World Wide Woozle episode #511

Last time we were all together I was getting ready to head out to a gig. Well, it was a ripper. The food was great, the venue was decorated with skulls and candles and the band - well they were on fire. It may also have been the loudest gig I've been to since Motorhead back in 1991. I don't need to write much more about it as the band have posted a live clip from the show....

Witchskull - March of Winter - https://youtu.be/Pb4FxyJS_uk

It's a long weekend here in the ACT as Monday is Reconciliation Day. There's a lot I could say about this topic but I've just written 750 words about the value of cultural diversity in the workplace and I think my brain is addled. Here's the short version - diversity is important, we weren't here first and since our government and mining companies seem hell bent on not attempting to seriously consider the first Australians, it's left to you and I. A good place to start is having a look at your level of unconscious bias. You might be surprised, I know I was, and I do my best to be open minded and inclusive. I know it's a massive cliche but if you do act locally you can make a difference. If that's too complicated, then just don't be an arsehole.

Briggs - The Children Came Back - https://youtu.be/3-wMbFntrTo

This week I spent a lot of time listening to a band called American Aquarium. DJ HatDoctor referred to them as earnest alt-country and I guess he's right. It's a bit like if The Clash and Bruce Springsteen formed a harder edged country group. It's good stuff and they have a new album just released called Lamentations. Lyrics are important to me and combined with the honest delivery of singer BJ Barham and a cracking band I've really enjoyed it. I wonder if it's actually possible to buy a hard copy in a record store here or if I'll have to order online.

American Aquarium - The World Is On Fire - https://youtu.be/V8NdLznhx_A

American Aquarium - Tough Times - https://youtu.be/0SbP7GKTyr0

One of Australia's most successful bands were called Powderfinger. Their first album in 1994 was called Parables For Wooden Ears and, at the time it was a great rock album. I'm not sure exactly what happened to the band after that but, and it's just my opinion, they got really boring. Maybe they forgot how to rock. Kudos to them though for reforming to play an online concert that raised funds for charity. Loads of people liked it and that's cool. Here's what they used to be like back in '94....

Powderfinger - Tail - https://youtu.be/RF3racPCYDY

I've been trying hard to write a song this week (and last). Just when I think I've got something good I realise that it's a complete rip-off of something I've just been listening to. I've successfully re-written songs by KISS, Neil Young and strangely enough, Diana Ross. It's the same song but you might say I'm having trouble finding the right direction for it. Just for a laugh, here are the three songs I've manage to steal from so much that it's waaaay too obvious. 

KISS - Sure Know Something - https://youtu.be/PSURhxNYmDw

Neil Young - Comes A Time (live) - https://youtu.be/JCkZolk07lM

Diana Ross - Chain Reaction - https://youtu.be/ZuEHtZ0bn1I

Back to the drawing board for me I guess. Also, songwriters, never start in A minor or it'll end up being a Redgum song.

I wrote a bit more about mental health on Facebook the other day. I hadn't planned to but the song I was listening to just made me want to write. There are so many "self-help" videos, channels, Instagram feeds, websites, books and the list goes on. It just seemed to me that, for blokes, if you don't have a beard, a sleeve tattoo, the body of Rambo, tight chinos and a muscle shirt then you didn't fit in. Life's not like that. OK, if you do have all of those things that's perfectly fine but the plethora of almost clone-like self help gurus just got to me. I'm all good I assure you, I was just grumpy!

Bodyjar - Not The Same - https://youtu.be/36a6KI6o9VY

What a treat this week should be. The highlight will be an expensive and likely painful visit to the dentist on Wednesday. Apparently I've been a bit of a drama queen about this but the gas, the needles, the drill, the superglue, the crown and the jackhammer all have me a little bit worried. I've not been good with the dentist since I was a kid. Hopefully the laughing gas does its job. If not and you hear an explosion at about midday on Wednesday it was me.

