We'd rather fight with music - choosing when the rhythm warms...

Where hip-hop meets reggae, where jazz is played with dirty hands, where a Cuban line meets an Aussie rule, where nothing seems in place but sounds like many places played in one earthy chord. This is the island where THE CAT EMPIRE was born. (Written by the band in 2001)

The first day in October has seen a massive shift for me.  Such a good day on so many levels and the icing on the cake was seeing The Cat Empire celebrate 10 years of LIVE shows along with 1,500 other people at the Tivoli in Brisbane.


I could write a review on the band, the gig, the venue but it's best said here. And I have kinda talked about these guys numerous times over the years.  You can read more on my blog here and here.


Watch the video here for a teaser of just how good these guys are.



I can literally talk about this amazing group of musicians forever because (and this is not just my opinion) they have been hailed as being one the best LIVE acts in the world.  I love their albums but their gigs are something completely different - a spirit and magick that has to be witnessed to understand the true essence of who The Cat Empire really are.  They're a group of guys who leave their egos at the door.  Their on-stage presence is powerful, uplifting and the most talented bunch of musos in the world.


I've lost count of how many times I've seen them perform LIVE.  Every Brisbane gig I'm there :)  And every gig is completely different than the last.  Even though you may have heard a song over 100 times, they will put a unique spin on it every time.


Which brings me to why I'm not writing a review about The Cat Empire but more about a project I've been working on for over twelve months inspired by The Cat Empire songs.  I've written three of the planned twelve stories.  I'm a bit behind schedule - it was supposed to be one story a month for a year but somehow life got in the way.


My stories are not based on the content of The Cat Empire songs as my stories are dark, sometimes supernatural with the horror in the mundane which of course is nothing like a Cat Empire song.  Their songs are full of light and hope and joy and they are the best Australian party starters!


But because of the way my mind is geared I write dark, I write contemporary stories always verging on horror either in the character, situation or place, and for some bizarre reason I'm not sure How to Explain - The Cat Empire songs provide the inspiration.  I'm not sure how Felix or Harry or Ryan or Jumps or Will or Ollie would feel about this but if I change the titles they don't have to know :)


What inspires you in your life whether it be through music, art, words or just life itself?  


Midnight rambler still on a high and dancing to The Chariot

If you want Fidelity - GET A DOG!

'If you want Fidelity – GET A DOG' are the words of Christopher Ryan who is a psychologist and co-author of the New York Times best-seller, Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality.

Christopher Ryan is in the country at the moment as part of ‘The Festival for Dangerous Ideas’

After listening to Christopher Ryan on 'Hack' yesterday about his thoughts on monogamy: how it’s kind of unnatural for the human species to remain in one relationship - it got me to thinking (that’s a dangerous idea in itself). It got me to thinking is this guy right? Surely, we can live happily ever after in monogamous relationships never thinking or straying or divorcing.  Is this why divorce is so high? 

My gut instinct is to say ‘NO’ we are and can be a monogamous society and find love, be in love and stay in love and loyal to the ONE person til death do us part – isn’t that the traditional vows of marriage?  I don’t know coz I changed mine, and then I chose not to get married second time round?  Why?

Hmmm…anyway, it got me to thinking about the stories I write, the characters and their relationships, the books I read, the movies I watch. Whenever there is strong characterisation you will usually find some kind of love triangle or dilemma around love and monogamy.  And don’t we just love those stories. Will she/he? Did he/she?  What if we like all three characters involved in this super love triangle – who do we bat for?  Someone’s gonna get hurt?

Here's an example of the kind of stories we seem to fall in love with.

Why do we love these stories so much if we are in fact monogamous by nature, wouldn't we hate the voyeuristic nature to these stories and wouldn't we be constantly angry with the character who chooses infidelity or does Christopher Ryan have a point?  

Have a listen to this interview with Christopher Ryan - fascinating stuff.

Have you read his book?  It’s an interesting debate – what are your thoughts?  Love to hear from you :)

More about the festival here:

Midnight rambler thinking about why my characters behave the way they do?