The Award Tour: Weekend.

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 5:

Yum Cha and Footy, that’s the best way to describe today. I had a nice long sleep in my hostel room with no windows. Pitch black room, with lots of other dudes’ stuff strewn everywhere but i’m not bothered because they’re all Ninja Quiet and as I said…the room is pitch fucking black.

I then met up with Courtney, a friend of 16 years and her newly wedded husband, Jake. They treated me to Yum Cha lunch in Chinatown (which was excellent!) and we went to Ikea and got a drink at cool little bar in Richmond. The bar chick made my drink nice and strong. I think my manners got me far that one. Thanks bar chick!

It was good to exchange stories of the past and present with Courtney. I haven’t seen her in a few years, she hasn’t changed which is awesome and apparently I’m still the goofy/charming Gav I always was. Good to know. For the record; her husband Jake is a total champion.

Cats Vs Dogs:

What can I say about Etihad Stadium? Big, Well equipped, and a great place to watch Football. The game…a total destroyation by Geelong! They OBLITERATED the Western Bulldogs by 101 points. A second straight game of near or over 100 points thrashing I’ve witnessed in two fucking days. A little disappointing to be honest, I hope North Melbourne and St.Kilda is more competitive tomorrow.

Supper with Mona:

I then met up with Mona and Anthony (her Boyfriend) at Timeout Cafe in Fed Square. I shared a monstrous Chicken Parmy with Mona, and amusing myself by being sickeningly nice to the staff. Why not? I was in a good mood and I know for a fact that Hospitality work sucks! I thought I’d make their night better. I was rewarded with a super strong Mojito. Thanks Timeout staff.

We then kicked onto Crown Casino. I was amused by the super expensive retail stores being open at Midnight on a Saturday Night. If only we had trading hours like this in Perth. Although who the fuck is buying a Gucci bag at 11:56pm on a Saturday Night?

Crown is super busy on a Saturday and filled with pretty girls and douchebag dudes with rat-tails and shirts about three sizes too small. I also love that there is about 10 bars and clubs in Crown to having a drink at…that place must print money.

Now, i’m writing this and thinking of my nice pitch black room and lumpy mattress. So I bid thee farewell. More Footy fun tomorrow.

With Fatigue

Gav

Day 6:

After a well deserved sleep-in. I woke up to FREE pancakes, so with much speed I nabbed myself a LARGE pancake and devoured it quickly and with no fuss. Tuned the world out with a stretch of Podcasts and some Free Wi-Fi (Greenhouse wins again!). Then I got message from my Best Mates Wife (who was also in Melbourne this weekend) who was piking out from our lunch. I shrugged that off and decided last minute to head to the MCG for Hawthorn Vs Melbourne. This was the smartest thing I did all day.

A passionate, tight contest with lots of angry, bitter supporters screaming hilarious things at the Umpires and Players was what I got. It’s what I was waiting all weekend for with this Football Expedition to Melbourne. It was a top notch game, which had quite a bit riding on it. Hawthorn won it by 21pts. But they took nearly 4 quarters to shake off a spirited Melbourne team. Worth the trip and exactly what I was looking for from the Melbourne leg of The Award Tour.

Then I rushed (by foot) over to Etihad Stadium through the wind and rain (it was shitty day weather wise today in Melbourne). I turned up during the 2^nd quarter, grabbed some overpriced ‘food’ and sat way up in the 3^rd tier, for a semi-decent game between St.Kilda and North Melbourne which was pretty lacklustre to be blunt and St.Kilda won by 7 goals. These games would have been a near loss without the earlier Hawthorn game I took in, this weekend.

With the shit weather today, walking to Etihad and then the walk home was so cold my scrotum decided to take a trip North for the winter and ended up somewhere near my Kidneys. That $10 Beanie, Gloves and Scarf purchase paid for itself today. Maybe I should have invested in Thermal Undies too. I may need a Armageddon Drill Team to retrieve my Testicles.

Next!

I’m back at the Hostel drinking my last Premix and typing this thinking about tomorrow. I have about 40 hours to kill before I jump on a plane and head back to Perth to resume my semi-miserable life (with my girlfriend and solid core of good friend being the saviour) and with NO footy or ATCQ gigs to head out to…I wonder how to fill the time?

Maybe laying about in the hostel watching DVDs and talking to French chicks is an option? Get drunk?…sounds like a decent idea…but no. Maybe a trip to that Vietnamese Noodle House again (the food was awesome and I loved the fucking appalling service) and a film at Crown before dinner at Courtney’s is the ticket… you’ll find out what I get up soon. Stay Tuned.

