World Wide Woozle episode #620

Guess who has ten days off in a row?? Yep, that's right, me, your faithful correspondent and dealer of musical madness! So stow your tray tables, ignore the safety card in the seat pocket and pay attention!

Of course, I'd planned to spend these few days riding my bicycle or doing a multi-day walk but this stupid back injury has put paid to that. I'll be at home for most of the time doing everything that the physio told me to do. The outlook is good. The bulging discs and osteoarthritis in my spine are NOT what has caused this issue. So apparently we can fix it; and fix it I will. I'm up to walking about 5km, gently, on flat ground and that has taken the load off mentally I can assure you. The annoying thing is that I really don't enjoy sitting down for any length of time. Anyway, I've got some great albums to listen to, an XBOX game to try, books to read and a new song to work on. It could be much, much worse.

As I mentioned last time, I didn't get to go and see The Mark of Cain and, quite frankly, this was very upsetting. I've seen them a few times now over the years including in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and here in Canberra. Thankfully one of my friends was able to use my ticket so it didn't go to waste. TMOC have released a remastered, two LP version of their Henry Rollins produced album Ill At Ease. At the same time the six tracks recorded live at the Livid Festival in Brisbane in '96 were also put on vinyl (and yes, onto streaming services). I'd planned to pony up my hard earned dollars at the show to get these and maybe even be lucky enough to get them signed but it wasn't to be. Thankfully, Landspeed Records here in Canberra had them in stock and put them aside until I could shuffle into the store. To my surprise they were the same price as on the band's website and that's super cool. They're a Christmas present to myself so will remain under the tree for another twenty four hours!

I hope you've all been enjoying my alternative Christmas playlist (it's here). After tomorrow I'll update it as no-one needs those songs after the 25th! 

AC/LeeC - Dirty Deeds Around the Christmas Tree - https://youtu.be/bM10A86drpI

Melbourne's Between You & Me were on JJJ Like a Version recently and did a fabulously energetic version of a song that we all know from Shrek. So many covers are "slow it down and make it sad" but not this ripper. If I could dance at the moment then this would be on the playlist...

Between You & Me - All Star - https://youtu.be/lrxbcsWQYKk

Regular purchasers of music from overseas will no doubt understand my pain everytime I look at shipping costs. I discovered this week that eBay now has its own shipping system from the USA at least. I'd been unwilling to order a heavy box set because the shipping was nearly US$100. With the new eBay system it was down to US$25. Awesome. And it arrived in just over a week! I don't need the whole thing though as I was completing a collection so if anyone out there wants Metallica live VHS cassettes then yell out.

Metallica - The Unforgiven (live 1992) - https://youtu.be/Q6dGQ_FmjxE?si=kfze0ADYwS7xWzvk&t=59

A while ago I finished the audiobook version of Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou's book about their time in silverchair. Great story and sad too. Spotify limits how many hours of audiobook listening you get in an hour even if you pay for a premium membership and I think that sucks. Now I'm onto the autobiography written and narrated by Judas Priest singer Rob Halford. My favourite bit so far is one of their early managers who rigged a phone in an elevator so that he could make free national and international calls! Judas Priest are one of the biggest metal bands in the world and their story, and Rob's is worth a read/listen. I hadn't realised the dramas they have with their first two albums being owned by another record company. The first one especially always sounded a bit weak to me and Rob Halford relates that the band were unhappy with the production (and marketing) as well. It looks like there is a newly remastered version and I'll be able to report back when it arrives. Meanwhile, this is one of the tracks that hooked me on the band many years ago.

Judas Priest - Metal Gods (live 1982) - https://youtu.be/I9PjOhz3FSM

Yesterday I watched an extended interview with Jason Isbell (it's here if you're interested). He covers a wide range of topics and I'm always interested to hear what he says about his songs and the writing process. And he refers to Taylor Swift as a genius. Cool.

Taylor Swift - Better Man (live/acoustic 2018) - https://youtu.be/ypNKMtcfQ9U

Jason Isbell - Death Wish (live/acoustic 2023) - https://youtu.be/bnm7Of5Bn8w

I did get a good laugh from one reader last time who remarked that they'd never heard any of the bands I'd played. A few of them were new to me too. There's so much great new music out there if you can just convince the YouTube/Spotify algorithms to show it to you or indeed if you're fortunate enough to have a decent local record store to look in. I did get an email from a list I subscribe to of what they thought were 2023's best albums. I have since unsubscribed as it was a dreadful, dreadful list. Let's finish with something new and cool. Well at least I think it's groovy. If you like beautiful harmonies and acoustic guitars then this might make your 2024 playlist.

