World Wide Woozle episode #682

Welcome back. 

You might want to settle in and perhaps grab a beverage of your choice and a snack, because I have a lot to say this time around on the 682nd episode of the World Wide Woozle.

I don't pre-order a lot of albums, but when it comes to smaller and independent artists that I like, I am happy to do so. I realise that they need the cash injection to make it all happen. To that end, Fanny Lumsden's latest offering, Traditions, arrived in the post recently. Along with the CD, which is signed, came a sticker, a small print of the album cover (with a personal message handwritten on the back), and a card that you can plant to grow some flowers. That, my friends, is a great way to involve and enthuse your fans. She also replies to emails and comments on socials. Fanny is on tour at the moment around the country with Kate Ceberano so get out and support her. The album is a rare treat full of energy, joy, and some heartwarming moments. Her band, The Daddies, includes her husband and her brother and they're amazing. They know when to step up, when to strip everything back, when to let the electric guitars wail, and when to play the bagpipes. I could write a lot about this album but I'd rather you went and listened to it. Actually, I hope you buy it.

Fanny Lumsden - By The River - https://youtu.be/I_6aFvt91F0

Can I give a plug to another independent artist? It's my blog after all. My mate George is working towards releasing an EP in the first bit of 2027. He has a significant birthday to mark and his gift to us is music. I won't give much away but I have been lucky enough to hear some of what is coming and it's pretty cool. Don't expect a three minute single, think more of an extended listening experience. Recording, mixing, mastering, and publishing music isn't cheap and crowdfunding can help make this happen. If you want to help, you can contact George via his Bandcamp page for details.

George Huitker - The Songs That We Played - https://youtu.be/dmqFob7iYO4

You may have seen footage of one of the Tomb Guards at Arlington telling a senior politician and his entourage to keep quiet. Well done that man for doing his job without fear or favour. I wonder if he thought his career was over? Have you ever had a similar moment? One where you did what you thought was the right thing regardless of the potential consequences? I've had a couple but this one makes me laugh to this day, although it didn't at the time. Note that I am not comparing myself to Specialist Iglesias in the slightest. I've seen first hand the job that the Tomb Guards do and it is more than impressive. In the mid-90s, the Australian Army was transitioning from using the SLR to the Steyr rifle. Someone thought it was a good idea that, as a newly minted Lance Corporal, I should spend a couple of weeks working as an instructor on the training team. Being posted to Army Office (now Army HQ) the majority of people we were instructing had been in the Army for ages, and probably hadn't touched a weapon for a long time. My heart in mouth moment came when the Deputy Chief of the General Staff (the Army's second in command) was in my group for one of the tests. He was a Major General, I was a Lance Corporal, and after the practical test, I told him he'd failed. I was ready to pack my bags and look for a new job but it wasn't to be. The two-star general, who had been deployed twice as an infantry officer in Vietnam, thanked me and then said he'd be needing one on one instruction later in the day to ensure he made the grade, which he did. And I kept my job. My military service was absolutely nothing special or outstanding, but there are moments like these that make me smile.

Redgum - Just Another Moment On Your Own - https://youtu.be/XX4_WEhhnNA

Fans of The Pogues may want to know that the Shane Macgowan tribute album was released yesterday. There's a wide range of artists making a contribution and it's thirty-six songs long. I won't say much more as I need to spend much more time listening to it. What I will say though, is that on the first couple of spins, many tracks miss the rough edge that Shane and The Pogues brought to the table. Then again, these are heartfelt tributes so maybe it'll work. This is a good version to whet your whistle...

Glen Hansard - Bottle of Smoke - https://youtu.be/tg7wTPaKl2Y

Who remembers the paintings of dragons, scantily clad women wielding swords, and wizards that were all over panel vans, record covers, and Dungeons & Dragons games back in the day? I do, and the band Castle Rat do as well. They've mashed that up all that along with their love for doom rock and present it in a package that is hard to resist. For a few moments I thought they were just being silly, but then I watched and listened. If you like KISS, Black Sabbath, King Diamond, David Eddings books, and paintings in the style of Frank Frazetta then get into this.