With Declining Interest

Gav

The Award Tour: at the MCG

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 4:

Rest and Relaxation… that was the order for the day for today. I got myself a decent sleep-in. Had some FREE breakfast (one of the awesome parts of this hostel). ‘Free’ is one of my favourite words. Along with ‘Sex’, ‘Blowjob’, ‘Porn’ and ‘Money’. Simple mind, simple thoughts.

I did a bunch of exploration by foot today, covered a chunk of the CBD. I’ll do more of this tomorrow along with lunch with an old friend Courtney. I was introduced to the best Burger on the planet (again I’ve forgotten the name of the place)…made some new friends in the process, who I ended up going to the Footy with. We had different seats though, because I wish I knew about $15 tickets through the hostel before I spent $28 on mine two weeks ago (FUCK!). They let me go on a guided tour (euphemism for a couple of beers and a VHS about Footy then a walk together to the MCG) anyway.

I took in the sites, like Fed Square and the Yarra River, purchased some gloves, a beanie and a scarf from a discount store for $10 (BARGAIN!!!). I probably covered 5kms by foot today. If I haven’t lost weight from this week, I’ll be surprised.

Today was a day short of interesting adventure (like dealing crazies and authority figures), only touristy fun and much gawking Melbourne. Sorry kids.

MCG

The main event of today was the Collingwood Vs Essendon clash at the MCG. I’ve never gone to an event at the MCG. I’ve walked around it. Shit, I’ve been outside of it on Grand Final day in 2006 (The day my Sydney Swans lost by 1 point). Never inside the MCG though. It’s a grand stadium, walking to the ground (which you can do from the heart of Melbourne City) surrounded by thousands of supporters to a beacon of sporting history and fun was good fun in itself. I’ve always wanted to go to BIG game at the G.

Tonight was that night. Pity about the result, as Collingwood raped Essendon to the tune of 98 points. It was a complete domination by the Pies and if it wasn’t my first time at the MCG it would have been boring.

Sidenote: I can hear a French Man trying to get an Italian chick (she may be Spanish though) to his room and failing miserably. Amusing, I thought backpackers fucked like rabbits and were up for a rumble on the share room accommodation? Isn’t that the point, travel, drink and fuck! It’s Contiki with no Bogans.

I’ve seen many dudes being shut down this week. Must be the weather…by the way he’s still going. Persistent fucker isn’t he?

Tomorrow is more Football, lunch with an old school friend. Then Geelong Vs Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium.

Further Sidenote: She got up and left…Spanish/Italian girl 1. French guy 0.

I’m going to continue to watch the Train Wreck of people trying to pick up and be drunken. I’m sure this will lead to something funny later on.

With Interest.

Gav

The Award Tour: Hello Melbourne…

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 3:

Welcome to Melbourne. This is coming from a tourist and frequent visitor. Although when I’m not holidaying in this city, BAD things happen to me. So any delusions of living this cosmopolitan hub of fun with shitty weather and LOTS of Footy for me to watch can never happen. EVER!

Melbourne is one of my favourite places in the world, even though anytime (twice) I tried to live here, things go horribly wrong. I take that a sign that this is pretty much like my 2nd ‘Fuck Buddy City” (the other FBC being Sydney). I come over every so often, we have fun, share some experiences and some food and then I go home, no attachments and no commitment.

As I’m tending to keep to myself on this tour, I’m not heading on any wild drinking expeditions with any foreigner this time around. Maybe next time my German and Canadian friends.

So I’ve moved from one of the best nights of life in that ATCQ show. I will rave about it to any who asks though. They’re playing in Melbourne as I type; I hope they get what I got from their last show. Everyone deserves that kind of natural high.

Melbourne ayyyy…

I touched down in Melbourne in blustery, cold weather. I was psyching myself up for a rough landing with lots of turbulence and a bit of scare. Our pilot did incredibly well and touched down smoothly…and I was almost disappointed.

Jumped on the Skybus and headed into the city where one of my best friends Simona was waiting for me. Mona and I have been friends for years, we started as ‘Keypals’ and eventually met when I was studying in Melbourne, the friendship has just grown from there. Her family loves me, especially her mum. She’s everything you picture in a stereotypical Italian Mama, feeds you, shows incredible hospitality and thinks the world of me for some reason. Maria is awesome.

I checked in my new hostel, and headed out for lunch with Mona. We headed a place she knows called “Vietnamese Noodle House”. Creatively titled huh?

