Welcome back, I hope you're sitting comfortably!
I managed to end up with some bruised ribs on Sunday so I've been off my bike for a few days. And it's raining too which means a couple of journeys to and from work on the bus. The saving grace is that I've got a ton of music to listen to and public transport is the ideal location. Mask on, headphones on...
Hothouse Flowers - I Can See Clearly Now - https://youtu.be/Y1HRcoHGmi4
Todd and I are off to the NSW regional town of Mudgee this coming weekend to participate in a 130km cycling event. He's been injured too but we're going to take our time and see if we can complete the ride. Sadly, our mate Mick has the 'rona so he's stuck at home. Mudgee is a beautiful place and when we were there last year it was a great day out. I predict carb loading, sore legs and big smiles.
Led Zeppelin - Over The Hills And Far Away - https://youtu.be/o-tT62bpYlU
Zoë has left and is now in Queensland for a little bit before heading back to London. It was simply awesome to spend time with her. I know that we have communication on tap but nothing beats seeing her in person. Fi and I are planning to go to the UK for a visit sometime around September next year. There's a couple of places that we'd both like to see but other than that we just want to take our time and look around. I haven't been to Scotland since our family left in 1978 to move to the other side of the world. Singapore seems to be the best place to stopover and I haven't been there since about 1975!
Last time I spoke about some upcoming shows that we're going to see and I forgot to mention that Goanna are playing in Canberra later in the year. That promises to be a great show...the 40th anniversary of their classic album Spirit of Place.
Goanna - The Razor's Edge - https://youtu.be/at5ImMt-h4c
DJ Pinky shot through a couple of photos from a recent Hoodoo Gurus gig that he was lucky enough to attend. It's great to see them out on tour after it was postponed due to you know what (and I don't mean Voldemort). I remember going to see them years ago at the University of Canberra only for the gig to be sold out. That was back in the early 90s and I really should get around to seeing them before long. What a great band!
Hoodoo Gurus - Less Than A Feeling - https://youtu.be/433CSzNrjA0
In the search for cool music I spend some time browsing around Bandcamp and Soundcloud. YouTube is ok I guess but there's obviously a lot of non-music content that clogs up my feed. I mean, I do watch a lot of guitar reviews but I don't think I'll share them here ha ha! One of my latest finds is Obsidian Tide. They are a moody, progressive metal band hailing from Israel. For me, they sound a bit like Pink Floyd and Coheed & Cambria with their own twist on things as well. Well worth listening to an album as opposed to just one track.
Obsidian Tide - Pillars of Creation - https://youtu.be/YGk9Ad6bGbw
Sleaford Mods have released a live six track EP, Live at Nottz Arena. If you like their style of rough, urban hip hop then you'll definitely like this. Amy Taylor and Billy Nomates guest on a track each. I know that it's just the vocalist over the top of their pre-recorded beats but that's their schtick and it works pretty well.
Sleaford Mods - Mork n Mindy (live) - https://youtu.be/8cGo4isi1Tw
A long time ago, in the early 90s, a metal band called Lethal Dose emerged from the country town I lived in for my high school years. I remember getting a couple of their demo cassettes when I was home on leave from the Army and they weren't too bad. What I didn't realise was that the band renamed themselves and are still playing these days as Terraphobia. It's loud, it's heavy and it's a helluva good racket. Australian metal fans may be interested to know that Mick from the band also played with Mortification.
Terraphobia - Eschanton - https://youtu.be/fVNRv5Oc3rM
Speaking of new releases; Italian punk/glam rock aficionados, Giuda, have a live recording out now. It's called Live at Punk Rock Raduno and is 41 minutes of foot stomping rock and roll. I really like these guys as they unashamedly channel the energy of bands like Slade and Sweet. Loads of fun and a live concert video wouldn't go astray.
Giuda - Roll The Balls - https://youtu.be/xUL8BwkOS0Y
The re-emergence of live gigs, the odd cancellation or postponement notwithstanding, has got me thinking about shows I've been to in the past. There's been some absolutely amazing performances including Steve Earle, Yothu Yindi, Jason Isbell, Transvision Vamp, Roxette and AC/DC. And then there have been a few stinkers as well (for various reasons) including The Church, Cheap Trick and Motorhead. I don't regret seeing any of those. There are three shows I can think of that changed my world completely. The first was Battlefield Band at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in 1988. This one helped me embrace my Scots heritage when they combined bagpipes and traditional Celtic music with more modern day sounds and tunes. The second was Armoured Angel in 1991 in Sydney. I'd never seen truly heavy music played live and with such focus. I went on to see them play plenty of times. And the third show, and probably the one closest to a religious experience was the Rollins Band at Festival Hall in Melbourne in 1994. I knew one song...and they didn't play it anyway! The stage lights were turned on full and left that way, the volume was insane and the band sat in a groove all night and didn't waiver. And then there was Henry Rollins. Clad in black shorts and covered in tattoos, sweat and muscle he proceeded to expand our minds and pummel our senses into submission. Nothing has ever come close to that performance.
Battlefield Band - The Clumsy Lover / The Unmade Bed - https://youtu.be/c78Rmt7p-GA?t=285
Armoured Angel - Enigmatize - https://youtu.be/bHKWHKGBFGE
Rollins Band - Fool (live) - https://youtu.be/WV__OLW6Dlw
Finally, I read this week about a marathon that starts at Everest Base Camp. It takes about 11 days of hiking just to get to the start. What a shame that I can't run anymore and I have a healthy dislike of camping or I could be tempted...that would be an amazing adventure!
Rock on brothers and sisters,
The Woozle
"And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets"
Glen Campbell, Try A Little Kindness, 1970.
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