foot Hole, cover of the Architect’s track Doomsday and PREY! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVqgeJNMP1KCIKJVYyU9_9w
FURIOUS GEORGE...Every time I see this band play, they always manage to put a smile on my face! Vocalist Jake Mandaliti was rocking out as usual with his wild mop of hair and colourful, psychedelic-looking shirt (which was actually a collage of different Pokemon)! The band were previously seen at this exact venue last year and they managed to deliver any equally incredible performance here with dark menacing screams and epic guitar riffs. It’s always a good time! Set List: Hell, Egodeath, Repose and Devoid! https://furiousgeorgeau.bandcamp.com/
THE MOTION BELOW...The last time I saw these boys perform was at their EP Launch Show last year and now they’re back here for round two! Vocalist Thomas Katgert was very entertaining, making some light hearted jokes which didn’t go entirely to plan and giving a highly passionate performance! Backing vocalists Ryan Matheson and Stephen Latocha were equally as good with their clean vocals. A very tight and impressive set! Set List: Figureheads, Wasted Years and State of Decay! https://music.apple.com/au/album/cronus-complex-ep/1469929282
TRACES...Despite facing some technical issues at the last minute, it was absolutely worth the wait seeing this band perform! It was a near surreal experience for me as I’ve been supporting and following these guys for a long time and now I’m seeing them in the flesh! I could tell that the crowd around me were just as giddy and elated as I was, belting out the lyrics and even jumping around at the end of their set!
Guitarist Ryan Sanchez Crane could be seen wearing his black bandit mask (reminding me of a ninja warrior) and pulling out some wicked guitar spins on stage! It was also really amusing to see drummer Isaiah Olig-grennan rocking a very stylish cowboy hat during the show, which looked like something Russell Coight or Indiana Jones might wear! As for vocalist Jack Pallett, he was truly amazing and inspirational as he spoke on the importance of music and bringing people together as a community!
While it was a shame that their set got cut short due to time constraints and the venue’s curfew, it didn’t seem to bother me that much at all. I think I just appreciated the fact that I was finally able to catch these boys performing live on stage. I left feeling more than satisfied! Set List: Can’t Stop Me, (New Song), The Light, Rain and Broken. https://music.apple.com/nz/album/cant-stop-me-single/1481772386
mikeyd1986
Jan 24, 2020
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2020 + The Veronicas @ AO Live Stage, January 2020
Today could have potentially turned into a massive disaster with the discovery of my recent Medicare rebate claim getting rejected this morning. The letter I received from Medicare read “We received your claim for Medicare benefits. There are no benefits to be paid for the claim for the following reasons...Reason code 141 - No benefit payable for services performed by this provider.” I was gobsmacked and confused by this information as nothing was fully explained to me plus I thought I ended everything correctly into the mygov claim form.
Mum suggested a trip down to our local Centrelink / Medicare office in Cranbourne. It turned out to be huge mistake as a) it was packed to the rafters with other customers b) the woman servicing me was a useless cow and made me feel more agitated. At this point I figured that I typed something wrong on the claim form or was missed something. Then I approached my counselor Judie via text message for answers as i was getting stressed out and at the end of my rope. Thankfully after looking into it, she discovered that my GP wrote the wrong provider number on the invoice. So now it should hopefully get resolved!
I think my stress and conflicting thoughts on the problem were trying hard to ruin my day. It’s crap that really I shouldn’t have to be dealing with. But in this situation I’m in with my new counselor, I have to figure out the Medicare claims process myself and hope tat I don’t mess it up. It’s a very unforgiving systems through mygov which if you fail to provide all the information or type something incorrectly on the claim form, you’re basically screwed! And so I was ruminating on this bullshit all morning and I hoped that attending the Australian Open this afternoon would help giving me some positive distractions.
When Mum and I arrived at Flinders Street station just after 3pm, my energy levels suddenly plummeted through the floor! I was clearly not quite feeling 100%. I needed to sit down again. MUM TO THE RESCUE! She bought me a bottle of water and an apple cake to share. I couldn’t help feeling like a burden though. I had so much anticipation about going to the Australian Open today and yet my stress, fatigue and anxiety were making it very difficult.
We ended up catching a tram to Collins Street then walking towards Elizabeth Street and dropping into The Block Arcade. There was a massive group of people lining up to get into the very popular Hopetoun Tea Rooms. But Mum needed to buy a special birthday card for her sister’s 50th birthday coming up at Card & Caboodle! Next we had coffee together whilst admiring The Dr. Seuss (Cat In The Hat) art collection in front of us. We also got to witness the Royal English clock chime indicating that it was now 4 o’clock!
Fatigue was trying hard to bring me down again but I was determined to stay awake and focused. Eventually the buzzing energy from my coffee began flooding through my body as the peak hour crowds were building on the streets of Melbourne. I was trying my best not to bump into anyone as we navigated down Collins and Swanston Streets but it wasn’t easy.
After we arrived at Flinders Street, we discovered that tram number 70 can take us directly to Rod Laver Arena. They had a fun and amusing recording playing on the tram which informed us of he three tram stops available that are relevant to the Australian Open. After finding the Garden Square entrance, it was a little misleading and confronting working out where to lineup as a Grounds Pass ticket holder. We went through the usual bag checking, wand body scan and ticket checks before finally entering inside the Australian Open.
Being our first time at the Australian Open, there was a lot to take in and process. After grabbing a map from the information desk, I noticed that the layout resembled a village which included the large arenas (Melbourne Arena, Rod Lave Arena, Margaret Court Arena) plus retail shops like Adidas and Chemist Warehouse, various food outlets, several sunscreen lotion and hydration stations, the showcourts practice village, AO Ballpark and AO Live Stage.
Inside the AO Gift Shop, Mum and I were approached by no less than six young salespeople with the typical polite questions “Can I help you? Are you looking for anything in particular? Do you need any help?” Not that I can blame them for doing their jobs and what they had been trained to do but it was a little overbearing considering we were literally just browsing the shelves. I did end up buying myself an official Australian Open shopping bag plus a pen and later on a program on the event. Being our first time ever at an Australian Open, I really didn’t want to walk away from the event empty handed.
Next we decided to watch one of the tennis matches that was in progress! We asked a young girl named Sarah to help find our way towards the showcourts. Eventually, we made our way over to showcourt 19 and sat down in the stands. It was Andrey Rublev from Russia taking on Yuichi Sugita of Japan. There was a loud cheersquad in the back cheering and applauding every time Sugita won a point. It was actually quite funny and entertaining in a way. I was just thankful that we got to see some tennis action. https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev-sugita-2020-australian-open-second-round
After grabbing something to eat at one of the food outlets inside Rod Laver Arena (super expensive mind you), it was finally time to make our way towards the Live Stage where The Veronicas will be performing! We did get a little lost getting there but eventually we were heading in the right direction. The one thing we didn’t anticipate was how long the walk would be, especially with the dozens of tennis fans you have to navigate around also.
When we arrived at the live stage, it was already packed and crowded. We were very lucky to find a couple of spare seats to sit on.