The Weeping Willows - Singing The Blues - https://youtu.be/2x9eiziIPjY

Merry Christmas,

The Woozle

"Snoopy was certain that this was the end

When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas my friend..."

The Royal Guardsmen, Snoopy's Christmas vs The Red Baron, 1965.

World Wide Woozle episode #619

Welcome back rockers.

I've had the whole week off work with dreadful back pain. Until Wednesday I was walking like a 90 year old on a bad day, I was reduced to crawling to the shower on Monday and Tuesday and I haven't made the bed in a week. That's some kind of record! Thankfully it has started to ease off and I am relatively mobile. I'm not sure I'll be back on my bike this year to be honest. The physio and I will be having a serious conversation next week about preventing this from happening again. And I missed out on seeing The Mark of Cain on Wednesday night; not happy Jan.

Last time on the World Wide Woozle I mentioned that I'd read a number of comments bemoaning the lack of new guitar heroes and therefore rock music This, as well as painkillers and far too much time on my hands, has led me on an epic quest. As a result, this episode is all about noisy, sweaty, riff driven rock and roll. I'm not discounting the many great rock bands who have been plying their trade for years and years, but I am making the point that guitar driven rock is not dead.

In 1977 Muddy Waters sang, "the blues had a baby and they called it rock and roll", and nothing could be more true. Since the earliest days of the genre, blues has been an important part of the rock scene. Bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin clearly drank from that particular cup. Fast forward today and Melbourne rockers Palace of The King channel a similar spirit. They have a new album that was released yesterday and also released a slew of singles in anticipation. This is the latest one and I think the groove is right on the money. Listen (and buy) their stuff right here.

Palace of the King - A Run For Your Money - https://youtu.be/BQksahIuWyY

Legs Electric, from Western Australia, have been playing full steam ahead rock music for a while now and have scored support gigs with the likes of Ace Frehley, Uriah Heep, The Superjesus, Wolfmother and KISS. There's some great pro shot footage of their KISS support slot here. Clearly influenced by classic and hard rock, Legs Electric sound fresh and energetic. Vocally I'm reminded of Stonefield and that's not a bad thing at all. And whilst the music is the most important thing, it is so cool to see a band that dresses like the rock and roll stars they are.

Legs Electric - Dance Like A Wolf - https://youtu.be/Sm0WZGcGpLM

Towards the end of 2019 we lived in a rental in Lyneham. One weekend there was a big craft beer festival in the car park that was over our back fence. There were bands playing too. That was my introduction to Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.The band has a recently released long player that was featured as album of the week on Triple J. If you like energetic indie style rock and roll then this is for you. Buy their stuff here.

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers - I Used To Be Fun - https://youtu.be/cKf9LTXdPJM

Thundermother are a hard rock band from Stockholm, Sweden. They've supported Scorpions across North America and played at the Wacken Festival three times. Thundermother's music is along the same lines as bands such as Airbourne I guess. It's fists in the air, good time hard rock.

Thundermother -  I Left My License In The Future - https://youtu.be/dakOQMNa_2Q

A while ago I listened to a podcast featuring Joel Green who drums for Witchskull and of course was in  Australia's greatest ever metal band, Armoured Angel, back in the day. Listening to him speak about his influences got me enthused again about some old school metal. Bands like Exodus, King Diamond and Unleashed. I know that this kind of music is very much an acquired taste and isn't going to be for everyone. It's not something you throw on casually for unsuspecting dinner guests. Another band that Armoured Angel were influenced by was the Swiss outfit, Celtic Frost. Upon listening to some of their tracks I found out that founder, guitarist and singer, Tom Warrior had a new project that was playing music he recorded prior to Celtic Frost. It's a live album and the quality of the playing and sound production is phenomenal. If you know the Hellhammer tunes or the later Celtic Frost stuff then this is a must listen.

Triumph of Death - Massacra (live) - https://youtu.be/9hPJkx4gqJU

Måneskin, from Italy, mix up all sorts of rock and roll styles and the result is high energy music and performances. The live footage I've seen shows a band not afraid to either have a good time or of wearing their influences on their collective sleeves. 

Måneskin - Supermodel - https://youtu.be/Nh9sJhF2r8Y 

For those of you out there perhaps looking for a bonafide rock guitar hero then look no further. Nita Strauss came to prominence playing with The Iron Maidens before being selected to play in Alice Cooper's band. Along the way she's developed some amazing guitar chops. created a social media persona that is super positive, had Ibanez make her a signature model guitar and of course released some jaw dropping solo work. 

