World Wide Woozle episode #592

Hello and let's get on with it, OK?

This episode was a bit of a long time coming. Lots has been going on. As a result this is a bit of a bumper issue and it'll be the last one for 2022. Even World Wide Woozles need a break.

Is a change as good as a holiday? Maybe. A short break followed by a change might be even better. Jindabyne turned on the good weather two weekends ago and we made the most of it with some cycling, good food, walking, watching the cricket and talking a lot of nonsense. It was an excellent reset. So much so that I needed not one, but two naps when I got home on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to Todd, Riss and Mick for looking after me.

The Mark of Cain - Sleep - https://youtu.be/tbhrJxcsGVg

Nick Cave played live, with Warren Ellis, recently in Canberra. A couple of readers out there have let me know how good the show was. I was interested to hear that my mate Steve had a ball even though he knew almost none of the songs. That's most definitely an indication of a top shelf performance. I'm not a Nick Cave fan but I did find his recent interview on ABC's Conversations series rather interesting. 

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow - https://youtu.be/4sfhvxTZ0wo

From my new desk I can see across the top of the CBD to the lake. I can also see a crane which even moves once in a while. To top it all off there were window washers in Santa Claus gear hanging around on one of the large office towers. That made me laugh quite a bit! I've been in the job for two weeks now and I feel as if I have finally landed in the right place. I've got lots to do, it makes a difference to others and the team I'm in is awesome. Woo hoo!

Kate Ceberano - Feeling Alright - https://youtu.be/KixNHtd5IPo

Spotify Wrapped lets you know who, what and how much you have listened over the first 11 months of the year. Personally I think it would be much better if it actually added up 12 months of statistics but that's not my call. There's something definitely wrong in the Spotify algorithms though. In the playlist auto generated that is meant to show my favourite tracks of the year there are a couple I can assure you that I have never listened to and never will! Let's play something that I listened to a lot!

Colin Hay - Norwegian Wood - https://youtu.be/keN7u8_Q8ho

Midnight Oil recently released a live set recorded in Adelaide back in 1982. It's available on all the streaming services or you can purchase digital files (FLAC or MP3) with the money going to an Australian music industry charity. Personally, I wish that CDs were available but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Fans of the band will enjoy some of the lesser known tunes but there are still plenty of their more well known tracks there as well. Considering that this series of recordings are essentially desk tapes, this one sounds fantastic. There are a couple of moments where the mix is a bit weird but they are fleeting and don't detract from the fact that we're hearing the Oils in full flight. They are raw, raucous and tight. It's the sound of rock and roll.

Midnight Oil - No Time For Games (live, 1982) - https://youtu.be/dEeOpYt1Vw4

Empyre are a British rock band who describe their music as "intense, atmospheric rock, with a dark and introspective edge". I think that if you like straight ahead hard rock, Muse and/or Pink Floyd then this might be for you. The album is interesting and diverse without losing focus.

Empyre - Parasites - https://youtu.be/YItjEOpU7gk

I've listened a bit to Starcrawler over the last year. It's rock 'n roll that's full of energy and has the elusive swagger that bands like Thin Lizzy brought to the fore. They've released an acoustic version of one of their more recent songs and I think it works really well.

Starcrawler - Stranded (acoustic) - https://youtu.be/3bET0TAkEJw

The week before last I turned up to band rehearsal to find that the room had been double booked. We'd all made the effort to be there and so we drove down the road, found a park and sat in there for a couple of hours busking to the wildlife. It was a lot of fun! This week we were back in the rehearsal space with the world's loudest metal band in the next room. The only thing louder than their drum kit was the click track!! We're currently building a repertoire of songs which means trying a lot, dumping quite a few and then moving on to new stuff. Hopefully we'll be ready for a gig of sorts before too long. The trio has become a quartet so we now have two singers and two guitarists. Phew! I was feeling a bit under pressure as the only musician there! Here's a couple of songs I have to learn for next time. Covering covers...

