Finally! After years and years of holding an idea in my head for our debut album. Today thanks to our beautiful fans, we can start recording it for real. It’s been like watching a present under the tree and guessing for so long what may be underneath the wrapping paper (or behind the walls) and being so anxious to open it. Finally my xmas day has arrived and I awake at 5am and run down stairs…

Date: The 21st Century

THE ANIMAL REBELLION BEGINS…

WOW! What a highly create few months of unexpected events have I been living of late. In the last 3 months we have created a new EP shot 3 music videos (Brisbane Artists coming to my house over two nights and painting a forest on the walls of two rooms, a clip we had one week to shoot and edit. Just insane! But so much fun), we built an animal rebellion complete with 40 paper Mache heads, An Ark, A forest, A Noah, New projection, Booked a tour, lost a manager, lost an agent and who ever else along the way and the list goes on.. Crazy thing is we have done all this on a very small budget if any and all with our wonderful fans. Tonight everything kind of hit me. After looking at Feed The Wolf video and seeing the Animal heads created I just couldn’t help but finally smile, I felt so happy. I realised the last 8 weeks ive been feeling so wound up. There has just been so much to do and I have put so many creative ideas out there not knowing how we could pull it off, finally tonight I realised were about to jump again and I think were going to land some were without breaking our legs. Wow I can breathe for a few secs…Its happening, its really, really happening.

Back to the creations. So CBD Art Gallery in Brisbane. Most incredible art space with such a raw and pure energy contained in its walls. Has been the most perfect space to build this animal rebellion, but what has made it all the more special is the people who have been turning up to create with us. Moogie has been directing all the creations, working her arse off, not sleeping or eating to help me get it all complete. Next time you see her make sure you give her a hug and let her know what a wonderful job she has done, cause really people I could not have done it without this fantastic lady she is the bomb. I cant name them all but some of the artist I must thank with all my heart (these guys are seriously just incredible artists and people), most of them will be painting on stage at our Brisbane shows Mellie, Mr Hooper, J.A, Tim, Sundari, Celi, Butchers, Joel, J Spider, Tal, Tom, Mace, Steve, Adelaide & many others. Thank you for making my dreams become reality once again. I’m so grateful.

So here we go from tomorrow we will take off for an animal rebellion tour. Normally im so excited about playing the music but strangely im not caring for the music side as much. Im more excited about the message and being able to march these artworks with all these cool people and being able to watch what you guys create on stage, they are the things I keep thinking about when I can’t sleep; it’s so excited for me. Will be great to see Mina’s collection of Art works after all the shows also. So many things to look forward. Wow.

Also I want to give a special thank to those of you who helped us record and release the new EP. It was such a new experience for me to create and feel so alive in that new cd all those songs are my life there everything I believe in and feel each day and you allowed me to express that to so many people. So thank you. We are going to try our luck again and see if we can raise 40 thousand + to record our debut album in August. New York producer Tidy kid has booked the studio and is hiring out the best gear from all around there world as we speak. We will be recording album over 3 months. We need your help and want you to own a piece if it and help us keep sailing thru uncharted waters. If we can get 1000 people to donate $40 then we got an album, the one ive always wanted to create and waited all my life for. No more EP’s?. Consider it a pre order I guess if you donate $40 or more then you have pre ordered your copy and of course we ill add your name to the thank yous. So if you would like to donate to us a small or large sum of commodities then please email trash@theredpaintings.com we have 5 weeks to find the cash I have no idea how but we will get there. Either im brave or stupid. EEK!

LET THE ANIMAL REBELLION BEGIN…lets hope we don’t freeze to death.

P.S A venue called me this week a little upset and wondering why journalists were calling him asking about the animals that are arriving at the red paintings show. Shhhhhhh!

April - 07 - 2007

IN THE WORLD OF NEGATIVES WILL WE FIND HAPPINESS? NOW WOULD THAT BE A REVOLUTION?

Photo By the incredible "Eugenio Recuenc".

6:07, 6:17. 7:07, 7:16 These times I fluctuate on waking up each and every morning. And I fall asleep around 4am. Strangely enough I don’t really feel tired during the day. Actually I don’t really feel tired at all. And as the pixies say “Where is my mind?” Interesting question. My head is replaying every second of every day for the rest of this year. It won’t give up.

So after the fractured jaw incident, I’ve had to visit the hospital once a week or so for check ups. On my last visit my doctor was too busy to see me so I had to see another doctor. I walk in and he grabs my jaw as if all things should be fine and it should be all healed and ready to eat all things again. I let out a yelp and he said, “You fractured it some time ago now are you all right?” I said, “Hang on, the doc told me that I split it down the side even worse after my seizure.” He looked stunned? “What seizure?” he says, “tell me more.” I tell him the story. He requested to view my new x-rays and after a moments pause after viewing, he looks at me really concerned “Do you realise you have broken your jaw in half and it is slipping out from where your top and bottom jaw join?” Hmmmm no I was told by two doctors that it was a fracture. But that might explain the constant pain and the fact I can’t bite my nails anymore or chew properly or open my mouth wide when I yawn because my jaw pops out of place and I have to push it back in. So annoying when you see different doctors and they all tell you something different. I went from needing an operation to not needing one to now ive got a broken jaw and I should live on milkshakes for the rest of my life. My first reaction; does this mean I shouldn’t been singing? I have to record very soon. “No,” he tells me, “singing and stretching your jaw so it grows back into place is the best thing for it, just have to deal with the cramping and the pain, here is a prescription for pain killers, on your way now kiddo.” Oh great fuck it then im going home to eat what ever I want! I’m too impatient; I can’t do this broken jaw thing.

So where are we at with the circus?

I’m in an interesting place. I’ve been working 18 hr days on TRP designing a fresh, new and most creative idea to date for the last part of the trilogy tour (I think this will be our last headline tour for 2007, only one for Aust this year), getting this new cd together, which has gone from single to EP with some very interesting and different choice’s in tracks. The songs are fresh and I created them in the last few months… It’s full of surprises, hopefully it picks up from the agony “Destroy the robots” put me through or not. I’ve been trying to find as many all ages shows as we can, thank god I’ve been finding them. Last week I was sitting on my computer typing typing typing doing 20 things at once and my brain just stopped like it just switched off, couldnt see or think any more, was a little scary, so I rolled onto my bed and closed my eyes. Hmmmm please please not another seizure. Went and cooked myself a milkshake hmm chunky. Realised I think I need some help. You see I’m insane in the way that when I put my mind to something I put all my energy and time into it to the point were you cant tell me otherwise, I will neglect myself,. Stop eating, sleeping, shower less, wear the same clothes for 5 days and just work, brainstorm, create, work work work constant thinking. I stop hanging out with anyone really which can really annoy people. I just get so busy I don’t have time to listen any more, just feel, as my brain is ticking over thoughts and trying to find more ideas, more creations.