Castle Rat - Dagger Dragger - https://youtu.be/gNP_RiiWjg0

I've spent a few weeks, continuing to try and convince the Spotify algorithms that there is more to life than REM's song Orange Crush. Don't get me wrong, it's a great track but how can the ghost in the machine keep on recommending that by looking into my 365 days with The Woozle playlist which is now over 21hrs long? I've been working hard on keeping the selection broad, and hopefully interesting. So get over to this link and have a flick through it on Spotify, YouTube, or Tidal. One song from the list, chosen by me, not by Slopify's hamster wheel of doom, is this one. I remain a bit on the fence about Thelma's singing accent, but maybe that's how she talks. Regardless, this is a wonderful song. I've still got songs to reclaim...

Thelma Plum - I Don't Play That Song Anymore - https://youtu.be/I8FmXM42VFk

I lost my sense of humour and perspective sometime this week. If I'm honest, I could feel it happening but struggled to do anything about it. Clear markers are that I start to feel overwhelmed at work, and I lose all interest in eating. I was unkind to a few people, said  and typed things I have apologised for, and ended up needing to take a day off work. My psychologist, who is rather fabulous, has been working with me using "acceptance compassion therapy" and it's been very helpful. So, yesterday, I did what I am not good at. I took the advice that I would give anyone else who was struggling and I was kind to myself. I accessed some sick leave, did my best to eat properly, went outside into the bush for an extended period, built some LEGO, and listened to music, all in an attempt to help reset my brain. I also gently reached out to a few people who I haven't spoken to in a while. Is it working? Yes, slowly, but it's tiring and a constant effort.

Teddy Swims- Lose Control (live) - https://youtu.be/9gWIIIr2Asw

I had more to say but that's long enough for one episode. Also, it has stopped raining so I'm off outside. Summer is almost here! Did I mention that I almost stood on a snake yesterday?!

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"I'd rather hear some blues and funky old soul..."

Bob Seger, Old Time Rock & Roll, 1978. (Yo, Willy!)

World Wide Woozle episode #681

Hello, hello! Welcome back to your relatively unfiltered peek into what's making me tick at the moment.

We're going where the sea is blue

Right now I'm at Saratoga which is on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It's not the Saratoga that Carly Simon sang about. It is, however, a rather beautiful spot although the humidity takes a bit of getting used to for people like me who live where the heat is dry! I've walked beside the beach, been to Australia's largest shopping centre (just to say I did), and checked out the local area. Storms are forecast for later on so I'm glad I know how to swim. Honestly, a little time at the coast is good for me. Although I prefer to be inland a bit, this is rather groovy for a couple of nights.

Billy Joel - Stormfront - https://youtu.be/uUYChbzuFMU

Radio is a sound salvation

As anyone who has been following along for a while will know, Spotify algorithms have been driving me insane. It's just so much of the same stuff all the time. I listen to a wide variety of music but the constant recommendations of 80s music is simply too much. I miss access to decent radio stations. The best radio stations were programmed by humans, and you couldn’t skip songs. There was something amazing about searching for a cool station and listening in. I read about a streaming radio station called Radio Paradise offering a few different channels but all are programmed by people, not by computers. It’s free, there are no ads, and they don’t track your listening. So far, I’m quite impressed. Sure, it’s via the internet as opposed to a real radio, but I can live with that. After a week or so of listening to it I feel much more positive about music in general. I've heard great tracks that I'd forgotten, deep cuts I love, and a whole heap of other artists to explore.

The Ramones - We Want The Airwaves - https://youtu.be/zB1cg9tAeYY

It's pretty in the land of the free

Elvis Costello has released (another) super deluxe version of his first album, My Aim Is True. Labelled as the 49th Anniversary Edition, I couldn't help myself and have had quite a few listens. To be totally up front, I think it's a ripper of an album, completely setting the scene for what has become a stellar career. One online commenter remarked that all the demo versions were akin to seeing Elvis try on different outfits before going out. I don't think this is a bad thing. None of the early versions or demos are horrible. What we're treated to is songs that morphed into classics, some early live versions, and a great insight into Costello's music. If you're a fan, or interested in music, the Broken Records interview with Elvis is well worth a listen. Hearing what some of the songs mean to him as well as about their development is very fab and groovy.

Elvis Costello - Pay It Back - https://youtu.be/0SEu2e12x1w

She was practiced at the art of deception

SpyVsSpy were a fantastic band. I didn't get to see them in the 80s but a couple of years ago I saw one of the current touring versions. I was excited to see that their first two albums had been re-released on CD and LP record and I now have my hands on a copy of A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. It's a really strong album and I was glad to replace my old cassette copy. However, other than one line in the notes recognising the people who made the re-release possible, there is nothing other than the lyrics. Nothing written by the band about the album, it's not remastered, and there are no extra tracks. I still love it, but I'm slightly disappointed.

