World Wide Woozle episode #661

Welcome aboard. In the event of us crashing into a mountain, there's a life jacket under your seat. Put it on, come back to life.*

For those about to rock...

Let's start with AC/DC. A week ago Angus and I stood in the rain at the MCG with 80,000 of our closest friends to see one of the greatest bands of all time. I've explained before how much AC/DC means to me. One listen to two tracks, TNT and Back In Black, as a teenager made me an instant fan. We have DJ Dave Dubya to thank for that and it's a debt that can never be repaid. At this gig I was unsure what to expect. Malcolm Young passed away a while ago now, Cliff Williams (bass) isn't touring with the band, and neither is Phil Rudd or Chris Slade (both drums). Then of course there are the well publicised issues that Brian has had with his hearing and therefore ability to sing. He's also almost 80. As a result of the rain, we got there in time to see the last three songs from Amyl and The Sniffers. They were doing a great job in front of an enthusiastic crowd but were suffering from a muffled mix. Put them on your list to see at a headlining gig because I certainly will be. AC/DC started on time at 2030hrs. The setlist was well known and has had only one change for the Australian tour so far with the inclusion of Jailbreak. This is fair enough as it was released here in 1976 as a single (going to number 10), and is the final track on the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album. Jailbreak wasn't released internationally until 1984 on the '74 Jailbreak EP. Let's get my minor gripes out of the way first. Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) has a tone that is way too clean. Yes, Malcolm played a relatively clean tone but there was always more drive than that. The intro to the first song, If You Want Blood (You've Got It), sounded thin. At times, Angus sounded like he was playing fencing wire through a cheese grater rather than his classic Gibson SG. That's when the sound team remembered to boost his volume for his solos. A number of times they forgot until about half way through. I reckon most of the crowd could've ridden that fader on the soundboard better than we experienced. Brian's voice; yep it's almost dead and buried. It was, admittedly, a lot better than our 2015 experience but clearly he's at his absolute limit despite the fact they've dropped the tuning a bit to help him out. Everyone knows all the words anyway and just seeing him having the time of his life was awesome. What was good? Pretty much everything else. The rhythm section of Stevie, Chris (bass) and Matt (drums) were absolutely rock solid and, given a few of the timing issues that Angus and Brian had, this was a good thing. Seriously though, they were magnificent. Angus Young, at 70 years young, ran around in the rain and still played like a madman. The crowd was more diverse than a diverse thing. Old folks, teenagers, little kids on their parent's shoulders, and everyone in between just rocking out. A big up yours to all the smokers though; bastards. For me, the best song moments were at the start of Whole Lotta Rosie when everyone chants, "Angus", and one of their most recent songs, Shot In The Dark. Given that a few weeks ago I had serious doubts that I would be able to even get to the gig, I had a great time. Nothing beats the best band in the world, in your home state, in a massive stadium, rocking out with your son.

 

AC/DC - For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) live - https://youtu.be/RtMGoU9NcMo

Six year search concludes...

I listen to a lot of music at home. You may have guessed. CDs, records, cassettes, the radio, and streaming. So I want it to sound good. Headphones are OK, some Bluetooth speakers don't do a bad job either. But nothing beats a decent stereo system. In days long gone now, having a decent hi-fi system was a source of pride and admiration. I knew which of my friends had parents with a decent setup, and which of them were lucky enough to have one themselves. It's out of fashion now with the advent of portable speakers and soundbars. In the mid 80s my parents bought a new stereo setup and the old one made its way into my bedroom. It was a fabulous experience and I held onto the system until the end of 2019. To be fair, at the end, the speakers were dead and the amp and turntable needed servicing but they still sounded great. And I gave it away. I gave a lot of stuff away at that time. I wasn't well and I realise that now. So, I've spent the last six or so years looking for a replacement for the lovely Sansui 771 receiver that had come into our family in about 1973. A couple of weeks ago one popped up locally. The guy selling it had a decent price on it and, after a chat, I found out that he has a passion for looking after old equipment. So I bought it. It wasn't cheap but it's amazing. The sound is warm, fat and like having a big hug. On a side note, I now have a nice mid 90s Yamaha receiver if anyone wants it! There's not room in my house for that much stereo gear!

Metallica - Seek and Destroy (live in Melbourne 2025) - https://youtu.be/XDXH2btvfV0

The end... 

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. I got to hang out with my Dad, my son AND my brother. Despite a couple of mental and physical blips, I made it to and from Melbourne relatively unscathed. I've started in a new team at work and they are already amazing. The missing part of the puzzle is getting back on my bike and I'm hoping to start after my review with the chiropractor this coming week. To be honest, it's worrying me a lot. Not riding has left a huge hole in my life especially in terms of social connection. 

Happy birthday to my Dad for yesterday. Here's a track for him.

Battlefield Band - The Rovin' Dies Hard - https://youtu.be/SL3Aj3ySr9c

Don't give up,

The Woozle

"When the war gets here

We're all gonna hold hands
All the Baptists and the Catholics
All the Marxists and the Fascists..."

Jesse Welles, Red, 2025

* thanks to Billy Connolly for that line.

World Wide Woozle episode #660

Welcome back. If Tinkerbell rings her little bell then you're in the wrong place.

I was meant to be in Melbourne today watching Angus compete in his first half-ironman race. Sadly, I couldn't physically manage that, a week in Melbourne, and then AC/DC. So we chose the gig which is in a week. Sadly, for Angus and all the other competitors, the swim leg was cancelled as a result of poor water quality. And it was cold and wet today! Nevertheless, he did really well on the 90km ride and 21km run. It's a poor substitute but I followed along via the tracking app supplied by the folks at Ironman. I'm a proud old Dad.

Crowded House - Four Seasons In One Day - https://youtu.be/si3dBlNdifE

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog entry. I'm feeling quite out of sorts today. As I wrote last time, with my physical recovery coming along nicely, it's like there is space in my brain again. The downside is feeling that all I've done for months is worry about myself and not everyone else out there. I'll try and put that right. For now I think I'll go for yet another walk. Some cycling with my mates will hopefully be back on the cards after I return from Melbourne.

You Am I - Heavy Heart - https://youtu.be/m57Ut4tMlsU

Keep smiling folks,

The Woozle

"Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me..."

Green Day, Basket Case, 1994.

World Wide Woozle episode #659

Welcome back, enormous listening world.

I've started the countdown; twelve days until I get to see AC/DC. This will be the fourth time for me (1991, 2001, 2015, 2025)  and I can't see there being another. There is only one original member left (although Brian did join in 1980) and they aren't young fellas any more. Still, there's a lot to be said about getting out there and doing what you enjoy. They definitely don't need the money and I'm sure a long tour is taxing on everyone, so I am thankful that they love the music and their fans enough to keep on rocking. I've read quite a lot about how they aren't at their best and so on. Guess what? I don't care. For a band that started in the early 70s they're going pretty well. I can't imagine them sitting at home with their pipes and slippers just yet.

AC/DC - Are You Ready - https://youtu.be/CIhylLW4Fcs

It's now a year since I was in the USA. At about this time in 2024 I was in Tupelo MS, visiting Elvis' birthplace, trying to find dinner at ALDI, having a ball on the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway, and wondering why the travel booking website had given me a hotel in the middle of an industrial area. One day I'll get back to the USA, it's a fabulous place to visit, but not for another three or so years. One of the reasons I went was to make up my own mind about Americans. As Billy Bragg once said, "Americans aren't all right wing, Reagan voters who only listen to Van Halen", and of course he was correct. From DC to Nashville, Tupelo, Memphis, Mesquite, Atlanta, Birmingham, Gadsden and Huntsville, people there could not have been friendlier or more helpful. My physical rehab is coming along steadily so I should be able to travel far and wide before too long.

Motley Crue – City Boy Blues - https://youtu.be/5hxF4Q7GmyY

Taylor Swift's new album has, predictably, sold a bunch of copies. It's a collector's dream, or nightmare, with all the different versions available. I don't have a physical copy just yet but I have taken the opportunity to listen online. Is it her best? Maybe not. Is it a great album? I think so. Taylor and her crew really do know how to make a record sound great. By that I mean their dedication to the craft of recording and sound production. This is not tinny, throwaway pop at all. And while it's easy to be either distracted or consumed by the hype, behind it all is an artist who writes songs, plays instruments, engages with fans, and puts on a great show. The constant shapeshifting and reinvention reminds me of a very successful Australian pop star. Kylie isn't all that different (the lack of a country and western background notwithstanding). Haters gonna hate. Just listen to this bassline...sublime.

