We’re waiting outside a 5 story carpark in central Newcastle (NSW). At night. Everyone’s dressed up, this is a big event. I’ve got no idea what’s about to happen, but there have been rumours of cling wrap. And everybody’s been saying, “Are you going to Mothlight?” So here we are.

Walking up the stairs in the dark, we enter a strange world, Imagine the world of a moth nest, with webbing and cocoons. There is a lot of cling wrap here, perhaps hundreds of dollars worth of cling wrap, strung from pole to pole across the car park, between the pillars. And in the middle, a figure standing swathed entirely in plastic, suspended from a long cling wrap rope.

They let us walk around and explore for half an hour before anything happens. The crowd mills around at the sign of any kind of movement or light. I’m scared for the performer wrapped in plastic, and feeling protective when i see people reaching for their cameras. Later i found out the “no camera” policy was to prevent the clicking camera sound, and i’m wishing i’d taken a bunch of images.

And of course because i’ve found my way to the front row, i’m the first person called on for audience participation. Naomi Moth takes my hand and shows me how to clutch Skye Moth’s arm – along with 3 other volunteers – as she does all kinds of circus tricks along the long cling wrap rope attaching him to the wall. Beforehand, i was worried about people touching this rope, and now she’s jumping up and down on it.

The whole experience is totally engrossing.

Before too long, Skye Moth is walking on the ceiling and juggling enormous moth balls with his feet. Together they ceiling-walk into a lift and disappear.

Turns out they’ve performed this all around the world. Here’s a video from previous showing:

..and a set of production photos too:

Link to the production photos at flickr.

All taken from Skye’s own site.

Just noticed that Virginia’s putting some of the songs from Emma Tonkin’s “Cave of Lights” album on soundcloud (the collaboration with first chorus band of singers). You can listen to the song “I will be one” here below. We’re currently rehearsing all the songs with a bunch of wonderful new singers joining the original cast.

Mark this date in your diaries: Saturday 17 November in Melbourne, at the Wonderland Spiegeltent (details to follow – it’s somewhere in the Docklands). Also Saturday 24 November in Castlemaine.

Here’s the link on soundcloud: I Will Be One by fc band of singers.

Aaaaah! Sally played this for me at work the other week. “You won’t be able to get it out of your head,” she said.

And that’s true.

Then i watched it again with Tim and Sam up at Elphinstone the other day. How we laughed.

Apparently the song spent weeks at number one in NZ Aotearoa, and raised about $1 million and a hundred and ten and twenty one. In a bowl.

via Flight of the Conchords – Feel Inside (and stuff like that) – official Cure Kids long version – YouTube.

 

I love Murray at the start, “Yes and i gave some money back in 1988, so that’s all done now?”

And Jemaine talking about the songs in the Muppet Movie, “They were pretty derivative though, don’t you think?”

 

 

Always great to hear your favourite local bands on the radio. I saw 8 Foot Felix play the Wesley Anne the other week, and was struck by how much they have evolved in the year since i saw them last. Apparently they’ve had a world tour, and been to Burning Man. Highlights included a French version of “These boots were made for walking”… really stunning.

Listen to the rambunctious folk from 8 Foot Felix playing live on 3PBS:

Trans Europa Express for Tuesday, 14 August 2012 | PBS 106.7FM.