Spy vs Spy - Sallie-Anne -  https://youtu.be/xE54H9xmeWo

That's all for now. RIP Don.

The Woozle

"And stood against him,

Proud Edward's army,

And sent him homewards,

Tae think again..."

The Corries, Flower of Scotland, 1968.

World Wide Woozle episode #680

Welcome back, long suffering listeners.

Curmudgeon (noun): a person, especially an old man, who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains.

I bet you know a curmudgeon or two. Maybe you are one. Contrary to popular belief, and an ever growing number of "grumpy old man" t-shirts, it's not a good thing. Hang in there because I will eventually make a point.

Fat Dog - Cancel Me (I'm Tired) - https://youtu.be/JZFBMdQLPyM

I've been working on this episode for quite a while and at some point I got grumpy. Things that shouldn't bother me in the slightest started to add up into a messy tetris puzzle of annoyance in my brain. To name but a few, I was stewing about how people hold a pen (if you wrap your thumb around your first finger you can't see what you're doing), table manners (it's not a shovel), the complete overuse of the word 'like' (and I was like she said like let's go to like town and like get a milkshake), perfume (why do all these stylish people smell like fly spray), mobile phones (you can go for a walk without reading it), and the list goes on. A part of me wanted to expose all of these atrocities in a fit of anger and self-righteousness but I won't do that. I'm going to write from time to time about stuff that lifts me up and things I like (without saying 'like' all the time of course).

The Rolling Stones - Angry - https://youtu.be/_mEC54eTuGw

Before I get right into things, let me tell you a story. In 2013 I was given a beautiful gift and along with it came a letter. In 2013 my brain was not working well at all and I have no memory of getting the letter let alone reading it. A few years ago now, when I moved into HQ World Wide Woozle, I found the letter and it sat me back on my heels. It also made me cry. It was, and is beautiful. One part of it reminds me not to become a grumpy old man. Well, better late than never and I've taken that to heart. Being perpetually grumpy and annoyed is easy and it's toxic. I'm not going to say that being positive all the time is simple or even natural, but trying to frame life that way is so much better. Even if you're determined that your glass is half empty, you can work towards filling it. Lots of groovy small things really do add up.

The Proclaimers - Letter From America - https://youtu.be/yy9GmieAEaQ

I like fountain pens. Before we had ballpoint pens at school we had to learn with ink. It was messy and quite annoying at times and my cursive script was horrific. In the equivalent of grade 6, our teacher broke down and made us all relearn handwriting. Thank you Mrs Harker of Tawa Intermediate School in 1982; you made my life infinitely easier. When I was struggling with the effort it was taking to write in a journal every day, I remembered about fountain pens and that I had one. I still baulk at writing down my thoughts from time to time but the pen makes it easier.

The Moody Blues - Dear Diary - https://youtu.be/F-ZRTzEgM-I

I like dogs and that's never been a secret. One day I'll have one of my own again. I say hello to every dog I meet when I'm out walking and given that I walk a lot, that's a big number of canines. Sometimes their humans say hello as well. It's rare for a dog to ignore me so I think I must smell OK. I'll be dog sitting again next weekend after an extended break as a result of my back injuries and rehab. I am very, very excited!

Dolly Parton - Cracker Jack - https://youtu.be/h-Jaz0CW4Sk

I like flannel shirts, I always have. They are warm. They are cheap. You can undo the buttons if you're out walking in the bush and you get too warm. You can tear one off to wave at swooping magpies near the ruins on Mulligan's Flat (two weeks ago). You can roll one up for a backrest on the bus and then wear it again without needing an iron. When it's cold and you're refusing to run the heating you can wear two or three and be toasty**. Coming home from Adelaide I was even complimented on my flannie by a woman in the boarding queue, although it was my dress one from Rip Curl! Recently discovered photos have reminded me that I wore them a lot as a teen as well.

The Angels - Fashion and Fame - https://youtu.be/g49Jd1LR2vI

Before I finish I want to recognise the passing of Angry Anderson. Angry packed a lot of power and passion into his life and music. I remember meeting him very briefly at the Melbourne Zoo in 1988. His stature as a legend of Australian rock and roll is without question. I was fortunate enough to see him in front of Rose Tattoo a few years ago and it was great. His vocals were horrendous for the first song and a half and then something clicked and he was on fire all night.