Taylor Swift - Ruin The Friendship - https://youtu.be/WQCPl5rTMDQ

As mentioned previously, Bruce Springsteen has released the expanded version of his 1982 album, Nebraska. My copy is still coming from somewhere overseas, who knows where it is. On a side note, I could rant and rave about the time it takes for parcels to get to and from Australia but that won't change anything so I will have to remain patient. So, I weakened and listened online. There are four discs and here's a quick rundown for you.

Disc 1 - this is made up of demos for what would become some of Nebraska and some of Born In The USA. If you're familiar with those albums then you'll recognise some lyrics, melodies and songs. These are demos so clearly not all are fully formed but it's a good insight into the Boss' songwriting. I enjoyed it but I imagine more casual fans won't be all that keen.

Disc 2 - Electric Nebraska. Having recorded the demo for the album, these tracks are the whole band trying to lay down an electric version. There is one stinker in this set but the rest are so much better than we'd been led to believe. This is a disc I will play many times over. I don't think that the Nebraska songs lose anything with a whole band, they are just different. They still reek of desperation and small-town troubles, but in a different way to the stark feeling of the album we are familiar with.

Disc 3 - Nebraska live. Bruce didn't tour for the original album so here we have him playing the whole thing right through. Recorded for this release, it's OK I guess but it's not essential. It comes on video with the CD set so maybe I'll enjoy it more when I watch it.

Disc 4 – the remastered version of the original album. Considering this was recorded on a 4-track cassette machine in a bedroom, then carried around in Bruce's pocket for a while, the quality is astounding. These songs stand the test of time. Maybe I'll take a trip to Nebraska one day and I'll stay in a mansion on a hill.

Bruce Springsteen - Reason to Believe (Electric Nebraska version) -  https://youtu.be/20gSNJ0bHtQ

I want to share with all y'all something that the chiropractor told me last week. After manipulating my spine, he said that my back was, "almost unremarkable". It took a while for me to understand what he meant. I still must work hard with my exercise routine three or four times a day, but it is continuing to have a positive impact. Only a few weeks ago I really didn't think I'd be getting to Melbourne to see AC/DC, but I'll be there even though I have to fly instead of doing the eight-hour drive each way. I'm having to train my brain to stop telling me that my back hurts because, 95% of the time it doesn't, and the other 5% it is just a bit stiff. Meanwhile my hip flexors, glutes, TFL, psoas and related bits all do something different every day as they adjust to a back that isn't badly jammed up. Other than not being in constant pain, there is now room in my brain. And by this, I mean that I don't spend every waking hour worrying and catastrophizing or meditating to deal with all that. This manifested itself on the weekend by me actually caring about what I was getting for my weekly meals, and then the huge shock of getting a few new items of clothing. There is still a way to go, and I really, really, really want to get on my bike soon, but it's coming. Imagine that; I did what the chiro and the psychologist told me to do, stuck to it, and it is working.

Gary Jules - Mad World - https://youtu.be/etSbOs3aUqI

I do love a new release. I don't enjoy being told to pre-order one with six months to go until it sees the light of day (or the airwaves). Bing seems to get it right with a short lead time, a teaser, and then BOOM here it is. With the release of his new long player, Songs from E-Country coming very soon, the first single was let loose on the internets this week. Keen listeners will recognise the track but, don't look away because this is a serious update to the version you might know. If Nine Inch Nails is a band that you enjoy then perhaps George has something for you here. And the clip, goodness me, I think it's his best by far, seriously adding to the vibe and lyrics of the song.

George Huitker – The Truth About Lonely - https://youtu.be/SJEhfOi-HXw

That's all for now. Get outside.
The Woozle

"…and now that I live to see my melodies betray me,
I'm sorry the love songs all mean different things today." 

Jason Isbell, Gravelweed, 2025.

World Wide Woozle episode #658

Welcome back.

Ace Frehley 1951-2025

With the passing of 'The Spaceman' it seems that suddenly everyone is a KISS fan. It would be very easy to be cynical about that but I hope that his family are feeling the love. I'm a fan and I have been for a long time in one form or another. In the southern hemisphere summer of 1980 KISS came to New Zealand. I was too young to really be into their music at that time but KISS' marketing and PR team were kicking huge goals. One of the boys who lived next door had older brothers and therefore access to a portable record player and some LPs. They might have been his as I remember he was a bit spoiled! I spent ages enthralled by the covers of Dynasty and Unmasked. KISS were rock stars and cartoon characters rolled into one. I always thought that Ace's makeup was the best, and that his wardrobe was too. Then, probably that Christmas, someone got KISS makeup. It wasn't me but I remember wearing it all day. The result is that I no longer have eyebrows to speak of! A few years later KISS released Crazy Nights and that was the first album of theirs that I owned. Yep, I know that Ace isn't on it. Not long after I started to go back through their catalogue and became more than a casual fan. Ace didn't play complicated guitar, but it was flashy, loud and fun. His solo records are very strong, and he was rocking right up until the end. 

KISS - Shock Me (live 1977) - https://youtu.be/5R2gAcEJ2xQ

Ace Frehley - Rock Soldiers - https://youtu.be/1II4NX_4tlc

KISS - 2000 Man (unplugged) - https://youtu.be/PC9xjboGmsk

Chris Brown - 1961-2025

Yesterday I went to the funeral of one of my friends. I first met Brownie in 2001 when I was a student teacher and he was my supervisor. From 2002-2004 he was my boss. Pretty much all the good stuff in my teaching career was as a result of his influence. Brownie was so chilled in the classroom that he was almost asleep. Not much fazed him and he genuinely loved working with young people. 

As well as mentoring me into becoming a half decent teacher, Brownie and I played music together at every opportunity. We backed students when they were wanting to record their own songs or at live performances and in musicals. We swam together regularly before school. A senior teacher once asked Chris how well he knew me and his reply was that we showered together twice a week! 

In 2005 I was struggling a lot both personally and professionally. Brownie saw this and asked me to play guitar for a production he was also performing in. I had to learn songs that I would never have learned in a pink fit but it was a welcome distraction, a lot of fun, and helped sort me out. 

Brownie introduced me to my very good friend George and we played in the band, in a number of forms, for quite a few years. He would stand to my right on stage, rock solid on the bass, yelling out notes and smiling when I got something right! One day, when we'd finished a run of Midnight Oil songs he remarked at the amount of time I had spent trying to actually get the same sounds on guitar as the Oils have. I guess he listened a lot more closely than I thought. He was also the guy that, on tour, washed his underpants in the bottom of the shower stall.

One time I asked Brownie how he'd learned to play the harmonica so quickly (we'd needed it for one or two Midnight Oil songs). His answer was that he played every day whilst driving to and from work until he got it right. That made me laugh long and hard.

It's hard to deal with when someone dies before their time. Although Chris had been unwell for a while, the funeral upset me a lot more than I thought it would. Afterwards I spent some time listening to this song. Brownie and I would almost blow a gasket trying to keep singing the high backing parts at the end of it. 

Midnight Oil - One Country - https://youtu.be/Mz3HShQkdd4

That's all for this time.

The Woozle

World Wide Woozle episode #657

Welcome back. Please avoid using the lavatories until we are underway.

This episode is a little bit different. I am of the generation where video clips became an important part of popular music. Sure, they are a marketing ploy but often they are a lot of fun and add quite a bit to a song. So, in this episode, noting that I am from the MTV / rage / Rock Arena generation, I've chosen a few of my favourite clips. 

Let's start with one of the greatest hard rock videos ever. It's got every rock and roll cliche in existence but it's a total riot. I always wanted to have enough hair so that I could have a fan on the stage to blow it around! I can't believe that in this day and age that someone felt the need to censor the word "tit" though. Ridiculous.

Monster Magnet - Space Lord - https://youtu.be/dscfeQOMuGw

The next clip is Johnny Cash's version of Hurt. It's like the song was written for him and the clip moves things up to another level. I haven't done a deep dive into the story behind the song but I know it resonates with a lot of people out there. I won't say I enjoyed playing this live with the band but it always meant something to me.

