Sam Shinazzi

Tour Diary

Saturday August 18 2001

I guess the best way to start this is to introduce my travelling buddies. Graeme Trewin is my best friend; Bruno Brayovic and Ben Chamie are two of my closer friends. Collectively they are known as Peabody; a melodic rock band worthy of your attention. Bruno croons and plays guitar, Ben is the bassplayer that sings a little and Graeme is the drummer who learnt everything he knows off of me. We (Peabody and C-Minus Project) were due to play at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne. Getting there would be half the fun.

The boys arrive in Bruno's green machine at 10.a.m. The one thousand jokes that would be played and said started at 10:05.a.m. It was on me and one of the best. Driving out of my cosy street Ben puts the first of many CD's on, stating something to the effect of "This is one of our favourites for the road". It was my old band Landspeed.

I should point out a couple of things. I was pretty sick (throat/allergy) throughout the trip and wary of losing my voice before I had played. Hence, I did not talk as much as the boys who in reality can each talk under water. This was also my first daytime drive to Melbourne. The other times have all been at night. Daytime won, although it is Winter and not sunny.

I am hopeless at geography but around Albury perhaps, we stopped at a service station. As we were leaving, this local middle aged woman starts chatting to Graeme, really friendly but just kinda non-stop. Strange now I think about it. I lost it when I realised his fly was undone.

The road can do strange things to you. Luckily, on the way down it was harmless enough. The boys played me The Strokes. I believe I am the last person in the world to have heard them. I slept a little and for no reason in particular (at least to my knowledge) I didn't drive at all the entire trip away. I pretend to sleep when the boys discuss one of our friends anomynous new girlfriend. I was sworn to secrecy you see. I give the Peabody lads an A+ for persistence though. We listen to Archers Of Loaf.

Somehow I have missed out on Mrs Brayovic's sandwiches; I blame the rhythm section. Towards the end of this I shall discuss losing your mind on strange roads. Almost two hours from Melbourne, Bruno and I are up front, talking in bursts and silence as we ponder the outside world. It is darker than dark and spooky in a good way. We both spot that Northern Territory killer on the run; the guy in the ute with the big moustache. We see him five times. We listen to Grandaddy's 'Software Slump' and it is just out of this world, given our location. Beautiful, atmospheric, strange and mysterious. We sing along quietly as the rhythm section of Peabody sleep. Graeme awakens in time for the last song and approves.

I put on Peabody's new demo CD which is tops. Their latest songs are really ambitious and different. I suggest production ideas but I am a fan and their mate so they don't take me as seriously as I want them to. When we finally reach Melbourne we are stir crazy to say the least. Being four twenty-something boys, we get vulgar and grotesque. The cheap hotels fell through but our good friends Natalie, Andrea and Ana have room in their respective North Fitzroy houses. I must say that the cold weather (5-9 degrees) was excellent, and after five minutes it had already cleared (frozen) my allergies up, though not for good.

Nat makes us dinner (she is a fine cook), we get a little silly and then walk to the Empress only minutes away. I didn't really like the bands playing but was very impressed at the crowd's size and variety. This city likes music and I like this city. I step off the wagon briefly and drink my first drink in nine weeks whilst catching up with Natalie. She lived in Sydney for a while and we were great friends. The entourage grows as we take two taxis to a hip looking bar somewhere (crap at geography remember). These places are not my scene but I must make an exception in this case. Okay music, not smoky, air conditioned bar with decently priced beverages and free entry. Benny buys me whiskey which I hesitantly accept, for my voice of course. Graeme and I crash at Nat's. She makes me lemon tea which I would later become very fond of. We watch S.Malkmus program Rage. We talk; last remember the clock said 6:30.a.m. It has been a long day.

Sunday 19th August 2001
I am left to sleep until the early afternoon. Sleep is rare so I am appreciative. Nat wakes me and I am surprised the whole world is up and moving, whilst I am just not wanting to rise whatsoever. Everyone has already been hanging at Andrea's. The Peabody rhythm section, Nat and I walk to the local supermarket for snacks and pineapple juice. (Sparky Brayovic swears it's good for sore throats which is what I have). Ben and I discuss Melbourne's own Tina Arena.

Back at Andrea's we watch Woody Allen's Manhatten. I have seen it before and was still tired so I dozed. I remember Bruno making a few wisecracks. I wake to see the end of the film. One of his best. Called home to get a rugby league update. The only criticism of Melbourne at this time is that despite having their own team, as a city they refuse to acknowledge the greatest game of all. Cronulla beat Brisbane. I am happy.

Finally we go to The Corner Hotel in Richmond to play. Physically I feel like shit but I am excited about playing my fourth show in Melbourne. We catch up with birthday girl CC. She is our friend who organised tonight. The deal is the bands play their own set but have to throw in two Weezer songs; a Weezer tribute night if you will. Some great young bands play. Being the only solo act tonight was always going to be hard; playing midway through the bill is great because the crowd is a really healthy size in Melbourne's premier venue. They are chatty but could have been much worse, and I did notice quiet moments which was pleasing.
The set is:
Night For Rememberance
O'Girlfriend (Weezer)
The Moon and the Stars
Goofy
747
Across The Sea (Weezer)
Tiger's Tale (with CC Hua on vocals)

I was pretty sick but it went alright as far as I could tell. Goofy was for a few different groups of people who had asked for it. It is the song everyone likes, and this proves to me that music fans are the same deep down all over. When someone requests a song (this one not released yet) it is one of the nicest compliments they can pay you. Peabody play straight after and rock the house. I run back onstage for my one cameo line..."I've had it!" during their cover of The Good Life. It was very much fun and a lesson for the kids because I had rehearsed my line for the ten minutes it took to drive to the venue. Alan the Cowboy (CC and Shayne) play an impressive first ever show, followed by Dave McCormack who plays his greatest hits. By this time I am kind of delirious with illness amongst other things. Tired. Emotional. I have lots of medication running through my body. ("Taking pills and mellowing out"). A really nice guy puts his arm around me and thanks me for playing 'O'Girlfriend', telling me it was a great version.