Rose Tattoo - Rock 'n Roll is King (live) - https://youtu.be/BgR9px2tHsc

I might go cycling tomorrow and that will be four weekends in a row. That's groovy.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"Now I don't need to worry 'bout tomorrow
Ain't anticipating what's to come
And I don't need to worry 'bout
The things I have not done
Long as I've got rock and roll
I'm forever young..."

Cinderella, One For Rock and Roll, 1990.

**maybe just run the heating next winter you idiot...

World Wide Woozle episode #679

Hello, I'm back again. Hang on whilst I plug my computer into the gas mains because I'm not getting the sound I'm liking.**

But now it seems, I'm just a stranger to myself

I wrote this bit yesterday, August the 15th. Today is important to me for many reasons that I hadn't realised until this morning. Facebook told me so. Four years ago today I took possession of my current abode. It's small, but it's mine. Prior to living here I had become unexpectedly homeless and will forever be thankful to Bing, Todd and Suzy for putting a roof over my head for a few months. Six years ago today I went to my first coffee catchup with the Veterans' Motorcycle Club. Some of their members looked out for me for a while and I'm still friends with them. Good blokes who care. Twelve years ago on this date was my last day of employment as a teacher. I don't miss it too much but, for almost fifteen years I loved it. Thirty one years ago today was one of the highlights of my relatively unremarkable military career. I was part of the Catafalque Party at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier on VP Day. I remember meeting some WWII veterans that day in between our shifts in the Tomb. One of them cried because he couldn't believe the care we had taken with our uniforms and drill. Years later I would work at the War Memorial and spend hours and hours in the same place. After the last couple of weeks I needed some help regaining my perspective and these few milestones have helped me move towards that.

  
  

Mulligan's Flat - 15 August 2026

Frenzal Rhomb - There's Your Dad - https://youtu.be/L8WgW_ueiFs

Memories of a frozen time beyond

Long time readers and listeners will know of my admiration for the Canberra heavy metal band, Armoured Angel. In my opinion they are one of the greatest bands of that type that Australia has ever produced. Last week, via their FB page, I noted that a couple of demos from their unfinished 1996 album were being released on limited edition 7" record and CD. Well, they did it right and the package deal including those as well as a t-shirt and two patches arrived this week. Keeping in mind that the album was never completed and that these are early recordings from those sessions, I still like them. Well, one song I really like and one might take a bit more time to grow on me. It's interesting to ponder what these tracks might have become. Armoured Angel aren't on any of the official streaming services but you're welcome to come to my place to listen to almost everything they've ever released, as well as a stellar live bootleg. And of course there are unofficial tracks on YouTube, like this one...

Armoured Angel - Armoured Angel - https://youtu.be/A64Q8CPN6rw

Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams

In late 2024 I went to the Mojave Desert with my good mate DUG. Other than being spectacular, and some of the best few days of my life, I was introduced to riding in Jeeps. I'd never been in one and since DUG has two, I've been in both! I could never justify owning one here, especially at the moment when I drive about 30km a week, but they are such fun. So, a while ago I weakened and ordered one, sight unseen, online. It didn't take long to be delivered and I am very happy with it. My only complaint is that it isn't red or silver like DUG's but I guess I'll cope.

The Dresden Dolls - The Jeep Song - https://youtu.be/807hyrQiK5A

But the miles, they never seem to end

The Commonwealth Games are over. With all due respect to Glasgow who stepped in and ran a good event at short notice, the whole thing has become a bit ho-hum. The Comm Games used to be a big deal. Now it's a bit like a glorified training camp where one or two countries win almost everything because the majority of top ranked competitors aren't from the Commonwealth. We could fix it though. Firstly, one city generally isn't big enough or financially able to host a big event. How about we rotate it between countries? I mean, Australia wins a lot of medals so why don't we, as a country, host the whole thing. Our weather is good, we love sport, and taking the whole country into account we have the facilities. Perhaps we could invite former Commonwealth countries to compete in order to bolster the competition. Or, limit how many competitors from one country can be in a final. You don't get a single country getting gold, silver and bronze in the same event at the Olympics do you? How about we go back to treating the Commonwealth Games seriously or, or limit eligibility to emerging athletes, or find our way into stronger competition? Australia somehow manages to compete in Eurovision after all.