Johnny Cash - Hurt - https://youtu.be/8AHCfZTRGiI

The next clip makes me laugh every single time I see it. I've played in a number of garage bands and the neighbours were never this impressed with us. Those high heels look dangerous...

Bowling for Soup - 1985 - https://youtu.be/K38xNqZvBJI

Many years ago now I played in a Goth band. Well, we were billed as Gothabilly but there was less billy and more rock. We didn't wear makeup or all black gear but maybe success would've been ours if we had! I do like people who don't take themselves too seriously and that's why this clip is so good.

Royal Republic - Staying Alive - https://youtu.be/JvuCvGUpFpA

I'm not a huge fan of bands whose videos are just them miming to a backing track. I know that for a long time it was very common, and probably cost effective. The "live performance" clips that I like give a sense of the energy of a live gig. In the 80s, Bon Jovi were one of the best bands at doing this. I could have played almost any clip from their Slippery When Wet album here. Videos like this made me want to stand on a stage and play rock and roll.

Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name - https://youtu.be/KrZHPOeOxQQ

Weezer have always been a bit left of centre and it works well for them. They are quirky but not so much to put people off. This song, and I imagine the clip too, made them pretty popular down here in Australia and turned us on to their sound. This might just be my favourite music video ever.

Weezer - Buddy Holly - https://youtu.be/kemivUKb4f4

I could go on and on here but I won't. That's enough. Oh, ok then one more. Speaks for itself.

Painter and Dockers - Nude School - https://youtu.be/hBWTcAAtMj4

Get well soon Dad, I love you.

The Woozle

"Don't care about your f*ckin' sneakers, 

Don't care about your poxy friends..."

H Block 101, Group Dynamics, 2001

World Wide Woozle episode #656

Welcome back. In the event of an emergency, there's a case under your seat containing a Walkman(tm), AA batteries, headphones, and a Tom Waits cassette.

Tom Waits - Get Behind The Mule - https://youtu.be/brVbfzTHods

A while ago I wrote a post about gratitude. I'm not sure I expected many people to read it but the counter on the blog site tells me that over 100 people had a look. Today I'm grateful for that, thank you all.

I like albums. I like singles and EPs as well but the long playing album is where it's at. Albums can tell a story, they can build you up, they can bring you down. In the olden days, when I had hair, the car radio played singles and at home I listened to albums in their entirety. AC/DC's Shoot To Thrill sounds wrong to me if it doesn't follow on from Hells Bells. Last week, as the never ending jaunt through my CD collection continued, I hit the Midnight Oil section. Honestly, it's quite a long time since I listened to more than one or two Oils songs. What I discovered was that I didn't actually own a copy of Blue Sky Mining (1990) other than maybe a cassette I'd recorded from DJ Big Annie's CD back in the day. This was easily remedied with the disc being  purchased for about $8 shipped via eBay. And so I popped the disc in to play...

Midnight Oil - Stars of Warburton - https://youtu.be/F1b9oGV3apM

Blue Sky Mining is one of those albums for me that tells a few stories. There are five released singles from the ten tracks, so someone else obviously thought this was a strong record. I bought the sheet music book which would prove very useful years later when I had to learn five songs from this album for the Junk Sculpture gigs. It's easy to be blasé about the hits as they are overplayed by commercial radio, but, on reflection and with the benefit of not hearing them for ages (commercial radio is not for me), I was almost dumbstruck by how well the whole record hangs together. Give it a spin sometime. Or come and visit as I think it will be on regular rotation for a while at HQ World Wide Woozle because, "I can shake, I can move, but I can't live without your love..."

Midnight Oil - Shakers and Movers - https://youtu.be/QbNuwiL0sY8

I've been forced to accept that my physical recovery is going to take a while. The conservative estimate is six months. This is extremely frustrating. While I enjoy going for a walk, and I do that nine days out of ten, I miss my bike and the camaraderie of being out with my Northside Velo crew. I miss being able to go out early for breakfast and also to sleep without a million pillows. I have had a bit of a breakthrough though and some exercises before I get out of bed in the morning have meant that for the last six days I have been a lot more mobile first up. My next trick will be to be able to sit comfortably for more than ten minutes.

Juliana Hatfield - Physical - https://youtu.be/UfiMIK-x1uI

I've been a fan of Laura Kidd's music projects, She Makes War, Penfriend, and Obey Robots for a while now. She's someone you should check out and support via her website. The next five CDs in my listening journey are Laura's. She also provides a whole range of email and video updates. In the latest email, after reading all about upcoming gigs, music, and a lot more I saw that right at the bottom of the email it said, "I'm so glad you're here Rob..." You know what Laura? Today I am as well. The smallest thing can make people feel better.

Penfriend - Emotional Tourist - https://youtu.be/c94dy-Sl35M

That's all for this time, friends.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"No matter how far wrong you've gone
You can always turn around"

Gil Scott-Heron, I'm New Here, 2010.

World Wide Woozle episode #655

Welcome back. Jolly good luck.

This morning was foul. I woke up ready to have breakfast, do my exercises, have a shower and then go to work. Getting into work clothes, my back had other ideas and decided to spasm, leaving me crying on the floor in sheer frustration. The now very clear Pavlovian response caused by back pain kicked in and did its worst for a while. One lot of pain would be OK, but both physical and mental is too much. Fortunately, I already had a psych appointment in a few hours so I switched it to telehealth, gritted my teeth and waited. What I need to work on, other than continuing to be kind to myself, is catching the moment between physical pain and the onset of the end of the world in my mind. So, another day of either standing up or lying on the floor. Recovery isn't linear, I know that, I just need to be better at accepting it. I am hard on myself and it doesn't help.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Today - https://youtu.be/xmUZ6nCFNoU

I wrote a thing today about gratitude. You can read it here if you like. Some of you are probably in it. Lots of you aren't named but are there in spirit, I know.

Faith No More - We Care A Lot - https://youtu.be/LQhX8PbNUWI

Are you interested in playlists? I am for now, but maybe I'll go back to mixtapes soon so dust off your cassette players. The regular listening playlist hurtles on wildly in and out of oblivion; it's still here on Spotify. I have a new one for all y'all as well. My Dad told me about a night they were having at the folk club down there in Geelong recently. The theme was something along the lines of songs that make you cry. I love a theme. And remember that you don't have to be sad to cry, it can be joyful too. So here's a few tracks that elicit that kind of emotional response in me for one reason or another. Feel free to give me a yell with a song or two that are tear jerkers in your opinion.

Alex The Astronaut - If I Could Start Today Again - https://youtu.be/TlHU19oI-HU

Bruce Springsteen's album Nebraska is an important one for me for a few reasons I've explored before. When I read that he is to release a remastered version packaged up with the complete album performed live, demo tracks and the long lost electric version that shelved, it piqued my interest. To Bruce's credit, the price of this re-issue set is very reasonable compared to what a lot of bands expect us to pay, so I have ponied up for a pre-order. Here's the original, electric version of a song you might know. It didn't make the Nebraska album but was a bit of a hit on the next release. This one feels much angrier and that suits the lyrics much better I reckon.

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA - https://youtu.be/9YNufvgPP20

Eddie Van Halen once took a journalist driving in his car to listen to his new album because it apparently sounded best there. I don't drive all that much, especially at the moment because sitting down hurts, but when I do there are a few songs that are windows down, locks flowing (!), head-nodding, playing drums on the steering wheel numbers. This is one. I'd forgotten all about it and I just got the CD for like $5. Bargain.This song starts with a real bang and never lets up. It has to be one of the best examples of instantly grabbing an audience .

Bryan Adams - There Will Never Be Another Tonight - https://youtu.be/l5N6dupJ2Ko

Finally, the 'bogan punk' of Melbourne's PLAYLUNCH. There's a strong language warning for this one, and an appearance from Big Bad Barry Hall. This is quality and I love it.

PLAYLUNCH - Keith - https://youtu.be/7PTvxw4fc9M

Thanks for reading, I love youse all.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"I got a pocket full of crumpled bills,

I got a stomach full of different pills..."

Andrew Dice Clay, I Ain't Got You, 1990.

Today I am grateful for...