Trewy, Nat and I end up sitting in the green machine ready to leave when the rain starts. I like this city. It is actually cold. It is a proper Winter's night. (Sydney has had a weak Winter this year). We seperate again. Trewy crashes first. He is a fine, responsible musician guy. We have to unfortunately be up and leave at the horrible hour of 8:30 a.m. He is after some rest. Nat and I hang until snooze time. I get this sick feeling but I think I wished it away...

Except I woke up with it. It's strange being away sick and sorry. Although I was looked after extremely well, but just knowing that in four hours you must drive home for ten hours. I am in resignation. I watch my friend dream. Last remember the clock read 4.a.m.

Monday 20th August 2001

The alarm rings at 8am. I am grumpy every morning...but I do try and hide it. I don't want to leave. I say farewell to my friend Nat. Andrea waves to us from down the street on her way out. Us four boys take photos out the front and it seems like we do every combination possible.(Grae and I, Grae and the lads, the lads and I. I will miss the cold air.

We hit the road. The LONG DRIVE HOME. Bruno takes the wheel and Trewy has shotgun. Ben is in fine form. He asks me if I ever breakdown. "All the time" I reply. I have a headache. (I don't mean to whinge of illness. I am just telling you how I felt because this is a diary. Check out the other tour diaries to confirm that I am not a whinger. I still managed to have the best time).

We stop at a diner type place and have breakfast. The fellas are 'vegetarian'. I used to be but sold out. Sausage, eggs and toast for me. Black coffee. Bruno and I check out the league results. He says Parramatta will win the competition, I say Cronulla will. He will be more accurate. Trewy cracks us up in his own unique way. He has ordered some java to go; he is also on the phone to the lovely Millie-O when we hear him graciously ask "Any word on that coffee guys?"..

Once back on the road I start to use the term "Losing my mind"; or when talking of another, "Losing your mind". It is this feeling...not very good actually. Overwhelming and infact it is as much to do with the life you lead and what is going on it as it is about the actual way you are literally travelling. Bruno has made a little mascot for us...out of paper. He sits on the dashboard. Bruno talks to him lots. Trewy kinda sleeps most of the way back though he did drive as well. He also reads out aloud from the Motley Crue autobiography I gave him for his birthday. Now that is a tour diary! Yikes...
I stare out the window and start to go crazy. I mention I am losing my mind many times. I probably shouldn't. The drive actually goes pretty quick, seemingly anyway and I should mention that we all laugh lots...we were not totally nuts.

We stop again at Albury I think. Bruno orders a vegetarian roll...the lady asks if he'd like meat with that. This makes me giggle for a long time. I feel better, as in not sick. Trewy takes photos of rainbows. I write words down on paper as I stare out the window blankly. "Lost my mind in Melbourne...". It will turn into a song. It is getting darker as we listen to the third Black Heart Procession album. Again, like Grandaddy on the way down, it totally suits the atmosphere. Spooky and sad. Ben starts laughing strangely and wonders out aloud how he is supposed to go to work tomorrow and step back into the real world again so soon. My first private reaction is that Ben is using an old rock cliche; but he is an intelligent human being and it doesn't take me long to realise that he is correct. To go from us talking funny, heavy and opinionated amongst close friends who allow one another's faults ... into that other world is a dramatic change.

"Ben is great" I think to myself. Heart on sleeve. Cute. "I am losing my mind" I repeat as Bruno hands around the paper mascot for us all to play with. He has a name. Go to www.peabody.net.au to find out. Starts with C, ends in Y.

We see a ute full of sheep absolutely crammed in, maybe twenty piled in there. They look miserable, but also kind of funny ... and we laugh ...'cause we are crazy...poor little sheep. Knievel's Steep Hill Climb carries us back into Sydney; quite fitting really. I count off the hits. We talk about tour diaries. Everytime someone said or did something silly the words "Tour diary" were spoken. Trewy chalked up the most, but he was picked on to some degree. This reminds me of earlier in the day when we stopped at some public toilets out in the bush. These old tin sheds really. Trewy was in there last and Ben picked up these rocks and starts pegging them at the sheds whilst Trewy was still in there. Bruno and I get in on the act and proceed to pound his metal toilet with rocks. We are juveniles but it was so much fun. Trewy came out laughing it up. He loved it. No damage done either as far as we could tell. We notice many Big Rigs on the way back.

Around 6:30pm I see familiar streets. By 7:00pm we are nearly home. Over Tom Ugly's Bridge and I am home. The boys and I liven up; they give me as many Shire jokes as they possibly can. Home. I have missed my cat Frederick. (Bruno always thinks it's Gregory but no, it's Fred). The boys help me in with my luggage and I hug them each.

Ironically, later that night I will watch the Melbourne Storm play on television. I had a wonderful time. I hope to go back soon.

Thanks to Peabody for a memorable journey; Natalie for being so super kind and caring; Andrea and Ana for the lad's accomodation and CC for the show..