Many weeks ago, before we embarked on pre-festive season efforts, on a typical post-work-week quiet Saturday night at home there was an email in my in-box promoting The Screaming Jets 25th Anniversary Tour.
The Screaming Jets, an Australian pub rock band are regulars on my playlist. The G.O. doesn’t mind their music but played at a much lower volume than is my preference.
In recent years we’ve tended less to go to big concerts and crowded venues. And because of his tinnitus loud music isn’t the G.O.’s thing. But a local gig at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville, $45 tickets and all work no play makes life very dull indeed, inclined the G.O. to agree to my suggestion that a Saturday night out was do-able.
Of course when it came around, the G.O. had worked 6 days in 40 C plus temperatures, I’d been busy with work and domestic stuff and what seemed like a good idea at the time now seemed to be just one more thing to do. And preceded by a last-minute email advising The Screaming Jets would be on stage from 9.45 pm it seemed way past our bedtime.
But it was the later start that saved us after our respective days of work & errands; allowing time for a late afternoon rest and a minor melt-down on my part as I was worried the G.O. was too tired, it was too late, too hot, too loud, too far… followed by an enjoyable mid evening stroll over to the Golden Barley Hotel for a nice dinner in the beer garden and a further short stroll through Enmore Park to the gig.
While quite at home in the city there are times I lack my particular “tribes” who are far-flung in terms of distance and/or lifestyles. My best friend Mrs S., a fellow Screaming Jets fan and her hubby were initially keen for a night out but couldn’t settle on arrangements. Nonetheless, as the G.O. and I sat ourselves down with a couple of Mythos beers at the bar amongst the blend of ages, types and fashions; it appeared dressed customarily in jeans, boots and black t-shirts, we were in the right place.
More apparent even after 10 pm when still with drinks in hand we made our way inside, the music started, the crowd chanted, photos & recordings were encouraged, and friendly hands extended to the stage were reciprocated by the band. Lead singer Dave Gleeson in between songs chatted to the audience, not necessarily politically correct but peppered by humour and social commentary, and we loved it.
I loved The Screaming Jets’ own set, and the few covers: Johnny Cash, Slim Dusty and Bon Scott era AC/DC, acknowledging the band’s roots. Encouraged by Dave the modest sized crowd sang, knowing every beat & word to every song.
After midnight, deaf as posts, we wandered home. I was elated. The G.O. was just tired but happy I was happy.
It was only after the weekend, reading The Practical Mystic’s post “The week leading up to a new moon (Saturday’s Sagittarius new moon) has a distinct flavour to it – influenced by the dark moon, we have a tendency to become quieter, more introspective and sensitive. The best thing to do, is as much as possible honour those feelings by clearing your schedule of all but the essentials and include as many self-nourishing activities as possible”.
Well, our new moon Saturday night out was quite the opposite of the suggested tendency but it was fun, and fun is what I most definitely needed. Accompanying me was an unselfish gift from the G.O. and me accepting such generosity does us both good.
This coming G.O. work-site-shutdown weekend is the culmination of the recent weeks of preparations, where we’ll travel to visit family tribes, deliver Christmas gifts to those we won’t see on the day, and make ready our house at Taylors Arm for the festive season and holidays.
As we go about, we’ll make a little time for ourselves and have some more fun. I could get used to it.
“Before silverchair came along The Screaming Jets were the most popular band to emerge from the Australian industrial town, Newcastle. More than silverchair, The Jets’ music is a product of that town. When the original band members were growing up in Newcastle they faced a future of either working in the steelworks and associated industries or not working at all. In a town like that the locals live hard, drink hard and want their rock hard.
The Screaming Jets gave them what they wanted.
Postscript: An interesting manifestation of Saturday’s Sagittarius new moon astrological conditions… but not what I wanted, needed is a throat infection. Nevertheless that is what I have. I am certainly “quieter, more introspective and sensitive”. So I’ve cleared my schedule of all but the essentials and am focusing on self-nourishing, and healing.
daleleelife101.blog 
Although it takes some effort to get out to see bands and shows, and I am thinking of the GO here, it is really worth it for the joy and vitality ( and throat infections!) that it injects into your life. Feeling young again.I bet you are looking forward to the Taylors Arm getaway.
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I might have worded that badly… which I’ve now corrected; the G.O. was all for going regardless, it was me who was worried that he was too tired etc 🙂 I always say “worrying is my job, and I’m good at it”!
I’m hoping my lurgy has turned the corner, and the G.O. doesn’t get it as it will be nice to have a weekend away 🙂
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There is a blues band that plays monthly in a pub and I always mean to go, but never get there. I love their music and it is great to dance to. So, after reading your post and feeling your happiness through the interwebby thing, I am going to go next time. 🙂
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We both love pub bands of any sort really, and have been known to spontaneously be diverted by music emanating from a door or window. There are regular bands at the pub at TA but we have the luxury of being able to listen from the comfort of our verandah 🙂 There’s a couple of blues pubs near us in the city but the music is so incredibly loud in the small spaces, we listen as we wander past!