Gillian Welch & Willie Nelson - I'm Not Afraid To Die - https://youtu.be/c4vBXDNyhqg

And here we'll wrap up for another episode. One of my acoustic guitars has just come back from getting its neck adjusted. With any luck it'll help me in coming up with some new tunes. If not, I'll probably end up with another song that sounds like Joelene.

Later y'all,

Rob

"...where is Def Leppard?

Where is Motley Crue?

Why do all my lyrics sounds like Dr. Seuss?...", Death To All But Metal, Steel Panther, 2009

(VERY BIG EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING FOR THIS ONE. DON'T WATCH IT IF YOU'RE EASILY OFFENDED OR HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOUR. NOT FOR KIDS.)

World Wide Woozle episode #510

The slight delay with the release of this episode is directly related to me having an essay to write. Now that the struggle to form coherent ideas and get them down on "paper" is over for a while at least, let's get back to the music. 

H-Block 101 - Group Dynamics - https://youtu.be/t1q4tu1zZ48

Starting off locally, I'm going to a gig tonight. Yes, you read that correctly. In these disease ridden, media saturated, manic hand washing times there is a show to attend. And, oh my goodness, it promises to be a ripper. I'm heading out to see Witchskull play a 45 minute set which will no doubt showcase their new album. Now, before some of you go into 'Today Tonight' outrage mode, here's what makes the show interesting. Witchskull are playing four shows over two evenings. There's a session starting at 17:30hrs and another beginning at 20:00hrs. At each show there are ten people watching. Each punter has their own table, appropriately distanced from the others, and will be well fed by the friendly staff at The Basement whilst listening to the band. Hats off to the band and the venue for putting on such a cool show. I believe it is also being recorded for broadcast later on. The thing is, in more normal times I would've quickly bought tickets to a Witchskull show. They are a great live band and heavy metal crowds are generally awesome to be in. This way I still get to see the band and have a meal into the bargain. Rock on! Full report next time.

Witchskull - This Silent Place - https://youtu.be/1uJse3pWOJ8

In 2009, Bruce Springsteen released the album Working On A Dream. I'd been a huge fan of his previous record and remember being a little underwhelmed by this one. Recently I revisited it and, while I think it's a solid album, it still didn't move me. Ah, but YouTube and their algorithms are fickle beasts and they threw up a live version of track 1, Outlaw Pete. What music critics might like to call the x-factor, and what I think of as 'oomph" is evident in this version and it makes a huge difference to the way I listen to it. Wow!

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Outlaw Pete (live 2009) - https://youtu.be/CKJtyeidL7Y

Onto the new Jason Isbell album, Reunions. Actually, this is just going to be a placeholder. I've been listening to the record quite a bit and I'm going to do it the justice of a little more time to sink in. Let me say this however, the reviewers that refer to this as Jason's "rock and roll album" are hearing something very different to me. Look, so far, so good but tune in next time for more. Here's a track from Jason and the band that you'll struggle to get on LP (it's only on vinyl) as it was a Record Store Day release a few years ago. Somehow I got a sweet deal on an unplayed copy via the Discogs website but it seems to go for silly money now. 

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Can't You Hear Me Knocking (live in the studio) - https://youtu.be/inW8y3dDS3Q

I had a conversation with an old school friend last week. We hadn't spoken in maybe twenty years (not counting Facebook). He's one of the people I credit for my wide range in musical tastes. And he's also the guy that introduced me to AC/DC. Anyway, we got to talking about live shows we'd enjoyed (or disliked) and he asked me what the best live show I'd ever been to was. I like to think that every live show has something to offer but obviously some are more enjoyable than others. The first big rock gig I went to was amazing simply for the sheer power and that was Motorhead. AC/DC was a religious experience for me on The Razor's Edge tour as it was the first time I saw them and I was such a huge fan. Battlefield Band at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in the late 80s was an eye opener that changed the way I thought about my musical heritage. But the live shows I enjoy the most are those that are unexpectedly good. For example, I didn't really expect Transvision Vamp to be any good live and I was so wrong. In the mid-90s I saw Roxette play live here in Canberra. I expected the pop drivel of The Look but what I got was a full on, guitar driven rock and roll show. It was truly amazing. That feeling of, oh yeah! has only been repeated once since then and that was fairly recently when I saw The Preatures. I've seen some great performances but Roxette and The Preatures far exceeded my expectations and both times I became an instant fan of the band.

