World Wide Woozle episode #439

This is a public announcement: all typos are caused by the small black dog sitting on my knee. He's a bit sad because DJ Al-ee-sunshine has gone away for the weekend. Look, the truth is I wouldn't mind his assistance so much if he didn't keep resting his head on the keyboard! Anyway, on with the show!

As you all know, I enjoy a good cover version as much as the next person. This next one has me in a bit of a spin though. Sometimes I really like it and then I think to myself, "what WERE they thinking?!" Weezer have put out some very good records recently and this almost fits in with their sound but then again it doesn't. Cool drumming. Oh, and it was released yesterday.

Weezer - Rosanna - https://youtu.be/J8jr-p0lQZo

John Mellencamp has a new(ish) movie out called "Plain Spoken". Essentially it's John yacking all over the top of a live concert. He has a few interesting things to say but it gets old very quickly. I saw it on Netflix but if you get the BluuRay version you can turn his commentary off. Worth a look (on BluRay) even for casual fans.

John Mellencamp - Lawless Times (live) - https://youtu.be/D_IeTvynbs8

I think that John Mellencamp sounds more and more like Tom Waits everyday...

As a lot of my musical heroes age (unlike me, I'm timeless) their voices suffer and that's only natural. What's interesting though is those that seem to be pretty much as strong as they always were. Ronnie Dio was one of those prior to his death. I was surprised though to hear how good Dee Snider from Twisted Sister sounds. Check this out and remember that when this was filmed he was 61.

Dee Snider - We're Not Gonna Take It - https://youtu.be/2-DhlrMqKNk

And now for something completely different. Imagine if Brazilian heavy metal titans Sepultura died and were reincarnated as three teenagers from New Zealand. I think this is possibly the best metal release that I've heard in years from anyone. These fellows sing in the Maori language on some songs and it just sounds amazing. For young guys they're doing amazingly well. It's great to see that they have been picked up by the legendary Napalm Records and also that they are to play at Wacken! 5 stars for the song and the clip too.

Alien Weaponry - Kai Tangata - https://youtu.be/5kwIkF6LFDc

Yesterday I watched a documentary called "Rumble" It's on SBS catchup for all of you Aussies out there. The film is about the role of American Indians in popular music. It's very well made and there is a lot of really interesting information about a range of musicians including Link Wray, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, Randy Castillo and Buffy Sainte-Marie. If you're interested in the origins of blues, rock and metal then watch this. If you have a broader interest in American history then watch too.

Link Wray - Rumble (live) - https://youtu.be/fHEmDLQKrrk

Buffy Saint-Marie - Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee - https://youtu.be/_VXF7XzHgoA

Jesse Ed Davis - Red Dirt Boogie Brother - https://youtu.be/gjODwM-lj2M

I was sad today to hear of the passing of Australian guitarist Phil Emmanuel. He was just 65. I've chosen this next clip very much on purpose. Phil is known as a great rock and blues guitarist but this showcases another side of his playing. It's just so clean and fluid!

Phil and Tommy Emmanuel - Medley - https://youtu.be/M94V5DDQwrg

Of course with Alison being away for the weekend I have to wait until next week to see the latest Star Wars film. The upside is that I can probably watch all of the previous ones just to make sure I know what is going on. Ha ha! Other than that I can see a few kilometres on the bike in my immediate future. What a shock.

Finally this week is a musician whose name always reminds me of Darth Vader. Sadler Vaden is in Jason Isbell's band but also a solo artist in his own right. He's got a couple of albums out and if you like Tom Petty, slide guitar or The Black Crowes then you will be very happy to listen to them. One is out of print but both are available on streaming services. 

Sadler Vaden - Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore - https://youtu.be/rYI6CNAW-Fg

Have a great weekend everybody. And check back next time for a very, very heavy and rather awesome local release.

Rob

"How would I know that this could be my fate..." , Fell On Black Days, Soundgarden, 1994.

World Wide Woozle episode #438

My dear listeners and readers I offer you a humble apology. It has been too long since I assaulted your ears with my music selections. I think though that this episode will have something for almost everyone. So plug yourselves in and let's get on with it...

Here's something that was new to me at least. The Dead South have been around since 2012 and have three albums out. They are from Saskatchewan and didn't even stutter when I said that. If you like Americana, Folk and/or Bluegrass music then you should enjoy this track. My listening lately has had a lot of acoustic music in it and this fits in nicely. And even if you don't like this kind of music the film clip is very much worth a look.

The Dead South - In Hell I'll Be In Good Company - https://youtu.be/B9FzVhw8_bY

Let's stay with a similar sound for a minute. Australian and international guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel has a new album. He's got a ton of really neat guests appearing including Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires and some guy called Mark Knopfler. Watching Tommy play is a treat for almost any guitarist I know.

Tommy Emmanuel - Deep River Blues (with Jason Isbell) - https://youtu.be/YcbxsG3OWfA

Church of the Cosmic Skull play an interesting mix of music. At one point it's fairly doom style metal and then they add in moody and spacey stuff with choir vocals. I don't know what to call it...psychedilc doom trance prog? Labels aside, it's possibly the best thing to come out of Nottingham since Peter Shilton was in goals.

