Super 8 Diaries Launch Sydney

Castings. Minolta X-700
Qua. Minolta X-700.

The Super 8 Diaries Launch.

DIRTY SHIRLOWS, 32 Shirlow St, Marrickville NSW

Sunday 8th of June 2008

It was about 5pm in a suburban Westfield shopping centre when I decided that I had to go. The shops were almost empty except for the bad-ass teenagers milling around Starbucks and the not so bad-ass teenagers awkward lunging to the cinema and Timezone. Totally absent were the stoner teenagers looking for water for their bong.
I couldn't find the cute girl that works in the bookstore so I headed to a chemist for ear plugs before driving to Marrickville. I would go alone. Driving in my car, I listen to FBI radio. It was about this time last year I broke my long term relationship with Triple J. Every announcer seemed primed to tell the listenership that everything was great. Every release was fantastic. Every up-coming show was going to be amazing and every show passed had been a spectacle. I started to find it offensive that they thought of everything as amazing, when quite clearly, regardless of taste, quite a fair amount was mediocre. So I switched on recommendation from a good friend. I first contacted her through MySpace messenger which seemed to die a slow painful death, to be overthrown by Facebook.
I can't remember any tracks that were played during the drive. Probably reggae. It's always reggae and dub on Sunday afternoons.
I arrived to see a barrel fire in the driveway and assumed this was the place. I parked my car and relised, no, this wasn't the place. The barrel fire was for some other reason, maybe a re-enactment of the original Donkey Kong. Meters on foot through the wet pavement, the water positioned at the lowest points between the small rocks on the road, I found the disregard for corporate Australia. I found the dissatisfaction and I found the friends of friends that were doing it for love.
As I walked around, checking the faces for familiarity, I smoothed my jacket, adjusted my glasses, checked my camera.
The film was amazing, and I didn't need Triple J to tell me that. Not that they would ever promote something like this. There's no money to be made. Most people watched. Some laughed at points. I nearly cried that I wouldn't see Colditz Glider live.
A girl talked to me. I didn't know who was playing next. I didn't know what else to say. The conversation died and to that girl I am sorry.
Castings made weird sounds. I wanted to join their band. I wanted to say I can join. I have a MicroKorg and a Nintendo DS with some noise making software. Can I join please?
QUA took the stage and we danced. To see the boys and girls, cynical, dancing without regard; oh! the joyous occasion to allow our feet to fly the fantastic electric.
I left soon after. It was getting late.
I didn't buy the DVD and get the free beer because I had bought the DVD by mail order.
If you like music you should own this DVD. It is a collection of our bands. This is how we felt at this point in time. This is our document.
This is all we have.
oh!
The unrest! The sleep we will have tonight.
Bliss.

Five stars.