On 11 March 2025 I started seeing a new psychologist because, well, I needed help. I'm still working with her now (September) and she's making a huge difference to my mental health. Today I had a bit of a blip and as luck would have it, I was booked in for an appointment. My short term memory is pretty average so I took some notes.

One of things my psych encouraged me to do when my inner voice is being harsh, negative and unhelpful is to imagine the most compassionate person I know talking to me. It's an interesting exercise. I've got a few people who fit that description in my mind so I'll cycle through some of y'all.

I'd like to thank everyone who sends me messages or even just reacts with a smile or a thumbs up. I'm living a bit of a hermit lifestyle just now and gentle reminders that I don't suck help a lot.

I'll get through this. I have to.

Since I started with the psych, she encouraged me to do a very simple task in my journal. Write down something I'm grateful for. I really, really, really want to be unstuck (I'm not broken, just stuck) and I figured if this would help then I'd do it along with the journal, the exercises, the meditation, the walking, and trying to be sociable.

Here's a list of what I've been grateful for since March.

• somewhere permanent to live
• people that smiled at me
• that both my kids keep in contact with me
• for being invited to dinner
• that I have options even when I don't think I do
• for my new bike
• for my favourite bushland walking area
• for wonderful old hi-fi technology
• new shoes
• my good friends Karen and Jeff
• that Sooky is home from surgery
• for peaceful moments in nature
• for the love I get from Suzy and Toddo
• for good company from Michelle
• for daylight savings
• for podcasts
• for my own bed
• for a job offer
• for rain
• for good friends
• my Alabama family; Maggie and Rita
• music on physical media
• that my mate Chris is back at work
• for medication
• for the good and bad the Army gave me
• for my Northside Velo cycling crew
• for late season sunshine
• for a great psych
• for the joy that music gives me
• for sunsets
• for my mate Davey's friendship
• that my GWS Giants won
• my mate DUG
• for noise cancelling headphones
• for not being seriously injured knocking myself out
• for sunshine on a cool day
• being outside
• Big Daddy K
• a decent public hospital system
• that my kids still love me
• sunny autumn evenings
• for my mates on ANZAC Day
• for relative peace of mind today
• for first world healthcare
• for my mate Todd and that he's OK
• for my mates looking out for me on the bike today
• moments of sanity and calm
• 20 minutes of music on the tram
• for being recognised at work
• a smooth journey to NZ
• celebrating Mother's Day with my Mum and brother
• sleeping in
• Bill trusting me with the car
• getting lost in Wellington
• my nephew and niece
• dinner with NZ whanau
• sun at lunchtime
• public transport
• my friend Sam
• that Zoe and Zac got engaged
• panadol
• long talks with my Dad
• recovering from feeling unwell for two weeks
• polar fleece jackets
• Sutto's long term support and friendship
• quiet moments in the bush
• my relationship with my son
• my back feeling good
• all the work I do on my blog
• Tim, Tim, Mal, Ken, Jono
• for a funny story Alison told me
• hard rock music
• my collection of beanies
• a small break in the weather
• my Dad being an amazing cheer squad
• amusing messages from Angus
• my manager, Toni
• quiet times driving in the sunshine
• being able to ride in shorts, in June!
• My Northside Velo brothers
• for Toddo calling me out on being a hermit
• cool, clear evenings
• riding on a cool day
• my fabulous sister in law
• this journal
• finding the right path home, finally
• heating
• Jesus
• I was kind to myself for once
• my new raincoat
• for Todd and Mick
• flexible work
• for sitting with emotional discomfort
• for my good friend Julie
• friends and family
• for pizza at work
• a long chat with my Mum
• for admitting that I have a problem
• for the park in the centre of town
• for seeing rock wallabies
• that I'm still here
• for my friend Jasmina for cheering me up
• for cuddles and love from Fitz and Gertie
• that my very unhelpful thoughts have gone
• that Zoe is happy
• not to have pain in my head
• for small steps
• for Jess for checking in on me
• for my work being on my side
• for Todd and Suzy always being there for me
• for meditation
• for following the path
• for my brother for checking up on me
• for finally getting a copy of "Get In The Van" by Henry Rollins
• for a different walk route
• for Sarah who made me laugh
• for 30 minutes of sunshine at lunchtime
• that I managed to advocate a bit for myself
• that my exercises are slowly helping
• for my mate George and his unwavering care
• that the ringing in my ears has stopped
• again, to still be here
• for recovery, even if it is slow and bumpy
• for my niece who makes me smile
• my colleagues Eva and Renee who keep an eye on me
• for sticking in there even when I didn't want to go on
• for funny cat pics from Zoe
• that I managed to get outside
• for the Veteran Coffee Catch up crew who make me feel human again
• for meditation helping to dig me out of a hole
• for a catchup with my mate Dave
• that my Aunt from Scotland will visit Mum in NZ for the first time ever
• for the chance to help others through my work
• for my own comfortable space to rehab and recover in
• that I was called on to help in a family crisis
• that I was kind to myself and ordered some music I really wanted

World Wide Woozle episode #654

Hello out there, enormous listening world.

Before I get into it, here's a link to my current listening playlist. If you're even remotely interested then it's worth checking it regularly as I change it up a lot. Yes, it's still on Spotify for now.

In the ongoing and lengthy journey through my CD collection I've spent the week with Dr Feelgood (the band, not the song) and Bruce Springsteen. The first four Dr Feelgood albums have been given the 50th anniversary treatment and re-released. I picked them up recently as I had a grand total of none in the World Wide Woozle music library. While they sound great and I've played them loud and on repeat, I am disappointed with the packaging. Other than a few words on the cardboard sleeves, there are no liner notes, there are no extra tracks, nothing. Hmmmm, it feels like a lost opportunity. What I really like about Dr Feelgood is the percussive nature of Wilko Johnson's guitar playing. It's almost like a second drum kit at places and gives their music a real push.

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

I haven't listened to any Springsteen for quite a while. He has a LOT of albums and I only have ten which I think is almost enough. What I found moving through different stages of his career was his clear ability as a storyteller/lyricist but also how much of the recorded guitar is actually him playing. I chose the next song because it has echoes of 50s music and maybe the jangle of The Byrds, and it made me smile.

Bruce Springsteen - Surprise, Surprise - https://youtu.be/yEIBlkh4AsM

A while ago DJ SteveArrrr invited me to go and see John Kennedy and The New Originals play here in Canberra. You may remember me writing about it. This week John has released an EP called, The Berlin Trilogy. You can probably guess that it's three songs recorded in Berlin ha ha! I listened to it a couple of times during my rain interrupted walk after work yesterday. Songs about Wollongabba, Coolangatta and Berlin were a great soundtrack. The sound is a lush acoustic experience with some tasty pedal steel guitar from Moe Jaksch. I must admit that when he initially posted about songs with Moe, I misread it and thought he was in Gippsland. You can get the album via Bandcamp at the link just above. I liked the last song a lot, it reminded me a bit of one of the saddest songs I know, REM's Leaving New York, but more in sentiment than sound. I've been doing a lot of thinking about moving on and this song really hit home.

John Kennedy - Time To Leave Berlin - https://youtu.be/-xFriIQTWAU

DJ Al-ee-sun sent me a pic from last night's Paul Kelly concert in Brisvegas. I'll be interested to see how he comes across in a big arena setting as I've only ever seen, or imagined him, in more intimate venues. And whilst Jason Isbell pulled out of the support slot quite a while ago, they did get Lucinda Williams and our own Fanny Lumsden for quite a country themed pair of supports. Fanny is awesome. Her records are fun, her social media is a riot, and she replies to her fans, including me, when they write to her. I also really like her "Country Halls" tour programme where she plays in small towns and communities if they can find her a hall to set up in. She's done this across Australia, New Zealand and parts of the UK. 

Fanny Lumsden - Millionaire - https://youtu.be/ng9pZ5RZvIY

What if your favourite songs were recorded in 1980s era Poland? Wonder no more as Maromaro and his Retro Poland channel have all the answers. At first it might seem like a bit of a joke, and it is, but when you dig further you'll find a talented musician having a lot of fun. 