I sent a few emails to some good people I’ve met along the way and found myself an intern in Adelaide. It’s only been a short time but she has been a great help already. It’s as if someone was looking out for me and sent her just at the right time. I even took a break and went and saw 300 and TMNT. 300 was incredible, oh the colours so rich and strong but the turtles hmmmm, all I could think about was what time I was wasting needed to get out but felt so rude…

Highlight for the year. We were approached by a crew who have been shooting a TV show, they call “The Rock N Roll Cooking Show.” Title says it all really. They shoot Aust bands cooking up in their own kitchens then they play a few tracks in their jam space and it’s viewed by people around Aust. I love it, what a great idea. So we signed on the dotted line and became involved instantly. After meeting with the producers who I must say were such lovely people and a pleasure to work with. I thought this would be such a great opportunity to get an audience involved and meet some TRP fans that I would never have really met on a personal level at shows. So we began the idea to run a comp for TRP fans to come to my house for the day and just have fun I guess. After receiving quite a few emails from some very enthusiastic fans some even offering sexual favours for the opportunity, we chose 14. Was a lot of fun indeed, seems everyone was getting along. I ended up playing a song on the piano in my room to 20 people stuffed in my room which made me a little nervous, but I survived. I really missed them all when they left. I think it made me think about how lucky we are as a band that we have such genuine music lovers feeling our colours and how delightful it is for me to have such people involved in my life. Such a strange thing to be bleeding your everything out in these songs and it attracts all sorts of people around the world. I feel as if I’m having a conversation with people I didn’t know, then I get to meet them and most times i find we have so much in common. If I never wrote those parts of my life into a composition and worked so hard to get them out there for people to feel, then I wouldn’t know any of you or you me. It’s created a real community of good people who, through the band, are meeting and exchanging thoughts and feelings and paint. If that’s what it’s all about and I’ve achieved that then I don’t mind if death comes knocking at my door. I’ve put my everything into this project for what seems like forever. I’ve hit constant walls in the music industry but I’ve felt open arms in the real people of this world, the people that don’t paint by numbers have given me everything and some worked harder for this band than for themselves and that’s where I and the band are truly blessed. So I don’t mind the lack of sleep, to the head fucks, broken bones, slammed doors, hate mail, people bitching and telling lies behind my back. It’s all just part of the delightful road I’ve taken, as I walk the staircase to the largest waterslide in the world. Knowing me, I’ll get to the top and it will say ‘ride closed’ and I’ll have to walk all the way back again. I think if that happens I’ll choose to jump and feel the rush of AIR!

Anyway enough of me being so self absorbed.

The last part of the trilogy tour is on the way. It is going to be called the Animal Rebellion Tour! We will march the cities of Aust as animals. Just like the March before the world was flooded and Noah rounded up two of every creature on the planet into an ark until the world’s sins were erased and life started again! I can see that simularity in our time also with global warming, altho i have to wonder if we only have ourselves to blame? So instead of marching for the humans I’m going to bring awareness to them and march for the ones that will most probably be neglected. Most likely first giraffes, prayingmantus, frogs, stingrays, bees, bats, and the list goes on, but because of the crazy fucked up world we live in I’m hoping to have these animals look as if humans have been pushed therse creatures to their limits and have genetically engineered animals to have goats with 20 eyes, chickens with 3 wings, you get the idea…

It’s going to be hard to put together but hopefully with a little help from you all it will be a huge success and bring even just a small amount of awareness to the people who see us. I do ask for help from as many of you as possible. I’m going to need volunteers from all around Aust (but sorry Perth as we cant afford to fly there which sucks big time, I loved playing there so much last year, but sadly we cant afford it.) We will tho be venturing to Tasmania for the first time for a few shows, as we have not been able to get there on previous tours. I’m going to need 20 - 30 people for each march and also as part on the installation for each show later that night on the tour. We will post all the details on our site & myspace in the next few weeks once we nut everything out. You know what excites me most about this next adventure is being able to collaborate with so many people that I would never normally have the chance to meet, especially in this kind of environment and what a great cause; we’re doing it for the creatures of the world. Feel free to bring you pets or break into the zoos. Let the animals run free I say. They have souls too and have just as many rights to live on this planet freely as we do. Most people would argue that they are cannibals and would eat each other so that’s why we need to control! I say, you stupid idiot look around you, we are worse; more destructive and violent than any living creature on this planet. One human being is capable of viciously killing and destroying millions of people and creatures. So let them run free, haven’t we humans done enough damage? If global warming does escalate and take us out don’t you think it’s fair to allow the creatures of the world to at least live the last moments of their lives outside a barred cage? I hate the world for what it’s become it’s disgusting. Even more reason for us to stay as an independent band until the time is right and fair, that way the only people that can control this project will be us and our fans. Freedom can not be controlled unless you allow it to be. Like I said before I would die for this project and when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose!

A part of me has always thought that having a label to back us up was a crucial step to the success of this band and could allow me to just concentrate on the music only, I am so wrong. I came to the realisation that it seems there is no way any label is able to fund my ideas in the country I reside in at this time and after many meetings, talks with music industry people they validate that opinion with their concerns that my songs are not great songs and that they can’t make money from them, i need to sound more generic. I start to lose hope in my ideas and colours created from them. I hit a pretty hard place not so long ago, I had even considered just packing my bags and moving to New York within the month not sure how, but i knew i could do it if i sold all my gear. Just thought I needed to be around the energy, incredible people and life I left behind from the Dolls tour, I had experienced, but then I found a new friend. In my room I’ve had this beautiful piano sitting in the corner. My incredibly cool and life saving uncle Moshe owns it and has allowed me to take care of it. I love him to death. But it’s been at least 3 years and I haven’t really touched it, until this one day. I just closed my eyes and started playing with thoughts of things of late and colours bursting out of the keys. I created 3 songs in a day. The first being ‘We Belong in the Sea?’ which I wrote a string section for as well and will be on our new cd. My piano playing is not great by any means, I may not have any talent but what’s most sweet is the sincerity in the playing, it’s real. It’s not about talent, it’s about truth and most importantly it’s about feeling and feeling every single note and idea played in the 3 minutes the song makes up. Since that day I now play piano on a regular bases. My new best friend ‘Shwarndoff’ an ancient echidna piano hmmm I’m in love. Then came the idea, if we are a band about reality then let the reality of how successful we have been become the reality of our next release and test the waters to see it there is any love for us. So we posted a blog for people to donate what they could to us so we could create for them and for any one else who cares a new cd that had no hidden agendas from business men and could be created in an environment of my choice with the money we could raise. The email has spread pretty quickly within a week we had $1000 and now in its third we have raised enough to record a new EP. So now you can understand why I’m working so hard to get this right. I want so much for the people that would understand this band to sit back and smile when they listen to this disc, knowing that it’s their music as much as mine, that because of them we were able to take our creative ideas out of our bedrooms and back on to the streets; hence why I need to work harder than ever to give you guys the best part of the end of the trilogy. Last tour for 2007 unless we pick up another suited support in Australia! Really don’t think we will tour again in Australia after this one for a very long time. So please don’t miss it and we will make it to Tassie finally.