What’s hilarious/awesome about this place is the service. It’s fucking horrible! The practically throw the plate at you, they yell at each other in Vietnamese and when you pay they stare you like my Dad killed theirs in battle at Long Tan (for the record my dad never was conscripted/served in Vietnam). I want to go back. I may tomorrow, because the food is amazing, it’s super cheap and I love the novelty of being treated like shit in a restaurant by EVERYONE, it’s an experience.

“Vietnamese Noodle House: Go for the Food, Not the Service.”

We then kicked onto the least patrolled cafe in Melbourne (I can’t remember its name but it was in Federation Square). Mona and I watched 3 couples walk out of the place without paying for the coffee. We could have easily done this ourselves but it was a really good Affogato. So they got my patronage and money. That and I think the waitress who served me had a crush on me. Who wouldn’t…..what?

Then I was treated to Pasta by the Giacominato family for dinner (free dinners and hugs are always a good thing) and then took a train back to the hostel. During that trip I got some phone time in with my dear Renae, as much fun as I’m having I do miss her. She is definitely something worth coming home to. I look forward to seeing her on Wednesday.

Tomorrow will be a day of not doing much apart from sleep, listening to Podcasts and then some shopping for a Beanie and new headphones before heading out to the MCG for Essendon Vs Collingwood. I love the thought of 80,000 rabid Victorians going nuts over their footy. Wish me luck.

With Good Coffee

Gav

The Award Tour: A Tribe Called Quest Day

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 2:

To quote the guy I stood next to the whole night “We’re about to see A Tribe Called fucking Quest…Holy Shit”

Holy Shit Indeed! A Tribe Called Quest. BEST GIG OF MY LIFE!!! I don’t think it’ll ever be topped either. My body is sore, my flesh is weak, i’m truly drained this morning…and it was worth every drop of sweat, every raise of my hands, every scream of joy when and another favourite came bursting through my speakers and every lyrics I rapped and screamed along with Tip and Phife.

I let go all of my inhibitions for this gig. Shit, I even got over excited when they asked any from Perth in here…about 3 people screamed…I was probably the only they heard. They mentioned no other city apart from that…I felt honoured they knew or at least Google what Perth is or that even exists?

For record people in the VIP section aka the front row all looked at me knowing I was ‘Mr.Perth’, because we all spoke and had our Tribe/Hip Hop nerd-fest before the gig started and I had come the longest way to be there (‘much respect’ apparently). Even the Kiwis couldn’t compete with that kind of commitment.

They played pretty much played every one of my favourite songs, from ‘Award Tour’ (see the connection now…huh? huh?) to ‘Excursions’. They had dance moves, their rhymes and wordplay are damn near telepathic, and Q-Tip was a man possessed (he was literally climbing on speaker stacks). He gave his all out there. When ‘Award Tour’ was being played he jumped on the crowd barrier and was mobbed by adoring fans…including this over excited blogger putting my hand out to pat the man on the shoulder, which something I would normally find stupid and gay but fuck it this guys music had kept me sane during my late teens and early twenties, he deserved the pat. Yes I have washed my hand since, so don’t think i’m sniffing my hand and hold it close to chest while I sleep.

I was in Hip Hop heaven at the Hordin Pavilion! It’s truly hard to describe how good this show was. I don’t really have any favourite bands apart from ATCQ. I like tracks, I like artists, but Tribe are no.1 this was the ONLY group/band or performer I would fly to another city to see. This will more than likely be the only time they come to Australia (even though Phife said they will be back). So I had to go, for the sake of my musical soul. It was worth it.

For record I only had two alcoholic drinks for the night, one starter drink with dinner and one before the show. I want to remember EVERY detail of the show. I was also good to be around Hip Hop purists again. Most of the folks I hung around with when I was still heavily involved in Oz Hip Hop the folks involved in that scene are pretty scummy; they’re basically for the most part either herby soft Uni kids (Herbs) or Bogans with a hoodie. To be around an educated, sane, normal Hip-Hop crowd was great. Also it was good to have women in the venue too. No one likes a sausage fest. This is another reason why I don’t bother with Oz Hip Hop anymore, too many dicks on the dancefloor.

The show was 90 minutes of bliss for me and I was spent afterwards when I left to grab my jacket, bag and the merchandise I purchased (2 shirts and a hat). Called Renae all buzzed and ecstatic about what had just transpired (I had to share it with someone). I hadn’t that much innocent fun and felt that good after it since the 2005 Sydney Swans Premiership win. A truly amazing show and one I won’t forget. Thank You A Tribe Called Quest, I knew you won’t let me down.

With Joy

Gav

P.S If you’re wondering about the rest of the day’s event, they were as follows…A trip to the markets where I purchased cheap sunnies and boardies, had a swim in the hostel pool and chilled in the sauna. Then had a nap before the show…not exactly a worth writing about compared to that ATCQ show.