THE VERONICAS put on a very nostalgic and entertaining 45 minute performance, even though they did start a little late. They performed a mixture of earlier songs plus a couple of more recent tracks. Even when the dark overcast clouds were rolling in and the temperature dropped, it certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of the audience who were singing and dancing along! I was so glad that I was able to finally see them live on stage. It was definitely worth it! Set List: Take Me On The Floor, Everything I’m Not, Hook Me Up, You Ruin Me, Ugly, In My Blood, Mother Mother, 4ever, If You Love Someone and Untouched (Please stand for the national anthem!).
Here are some tips if you ever plan on going to the Australian Open in the future:
Pack For All Seasons - Melbourne’s weather forecast can be very deceiving from strong gusty winds to showers to overcast and humid! So be sure to pack a raincoat, poncho, jumper, umbrella, a hat, sunglasses, beanie and scarf.
Bring Extra Money - The food and drinks at the Australian Open are all overpriced and very expensive (e.g. ice-creams $6.50, water $5.00, small tray of fish & chips $12.80). Be sure to bring loose change plus have money on your eftpos cards ready to go!
Do Your Homework - Make sure you check out the Australian Open website, download the app onto your phone, look up the map of the area plus any train and tram timetables you may need to get to the Australian Open! https://ausopen.com/
Plan Your Day - As Mum and I quickly discovered, it’s practically IMPOSSIBLE to fit everything into your schedule if you only have 2 or 3 hours! Unfortunately we missed out on seeing the ANZ Hot Shots and didn’t make it to the AO Ball Park in time! You really need to attend the Australian Open from 10am if you really want to make the day out of it!
mikeyd1986
Dec 26, 2019
MIKEY’S 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Spending time with my family and visiting places including North Melbourne, St Kilda, Lakes Entrance, Bairnesdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Kyral Castle, Kyneton Bushland Resort, RACV Goldfields Resort and Creswick Woollen Mills.
Attending local gigs and continuing to support local bands including ATLVS, Furious George, Pridelands, Hara Kiri, Above the Fallen, Earthbøund, Weighbridge, Spectral Fires (RIP!), Foxblood, Tapestry, Red Lotus, Ebonivory, Diamond Construct, Windwaker, Make Them Suffer, To Octavia, The Motion Below, In Vanity, Elision and The Gloom In The Corner.
Working on my health, fitness and wellbeing goals by attending weekly boxing classes at CinFull Fitness, group fitness classes (RPM, Body Balance, Body Pump) at YMCA Casey ARC and YMCA Casey RACE plus using spa, sauna and swim facilities.
Attending several group social nights with Aspergers Victoria including dinner at The Pancake Parlour (Malvern East), lawn bowls, BBQ’s, Dungeons & Dragons and Board Games (Cards Against Humanity, Monopoly, UNO, poker), held at Power Neighbourhood House in Ashwood.
Nickelback’s Feed The Machine Australian Tour at Rod Laver Arena in February.
Celebrating my 33rd birthday at Kelly's Cranbourne with family and friends in March.
Completing a sleep study at Frankston Intergrated Health Centre to determine how bad my sleeping problems are and work out any possible treatment solutions for them in May.
Completing a Creative Writing short course at Balla Balla Community Centre in June.
Participating in a research study on Power Posing to improve social confidence and emotional regulation, held at Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre in July.
Attending The Australian Beatlez (Beatles tribute band) at Mulgrave Country Club in August.
Attending Good Things Festival for the first time, held at Flemington Racecourse in December.
LOWLIGHTS & UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCES
Having frequent anxiety/panic attacks mostly at work and in some social situations.
Feeling constantly fatigued with low energy and motivation to do things when my depression and anxiety is at its worst.
Having the front windscreen of my car smashed in one night and having to fork out $450 to repair it the next day.
Adjusting to changing and starting new antidepressant medication. Side effects include nausea, light headedness, fever, profuse sweating and increased heart rate.
Dealing with some specialists and allied health professionals who have not been helpful. At times, they are not the easiest people to open up to about my experiences. Some of them could be quite judgmental, cold, harsh, condescending and patronising. It can be quite expensive in the fees they charge for their services, even with the Medicare rebates.
Getting emotional and having a mental breakdown when things have gotten “too much” or overwhelming in my life including dealing with difficult customers at work, unexpected bills or expenses, having trouble making decisions, feeling pressured by societal and parental expectations.
mikeyd1986
Dec 6, 2019
GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL (MELBOURNE) @ Flemington Racecourse, December 2019
A couple of years ago, I made a silent vow to myself that I was done with attending music festivals. There were a number of reasons for this: the large crowds, the lengthy duration, getting dirty and sweaty in the moshpit. It just wasn’t my thing anymore. Though I did push myself to attend Unify in 2018, it wasn’t an enjoyable experience for me. The lonely overnight camping plus my unruly neighbours and my fragile mental state also didn’t help matters. It was more to say that I did it and crossed it off my bucket list. But I wouldn’t do it again.
However, when I considered going to Good Things this year, it felt like a throwback to the days of the Big Day Out (1999-2014) which I used to go to. Similar lineup of bands. Similar layout of stages, rides, food trucks. And it’s only a single day festival. I said to myself “You know what? I’ll give it a shot.” And so I opted for the pay over time installment option as I couldn’t afford the full cost of the ticket at the time. I used to complain about how expensive festival tickets are but if you consider how many big international bands are on the lineup, it’s actually pretty reasonable.
My biggest concern going it to this was how my energy levels and tiredness would fare. This is after all a 9-10 hour event so I knew that I would have to pace myself throughout the day and place plenty of rest breaks in between bands. The most important decision of the day was working out which bands to see. It’s good that Good Things offers fans plenty of variety and choice but that means there’s a lot of potential for timetable clashes. The biggest offender would have to be between Windwaker and The Veronicas which actually sparked a lot of outrage, shit posting and memes on social media.
From catching the train from Southern Cross to Flemington Racecourse to lining up outside the entry gates, I felt a huge rush of anticipation and anxiety. Even though I was well and truly prepared for this, my brain decided to overthink things big time. I figured that this would be like an episode of Border Security when it comes to the bag checking process. However, the girl wasn’t even that thorough. She barely giving the contents of my backpack more than a glance.
The only odd thing was having my photo ID checked twice by two different security staff. Not that it really bothered me to be honest. It was more that I expected to be scanned for metallic items and be searched by sniffer dogs, according to the information on the Good Things website. But getting through the entry gates did make me feel more at ease. It took a while to get my bearings of the festival site layout but it wasn’t too difficult to navigate. I had a printout of the map and digital copy on my phone just in case.
POPPY...Like most people, I only discovered this Massachusetts-born singer songwriter a few months ago. Her style is a unique fusion of pop, electronica, metal and industrial often with sweet melodic choruses and heavy breakdowns in the verses. She came out onto the stage with a drummer and guitarist, both wearing weird face masks, platinum blonde wigs and black leather suits. In the words of Kath and Kim, she could be described perfectly as noice, unusual, different. Set List: Concrete, Am I A Girl?, Play Destroy, Scary Mask. https://music.apple.com/au/artist/poppy/1004130511
GRAVEMIND...I can’t say that I’m as invested in Death Metal bands as I used to be. However, I do have a soft spot for these guys. I was particularly impressed by their connection with the crowd both in supporting local bands and the importance of overcoming mental health issues. They delivered a super heavy set with lots of emotion and heart.Set List: Lifelike, Phantom Pain, Volgin.https://music.apple.com/au/album/conduit/1462900465
WINDWAKER...Okay look. I was honestly very divided about whether to split my time between my boys in Windwaker and The Veronicas. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a pointless idea. Being a music festival, there is so much ducking and weaving between the crowds of people and therefore it’s time consuming getting from one stage to another. So I went with my gut and stayed where I was, which I believe ended up being the right decision.
