World Wide Woozle episode #628

Hello again. As a blog host I am getting more and more irregular in delivering these exciting episodes; sorry. I find myself writing far too much about myself, in interminable depth about the nuances of guitar choice, and simply a whole lot of other drivel that you don't need to read. So, bearing in mind that this is now the cutdown or abridged version...here we go. If Tinkerbell was here she'd ring her bell so that you knew to turn the page and also didn't fall asleep.

Live gigs are a crapshoot and they aren't getting any cheaper. Some of that is because of the ever popular cost of living conundrum and some is the fact that everyone wants to stream music for next to nothing. The result being that artists have to jack up ticket prices to stay afloat. I'm a Scotsman, and therefore genetically programmed to be tight with money. This means that I am very careful about which live shows I go to. Last week I went, with DJ A-Tee, along to The Baso (formerly The Basement), to see Amigo The Devil. The advertising blurb for this show had absolutely sold me even before I listened to any of the artist's music. Let me insert a direct quote here; 

"Amigo the Devil's music is a menacing blend of folk that incorporates elements of Southern Gothic, outlaw country and alternative bluegrass. Songs probe into the recesses of human nature and weave narratives that often crack a smile in unexpected places."

The support act, The Blackwater Fever (Brisbane), were pretty good. Acoustic guitar/vox and percussion was all that was needed for their foot stomping bluesy tunes. I liked them so much that I spent hard earned dollars on a couple of their CDs and a t-shirt. My only gripe was that the bloke doing sound was more intent on his burger and chips than he was on the band. Therefore the vocals were muddy and mostly unintelligible. Initially I thought it might have been the room and/or the PA system but Amigo's vocals later were as clear as anything. If you enjoy Russell Morris' more recent recordings then you'll most likely enjoy this.

The Blackwater Fever - Don't F*ck With Joe - https://youtu.be/3YprzkLnVXs

After a short interlude, Amigo The Devil was next. It's just him with either an acoustic guitar and banjo. And it's a complete riot. Amigo The Devil's performance and style is all his own but if you mixed up Johnny Cash, Jack Black and Tom Waits you'd probably get close. Add in lashings of Nick Cave, Steve Earle and David Lee Roth too. Sometimes he plays guitar that reminds me of Paul Simon. And while he strums and picks the banjo in quite a percussive nature, he showed us a few times that he can more than hold his own with it. The songs were dark, moody, exuberant, raucous and the crowd (very knowledgeable to my surprise) sang along to a great many of them. Danny (that's his real name) had no problem immediately engaging the crowd and keeping us there, sometimes in silence, sometimes singing along, for the whole show. He finished by setting up a mic in the middle of the crowd and doing the last couple of songs from there. I was enthralled and inspired by Amigo The Devil's ability to write disturbing, meaningful and heartfelt lyrics that seemed to cut many of us to the bone. It's rare that songs hit me in this way. Well worth the (Scotsman friendly) price of admission.

Amigo The Devil - Stray Dog - https://youtu.be/hfQxPn6KI_0

Amigo The Devil - Hell And You - https://youtu.be/rcCtux_rgH8

He also played a cover...this one. It's always great to hear what an artist listens to. To me it's like a window into what makes them tick. John Moreland has a rare talent for singing songs that reach deep into the listener.

John Moreland - Break My Heart Sweetly - https://youtu.be/Q549BPCGZOE

I was in the record shop last weekend and spotted the new Taylor Swift double LP. I'd had a few listens to it via streaming and thought I might buy a copy. Seriously though, $99 for a double album? For that amount of money there would need to be a hardcover photo book, stickers, coasters, keyrings AND my name in the credits. Such a shame. Someone somewhere is greedy (in my opinion). I don't think that's Taylor though. Regardless, it's an aptly titled long player, well produced and well worth a listen. I'll just wait for it to be a little further down the road from the release date.

Taylor Swift - So Long, London - https://youtu.be/CCUr2pNJft4

Last night I spent some time putting all of my LPs into alphabetical order. Now I've embarked on a listening journey from 0-9 and A-Z. 1927 and ABBA have been and gone. Now I have to work my way through every single AC/DC album. No complaints here! I'm also using the exercise along with the Discogs app to create a catalogue of all my albums. Looking at all the cover art, the inserts and extras is a lot of fun. Beats YouTube any day.

