A week of wonderful!

(picture of Declan from British India, lovingly taken by Melissa)

It’s been a jam packed week for Melissa and I, here at more (or less)! On Thursday night, we had the launch party for lip Issue 18, at The Front Café and Gallery in Lyneham. There was poetry (in both the funny and dramatic varieties), music from Ah! Pandita, and when that was over, hours of entertaining chatter with our favourite friends.

On Friday we went to Grass Stains 2, at itrip iskip in Braddon, for the launch of the Little Beats Zine Distro, who happen to be stocking more (or less). The night was balmy hot, so we mostly milled in the cool outdoors, listening to some awesome music, and hanging with some of our favourite people in Canberra (awwwww!). We also picked up some pretty cool zines, which are helping to distract us from the horrors of uni assessment.

And yesterday, we went to Stonefest, the annual University of Canberra music festival. We saw Art vs Science, Children Collide, British India, Josh Pyke, and Birds of Tokyo. Stonefest is renowned as one of the trashiest events in Canberra, and there were certainly a lot of inebriated, crazy people wandering around. But once I got the beer out of my hair, and learnt to dodge the groping hands of many an old, drunk guy, it was quite a lot of fun!

It’s nice to occasionally realise how great the Canberra arts community is, and how much fun it is to live here. That doesn’t mean we won’t be fleeing to Melbourne as soon as we graduate, but it’s heart-warming all the same!

Also, special thanks to our friend Katherine, for entertaining us for the past week. You can check out her blog, Kings & Quinns, here.

If you’re interested in lip, issue 18 can be purchased from the website, here.

And join the Little Beats facebook group, here!

- Zoya ;)

Summer Livin'

(Picture stolen from here).

It's become difficult lately not to notice the sudden warmth that has swept over the nation. And I don't mean a metaphorical, 'warm & fuzzy' feeling, but rather the actual physical, sweltering, sweat-inducing, heat-rash causing warmth that signifies the beginning of an Australian summer. If last year was anything to go by, this year is likely to be quite a scorcher, and we feel it's our duty to provide some handy hints for surviving the heat.

Here are some of our favourite summer activities, in no particular order. It should also be noted that neither of us particularly enjoys hot weather, and maybe the rest of you are less whingy and restless than we are in the summer. All I know is, without these survival methods, Melissa and I would very likely melt into a pool of hot, irritable, unhappiness.

Here is our imparted wisdom:

1. The Ice-cream Amble

We actually had one of these just yesterday! This activity involves first, buying cheap ice-cream from a supermarket of your choice, and then consuming said ice cream while ambling around outside, in no particular direction. It is imperative to the success of this activity that you *amble* rather than stride. The idea is to revel in a sense of lethargy, that can only really be done in times of hot weather. Plus, as we all know, ice-cream is cold. And cold is goood.

2. Movies

Movie theaters are air-conditioned! Plus, you can eat ice-cream in them! It's the perfect summer outing, with a bout of cultural education and entertainment thrown into the mix. Note, however, that this outing can often backfire, when the air-conditioning becomes too cold, and suddenly you're left yearning for a cardigan. But it can be a nice way to indulge your winter nostalgia!

3. Make Zines

Duh! This tends to take place inside, with a fan pointing in our general direction, to the sounds of boppy girl-rock. And the best thing about making zines in summer? The heat means we're too lazy to do anything other than sit inside and write, so we always have loads of content!

For more exciting (and nerdy) ways to live out your summer, check out Melissa's article in More (or less) Issue 3, soon to available through Little Beats Zine Distro, from itrip iskip.

- Zoya :)

Literary Launch

Last night Zoya and I attended the launch for UC’s anthology of creative writing, Undertow: FIRST 2009. Held at Smith’s Bookstore, we were treated to free wine, sushi, the musical stylings of Cathy Petocz, and readings from the anthology. ‘Twas very enjoyable!

It’s at events like this that you realise how much talent Canberra has hidden away – like you needed any reminding.

You can purchase Undertow from Smiths Alternative Bookstore, Paperchain Bookstore, Daltons, and many other locations!

*

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the blog, as well as gentle reminders (read: harassment) urging you to attend Grass Stains II.


