Song Of The Week #292

Yesterday I went on an excursion to the steel works at Port Kembla. The last time I was there was as a university student on a similar tour. All those years ago the good people at BHP weren’t all that happy about me calling them “environmental terrorists”. And while I stand by the comments at that time and place I can reassure you all that I was well behaved yesterday. It was a very long day trip this time compared to the two or three days we spent in the area back in the early 90’s when we stayed in a dodgy pub!

Blackfoot - Diary of a Working Man - http://youtu.be/HTO1B7hAK60

I was educated on the bus with a couple of movies watched en route. Note that this was a Year 9 outing. The funniest moment was me realising that Channing Tatum was a boy’s name. Oh, and if I never see another Miley Cyrus movie it will be too soon. At least they watched Captain America.

We love rain here in Australia but I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it just needs to rain in the evenings. All this daytime rain is getting in the way of cyclists all over the place especially me. The only good thing about the car, other than being safe and dry, is the stereo. Some songs just seem made for the sound systems in a car, here’s a case in point.

Sammy Hagar – There’s Only One Way To Rock – http://youtu.be/RcsFpztaJIc

It’s 20 years since Kurt Cobain from Nirvana died. I was fairly harsh at the time about the circumstances of his death. These days, with a little more life behind me I’m rather more thoughtful.

Nirvana - Aneurysm (live) - http://youtu.be/PvwqSMRtoSI

Also 20 years ago I was away with the Army learning how to take over the world with computers. DJ NotSoFatHenry and I met on this three month course and remain firm friends to this day. We both worshipped at the altar of Henry Rollins' album, "Weight". I have him and his wife DJ Ducky to thank for getting me into Bowie and some other cool music. The guitar squeals in this one are a real treat.

David Bowie - The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell - http://youtu.be/2pIyTFynO-8

Some fads are cool and some are just annoying. The "selfie" craze drove me mad yesterday. Here's two songs that I thought of ...

Ringo Starr - Photograph - http://youtu.be/rGuPfCD9kdk

Carly Simon - You're So Vain - http://youtu.be/b6UAYGxiRwU

I heard Dan Sultan playing this week on SBS TV's "RockWiz". I was struck by the smoothness of his voice and also that he had a banjo player with him. Cool song...album released today!!

Dan Sultan - The Same Man - http://youtu.be/02SVwEZudWc

I read this week that Nils Lofgren has been playing with the Boss for 30 years now. You can read the article here should you so choose. He recalls playing some cover songs on the recent Australian tour. Nils also says that no-one plays The Easybeats "Friday On My Mind" because it's too much work....oh really....

Gary Moore - Friday On My Mind - http://youtu.be/qDorH739Zgk

The Rubens - Friday On My Mind - http://youtu.be/dTCssVzTluY

David Bowie - Friday On My Mind - http://youtu.be/f7heEHFfjkU

Point made.

Here's a few songs that I've enjoyed playing live in the past. The Midnight Oil tunes are a lot of fun but the concentration that goes into a lot of them at the moment is fairly intense. These are simpler tunes that were just fun to bash out.

First up is one that every single Mr. Walker (my first real band) gig started with...

Georgia Satellites - Hippy Hippy Shakes - http://youtu.be/1oeqMBXvGU0

Then there's this one...I enjoyed it because it meant the other guitar player wailed on the sax and you could hear me playing!

Beast of Burden - Bette Midler - http://youtu.be/Qp_eipTU7VQ

And another gig starter with a different band...

The Screaming Jets - C'mon - http://youtu.be/eYnROWi_SZY

Earlier this week the band played a closed rehearsal to a select audience. A month out from the two Canberra shows we felt that some feedback from punters was a good idea. It was pretty cool to line up the gear as it will be on stage and then proceed to rock out for a couple of hours. Getting Zoë up to sing some backing was a lot of fun as well. No-one would deny that there are still areas that need polishing but the show’s looking good. Seats are selling well so book soon or miss out. Teatro Vivaldi’s at the ANU is the place to throw into your search engine of choice.

Motorhead - We Are The Road Crew - http://youtu.be/fb3zSgxMuug

Anyone would think that I only liked loud music after this episode. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in today. But in the interests of balance wrap your ears around this effort from Nils Lofgren. It's a quiet version of a classic.

Nils Lofgren - Like A Hurricane - http://youtu.be/CkSr3etyG9M

Repeat after me, "no rain tomorrow, no rain tomorrow, no rain tomorrow....". My first guitar teachers loved this song.

Joe Feliciano - Listen To The Rain - http://youtu.be/UJ2xCjTjz5g

I'll finish with the sobering thought that Syrian refugees now make up 1/4 of Lebanon's population. Something to think about whilst our government pats itself on the back for stopping boat people trying to come here.

That'll do pig, that'll do,

DJ Rob

"And there'll be no barricades then
There'll be no wire or walls
And we can wash all this blood from our hands
And all this hatred from our souls

And I believe that on that day all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem" - Steve Earle, Jerusalem, 2002 (song starts about 5:45)