Nita Strauss (feat Chris Motionless) - Digital Bullets - https://youtu.be/yZWUrI8yaIg

Lastly, two great players in one band. I've been raving on about them for quite a while now and I don't intend to stop. Jason Isbell and Sadler Vaden have been making music over the course of a few albums now and they are top shelf guitar slingers in my opinion. If you're a guitar tragic then you'll enjoy Jason's interviews about his extensive guitar rig and all his instruments. He's a tragic too! 

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Super 8 (live 2022) - https://youtu.be/voweHmL7ons

How's that? Rock ain't dead....

The Woozle

"Gonna take you dancing mama

Show you off over town
You can feel the boogie
If you listen you can hear the sound..."

The Southern River Band, Stan Qualen, 2023. (must be something good going on in Western Australia...)

World Wide Woozle episode #618

This episode is brought to you by ibuprofen, heat packs, Tiger Balm, the spiky physio ball and a reasonable amount of bad language.

I haven't had a sore back for ages. I spend a fair bit of time looking after it but, the fact is that it's a weak point. Maybe you think that my 108 rides up Black Mountain are the culprit but I don't think so. It's always the most innocuous act that sets it off. Earlier this year I messed it up by installing car seat covers. That one took about a month to recover properly from. This time around, my quick initiation to lawn bowls did it. Aaaarrrggghhhh! All I can do now is everything that physios have told me in the past along with simply waiting. It's boring, sore and very frustrating. 

Let's start with The Pogues. As I'm sure most of you know, Shane MacGowan passed away recently. He was only 65 in human years but I think that his lifestyle probably meant he was on par with Methuselah.  I first heard The Pogues in 1988. I was looking for some music to give to my Dad for his birthday and in some magazine I'd read a review of their most recent album. I remember thinking that my Dad liked folk music so this 'new' band might be of interest. Certainly there was a mandolin and bodhrán on the album cover! If I Should Fall From Grace With God didn't turn out to be their most raw or anarchic album but I clearly remember Dad wondering what I had got him when we threw it into the cassette player in the car! The band took a while to grow on him but for me, it was one of those pivotal moments. A band was playing traditional music with gritty lyrics and a punk sensibility. I loved it and I still do. The Pogues' previous album, Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, would become one of my all time favourites. And my brother related to me recently that their 1993 LP, Waiting For Herb, was one that he thought at the time was the best album ever. Of course, at this time of year we all hear Shane along with Kirsty MacColl singing Fairytale of New York played ad infinitum. But have you ever stopped to listen closely to the lyrics? To me it's a song of regret, love long gone and the clarity (perhaps) that MacGowan got from drinking. It's certainly not a happy Christmas song although it is beautiful in its own way. It's tame compared to some of the lyrics of other tunes. The point for me, as a teenager and now as not quite a teenager, is that they are honest and real. We all want "she loves you yeah, yeah, yeah" but the truth isn't as perfect.

"And now I'm lying here I've had too much booze
I've been spat on and shat on and raped and abused
I know that I am dying and I wish I could beg
For some money to take me from the old main drag..." 

The Pogues - The Old Main Drag (BBC Radio session 1985) - https://youtu.be/g-45xNr-udU

It's the time of year, as mentioned last time, that Spotify lets us know how much and what we've listened to in the last twelve months. It's probably not a shock that I spent a LOT of time listening to quite a wide variety of music. I remain torn about streaming online music like Spotify, YouTube and the like. We all know that the artists are getting a pittance from what a lot of the population sees as their right to free music. As a teen there was no way I could afford all of the albums I wanted. So, like many of you I recorded songs from the radio and albums from friends. Any cash that I did have, including much appreciated gift vouchers at Christmas or my birthday, meant a long visit to the record shop to carefully choose something. Some of the earliest records I bought are amongst my most prized possessions. Which brings me to my point, Spotify, along with all the statistics, told me something that made me smile. I like to listen to albums all the way through. And it's true. Sure, singles and hits are great fun but albums in my view were once made to listen to as a package deal. Some still are but clearly not all. A record can take you on a journey, an experience. We may have learned more from a three minute record than we ever did in school but my life was altered significantly by the entirety of albums such as Billy Bragg's Talking With The Taxman About Poetry, AC/DC's TNT and Steve Earle's Guitar Town. 

AC/DC - TNT (the full album from 1975) - https://youtu.be/sM63ep2yv3g

Now that it is December and, yes, the Christmas tree is up, it's time for some festive tunes. Not so fast Mariah Carey! Here's a playlist that I put together for all of us who are sick of the standard list of carols and songs that the supermarkets, shopping centres and anyone with an outdoor loudspeaker are subjecting us to. These are still Christmas tunes, it should be a fun time of year, but let's mix it up a bit. Click here. Yup, it's a Spotify playlist. You can listen for free or you can simply look at the song titles and find them elsewhere if you like.

