I was rather busy this week. It seems as if everyone is suddenly intent on ruling a line under everything they can before the end of the year. As such I didn't draft this week's ramble - sorry if it therefore appears to be disjointed. What I did do as the week progressed was to jot down a whole lot of music to play.
I've really been taking stock of my life lately and what kind of real impact I can have without grinding myself into the ground. I won't kid you, as a middle class, middle aged, white male sometimes it feels like it's so hard to avoid being seen as only doing something as tokenism. However, I've been participating in a gender equity and diversity committee at work. I was nervous at first but really pleased that my views were taken seriously and it was recognised that I was genuine. I hate the term social justice because large elements of a range of organisations, especially the Catholic Church, have bastardised it for their own purposes. But I am interested in helping to work towards a fair go for everyone in my own way. I don't feel discriminated against or marginalised (unless it's by bogans in utes yelling at me when I'm cycling) but I remain keen to doing what I can to improve the lives of those who are.
Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Back Down (live) - https://youtu.be/pIw0JL-O6mo
I've been a bit on and off about The Hold Steady for years. I think I like them and then a whole album gets a bit tedious so I shelve the CD. Time for another go and this is a cracking song. They're a bit hard to describe but if you like Weezer & Springsteen you should be just fine.
The Hold Steady - Entitlement Crew - https://youtu.be/u2qnbkhH8DQ
Painters and Dockers were hugely influential to me as a teenager. Their live album, "Bucket" is a complete riot. Of course they had mainstream success with "Nude School" and "Safe Sex" from the "Kiss My Art" album in 1988 but I very much remember them as a sweaty pub band with lyrics worth a listen.
Painters and Dockers - Soul Child - https://youtu.be/Ys7TXrO7P5w
DJ BeeG put me onto this next artist. Sometimes Reignwolf is a one man band and sometimes not. My advice is to let this video play out and be amazed and the noise and groove that one man can make!
Reignwolf - Electric Love - https://youtu.be/ekq4ZMgMa1Q
Do you like soul? I do and that's mainly because of the way that vocalists in this genre manage to convey such deep emotion. Here's Charles Bradley making a Black Sabbath song very much his own.
Charles Bradley - Changes - https://youtu.be/S3YXIXp9zJs
Anthrax have a new live DVD coming out in 2018. The big news is that it was recorded in Scotland!! There doesn't seem to be any previews around just yet but I did stumble across this unusual and rather fine acoustic version of one of their classics.
Anthrax - Antisocial (live acoustic) - https://youtu.be/UkfneY5nD_8
Speaking of live DVDs as we were; hang onto your hats as Ghost are releasing one in January next year. Personally I can't wait to see if they are actually any good live. Here's a preview...
Ghost - Absolution (live) - https://youtu.be/vQwIDYF35ao
Billy Corgan, leader of the Smashing Pumpkins, has recently teamed up with Electro-Harmonix (who make Big Muff guitar pedals) to work on a reissue of the pedal that he uses to make his rather distinctive guitar tone.Guitar heads can check it out here. Here's a classic track from the band. Interesting that I always thought they used an ADA MP-1 rackmount pre-amp but obviously I need to do more research.
Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock - https://youtu.be/VbrfXDFuzu0
Dream Theater are a prog rock band who have moments of brilliance. There's no doubt that as musicians they are fantastic but the songwriting isn't always there in my opinion. Their former drummer (and one of the founders), Mike Portnoy, has a new band called Sons of Apollo. Their album, "Psychotic Symphony" has just been released. On the strength of the couple of singles I think it will be well worth a listen. It's a bit of a supergroup but I'll let you all spot them in the video.
Sons of Apollo - Coming Home - https://youtu.be/J_1N8kVYfkE
Finally, my Dad's en route to Antarctica at the moment. I'm not sure that I'd be keen to spend all of that time on a boat but getting to go to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica would be cool (ha ha). I really hope that they see some penguins!
Midnight Oil - Antarctica - https://youtu.be/a8qzcOIMWQM
Next week I should have a tale to tell about appearing in a music video. I haven't done that since about 2002!
Cheers dears,
Rob
"...went into his room and smashed his Billy Bragg records...", The War's End, Rancid.
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