Church of the Cosmic Skull - Evil In Your Eye - https://youtu.be/QMJTofSaKUM

Ghost are back with a new single called Rats. They are also due to release a new album on June 1st. Rats is a bit heavier which is good; the nameless ghouls rock out with some solid riffing. The live album that they put out recently was a lot of fun and if the new album follows on from the single it may well become my extreme yoga and workout soundtrack!

Ghost - Rats - https://youtu.be/C_ijc7A5oAc

I should thank, belatedly, all of you who supported me during the Pollie Pedal ride. It was good fun riding through Gippsland but hills like Mt Hotham and the climb to Thredbo were some of the hardest days of cycling I've ever done. I was lucky to ride with some close friends as well as the politicians and industry heavyweights. Money was raised for a good cause and we got to see some really beautiful parts of the country, open cut mines notwithstanding.

Alison and I were fortunate enough to see Mental as Anything play a few weeks ago (thanks Blakey). I wasn't sure what to expect not having seen them for over 22 years. And whilst they have had a few retirements and lineup changes it was a fantastic show full of fun. You'd swear The Wiggles copped some stage moves from Greedy Smith.

Mental As Anything - Shake off your sandals - https://youtu.be/ySnm_TBOwjQ

In my continuing search for new bands who know how to rock and roll I spent a little time listening to Michigan rockers, Greta Van Fleet. There's no doubting that they are heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin in almost every way. As a result you could be tempted to say, "ripoff", and move right along. Here's the thing though; they are young, full of energy and genuinely rocking out. There's no digital trickery, no laptop in the background, it's just rock and roll. For that alone they get two thumbs up from me.

Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune - https://youtu.be/aJg4OJxp-co

Among guitar lovers, Joe Bonamassa is quite polarising. It's very much that you're a big fan or you can't stand him. I'm in the latter camp. It's not that he isn't an amazingly talented blues player, it's that I find it all very boring and ho-hum. He does it well but it's a bit vanilla in my opinion. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised to hear this stellar version that he's done of Taxman by The Beatles. It helps that he has Reese Wynans (from Stevie Ray Vaughan's band) on keyboards but nonetheless, it's a lot of fun. If he could only channel this much passion into his solo stuff...

Joe Bonamassa - Taxman - https://youtu.be/dgaM43KCqT4

I'm pretty excited to say that I've been working on a bit of a musical project. I was chatting to one of my friends about maybe picking up my guitar again after months of being unable to face it. She said that she sings a bit and would love to give it a go. Well, we've had a couple of rehearsals now, chosen some tunes and it's all systems go. With any luck we'll be ready to do some lounge room shows in a couple of months. It's pretty good fun playing acoustic guitar again; certainly a lot less gear to carry around! 

Let me address the elephant in the room of the band I used to play in. Almost a year ago now the decision was made that the band was finished. We played our final shows and celebrated what we'd achieved which was massive. That was in August 2017. The end of a band is a big thing, well it was for me. What messed me up was that not too long after it was all on again. I agonised about what to do. I like the guys in the group; we're good friends and we'd made great music together. But I'd been through the grieving process and I felt, and I still do, that I can't go back. George and Junk Sculpture are playing shows now with some new band members and I hope that they are fantastic. Rock on.

Sara Bareilles - Goodby Yellow Brick Road (live) - https://youtu.be/Ozd2ja7mAgM

I hope you listened to that track by Sara Bareilles as it really is spectacular. I found it whilst looking for song ideas for the new group. We won't be doing that song I don't think as I'm not sure I could pull it off on the guitar. My piano skills don't stretch beyond being able to play a C chord either. I did find this next song though, another cover, and my good friend DJ Lizzy thinks that it's better than the original. I'm not sure about that but it may be the best live version I've seen or heard. How much fun are they all having!!?

Sugarland with Sara Bareilles - Come on Eileen (live) - https://youtu.be/TMDqkBjvdMg

When Zoe and I flew home from Vanuatu last year we sat next to a guy who told us about a band his brother was in. I finally remembered to check them out and was suitably impressed. I may or may not have played them here before, I can't remember, but regardless it's worth an airing. Low down slugdy metal from Australia!

Motherslug - Electric Dunes of Titan - https://youtu.be/9Gvo_OK1Px4

Well there you have it. A bit of a bumper episode and I hope that there was something in there that you liked. If not, let me know. I'll finish with Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards. I was extremely excited to pick up a very limited edition live album of theirs on vinyl this week. It's not released on CD or digitally and I was quite amazed just to see it in the shops. Lars is of course one of the guys in the punk band Rancid and this was a side project that I really enjoyed. So get your Doc Martens on and jump around to this.

Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards - To Have and To Have Not - https://youtu.be/4qeAnOX-UCk

Rock on brothers and sisters,

Rob (with input from Sooky the lap dog)

"...got my kiss records out..." - Cheap Trick, Surrender, 1978