2002-01-04

Happy New Year. Its alllllll good. I spent my NewYear's at the traditional Newcastle house party. Lots of drinkin' and Bitchcraft and Conation played really late at night. But no one complains about noise on New Years Eve.

I, however, am not very good at parties. I don't know what to say when caught quiet. So, I'm quiet and that means you can be a bit of a target. I'm also not real hep to the outpouring of emotion at midnight. I loved my friends before and after that, and can't get all falsey for midnight kisses. But the girl-to-girl pashing reminded me of myself when I was about 22 pashing my friends at parties. Must be a stage we go through!

New Years Day was very quiet. Newcastle was almost silent as I traipsed around with Paul and Alison taking photos for our Newcastle zine.

About three years ago, my father started raving to me about this singer he loved, Kasey Chambers. "You've never heard a voice like it" he would tell my cottonwool ears. Yeh, whatever I thought. Every phone call included raving about Kasey Chambers, who I had never heard of. I was glad Dad had found some music he liked - he was such a music buff.

When Dad died, I was going through his CDs and I found the Kasey Chambers CD. I had, by then, heard "The Captain" a few times. When I got home, I put the Kasey Chambers CD in and cried. A combination of her fucking amazing voice, the sadness of that song and it reminding me of Dad kicked in. For ages, that song would make me cry. Even now, I have a bit of trouble.

Once I could play the CD without wholesale balling, I played some to Dame. It grew on him, and he was lovin' Kasey Chambers. He made a CD for his dad, who is now also in love with Kasey Chambers. Thats two more fans. Our flatmate has been forced to listen to it, and came across to the whole Kasey Chambers thing.

Its most odd all these rocks kids getting into such a poignant country singer. Really! So in our house, when one refers to Kasey Chambers, one must say her name with metal head zeal, and give the evil sign of the metal horns of rock. Kasey is the fucking shit!

Last night I went to Simmy's place. "I just bought the new Kasey Chambers CD" she said. Another KC victim who was forced to listen to listen to it at my house.

And it all started with my Dad, so thanks Dad for getting all these punker kids into KASEEEEEY CHAMBERRRSSSS (giving metal rock sign).

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I'd like to close this entry with Bitchcraft's first piece of correspondence. After it, you can read my response.

DEAR BITCHCRAFT:

Can you tell me why bitchcraft is called bitchcraft? I personally don't like >the band at all and despise the name, so if you can tell me an interesting >story behind how the name was chosen, perhaps I'll put up with the ranting >lead bad-ass smackie dyke's voice and come to the show.

>>

>The backlash is only strengthened by this shit.

>

>And Heroin is so passe.

DEAR NOT-FAN:

i'm new in the band and, y'know, i've not asked exactly wHEre it came from...tho i doubt its very exciting, so we may miss you at further shows! ;)

i don't think you should put up with stuff you don't like, so don't worry 'bout it! its ok! the name story won't help, surely?

no one in our band is on heroin. i won't qualify our members sexuality.

if its a feminist backlash you refer to, that has become such a minefield i can't think anymore - and i'm an olde riot grrl who has worn her heart on her sleeve. these days, its just a flak jacket! :)

i am strongly anti heroin, having lost two friends and had a band break up cuz one member was on heroin. i understand your concern.

won't see ya round, faerie? stay outta tha heat...

ms kylie purr