Today was Liam Guinane’s last show with Windwaker. It was a very bittersweet experience for me. But it was such a pleasure watching him perform a keyboard and vocal solo of the track Colourless with the entire crowd kneeling down. I was crying internal tears, that’s for damn sure! The band had some technical issues early on which delayed their starting time. However, they more than made up for it by the awesome show they put on, complete with plastic beach balls, crowd singalongs and an epic circle pit to rival The Veronicas wall of death! Set List: The Sitch, Grey World, Reject, Colourless, My Empire. Freak (Silverchair cover) https://music.apple.com/au/album/empire-ep/1448666181
TRIVIUM / BAD RELIGION...After Windwaker’s set, I decided to take a break and chilled out on the lawn between Stages 1 and 2. Unfortunately, I began getting myself overcome with conflicting emotions, depression and loneliness. I couldn’t really work out where it was coming from, though witnessing people hanging out in groups may have been a trigger. It’s not a new thing for me as I’ve always been “flying solo” when it comes to attending gigs and music festivals. And yet it’s still not always easy accepting that I don’t really have a close circle of friends around me.
I decided to try meditating, reached out to a few friends on social media and listened to the sets of Trivium and Bad Religion from a far distance away. It was difficult trying to shake the black dog off me but slowly I started to feel better. Considering how far I’d come just to attend Good Things for the first time, it was an important reminder to put things into perspective. Plus I had already met and bumped into lots of amazing band mates so I was far from alone, even though I was hanging out by myself.
SIMPLE PLAN...It’s hard to conceive that this Pop-Rock-Punk outfit from Montreal in Canada has been going for 20 years. Admittedly, I decided to watch their set for the nostalgic value of their classic anthems, mainly from 2002 to 2009. I found myself singing along with the crowd around me to songs I grew up with in my late teenage years and early adulthood. And after such a long time together, they still sounded great and the lyrical messages of not fitting in and not feeling accepted are still relatable today. People were randomly throwing rolls of toilet paper through the air and tossing giant black beach balls back and forth. Set List: I’m Just a Kid, I’d Do Anything, Addicted, Perfect, Welcome to My Life, Shut Up, Jet Lag, Summer Paradise, Boom! https://music.apple.com/us/artist/simple-plan/150861
KARNIVOOL...This was the band I was the most keen for today. The Perth-based Progressive Rock outfit have been around since 1997 and this was my first time catching them live. I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan, even though I do own all of their albums. But their quality of songwriting and musical output in truly phenomenal. Their style is complex and out of the box, touching on important social and political themes such as media corruption, the end of the world, the existence of God and the function of society and governments.
Vocalist Ian Kenny still has one of the best clean singing voices in any Australian band and put on an outstanding performance tonight. And I’m sure many Karnivool fans out there are still wondering when the 4th album is going to drop? I guess you just can’t rush art! Set List: We Are, Simple Boy, Themata, The Refusal, New Day. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/karnivool/85099785
I did consider staying for PARKWAY DRIVE but then remembered the announcement after arriving at Flemington Racecourse. The last train to depart will be at 9.20pm. Which meant that I would only be able to see about half of Parkway’s set. Honestly, I was pretty wrecked after Karnivool and decided to leave early. I saw all the bands I really wanted to see and therefore didn’t feel the need to stay any longer.
Overall, it was a pretty good festival. The very long queues for entry, cloaking, band merch, the toilets and food trucks were annoying but inevitable considering how large the attendance was. The litter on the ground was fairly disappointing considering how many bins there were available. The free water stations and first aid tents were an excellent idea. The weather did get deceivingly warm today and I did get sunburned but it could have been much worse, considering it is meant to be summer now. I’m really glad I came out!
mikeyd1986
Nov 23, 2019
DOCTOR SLEEP (FILM REVIEW) *CONTAINS SPOILERS*
Doctor Sleep is the much-anticipated follow-up to the classic 1980 film The Shining as well as an adaptation of Stephen King’s 2013 novel of the same name. Director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Gerald’s Game) has the enormously difficult task of delivering a satisfactory follow-up to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and balancing this with faithfully adapting Stephen King’s 2013 novel. King has famously rejected Kubrick’s treatment of his original 1977 novel The Shining stating that “It’s like a big, beautiful Cadillac with no engine inside it”.
Flanagan obviously feels differently about this opinion and has taken the liberty to recreate key scenes from Kubrick’s film including the blood pouring out of the elevator, the door with the word REDRUM (the word Murder backwards) drawn in crude red lettering, a younger Danny riding around the hallways of the Overlook Hotel on his tricycle and running into the twin Grady sisters and the dead woman in the bathtub of room 237. The opening scenes in Florida 1980 show Danny’s life post the events of The Shining, who lives with his now-widowed mother Wendy Torrance (Alex Essoe).
Cut to 2011 Frazier, New Hampshire. The story follows a now adult Dan “Danny” Torrance (Ewan McGregor) who has spent years using alcohol to block out his shine and let go of the traumatic events of his past. He quickly befriends a local named Billy Freeman (Cliff Curtis) who works at Tennytown, a small outdoor community group. He is also a recovering alcoholic and encourages Dan to attend an AA meeting with him.
Here he meets Dr. John (Bruce Greenwood) who ends up offering Dan a job at a nearby Hospice three days a week. This is where Dan adopts the name Doctor Sleep, as he uses his telepathic powers known as The Shining to help patients and give them comfort in the moments before their death. He also gets an unexpected visit from Dick Hallorann (Carl Lumbly) who continues to provide Dan with guidance and advice. Eventually he is contacted by a young girl named Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran) via chalk written messages on the blackboard wall of Dan’s apartment. She too has “The Shine” and Dan becomes something of a mentor for her.
Now we meet the antagonists of the film known as The True Knot. Lead by their leader Rose The Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), they are a cult group of near-immortals who travel around in a convoy of caravans and hunt children who possess the shine and feed off from it. This “steam” is essentially the life force which keeps them living longer and preventing them from aging. But there is a price to pay as they must continue consuming the steam to stay alive. They are currently running low.
The group decides to “recruit” a new member named Snakebite Andi (Emily Alyn Lind) who gets tracked down at a local theatre and kidnapped. They stumble upon several kids in their travels, including Bradley Trevor (Jacob Tremblay) who plays baseball and gets kidnapped walking home. When they feed off from him, Rose discovers that a “Looker” was interfering and witnessed the gang’s feeding frenzy on the young boy. She also discovers that her levels of steam are huge.
This sets up a deadly game of cat and mouse between Rose The Hat and Abra, with Rose trying desperately hard to track down where Abra is located and using her powers to search through her mind. After being made aware of this danger, Dan enlists the help of Billy to unbury the body of Bradley Trevor aka “The Baseball Boy” and use his baseball glove as a conduit to track down the location of The True Knot so that they’ll know when to expect them.
Cut to an intense shoot out between Dan, Billy and the members of the True Knot. It doesn’t end well with Crow Daddy (Zahn McClarnon) kidnapping Abra in his van. More telepathic tricks ensure and eventually Abra ends up escaping the situation.
