World Wide Woozle #405

So much music to listen to; so little time.

This week I was out and about in a work vehicle and 30 minutes alone with the radio turned out to be very worthwhile as I discovered this next band. The Delta Riggs are an Australian group who sound like a cross between some funk, disco, rock and blues. Sometimes they are like a version of the Stones combined with Stevie Wonder's backing band. 

The Delta Riggs - Surgery of Love - https://youtu.be/QOQYYq4KGVA

Also on the radio was a mention of legendary Australian band Hoodoo Gurus. Dave Faulkner (singer) has one of those instantly recognisable voices and the band had the knack of writing very catchy rock and roll tunes. This selection is a bit more obscure but it's a cracker.

Hoodoo Gurus - I Was A Kamikaze Pilot - https://youtu.be/QOQYYq4KGVA

Last time I played Abbe May's, "Doomsday Clock" for you. No-one picked the song that I thought it sounded like. Fair enough; my ears and brain matter are all my own and your mileage may vary! Try this one out after listening to Abbe. More great Australian music.

Eurogliders - Groove - https://youtu.be/dN1SZyl_O0o

Last time I asked for listener's favourite lines from a song. Well DJ Macca sent a good one in. The version most people know is either from Petra in the 80s or KISS in the 90s. But here's the original. Actually, here's all three!

Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To You - https://youtu.be/QsG5V-o6uxY

Petra - God Gave Rock And Roll To You - https://youtu.be/4HdSLvza6e8

KISS - God Gave Rock And Roll To You - https://youtu.be/CQRYVsqVT3M

DJ Hamer-time and I are off for a ride in the country tomorrow. There's nothing all that unusual except that it's a 160km event and there's a massive hill in the middle of it. We're riding at Bowral which is new for both of us. I won't lie when I tell you it's a good idea that we don't have to go to work the next day!

Canned Heat - Going Up The Country - https://youtu.be/nBhpiUFSYWI

Well it's 4 years since my good friend Garry passed away. Between the topics of music, sport, politics and action figures we always had something to talk about. I'll never forget the moment I was told the news; early morning at a campsite near the beach. It was a couple of hours until anyone else was awake and that was probably a good thing. Life is short people; don't waste it.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Swingin' - https://youtu.be/I4vJM4L2D2U

The best thing about rock music is that (usually) it's fun. You can put on a record or go to a concert safe in the knowledge that at some stage you'll find yourself with your fist in the air, singing along with a goofy look on your face. You'll probably find that everyone else there will be doing the same. In the 80s I was a huge rock and metal fan because that's the way the music made me feel even if at times everything else around me wasn't so peachy. It's the feeling you get blasting some early Van Halen in the car even if it's only for a couple of minutes. Or the way you go "oh yeah" when you hear the intro to Poison's, "Nothin' But A Good Time" on the radio. Back in the day there wasn't the same access to information about bands as there is now and as such they maintained a certain mystique that seems long gone. This week I heard a song by a comedian called Jim Breuer. He's put out a full length rock and roll album and it's a lot of fun. You can tell that he grew up listening to great rock and metal bands and it still makes him smile. See what you think...

Jim Breuer and The Loud & Rowdy - Old School - https://youtu.be/dx_e8YaQpS0

See you next time folks.

Rob

Gone but not forgotten....

World Wide Woozle episode #404

Today we vote in the ACT. Do we want light rail or don't we? Do we trust any politicians to deliver what they've promised? And if the current Government is so good then why haven't they instituted all these wonderful promised things already? It isn't that they aren't good ideas, but when you've been in power for years surely some of them could've got a guernsey. In all likelihood we'll get another minority government due to the vagaries of our voting system but the pundits believe that it's far too close to call. The good thing about the election being over is that all of the advertising material can be removed from our beautiful city. We don't have billboards so seeing even small amounts of advertising stinking up the place is disappointing. 

It wouldn't be an election without me insisting that you all listen to this song. Look at that guitar!!