The Award Tour…Game on!

The Award Tour feat Gavin Crossley

Day 1:

Hellooooo nurse! It’s your favourite petty, angry asshole blogger here. In a much nicer and happier place from when we last communicated. I’ve fallen in love with a beautiful woman and unlike when I’ve got gooey about some girly, this is totally reciprocal. Why the fuck is this important? Because I’ll bring Renae up quite a bit during this 7 day blog so you may as well know about her before I begin. That and this blog will more than likely be MUCH nicer than usual.

Secondly this is unlike any other tour I’ve embarked on so far. The major difference…NO car. This is not a road trip. It’s more of a holiday than an adventure. From someone who works 6 days a week performing 4 separate jobs in 2 locations, I tell you I needed this holiday, badly!

Now to the trip itself… This trip much simpler than anything else I’ve taken on. It’s just 2 cities and 7 days. Unlike my 14 towns, 2 cities and a fuckload of drinking and trying to fuck anything that moves kind of tours. This is more about “chillin” and A Tribe Called Quest.

You on point Tip? All The Phife.

A Tribe Called Quest coming to Australia (my all time favourite group) was THE deciding factor in my decision to come to Sydney this time around. I certainly didn’t come here for the weather.

If you don’t know ‘The Tribe” are, look them up on Wikipedia and YouTube. I’ve been a fan of this Hip Hop crew since I was 14 years old and I heard the track “Find A Way”, I bought the ‘best of’ after I found out about them breaking up about a year before I got into them.

When I heard they were coming to Australia (a day I thought I’d never see), I had a near fit and decided this is when my holidays are going to be and centred around this concert, which is actually TODAY (11/08/10). I won’t be excited until the lights dim and Q-Tip, Phife and Muhammad jump onto the stage. Apparently it’ll be a show spanning their entire career so i’ll be pretty stoked this time tomorrow i’m sure.

For the record: Today is Day 2 of the “Award Tour”.

What of the next 5 days after that? That when this gets more bogan and blokey as I jump on a plane tomorrow and head to Melbourne for a weekend AFL Football and catching up with some old friends for a drink and a laugh. Once again in a relaxed manner, tonight will be the most I party this trip….hold up.

Flashback to the old Gav now…this chick in the booth next to me just piped with her Skype conversation.

“Heyyy you you doin’”.

Great, I’m up at 7am listening to some inane conversation next to me while I type. Actually this day has started in an annoying way. I was woken by the hypo Chinese guy in my room packing for the day at 6:30am EST. This guy was LOUD. Some fuckers have no sense of occasion.

Then as I’m nearly asleep again…the Old Italian guy opens the fucking curtains! I almost said ‘Hey fucker! Close them cunts!” Then I release he was NAKED!!!! So I just turned towards the wall, and tried to shake the image. Who the fuck sleeps naked in a room full of men? Creepy much? At least wear some boxers or something!!!

So a great fucking start with my crazy motivated Chinese mate and Naked Italian guy kind of forced my hand (probably the wrong term to use after talking about Naked Italian man) and I headed to the lounge area of this AMAZING hostel in Sydney to write this blog. I hope they both move on today. Actually I don’t. I need to get up around 8am tomorrow to be ready for my plane to Melbourne (so these two fuckwits are a great alarm clock minus the nudity)….I’ll sleep later I guess.

The inter-woven Love plot:

I wish Renae was here. First of all we would have got a double room together and this Nude and Chinese guy thing would have never happened and I may be still asleep. Glad I got a decent bed time last night.

I’m not pining for her or anything overly pathetic because it’s only been a day and I’ve been pretty busy with the flying and drinks with an old friend (she met me pretty much straight off the Airport Transfer Train) this first time I’ve really sat down on my own.

I told her I loved her for the first time yesterday, she said it back and we’re both super-cautious with our feelings so she meant it as much as I did. This thought will keep me warm at night the whole trip that she’s not only thinking of me but she actually cares. I’m not used to that.

I’ll call her after the show tonight with all that positive energy beaming off me from that A Tribe Called Quest show.

The plan for Day 2:

Today I will go for a quick walk around the city after peak hour and breakfast ($4 Pancakes downstairs…yum yum!). Then find some cheap boardies and use the pool and sauna here. Yes, a pool and sauna in a YHA…crazy huh?

Have a ‘Man Nap” get up, shower and then head to the show which starts at 6:30am for those who’ve forked out for the VIP tickets. Tonight should be fucking awesome so I’ll tell that story tomorrow until then I need to scrub my nuts and get me some Pancakes.

Much Love

Gav