Bad Religion - White Christmas - https://youtu.be/R1KCjHbKM_s

Finally, guitar heroes. Some recent reading alerted me to the fact that there are a lot of people out there (mostly old blokes my vintage) bemoaning the lack of ace guitar slingers. People are looking for the next generation of players to follow in the footsteps of Hendrix, Van Halen, Young, Vai etc. Well I reckon that they need to look at little closer, whilst recognising that the six string histrionics of the past were a point in time. For instance, these two amazing players are keeping the fire burning in my opinion. Move past 1987 folks!

Larkin Poe - Bad Spell (live) - https://youtu.be/HuGI2tX3H-U

My mate Tom knows good music. So much that he writes for Little Steven's Underground Garage radio show in the USA. As well as The Dollyrots, he turned me on to this next band. Modern Moxie are from Charlotte in North Carolina. Their sound is fresh, indie rock I suppose you'd say. It reminds me of The Clouds, The B-52s and The Preatures. They are an independent band so if you can help them out by actually purchasing their music or merchandise then please do. 

Modern Moxie - Big Wave - https://youtu.be/-MQLrsXUdwg

That's it for another episode. Thanks for listening and reading. 

The Woozle

"In a dance hall by the river, I was singing in a travelling band
Just another small town night, with a silver moon shining
I remember when I saw you, that first moment when it all began
You looked across a crowded room, and stole my heart away...."

Gerry Rafferty, Shipyard Town, 1988

World Wide Woozle episode #617

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since we were together but here I am back again with loads to share. Strap in.

Since my last entry I've been on a short break, rode far too many times up the same hill, planted more succulents, and finished writing a new song.

Slim Dusty - Looking Forward, Looking Back - https://youtu.be/AkM4BqWdXHI

Let's talk about holidays. I am not good at taking them, not good at all. A little while ago it became clear to me that I needed some time away from work and my regular life. Nothing bad had happened, I was simply worn out. So I booked myself three nights away at Malua Bay which is on the south coast of NSW only a couple of hours away. Three days and four nights away taught me a lot about myself. I'd aimed to do as little as possible other than reading, walking and playing my guitar but it didn't really work. I needed more to do. I'd not taken my bike on purpose as the roads down there aren't great but I missed it or at least the time spent on it. Next time I go anywhere I'll have some more activities organised as well as maybe some people to catch up with.

Amyl and The Sniffers - Hertz - https://youtu.be/_4RZgyyLI8k

In the last episode I'd just ticked over 40 reps of Black Mountain on my bike. The challenge (self-imposed) has continued. Including a big day a couple of weeks ago of 10 climbs, I'm now up to 100 since October 1. My goal is 120 (three times Mt Everest) by the end of the year. After I hit 120 I'm not sure what I'll do. Maybe a nap is in order.

Bon Jovi - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - https://youtu.be/ts-e0uZfooQ

When I lived in my little house in Watson my mate Bing gave me a couple of succulents. I have never, ever, been keen on gardening but these little green plants gave me quite an amount of joy. Now I have three large tubs of them on my balcony and they do like being spoken to! I've been to the garden shop three times this year however and I think that's probably enough.

Spinal Tap - Listen To The Flower People - https://youtu.be/7-yTWhuK48s

My Dad has just been to visit. It was a lot of fun having him here and Canberra's various cafes got a good workout! There were a lot of highlights for me over an extended weekend but attending the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial was very special. It was special even when I worked there and went to the ceremony every day but attending with a family member is next level. My former colleagues looked after us so well and that was the icing on the cake.

On Sunday my mate Bing has a gig here in Canberra with his band, Murrigeejar Mob. Details are here. It's a bit of a warm up show for a big one happening in a few weeks up in Tingha. I am led to believe that the venue is reinforcing all of their spare chairs and tables ahead of George's furniture surfing activities. Get along, sing along, support local music and have a lot of fun. I'll be there selling merch and music for the band so bring a few dollars with you.

Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs - https://youtu.be/34u_3Z9_LUw

As I mentioned earlier, I have managed to finish writing a new song. I'll start recording a demo of it this weekend with any luck. There are another two tunes in the works and I think that when they are ready that I should have enough for an album. The question then will be do I record it myself or do I get some collaborators along for the ride? Hopefully you'll have the opportunity to have it in your hot little hands before this time next year. There are demos of a few tracks on my Soundcloud account if you'd like a preview.