Roxette - Sleeping In My Car (live 2001) - https://youtu.be/1vpS_-nN3JM

The Preatures - Better Than It Ever Could Be (2017) - https://youtu.be/JoXNn4Gjybk

I was watching an old Rancid (punk rock) concert during the week. It was pretty good fun with loads of tunes I knew. I did reflect though that I'd not listened to any of their more recent stuff or music made by members of the band in other guises. A couple of hours later I was pogo dancing around the lounge room (which is the only way to dance in my compact abode!). Lars also plays in a group called The Old Firm Casuals. It's not a million miles from Rancid as you'd expect but the guitars are heavier and there's a bit less of a ska influence and more straight rock and roll. It's good stuff. Jump up and down to this one....

The Old Firm Casuals - Casual Rock 'n Roll - https://youtu.be/xZMG2OagLn0

It's 10 years now since the untimely passing of one of the greatest voices in heavy metal and rock. RIP Ronnie James Dio. A guy who was small in stature but a giant on the world stage.

Dio - Man On The Silver Mountain - https://youtu.be/dAVJO18j-do

Lastly this week, a return to Midnight Oil. Since playing a lot of their music live and spending hours and hours learning to play it I haven't listened to them very much. But this week DJ Macca listed one of their albums, Place Without A Postcard (1981), as one he really liked. I thought to myself that I'd never really listened to it as an album so I put that to rights. This is the Oils before they were huge and the surf-punk influence is still very evident. I'll give you two tracks from it....one is possibly my all time fave Oils song and the other is one that I must admit is amazing and I'd forgotten all about it....

Midnight Oil - Armistice Day - https://youtu.be/e4xwg1tBHxI

Midnight Oil - Brave Faces - https://youtu.be/8UvHoXVIi_0

Stay frosty folks,

Rob

"...music is crap, aliens told me so...", Music Is Crap, Custard, 1998.

World Wide Woozle episode #509

If you like rock 'n' roll then Little Richard probably had a hand in it. Maybe you've never heard him play but his influence is weaved through the fabric of popular music. Artists such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly all recorded versions of his songs. Little Richard died this week aged 87. My introduction to him was via a song he recorded with the band Fishbone for a compilation album celebrating the music of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. Here it is...

Little Richard and Fishbone - Rock Island Line - https://youtu.be/2aPmGqcafKw

I heard the next song during the week and it's a real toe-tapper. A bit of a cross between ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd and as it turns out. Little Richard. It's a cover of a Little Richard track which I didn't realise.

Blackberry Smoke - Southern Child - https://youtu.be/LiN0Q3ULbKY

Cinderella may be from Philadelphia but they understood where Little Richard was coming from and included him in this tune from their excellent album, Heartbreak Station, released in 1990. On a side note, if you like bluesy, country tinged rock with great guitars then that Cinderella album comes with my stamp of approval.

Cinderella and Little Richard - Shelter Me - https://youtu.be/fgi5xdftOIA

Jerusalem was the school song at one of the institutions I worked at. I'd heard it before courtesy of Billy Bragg as it's on his album, The Internationale, and as a result I always rather enjoyed singing it on a weekly basis at Assembly! Here's the man himself. Sing along.

Billy Bragg - Blake's Jerusalem - https://youtu.be/KYKODFOnmWs

From Bragg to Monster Magnet. There's probably not a decent segue here but I'd been listening to tunes in the car in random order today and this one came along right after The Pogues. Powertrip is an album that is almost the perfect commercial blend between stoner rock and heavy metal. That doesn't mean it's watered down at all, it's just a great listen.

