Rock'n'rolla derby

I have always been highly susseptable to suggestion, especially when it comes packaged in a teen movie. As a kid, I wanted to dance in the streets ala Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo, or enjoy a saturday detention like the Breakfast Club. Of course, the reality is never as sunny as John Hughes paints it. Inspired by films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I joined an adult cheerleading team and found holding a girl's foot for a couple of hours while she makes pretty shapes less interesting than the montage scene of Bring It On would have you believe. I've taken up tap dancing no less than three time, probably in reaction to veiwing A Chorus Line, and an early episode of 90210 had me down at the Oakleigh ice skating rink at 8.30 on a Saturday morning practising turns with a bunch of six year olds.

So it's no surprise that I am currently osbsessed with Roller Derby, having just watched Drew Barrymore's directual debut Whip It. Now the movie is not bad, some funny dialogue and good performances by Juno's Ellen Page and Kristen Wiig (as well an appearance by the third and equally drawling Wilson brother). But it's really the sport that is the hero, with rough, punk rock chicks answering to punny names and not much else, skating around in customised uniforms that are straight out of the final scenes of Don't Tell Mom the Baysitter's Dead. And the best bit is the roller derby scene really exists, and it's even here in Melbourne!

So far I've missed bouts like I Dream of Derby, Smashdance, Slay Belles and Queens of the Slammed, so I can't wait to check it all out at Chashendo on December 5. You can get tickets and more info here.

There is a very good chance I will spend the better part of this week thinking up my own derby name, any ideas?

Ghosts of New York Past

We first heard this song on the radio in the Greenwich Village apartment we were subletting, and three weeks into the trip, it really gave us some much needed spring in our step, to get back out there onto the streets where dreams are made of. My lovely friend Ali took me past the Marcy projects in Brooklyn, where Jay Z grew up, and it made me think, surely if he can get from there to where he is, I can get from here to NYC?