Smiles this week as I received a very special gift from Miss Palmer. On our US tour a painter from Italy created an exclusive art work that became the tour T-shirt with Geisha dolls and was very much TRP/Dolls style with our name added to it etc... Anyway there are only 160 hand screen printed posters made and she sent me one of them, #3 actually. Definitely put a smile to my face. God I miss them so much, that tour still feels like a dream and when ever I feel shit about what I’m doing and I’m going nowhere I think about how I felt on that tour and become warm and smile my arse off. Feels so so so good oh god playing mad world with those two each night fuckkkkk I’m even crying with happiness as I think about it.

Oh also our new cd will also be featuring a cover of the beautiful Dresden Dolls song, ‘Sing’. I couldn’t help myself doing my own version of this song. Not that there is anything wrong with Amanda’s version, it’s just whenever I hear it I fell so connected to those two kids and their crew in so many ways, has me balling inside every time. I guess I’m recording it more as a gift to them to say thank you for so so much and more. I get to “Sing” this one for them.

I’ll be back with updates. Need to make a milkshake ;) and feed this fucking wolf.

March - 04 - 2007

Wolves and Epiphany's

Painting above created by House of T.O.L.A " Epiphany of The Wolve" Gumball Fest 2007

Hit link to view more works - Houseoftola

So our first well advertised shows for 2007 took place last weekend. I’ve been on this fetish of wolfs of late, so I really wanted to have the theme bought into these show’s some how and what’s more perfect than turning our human canvases into wolfs, especially playing out in the Hunter Valley mountains under a full moon late at night. I decided for show one that I would cross dress and try make myself look as beautiful as possible, so I picked out a nice red dress a blonde wig and a lovely professional cross dresser makeup artist came to my house a few hrs before the show to make me into a classy woman and that she did. I felt so different being so feminine it was quite nice. We had the entire evening filmed. Right from getting dressed to catching a cab and his strange reaction to my masculine voice, to arriving at the venue thru the main gate paying admission fee and sitting in the audience waiting for the red paintings to play. I had my arse pinched a few times which was kind of scary. Then the band finally make it on stage with Andy announcing Trash Mcsweeney has been booted from the band and that they are on the look out for a new singer, then from the crowd steps up this hot chic with no breasts, arms in the air yelling “Pick me, pick me” lucky for them I was chosen and away we rock new songs and all. I started this set with samples of wolfs howling, such intelligent animals these wolfs. Was fun being back playing to our home crowd again, after I got the hang of playing in those strange shoes. I really had fun times. Thanks to all of you for being so cool and rocking out with us. Oh and David and Mina our painters superb art works caught the energy as well, as you always do. Then a pack up for an early flight to Newcastle to play Gumball festival. We arrive to find our manager has not booked the correct transport so after much time wasting we book another car and an hr and half later and we find our way, the sun is the hottest ive felt it all year. Tonight I am most excited for we have some really unique painters on stage one being Bob a 50 year old soul that lives by his paint brush and has been meaning to exchange energies for some time and of course we did not let each other down. Night time falls, moon is yellow and full and we take to the stage. Wolfs are howling people are tripping and away we go. The human canvases want to be naked so his body is painted black including his willy, during the set we had a stage dancer who decided to make out with him while he was being painted. I lost the plot three times in this set the last I ended up trying to eat Bob’s paintings actually the paint tasted really sweet. Set finished, time to breath, thank god. Man these last two shows have been so hot I could barley breathe and there never seems to be enough water. Regurgitator goes on next, rock out for some time even getting the crowd to cheer for us which was nice. Then we pack up say good bye’s and off to our cottage. Lots and lots of wine was bought back. We were drinking pretty hard from what I could remember. Around about 5am and I fell asleep on the couch only to wake to Ellen’s alarm at I think 9am hmmmm. So we pack up and away we go to the airport around 11am, this is were things go down hill. I park the car get out feeling very weird like my head was about to face plant itself into the asphalt. I look up at the others and the last thing I remember is saying “I feel very weird”

This is what I was told happened

I went into a violent seizure – eyes back of my head all that stuff. My head was bleeding and after a while I stopped breathing and went blue. Turns out I was given mouth to mouth to get me breathing again. This all happened around the band and people leaving the airport. Ambulance finally arrived after what im told was a long while and that’s when I came too. Was such a strange feeling I just remember these two guys asking me my name over and over and all I wanted to do was get up and spew. Problem was I had nothing in me to chuck up I hadn’t really eaten for two days so all I could do was dry reach. Into the ambulance I go, they kept giving me oxygen but I didn’t want it my jaw was in a lot of pain for some reason, actually it was fucking killing me. My head? Well I have no idea what was going on, it was like being in a dream that is covered in sheets so you can’t make out anything you can only hear what’s going on. In the hospital I had many ex rays turns out id fractured my jaw quite badly and they wanted to do surgery on my ASAP. I refused I wanted to sleep and then fly home and have surgery in Brisbane was a much cheaper option. My wishes were granted after some time the lovely nurses and doctors let me go and taxi ride to a local hotel I went and slept for the next 24hrs. I’m still alive. I owe my life to those who saved. Thank you. I cant explain how, but i feel much different.

Feb - 04 - 2007

Im pretty sure I woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday and fell out of it.

Ever had one of those days were all frustrations and angst and disappointments in you life hit you in a single day? Well yesterday was that day for me. It was like I was walking around like a ticking time bomb on its last few ticks. Might sound so silly to many of you but all I kept thinking about all day, was that I just wanted some one to punch some sense into me. I’m not sure but maybe I was feeling so numb that I believed some chaos would enlighten me again. Anyway I ended up at a metal show last night. Understand I never got to metal shows. But I really enjoyed it. A local band was playing called ‘Western Decay’. Into the mosh I went and jumped around a little having a swell time. It seemed the colour of the screams made me feel better; I guess there is a time and a place for all genres of music. Thank god we have so many in the world that we can all relate to in time. Anyway, I ended up leaving and by this time was quite intoxicated and found that I had locked myself in a stair well and some how from what I can remember lost my step and face planted myself down 10 or so cement steps. OUCH! I had so much blood coming out of my mouth, it was an awful feeling. I ended up loosing my friends and had no phone. I eventually found my way out of the stair case and walked home thru sth bank with blood all over me. I was so embarrassed, trying to hide my face with my arm. After a 30 min walk I made it home and lucky for me my good friends and flat mates were there and took care of me. It was going to take an hr to get a cab to the hospital and none of them drive so we had to walk another 20 mins to get to the hospital. I was feeling so so strange by this time and in a lot of pain. In the hospital I was treated so well the nurse was really gentle with me and I had a few X rays almost vomiting all over their gear. Turns out id fractured my jaw and split open underneath my chin and ended up with 6 or more stitches. They gave me lots of morphine to stop the pain, the whole time I was suppressing the pain just wanting to scream out and let it all go, but there were enough people in the hospital doing it for me so I lay there waiting for the morphine to kick in every hr or so. After 12 hrs they let me out and now im on a diet of Yogo, Jelly and pumpkin soup. Thank god we don’t play for another 4 weeks. Moral of story be careful of stairwells they may bite.