John Farnham - Playing to Win (The Acoustic Chapel Sessions) - https://youtu.be/5QOy7d-VWpY

I'm made of metal, my circuits gleam

Not counting my early dalliances with the original Fitbit devices, I've had a smartwatch since 2020. Initially I had a Garmin Instinct and more recently an Amazfit T-Rex 3. Both are fabulous devices that do more than I've ever needed. There's a dark side to them though. The first is relatively obvious and that is that you are always connected, regularly distracted, and never alone. How many times have you been out for coffee, at dinner, in a meeting, or having a conversation when either you or the other person has got a notification on their watch and decided to read and/or deal with it? It's become a constant in our lives and I think it sucks. I can deal with that though. It happened when mobile telephones came into our lives and the behaviours we have all learned aren't going anywhere. There is, however, a bigger problem and that is the potential obsession with the data that smartwatches collect. More than a year ago now, my psych and my dietitian asked me what kind of data was on my wrist. I enthusiastically told them about my resting heart rate, number of steps taken, kilometres ridden and walked, sleep patterns, and calories expended. Both of them advised me to turn these features off, or at least to hide them from being seen every time I looked at the time. You see, I was fixated on the data. Could I train harder and get my resting heart rate under 40bpm? Did I need another quick walk before bed to get my steps to whatever insane goal I had in mind? Had I burned enough calories that day so that everything I'd eaten was negated and I was in a deficit? Are you getting the picture? In the last few weeks I noticed that I was opening the app for my watch and checking all the data again, often, and too much. Funnily enough, what made me realise this was that the watch was digging into my ulnar styloid (the bump in your wrist on the same side as your little finger) and bruising it. Why was my wrist skinnier than usual? And yes, I know the answer to that question and it involves nutrition. Can I ditch the smartwatch altogether and regain some of my sanity as well as my focus? Maybe. For now I'm only wearing it when I go walking, or hopefully cycling, to track those activities. I have loved watches since I got my first Timex as a small child whilst living in Singapore (I still have it, and it works just fine if you wind it up). So I'll go back to wearing some of the cool watches that I have neglected for ages. At the moment I'm rocking a groovy green Casio F91W which Angus got for me in Japan a while ago. Apparently the watch, unlike me, is quite a fashion statement.

Queensrÿche - I Dream In Infrared · https://youtu.be/JJowBTSh90E

And now, I'll do my second set of exercises for the day and then head outside before it rains. 

Keep smiling you legends,

The Woozle

"Would Jesus build a border wall? Would Jesus drive a tank?
Would Jesus own an arsenal? Would Jesus run a bank?
Would Jesus feel safe in his skin if he came to your town?
Would you still believe in Jesus if you found out he was brown?"

Jordan Smart, Who would Jesus bomb?, 2023.

** thank you John Bird.

World Wide Woozle episode #678

Welcome back.

Here is the weather forecast; I've been out on the World Wide Woozle balcony and it is pissing down with rain.**

Puts a song in this heart of mine

For the new readers/listeners/stalkers, as well as those who simply don't pay attention, I live in Canberra. Rain here is so unusual that it means people lose their minds. Hardly anyone knows how to drive when the roads are wet, raincoats are things that other people have, and our footpaths are clearly designed to flood. The timing of this precipitation is also right on the money, with our local government trying to lower the level of a few lakes to allow for maintenance. Seriously, who would want to be in a scuba suit in a Canberra lake in the middle of winter? 

Hazlett - queen of the season - https://youtu.be/FwgEPkGVu84

Anything, anytime

Fans of comedy, bird lovers, and children of the 70s and 80s would have been sad, like me, to hear of the passing of Bill Oddie. Did you know that Bill played drums in a production of the rock opera, Tommy, along with the London Symphony Orchestra, or that he sang on a Rick Wakeman album? Neither did I. The internet is useful some of the time. I was fortunate enough to have The Goodies as part of my childhood whilst living in Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia. Hats off to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who from memory screened an episode four nights a week for many years. Bill Oddie was 85.

The Goodies - The Scout Proficiency Badges - https://youtu.be/tZBeuFbn3Go

Think I'll buy me a football team

I have a love/hate relationship with music streaming services. Artists aren't paid properly, everyone wants to listen for free, it's the death of the album, and greedy executives manipulate algorithms to choose what we listen to. Streaming, however, allows the curious to find music that was never going to be on the radio, or easily accessible, and I like that. More and more I listen to podcasts and audiobooks on Spotify but music comes from my own physical library loaded onto an old iPod or my phone. For the readers who may be unsure, a podcast is like a radio show, documentary, or an interview, it's just that you listen when it suits you. What can we do then, because music streaming isn't going away. One thing to consider is supporting bands and performers to make their music. 

