Tuesday, June 28, 2005
What Is Country Music?
Is it the words, the instruments or just the whole vibe? Is it the praties or the cooking?
It sounds as ifFlop Eared Mule is building to a major rant, so I thought it timely to think about what it means to me.
When we first got cable tv there was a channel called CMT that purported to be country. They occasionally played some great tracks, some of which I managed to tape (notably Junior Brown, Hank Williams and The Burns Brothers), however on my analysis the CMT definition of country music was that someone in the video wore a hat.
For me country music is music that reflects the lives and emotions of country people (or those who want to be). It helps if there's a banjo in there somewhere too.
It sounds as if
When we first got cable tv there was a channel called CMT that purported to be country. They occasionally played some great tracks, some of which I managed to tape (notably Junior Brown, Hank Williams and The Burns Brothers), however on my analysis the CMT definition of country music was that someone in the video wore a hat.
For me country music is music that reflects the lives and emotions of country people (or those who want to be). It helps if there's a banjo in there somewhere too.
Friday, June 24, 2005
ABC Gets The Blues
ABC TV is showing the Martin Scorsese Blues Film Collection starting on Saturday night July 2nd at 10:10pm
I was given the set of dvd's for christmas (thanks Pearl) and they are well worth watching, so set your dvd/vcr's. Reviews of some of "Feels Like Going Home" and "Red, White and Blues" are in archives.
I was given the set of dvd's for christmas (thanks Pearl) and they are well worth watching, so set your dvd/vcr's. Reviews of some of "Feels Like Going Home" and "Red, White and Blues" are in archives.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Drunks, Domestic Violators and Hank Williams
When I recently owned up to being a Hank Williams fan, I was villified for liking a known drunk, no good, wife beating womaniser. I just like his music and it got me to thinking that I'd have to chuck out large chunks of my music collection if I was to adopt a stance of not listening to performers with questionable morals or lifestyles. Michael Jackson fans must be relieved to know that he is not a child molester.
Should an artist be judged solely on their artistic output or do we need to consider their morals? If so, where do you draw the line?
Should an artist be judged solely on their artistic output or do we need to consider their morals? If so, where do you draw the line?
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Guitar meme
My Favourite Guitar Things.......
Guitarist
Doc Watson, he does it all on a wooden box Mr Gallagher made for him
Album
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, i.e. the Beano album. Great tone, phrasing and the joy of playing throughout.
Track
Yakety Axe, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler from 'Neck and Neck'. It's just pure fun with two guitars
Solo
Jesse Ed Davis on 'Six Days on the Road' from Taj Mahal 'Giant Step' album.
Lick
Travelling Riverside Blues, Robert Johnson. I've just learnt it and it's a buzz to play, really gets you motivatin'
Guitar & Why
Martin D28, an open G chord rings out with more bottom end than Willie Dixon
Amp
Fender twin reverb
Gig
Blues Cowboys album launch of 'At Last..." at The Kurrajong, Erskineville, 1999. Raw country blues in its natural environment, an old style pub. Johnny, Flash and Grunter just going off with Ed and Demo laying down that essence of runaway train groove. I've seen Led Zep, the Stones, Clapton, hundreds of big name, big dollar gigs, but nothing beats the atmosphere in a pub.
Pass it on to: Brian, John, Denzo, anyone who can be bothered
Guitarist
Doc Watson, he does it all on a wooden box Mr Gallagher made for him
Album
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, i.e. the Beano album. Great tone, phrasing and the joy of playing throughout.
Track
Yakety Axe, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler from 'Neck and Neck'. It's just pure fun with two guitars
Solo
Jesse Ed Davis on 'Six Days on the Road' from Taj Mahal 'Giant Step' album.
Lick
Travelling Riverside Blues, Robert Johnson. I've just learnt it and it's a buzz to play, really gets you motivatin'
Guitar & Why
Martin D28, an open G chord rings out with more bottom end than Willie Dixon
Amp
Fender twin reverb
Gig
Blues Cowboys album launch of 'At Last..." at The Kurrajong, Erskineville, 1999. Raw country blues in its natural environment, an old style pub. Johnny, Flash and Grunter just going off with Ed and Demo laying down that essence of runaway train groove. I've seen Led Zep, the Stones, Clapton, hundreds of big name, big dollar gigs, but nothing beats the atmosphere in a pub.
Pass it on to: Brian, John, Denzo, anyone who can be bothered
Monday, June 20, 2005
Bookish Meme
My first attempt at picking up a meme, whatever that means, from Flop Eared Mule
Total number of books I’ve owned:
Thousands. I keep buying, loaning, swapping and sending to 2nd hand shops
The last book I bought:
The History and Description of Sydney Harbour - PR Stephenson, at a church fete
The last book I read:
The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams. It's basically a print out of what was on the hard drives of his beloved Macs when he died. Mainly newspaper columns, musings and several partial drafts of a new novel.
Five books that mean a lot to me:
The Complete Asian Cookbook - Charmaine Solomon. Taught me the art of making curry. Essential life skill No. 1
Rolling Stones. The cover has fallen off so I can't tell who the author is. It has a chronology of the Stones career, album reviews and most importantly, the lyrics and chords for all their songs up to Sticky Fingers. I taught myself to play guitar by strumming along to these. I reckon Brian and I could busk every single one (with varying degrees of tunefulness). Essential life skill No.2
Here' Luck - Lennie Lower. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Essential life skill No.3
The Macquarie Dictionary. Its there, I use it. Essential life skill No.4
The Naked Ape - Desmond Morris. Before that I wanted to be a zoologist, afterwards I studied anthropology.
