Saturday 25 April 2009

Though you broke my glass…. Im higher than ever

Remember Anzac Day
Live from Australia its Bushwalla and the Rad people that got me here.
Chillin at the moment in Perth with a friend who (with the help of a few others) flew me out
so I could experience this wonderful land for the first time.
This has been a dream of mine to come and spend time in Australia and now it really happened, and the fact that I get to meet people and travel through music makes it all the better.



I started off in Sydney with a series of shows. A couple club shows, and a house show. I started meeting what has turned out to be new and amazing friends. That’s one thing I really love about traveling. Meeting the people I have been waiting to meet . Even if I didn’t know I was going to meet them. I feel we should look forward to that in life…the people we have not met. They may be your new best friend, lover, or just a rad dude.

Speaking of rad. The people in Aus are super nice. I am overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the aussie folk. Lending me places to stay, food , and transportation wherever I go.

So after a few days in Sydney (including my first “shrimp on the barbi” bbq. Were I learned how to peal a shit sack out of a prawn) Milan and I flew to Byron Bay.


Before I go on I have to tell you about Milan “sonofabitch”. This super friend has helped me out up and beyond the call of duty. With his kindness and huge heart he helped make my stay here quit joyous. Thank you friend.


Back to Byron Bay blues festival. My bro Mc Raz was on the bill and we rolled into this blast of blues and pop festival with stylish fashion. The festival was rainy and muddy, But a great time. I was bare foot through a foot of mud all day. It was like earth had a case of “mud butt” and it gathered there. The mud did help with soothing my bug bites on my feet and ankles.
Jason’s set was great with 6,000 people watching. When “I’m yours” Kicked in the place went off. So incredible.

For his song “Butterfly” my other roomy Trisha and I went out for a hula hoop demo and we didn’t drop once. That was the high light of my hula career as of yet.
Another interesting thing at Byron bay. My friends the “Drive by Truckers” were there. They (among having there own set) were the band for Booker T. Jones. And as we were having some diner Shauna from the Truckers called me over to meet Booker T and I had a 20 minute conversation on “Optimism”…. what a cool man.

After the blues fest I flew back to Sydney to sit in on a couple of Jason’s shows. Again amazing experiences were to happen. Jason is at the Top of his game and I am in aw of my buddy Kickin so much ass. In the closing moments of the show he invites me to sit in with a Mraz style version of “Fall Through Glass”.
(In sound check we came up with another version…. ”Though I do your ass… and Though I wax my ass”.
Thank you JD)

Jason, Toca, and I did a last minute secret show at the “basement” in Sydney. 100 peeps showed up and we made up yet another and freaky show . Full of debauchery, connection, and love.

Sydney is a cool kind of metropolis were I made the mistake of getting acupuncture in mall. My first experience with “the puncture” and It was terrible. Noisy mall , with uneducated sticker people. I felt weird for days and thought I had permanent damage until the numbness finally wore off.

From there I fly to Melbourne for a couple house shows and an in store performance. I again sat in on the Mraz gigs and the house shows were great. I really fell in love with Melbourne. The suburbs were great and the city was beautiful. Pure Pop records is were I had my in store performance. This is a great indie record store with a café and stage. Great Ideas there. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC STORES.
My Melbourne house shows were for the people that flew me out, and I want to make a special thanks and acknowledgement to them . Thank you Connor, Kershia, Xandie, Kelly, Andy, Stef, Will, Alia, Paul, Emma, Marcus, Jodi……..also all the friends that I met along the way. On the Sunday show (conors house) we were under the stars and relaxed. While the show went down we were visited by the local possums., and that night they visited me outside my window. The noise these things make at night are frightening. Sounds Like a grumpy witch with a bad case of whooping cough.


I spent an extra day in Melbourne juggling with my bro before he shipped off to the states. Keep fuckin it up buddy.
In Melbourne we watched these huge flaming towers at night. They go off on the hour and blow 20 foot fire balls. It was so hot you could feel it on your face. This was a great night on the river.

I am now in Perth. My last stop for shows. I was able to perform for the Aus ABC network. Check out the previous blog.