Maromaro - Barbie Girl - https://youtu.be/5hPCSa6gbQ0

At this stage in proceedings I'd like to provide a public service announcement. That loud screaming you may have heard at about 0930hrs AEST for the last three Fridays was me. And it may well be again next week. Whilst the dry needling is having an excellent impact on my physical recovery, I find the whole thing horrendous. I have never been good with needles and the only saving grace here is that I'm lying face down so I can't see the chiropractor turning me into a human pincushion. To be fair, most of them don't hurt but there are a couple of spots...wow...intense. I will stay the course however as being able to walk with little or no pain and tightness is a massive win. I'm a bit worried that if I continue with all the meditation and yoga that I'll start to wear beads and smell of patchouli. Woozle 4.0 maybe.

Queensrÿche - The Needle Lies - https://youtu.be/9iVan8egsxw

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"Things got bad, things got pretty funky

Before my eyes you turned into a junkie..."

Paul Kelly, Darling It Hurts, 2010

World Wide Woozle episode #653

Welcome back.

Loads of official footage of the Ozzy Osbourne farewell concert is now online and many of you will have seen the most excellent version of Changes sung by Yungblud. Yep, it's awesome and potentially the highlight of the whole show. A few years ago though, Charles Bradley recorded a version that is superb. If old school R&B / Soul Music makes you smile then this one is a must.

Charles Bradley - Changes (live) - https://youtu.be/zfaOf70M4xs

Here's some brand new music for you all. This is the debut track for Canberra quartet Soforth. If you only listen to one track from this episode then please make it this one. Supporting local music is cool and even cooler in this case as I know one of the young folks in the group. I'm especially digging the tempo changes and the spluttering, surf fizz guitar line. Soforth push hard and then back off in a way that so many bands are unable to do. They understand the power of space in the sonic maelstrom they create. Great vocals, restrained and then hard hitting drums, all wrapped up with a pulsing bass line that keeps you guessing. I'm very much looking forward to hearing the upcoming EP.

Soforth - Ringing Tone - https://youtu.be/dLqQTTo5XWo

Did you ever not listen to a band as a result of their name? I did. I wrongly assumed that Viagra Boys were either a dumb hip hop act or the reincarnation of Vengaboys, neither of which interested me. Fast forward to a few days ago where one of my OG music pushers, DJ D-Dubya, told me to have a listen. I trust him. Very few people out there think about music (and music gear) the way he and I do. I'm unsure how to describe Viagra Boys so have a listen for yourselves. I guess if you like Iggy Pop then this might be right up your alley.

Viagra Boys - Sports - https://youtu.be/QjL7D33xpS4

Spotify is a problem. We all know that the algorithms aren't transparent; some of the very wrong recommendations prove this to me on a regular basis. I miss out on stuff I would definitely like and get bombarded with drivel. Then there's the issue of artist payments. And now we have the company being linked to arms manufacturers prompting some artists to remove their music from the Spotify catalogue. Here's the thing though, only spending your money on products and services that align with your version of right/wrong/justice is nigh impossible. You'd better not be wearing any cheap arsed clothing manufactured by workers in developing nations who are being paid next to nothing. You'd better not be using one of those fruity mobile phones or wearing swooshy sneakers. Who's using YouTube for all of their music and not paying a cent? I could go on but you probably get my drift. So what do we do? We do the best we can without turning ourselves inside out. I'm currently investigating an alternative to Spotify. This is as a result of the artist payment and algorithm frustrations. Feel free to let me know if any of the streaming alternatives are any good. Yes, I have a lot of CDs, records and cassettes and I use them a lot. But in the car and on the move I'm a streamer. Also, I'm typing on an ancient MacBook which won't be replaced anytime soon. But when it does I'll have to balance my Scottish tendencies to look for the absolute best value for money and look at the company making the device and how they are behaving. As Billy Bragg said, "if I only listened to ideologically sound pop music then I'd soon get tired of the Red Army Choir..."

Billy Bragg - The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions - https://youtu.be/lz2REwKVmnk

Since having to learn to sing 99 Luftballons as part of German class at school in 1985, I've had a bit of a fascination with popular music that isn't in English. I mean, there's a massive proportion of the world singing in other languages after all. Here's a couple for you all to check out, they are regulars on my playlists.

Anna Coddington - Kātuarehe - https://youtu.be/PrwPfjZY08M

Gyllene Tider - Sommartider - https://youtu.be/CnBfiQyeDcI

Last time around I wrote about problems with my physical and mental health. Well, they got worse and it continues to be quite a journey. Thankfully, after a number of visits to the chiropractor the pain in my back and down my leg is much reduced. I have a lot more work to do in order to make it stronger and more flexible, but significant progress is being made. I was extremely stressed about having dry needling, and I hate it, but it does seem to help. I've needed to use my newly developed meditation skills to deal with having needles stuck everywhere. Yep, I'm soft. While my physical health is much improved, getting my brain to play along is proving more of a challenge. I had to take some time off work and then go back part time because I simply couldn't cope. As with my physical health, I am doing what I am told by those in the know to address this. Written on my reminder board at the moment are the following:

• Don't give up
• Your brain needs food
• Do your yoga
• Remember to meditate
• Don't be a hermit
• Take the long term view

Easier said than done.

Don McGlashan - Start Again - https://youtu.be/YwwF2xNRF4k

Let's finish with something that's a lot of fun. This group did a whole heap of awesome versions of movie theme songs and this is my favourite one.

At The Movies - The Never Ending Story - https://youtu.be/REXpzTtplZg

That'll do.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle 

"Would Jesus feel safe in his skin if he came to your town?

And would you still believe in Jesus if you found out he was brown?"

Jordan Smart, Who Would Jesus Bomb?, 2024

World Wide Woozle episode #652

Welcome back at what is a sad, sad time for fans of heavy music.

The Prince is dead, long live the Prince.

Ozzy Osbourne died this week at age 76. While we all knew that he'd been unwell for a number of years, this news hits hard given that he was performing only a couple of weeks ago at his own farewell concert.

In my last couple of years of high school, heavy metal music became a passion and it remains so to this day. My friend Simon loaned me his LP copy of Blizzard of Ozz to dub onto cassette and over the following years I almost wore it out. The honest truth is that I'm not a big Black Sabbath fan. I understand their importance in metal music but Ozzy's later solo stuff is what grabbed my attention. Some of that, naturally, is to do with time and place. Ozzy was long gone from Black Sabbath by the time heavy music was on my boombox and walkman.

The iconic riff from Crazy Train (track 2 from Blizzard of Ozz) was the first real metal guitar piece that I could play. Simon played some bass and we would practice that bit over and over again. It felt good. These days it's a bit of a no-no in guitar shops because everyone plays it. There's a reason though; it's just such a great riff.

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train - https://youtu.be/FVovq9TGBw0

In mid-1989 I bought my first CD player. I also bought two CDs that day, one was the Ozzy Osbourne live album, Tribute. Yesterday, on my march through my entire CD collection, that album along with all the other Ozzy ones I own was played. Coincidence?

Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Know (live 1981) - https://youtu.be/mvwBbPIMhTY

Ozzy had a knack for attracting and working with some of the most influential guitar players. Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Brad Gillis, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde to name the most well known. Tony, of course, remained with Black Sabbath and is the author of some of the heaviest riffs of all time. Randy (dec. 1982) is well known for incorporating a range of influences, including classical music, into his playing.

Randy Rhoads - Dee - https://youtu.be/J9BQRMBjUOY

In other news, I am having a major struggle with some back issues. It's been a problem on and off for many years now but I've usually been able to manage it with a range of strategies. There is a limit, however, to how much massage, physio, stretching and exercise I can do. Sadly, it's just getting worse. I begged the GP for help and he finally took notice. Some new drugs are almost managing the pain and instability. Meanwhile I've been to see a chiropractor who came highly recommended. What we already knew is that two discs are a problem, two nerve roots are being impacted, and there is some joint arthropathy too. Quite a bit of this is age related, but a couple of injuries have helped it along. Let's see what the chiropractor can do because I'd really like to get back on my bike, walk without worrying about electric shocks down my leg, and most importantly, stop the triggering of my mental health because that is even harder to deal with.

Black Flag - Fix Me - https://youtu.be/ICdgH_LDo5Q

That's it. I've got nothing else today. Go and listen to some Ozzy.