Billy Bragg - Ideology - https://youtu.be/dULU9qGSRWw?t=18m19s

You are all no doubt aware that Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Norman Mailer is turning in his grave and attempting a slamdunk in response. It's an interesting decision. In my book lyrics are a form of poetry and possibly the most accessible to the general population. Bob has tons of lyrics to trawl through and plenty of people dissecting them. That gets boring.  Surely the best line in popular music is.....<insert your answer here>.

Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock'n'Roll - https://youtu.be/JGaBlygm0UY

King of the North are an Aussie two piece, loud, rock band that continue to impress me. I've seen them live once and have both of their albums (and a t-shirt of course). That two guys can make so much noise is priceless. If you like energetic rock music then now is the time to try out this band. If you're one of my European fans then the band is on tour there at the moment.

King of the North - The Mountain - https://youtu.be/uP3ZiQbFyrc

Last weekend Davey and I provided 26 hours of non-stop music and commentary for the Australian 24 hr Mountain Biking Championships. Riding for 24hrs is hard work. Talking, staying awake and remaining almost sane is nearly as difficult. We had a blast. Unfortunately this, the 18th edition, was the last time the race will be run. I think I've ridden in seven and done commentary for four. I'd still happily change careers to work as a radio DJ if I thought it would pay the bills and someone would listen.

Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere - https://youtu.be/MtrOYsNCPmg

Abbe May's new song "Doomsday Clock" rolled around on the radio this week. I like it quite a lot. A straw poll of a few regular readers of this column revealed quite polarised opinions. See what you think....there's another song that I can't get out of my head when I listen to this but I'm not sure that Abbe is old enough to realise that she's referenced it in a good way.

Abbe May - Doomsday Clock - http://www.abbemay.com/press/abbe-may-counts-down-the-apocalypse-with-doomsday-clock/

Mojo Nixon never fails to make me laugh. Some of his material is crude but for the main it's a fairly cutting look at the culture in his homeland. I have one of his older albums on cassette and lyrics such as, "Don Henley, must die...don't let him get back together with Glenn Frey", never fail to put a smile on my face.

Mojo Nixon - Debbie Gibson is pregnant (with my two-headed love child) - https://youtu.be/cXLuSHx1fR0

DJ The BigChicken had a birthday this week. Ba-barrckkk! Here's a song for you my friend. Many happy returns.

Anthrax - Caught In A Mosh (live with John Bush) - https://youtu.be/eM11x00D1iI

Let me tell you about my cycling challenge. You may or may not have heard about the concept of "Everesting". That's where you find a hill and you ride up (and down) it non-stop until you've climbed the equivalent of the elevation of Mt Everest. I'm not quite mad enough for that (yet). One of my favourite climbs is Black Mountain here in Canberra. To "Everest" Black Mountain is 38 times up. I've been doing a few preparatory climbs and my aim is to do those 38 climbs on one month (November). Watch this space as I do my best for no other reason than I can.

Gary Moore & The Chieftans - Over The Hills And Far Away - https://youtu.be/-Wtsr6MxUkk

Yesterday I presented at a forum on behalf of my employer. I was much later on in the day after a number of speakers. I was moved to say something like this before I began. "I'm an immigrant to Australia. When I came here in 1983 I was genuinely shocked that it seemed no-one knew anything about Aboriginal Australia. Today we've had a Welcome To Country and every presenter has acknowledged, in a genuine manner, the traditional owners of the land. Our country is not perfect but this is a start." I couldn't help but quickly tell the story of the band being welcomed, with a smoking ceremony, to Gamillaray country. In a room full of people working towards equitable outcomes for a range of people it seemed to resonate.

I chose the next song for the energy, delivery and awesome sounds. Looks like it would've been a great gig to be at.

Saltwater Band - Bolu - https://youtu.be/qoTJ7JFGgGM

That's enough for one week. The sun is out, the sky is blue and I have to wander down to the Primary School to exercise my democratic right to vote for whomever I choose.

Peace.

Rob

Don't waste your time...

World Wide Woozle episode #403

In a week where a lot went wrong, I didn't get much sleep and it rained far too much, I'm pleased to say that music kept me going.