Poison - Cover of The Rolling Stone - https://youtu.be/YVYGhKWGwMA

In 2020 some very good friends of mine gave me a little Christmas tree. They'd heard that I didn't have one and, with such a small unit, was worried about fitting one in! Somehow between leaving that house, living here and there, and my stuff being in storage it has gone missing. I was gutted when I realised. And after helping my friends put up their tree recently I resolved to organise a replacement. After a few hours of online searching I managed to find exactly the same tree that Dave and Gail gave me and it's currently winging its way to HQ Woozle here in the People's Republic of Gungahlin! It'll take about five minutes to put it up but I'll need either the Elvis Christmas album or a Heavy Metal Christmas to top off the occasion. It's FAR TOO EARLY for Christmas songs though as it is still November. Cool your jets folks.

Jet - Rollover DJ - https://youtu.be/Otyh093USio

Today, 30 November, is AUSMUSIC t-shirt day. It was pretty cool to see some of our politicians today sporting the Rock 4 RNR shirts that they got at the gig I played at a couple of months ago. Rock 4 RNR was initially an album release of a range of artists who are military veterans followed up with a concert. I'm on the album playing lead guitar on the next track. As a band we hadn't seen each other for months due to Covid lockdowns and we had to go into a studio, without a rehearsal, to lay this one down. It's not perfect but considering the circumstances I think it came out pretty well. The magnificent lyrics were written by my great mate Lachlan Irvine whose lyrics and poetry really should have him considered a national treasure. Picko is singing, Gordo is on the bass, Lachie is on guitar and Wayne did the production, drums and synth.

Veterans Inc. - Welcome Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jy0fBQruxM

I was going to write a lot more about new music I've been listening to but this entry is already getting a bit long. Spotify has told me about the 1500 artists I listened to so far this year as well as my favourite artists and songs. Who could have guessed that I'd be in the top 0.5% of AC/DC listeners worldwide ha ha! But I will leave you with something I've had on repeat for a little while.

Scary Pockets - Rocky Raccoon (Beatles cover) - https://youtu.be/TmdG2U2c0NQ

Rock on brothers and sisters and KEEP SMILING!

The Woozle

"I need some time in the sunshine

I've gotta slow it right down
The day's moving just too fast for me..."

Oasis, Rock 'n' Roll Star, 1994

World Wide Woozle episode #616

Hi everyone, thanks for coming back again. This is episode number 616 and that's a lot of writing. I'm regularly thankful that I learned to touch type (on a manual typewriter) back in 1985!

Bits of this blog entry were written over a week ago so please hang in there and it should make sense.

9 days ago: 
These days I'm fortunate in that I'm generally aware of the things that indicate that my mental health isn't so great. There are a few clear markers that I notice and, with a bit of effort, they can be turned around pretty quickly. It wasn't always like that of course. Learning to be brutally honest with oneself is both confronting and valuable all at once. In the last week a few of those indicators started to kick off and some action was needed. I was over committing, over exercising, my sleep went to custard and things that shouldn't have worried me caused me to catastrophize. Let's be clear here, all of those things can happen to anyone, but this was more than just a couple of bad days. So I had to take a close look at what I was eating (not enough), I had to re-balance my exercise (a couple of days of gastro took care of that) and then there's sleep. I've always been an excellent sleeper even at the most stressful times; I'm very lucky but not for the past couple of weeks. I guess I will go back to basics...bed at a reasonable time, no devices for an hour prior and all that jazz. When I first heard about the concept of sleep hygiene I thought it meant clean sheets! The day I found out what it actually means was pretty funny but also a bit of a revelation. I've reincorporated some mindful practice into my evenings and my social media time is very limited. And for the moment my equilibrium is being restored. If it doesn't stay that way then it's time to talk to a professional about it.  Just when I thought I was pretty much back on track with all of this...it rained. I don't ride my bike in the rain if I can help it, mainly because it's dangerous but also it isn't that much fun. Having a day or two off is generally a good thing but yesterday it really annoyed me. 

Barenaked Ladies - Who Needs Sleep? - https://youtu.be/d4zofzvWNsU

Last week:

Things are looking up. All those little things that I know I need to do have made a significant improvement. I've been able to reflect more clearly on a whole range of things. One of those has been making an effort to get out there and not be too isolated. I've been fortunate enough to get outside in some fabulous weather, to go to a trivia night (which was awesome fun) and to hang out with some cool people. In the evening I've been avoiding the news and the TV and listening to some records. I was out on Tuesday evening and our group talked about songs that they found uplifting, encouraging or simply meaningful to them. Man, I can do that kind of thing forever, it really is my happy place and went a long to putting me back on the right track. Here's one of the songs that was chosen, thanks Shane.

