22 Dreams

"With the Church, what remains...is real, tangible magic - ultimately unidentifiable and unexplainable." - Robert Lurie, No Certainty Attached , 2009. I've just finished reading Robert Lurie's biography on Steve Kilbey & the Church, No Certainty Attached . In reading this book I was immediately struck by how good a writer Lurie is; he's my hero now, not Kilbey! I think he's done a damn fine job in balancing critical, well-researched perspective with the passion he has for his subject. His grammar and vocabulary are ace, too. I'm enthralled! So I'm going to use this book as an influence, a template, for my future scribe-extrapolations! ;) Robert Lurie intersperses his narrative with occasional autobiographical anecdotes, such as his account of discovering the Church and the 'Starfish' album in 1988, and the immense, lasting impact the band has made on him. He talks about his time in Sydney in July 2003 where he met up with Steve Kilb...

On Saturday, 12 December, myself and a good friend drove down to Marrickville to see the Church play at the Factory Theatre. We hadn't ventured into this venue previously for a rock concert and were impressed with the size and cleanliness of the large room. There were many familiar faces at the gig so that it turned out to be a fairly social, as well as ardently musical, occasion. It was good to see the Church with my friend David. I was reminded that it was with he, more than half a lifetime ago, with whom I first went to see the Church in December 1987 at the Tivoli, the gig that more than likely premiered 'Under the Milky Way Tonight' live. And now some 22 years on, the song was yet again played by the band, and was cast off by Steven's announcement that "we are going to play.... that song", swooping his left arm in the direction of Marty who commenced that familiar A minor refrain. The song went down well. The Church have always been able to offer abund...

First time ever I saw the Church was back in December of 1987 21 years ago or so today at the Tivoli in Sydney I was 17 in October 1987 i finished my last exam for school and took to bed for a month when I awoke I tumbled out of bed i turned on the tv it was 1987 = MTV as I was rubbing my eyes onto a brave new world this song came on new scintillating captivating chords and lyrics i was hooked immediately it was from a band i liked very much a band i would in time grow to love and adore the film clip was shot in NYC and not the usual forests around canberra or unused lots around sydney the song opened up a whole new world for me and continues to do so for after having walked from the narrow confines of school life this song symbolised new dimensions new experiences and a totally new direction and it continues to do so to this very day at the Tivoli the church were resplendent in classic 80's format ploogy was on drums the band appeared young and freshfaced I stood near to the front...