Keep smiling,
The Woozle

"Heaven is for heroes, and Hell is full of fools..."
Ozzy Osbourne, Revelation (Mother Earth), 1980.

World Wide Woozle episode #651

Welcome back loyal listeners. Welcome also to newbies, irregulars, curmudgeons, and anyone else brave or silly enough to join in. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, let's begin.

This week DJ Toddo and I headed out to the theatre to see the production, Big Name No Blankets. This was a stage show / rock musical all about the Warumpi Band. Told from the perspective of founding member and lead guitarist Sammy Butcher, it was a real treat. Musically, the band were spot on and Taj Pigram moved and sounded exactly like singer George Burarrwanga. It's a three show run here in Canberra and I'd thoroughly recommend seeing the show if you can. I've listened to Warumpi Band since their iconic song, Blackfella Whitefella, appeared, with This Land by Coloured Stone, on Midnight Oil's The Dead Heart single in 1986. Hearing their songs played live, along with some of the stories and meaning behind them was more than worth the price of admission.

Warumpi Band - Stompin' Ground - https://youtu.be/HHYbwHTGOv4

Wet Leg are a band from the Isle of Wight who are getting a lot of exposure at the moment. They had a slot at Glastonbury and also on NPR's excellent Tiny Desk Concert series. It's a bit quirky, but poppy and infectious nonetheless. Other than the cool vibe, I was instantly hooked by seeing guitarist Hester slinging a Richie Sambora Kramer guitar! So cool.

Wet Leg - CPR - https://youtu.be/3tibZ_DBmVE

Many of you may have watched, or at least been aware of, the final Ozzy / Black Sabbath show that was in Birmingham last weekend. The whole day was a complete festival of heavy music as well as love for Ozzy. I've watched quite a bit of it and I hope there is a decent BluRay release coming soon. There were great moments and there were also plenty of singers and musicians who didn't really hit the mark. Nuno Bettencourt, guitarist for the US band Extreme, proved himself to be the consummate artist. He carried many performances and made it look almost effortless. Singer Yungblud probably made a whole lot of people check out his music after his superb rendition of Changes. Steven Tyler from Aerosmith proved that you can still sing, move and be a total rock package well into your seventies. I can only imagine how much fun it would've been that day. There's a ton of bootleg footage out there on YouTube so fill your boots. Here's a track that highlights Ozzy's voice and the superlative guitar work of the legend, Randy Rhoads.

Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads - Goodbye To Romance (vocal/guitar mix 2010) - https://youtu.be/-vrT1SQDYhA

Very few artists do justice in their attempts to cover AC/DC tunes. I'm still scarred by footage of Shania Twain murdering one of their biggest hits. I'm not even going to link it here for fear that you might inadvertently hear it. In sharp contrast, Morgan James' version of Thunderstruck is a total soul/r&b triumph, What fun!

Morgan James - Thunderstruck - https://youtu.be/IFe-AU7jwBI

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and guidance about photography after the last blog post. I won't be spending thousands on gear I can assure you. I might, however, get a small tripod that'll hold my phone from time to time. Otherwise I'm sticking with my quick draw, point and shoot style for now!

Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem - Kodachrome - https://youtu.be/6_01zRwJOPw

That'll do for this time. Happy Birthday Fitzwilliam.

Keep smiling y'all,

The Woozle.

"Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond

Call me what you will..."

Metallica, Wherever I May Roam, 1991

World Wide Woozle episode #650

Hello and welcome back all you radio fans.

The World Wide Woozle current listening playlist is, and remains, an ever-changing window into what I'm listening to now. You can access it HERE via Spotify. I love feedback and discussions about music so please feel free to engage me about this, via email, at any time.

In this episode I'm going to write about a few topics, and it might get long. I'll include some sub-headings so that you can skip what you aren't interested in. So, strap in for the ride and don't forget to hydrate.

Iron Maiden – Rime of the Ancient Mariner - https://youtu.be/gewer650wqc

Checking out

Some of you will have seen an article that I pointed to in The Guardian that reflected on the instant-response culture that we have created with text messages and other forms of instant online communication. Over the last few years many of us have allowed ourselves to be sucked into responding to messages instantly and at all hours of the day and night. Guess what, it's not good for you. And if you get that reputation in the workplace then you will never have a moment to think about anything. I am one of those people. Living alone, it is very easy to rely on messaging for human contact when the truth is that some quiet time isn't a bad thing. It means I can limit distractions when I am reading, writing, and meditating.

In pre-instant messaging days, you would never telephone someone after 8.30pm unless it was an emergency. Now, however, there seem to be no boundaries with regards to messaging. We all know that we should stop looking at our electronic devices at least thirty minutes before bedtime but we don't. I know I don't need to send stupid memes and pictures at 10pm, but I do. And I most definitely don't need to respond to that message at 3am because I forgot to put my phone on 'do not disturb'.

So, in the interests of my own wellbeing (selfish, I know) I am checking out. It's not that I won't respond or that I won't send messages, I'm simply going to make a big effort to not let it rule my life. One of the ways I will deal with this is dumping my smartwatch or at least stopping all the notifications. Every time my wrist vibrates, I am interrupted, stop what I'm doing and my mind wanders. I must remember to set up my phone so that the do not disturb setting actually works.

Jesus Jones - Who? Where? Why? - https://youtu.be/JlMZjFRFzBM

AC/DC
Yes, the best rock and roll band in the world are coming back home for a series of shows at the end of the year. Angus (Marshall, not Young) and I have tickets for one of the Melbourne shows. To be frank, I was shocked to be able to actually secure them. AC/DC were the first rock band that I really connected with, and they are still my favourite. It's uncomplicated, foot tapping, head nodding, rock and roll and this will be the fourth time I will see them live. Some will complain that it's not the original band, they are too old, tickets are too expensive, and so on. In this case, I simply don't care. Angus is the only original member, but Brian has been singing with them since 1980. Malcolm and Bon are dead so they really can't be expected to show up. Yes, they are old, but does that mean they can't do what they love? And ticket prices are much cheaper than some other international acts to recently grace our shores, cough, cough, Pearl Jam. I have little doubt that this will be the last tour, and they may have slowed down a little. Brian is 77, Angus is 70, and Stevie is 68. I'd absolutely love to be able to get on stage in front of a huge crowd at that age. "Hail, hail to the good times, 'cause rock has got the right of way...we're just living for today."

AC/DC – For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) - https://youtu.be/RtMGoU9NcMo

Not getting better

Honestly, I well and truly understand that any kind of mental health recovery journey is far from a linear process. I know there are moments of clarity as well as deep despair and everything in between. In recent times I think I have been making really good progress and importantly my psychologist thinks the same. I was reminded by a well meaning friend that I was now 54 and had been battling this for a number of years. They then asked when I would have it sorted out. Well, that sat me back on my heels and rendered me speechless. I don't know the answer but I do know that I wish it was today. I wish it had never happened to me, to my family, and to my friends. I'm ok now and I'm deeply appreciative to the people that helped me navigate my way over that particular hill this week.

John Williamson & The McClymont Sisters - I'll Be Gone - https://youtu.be/Cd6FhmogDY8

Photography
I have discovered that I like taking photographs. I just need to be better at remembering to pull out my phone to snap them! There are a couple of places near my house that are rather beautiful, and I've found myself walking there more and more searching for spots to shoot. I know that photography can be a very technical pursuit, but, with a half decent phone and a bit of patience I can get some rather pleasing results. I am a sucker for sunsets and a glassy surface on a pond. There's a rabbit hole to go down with regards to camera gear, but I don't need to even peek inside. Or do I?

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band – Photograph - https://youtu.be/oG14CJ0klhw

Maliyan Tour 2025

Melbourne readers need to be aware that my mate George has a live gig for you Victorians on the 2nd of August. All the details are on the flyer at the bottom of this blog post. Get there if you can for what promises to be a great show. It's the 10th performance on his Maliyan Tour (aka Bing's World Tour of Australia). Most big international bands manage to play in three or four major Australian cities but not George, he out there in cities and towns laying it down for y'all.

Brian Wilson

I thought I'd finish with a Beach Boys song. Brian Wilson passed away recently although many would argue that he really hasn't been with us for quite a while. It's a sad story but we are left with some superb songs. The Beach Boys Greatest Hits was one of the first albums I was given. First on cassette and then on LP, thanks Mum! 