Recently I pre-ordered a couple of albums from less well known Australian artists. Of course, these albums will be on streaming services soon enough and I can and will listen online too. But, and it's a big but (and I cannot lie) there will be no more good music if we don't pay fairly for it. Artists can't survive on streaming clicks, Facebook likes, and fresh air. The albums I have ordered are from Fanny Lumsden, and from Perry Keyes. I'll link songs from them below. Fanny, I have seen live and have some of her work already. She's a fabulous country/folk artist who hails from the Riverina in New South Wales. Her album, Traditions, is out on October 30 but available to order from her website. Perry Keyes came to my attention when I realised that he wrote the song, The Day John Sattler Broke His Jaw, which was re-recorded by The Whitlams. Both versions are fantastic but I really like Perry's grittier sound and delivery. I simply love the way the drums hit four strong beats(eg: at 1m20s), what a great song. Perry's new album, The Alison Bend, is out on 21 August and you can get it here.

Fanny Lumsden - Difficult Woman - https://youtu.be/MGkHkcK_0II

Perry Keyes - Warren Zevon Has Stopped Drinking - https://youtu.be/cBaGpqvtm30

Because everything I say is everything you've ever wanted to hear 

I read, in books, online and on the subway walls, that the truth will set you free. To quote Henry Rollins though, "I'm a liar". I am struggling with eating and food more than I care to admit. I wrote about it last time and it may have sounded as if I was making progress, but I'm a bit stuck. I guess, like most things, if you haven't been there then you can't quite understand. I'm not going to fade away as I did when this affliction really ramped up, but I am worried. I saw my psychologist last week and I told her the truth. I mean, if you're going to lie to the shrink then why bother going? I should know, it took me years to get that right. Again, I'm not asking anyone out there for help, but if I keep on outing that unhelpful voice then maybe it will help me to shove it in the corner more easily.

Tears for Fears - Shout (live) - https://youtu.be/Y9F3RnLED1s

Studio 54 is the only place to dance

Recently I finished listening to the audiobook version of Chrissy Amphlett's autobiography, Pleasure and Pain. If you are a fan of the band, or interested in Australian music from the 80s and 90s then it's worth picking up. In some ways, however, it was a difficult read for me. Divinyls were a fabulous band but knowing some of the darker parts of their story and how entitled they were, at times, is a bit hard. After finishing the book I read a review of it that said something along the lines of, "great band, terrible people". 

Divinyls - Only Lonely (live Australian Made 1987) - https://youtu.be/vPFgK3sDUnY

The blood of the guitar was Chuck Berry red

Finally, the guitar. I committed to doing my level best to play it a bit. There are only six guitars in this house and it's hard to avoid them. I tuned up my old Taylor acoustic and I've been strumming a few chords more than once a day to get my fingertips back in shape. Guess what, I can still play. I think my next thing to do will be to learn a couple of new songs. Thanks to those of you that have been positive about this.

Tune in next time for lots more blethering including how we can fix the Commonwealth Games, and my review of a new release from the best heavy band Australia has ever produced.

Tabeana,

The Woozle

"Yeah, it could be any one of us, with a broken mind...

I learned about mercy
For everyone else, and for myself"

Suzanne Santo, Mercy, 2021

** thank you John Bird.

World Wide Woozle episode #677

Hello enormous listening world. For the comfort of others, please refrain from using the toilets whenever we're stationary.

Buy for comfort, buy for kicks

Recently I happened upon a Facebook Marketplace offering that was actually good. A fella, in my local area, was selling a big collection of Henry Rollins / Rollins Band books, CDs, and cassettes AND at prices that weren't silly. I met up with him on a cold Canberra evening and came home with a book, some CDs, and a double cassette. I'll talk about the book in a future episode because I need to spend time reading it. The real gem of the lot was a live CD that usually goes for the same amount I paid for the whole bundle. The Rollins Band ripping it up on stage in The Netherlands. The double cassette is Henry reading selections from his early tour diary, published as Get In The Van. I'll stay away from Marketplace for a long while now but this purchase was a real bonanza!