This all sets up the final act at the iconic Overlook Hotel with a showdown between Rose The Hat and Abra. The musical score by The Newton Brothers makes some welcome nods to Wendy Carlos’ original, especially as Dan and Abra are driving up the mountain, surrounded by a dark snowy landscape. They also use the technique of mimicking a heartbeat sound which increases and decreases in intensity throughout the film.
If you thought Flanagan was done with The Shining references, you’d be dead wrong. There’s literally dozens of flashbacks, recreated scenes and Easter eggs to find here. The highlight for me was the conversation Dan has with Lloyd The Bartender (Thomas Downing) in the Gold Room. It mirrors that of his late father Jack Torrance (Henry Thomas, originally played by Jack Nicholson) as they both suffered from alcohol addiction. The difference is that Dan managed to overcome his.
Once Dan has successfully powered up the old boiler and turned on all the lights inside the hotel, he and Abra are ready to face-off with Rose The Hat inside the living room where Jack famously typed on the typewriter and started to become mentally unhinged. They pull out all the tricks, forcing Rose to navigate through the massive hedge maze before gathering up all the ghosts of the guests who reside at the Overlook. We also get to see the hotel go up in flames like it did in the original novel of The Shining. Ending the story at the Overlook is very fitting as it ties the two films together.
Director Mike Flanagan certainly packed a lot into this 152 minute film. The pacing can be quite sluggish at times especially when it comes to character development and attention to detail (e.g. Dan Torrance’s struggles with alcohol addiction, introducing the members of the True Knot, Rose The Hat demonstrating her powers). This may leave some viewers confused, especially if you haven’t read the book, as not everything is explained such as when Grandpa Flick (Carel Struycken) is “cycling” due to not having enough “steam”.
However, his approach to the material is very encouraging adding layers of atmospheric tension and visual flair such as rooms rotating on an angle, the unexpected appearance of creepy ghosts, Dan and Abra’s eyes becoming white when they “shine” to their full potential and members of the True Knot having a faint blue glow in their eyes when they’re inhaling steam from victims. It’s good to see that Flanagan didn’t try to directly copy Kubrick’s style of directing but instead using The Shining as a template and adding fresh elements to his film. Overall, this was a pretty satisfying follow up movie to The Shining. ***1/2
mikeyd1986
Nov 16, 2019
THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER w/ To Octavia, ATLVS, Elision & In Vanity (All Ages show) @ EV’s Youth Centre, November 2019
I was honestly in two minds about whether I was going to review this show or not, knowing that I didn’t end up staying the whole time. But my general philosophy is that if I’ve got something to say then it’s worth writing about. Croydon is not an area I’m very familiar with, though I have visited a couple of times in the past. Even the Google Maps lady was having tremendous trouble guiding me to the venue, giving me a scenic tour down random back streets and nearly getting me lost. But eventually I found my way to EV's Youth Centre with the nearby shopping centre that ironically I was familiar with.
After arriving at the venue and getting my orientation together, I spent the first hour trying to figure out why I was feeling so anxious. Was it because Croydon is known for being a really dodgy, unsafe suburb? Or maybe because I felt like a stranger in a small crowded band room? Thankfully I’ve learned many coping strategies to get through it like mindfulness and deep breathing exercises. Making conversation is also a major struggle for me but I was determined to put myself out there and break the ice with some of my musician friends.
Interestingly enough, they decided to use the large theater hall to sell band merch, as storage for gear, a free water station and canteen. It was also a good place to hang out and settle my nerves. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my anxiety, having personal space and feeling comfortable in it is huge. Once I was starting to enjoy myself, I actually engaged in a few conversations and appreciated the venue.
It really brought back a lot of positive memories from when I used to frequent local all ages gigs on a near weekly basis. Unfortunately in recent years, all ages shows have taken a downturn for many different reasons (venues closing down, rise in costs to run shows, lack of attendance). And so I hope that this show in particular will help to reignite the spark and bring about a revival of the all ages local music scene in 2020.
IN VANITY are a four-piece Melbourne based Metalcore band. Despite being a few minutes late, I was so relieved that I was able to catch most of this band’s set. They have been on my radar for a few months now after releasing their debut EP Nodus Tollens in early November. With a mate or two jumping up for guesties, it didn’t take long for them to set the place on fire and get the crowd pumped up. It was such a wild performance and they absolutely killed it. Set List: Burn, Eternal Rest, Paradigm Shift. https://music.apple.com/nz/album/nodus-tollens-ep/1480324483
ELISION are a four-piece Heavy Progressive Metalcore band from Sutherland Shire in Sydney, New South Wales. This was my first time checking these guys out and they managed to pique my interest very quickly. With an onslaught of aggressive energy and heavy melodic tones, they tore the room apart and got a few people moshing and throwing down. I have a feeling that Elision have a promising future ahead of them. Watch this space! Check out their latest single Human Vessel here: https://music.apple.com/au/album/human-vessel/1480572359?i=1480572360
ATLVS are a five-piece Metalcore outfit from Gippsland, Victoria. Following on from the band’s recent Memoir EP release launch, the boys didn’t waste any time getting things fired up. It was really interesting to see Mitchell James as fill in vocalist. He commanded the stage well and managed to encourage the crowd to participate. It was awesome hearing bassist and vocalist Matthew Borthwick talking about the importance of attending local shows and hopefully making all ages gigs a more regular thing again. Set List: Love, Sick, Epiphany. https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-ep/1462786587
TO OCTAVIA are a five-piece Melodic Hardcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Check out their latest release, Nocturnal, here: https://music.apple.com/au/album/nocturnal/1457882908
THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER are a five-piece Experimental Metalcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Check out their latest release, Flesh & Bones, here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/flesh-bones/1462044813
mikeyd1986
Nov 5, 2019
MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 166, November 2019
It’s been about three months or so since I’ve written one of these blogs. I guess I couldn’t be bothered writing about my life anymore. Or maybe I just felt like I didn’t have anything exciting to say. It does take a lot of time, effort and mental energy to write these things so perhaps I just needed to take a break from it as I was knocking them out once a week. But I couldn’t resist blogging about my long weekend away to Creswick and Ballarat.
On Saturday afternoon, my parents and I checked into the RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick. We stayed in room 230 which contained a master bedroom, lounge room with sofa bed, outdoor balcony, a kichenette and an ensuite with a spa bath and a shower. The service by the staff was exceptional. They offered to carry our luggage directly from the trolley to the inside of our room. At the restaurant and dining area, they found us an available table within seconds. They also offer room service and clean your room each day with fresh linen, towels, soaps and shampoos all replaced.
I think that it’s something I’ll never get used to as I’ve always had to fend for myself and I would be the last person to ask for help. I’m the complete opposite of entitled and needy. That’s just how I am. The downside for me was how they conducted the buffet breakfasts. It was a chaotic mess with guests scrambling in between tables and through the narrow dining area to collect their food and beverages. Plus putting up with the screaming kids and babies was almost unbearable. Good luck trying to have your breakfast in peace because it wasn’t happening there.