Jan - 21- 2007

Pushing thru

I guess there are times in all our lives were we wish time didn’t exist. That we could only push ahead to the future and close our eyes to certain things going on around us. I feel as though I have just sailed through the roughest seas of my life. 2006 for me was a really hard year to be in this band. Hard because of the people I was involved with and working with, yes. But also because of the adventures and roads I asked my band and crew to take. In the end some decided to jump off, some even decided to take others whilst they were jumping, but a few of us decided to stay and see the storm thru. Thank god we did. We are in a much better place right now calmer seas and time to breathe again, but for how long I really don’t know. i have learnt that for some of us there is a cycle and sometimes you just have to hold your breathe till its over and when its over for me the songs, colours and compositons just pour out my soul and i realise that the only time i am truly happy is when I am experiencing the colors, the only time that i am truly truly happy. I could write forever about my amazing experience’s in America and UK on the dolls tour but I wont right now, let me just say it was the most influential time of my life to date, thank you Chicago kids for saving me at the worst of my life. I realised a lot about myself, the people around me and the world good and bad. I lost alot of material goods and gained a lot of respect and friends from all the bad luck. I will miss playing on stage with the dolls so so much. I still feel a hunger to see them again just the anticipation before each show, just so fucking exciting. But now we wait for our new album to be created and a new tour and stage show to go with it, we will only get one shot at this so pray to god we don’t fuck it up and the mechanics work smoothly enough to see us through. I want to give you all a stage show like you have never seen before, fingers crossed. This for me is the year the revolution comes…

Oh and melbourne? i stayed for 4 weeks and a shooting star named Astrid fell from the sky. : )

P.S We have been working on a cover "Sing" From The Dresden Dolls, it sounds so beautiful. Amanda is a fucking genius. I think we will be def playing this song in Sydney.

Oh and the music that changed me in 2006...

And you will now us by the trail of dead (So divided) my sound track to USA adventures, Arcade Fire (Funeral) they are everything i will never be, Radiohead (Kid A & Amnesiac) Im in love with morning bell, Placebo (Meds) incredible, Interpol (Antics), Dresden Dolls (Yes virginia) Love and kisses, Muse (Gods). cant think of anything else strange not one of those bands are Australian, damn.

Dec - 18 - 2006

I feel as if im living on a bridge

Im catching a one way ticket to Melbourne at 7am. Im not sure when i will return but when I do i will fill the gaps in on my experience of touring America and the crazy times. Merry Xmas to everyone and thank you for an amazing 2006 the paintings this year are priceless. I am truly blessed by eveything that has happened in so many ways. I need to go breathe with my family its been to long...I miss you allready :(

You can’t always get what you want and I guess that’s the greatest gift that we have in life.

The Beginning Austraila & NZ

.

We have just completed, what was for me, I’m not sure of the others in the band and crew, the most incredible and challenging tour of my life across Australia and New Zealand. It all started like this:
First a flight to NZ and for most of us our first ever visit to such a beautiful island. I was lucky enough to be introduced to my first Champagne and orange juice on this flight so I arrived a little light headed. I sat dumbfounded, admiring the people in my band and crew, thinking how lucky I was to be able to share the upcoming and past experiences with them knowing for some of them its been more annoying than fun and not gaining as much as they put into the project; which for me has always been a lifestyle and my only way I know to live. It was nice just to fall into that feeling of appreciation and I was very thankful they had decided to join me on this quest. We arrive for the first show in Auckland meeting Brian and Amanda walking out side the venue as we arrive. Amanda gave me a nice big hug. Finally I see her eyes and Brian’s and I am surrounded by their energy - which I came to realise over the next two weeks they have so much of. Also arriving during our sound check was a sweet young man called Jason Webley. Quite a timid personality, I was very surprised to see him out of his shell when he hit the stage later that night. I sat in awe watching him. Such a pure soul, so much enlightment to give to each and every audience member, weather he felt it or not.
So we hit the stage for show one and Ellen realises she has left her violin at the backpackers so we have no choice but to go on stage without her. She is quickly rushed to the room to collect her violin and ends up back in time for the last two songs. I was surprised to hear quite a large applause for our songs especially people yelling out for “Walls”, which I decided not to play at any of these shows. The dolls came on and, as predicted, blew us all away. I sat and watched every second of their set, mesmerised by the energy and their love for the audience. They seem so real. How lucky I felt to be on this tour with such incredible people. After the show I realise the girls who ran backstage have stolen my hamster in the blue wheel; sad times for me - I really loved that hamster. Now he’s gone forever.
6am wakeup and we’re on the road for what became a 10 hr drive to Wellington. What was great about this drive is that we were able to see some of the amazing sights and mountains of New Zealand. I promised myself I would return for time out after all these tours if I have any money at all. We arrive to be told our set will be pushed early as, well as Jason’s, to make time for a local act which was a bummer, but the show, even though very short for us, was full of energy and most of the crowd seemed to be taken by our sounds. I think it may have been the best we have played ‘Hong Kong’ as an ending song so far. Once again dolls were incredible. Lucky I bought two DI’s, which pretty much saved their sound as the venues equipment was dying all night long. We decided to stay up all night and wait for the 4am flight to the Sydney show the next day but John the kind NZ tour manager put us up in a sweet hotel next to the venue for a few hours shut eye - not that I could sleep, as three people in the room were snoring so loud I thought a freight train was coming through the room. I decided to write a song with the weird timings of their snoring until I finally dozed off for at least an hour. We arrive in Sydney for a pleasant show at the Manning Bar with Coda (Sydney band) who were a really great band. I was surprised to see the walls of the uni had been graffitied with our name and the message of “Destroy the Robots.” - go kids! I think it’s interesting that some people in this world think that when they lay down a slab of cement on the earth they gain complete control of it. Like I’ve always said, “Humans don’t own the earth, they rent it.”
Meeting with A& R - hearing the same old, same old and then sleep. We awake for a flight to Brisbane for the first Australian shows with the Dolls. This show for me was beautiful, if felt amazing. I cant remember it in my head but I know I felt every second of it. Once again the Dolls and Webley were just incredible. I was lucky enough to persuade Amanda and Brian to come around to my house for dinner which ended up becoming more like a party. They were so wonderful to entertain and we all had such a blast. It was nice to have those two in my room just the three of us chatting about music and creating songs and our love for what we do. Amanda jumped on the piano in my room, playing a few melodies. Helen, my dear flatmate, cooked up a huge Greek feast and we all ate up - actually Brian was very helpful, serving the food to all of us making sure we all had a bite to eat. I filmed the whole experience on my camcorder - so funny to look back on. Then it got to a time when we were all falling asleep due to exhaustion and lack of rest, so we part ways and go for shut-eye.
The next day we were up by 6am for Sydney show. We arrive for sound check. I take out my most beautiful and amazing guitar which I have loved and hated for so long now and noticed the back of the neck is cracked. I also notice our roadie and friend Jack has accidentally left all my spare strings and capo in Brisbane - hmmmm not good. This is about the point were the tour went through a real change for me and I was worried things may get worse and down the one side of the street they did. Sound check was great - my guitar stayed tuned so I figured I would be fine. Show time: over 2000 standing in the venue. We kick of first song “It is as it was”. The guys doing on-stage sound have everything back to front it all sounds really strange on stage. Then halfway through the song I watch what seems in slow motion - the guitar headstock just pops out and falls off the guitar, sitting on the floor. I recall watching all the songs and certain memories I’ve had with this piece of wood just spill out across the stage just like a water fall over a cliff. I felt instant loss and sadness and I also became extremely pissed off and rammed the rest of the guitar into the ground as hard as I could. Not sure why but I casually, and with out any care factor at all, grabbed my other guitar and eventually went into the next song. This for me was such an emotional set to play - so stupid its just a piece of wood you’re thinking, I know I know, it just meant so much to me - it was like a best friend in a way. It held many of my inner secrets and thoughts, it was the end of something - seems this tour would be the beginning of the end for a few things for me and the band. In saying all this, the show again was really amazing to play and so were the Dolls and Webley - beautiful people playing with their souls. There really is nothing like it and there will never be a tour like this forever in my life. I cherished every single fucking moment of this tour like it could be taken away from me in seconds.

