Manose, Deva and Miten at their Sydney concert 08

Lo there all. :)

I've been zenning out with Deva and my nag champa incense. It's been wonderful. Returning to the joy of 'Aud Guray' and the Saraswati song too, it's been so long since I heard them. If you've never experienced the peace of singing along Kirtan style with a chant in sanskrit, then you could be doing yourself a real treat by having a go at it.

Go to this link...

http://www.devapremalmiten.com/music/downloads.htm

and you can download some free music of Deva's and her husband Miten's

Nice hey?

Or if you just want to listen to a bit you can go to this link here...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=76976874

and just listen to a few of their songs on their Myspace page

I took Charlie to see Deva and Miten in 'concert' a week or so ago in Brisbane. My lovely friend Michelle got all the tickets organised and sorted out, and we were able to get seats near the front. Charlotte said the seats were not very comfortable, and I'd agree with her. I didn't enjoy the evening as much as last year because of the baby kicking SO much and me being a little 'soft hipped' and not wanting to sit for a long time. They kept on playing and playing and singing and singing all the way past 10:30pm. We were knackered but pleasantly so. :) It is a wonderful thing to be in the presence of people like Deva, Miten and Manose (the woodwind and percussion guy), as they just emanated a love of what they do. Calmly. Happily. Joyfully.

Phwoooaaarrrr rating

Real men wear red capes and leather knickers.

I base this observation wholly and solely upon viewing '300' and the depiction of King Leonidus by Gerard Butler.

He gets a 'Phwoooaaarrrrrrr' rating, plus a 'Ggrrrrrllllllllllllllllllll' too....just for good measure. (that's the character of Leonidus, not Gerard although he's quite delicious, he will change, but Leonidus will always be here for us)

The film is FANTASTIC and the cinematography, effects, etc., justify the 'epic' feel of it all. Great stuff. go get it. now.

Even with the blood, gore, 'death themes' (that's a new one for movie warnings isn't it?) and the inevitable end, I thoroughly got into this movie and the characters. So well done. LOVED the Queen of Sparta and her parting remark to her political rival. Very cool. And Xerxes, the conquering King of Persia, and invader of Sparta and Greece, is made to appear supremely awesome. Lots of great manflesh to admire all the way through, with Spartan soldiers abounding as the main characters, and even our own David Whenam (or is it Wenham? heeheheh) beefs up to become a totally believable warrior dude with impeccable Shakespearean delivery. Impressive stuff. you will enjoy.

Dylan Moran - May 6 - The Concert Hall

Ah Dylan. You really are a disheveled, drunk Irishman. How very endearing.

The Dylan Moran one man show came to Brisbane over the weekend. He played two nights at The Concert Hall at QPAC (otherwise known as 'the most annoying building on earth) and the fun was had by all.

This guy is profound in his ramblings. I loved how transparent he was.

Obviously loves his wife and children, as he used keen observation for the material of most of his work. Enlightening. And he even did a pretty decent take off of an Australian accent, with a slight speech impediment.

My most memorable insight of the night from him was the analogy of a woman's mind, after becoming a mother, to that of a plate of chips....and of the children's questions being like seagulls. See? Profound.

And Dylan, babe it's no use hiding that sexy bod under the baggy jeans and shirt...we all know what's happening beneath it all.....

what a powerpak of celtic masculinity....

:)

Deva Premal in Brisbane 17.01.07

That was just so full on, and wonderful, and uplifting, and quietning, and calming, and nourishing.

Deva Premal concerts are unlike anything ever experienced before.

From the end of the first little interlude she made it clear that we "don't have to, you know, clap.....after each mantra,........because sometimes, after the mantra ends,......you want to just sit and feel the mantra,................so I am like, giving you the night off....." :)

She's lovely. So slight, and strong, and humble and with just the most lovely lovely lovely resonant voice. To begin the concert she and her husband walked on stage unannounced, very quiet, very slowly and then bowed to the audience, hands in the prayer position, receiving the blessing and sending it back out to all of us. Then they just sat down and got their instruments together, spoke quietly to one another, and then she directs us that "we will start tonight with three Ohms".

If you've ever been in a chanting circle, done a toning meditation with others, or something similar (like belonging to a Welsh choir) you will understand the power that's in a resonant chant. Times that by hundreds of people in one auditorium and you have an idea of why I nearly exploded with JOY on the first Ohm. :))

Their accompanying flautist was great too. Very cute.

The concert went over time as it's their first one of the year and they were getting themselves together and they just went with the flow. It was great. Highlight of the night was the Gayatri Mantra which everyone wished was earlier in the night when our voices were stronger. Oh but it does not matter when really, it was always going to be 'the thing' of the concert for me.

Michelle dressed up so nicely that a complete stranger gave her a compliment. She had a black floor length skirt on with a blood red velvet corset...and her hair up in little Teutonic buns, like a mini Princess Leia. :) I was in linen pants and shirt that creased easily. I looked remarkably well matched to the rest of the audience. :) It had to happen sometime.....