We decided to spend most of the afternoon and night just settling into the resort. Plus my energy levels took an unexpected nose-dive that evening. I thought I might have caught the flu as I was getting chills up my spine and my back and feeling rundown. Thankfully it somehow subsided and I felt better the next day. I just needed to relax and unwind. https://www.racv.com.au/travel-leisure/racv-resorts/our-destinations/goldfields-resort.html
On Sunday morning, we dropped into the local Ballarat Market. The grey overcast clouds seemed ominous and threatened to open up to a downpour of showers...which they eventually did. But that didn’t stop us Sunday shoppers browsing through the vast array of books, CD’s, DVD’s, seedlings, plants, flowers, garden tools and clothes. Next, we dropped into the nearest Maccas for a coffee and muffin (as you do) before heading off to Kryal Castle in Leigh Creek. Thankfully the weather managed to clear up as we arrived.
This is a place I’ve always wanted to visit since hearing about it from an old school friend back in 2004. It’s basically an adventure theme park which transports you back into the middle ages or medieval times. There was a lot to explore from archery practice to potion making to a circular maze to a row of old fashioned shops (crystals, jewelry, swords and armour, confectionery), a cemetery, a wedding chapel, a torture chamber and dungeon.
The star attraction was definitely the jousting match which takes place in the main battle arena. It was a very entertaining performance to watch with knights from Australia and England competing against one another. The aim is for the knights to thrust long jousting sticks into their opponent. The team with the most amount of points wins.
Kryal Castle seems to take inspiration and references from many books, games, TV shows and movies including Robin Hood, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Dungeons & Dragons, A Knight’s Tale, Sir Lancelot, Sword in the Stone and many others. It’s worth the $35 entry fee. http://www.kryalcastle.com.au/
On Monday morning, we visited the Creswick Woollen Mills. This place begins with a self-guided tour of the old Woollen Mills which was founded by Paul Ryzowy in 1947. He found that the wool spun from animals such as alpacas, lambs, goats and possums could be made into durable products such as fire-retardant blankets, picnic rugs, cashmere sweaters, scarves, gloves, beanies, hats, pillows and doonas. You can learn about the full history here: https://www.creswickwool.com/about-us
Next door is the retail shop and cafe plus an outdoor animal feeding area where you can meet a few friendly alpacas, sheep and goats. It may seem weird to some people that a 33 year old man like myself would find excitement in feeding and petting farm animals but I quite frankly don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. It’s moments like these that you embrace and cherish, things that connect you back to your childhood, to a much happier time in your life. That’s certainly what I took from the experience. Plus it was fun getting up close and personal with these animals. https://www.creswickwool.com/visit
On Tuesday morning (Melbourne Cup Day), we drove down to Ballarat and visited the Ballarat Tramway Museum. Here you’ll get both a tram ride in the 100 year old No. 40 tram along the road facing Lake Wendouree plus an in-depth history lesson of the tramway network covering the Ballarat area until 1971. It actually felt like a trip back in time with two volunteers assuming the roles of conductor and driver. They both wore authentic dark green jackets and each gave us a paper ticket which had to be hole punched. https://www.btm.org.au/
On Tuesday afternoon, we took a stroll along Lake Wendouree and across the road into the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. I was blown away by the sheer size and scale of these attractions. If you’re into landscaping and floral arrangements, you’re in for a treat. The gardens feature several pavilions as well as human sculptures carved out of white marble and stone. Plus Prime Minister Avenue features a hand-sculpted wooden head of each Prime Minister who has served in Australia since 1901.
There is the Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottage which features a wide variety of craft items, paintings, bookmarks, jams, postcards, books and bags. There is also the Robert Clark Conservatory, which is a large glasshouse containing lovely blooms of pink, red, white, purple and lavender flowers. Also, there is a lot of bird life in the area including black swans, seagulls, crows, geese and ducklings. It’s a really beautiful place to visit. https://ballaratbotanicalgardens.com.au/index.php/the-gardens/surrounding-attraction
mikeyd1986
Oct 19, 2019
THE MOTION BELOW (EP Launch) w/ To Octavia & Furious George @ The Last Chance Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar, October 2019
Getting myself out to local gigs these days takes a lot more physical and mental effort than it used to. I’m only 33 and today I had to load myself up on caffeine and supplements just to stay awake tonight. Plus I’ve been going through a tough period of mental health issues from earlier in the week. My mood and motivation was fluctuating a lot and my feelings shifted from being overwhelmed and distressed to being socially isolated, lonely and depressed.
But after going to see my GP, clinical psychologist and counsellor during the week, things began to look up and get better again. I was once again making plans, getting myself out of the house and being productive. I also started reaching out to friends for support and reassurance. The possibility to attending this show which I purchased a pre-sale ticket for many weeks ago was also becoming greater. I just needed to believe in myself again.
I’ve been out to The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar a few times before and whilst it has a very small band room, I’ve always found it an easy space to feel comfortable in. I bumped into Alex O'Neill and her friends whilst I was walking up past the Queen Victoria Market and towards the venue. Luckily I still remembered where to go even though it has been a while since I’ve last been there. The front bar was buzzing with people already when we arrived and I was feeling a bit timid and hesitant going into the band room but eventually I did.
Local gigs will always be socially challenging environments for me. I'm learning to accept and embrace that. There's nothing wrong with being a quiet, introverted wallflower. It doesn't make me any less human. I'd rather just chill out in the corner of the room and soak things in. I could feel myself blending in with the wallpaper. Still I did make some attempts at making conversation and putting myself out there. It did make me feel included and glad to be there I enjoyed myself tonight and honestly that's the main thing.
Unfortunately my night did end on a sour note. When I returned to my car, the front windscreen on the passenger side had been smashed. Ironically, my reaction to this was relatively calm considering how bad the damage looked. I guess that I was feeling lucky that it wasn’t me who was physically harmed or that the entire car had be smashed in. It’s just a minor hassle having to get the windscreen repaired or replaced. It could have been much much worse.
FURIOUS GEORGE...always seem to put on a wild and entertaining performance. Frontman Jake Mandaliti was shaking his 70’s styled locks, rocking away on the microphone and using his cheeky sense of humour in between songs, which the crowd responded positively to. There was hair windmills galore, brutal breakdowns and emotional vocals during their set. They seem to be getting tighter each time I see them play. Set List: SLAM (Working Title), Devoid, Cognitive Dissonance, Inadequate.
TO OCTAVIA...are a band I’ve seen once before. I remember seeing them play at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood maybe a year or two ago. The thing I really admired about their set tonight was their engagement with the crowd. Frontman Matt Ashley was doing his best to be encouraging, to get people to move forward and get involved. Musically, they sounded great with lots of melodic harmonies, heavy breakdowns and sing-a-long moments. Set List: XIII, Do You Feel The Same, Made to Break.
THE MOTION BELOW...was the band everyone was here for as it was the launch of their new EP called Cronus Complex. The venue seemed to be a lot more packed now, brimming with anticipation and excitement. Frontman Thomas Katgert was clearly humbled by this warm reception, laughing and engaging in friendly banter with the crowd. The band played a good mixture of older and new material, packing a lot of energy in their 45 minute set. From the powerful screams, uplifting clean vocals, epic solos and fierce breakdowns, they definitely delivered a very enjoyable set tonight. Set List: Reform/Converge, Awakening, Wasted Years, Empty Head Empty Heart, Wormtongue, State of Decay, Figureheads.
mikeyd1986
Sep 6, 2019
MAKE THEM SUFFER (AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL TOUR 2019) w/ Windwaker & Diamond Construct @ Pelly Bar, September 2019
Whenever I write one of these gig reviews, I often think to myself “Why am I still doing this?” For me, it’s become harder to find the answers to that question the older I get. The core answer still remains the same...because I love and appreciate music. I think in the past I got myself swept up in the recognition from others and it become more and more difficult to top my previous efforts. The difference now is that I no longer have any external pressures to worry about. I don’t have anyone to please. I write these on my own terms rather than based on the expectations of others.