Early flight to Melbourne we arrive at the venue disappointed to hear and see the venue will be putting us on a small side stage, as the main stage is too congested. Imagine what it’s like playing huge stages in front of thousands of people, then all of a sudden, out of your control, you’re stuck on a stage that’s as small, if not smaller, than playing the Rics bar in Brisbane. Showtime, we have a fair few sound problems and the vocal mic cuts in and out throughout the set - actually I couldn’t hear my vocal or cello for the entire set - it was fun indeed. We ended with me slamming my only guitar alive into the wall and booting it as hard as I could, I then went for a long walk thinking about how unpredictable touring can be. I looked at the sky a lot that night - the stars were as always so beautiful. I remember thinking I hope one day global warming doesn’t get to fucked up to a point were we cant see past the ozone layer that would be sad. I went back to see the Dolls; they seemed different tonight not as much energy or something I don’t know it seems this show just wasn’t like the others. Home time a little sleep and a day off. I awake with a lot a lot a lot of pain in my back. I’d been suppressing it for the last week but this day it was unbearable. I decided to drive to see my mum in Geelong. Half-way there, I felt my back was hurting so much that it was making my legs burn. I stopped to get out of the car and my whole body seized up. I just fell out of the car eventually getting up and walking a lot of the pain off - not fun at all. I eventually got back in and drove home. My mother, who is the kindest woman in the whole world, made me a bath full of porridge and the most amazing meal with vitamins and had me exercising and resting in her hallway - I felt much better. After a few hours, hugs and kisses and back to Melbourne for show two. We were joined by the next few shows by Joel Wyhman, who is actually Cog’s full time engineer and very very dear friend of mine who I have so much respect for. I arrived at venue early so I could make repairs on my guitar and fix some crushed effects pedals - all good again. Lucky for me Cathryn, the Eskimo Joe, manager had arranged for her brother who works in a hospital as a physiotherapist to come see me during sound check. He checked me out and diagnosed me with a possible slipped disk in my lower back which was hitting the nerves and causing me much pain. Seems what I needed was a few days off - yeah right as if! Sound check a crazy time - the positioning of the subwoofers were extremely annoying Ellen and I found out later Wayne, during that nights show, the sound was so big Ellen tells me she had a terrible show. Wayne, after the tour, expressed that he may have lost some hearing in one ear from this show also. Man I must be so deaf and not know it cause I don’t seem to have these problems yet. This show was a strange one for the band for me it was loads of fun and I had a really enjoyable night, meeting fantastic people in the crowd and once again the paintings were amazing. Actually, I must add a really cool Brisbane band, ”Elephant Mojo” were our human canvases for these two Melbourne shows and were also kind enough to offer us their drum kit and guitar cabs - many thanks to these guys. This show, Amanda Palmer and I came on as an encore for the Dolls set and played Mad World for the first time - it was such a beautiful moment. I haven’t smiled like I did for those 5 mins for a long while - happy joy joy!
Next day flight to Adelaide and finally a day off - oh I wish this wasn’t the case. As soon as we hit the backpackers it was pretty much sleep all day. My back was incredibly annoying all I could do was stretch and hope it would be okay for the shows - I slept all night long. The next day, same deal then the news that I knew would kill me for a long time: someone during the night had broken into the secure car park next to the backpackers with bolt cutters and smashed the window of our Tarago, stealing a lot of our gear. Man, this felt so terrible to see. Worst of all, most of the equipment was brand new and had been hired from music stores, or was my own personal gear. We also lost toys, alien in the jar, all the paintings and paints from the tour and so on though we were very lucky to have also not lost many things as well like cello, violin and my effect pedal. This news put a real damper on the show. The Dolls and Webley were very caring to us which was nice later that night before the show. I decided to not play many songs. We played a very different set that night. I couldn’t run my sampler, so a few songs had to be erased from the set but other songs bought a new energy and I would have to say “The Revolution is Never Coming” would have been the best we have played it ever - that night it was really on fire. The Dolls that night also came out with a bang - the energy of this show was incredible and had really picked up from the Melbourne shows. I told Adelaide I would never been coming back to play music in this city again - it was the 2nd time our vehicle had been raided and I couldn’t afford another break in. I figure this city was trying to tell me something, so I’ll keep away from there for now. Met some amazing people this night and Ellen put her violin case out to collect funds for our losses. It was nice to see people putting in their hard earned cash. One man, I was told, donated $150. Thank you Adelaide - you made this night one I will never ever forget. My only regret is that we couldn’t let you guys paint because you always create the most amazing paintings at our shows and I really missed that tonight. Amanda was also so fun to talk with tonight - much love to you my dear. Early flight and we were on our way to Perth, out of all the flights this was by far the most enjoyable. Andy and I were running amuck, getting drunk on vodka and baileys that were given to us by the Dolls engineer Dave – he’s is such a fucking cool guy; I could write a thousand words just on how cool this man is. We arrive in Perth - my back is fucked from the flight once again. I just can’t get use to this constant pain - its driving me nuts. We arrive at a backpackers and most of us decide we don’t really want to stay as it seems a little uncomfortable. We leave in a huff and puff and find ourselves at a really nice central backpackers the city. I hit the bed for sleep time and the night off. Show day this was our first trip and show in Perth was very exciting to be finally playing here and great to finally play to our fan base in this cool city. We arrive for sound check and its decided Brian will also play Mad World with me at the end of the Dolls set with Amanda I couldn’t wait. What’s been really cool for all these shows is the massive line ups at all the venues before doors open. I would try and spend time before shows going out and meeting people, which was a buzz. This show being sold out just like all the others, was so crammed with kids - there were at least 200 extra kids let in. Webley blows the crowd away as always and then as we hit the stage tonight, I had a new energy I’d not had on this tour. It may have had something to do with the fact that Brian was standing right beside me as a human canvas whilst Amanda painted him the whole set, maybe I don’t know, but this show just went bang. The connection between Andy and I was unstoppable and we pounded the next 40mins of music as hard and fast as we could - it just felt incredible. (no thanks to the security tonight, who were being very anal and ended up harassing us at the end of the night, especially the Dolls’ mixer.). Thank you Perth for an amazing closure to an amazing tour of craziness and much fun. I love the Dresden dolls forever. Xx.