The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice (vocals only) - https://youtu.be/FPN53PHDwe4

Lukim Yu,

The Woozle

"Same playbook as 2003,

looks familiar to you,

looks familiar to me..."

Jesse Welles, Sometimes You Bomb Iran, 2025.

World Wide Woozle episode #649

Hello out there marvellous listening world. 

Last time on the World Wide Woozle I was getting ready to head to Wollongong for a gig. I did, it was cool, and you can read all about it right here. Thanks, Bing.

I've also done an update of the World Wide Woozle current listening playlist. It's less angry than the previous iteration. Maybe I'm chilling out a little.

Today I was in Queanbeyan for work. It looks like I might go back there every couple of weeks as well. Cool people and a groovy setup supporting veterans. In the very early nineties Canberrans needed to go to the Leagues Club there to see most major bands that came this way. I have good memories of seeing The Angels, Crowded House, and Transvision Vamp there. I also remember seeing The Choirboys there on a Sunday evening. The crowd was tiny (Sunday evening!!) but the band played as if there were thousands watching. 

Choirboys - Never Gonna Die - https://youtu.be/Z3bUU56Xwbg

Clutch are an American hard rock outfit that I've liked for quite a while now. They have a new song which I'm about to play for you. What I am struggling to understand is why they aren't a ton more popular. Is it a saturated marketplace? I don't think I can blame radio as its influence seems so minimal these days. Or are we all stuck listening to only what we grew up with and/or what an algorithm recommends?

Clutch - Slaughter Beach - https://youtu.be/nRTfLdaFzyU

Look, the algorithms aren't all bad, they're just opaque in their intentions at best. YouTube threw this one up at me this week and it's cool. If you liked bands like REO Speedwagon, Journey, Foreigner and the like then this group from Sweden might be for you. DJ DaveDubya will be quietly giggling at their name...my brother might be too since he's a Kiwi these days.

Nestor - In The Name Of Rock And Roll - https://youtu.be/nRTfLdaFzyU

Two great bands that I've seen play at the much missed ANU Refectory, are The Living End and Baby Animals. Well, Chris Cheyney and the Baby Animals have teamed up to release their version of the Motörhead classic, Ace of Spades. First of all, why Suze can't sing, "baby, I'm your man" is beyond me. Those are the lyrics and it just sounds odd now. Secondly, I want to love this interpretation but, well, it's kinda bland. Suze's voice sounds fabulous but the band is a bit muffled. I know that there are two absolute guitar gunslingers on this track but it feels lacking in energy. If they play it live then it might hit home. It's only maybe from me...but that's just my opinion.

Baby Animals w/ Chris Cheyney - Ace of Spades - https://youtu.be/3ebZb0S0DbU

Here's the version you want.

Motörhead - The Ace of Spades (on The Young Ones) - https://youtu.be/YOAz4nPNvLI

I wrote in my gig review, and mentioned at the show how much AM radio influenced my early listening habits. I was listening to Queanbeyan FM today on the drive over the border (hi there DJ DocW) and they played the next song. It was another staple from 2ZB in Wellington and 3UL in Gippsland when I was a kid. I had no idea that the original was recorded when Tanya was just 13!

Tanya Tucker w/ Little Big Country - Delta Dawn -  https://youtu.be/AMAM3ae7KoQ

John Swan, aka Swanee, has a new album coming out soon. Australians will know him as a successful solo artist from the late 70s and 80s and then as the singer in The Party Boys. Swanee was also the singer who replaced Bon Scott in Fraternity. You might have heard of his younger brother as well who sings for Cold Chisel. You can read all about the new album right here. I missed seeing him play at the Rock for RnR gig I was involved in at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne a few years ago and I'm still disappointed. Here's a really, really great song. If you only click one song link in this episode then this is the one. He has a big heart.

Swanee - Rescue Me - https://youtu.be/kWjIVWaNg-c

I'm about 90 albums into my quest to listen to every CD I own. No skipping tracks or pausing is allowed. So far it's been a lot of fun although I think my mid 90s CD player may be slowly giving up the ghost. Let me know if you've got a decent one you'd consider selling. I'd forgotten just how much I liked this song...

The Cat Empire - The Car Song - https://youtu.be/a4xau-JRu3I

Almost at the end now. Hang in there.

Can I recommend the podcast called, Strong Songs to anyone remotely interested in why some songs are simply just so good. I listened to a couple of episodes and I am now hearing bits in tunes, lyrics and arrangements that I had never noticed. The show about this next Jim Steinman tune was particularly jaw-dropping.

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart - https://youtu.be/lcOxhH8N3Bo

For those of you who remain slightly confused about what a podcast is...it's essentially a radio show without a radio station. Also, some podcasts are simply recordings of radio shows that have already aired. Anyone can make one too. Maybe I should. I learned a lot recently about the French Foreign Legion, anxiety, and the use of castanets. Not all from the same podcast though.

The Members - Radio - https://youtu.be/IGhsO63D_R8

That's enough. 

Rock on folks,

The Woozle.

"...the lovers, the dreamers, and me..."

Kermit The Frog & Debbie Harry, The Rainbow Connection, recorded 1981.

The Woozle in Wollongong 24/25 May 2025

Hello again music fans.

This is a bit of a rundown of my recent weekend away and the set I played in support of the Wollongong leg of George Huitker's Maliyan 2025 Australian Tour.

I hadn't been to Wollongong for a while. For those not in the know, it's on the coast about 90km south of Sydney. From Canberra it's about a 3 hour drive if you include stops.

I chose to head to the 'Gong a day before the show. Winter is coming in fast in Canberra and the opportunity to get some sunshine and coastal air was a big drawcard. It's clearly not tourist season down there as accomodation was easy to find. I got a fab and groovy place about a five minute walk from both the CBD and the beach.

I am not a fan of the beach. I don't like sand. Salt water tastes horrible and of course there are sharks out there. I do, however, like being at the coast. I like the sound of the ocean and I'm pretty happy sitting on a bench somewhere gazing out to sea. Wollongong is great for a walk along the coast beside the beach. But, let me go out on a limb here and suggest that it is possible to walk without a takeaway coffee and/or without being on your phone the whole time...

I was fortunate enough to catch up with a couple of good friends there. Once by good luck when we were all out walking at the same time, and the next day for brekky at a fab cafe. Other than that I was pretty happy with my own company. I do wonder if the people in the next hotel room enjoyed me rehearsing my set though!

Rarely do I write much about food as it can be a challenging topic for me. I do, however, want to tell you all about the pineapple fritter I had as a treat at Glory Days on Crown Street. For years, every time I decide to get one I am disappointed. They arrive only half cooked, drowned in sugar and generally make me feel like I'd not bothered. Not this time. Oh, my, goodness. My taste buds were in heaven; the best pineapple fritter ever. Cooked to perfection and with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar. I should've gone back for a second one but let's not go too crazy.

Sunday came around with an early morning stroll, the aforementioned breakfast, and the joy of setting up sound equipment for a gig.

Lajos opened the show with poetry readings. This is the man that recently wrote 1000 poems in 1000 days. We'll be needing some of these in a book before too long. Great stuff.

Then it was me. It's been quite a while since I played and sang in public. The fact that I'd lost my voice just a week earlier threatened to make life interesting. I chose my repertoire accordingly and almost got away with it, almost. I chose to play four songs written by other people as well as a couple of mine. Here they are, along with why I chose them. Don't feel that you must read all of this as it is as much a journal entry for me as an expose of my musical scattergun approach.

i. To A Mouse - Robert Burns - https://youtu.be/5kFST60dNgY (read by Billy Connolly)

Lajos had read poetry and I really thought that I was about to lower the tone of the evening substantially so I read this one myself. Somewhere I have a certificate from early primary school in Scotland for reciting this particular poem.

1. Gold - John Stewart - https://youtu.be/reFlgu1vq3Q

This song has so much going for it. Firstly it takes me back to my childhood and AM radio. Lyrically I love it; "I jump into my car and I throw in my guitar". The rhythm of the syllables and feel of spitting out the consonants are beautiful things. "California" was interchanged with "Illawarra" and "Alabama".