Pass it on to: Anyone.
Total number of books I’ve owned:
Thousands. I keep buying, loaning, swapping and sending to 2nd hand shops
The last book I bought:
The History and Description of Sydney Harbour - PR Stephenson, at a church fete
The last book I read:
The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams. It's basically a print out of what was on the hard drives of his beloved Macs when he died. Mainly newspaper columns, musings and several partial drafts of a new novel.
Five books that mean a lot to me:
The Complete Asian Cookbook - Charmaine Solomon. Taught me the art of making curry. Essential life skill No. 1
Rolling Stones. The cover has fallen off so I can't tell who the author is. It has a chronology of the Stones career, album reviews and most importantly, the lyrics and chords for all their songs up to Sticky Fingers. I taught myself to play guitar by strumming along to these. I reckon Brian and I could busk every single one (with varying degrees of tunefulness). Essential life skill No.2
Here' Luck - Lennie Lower. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Essential life skill No.3
The Macquarie Dictionary. Its there, I use it. Essential life skill No.4
The Naked Ape - Desmond Morris. Before that I wanted to be a zoologist, afterwards I studied anthropology.
Pass it on to: Anyone.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Fat Dusty at the Lobotomy View (Botany View Hotel)
This week's Sunday evening session at the BVH featured Chickenhead, The Nightsweats and Fat Dusty.
Chickenhead was 'Big Daddy' Roy Payne, from Satellite V, playing swamp music on an overdriven slide guitar with a drummer. Great stuff, I was transported to a jook joint somewhere on the Mississippi delta. Did a greasy version of "Mama Don't Allow" that was a million miles away from the Weavers!
The Nightsweats played bluesey country rock with some Led Zep influences thrown in. Their original songs sounded promising but the lyrics were drowned in the swamp that is the BVH house PA.
Fat Dusty was the Roy again with drums and bass doing more twangy material. Got the dancers on their feet and kept toes tapping throughout the pub. If you like the output from Fat Possum Records, you'll love this.
Chickenhead was 'Big Daddy' Roy Payne, from Satellite V, playing swamp music on an overdriven slide guitar with a drummer. Great stuff, I was transported to a jook joint somewhere on the Mississippi delta. Did a greasy version of "Mama Don't Allow" that was a million miles away from the Weavers!
The Nightsweats played bluesey country rock with some Led Zep influences thrown in. Their original songs sounded promising but the lyrics were drowned in the swamp that is the BVH house PA.
Fat Dusty was the Roy again with drums and bass doing more twangy material. Got the dancers on their feet and kept toes tapping throughout the pub. If you like the output from Fat Possum Records, you'll love this.
Cream Reunon Photos
Thanks to Dennis Lawrenson for this link to photos of the Cream Reunion concerts:
http://spaces.msn.com/members/hhckb/
http://spaces.msn.com/members/hhckb/
Monday, June 13, 2005
Red, White and Blues - DVD Review
A film by Mike Figgis from The Martin Scorsese Blues Collection. Figgis uses a studio band, interviews ans archival footage to trace the development of the British blues scene from the 1950's through to the "British invasion" of the USA in the 1960's, which took the blues back to America and a broader white audience.
The studio band is excellent with Jeff Beck, Jon Cleary, Pete King and a good rhythm section backing Van Morrisson, Tom Jones and Lulu. The DVD features bonus performances of the band rehearsing in Abbey Road Studios.
The interviewee's, including Humphrey Lyttleton, Lonnie Donegan, John Mayall, Tom Jones and Eric Clapton, provide insight into the development of the UK blues scene in clubs, the impact of the US Forces bases and of merchant seamen bringing in blues records. B.B. King testifies that the British artists had a career reviving impact for many US black blues artists. No mention is made of the royalty issue where some artists covered songs and gave no credit to the authors.
A thoroughly enjoyable doco for blues fans.
The studio band is excellent with Jeff Beck, Jon Cleary, Pete King and a good rhythm section backing Van Morrisson, Tom Jones and Lulu. The DVD features bonus performances of the band rehearsing in Abbey Road Studios.
The interviewee's, including Humphrey Lyttleton, Lonnie Donegan, John Mayall, Tom Jones and Eric Clapton, provide insight into the development of the UK blues scene in clubs, the impact of the US Forces bases and of merchant seamen bringing in blues records. B.B. King testifies that the British artists had a career reviving impact for many US black blues artists. No mention is made of the royalty issue where some artists covered songs and gave no credit to the authors.
A thoroughly enjoyable doco for blues fans.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Cream Reunion DVD
The Cuicoland Express, a newsletter for Jack Bruce devotees, reports that a DVD of the recent Royal Albert Hall concert series by the reunited Cream is due for release in October.
Dennis Lawrenson travelled from Taree on his first OS trip and managed to get tickets to two of the four concerts. He was close to delerium on his return to Oz, so I reckon the DVD will be worth seeing.
Dennis Lawrenson travelled from Taree on his first OS trip and managed to get tickets to two of the four concerts. He was close to delerium on his return to Oz, so I reckon the DVD will be worth seeing.