Hard-Ons with Henry Rollins - Let There Be Rock - https://youtu.be/FMzowawbDbk

Some got pollution, some revolution

You may have guessed that I like to write. I think a lot about what to write when I'm out on my daily walks, when I'm riding the light rail, or in the shower. I have been tempted to turn it into a podcast but the reality is, I wouldn't be able to play any of the music as part of that without paying licensing fees. Oftentimes these episodes live in my head as a radio show akin to that of Henry Rollins or Bob Dylan but they can stay there. Unlike many other bloggers, writers, podcasters and dare I say it, influencers (vomited in my mouth there), I actually pay attention to the creative output of others. My good mate Dave Macca has recently taken steps to return to writing via his blog. Macca can read more books, and remember what they are about, than anyone I know. To top it all off, he has a talent for speaking, and writing that makes stuff interesting and accessible to a wide variety of readers. Check him out here. Minds are for expanding.

Belle and Sebastian - Wrapped Up In Books - https://youtu.be/iBU-MxydbWQ

Jaws was never my scene

Cycling. There, I said it. I've now ridden my bike three times in the last three weeks. Before anyone feels the need to tell me to be careful, to rug up, and not to overdo it; yep I am aware and I understand. My days of long, long rides are over for the foreseeable future if not forever. After more than a year of rehab, and a lot of bad words said under my breath, I am allowed to ride for about 30 minutes at a time once or twice a week. The first two times I went out were nerve wracking to say the least, but other than a minor twinge in one of my glutes, they seemed to go reasonably well. Yesterday I went out for a trundle with Toddo and that was totally awesome. We cruised in the sun wearing our full winter riding kit, talked non-stop, and it all felt good. This was also the first time I'd worn cycling gear in a long while and it still fits! More on that later. My plan is to be able to ride approximately 50km once a week with my mates, as well as a couple of shorter rides. Given that I used to push out 300km a week, the mindset change involved is, and continues to be huge.

Miranda Lambert - Gravity Is A Bitch - https://youtu.be/WnxfVJd4VzM

The sounds of the city, baby, seem to disappear

Recently I've been helping a local band to set up their sound production by attending rehearsals and a gig to do some mixing. I've also been assisting with in-ear monitors (IEMs). Essentially IEMs replace the big speakers that point at the band so that they can hear themselves. A lot of musicians have significant hearing loss because those monitors need to be loud to compete with a drum kit, the lead guitarist's 100 watt Marshall stack, the bass player's personal hygiene issues, and the singer's ego. IEMs, which are glorified earbuds, provide each band member with their own dedicated mix at a volume level that they themselves can manage on the fly if they want to. What I notice with the band I am assisting is how much better they sounded as a unit once the IEMs were in place. The drummer commented that for the first time ever he genuinely could hear what was going on. I wish these had been readily available when I was a gigging musician.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Can't You Hear Me Knocking - https://youtu.be/6Ep-rIAe2Ho

With my back to the riser, I make my stand

I haven't played a guitar for more than a minute or two in over a year. It's not that I haven't wanted to, I just haven't been in anything remotely approaching the right headspace. I hear songs and think I should learn them. I have people both encouraging me and inviting me to play. I know it's good for me and I love it but, it's just not been happening. Last week I needed to have a bit of an intervention that was led by me along with some gentle pushing from two of my colleagues. You see, what happened, or at least what crept up on me, was that I had stopped eating. Not totally, because I am still here, but enough to be a major concern. It's a road I've been a long way down before but I haven't really had a relapse for a couple of years. And what happened? Well exactly what you'd expect; I started to feel that I was struggling at work, my mental health suffered, and there were a few other clear markers as well. It's a vicious cycle because I placate the voice in my head by not eating much. Then my brain can't function properly and the voice of reason and logic hasn't got enough energy to do its thing. Which brings me back to cycling. I was convinced that none of my cycling gear would fit yesterday and I almost cancelled the ride. Guess what, it fitted just fine, and probably the way it always did. Having others encouraging me to eat doesn't work, in fact it makes things worse. What I seem to be able to do, with the benefit of ongoing therapy and gentle understanding from others, is to re-convince my brain that being healthy and eating properly go hand in hand. When I get that mix right then I can manage to have good things in my life; like playing the guitar and leaving the house. So, without wanting to put unnecessary pressure on myself, I'm going to take some of that stubbornness and willpower that the eating disorder uses to be unhelpful, and try to channel it into something positive. The song a day playlist works and is up to over 200 entries, and I can manage my back and core exercises four times a day without fail, so I'm going to try to do some regular strumming and picking. Watch this space. 