2. If It Takes A Lifetime - Jason Isbell - https://youtu.be/d82uSO0tn3k

 

Y'all know that Jason is one of my favourite songwriters. His songs, however, are quite difficult for me to sing given his range and level of control. I'm not sure I did a wonderful job with this one, maybe I should have done it a bit later after my voice and nerves were more under control, but I still enjoyed it. For me, this is a song about continuing to move forwards.

3. Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John - https://youtu.be/REfKNbNndzo

George loves prog rock and this was as close as I could get with one voice and an acoustic guitar. I distilled the original eleven minute epic down to a bare bones, Neil Young-esque version, of about three minutes. It has a lot of chords, I needed a capo so that I could sing and play it at the same time, and it was a challenge to arrange and learn. My goodness it was fun though!

4. No Way Nadir - George Huitker - https://youtu.be/puATe3Ty3sQ

I knew that George wouldn't be playing this song in his set and, after trying out a number of his other tracks, I decided to give this one a red hot go. It's got a thousand chords as well but I played it so many times when I was in Junk Sculpture that it's pretty much muscle memory. But...I started it too fast and the lyrics need to come out thick and fast! Then I had the capo in the wrong place so it got a bit of a spoken word / Mark Knopfler vocal styling in places! And I reverted to the original lyrics...sorry H.

5. One's Too Many - https://on.soundcloud.com/udo5TD45qECNiR7h8

One of my originals that's been around for a little while now. I feel like I've played it to everyone I know but this was a whole new crowd and it has one additional lyric I wanted to try on for size.

6. Another Day - Lovesmudge - https://youtu.be/k8KgQzU3tJY

I had time up my sleeve so, unrehearsed, I threw this one in. I wrote the lyrics in 1992 for a band I was in at the time. It's not that easy with just the one guitar but I think the song still stands up today.

7. If You Don't Like Hank Williams - Kris Kristofferson - https://youtu.be/J8RSGCJF6gI

There's a demo version of this which I have linked that I just adore. Kris was a smart man who liked all sorts of music and artists and I wanted to channel a little of that vibe. A few lyrics were altered so that Hank Williams is replaced by George Huitker. I'm sure you'll get it when you listen to the original.

And that was me, done and dusted.

George and Evan were up next playing a range of songs from his ten albums. Quiet songs, and 'bangers' as George calls them and everything in between. Lajos and I got up for some backing vocals on two tracks but no-one saw that green trombone solo coming. Anarchy in Wollongong!

Good times indeed.

Cautiously, I think I am now available for low key lounge room shows across the ACT. Book now to ensure disappointment!

Thanks if you read all of this.

The Woozle.

World Wide Woozle episode #648

Hello all you radio fans.

Yes, it's been a while so this might get long. Strap in.

First of all, this Sunday 25 May I'm playing a support set at a gig in Wollongong. Come along and see me murder some great songs by other people and one that I wrote myself. I might do one more but it depends how long I yak about my choices! You'll also see quality entertainment with Lajos Hamers doing his thing followed by George and Evan playing selections from his ten albums.

I've just come home from nine days in New Zealand. It was fab to spend time with my family there simply catching up. Nothing beats being in the same room. I also did a ton of walking here and there, went to a gig, regretted wearing shorts once or twice, hung out with my awesome niece and nephew, almost lost my voice and, for the first time I can remember, joined with my brother in taking Mum out for Mother's Day. I was also extremely fortunate in that Wellington only turned on the gale force winds and sideways rain on the day I was coming home. That's my holiday for this year. Other than a long weekend here and there, I'm now saving my holidays to go to Scotland in 2026. It's time.

Big Country - In A Big Country - https://youtu.be/657TZDHZqj4

I don't tend to listen to a lot of music when I'm on holiday. Sure, on the plane is a different story, but out and about walking and on public transport I prefer to immerse myself in the local environment. Having said that, I did listen to this song more than once as a result of seeing it played live in Wellington at the very groovy Vogelmorn Bowling Club.

Andrew London - Country's Buggered - https://andrewlondon.bandcamp.com/track/countrys-buggered

In the last few months I've experienced four anxiety attacks. Not fun, not fun at all. In fact the first one, when I was out for a walk, was absolutely terrifying and is the reason I got a new psychologist and started to take this all much more seriously. The others were horrible as well. One was when I was riding home and another just as I got on the plane to come home from Adelaide. It lasted almost the length of the flight to Canberra. What I've learned is that they can come out of nowhere and make my thought patterns dark and illogical. Yes, I told my psychologist about them and we're working on it. This kind of thing isn't something you should keep to yourself or try to deal with alone because it's hard. In the throes of an attack all I can do is try to sit with the discomfort and ride it out. I use music, sometimes a podcast or an audio book to help with this. And lots of photos to remind me that my life is good and that the voice in my head yelling all the unhelpful thoughts will eventually shut up. Many of you will know that I have "don't give up" tattooed on the inside of my left forearm. It's a constant reminder to keep going. I guess I've accepted that mental health challenges are part of my life and have been for quite a while. Once I admitted this to myself and began to get help (and follow the advice properly) it has been getting better but it's far from a linear progression.

Why am I writing this bit? Some of it is cathartic. But it also takes up a lot of my time and energy and is a reason that I haven't published anything here for a while.

I Ain't Got No Home - Bruce Springsteen - https://youtu.be/QeSrR1X65EA

The Lemonheads have been in the country playing some gigs recently. I saw them at the ANU in about 1993 and they really weren't all that good. I remember being disappointed that they finished the gig by simply making an unholy racket and not playing their current single. The album at that time, It's A Shame About Ray, however, is awesome. I bought it on the strength of hearing it over the sound system at the record shop, something that has only happened to me twice. Live performance aside, it's still an album I like a lot and it reminds me of a pretty awesome period in my life.

The Lemonheads - Confetti - https://youtu.be/4s7Fi2QBXqk

For many years I worked in IT support and then I taught computing to high school students. Later on I also dabbled in helping older people with technology. Having now assisted with getting my Mum a new computer and transferring some information across, I may never want to choose Microsoft for anything I do myself again. Seriously, there is a new version of Outlook which might be the biggest disaster since disasters began. It truly is diabolical for anyone used to a well thought out and functioning email client. I live my digital life, including email, in the cloud these days and most is pretty seamless. The installation process for Office 2024 and associated importing of email files, accounts and folders is a disgrace. Bill Gates is spinning in his grave and he isn't even dead yet.

Heaven & Hell - Bible Black - https://youtu.be/EKyEbjcvUag

You may have guessed that songs mean a lot to me. I like to share music. Like a lot of people it started with mixtapes that I gave to friends, family and people who mattered to me. Then the blog came along and of course playlist sharing. But did you ever share a song with someone and then, maybe when things went south, found that the song stings a bit? In the film, Rattle and Hum, Bono from U2 talks about stealing the Beatles song, Helter Skelter, back from Charles Manson. Well I'm stealing this one back. It's a beautiful song that's been hurting me for too long. Radio NZ have literally released the below version today so get on it!

Don McGlashan w/ Anita Clark - Anchor Me - https://youtu.be/qlAJjSpi5T0

Back in the 90s I was in a band called Lovesmudge. Formed out of the smouldering embers of a covers band, we wrote and played what you'd probably describe as indie music. We were influenced by awesome groups like The Falling Joys and The Clouds. I put one of our demo tracks online years ago here but I really should get the other three digitised and uploaded. Fast forward just a few years to the present day and I can hear that kind of sound coming back. How good is this track all the way from Gosford?

Little Quirks - Storm Like Me - https://youtu.be/KDZ1LwibVfY

The World Wide Woozle current listening playlist is pretty heavy and angry at the moment. I guess that's the mood I was in when I put it together. It's likely to change in the next few days so grab a listen here and subscribe to it so that you can come back at any time to listen and wonder, "what WAS he thinking!"

Since I'll be in Wollongong this weekend I think I'll finish with a great band from that town. I saw Tumbleweed play supporting Rollins Band in 1994 and they were tops. Sludgy, fat, loud, stoner rock and roll.

Tumbleweed - TV Genocide - https://youtu.be/3DbgkGJoGeo

Keep smiling groovers,

The Woozle

"Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose

In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back
Up front there ought to be a man in black"

Johnny Cash, The Man In Black, 1971