Don't pick the wRONg one ...

Ron Sexsmith versus Ron Burgundy. Yes, it's a tantalising contest, I know, like Sydney versus West Coast. And while I would normally say the Anchorman (pictured above right with a fiery jazz flute) would win hands down, I was blown away last night at the Corner Hotel in Richmond by the other Ron. Last name: Sexsmith. The District Attorney joined me out of chambers for a few drinks and to listen to this cherubic singer-songwriter and pretty awesome guitarist from Toronto. Truth be told, I only own one of his albums, Retriever, so I was a bit unsure of what to expect. But it was great to hear many new songs for the first time. I'll be sure to go out and add more of his music, including his new album, Time Being, to the 7054 tracks I already have on my iPod.

An eclectic mix of people attended last night as well. Ron Burgundy might have cleared his throat when he said diversity was an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era. On that topic, never have I witnessed a more diverse gig at the Corner. The DA and yours truly could have been the youngest people there! A great night.

Another great night was had last Friday evening. Rogan Josh ventured from Geelong while Benson Hedges (who really smokes Peter Jackson but that's another point entirely) travelled from the Goulburn Valley to join Murfuoso and myself to see The Living End at The Palace in St Kilda. Last time I visited that venue we were joined by Molly, Bert and a few friends, including Murfuoso who got us upstairs for drinks with the band despite having drunk more than enough by then. Roll on!

I've left you in suspense long enough ...

The beard is gone. Long live the beard. There's no photographic evidence yet to prove it. Bidding bon voyage on Saturday afternoon it's now sorely missed. Rest in peace, beard. In other news, Blog It: Songs Of The Moment, Volume 1 is done. Now, for your viewing pleasure only (drum roll):

1. "Concrete Bed" by Nada Surf (April 4, 2006)
2. "A Decade Under The Influence" by Taking Back Sunday (April 9, 2006)
3. "The Execution Of All Things" by Rilo Kiley (April 16, 2006)
4. "California" by Rogue Wave (April 19, 2006)
5. "Major Leagues" by Pavement (April 23, 2006)
6. "Pushover" by The Long Winters (June 6, 2006)
7. "Wish I Was Dead Pt.2" by Shout Out Louds (June 11, 2006)
8. "Not The Same" by Ben Folds (June 16, 2006)
9. "Waltz #1" by Elliott Smith (June 27, 2006)
10. "Heaven Here" by Dashboard Confessional (July 4, 2006)
11. "Pulling Up Stumps" by D. Rogers (July 12, 2006)
12. "Your Heart Is An Empty Room" by Death Cab For Cutie (July 17, 2006)
13. "So Stop!" by The Helio Sequence (July 22, 2006)
14. "Surrender" by Billy Talent (August 2, 2006)
15. "Running From The Rain" by Thursday (August 8, 2006)
16. "Distortions" by Christopher Walla (August 15, 2006)
17. "Half Right" by Jimmy Eat World (August 30, 2006)
18. "Sister Jack" by Spoon (September 11, 2006)
19. "Trance Manual" by John Vanderslice (September 15, 2006)
20. "Save Your Day" by Jose Gonzalez (September 20, 2006)

I've just got to find a way like Smoosh and get them on a CD! Happy trails!

"London Gentleman, or wait. No, no, no. Hold on. Blackbeard's Delight" ...

Great Odin's Raven! By the Hammer of Thor! I'm more in love with Anchorman than ever before and like Ron Burgundy and the rest of Channel 4 News team looking for pandas, these upstanding gentlemen were on a hunt of a different sort last night at a function at St Kilda's famed Espy. Much fun was had and many beers drunk. Or were they drank? Let's just say they were consumed. You know Gilbo and here's one of his mates, a nice bloke by the name of Damo. Too bad my many nicknames don't end in O. Another late night for JB. 2am.

Anyway, this entry is really just an excuse to post a picture of Blondie, my esteemed colleague at the esteemed broadsheet. After continued lobbying (or rather nagging) that she should be on the blog, I decided to comply with her repeated requests for publication and last night she looked resplendent, basically because she's fallen for the long arm of the law. It's great to see the girl also known as AP smiling again. Not that she wasn't before. She knows what I mean. As you do too.

Beard watch - day 14 ...

Take one last look, my friends, because on the weekend it will be gone, gone, gone. The fully-fledged beard has been a talking point around the office - it pronounces the jawline apparently while making me look much older - but quite frankly it is starting to itch. Thanks for your input. Like Grant Thomas it's here today, gone today.

Confessions of a bearded burbler ...

No, it's not Rex Hunt reporting live here from JB HQ. Yours truly may be sporting a temporary beard but apart from a love of footy and facial hair, I really can't be compared to the great man as I don't have a booming voice and I haven't paid women in return for extra marital favours. People have asked why I've decided not to use a razor or a lawn mower to fell that flourishing facial forest and I've responded with a number of answers ranging from "can't be bothered" to ''it's a tribute to my friends with fur on their faces". You know, that travelling twosome, Murfuoso and Geezer, as seen on this here blog, with beards.

But aside from coming back to a clean house, Murfuoso returned to work today after a four-week break Stateside with a wedding ring but minus the trademark beard. Meanwhile, Fitzroy North's most famous English resident, Geezer, proud owner of the Gilbomobile, had returned from Byron Bay without two things starting with the letter 'W': women and whiskers. Or is that the letter 'F': females and fuzz? The letter 'B': babes and bristles? Whatever it is, it's another first, I'm sure.

Anyway, so here I am, stuck in a whiskered wilderness. Does it stay or does it go? You can leave a comment - I haven't decided to stop people from doing so ... yet. It's not a life-or-death decision and things could be worse. Consider Ronald McDonald. If having your ear licked by a drunk journo in one of his suburban hamburger restaurants during the early hours of the morning wasn't enough, I now see Ronald McDonald could be sent to jail. Now, I don't know, but maybe he needs a beard. Pronto. With fries. And a Coke.

It promises to be a good show ...

As the ticket suggests, this here blog comes to life for one night only. Tonight! Don't miss what will most likely be a night of fears, cheers, tears and beers. And it's free. Free! Now, does anyone know exactly where the Carlton North Concert Hall is located?

Seriously, this is a joke, so don't lob on my doorstep (or that of Houston, Texas') this evening in the anticipation of an extraordinary and exciting event as I most likely won't be home. Most likely, I'll be feeding Geezer's housemate cat - long story. Extraordinary? Yes. Exciting? Hardly.

Credit goes to M-Dogg way, way, way up north in Alaska put me onto the Concert Ticket Generator. Like life, have fun with it!