Lux Lisbon - Get Some Scars - https://youtu.be/D13lu3aajjo

I think I've said enough. See you next time for another random set of ramblings.

The Woozle

"Poor old Johnnie Ray,

Sounded sad upon the radio,

Moved a million hearts in mono..."

Sugarland & Sara Bareilles, Come On Eileen (live Dexy's cover), 2011.

World Wide Woozle episode #676

Welcome back Woozlephiles. Stop your doom scrolling and save your mind.

I got a brand new pair of roller skates

Last time on the World Wide Woozle I presented a range of songs that all had one thing in common. We had Alex Harvey, Cheap Trick, The Temptations, Taylor Swift, Waylon Jennings, and Bon Jovi. Did you pick it? And were you smart enough to realise that if they all had something in common then you really only had to listen to two or three tracks? The answer is that they all included a key change. I can see some aficionados out there slapping their foreheads in annoyance; of course, it was so easy! The Bon Jovi or T.Swizzle tracks are the most obvious. Key changes are groovy and seem to have become more and more rare in popular music. To me, they have the potential to re-energise a track, hook the listener in, and I just think they sound cool. People like me who can only really sing in one key should avoid them though.

The Offspring - Love Story (live) - https://youtu.be/E1oB31kglYw?si=zku3lIy-eRocpyJD&t=2195

If you find a funny face in your comic book

I've written before, and on the old Farcebook, about the 1992 demos that I am working on remixing with a view to having them mastered and then put onto CD. I am more than pleased to say that the other three members of the band have been in touch and are happy for me to do this. Maybe I'm just old and sentimental but it was absolutely awesome to connect, especially with our amazing singer Mel, who I hadn't had any contact with since about 1993. Thanks to DJ DJ and DJ Doc for helping me to track her down. 

Tracie Bennett - I'm Still Here - https://youtu.be/TInk1BcbAMQ

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

I had to go to the newsagent a couple of weeks ago. Remember those? Well for some reason a parcel I had to collect was waiting there for me. Whilst I was there I perused the magazine racks. Those racks were pretty sad and depleted; I guess print magazines are out of favour. Then I spotted one that was a complete retrospective of Tom Petty's career. I'm a big fan and I thought it would be a good thing to pick up until I saw the price. $25 for a magazine. Hard pass. Wow. That's a quarter of my weekly food bill and I could get a couple of old Tom Petty albums for that price. No wonder the newsagent has become a parcel collection point. Thankfully, Bing had the 2018 version of said magazine which I assume is exactly the same.

Tom Petty - You Don't Know How It Feels - https://youtu.be/ygfA1A45tn8

I'm movin' on up now, gettin' out of the darkness

I had a very, very bad day on January the 5th this year; one of my worst ever. Well, that was now six months ago and though it's still pretty challenging at times, things are improving. All week I could feel a bit more space opening up in my brain and last night I felt almost normal. And then, just like that, today the black dog barked loudly. So, I went outside, I walked, I treated myself to something I wouldn't normally allow myself to eat, I avoided anything negative, I meditated, and I did my best to accept what was going on. It's a wild ride and tomorrow is another day.

Queensrÿche - Best I Can - https://youtu.be/PTD6773wA58

I'll buy your knick-knack, just check my feedback

I've now dubbed all of my old four track recordings into digital format to preserve them into the future. After some soul searching, it seems like the right time to sell the old Tascam Portastudio. I read online that these classic pieces of recording equipment are having a bit of resurgence. So if anyone out there wants to take this off my hands and get hip with the kids just let me know. I'm going to put the money from the sale towards a worthy cause that involves teeth. I've been remixing some of my old solo demo tracks from 1994 too. This has helped me improve my editing skills using software in preparation for working with the full band tracks. You can hear a couple of these (Contemplation and Come Back To Reality) if you're feeling brave. Please remember that these ones were only ever rough recordings of ideas, with me playing everything, made to present to a band so that we could work on them. There are a few more to come when I'm feeling brave. All of my previous tracks are at this link.

Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star - https://youtu.be/3aatEBIZHNU

Tune in next time for more blethering, and news of a Rollins CD and book haul!

Look after yourselves,

The Woozle

"Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day, your dream is over
Or has it just begun?"

Kurt Deimer with Geoff Tate, Silent Lucidity, 2026