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I love The Screaming Jets and remember many a night on the veranda at the farm listening to them full bore. Hubby loves FRC, but I ask him not to play it too loud when there’s other people around (lol). Dave Gleeson is great and he often does radio spots that I listen to. Well done getting there and enjoying the night! 😀
I hope your throat is feeling better soon xxx
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I like FRC too. They played it as the encore, dedicated to Clive Palmer… And they made my night by playing my favourite, Shivers. It’s truly an amazing atmosphere when Dave stops singing and the crowd carry the lyrics…
Many many years ago when the Jets were in hiatus we saw Dave Gleeson in a local Newcastle stage show of Jesus Christ Superstar, he played a fantastic Judas. He is extremely talented and multi-faceted.
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Although somewhat planned, it sounds as if your evening had the feel of a spontaneous night of fun, music and laughter; the best kind to loosen you up, put a permagrin on your face and let you relax thoroughly. I’m so sorry to be missing your visit to TA by so few days…
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Our night out surely was a great change of scenery even if we were up a late and a little tired the following day 🙂 This weekend will be “blink and you’ll miss it”, for the most part 2 days of travel + 1 day in town and what’s left at home. Our schedule for the couple of weeks post Christmas should be a little lighter.
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I’m so glad the G.O. agreed to go and that you both had a great time even if it was tiring. I’m sorry to hear you’re now suffering a throat infection though. With luck you’ll soon be over it and ready to pt Taylor’s Arms in order ready for Christmas.
xxx Humongous Hugs xxx
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It’s funny, it was always the G.O.’s intention to go, and me trying to think for him about why it wasn’t a good idea! He would never had let me be disappointed. I think a couple of days of rest, pharmaceuticals and gargling might be doing the trick with my throat bug 🙂
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So sorry to read about the sore throat, but I suppose there is some comfort in knowing you had some fun getting it?? Don is usually the one to propose outings and I go along, often more than a bit reticent, and end up having a great time. A change is as good as a holiday sometimes! Take care of yourself. xx
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Sadly I think my throat lurgy was picked up in the office rather than via partying!
That’s what our night out felt like, a little holiday from life 🙂 Something that happens when you step out of your comfort zone, or rather into it, as happened on Saturday night!
We go 50-50 with suggestions but of different varieties, mine derived from being connected and the G.O.’s more pure inspiration, such as let’s go see, do this.
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sounds like an excellent evening….good food, good sounds, good company and summer:)
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That it was 🙂 Sometimes a good night out is like a mini-break from everyday life.
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Hi Ella. I am just like that. I read about something that sounds good and make arrangements to go. But when the day comes, I can’t be bothered going but I have to because I have arranged to meet friends. After the show, I am so glad I bothered and think I should make the effort more often.
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Exactly 🙂 You summed it up beautifully. Would have made for a very short blog post though!
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Fun can seem like hard work at times, but when we allow ourselves to enjoy it, the effort is worth it. 🙂 Sorry about the sore throat though.
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Getting to the fun is the hard part… we organize these things with the best intentions and then get so busy… we view them as yet another thing to do rather than the fun change of pace they are.
Thanks, I’m not very good at being sick, so I’m sorry too 😉
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hot tea with oodles of honey and lemon juice!!!!! -hugs-
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Get well soon, EllaDee. I’m off to check out Screaming Jets…
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Thank you, a long weekend away has seen a vast improvement in my lurgy.
The Screaming Jets are a great live pub rock band, and I wonder if like vegemite they are an acquired local taste as they never really made it big OS.
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Hi! I wondered why my ears were burning :). I think you got the mixture exactly right – Saturday night with the onset of the sag (read party) new moon is the perfect time for a night out. And how was the energy of this past week?? I think even the most zen people were challenged to stay calm..
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It was a better perspective to look at the week as presenting lots of “self-nourishing opportunities” rather than seeing them as restrictions or challenges. I had to accept quite a bit of help from the G.O. and step back, let him do things or leave them for another time. It was good that you shared the Sag new moon info otherwise I probably wouldn’t have seen it quite like that 🙂
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It’s been a LONG time since I spent an evening in a loud, crowded venue enjoying a favorite rock band. That used to be a typical weekend night. You’ve got me wanting to go do it again sometime.
I laughed at your reference to bedtime. These days we turn in about 10, which is when the bands usually begin playing.
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Ah, yes we have very few late nights but correspondingly quite a few early mornings… we had a particularly early start last Saturday -3am drive out of the city, and quite amuses us to think we’ve been to bed, slept and are up & about on our day at the same time encountering people still out or on their way home from Friday evening festivities!
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I love when a band goes on later. Gives you time for a nice dinner and digestion before the event begins. 🙂 Sounds like a great night out–glad you made the time for it.
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Oh yes, with a little attitude adjustment we had time for a nap as well as drinks, dinner and a walk 🙂
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