And what’s next? A week off and then the tour of a lifetime throughout America and the UK. I have no idea what to expect – let’s just hope this band survives. The unexecpted has already accured and ill just shut my mouth and cross my fingers and hope it all works out. I feel sad yet i should be on top of the world.

Are The Red Painted Dolls Looking For A Door Way?

September - 11 -2006

As you probably know by now Amanda & Brian from The Dresden Dolls have asked us to join their big top circus (metaphorically speaking) around Australia, America and New Zealand. How many bands are offered an opportunity like this? Lots of good people around me at the moment working day and night to make it become a reality. I am very lucky to have these people in my life. Still we have no Record Label and no Agent backing us, its been incredibly chaotic organising such a huge tour but looks like we made it on our own once again. I can only imagine it will be life changing for me and the others. I’m so excited but so unsure about what to expect. Maybe their fan base in the US will hate us? I’m not use to being a support band for so long so fingers crossed their audience in the US accepts us, tho I do believe they will be very open minded, lovely people and it will be a pleasure to warm up their fans. I am so grateful for this opportunity its so exciting that Amanda asked us directly if we would join them and not from a record label or agency. Wow, were playing all these theatres across America with 1000 + people at every show. I also hear they have amazing toy stores in the USA Oh and there’s talk about us visiting Disney Land on the first day, a place ive always wanted to go and feel that happiness in a dream land, Yeah dream on Trash maybe if your wallets full of cash which it won’t be. I don’t think ill say much on this tour just put my head down and loose myself inside the music that’s my job so that’s what ill do to the best of my ability each and every night. We have been discussing cover songs that both bands can do well and we seem to have agreed on “money makes the world go around” from the movie cabaret I think the amazing people in both these bands would do that song so much justice. Hmmm fun times ahead seems dreams do come true if you hold on to them for long enough “ill be holding on to this sweet love”. I’ve been waiting for something this amazing for so god damn long. We have also been on the look out for painters and human canvases for all these shows we want you to become part of the creation and let yourself feel! We have been so overwhelmed by the response receiving over 500 emails from people wanting to be apart of the shows. Anyway I must go pack bags a long journey ahead starting with the Hills Of New Zealand and a 10 hour drive from Auckland to wellington. Wish us luck lets hope we all survive and take care of each other. See you at a show or two…if the world doesn’t end sooner.

The Rapture

Time - Does Not - Exist

As a kid I was bought up heavily on Christianity. Over a period of at least 10 years I went to many different churchs, not sure if I was listening to what the people of each church had to say but I was there and my ears were taking the words and thoughts in from different versions of the bible that these random church leaders were preaching. I remember always feeling so confused as to why we were there and what my mother was getting out of all these words and people we barley knew, but I always looked forward to eating the grape juice and cracker bread if she would let me, not that I really knew why all these people were taking it, even when my mum explained to me that it was taken as a token of respect and we were excepting the body and the blood of Christ. Why care when your 8 years old right? I do however remember a time that scared me and gave me nightmares for years Im writing this because I had that same nightmare just now and have awoken from it once again so confused and I feel maybe even brainwashed to believe it, maybe. Mum took me to a Tuesday night meeting as she did often, some of the people from the church would come together for a more detailed discussion of the bible and what it all meant. Anyway this one time the church showed us a propaganda movie called ‘The Rapture’ (At the time it was more like a horror movie) it was based on the story of these two people, one who was a Christian and one who didn’t believe. One morning the non Christian awakes to find the partner is missing and a radiobroadcast comes over saying that Jesus has come again and all Christian believers have been peacefully taken to the next life. So this person freaks out (As you would) and runs to the local church were the priest sits praying, he too has been left and later you see that he was a drunk, then all of the sudden there are huge weather changes night falls at 1pm instead of 7pm and so on and great fires begin to hit all over and so basically the planet seems to go into this insane chaos of its own. I remember this person looks for help from friends but only has two friends left, these people try to take this lady to the church but strangely enough there are these people who are cutting peoples heads off, these people being so called non Christians who have been given another chance to give their lives’ to God and have refused so they are put underneath a guillotine. This person gets away only to deal with more craziness until finally there is a another coming were more people are taken away who decide to become Christians. I remember also at the start they talk of these great wars between the biggest and smallest countries in the world and about the earth being scorched with fire and people loosing all kinds of power and rights one thing that freaked me out the most was after the rapture people were told they had to receive what looked like a tattoo of a barcode on their bodies, without this people could not purchase food or anything for that matter and if you did not receive this “mark” you were killed instantly with a chopping by guillotine. Im not sure how it ended as it was a long time ago… when your a kid and you parents and church people are telling you this is, what the end will be like and its coming soon, that was very scary and stays with you for the rest of your life. I fell out of the drive to want to be a Christian when I was about 11 to 13 years old, I believed id heard way too much bullshit from these church’s we had been going to and I wanted to live my own life without all this fear. Am I wrong to do so? Have I dug my own eternal burning grave? I’m not sure who really knows? You’d hate to think that when your passing to the next life (If there is one) that it was really that simple to just truly believe in God and Jesus and Bang there’s your eternal life and there’s your sunshine and happy days with out any more pain but I just don’t know what to think. As you can all see the world has always been in some kind of war, some larger then others when I say larger I mean many more animals & people being killed, its crazy because it seems most wars begin from different views on religion and peoples craziness to stand up for their beliefs it fills them with so much power. Its interesting to think also that our environment and the world we rent seems to be breaking down I mean look at the weather we just finished a tour through to Adelaide and it felt like we were still living in Qld weather every day always so warm yet it should be freezing. I’m not trying to scare anyone just wanted to share my confusion and nightmares with you hope you don’t mind. Feel free to chat with me on it trash@theredpaintings.com .