Of course when it comes to going out these days, my brain seems to have an endless tape loop of excuses why I shouldn’t bother: It’s raining outside. I hate driving in the rain. I’ll probably be bored. What if nobody talks to me? What if I end up being ignored? But this is just my anxiety and self doubt trying to put me off. Sometimes I do need to nudge myself out the door.
I’ve had a pretty long history when it comes to the Pelly Bar in Frankston. I’ve seen many different bands over the years there including Belle Haven, Driven To The Verge, Dream on Dreamer, Closure In Moscow, Hollow World and Off By Heart (RIP!). So it’s a very familiar venue to me. These days it can bring a few rough nuts out and the crowd can get quite rowdy at times but I’ve generally always felt comfortable here.
Such was the case tonight. I did have my doubts in coming out tonight initially, finding it really difficult to put myself out there socially and make small talk. Plus the venue did start to fill up as the night went on. I’ve always been the kind of person who needs their personal space so I was in “wallflower” mode at times, especially during the half-hour band change overs, but I got through it. And I did end up chatting to a few people which was nice and lifted my mood up a lot.
DIAMOND CONSTRUCT...I’ve been meaning to see this Melodic Metalcore band from Taree, New South Wales for a little while now. Being the opening band of any bill is always a challenge, to “get the party started” but the DC boys managed to deliver and impress with their set. After putting the feelers out with many monumental breakdowns, electronic synths and heartfelt vocals, the band eventually won the crowd over in the end. Set List: Paradox, Dreamcatcher, Hypno, Night Terrors, Submerged. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/diamond-construct/1107829736
WINDWAKER...It’s truly been exciting and inspiring watching the journey that this Melbourne-based Alternative Metalcore band have been on. They’ve had some noteworthy and well-deserved opportunities this year including being added as a support act for the Good Things festival in December. Tonight they put on another crowd-pleasing performance with plenty of engagement from the crowd and lots of fierce energy on stage. The highlight came towards the end of their set with everyone grabbing out lighters and illuminated phone screens. Set List: New Infinity, The Sitch, Castaway, Grey World, My Empire. https://music.apple.com/au/album/empire-ep/1448666181
MAKE THEM SUFFER...I’ve actually seen this Melodic Deathcore band from Perth, Western Australia play at the Pelly Bar once before so I knew I’d be in for a treat. The band certainly didn’t hold back tonight, delivering an hour-long set of bone-crushing breakdowns, ethereal synths, sweeping melodies and intense screams. It didn’t take long for the crowd to respond with several circle pits and many throw downs on display. A very tight and entertaining set. Set List: Save Yourself, Let Me In, Ether, Fireworks, Hollowed Heart, Widower, 27, Blood Moon, Vortex. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/make-them-suffer/421186855
mikeyd1986
Aug 23, 2019
MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 165, August 2019
On Tuesday afternoon, Mum and I attended an information session called Making The Connection held at Balla Balla Community Centre in Cranbourne East. As we were walking toward the entrance of the venue, we bumped into an old friend of ours, Julie. She used to attend the weekly ADAVIC Anxiety Support Group with us a few years ago. She is also a qualified meditation teacher and runs workshops on mental health issues. It was an unexpected surprise but a very pleasant one as she is a warm and empathetic person. https://www.ballaballa.com.au/programs-activities/health-and-wellbeing/
Today’s workshop facilitated by Troy Macris (City of Casey’s Mental Health Team Leader) explored several discussion points including: Why relationships are important? What makes a good relationship? How to manage conflict in relationships? According to research, healthy relationships can improve our immune system, reduce risk of mental health issues and lengthen our lifespan. After doing some brainstorming on the white board, Troy discussed the 3 essential elements needed for a good relationship: Genuineness, Acceptance and Empathy.
Lastly we explored the area of conflicts in relationships and ways to manage them. People approach conflict in either a “tug of war” fashion (wanting to win or prove that they’re right) or “burying their heads in the sand” (hoping the problem will go away). Both of these approaches don’t work because there’s no resolution and people end up dissatisfied. It’s often something I get stuck on myself because of my lack of confidence and social skills.
The best strategies to use when managing conflict includes:
Trying to stay focused on the issue, not the person involved
Taking a break and returning to discussing the problem when things have settled down
Reflecting on what needs we aren’t getting. What needs to happen to order for your needs to be met and have the conflict resolved?
Communicate to the other people using “I” statements such as “I feel...”, “When...” and “I would like...”
Trying to put yourself in the other person’s shoes (practicing empathy)
On Thursday night, Mum and I went to see The Australian Beatlez play at Mulgrave Country Club in Wheelers Hill. If only I were able to defy the laws of physics (sorry Brian Cox) and invent a time machine to transport me back to June 1964 and see the actual Beatles play at Festival Hall in Melbourne. However, this tribute band was able to provide a very decent substitute. I happened to be tuned into the radio station 3AW when this show was advertised and I was determined to book myself a ticket. https://beatlez.com.au/
I’ve been a fan of The Beatles since I was very young, first hearing about them from their 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine. I was instantly transfixed both by their music and the members themselves. It’s only been quite recently that I’ve decided to thoroughly rediscover their entire back-catalogue of music as well as their solo releases. It’s difficult to pinpoint a reason why I love The Beatles so much.
They were the pioneers of modern rock music, constantly pushing the envelope and experimenting with their sound. They somehow juxtaposed catchy songs with often deep lyrical content based on social and political issues, personal experiences, spiritual beliefs, romantic relationships and the like. They could be simultaneously serious and silly. And releasing 13 studio albums in the span of 8 years was a monumental feat especially back in the 1960’s.
Being my first time seeing The Australian Beatlez play, I really had no idea what to expect save for a handful of Facebook posts and photos. The first half of the show saw the boys rocking those dorky bowl-shaped hairstyles that the Liverpool lads were famous for as well as black vests and ties. Even more impressive was the fact that they imitated the original Beatles accents, mannerisms and names (John, Paul, George and Ringo). The jokes and banter in between songs was very entertaining, making references to their performance on the Ed Sullivan show and feature films A Hard Day’s Night and Help!
As for the songs themselves, they covered a very wide spectrum of tracks from The Beatles discography from Please Please Me to Abbey Road. Obviously, being a two hour show, they could only play so many songs but the selections were varied and enjoyable. I was pleasing to see how well they were able to harmonise together, including familiar ad-libs and screams plus the guitar solos and samples sounded very authentic.
During the second half, the guys changed into their brightly coloured Sargent Peppers costumes and focused mostly on tracks from the Revolver album onwards. Overall, this was a fantastic show. They don’t sound exactly like their original counterparts but to expect them to would be highly unrealistic. Hence why they’re a tribute band but one that has clearly done their research to deliver an enjoyable and memorable Beatles experience.