DJ Hamer-time and me are out at Stromlo next weekend doing commentary for the 24hr mountain bike race. This year marks the event's 18th birthday. It's also the final one. With the amount of rain that we've had it may turn into a kayaking event. I'm taking a snorkel and my flippers. Assuming that the ground isn't so wet that they are forced to cancel you'll be able to hear us on 99.5 on your FM dial in and around the event. Feel free to come on down for a chat even if you're not competing. 24hrs straight is a long time. Fortunately for everyone we'll be playing a lot of music as well.

Everclear - AM radio - https://youtu.be/ouTbcRUDS3U

It's the end of the Australian Football season this weekend with the MCG hosting the Grand Final between the Swans and the Bulldogs. It's hard for me to get excited as my team was knocked out last week. The Swans and the Bulldogs joined what was the VFL in 1897 and 1925 respectively. They have 6 premierships between them so you'd hardly call either team wildly successful. Grand Finals are rarely close or hard fought encounters. Last week's Giants vs Bulldogs game will probably be the best of the finals series. However, it's been a cracking season of football, I hope the Bulldogs can manage an upset to win their second only premiership and also that no morons feel the need to kneel down during the National Anthem. There's a time and a place to debate national symbols and the anthem; at the footy today is not that place in my opinion.

Mike Brady - Up There Cazaly - https://youtu.be/pxM8XB61ZvU

Alison and Angus gave me the first six Star Wars films on bluray as a gift recently. Starting at the start seemed like a good idea so a couple of weeks ago I sat through Episode I. My thoughts and review from when I saw it on opening night back in the day still stand. A very average film with great special effects an unwanted pseudo muppet. Last weekend was Episode II. Oh dear; I really had forgotten why I'd only watched it once before and that was at the movies. There may be some cool moments but all in all it is way too long and far too boring. It's so good that I slept through a chunk of it and missed nothing. Thankfully I know that the next four are awesome. There are 40 hours of special features as well. Don't expect a review on them anytime soon but I will get through it!

D.A.D. - Sleeping My Day Away - https://youtu.be/iJgHR-cpboY

Noting that Bruce Springsteen has penned an autobiography, imaginatively entitled, "Born To Run"), and that I've ordered a copy from the Book Suppository, I dipped back into some of his extensive back catalogue this week (or catalog for those of you economical with your use of vowels). With so many b-sides, demo versions, alternate ending versions, bootlegs and the like available it's easy to begin to overlook his 'standard' versions of albums. Like a lot of people my age, Springsteen exploded into our lives with the "Born In the USA" album. Cool kids I knew pretended to know all about him but the title track of that album and "Dancing In The Dark" were the huge hits when I was a teen. The "Born To Run" album was already 9 years old and ancient history if you were 15 yourself. "Born In The USA" is far from my favourite Springsteen album but revisiting it and subsequently the relatively recently released live DVD of the album being played in its entitreity reminded me that Bruce is a great guitar player. Yes, yes, yes; he can sing and write songs and perform 4 hour concerts I know that. But when the mood takes him and the mix is right Bruce is right up there as a rock and roll guitar-slinger.

Bruce Springsteen - Cover Me (live) - https://youtu.be/Smj_lZ4QF0U

I've been listening to some old Georgia Satellites tunes this week as well as guitarist Dan Baird's solo stuff and subsequent group, 'The Homemade Sin'. It's all good old fashioned bluesy rock and roll that doesn't take itself too seriously. Funnily enough, Volbeat who got an airing last week do a really good version of the Satellites tune, "Battleship Chains".

Georgia Satellites - Red Light - https://youtu.be/CVUwd4nqzlY

Dan Baird - I Love You Period - https://youtu.be/SFpsDAL4oKE

Volbeat - Battleship Chains - https://youtu.be/ZVEEt3i3878

I like a good protest song. Bragg, Earle, Paxton, Guthrie, Cash, Oils, Spys...they've all got some crackers but here's something else. This time from Canada it's alt-rock-country-folk outfit Blue Rodeo with some fairly clear messages (from 2015) about their displeasure with their government.

Blue Rodeo - Stealing All My Dreams - https://youtu.be/y3C1SWVquXA

That's enough for this time. Stay tuned for more.

Rob

Who knew?