Monster Magnet - Tractor - https://youtu.be/HWnC1BeY40k

I haven't played any Motorhead for at least a couple of episodes so let's fix that. This is from the record 1916 which also happens to be one of my all time favourites. I saw Motorhead live on this tour with DJ DJ and that's where I learned the value of earplugs at loud gigs. I've worn them ever since and never regretted it. Why did I choose this particular track? Well, because it's fast and it's funny.

Motorhead - Angel City - https://youtu.be/TgnRyhOGwWQ

There is outrage on social media this evening because apparently our Kylie got paid a lot of money to appear in Australian tourism advertisements that now won't get used. Is that her fault? No. The headlines, if there have to be any, should read something like, "Kylie does her job and gets paid". Good grief.

Kylie Minogue - Did It Again - https://youtu.be/jDKPvy-ZXC8

DJ SAB pointed this link out to me at least 48 hours before The Guardian published an article about it. It's a website with links to innumerable recordings of the classic Peel Sessions. You can listen to bands like Billy Bragg, The Sisters of Mercy and Bob Marley recorded live in the studio by John Peel. Don't go there if you're short on time.  - https://davestrickson.blogspot.com/2020/05/john-peel-sessions.html

Reading back I have noticed that I mention the band Kyuss quite a lot. They are certainly influential when it comes to heavier, slower music. I like to think of them as the next natural progression on from Black Sabbath, The Doors and early Pink Floyd. They've got four albums for you to listen to. I also saw them live supporting Metallica back in the 90s - trippy. 

Kyuss -  Thong Song - https://youtu.be/CtFuXV5FEvI

Looking through my LPs yesterday I decided to throw on the album that the next track is from. I'm aware that there is also a Roxy Music version of this song but it's far inferior in my opinion. From the great electric piano at the start to the locked in bass and drums this is such a smooth, laid back yet insistent track and that's before you get to the vocal performance and the saxophone. 

Bryan Ferry - Casanova - https://youtu.be/yhcyrelsPMY

Well folks, that's it. Apologies for this episode being a day late. Angus has just had shoulder surgery and after being released from hospital in the morning, was back there later in the day conveyed by ambulance. That's what happens when the nerve block stops working. He's improving now and back at home thankfully. 

Sleep tight,

Rob

"I'm a wheel, I'm a wheel
I can roll, I can feel
And you can't stop me turning
Cause I'm the sun, I'm the sun
I can move, I can run
But you'll never stop me burning..." Man On The Silver Mountain, Rainbow, 1975. 

RIP Ronnie.

World Wide Woozle episode #508

Last time here on the World Wide Woozle I wrote about some albums that had greatly influenced my musical taste. I still had one left to reveal though. Some people were quite surprised by this choice and probably just as many people had an idea that it might be this one. In 1988 The Proclaimers released Sunshine on Leith and it made a huge impact on me. Other than the well known singles, it's an album full of soul, blues, folk and a couple of the tastiest Telecaster lead breaks ever committed to vinyl. I liked that Charlie and Craig Reid sang in their regular Scots accents (as they continue to do to this day) and that there was a dash of humour in many of the songs. Whilst I enjoyed the album a lot, it's as important to me as a body of work as it is for where it lead me over time. Almost at the same time as I was listening to new albums I got in 1988 (including AC/DC's Blow Up Your Video, Jimmy Barnes' Freight Train Heart and Stryper's In God We Trust) I spotted a cassette by a band called The Pogues. Had I not been looking for another album by The Proclaimers then I wouldn't have seen this one. The combination of Sunshine on Leith and If I Should Fall From Grace With God allowed my love of music to continue to broaden. The Proclaimers also led me to Steve Earle many years later and oh my goodness, wasn't that a revelation! So, listen to these two tracks with an open mind. The Proclaimers are a national treasure in Scotland and their famous single sometimes does them a disservice.