Set List: A Hard Day’s Night, Please Please Me, She Loves You, Roll Over Beethoven, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Please Mister Postman, All My Loving, Twist and Shout, Do You Want to Know a Secret?, Help!, Day Tripper, We Can Work It Out, Nowhere Man, Drive my Car, In My Life, Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, A Little Help From My Friends, Yellow Submarine, All You Need Is Love, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Here Comes The Sun, Taxman, Birthday, Back in the U.S.S.R., Come Together, Revolution, Hey Jude.
On Friday afternoon, I had my NDIS Plan Review meeting held at the NDIS office in Narre Warren. I was generally feeling pretty organised for this and yet there was still an under-current of nervous tension lurking inside of me. I think it’s because I really don’t like being put in the “hot seat”. The office has now been permanently moved into 68 Victor Crescent so this time it felt more official and proper.
Today Mum and I were met by an NDIS worker named Alana Sattler inside a small meeting room. As expected, I was asked many questions about my first plan: How was the process for you? What service providers did you use? What worked? What didn’t work? Have your goals changed since last year? Luckily I came prepared with handwritten notes, service agreements and emails. It was still tough having to explain myself to her but I think I did a reasonable job.
There’s always that concern lingering in my brain, all the uncertainties and unknowns (What if I forget to ask something? What if I don’t know the answer?) but for the most part, Alana made the process very straight forward for me. I guess the biggest thing for me is being able to continue to make progress: become more independent, increase my confidence, health and well-being, fitness, community participation, employment opportunities, making friends and personal development to create a better future for myself. https://www.endeavour.com.au/media-news/blog/ndis-plan-review
mikeyd1986
Aug 2, 2019
CIRCLES - WINTER PROGMANIA TOUR w/ Ebonivory, Transience, M0DAL1TY & Red Lotus @ Sooki Lounge, August 2019
It’s been approximately four months since I last wrote up a gig review. I’ve legitimately had moments where I’ve felt like throwing in the towel for good including not attending local shows anymore. The last six months have been rocky to say the least. My sense of connection and importance to the local music scene has significantly diminished plus I haven’t been enjoying the last few gigs I’ve attended this year. My poor mental health, lack of motivation and low energy levels have all contributed to this. And so sadly I haven’t been out as much.
I’ve also become a lot more selective about which bands I decide to support and which venues I feel comfortable going to. The last time I attended Stay Gold in June, things really blew up in my face. For some reason, the loud and crowded club atmosphere of the venue was really making me feel uncomfortable and I didn’t stick around that long at all. Plus I felt really invisible, even with the few band members who recognised me, it wasn’t enough to leave on a positive note. I just didn’t have a good night overall.
So why do I keep doing this? Knowing that there’s a decent chance that I’m going to walk away feeling like crap again? Especially if I don’t manage to find some sort of enjoyment, social connection or feeling of appreciation? Simply because I love music and I love supporting local bands. I can’t allow my weaknesses, conditions and limitations to get in the way from living my life which includes attending local shows. Plus the Sooki Lounge is relatively close to home for me and a much more chilled out venue for me.
It felt humbling to know that people were pleased to see me even after a lengthy hibernation away from the local music scene. In a lot of ways, I don’t believe that I’ve truly left as supporting bands will always be a part of my life. And it felt good to be in a mostly positive state of mind tonight even when the venue did start to get crowded. I also didn’t feel much internal pressure to strike up conversations with every person in the room that I knew. Sometimes you just want to be left alone, to enjoy your own company and focus on watching the bands play.
RED LOTUS are a band I’ve seen a couple of times before. Some of the samples had a distinct Middle Eastern flavouring to them with heavy prog-rock riffs and breakdowns thrown into the mix. Lead vocalist Steph shined throughout their set, showing off her wide, emotion-filled vocal range. Despite some brief technical issues with the samples, this was easily one of their strongest performances to date. Set List: Illuminate, The Furthest Shore, Symbiosis. https://music.apple.com/au/album/illuminate/1264901265
M0DAL1TY are a five-piece progressive rock/metal band from Melbourne. When I first listened to them, I could detect some strong influences from bands such as Karnivool, The Mars Volta and Closure in Moscow. I thought that the lead vocalist Nigel harmonised really well with backing vocalist and bassist Alicia throughout their set, balancing melodic cleans with harsh screams. Check out their latest single “Redemption” here: https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/m0dal1ty
TRANSIENCE are a heavy progressive rock outfit from Melbourne. The band have been established for seven years now but tonight was my first time seeing them play live. They had a relentless energy about them combining intense bass lines with passionate vocals. For some reason, they reminded me of an English based band, maybe something like Radiohead minus all the electronic stuff. Their songs were also quite lengthy and epic in scope. I enjoyed them a lot. Check out their latest single “Words” here: http://www.transienceband.com/
EBONIVORY was the band I was most keen to see play tonight. In only four short years, the band has continued to grow and evolve from their modest beginnings in Ballarat. They combine perplexing guitar solos, vibrant electronics and jaw-dropping vocals with deeply introspective lyrics. After several lineup changes and a handful of singles dropped, they always manage to put on a live performance which is both entertaining and awe-inspiring. Tonight was no exception as the crowd seemed very impressed by their performance. Set List: Hanmer Street, A Colour I’m Blind To, Patting The Black Dog, Light The Fires. https://music.apple.com/us/album/patting-the-black-dog/1468986778?i=1468986781
CIRCLES are a four-piece progressive rock outfit from Melbourne. Unfortunately I didn’t stick around for their set tonight. However, you should check out their new album called “The Last One” which is available here: http://hyperurl.co/circlestlo
“Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. And I say it's all right.” George Harrison - Here Comes The Sun (1969)
mikeyd1986
Jul 22, 2019
MADONNA - MADAME X (ALBUM REVIEW)
Madame X is the fourteenth studio album to be released by Madonna Louise Ciccone and it's a bizarre beast at that. She adopts a new identity, describing Madame X as “a dancer, a professor, a head of state, a housekeeper, an equestrian, a prisoner, a student, a mother, a child, a teacher, a nun, a singer, a saint, a whore,” and “a spy in the house of love.”
Well, she's certainly not boring that's for sure! While Madonna is well intentioned, it's tough to take this new persona seriously when she's wearing that stupid eye patch with the silver cross on it during interviews and promotional photos. However, Madame X is thankfully a much more adventurous and risky affair than her previous album Rebel Heart.
Inspired by a recent holiday trip to Portugal, she has adopted a wide range of musical styles here including Latin, Brazilian, Reggae, House, Trap and Dance Pop. Opening with first single Medellin, she whispers "1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, cha cha cha" before the beat slowly builds and her collaborator Columbian singer Maluma takes up the reigns. It's both refreshing and daring but it somehow works.
Madonna has teamed up once again with producer Mirwais (of 2000's Music and 2003's American Life fame) for the bulk of these tracks. Dark Ballet takes a turn for the dramatic with piano lines, a minimalist trap beat and an interpolation of the classic Tchaikovsky's the Nut Cracker. Unfortunately, the amount of autotune on her voice almost ruins the song as it sounds barely recognizable and god-awful.
Similarly, the track "Future" pushes Madonna's voice far too much to the point that she can't keep up with Quavo's rapping. While the upbeat reggae vibes and horn solos are welcome, the vocals here sound terrible and Quavo's performance sounds phoned in and forced.