Shihad - I Got You - https://youtu.be/2VXKPQHe_AE

Faith No More - Easy - https://youtu.be/vPzDTfIb0DU

Speaking of cover versions. It was only recently that I realised that Rick Springfield played in this band. I remember Darryl Cotton (vocals) from kids' TV! 

Zoot - Eleanor Rigby - https://youtu.be/iptr7i7sFkM

DJ HelenOf sent me a note which, among other things, got me back listening to Joe Satriani. I remember picking up the Surfing With The Alien LP in New Zealand for less than the regular new album price. Never has the wrong sticker on a record cover brought me so much pleasure ha ha! It's a ripping album that showcases a gret guitarist. Often I get quite bored with instrumental stuff, but this album continues to hold my attention.

Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien (live) - https://youtu.be/d_0khAAItqg

As many of you will remember, I was quite unwell a few months ago and an indication of this was six whole weeks with no cycling. It's taken a long time to get back into reasonable shape but I'm back to averaging about 300km a week now and I'm amazed that I've got there. I seriously thought that it might not happen until early 2023. I've had a couple of 100km rides in the last two weeks and that's quality time on the bike but also inside my own head. I usually do my best thinking on the bike or in the shower!

Aerosmith - Back In The Saddle - https://youtu.be/lX8GG3dnsp8

That's probably enough. And not a Christmas song in sight. There's more than enough of those playing at the supermarket.

As I sign off for 2022 I'd like to thank everyone who has read this and my other blog posts this year. Writing them helps keep me on the straight and narrow and I really appreciate the comments and suggestions that many of you send through. This year has been a bit all over the place for me. There's bits that I wish hadn't happened but then there have been really good moments as well. Thank you to all those of you who keep an eye on me; it means a lot and I'm very grateful. 

Happy Birthday Suzy!

Rock on,

The Woozle.

"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me..."

ABBA, Thank You For The Music, 1977

World Wide Woozle episode #591

Hi everyone,

This episode will likely be a mixed bag. I recommend that you sit down, wear a helmet and possibly have a set of earplugs close by and an onion hanging from your belt. The Scout motto, "Be Prepared", is important to me for many reasons, but today I commend it to you.

Here's the Spotify link for a playlist of all the songs in this episode. Click here.

A couple of bands that I'm very keen on are coming to Australia soon. One, The Proclaimers, seem fit to play small and large venues through New Zealand but not to grace us with their presence here in Australia's national capital. I genuinely love their music. Yes, like almost everyone, my introduction to them was via 500 miles and the Sunshine on Leith album, but there is so much more. The Proclaimers write sad songs, funny songs, protest songs and all with Scottish music mixed up with their obvious love of country tunes as well as soul. The jury is still out on whether or not I'll drive the three hours to Sydney, pay for the show, accomodation and all the rest. But they are coming further than 500 miles so we'll just have to see what happens. I've played this song before and it's from their album, Angry Cyclist, released in 2018. I've written previously about how I often feel as if I don't have a home town. If I did, I'd love to be able to write a song like this about it. A song that shows a deep understanding and affection for a place. I guess I feel that way about Canberra most of the time. Anyway, please have a listen to this one.

The Proclaimers – Streets of Edinburgh – https://youtu.be/7qTbLoyQ23g

The other band coming to Australia who I am very excited about is Stryper. I missed them last time and I've been disappointed ever since. I became a fan of theirs back in about 1986 when a school friend gave me two albums to take home and dub onto cassette. It was heavy metal with melody, harmonies and outrageous guitars and I loved it. Plenty of people are turned off by the lyrics, the band throwing Bibles into the audience and maybe the yellow and black spandex; I wasn't then and I'm not now. I remember reading a review by a well respected music journalist who reflected on how catchy the tunes and lyrics were when he caught himself singing them aloud and shocked his colleagues. They are here in March and I plan to be there. Stryper's new album sounds fantastic and they aren't slowing down with age.

