How many cool tunes in a week is too many? My time at the keyboard is limited only by the fact that the dog is sitting next to me and he really needs a bath. I may pass out from the pong before I finish imparting the majority of the musical mayhem. It's a tough job.
Rock music and a wailing harmonica go hand in hand. Ask Huey Lewis or Peter Garrett. Or maybe ask this next band. I only heard them for the first time during the week and there is no doubt that I'll be back for more. Interestingly enough, another band I like who hail from Alabama...
I've played Courtney Barnett before. Her music is very Melbourne in my opinion and not just lyrically. She's funny and she plays a mean Telecaster through a ton of pedals; what's not to like? Why don't I have a Telecaster any more?
If you've read this blog for a while you've heard Roky Erickson. He's a man with an interesting background so do some research. I'm amazed that he can make music at all. This is an older track and when I heard it I immediately thought that Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo had another band. There's a great squally guitar sound at the start of this track.
Rose Tattoo who? Did I hear anyone say that? Hush your mouths and listen...Guns 'n' Roses listened and it seemed to work out OK for them (for a while).
I've just read that Regina Spektor's music is "anti-folk" whatever that means. Someone smart can explain it to me. Is Slayer's music "anti-pop"? Is Kylie Minogue the "anti-Megadeth"? Regardless of all that pointless labelling I really liked this song when I heard it as the theme to a TV show. Great voice, wobbly guitar bits here and there and a driving beat. The TV show is OK too. Thank you Netflix.
OK, the new Ghost album is now available. It's been online free and legal for streaming via their website and I have to say I'm impressed. It's slightly heavier than Infestissumam but remains at the lighter edge of rock and metal. There is plenty of melody, crunching guitar riffs and the standard, and rather amusing, imagery. They'd like you to believe that there is a new singer and this may be true. I'm still not convinced that it isn't the Foo Fighters in masks.
In what turned out to be a great week for new releases Vintage Trouble gave us their second long player, "No.1 Hopeful Road". They're still on the AC/DC world tour as a support and if it turns out that they play here I will be more than excited! If you like good honest rock and roll played with sweat and passion then go no further.
More labels..."punk rock dance duo". Interesting enough to make me take a look at a Brisbane band called DZ Deathrays. Here's their track "Gina Works At Hearts" which is a lot more punk and indie rock than dance. I can hear a Spiderbait and Regurgitator influence in there in a good way.
As you know we've got a small gig on September the 6th to raise some money and awareness about Vanuatu still needing help. At rehearsal the other night we went through a number of songs that we think we'll play. At the end, basking in the glow of the rock and roll lightbulb, we asked Hayden to choose something. Bless his heart, he chose this and I couldn't be happier. Great choice mate. And he's a drummer!
Stay tuned next week for very exciting news from me as well as some early review comments new CDs from Brisbane rock noise band Thirteen Seventy and Slayer.
This isn't what I was going to finish with but Stagger Lee and Tom Waits can both wait for another day. Here's Taj Mahal with a song you all probably know as a result of the Blues Brothers!
Rock on Brothers and Sisters,
Rob