Bob Marley - Redemption Song - https://youtu.be/Dz45L5vglhw

Boots - Friday:

I've worn a pair of Doc Martens boots since I made my first purchase of some in 1991. The ones I have at the moment are from about 1997. Docs take forever to wear in but when it's done, they are super comfortable. I'm fairly sure that I've worn the current pair to every gig I've been to and 95% of all those that I've played since '97. They have a lot of miles on them. I remember clearly being on tour up in Tingha in 2014, slipping over, and thinking that it might be time for new boots. Another nine years later, those boots are still here. I've agonised for maybe three years about getting new ones because, unfortunately, Docs just don't work with orthotics. I've been to many shops and browsed so many online boot manufacturers that my mouse almost has Athlete's Foot! 

This week I had to take another pair of shoes to get re-heeled. It was just after opening time and the shop was quiet so I asked the staff to help me out with advice regarding boots that would fit my orthotics. Ten minutes later I left with a pair so comfortable that I felt like I was walking on air. Amazing. What a good day! Funnily enough, these aren't replacement for my Docs per se, but boots I can wear to work or if I'm out and about. 

The other news is that apparently my old Docs can be resoled for a fraction of the cost of a pair of new ones. I can easily wear them to gigs and that makes me happy. Denim and Docs are kind of a rock 'n' roll institution.

Alexei Sayle - Dr Martens Boots - https://youtu.be/bZy7vEWeTFY

Iron Maiden:

All self-respecting Heavy Metal fans will be aware that Iron Maiden are coming back to Australia later on in 2024. I saw them in 2010 and it was everything I'd expected. This time around I was determined to take the chance to see them again even if it meant going alone. Happily, one of my school friends was keen to go to see them in Melbourne with me so guess what? Yup, we're going! Woo hoo! I must apologise to the people both here, and at work, who have heard me go on about this far too much. I really am very, very excited.

Orkhys - The Clansman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgjydQD3Uks

Cycling:

After getting to 32 out of 40 Black Mountain climbs for the month on Thursday, I decided not to ride on Friday and see if I could manage the remaining ascents yesterday (Saturday). A few years ago I'd done the climb seven times in a row and it had been very difficult. This time around I was feeling more confident. I was also more sensible in that I fuelled up big time on Friday, had a decent breakfast on Saturday and was prepared with extra food and water stationed at the top of the hill. Canberra put on a near perfect day to help me out; warm and almost windless. The first three climbs were great; just chipping away at a consistent tempo. After swapping out for a new water bottle and having something to eat I cruised through another couple. Five down, three to go. The climb is only 2.7km but with an average gradient of 8.7%. It gets to about 12% at the start and towards the end and those bits hurt quite a bit. I was surprised that climb number six was OK but I knew for sure that my legs were starting to feel it. Luckily the road was quiet, the scenery was great and my mind was in the right place. Hurtling down the hill was still a bit cool but with the temperature hitting about 26 degrees I was losing a lot of fluid and struggling to drink enough. Climb number seven was interesting as I was passed by a couple of riders who I hadn't seen before. Most people are very friendly but these two went past without even a grunted hello. So I chased them to prove a point to myself. That was a bad move given that I was over 40km into my little challenge! After chilling out and realising what a doofus I was I continued on to the top. One climb left. And this one hurt. However, I got it done and I've ticked off the 40 climbs for the month with days to spare. When I consider that I had two days off the bike with gastro and that there were a couple of days missed due to rain I am pretty pleased with myself. My reward was an ice cream and I think I'll have today off the bike!

U2 - 40 - https://youtu.be/CMVghDg-ePc

I do enjoy a good cover version and this one really grabbed my interest this week. See what you think. The original version is here if you'd like to make a comparison.

Pendulum - Anti-Hero - https://youtu.be/qMbiRjjTWj0

Canberra folks, don't forget that George has the launch of his album Songs from H-Country on vinyl on Sunday 29/10 at the Artists Shed at 5pm. Click that link for tickets.

That's it, rock on everyone!

The Woozle

"I wanna go see the country

I want to get out of here
I'm sick of looking at graffiti
On the walls of the grey walls, the city
I want to drive in the countryside
I want the breeze in my hair..."

Amyl and The Sniffers, Hertz, 2021.

World Wide Woozle episode #615

Here we are again folks. It might be irregular, it might be a bit random, it might even get loud, but get ready for episode 615.

Don't forget that you can check out my every changing playlist of current listening on Spotify here. 

I've been keeping a journal this year. I know that loads of health professionals strongly recommend it, I advised my clients to do it when I was a mental health worker, I understand the logic behind it, but I've always struggled. I remember the first time a psychologist told me to do it and it lasted about three days. I can write in a blog all day about myself it seems but when it comes to putting it on paper I always found it weird and not particularly genuine. I've made a concerted effort to do it this year and so far I have only missed one day. It's the usual mix of how far I rode, what I listened to, what makes me happy or grateful, and then right at the end I've been trying to write how I really feel, even if it's only one sentence. Of course, everyone has bad days and I'm far from immune! The other day I wrote, "today was a good one; Angus got to go back to work and Zoë messaged me about the hilarious announcer on the tube." There's nothing quite like ending the day with a smile.