"God Control" fairs much better even when it switches multiple gears throughout its six minute duration. Madonna starts by mumbling "Everybody knows the damn truth. Our nation lied, we lost respect. When we wake up, what can we do? Get the kids ready, take them to school." It's an obvious response to the latest gun control issues particularly with school shootings become a frequent occurrence in America.
Suddenly, the track bursts into vibrant post-disco mode with elegant strings and a gospel choir. The unfortunate line "People think that I'm insane. The only gun is in my brain." I think that's my main problem with this album. With every moment of brilliance, Madonna somehow shoots herself in the foot and delivers a cringeworthy moment.
"Batuka" is a very strong and empowering track around standing up for women's rights. It features a sweeping synth, trap beat, rhythmic handclaps, tribal drumming and an all-female Portugese choir called Orquestra Batukadeiras. It's probably the most ambitious track on the album as Madonna sings "Lord have mercy. Things have got to change. There's a storm ahead. I hear the wind blowing".
Next on "Killers Who Are Partying", Madonna attempts to find global empathy for gay people, poor people, Africans, Islams, Israel and Native Indians. Again she means well but there seems to be an insincerity to her delivery here and comes off as flat, even when singing several lines in Portuguese.
Latest single "Crave" sees Madonna make an unlikely collaboration with Swae Lee and delve head first into trap music. Surprisingly, it's really catchy and works well as Madonna confesses "My cravings get dangerous. I don't think we should play with this."
Later, Madonna dips her toe back into the Portugese pond with "Faz Gostoso". It's very rhythmic and upbeat with Brazilian singer Anitta lending her the necessarily credibility. She collaborates with Maluma yet again on "Bitch I'm Loca" which sees Madonna singing in mostly Spanish this time.
"I Don't Search I Find" is another strong track which can be seen as a modern take on her classic songs Vogue and Deeper and Deeper complete with a catchy house beat and finger snaps. Closing track "I Rise" ends things on a powerful note by highlighting Madonna's strength and resilience even at 60 years old. "I'm going through it, yeah. I can't break down now. Died a thousand times. Managed to survive. I rise up above it, up above it."
Madame X is certainly not Madonna's best album. It's very inconsistent with several duds, an overuse of autotuned vocals and some cringeworthy lyrics. But mostly it's bold, refreshing and adventurous. After all, Madonna is the queen of reinvention when it comes to pop music and she once again does it here! 7.5/10
mikeyd1986
Jul 19, 2019
MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 164, July 2019
On Thursday morning, I had my first appointment for the Power Posing research study at La Trobe University in Bundoora. Today was challenging for several reasons: having to fast four hours before my appointment, and that means no breakfast, no coffee, no water, no nothing! Adjusting to my new medication. Having a restless night’s sleep. And having to confront the hour long drive to Bundoora.
The good news was that at least I had the directions down pat. But there was still plenty of obstacles along the way, particularly when I got to Bulleen Road. There is always a build up of traffic leading towards Heidelberg as well as roadworks, cars changing lanes and pulling out from every side street. It’s a very stressful drive getting to the university campus but once I’m there, I’m fine.
I was a little confused as to where inside the George Singer building I was meant to meet Maddy, the researcher conducting this study. Thankfully one of the psychology clinic staff members steered me in the right direction, as I walked right past the OTARC lab. It’s always a little nerve racking for me, even though I’ve done a couple of research studies before. Just the whole experience of meeting something new and doing unfamiliar body tests.
The first task was to count my heartbeat during four random time intervals. Maddy attached three electrodes to my body as well as an elastic band around my waist to detect heart rate and breathing. It was quite hard having to “tune into” my heart and feel internal body sensations. Plus I had to fill out some online questionaires as I went along which asked things such as my anxiety levels, how confident I felt, if I was feeling calm or tense.
Next was the water loading task. There were two bottles of water on the table and I basically I had drink them until my bladder was full of water. This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be but again I just did my best. The final task was the respiratory resistance task. I had to breath into this device that was similar to a snorkel mask for 7 different resistance levels. It was tricky getting the hang of it because I’m so used to breathing through my nose. It was a weird sensation but eventually I did get it.
The last part involved doing the Power Posing training. I had to hold and assume three different poses including Chair and Table, Superwoman / Superman and The Forward Lean. I had to really focus on correct posture such as pushing the sternum outwards, tilting the head upwards, maintaining a stable stance with feet hip-width apart. Maddy filmed these poses on my phone so that I could look back on them. My homework is now to practice these Power Poses twice a day for the next week and then come back to the lab. http://otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/power-posing-to-increase-social-confidence-power-and-emotional-control/
mikeyd1986
Jul 12, 2019
MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 163, July 2019
On Wednesday morning, I had an appointment to see my psychiatrist Dr. Ricardo Peralta at Vita Healthcare in Mount Eliza. Even though it’s been two months since I last saw my psych, I still get myself nervous in anticipation to see him. And of course I remind myself that I’m spending $200 for this appointment (less Medicare rebate) so I need to make the most of it and not waste my time. He could be charging up to $500 so in that sense it’s really bugger all.
Ironically, it has come at a good time for me with my mood and energy levels at an all time low. My current medication of 20mg Escitalopram (Lexapro) tablets hasn’t been as effective as when I first started taking them over six months ago. Part of me is scared of changing medications due to the side effects yet the other part is desperate to try something else. I haven’t been truly happy in myself for weeks. I spent more time in my bed due to feeling exhausted. I haven’t been motivated to go to the gym as often. And my confidence has also plummeted.
Ricardo suggested that I slowly come off the Lexapro and start taking Duloxetine at 3omg. He also recommended trying out Zopiclone 7.5mg to help with my sleep problems. I don’t know anything about either of these medications besides doing some Google searches online so I’m pretty much placing my trust in Dr. Ricardo with this. I feel confident that he knows what he’s talking about and isn’t simply giving me a quick fix solution to my problems. He’s a “no bullshit” doctor, he gets straight to the point which I appreciate and it’s the reason why I keep seeing him.
Recently, I’ve been having episodes of snacking on junk food such as Tim Tams, Arnott’s family assorted biscuits, Cadbury dairy milk chocolate, chips, lollies and crackers. The fact that I know that consuming these foods will increase my weight hasn’t seemed to stop me. Of course I still try to keep eating healthy foods like rolled oats, yoghurt, nuts, fruit, vegetables and lean meats. I just need to be more consistent with what I eat. It hasn’t been easy.
I think my shift in mood, onset of depression symptoms, hibernation inside my bedroom and the cold, wind and rainy weather conditions have contributed to my poor eating habits and lack of motivation to go out of the house. Somehow I managed to go to YMCA Casey RACE and do a half hour session on the exercise bike. I always feel better after I’ve been to the gym, it’s just getting there that’s the hard part!
On Friday afternoon, I had my second appointment with new speech pathologist Natasha from Everyday Independence. Thankfully today’s session was less rocky than last time even though I was anxious in anticipating her arrival. I always am when it comes to inviting people into the house plus the social awkwardness at the dining table. But it was a very production session.
We worked with ways to feel more confident in stressful situations, verbal vs. non-verbal communication, what to say when answering the phone, how to prepare myself for phone calls. Writing things out on the whiteboard and getting me to brainstorm ideas proved to be a helpful strategy for me. Plus we had a few laughs which eased the awkward tension a bit. I’m still getting to know her after all.