Stomemountain Orchestra - Does Your Mother Know (ABBA cover) - https://youtu.be/mnY0VPkaK3c 

Some of you will know that I was in Perth a little while ago. It was a great trip other than the fact it took me 13 hours door to door to get home and I picked up a bit of a cold too. Still, it's a lovely spot and I was fortunate to catch up with my old mate Vic. For those playing along at home, my bags made it...eventually.

I've got a heap of other stuff that I've been listening to and I think most will wait for next time. However, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney and Kerry King all have new singles out now, and albums due. Watch this space.

I heard this for the first time yesterday and it's definitely been a bit of an earworm! I have a bit of work to do in finding out all about Grace Bowers and her band but there is no doubt that this is a LOT of funky fun!

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge - Tell Me Why U Do That - https://youtu.be/O1-x_tmiT5c

Happy birthday to Danielle :-) And welcome home Toddo!

Keep smiling everyone,

The Woozle

"Well the boys want the boys and girls want the girls

It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world..."

Transvision Vamp, Revolution Baby, 1987.

World Wide Woozle episode #627

Hello out there, enormous listening world. Are you ready?

In what is a bit of a shock to me, my tickets to the USA (and home) are booked and paid for. Now comes the fun of working out exactly when and where I'm going in the time I've got there. All that is set in stone at the moment is that I'll start in Washington DC and finish in Huntsville AL. I do have a bit of a rough itinerary in mind but it's a big country and I've got the best part of a month there. To that end, I'll be sharing with you, my faithful listeners, why I'm thinking of going to certain places. It will be no surprise that many of these are chosen because they are in songs or books that I like a lot. Here's the first one, have a listen.

Jason Isbell - Tupelo - https://youtu.be/7uAcwatjW1w

All I know about Tupelo is that it is in Mississippi and Elvis was born there. The song, however, is one that hit me hard from the first time I heard it. Musically it is simple, yet memorable. The lyrics are about a breakup and a fresh start and whilst that's nothing new, the idea of going where no-one knows you, and of course a "girl that'll treat me fair" are just lines that I love. There's no other reason for me going there but I reckon I'll find something interesting just by walking around and talking to the locals.

I've written about Suicidal Tendencies, the band, before. I made a cassette copy of their self-titled debut album back in high school after a new kid in my class insisted I have a listen to it as well as Bucket by Painters and Dockers. The TDK D90 cassette with those albums on it was on heavy rotation for years and the CDs and now LPs are as well. I finally secured a copy on vinyl a couple of weeks ago. The music is part of the early days of skate punk and thrash. Lyrically it makes for some very clear political and social commentary. As a 16 year old it was the sound of a wider world and the fact that your opinion had to be loud to be noticed. I know that this music isn't for everyone but it was an album I escaped into over and over and it still means a lot to me.

Suicidal Tendencies - I Want More - https://youtu.be/1YWXxFtIfyw

Vika and Linda Bull are coming to Canberra in a few months. Some of you will know them from their time singing with the house band on the SBS TV show, RockWiz. And of course they were in The Black Sorrows as well as having success by themselves. Sisters, they have voices that complement each other really well as well as being distinctive. I'm definitely thinking of going along to hear them.

Vika and Linda - When Will You Fall For Me? - https://youtu.be/uL71-Ce9gFQ 

Mark Knopfler has a new album being released on April 12th. He's one of those guys that is instantly recognisable whether it's his voice or guitar. I don't quite know what to say about this song other than the shuffle and groove in the rhythm is really cool. So good!

Mark Knopfler - Two Pairs of Hands - https://youtu.be/IRLGFWjI1zE

I made a mixtape for someone recently. Well, it was a Spotify playlist but the sentiment was the same. I've made a few in the last couple of years and I do my best to make them eclectic but enjoyable. After some time in the car not all that long ago with a couple of my best mates I began to revisit Slim Dusty. So, if you'd like a playlist curated by yours truly you only need ask. This one might be on there for the simple reason that I like it a lot!

Slim Dusty - Cunumulla Feller - https://youtu.be/6guPzOQjcFw

Or for the rockers there's always this version which is pretty groovy also.

Tune in next time for loads more on your favourite show, The World Wide Woozle, where it's a killer and no filler.

Rock on,

The Woozle

"Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City."

Bruce Springsteen, Atlantic City, 1982.