We has a day off today and my friend Kershia took me around town. We went to a great market were I bought all my souvenirs and late B day presents. I saw a street performer there who was really funny and reminded me of were I come from. I salute all street performers around the world . You are the culture of our profession.

On the way home we stopped at the beach to catch a sunset. I did jumps and cart wheels and put my feet in the water. The water was warm and I was feeling alright. When we walked back to the car to our surprise the back window of the car was busted out and glass was everywhere. The gifts I just bought were gone. I looked around…..no one to be found. A couple locals came over to console and offer a hug. I was bummed for a moment because the gifts I purchased were not for me, but perfect for my friends.
What was the lesson? I thought to myself. Then It came to me. This thief became my Zen Master. He showed me that material is nothing. It had nothing to do with me and I have the choice at this moment to not react at all. To simply just continue with my day, and not allow this to get under my skin. A window can be fixed, my presents were second to me being present to reality. To life.


Now I am here. I am. I love. And im ready for the next moment. Here it is and there it went…..

Though you break my glass …..I’m higher then ever

14 comments:

  1. glad to hear you are having fun down under! miss you much my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. can't believe the car got broken into.
    but just like you said, it shows you, material is nothing

    peace brother

    Conor

    ReplyDelete
  3. You and all your San Diego buddies never cease to amaze me. My trip out there the other summer is still one of the highlights of my life- as is seeing you again in Atlanta (which rocked my socks so hard btw). It's amazing to me how much I've changed over these short years, and I owe the roots of it to you, really. You have this amazing sense of pure "chill" that I aspire to. Your reaction to having your car broken into is the perfect example and is so admirable. If there were only more Bushwalla's in the world. : D
    I can't wait to hear about your next great adventure. <333 Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can feel the loveeee, Billy!

    Glad you love Melbourne, here I am hoping for you to come by soon again after this trip. That's one of my most selfish thoughts I guess :)

    And I heard about the car incident.. I'm just glad no one got hurt.

    ♥ Xandie

    ReplyDelete
  5. hey billy.. buenas! so stoked that you finally made your way here... this post made me smile a big smile as it radiates of so much love. still bummed that i missed out on all the fun in melbourne but a little bird (or was it a bee) told me that you'll be coming back... sooner rather than later hopefully. i'll come and play next time, i promise.

    sorry about the car getting broken into... but things happen for a reason and at the end of the day, you have the best souvenirs in the memories and the stories that you''ll be taking back with you.

    ps - hope you liked your matte! :)

    sending lots of love and positive energy your way!
    denisse

    ReplyDelete
  6. Billy, it was grand to have you come down, it was an exciting and humbling experience. you are a great entertainer and show man it was a privilege to have been a witness to your lives.

    What you said of the break in set a current of realisation through me. Thank you once again.

    Will

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Billy, it was an honour to have you on our shores, much love and happiness to you. Hope to see you back out here again soon.
    Jodie ♥ ♥

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing your adventures :D live and learn buddy! LOVE the closing quote. maybe i'll see you in the US sometime soon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Now I am here. I am. I love. And im ready for the next moment. Here it is and there it went" <--- I love that <3

    I totally agree with you on material being nothing... someone stole 40 bucks from my wallet the other day.. I was upset for about 2 minutes then took a deep breath and let it go. I wasn't going to let it get to me. I could have really used that 40 bucks but I've always believed that everything happens for a reason. so it was meant to be taken from me for what ever reason and I accept that.

    much love to you and your awesome self.
    *melissa*

    ReplyDelete
  10. Presence is definitely more intimate than presents.....just give the belated birthday gift of your hug...and maybe a free hula-hoop lesson....that is something that can never be taken but can be given to others.....sending you light from this sun kissed shore.....Me

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your outlook on life never fails to inspire me. Thanks Billy!

    ReplyDelete
  12. i dig your style..

    love the positivity

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad to hear you had an awesome time in Australia! Saw you at Jason's Sydney concert and would've gone to the secret show but im not over 18 so just make sure you're back here in four years! Good work with the positive outlook! I'm trying to achive just that.

    Have an awesome day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I was happy to bump into Milan again at Bluesfest and watch John Popper with you both.
    And in a wonderful turn of events I've lately begun hula hooping. My mid section has thankfully, stopped hurting.

    ReplyDelete