Stryper – Same Old Story - https://youtu.be/xQThdzzsPF8

On Monday I will begin my new position at work. Permanent work has been my dream for a while now and here it is. As mentioned previously, it's been a long time since I've had a permanent job. What I have found interesting is the number of people who tell you not to worry whilst you work as a casual or contract worker. I'm sure that it's easy for some people but for me it's been close to five years of constant worry about how long my job will last. I guess it's one of those things that you can't understand if you're not there. I wrote last time about my reaction to being asked if I had been stressed. That's been my reaction to quite a few things recently. I've never been a big one for crying but the smallest things have me tearing up lately. I may have to stop watching TV, listening to country music and thinking too deeply for a while!

Bee Gees – I Started A Joke – https://youtu.be/b3kBDtjRtB0

Angus and his partner, Georgia, visited last weekend. It was pretty awesome to see them but also to have someone come to stay at my new place. They were here for an all day music festival as well as to catch up with some friends. Seeing your kids grow up into adults is just the best. I'm sure that over the past few years I haven't been the best Dad but I've done my best despite my challenges. A&G saw some really groovy bands including one of my current favourites, King Stingray. DJ Guz was doing some sound monitoring outside the venue so I popped in on my bike to see him and I could hear the show quite well. Apparently 45,000 tickets were sold. This might explain the debacle that A&G experienced when trying to get the tram home.

Beddy Rays - On My Own - https://youtu.be/e2KIX8bUO3U

Tom Petty's extended live album recorded at the Fillmore in 1997 is now available. The longest version has 58 tracks. Tom always reminds me of my mate Garry who passed away a number of years ago. He would have loved this live set with so many great originals as well as covers of songs that meant something to Tom and the band. Tom's laid back style is all through these recordings. He's a guy who made rock and roll sound even cooler than it already is.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Jammin' Me (live) – https://youtu.be/ZARUZRe0spk

I had a conversation today with a guy who is learning to play some jazz and blues guitar. He asked me what kind of music I played. Where do I start? Rock and roll, metal, blues, folk, Scottish, country, indie, goth….and the list goes on. It doesn't mean I do it all that well but playing the guitar keeps me grounded whether I play for myself, imagining I'm in front of a crowd, or with other people learning songs and having fun. I've played my acoustic guitar almost exclusively for a few years now but I think it's time to find an outlet for some louder stuff. I heard Randy Rhoads playing in the background of a TV show I was watching and remembered how much I really like his sound and approach. It's loud but full of dynamics. It's overdriven and has some great effects but each note is clear. And it always adds to the song.

Ozzy Osbourne – Mr. Crowley - https://youtu.be/o0RE230PlX4

Zoe and her colleagues have voted to go on strike. It's a sad state of affairs when people have to take this kind of action in order to secure reasonable pay and conditions but kudos to her for standing up for what is just.

The Nightwatchman - The Road I Must Travel - https://youtu.be/vohUk1ydFYc

Finally, Wilko Johnson passed away recently. He was the guitarist for Dr. Feelgood as well as having fame later in life starring in Game of Thrones. Wilko's percussive approach to his Telecaster was very recognisable as were his stage moves. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012 but survived. Wilko recorded an album with Roger Daltrey from The Who in 2014 and I think it is possibly one of the greatest rock and roll records ever made. I'll play a track from it as well as one from Dr. Feelgood.

Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home - https://youtu.be/LeoKCJNI-k4

Dr. Feelgood - She Does It Right - https://youtu.be/iHm7uIC84YM

And that, boys and girls, is the end of another episode. 

Rock on,

The Woozle.

"The world is full of questions, they fill me with fear

What of our beginnings? Why are we here?
(And he's got it this time, yes!)
Is there a purpose? Is there a God?
But one question troubles me
Far more than this lot..."

TISM, What Nationality Is Les Murray?, 1995.