P.S There seems to be a lot of activity of late in the skies. What’s fascinating is that thousands of people around the globe especially certain countries keep seeing the same object triangular with 3 glowing lights on each point and a strange light in the middle and on the ground little white men with white faces. Many of these people who are visited every three years or more (that they are aware off) are now quite certain they are being visited up to every 3 weeks. Is it all just a dream?

The destroy The Robots Part Two Of The Trilogy is Over

August - 19 -2006

*photo above some of the painters and human canvases from Sydney Show @ The Gaelic Club :).

I’m not going to say too much about this tour because I truly believe a lot of the paintings from these shows say it all. That’s what this tour was all about the unity of music and colour. I will say that this tour was, quote from jack rode boy “This tour is fucking nuts” and I was banging my head against a toilet wall for a long while before the Canberra show and so on and so on but I tell you, you cant fake feelings and energy like some of the shows on this tour, the chaos you are living in creates and feeds through your music and explodes out of your pours if you choice to be open minded. In case your wondering the last part of the trilogy tour #3 will come, with so much happening right now im not sure when but it will be very different to the last tour I can assure you that. As always much love and thanks to all of you who came to the shows, painted, were painted on, talked to me during and after the shows, Moshe, Dallas, Moggie, Jack much love and thank you for being apart of what ever it is we are creating. Kiss on the cheek and a tight hug, Go to the Art Gallery check out the paintings its much more exciting than reading this gay journal.

As Your Passing This Life - Mog Why?

July - 22 -2006

Last night we played a Sold Out show with Mogwai. A band that I have loved for a few years now, so you can imagine how excited I was when I heard we had been invited to play main support. The venue had called us earlier in the day before the show to let us know they thought it was going to be a rough crowd and that it would be best not to have a painter for this show so I was expecting the worst and a few beer bottles thrown at my head. We arrived at the venue and Mogwai’s tour manager was really nice letting us have an hour to sound check and giving us heaps of room for our equipment. Were not exactly the smallest band in the world, so I was expecting that we would barely fit on the Zoo’s stage so this was a pleasant surprise. Mogwai had replaced all the venues gear with all new equipment and there was lots of it. The sound system, the desks even the fold back desk was just incredible what was even cooler is that they let us use it all and well it just sounded so so big and crystal clear too (of course this is Mogwai so you would only expect the best) much thanks to Mogwai. I was lucky enough to watch their sound check they looked really tired and later they told me they were feeling jet lagged and just needed to sleep. Anyway show time kicks off and we put our heads down and tried to play as tight as we could without really saying anything to the crowd. It was a very different energy to our normal shows its been a long time since we were the support band playing to someone else’s crowd but lucky for us nobody through anything at us and people cheered after each song which was refreshing as I expected the worst but Mogwai’s fan base are a real treat to play too. Then Mogwai came on and blew many kids away. I think their music captures the crossing of the next life. I see so much colour in them its so cool how they just exploded from the tiniest whisper shhhhhhh then KABOOM. Then pack up time and we were lucky enough to chat with Mogwai and I gave them all gifts Tin Toys and Bubble Gum Bubble blowers which put a smile on their faces, as you can see above. Actually it was amazing to meet these guys, they were so friendly to us considering how tired they were, really really cool guys. It nice when you met people who make the music you admire so much and they turn out to be as beautiful as the music they make. I was so privileged to have played with them. A must see band really like nothing else you’ll ever hear on this planet with no vocals needed their instuments say it all.

How much time do we have?

Monday - 17 - July

I guess that’s the question really? This is the title of a new song that at 11:50pm tonight just some how made complete sense to me. This song has no colour, as this song does not really exist. Well actually it does exist but not in the time you are reading these words. Im not sure that I’ve ever seen a song form in my head over an idea but be completely about everything and nothing at all at once with the opportunity to be so god damn colourful but also not at all.

Can only imagine? Blah blah blah blah

Most of the time I think that people say things that they don’t really believe in, I believe. I mean how do we really even know what we should be believing in?

You know I write these Trash journal entry’s at least once a week, but im always to afraid to upload them because #1 there are people waiting for me to say what I truly feel and sit eagerly with an axe #2 why would you care to read how I feel anyway? I’m just another one, just another form.

Our next tour is going to be full of colour, colour and more colour the only way to destroy numbers is with colour. So let’s paint. Everyone in the room must paint. For this occasion ive decided to bring back the songs that I saw colour in most that I created when I was younger Angel Flummox, Seeds and The chase. I’m not sure that after this tour we will ever play them again but it makes sense to me, to bring them back for now. The rest of this year is going to be life changing for me. I only hope it’s for the best, but I just can’t tell. I just can’t tell. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ : (

Good night you know some of us live inside our dreams.
The question is how much time do we have?

Date: Neither Here Or There.

Ever had one of those days were it feels like you have lived a whole year in one day?

Well today was one of those days for me. The colour of the day from when I awoke till me writing this note, is a colour ive never experienced before, it surrounds all the emotions in my body. Funny enough, I’ve actually felt, not happy but not upset just in the middle I guess, all day long I’ve been watching all these crazy things unfold in front of me. I’m not sure why im telling you this I just know I can feel something that I haven’t felt before so I really wanted to write about it. One of the things I realized is that it’s very important to “hold on to what you got” no matter how tired you are, and to somehow find a way to find a smile again and remember to appreciate the beautiful and supportive people that you have in your life. Lately my life has been a series of on going events that have been terrifying and extremely frustrating but also the most incredibly exciting things have been happening also which I am so grateful for. Maybe sometimes in life there needs to be a balance, like something shit has to happen for something good to offset or vicer versa. I guess im just trying to say that I really do appreciate the things that are in front of me right now. So many times especially over the last year ive told myself that I would give up my dreams because my dreams seem impossible to reach and ive met people that have seemed to have been able to so fucking easily attempt to take those dreams away from me and in those situations ive wanted to run away and leave them behind but I just cant do that, to many good people spending to much time, energy, money, tears and smiles to just let it all go, to those who want to take it so easily. This probably makes no sense to anyone but me. I do apologise ive just felt so much negativity of late and tonight I just saw so much hope and understood again why it is we do what we do with this band. Yes yes I am a looser and many may think I suck and am pretentious but I do all this for music because I love music so much. Music is the most understanding artwork that ive been able to find on this planet and I feel it’s worth my life. I may not be that good at creating it but sometimes i think that it doesn’t matter, as long as I feel it inside my soul and that I do so much (sorry you people are going to think im a nut case).