<3 Melissa

lip Magazine Issue 18 Launch Party

 

I will admit that I have a vested interest in encouraging you all to attend the launch of lip's 18th issue, to be held at the The Front on the 29th of October, being that I'm the editorial assistant at the magazine, and the party will be raising funds for the fiction anthology, Eve's Harvest, that I'm editing with Michelle Lovi. 

But even if I didn't stand to gain from you all coming along, I would still be posting this up here, because if there are two things that we at More (or less) love, it's indie media and having a good time. Both of which will be present on the 29th, along with poetry sets from Canberra favorites, Julian Fleetwood, Andrew Galan and Adam Hadley, not to mention music from the talented girls of Ah! Pandita. 

All this awesomeness starts at 8.30 pm. Come along! Say hi! Donate generously! 

- Zoya 

The Plights of Posing

I've always had a penchant for trying desperately to emulate the styles and personalities of women I admire. I spent most of my childhood letting my hair grow frizzy, waving a stick and trying to adopt an English accent so that I could somehow resemble Hermione Granger. 

I became more and more sarcastic and bitchy throughout my teens in an attempt to be perceived with the same horror and trepidation that Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You inspired. 

And I spent two years wearing nothing but tartan skirts, t-shirts and doc martens, during my Nana (a popular Japanese manga character) phase. 

So I guess it came as no surprise to my friends and family when, directly after watching Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, Whip It!, a movie about kick-ass roller-derby girls, I bought myself a pair of quad-skates and decided to become a punk-feminist skater. 

Now, this all sounds well and good, but the problem arises when as part of my mimicry, I try to learn an actual skill. I'm naturally relatively clumsy. I went through a period where I fell down in really public places, and grazed my knees like a 12-year-old almost every day. The manager at Impact Comics (the best store in Canberra) got very used to handing me a band-aid whenever I walked into the store. 

I don't know why I ever thought that roller-skating would come naturally to me. Clearly it was extreme wishful thinking. I thought to myself, if Ellen Page can do it, so can I. What I forgot is that Ellen Page is on a whole other planet of cool than I am. I never had a chance. 

As Melissa and I skated out of her house, and onto the sidewalk for the first time (for me, not her, she's already a skating legend. Bitch.*), I could already feel my knees wobbling, and my feet slipping away from under me. In about five minutes, I had my first fall. I landed on my elbow with a sickening thud, but, being the go-getter I am, I crawled back onto my wheels and tried to soldier on. In 30 seconds, I fell again. Onto the same elbow.

Which brings me to today, sitting at home with my elbow broken, forced to have my food cut into bite sized pieces for me, and having to be chauffeured around by my mother (who is totally loving my sudden loss of independence). 

The lesson to be learnt? ALWAYS wear elbow pads when skating. No matter how much they don't go with your outfit. 

- Zoya :)

 * Not really. You all know I love her. Though she *could* have taken me in a wheelbarrow to the emergency room. Just saying. :P

Interested in roller derby? Living in Canberra? Check out the Canberra Roller Derby League, and come to the Halloween bout on the 24th of October! 

Become a fan on facebook!

We love technology here at more (or less). Actually, that's not true, we kind of suck at it. But we are at least competent enough to create a facebook group!

How excitement! Become a groupie, and we promise to give you some lovin'.

Distro Party!

Like a disco party, expect cooler! Or maybe less cool. Discos are pretty darn awesome.

Putting aside the relative coolness of discos, 'more (or less)' will now be stocked by Canberra-based zine distro, Little Beats! It's like Christmas come early, isn't it?

And for an early Easter, how about this news: Little Beats is having a launch party! It will be held as part of itrip iskip's Grass Stains II. Music, artwork, zines and fashion will all be featured. So if you are from the 'berra, come along for the good times.

When: Friday 30 October
Where: itrip iskip, Lonsdale Street, Braddon

We're Back!

...and TINA was amazing! 

The entire festival was a roller-coaster of emotions: excitement, anticipation, laughter, tears (not really), and the occasional moment of crippling self-doubt. In the best way! 

Highlights included meeting Marieke Hardy, stalking Benjamin Law, Mr Fibby's performance, the zine fair (where we spent far, far more money than we made), and just being around groups of talented, creative people. It totally reaffirmed our faith in writing and independent media. 

Expect a proper review up here soon! Also, now that the festival is over, we're ready to get down to business. Expect more frequent updates, and some actual articles as well!

See you in more (or less) no time!