The Proclaimers - Sunshine on Leith - https://youtu.be/Iesps9w4HFw

The Proclaimers - Angry Cyclist - https://youtu.be/6ttRD_JuPng

I read this week that a film has been released about the life and times of bass playing superstar Suzi Quatro. Produced by two Australian filmmakers the whole thing took about four years to put together. I'll admit that my first exposure to Suzi was when she starred as Leather Tuscadero on the TV show, Happy Days. I'll report back on the movie once I've tracked it down.

Suzi Quatro - 48 Crash - https://youtu.be/cmVL_32GiBA

It was an interesting week in terms of studying. I received my worst mark for a university assignment since 1989. I must admit that it was a bit hard to deal with but in the end, it is what it is. I'll move on to the next piece and although I put plenty of time and effort into what turned out to be rather average, I'm not giving up. It's just a bit galling to be really enjoying a subject, doing all the work and then scraping a bare pass. I've had plenty of kind people reassuring me that these things happen and I know that is true. Let's see how the next one turns out!

Paul Kelly and Dan Kelly - Dumb Things (live on a tram) - https://youtu.be/B5oQv2F8Ia8

Since I don't like to sit still too long I've just started doing a qualification in mental health peer work as well. This one is funded by my employer and I get to study in work time so that's an excellent deal. To borrow a line from my good mate Todd; one in five people experience a mental health problem in their lifetime so you're safe if you're one of the four people sitting near to me ha ha!

Jason Isbell - Anxiety (live, solo, acoustic) - https://youtu.be/JwW_zr2uMiE

I'm slowly reading a book about the English bass player, Guy Pratt. The cover says that it's, "wonderfully indiscreet' and that's a fair call. Guy played bass with Icehouse, Pink Floyd, Gary Moore, Madonna and Iggy Pop to name a few. I'll comment more about the book at a later date but it did prompt me to go back and listen to some older Icehouse tunes. Great stuff!

Icehouse - Stay Close Tonight (live 1984) - https://youtu.be/jCeJWkbsqVM

It's easy to get a bit blasé with the number of tributes to essential workers. I like to think that they are heartfelt and as the father of one of those workers I sometimes get a bit emotional. I saw some Instagram footage of people in London clapping as Zoë's ambulance drove by and that's special. So, here are just a couple of tracks for you. If you don't like them then maybe this is that one time to keep it to yourself ok?

Puddles Pity Party - Bridge Over Troubled Waters - https://youtu.be/xAt8Sbf08-o

Queen and Adam Lambert - You Are The Champions - https://youtu.be/7LcLqIHzNkY

That'll do folks. Be kind to one another.

Rob

"...right here, right now, watching the World wake up to history..". Right Here Right Now, Jesus Jones, 1990.

World Wide Woozle episode #507

Depending on your point of view, it may be good or bad news to hear that I have worked out how to use some drumming software. Granted, I can't do anything particularly complex but a decent sounding rock and roll beat is a lot of fun to play along with. Also, it's cheaper and more socially acceptable that a real drummer. I'm currently re-working a song that I was trying to record and my next challenge is to either record a bass line using a keyboard or to get my hands on a bass guitar. 

Twisted Sister - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) (live 1982) - https://youtu.be/usvnTbsyeR4

Prince was an artist who played quite an eclectic range of music. He was equally at home with rock, blues, soul and funk. I read once that he mixed the live sound whilst performing on stage, but I'll have to go back and see how true that is. It wouldn't surprise me though. Here's Prince live in 1999 doing a song that he wrote but didn't make famous. Sinead did that for him with this one.

Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U (live 1999) - https://youtu.be/1NarDEEhOsM

The Rolling Stones have a new track available. As I've written before, I think the Stones write great singles but their albums just don't flow for me. This song is reminiscent of ska groups like The Specials and The Ruts while still including the rhythm and blues stylings that the Stones made their own. A ripper of a track.