Nat King Cole - Smile - https://youtu.be/xyHoohNyYkw

I've been playing a LOT of guitar recently in preparation for the gig I did on Saturday afternoon. Songs have come and gone dependent on whether I could play and sing them at the same time. It ended up being a good mix of old, new and random. I snuck Gerry Cinnamon, T.Rex and The Proclaimers in there for good measure. One of my originals had its first public airing (this one) and I threw in a couple of others as well. Thanks to Tim for the sweet deal on some new microphones and to Sam and Margaret for looking after me on the day! Next time I'm sure I'll be a lot more confident. I'm very much at home in the back corner of the stage playing guitar in a band and doing the whole thing on your own is a different experience.

Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem - Rock On - https://youtu.be/BvBbpvkuAtQ

Toddo and I had a great time seeing Tex Perkins in his stage show, The Man In Black. It was a journey through Johnny Cash's life in words and song. I don't think it was all that different to the last time I saw the show many years ago. As I've said before, I love the music as well as the fact that Johnny was open about being a human being, flaws and all. Tex has the voice to carry it off and his band and co-singer were top notch. 

Johnny Cash - The Man In Black (live) - https://youtu.be/oDd32K-mOVw

I've got big news for Jason Isbell fans out there. (If I haven't converted you to fandom then feel free to have a chat with me sometime!) Jason's album Southeastern is turning ten years old and a deluxe version is now available. You get one of the best albums of all time, remastered (on CD or LP), demo versions of all the tracks and a live set where Jason and his band, The 400 Unit, play the whole thing from start to finish. Of course, when I was in Junk Sculpture we beat Isbell to this by about eight years. Nothing beats a full album run through in front of a few friends and a stained glass window! The remastered original version sounds full and the bass throbs in a way it doesn't on the 2013 release but the gems in the deluxe version are the demos. They're intimate and deep. It's just Jason and an acoustic guitar and that guitar sounds gorgeous. Lyrically it has always been such a strong album and the demo tracks really make you feel part of them. The man has a gift! Yeah, yeah, you can stream the whole thing (I have been until it's in the shops) but live a little, support the artist for real and buy a copy.

Jason Isbell - Yvette (demo) - https://youtu.be/Whjeex6_QMo

I stumbled across a Rolling Stones tribute album during the week. A LOT of it is fairly pedestrian but the following version sounds to me like all involved not only really feel the Stones but had a great time making the record. Making a classic song your own is no mean feat.

Brothers Osbourne / The War And Treaty - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) - https://youtu.be/Du131DreLnc

Zoot were an Australian rock band in the late 60s / 70s that included Rick Springfield, Rick Brewer, Beeb Birtles and Daryl Cotton. I was listening to their (recent) version of the next song yesterday and it's a ripper. Many of you will be like me and remember it as an 80s hit but don't let that put you off. Check Zoot out if you like great 70s rock. I'm sure you all know who Rick Springfield is...

Zoot - Life In A Northern Town - https://youtu.be/l8wEuAPstL8

I've been working away at cycling the equivalent elevation of Mt Everest this month by going up and down Black Mountain. I need 40 reps in total to get it done. I'm well ahead of the curve to make it on time but I really, really needed a day or two off the bike so I guess I'll have some longer rides coming up. It's a good challenge and, for the cyclists out there, hills are your friend! I'm still learning the hard way about not overdoing it. I also played lawn bowls on Sunday which may have contributed to me being a bit worn out. 

Jane's Addiction - Mountain Song - https://youtu.be/1kAIMlISHhU

Long time listeners may remember that I read Steven Van Zandt's autobiography a while ago. He's famous as a guitarist (on his own and with Bruce Springsteen), producer and agitator (Sun City) and songwriter. Well, the world is a funny place and Steven keeps popping up. He's the star of the awesome tv show, Lilyhammer and also a songwriter and producer on this record from Demolition 23. The band features Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks) and, whilst not new, was recently reissued and should appeal to punk rock fans one and all. This song is awesome, you could relate the lyrics to any music scene you can think of I reckon. We've not had nearly as much fun since The Terrace Bar and The Terminus closed down...

Demolition 23 - Hammersmith Palais - https://youtu.be/nsMrnCf4UnM

I think that's enough. Nap time for old men.

The Woozle

"Her name was Magill and she called herself Lil

But everyone knew her as Nancy..."