We had band practice today and we played some of the older songs, was a really good feeling to have those old memories from when I wrote those songs back in the room. I was playing and watching Andy, Amanda, Ellen and Wayne and thinking how amazing these people are and how they are able to bring me back to life and how grateful and lucky I am that they have chosen to go down this road with me cause honestly it’s been a very tuff time and they have all had to endure some really hard and stressful times with me with no financial gain what so ever. We haven’t had a lot of amazing success well not in the industry world as we have had no major backing and even when it seemed we may it was only going to break our pockets more and would only have led us to loose sight of what it was we came here to do in the first place, the success that I have gained has been in the eye’s of our audience and the appreciation we get from people when we play these songs, for some people I’ve met that means nothing as they believe figures show you true success but I disagree. Financially I really don’t know how we are going to survive the next 6 months as the cost of touring with the next two tours with 9 people are insanely crazy especially for some of us but as most humans do, we will find a way. And just for the record I have never signed in my life, a contract to any record company other than to just distribute our cd “walls” if you have heard otherwise then please ask them to show you my signature on the contract because I bet my life there isn’t one.

In other news our next tour is about destroying robots and to do so we are going to feed on colour, lots and lots of it and I would love you all who attend to create the shows for us. Lets leave our mark cause one day in the not to distant future it will end and we will never see each other again, but at least we will still have the paintings to hold our energy, that gives me something to look forward to . Sweet dreams to all off you children I think I might paint a picture tonight it’s been such a long time since I’ve felt inspired to do so. See you soon

June - 20 -2006

Just People & Robots (The Robot Uprising Tour Comes To An End The destroy The Robots Tour begins)

Well it seems the uprising of the robots or humans, not sure who is trying to take over in the real world, what ever the real world is exactly, has sadly for me come to an end. The robots marched major cities, including inside shopping malls, metropolis played behind us every night, beautiful robot canvases were painted by the public, guitars hung from some ceilings, people sang the songs with me from all over, people brought their toys along and I pretty much smiled for an entire tour which is a first, oh and I saw colour at almost every show which was uplifting considering I spent months watching numbers and figures take the joy out of creating. It seems the message of this tour broke through quite well. I believe we played the best shows we have ever played on this tour night after night and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much energy in a room after each show on a tour. Thank you for making me want to jump out of my skin every night. Because of dealings we have had in the last year I have made the choice at this stage to be a fully independent band which hasn’t been easy for us and in some way I guess that’s what these shows are all about a march for independence. I want to be able to create music and shows that are controlled by the band and their fans and friends, not by life’s commodities or the industry just because it looks right on paper. This new EP ‘Destroy The Robots’ production wise ironically was a label release not a Red Paintings release and I promise you when we get the funds to record the album inside my head ‘The Revolution Is Never Coming” it will be on our terms only so we can truly give you something that is just like feeling us live. It cost a lot of $ to travel around the country and everyday meant so much work driving all this gear to all these shows. Yes I'm a weirdo and yes the ideas we come up with make a lot of hard work but it was all worth it just to see the look on everyone’s faces and to be able to give something exciting back to those of you who appreciate something a little different and true. Financially it breaks our pockets but that will never stop me. A huge thank you to all of you for listening and joining in, who knows maybe one day there will be a revolution, your revolution. In one way it sucks to be back home. I really did not want this tour to ever end but on a positive note its nice to be home so we can begin creating the next part of the Trilogy, the ‘Destroy the Robots’ tour. I’m sure this next tour will hold a few surprises, I'm even thinking of bringing back Seeds, Angel Flummox and the Chase, will have to see what happens. Expect crucifixes, Robot heads blown up and the band completely entranced in numbers until we find a way to be free, hopefully by the end of the show you will notice a change. Not that I believe I could ever change the way the world is nor do I really want to? In this fragment of time it fits the moment. Aren’t you sick of seeing people living in fear? That’s what these real robot makers feed on. On a happier note we scored support for Scottish Art Rockers ‘Mogwai’ in July, finally we get to play next to a band I’ve loved for so so long. I’m not sure how we are going to fit on the stage hehehe.

I must say a huge thank you to Dallas for everything and I mean everything, our rodeo, keyboard player, robot walker, photographer and friend Eric Chan who will be leaving us to move back home to China and start working on is new band ‘forget the G” and to see his girlfriend, Moogie who created the robot masks and other goodies and painted up a storm on this tour including painting the wall at the Green Room shows (Canberra), but im sure we will see more of Moogie on the next tour, Joel the coolest and greatest friend I know in this industry and engineer, the painters, the robot makers, Vanlustbader, The Dawn Collective and the coolest Canberra band ever “First full of nothing” and the list goes on and on…

Things I couldn’t stop thinking about on this tour:
‘Nothing can stop me now cause I don’t care anymore”
Trent Reznor Lyrics. Radiohead and The arcade fire
Why I never want to eat on tour.
How we are all so different yet so the same.
Weather people are using the right colours on the canvas.
Why does it seem we are always driving the wrong way?
That I need a new green coat that doesn’t smell so yucky.
People’s faces after every show.
Why I have been getting up every single day lately with so much energy and determination, what does it all mean?

May - 27 -2006

Lazer lights Marching in Metropolis

Hello my name is Trash Mcsweeney. Why? Hmm because that’s all I am and that’s all I will ever been underneath the feet of the most beautiful people on this planet. Tonight was one of the most amazing and warm shows I have ever felt. Tonight proves that this Band is controlled by its people by its fans, we are all one. Look outside the walls and you see commodities and multiple amounts of brainwashing, Stand up for yourself, walk around inside robots made from curb side junk and there is your statement of truth . Now I understand more than ever how important this is and I will continue to work as hard as I can never sleeping, eating and screaming the revolution is never coming till my vocal chords disinigrate (or someone buys me a one way plane ticket to Iceland). I am blessed by my amazing band, crew and all of you that close your eyes and sing these songs with me. I don’t know why I wrote them It confuses me every day but I swear to you they come from the deepest thoughts and feelings in my soul. Tonight I saw so much color it’s been along time since I saw a rainbow. Thank you so so much.

The Robots come today!

Serial Number : xxxxxxx

.So what happens if you stop caring?

i only see numbers 3854732564323424343434374359432654365430986543098643086918204820948

Are you serious you once saw color in me?

April - 19 -2006

The Great Are Escaping