The Rolling Stones - Living In A Ghost Town - https://youtu.be/LNNPNweSbp8

I wrote last time about listing 10 albums that have influenced my musical taste. I'll reveal the last one later today because, as Bing says, I need to give other people a chance on Facebook ha ha! Here are some tracks from the other albums. Remember, these aren't in any particular order. And they're not necessarily my favourite albums, just those that made a real impact on me. If you want a little commentary about why I chose these it's all there on Facebook.

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant (1967) - https://youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM (from the soundtrack album to the film of the same name)

V SPY V SPY - Soldiers (1988) - https://youtu.be/7Lg5Ja2qF6U (from the album Xenophobia (Why?))

Rollins Band - Disconnect (1994) - https://youtu.be/8KANoVk5CgQ (from the album Weight)

Billy Bragg - The Busy Girl Buys Beauty (1983) - https://youtu.be/tU6QUb1H8qM (from the 1987 collection Back To Basics)

Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (live 1985) - https://youtu.be/_BFXCgm5270 (from the album Live After Death)

AC/DC - High Voltage (1975) - https://youtu.be/Nnjh-zp6pP4 (from the album TNT)

Can we talk about tinfoil helmet wearing folks for a minute? I'm just a little bit over keyboard commandos who spend their lives on Facebook and Twitter complaining about the government's Covid-19 app. Seriously, if you're really worried about your privacy then delete your email accounts, get off all social media, never shop online and don't even read the news online. Amazon, Google, Facebook etc. all have far more data about you already than the government will get from the Covid-19 app. Sheesh!

Garbage - I Think I'm Paranoid - https://youtu.be/ypr18UmxOas

You may or may not like the proliferation of music videos being produced in isolation. I like them and for many musicians I understand the need for a creative outlet in tough times. This next one is rather special though. I'm not sure I've played a hymn here on the World Wide Woozle before but why not. This one came via my Mum in New Zealand on ANZAC Day. It's very, very moving. It's the hymn that's sung at the Dawn Service.

NZ Virtual Brass Band & Choir - Abide With Me - https://youtu.be/szjYUaF3nro

During the week I wrote a little piece about a gig we did back in 2015. It was when we played Jason Isbell's Southeastern album in its entirety. I won't steal my own thunder, but writing this did cause me to revisit the album. To be honest, it gets a fairly regular outing and is one of my all time favourites but I was forced to try and put some of the reasons why it was so great down on paper (well, it was an email but you know what I mean). I think the thing about Isbell is that he is a great storyteller. The songs don't have to be about him but you think that they are and that's a real talent. Can I encourage everyone out there to have a listen to these tracks and to pay attention to the lyrics?

Jason Isbell - Yvette - https://youtu.be/cDO9FhLFcaE

Jason Isbell - Cover Me Up - https://youtu.be/NaUCDqWzy1k

Jason Isbell - Super 8 (live) - https://youtu.be/7IUK0Ly6o1s

Going through hard times is made even tougher with the pandemic. I've had a few conversations with friends lately who just sound so tired. The thing at the moment is to keep talking, keep messaging, keep sharing silly videos and memes (within reason). With that in mind, I'll finish with a few songs that I use if I'm ever feeling a bit blue. Maybe they'll help you out too....

Roxette - Fireworks - https://youtu.be/EvpYdXjE0Rc (this just missed out on my top 10 influential albums)

Yothu Yindi - Tribal Voice - https://youtu.be/bBYHWKPLEnE (I was lucky enough to see these guys live twice)

Midnight Oil - Hercules - https://youtu.be/hih--64WkK0 (my air guitar song...and real guitar too as I love playing this track)

Stryper - Always There For You - https://youtu.be/0kiTy_rBtSk (sing along....it's a great track)

Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards - To Have And To Have Not - https://youtu.be/4qeAnOX-UCk (punk covering punk)

That's it folks. The temperature is above zero, the wind is howling and therefore it's time to get on my bike.

Rock on,

Rob

"Break-in, stake out, tell it in code
Everything is legal, anything goes
The nights get darker and the ill wind blows
Your life's in a databank at ASIO", A.S.I.O., Redgum, 1984