The Beatles, Rocky Raccoon, 1968.

World Wide Woozle episode #614

Welcome, hello, lovely to see you, and here we go!

Quite often I worry about what I write here in the blog. Will I offend someone? Are people getting the meaning of what I write? Am I causing concern? In the past I've said and done things because I wanted someone to notice. That was usually when I wasn't doing so well. And thankfully there are a couple of keen eyed readers out there who, as a result, have reached out to me from time to time. Thank you.

Primal Scream - Moving On Up (live) - https://youtu.be/OAg_f4Bv4FU

In exciting music news, not only are The Darkness heading to Australia in February 2024 but they are coming right here to Canberra. I'll be there in my catsuit, singing in falsetto and rocking hard (one of those is true). Come along if you like. I'm getting used to going to gigs alone but I'd prefer not to. The Darkness are hard rock for people who don't take themselves too seriously, enjoy loud guitars and want to sing along too.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket - https://youtu.be/enJiLuH9YUA

The Rolling Stones have a new song called Angry. It's pretty good as well. Maybe the new Stones album, Hackney Diamonds, will be full of great tracks rather than a few hits and heap of filler. The sticker price of over $80 for the vinyl LP pre-order is nothing short of highway robbery. I do like this single though and the video is worth a look. The guitars and bass bump and grind, the drums push this one along and Mick sounds like he always has. This one is classic Stones.

The Rolling Stones - Angry - https://youtu.be/_mEC54eTuGw

Cold Chisel are releasing a 40th anniversary deluxe version of their live album, Last Stand. It comes packaged with extra tracks, a DVD (which many will already own), The Barking Spiders Live recordings (again, which many may already have) and some other stuff as well. I'm unsure about this collection. There does come a point where one wonders if a couple of extra tracks are worth the price of the whole thing. Still, what an awesome band they were!

Cold Chisel - Standing On The Outside (live, Last Stand) - https://youtu.be/CFU58orUte4

There are plenty of bands out there fully immersed in the rock and roll, bluesy hard boogie, 70s style thing and at times it feels just far too derivative. Dirty Honey sits in this genre but my goodness they do it well. Their first EP in 2019 and then album the same year were great fun to rock along with. Here they are back again with a new single and an album not that far away. I'll be honest, the whole annoyed school kid, angry teacher music video peaked with Twisted Sister but still, rock and roll is about freedom and escapism for so many people so I guess it works.

Dirty Honey - Won't Take Me Alive - https://youtu.be/L477rBAu7jo

I've been trying out a whole lot of songs for an upcoming solo gig I have. Since it's just me and a guitar, not every song will work. I'm deliberately trying to be eclectic because I have a feeling that the audience might span a wide range of tastes and ages. Here's a classic that may or may not make the cut...

John Williamson - Rip Rip Woodchip - https://youtu.be/Eti99nV3gCk

Friday was a very, very good day. I have been dog sitting for a couple of days, the weather has been excellent and I've been really enjoying some hill work on my bike. It gets better though. I was asked to act at the next level up at work for three months. I knew that this might be an option at some stage but, with my track record I really wasn't holding my breath. My manager gave me the word on Friday and I'm not too proud to say that I found a quiet space and had a little cry. Everyone's life is a journey I know, but I really didn't think I'd ever see the day again where I was good enough for this. There's a lot to be said for grasping opportunities, putting yourself out there and simply working hard. The key for me though has been putting in a lot of work to get my mental health sorted out and subsequently my brain operating at more than the base level. 

Puddles Pity Party - Where Is My Mind? (Pixies cover) - https://youtu.be/zUNu3S6z7Qg

I know that I've recommended Fanny Lumsden here before. This week her album Hey Dawn not only came out on orange cassette, but it was nominated for an ARIA award. Fanny and her band, The Prawn Stars, have just finished a tour but keep a lookout for her in the future and seriously, support great Australian music and buy a CD, record, tape or t-shirt from her.

Fanny Lumsden - Hey Dawn - https://youtu.be/uD6ggl0oza0

Black Flag will be gracing our shores for the first time in 10 years with shows in Brisvegas, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne in December. It's as if every overseas band doesn't realise that this is a BIG country with plenty of people crying out for decent shows. With that to one side, these shows, in mid-sized venues, are sure to sell out. When I think of Black Flag's history of playing small venues to enthusiastic crowds it does make me a little sad that they couldn't swing some more dates. Greg Ginn is the remaining original member from 1976.

Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown - https://youtu.be/302oEzSPCqE

That's it, the sun is out and I have two dogs to cuddle.

Rock on,

The Woozle

"737 comin' out of the sky
Won't you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride
I wanna move...."

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Travelling Band, 1970.