woodshed willie

John McEuen at Sydney Bluegrass Society

2006-03-05T09:30:00.000+11:00

In town for non www.nittygritty.com reasons (he has an interest in a play about the death and life of John Lennon 'and in the end'), Sydney bluegrass and traditional music fans were treated to some great playing and anecdotes from a seminal person in the genre.

The playing was more traditional American music than bluegrass. He played a medley of 1860's banjo tunes (Cripple Creek, Soldiers Joy, Turkey in the Straw) as they had been played then, rather than the refined bluegrass versions more common today. A lovely anecdote about Merle Travis was followed by a superb 'Cannonball Rag' on guitar.

He joined in with local jammers in the corridors and recognised them by bringing them on stage to join him in renditions on songs from the 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' album, including; 'Way Downtown', 'Wildwood Flower', 'Keep On the Sunnyside' and the title track, with which the audience sang along as one.

I came away from the evening impressed by a warm, generous man who can play the bejesus out of a banjo or guitar. He gave a group of people weaned on 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' everything they wanted, bar bringing Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs and Vassar Clements with him. A wonderfull evening.

Secret Steel from Lucky Oceans

2006-01-15T09:44:00.000+11:00

Picked up 'Secret Steel', the latest release from 'Mr Planet'

www.abc.net.au/rn/music/planet

Lucky has assembled a fine band for this project and is not afraid to let them have their heads.

It's an immediate hit in the woodshed, perfect for kicking off your shoes and sinking into a bottle of red.

Layla and Assorted Other Love Songs

2005-12-11T18:36:00.000+11:00

Been meaning to blog this for a while. One fine day at Rozelle Markets, while listening to a mighty fine pedal steel version of "Caravan", I happened upon a box set of Derek and the Dominoes Layla album. This little beauty contains three cd's, an informative booklet and the studio log sheets.

CD1 is the studio album as released. No surprises there. CD2 has a series of jams that the band used to work up the songs. This is great stuff, you get to hear the creative process in action. CD3 has outtakes and some stuff that they couldn't fit on the album, such as "Mean Old World", which I have only heard on the Duane Allman Anthology.

Normally I find it hard to get enthused about alternative versions, directors cuts etc, but this adds to the enjoyment of an already superb album.

Michelle Shocked at The Basement

2005-09-26T11:40:00.000+10:00

Not my favorite venue and things didn't get off on a great footing, what with getting gouged for a third rate meal and booze, but at least it gets you a decent seat. The support act's sound was so muddy that I couldn't even make out her name never mind her lyrics, which is a poor state of affairs for a singer/songwriter. Maybe it was something to do with the PC that she played and sang through. Her guitar playing and harmonising with loops was impressive but ultimately didn't make up for the poor sound.

Michelle Shocked arrived on stage with normal fanfare, strummed a chord and....... nothing. A bit of fiddling with connections, still nothing, she said "thank you and goodnight" and walked off. Cords were replaced and after about 10 minutes the show got on the way.

Fortunately she has the personality and showpersonship to overcome such fuck-ups and proceeded to give a truly fabulous performance. Admittedly most of the audience were true believers (in more that one sense)and she gave us a blend of the new with tracks off her 'divorce album' and tex-mex album, and everything the audience wanted from earlier material. Not afraid of speaking her mind, in this current climate she could expect a visit from immigration for encouraging the audience to do likewise.

Ten Little New Yorkers

2005-09-09T09:08:00.000+10:00

Just finished reading Kinky Friedman's latest page turner '10 Little New Yorkers'. As usual it's a delightfully irreverent romp crammed with Kinky's trademark one-liners, such as "The cat was a free-form fundamentalist who'd once been a Baptist until she realised they didn't hold 'em under long enough." There's enough music references to justify a mention in this music blog.

Not quite in the same class as "A Case of Lone Star" in which lines from Hank Williams songs are left as clues by the perp. Got to admire someone who describes Garth Brooks as the anti-Hank.

It's a Banjo

2005-09-08T11:35:00.000+10:00

I have managed to get a loan of this year's hippest, most happening instrument, a banjo. I'm in the process of cleaning it up and putting some strings on it. It's got a sticker on it with the name 'Sheltone', but I haven't been able to turn up any information about it other than it was bought at a car boot sale in the north of England 20 years ago.

Guess I'll have to start a banjo meme

Soweto Gospel Choir

2005-08-15T08:49:00.000+10:00

Oh dear, six weeks since my last post. Reminds me of my childhood efforts at keeping a diary. However I was moved to post by a truly great experience. On wednesday I won two tickets to see the Soweto Gospel Choir on ABC radio 702

Last friday I lobbed up to the Opry House expecting to be wowed by the choir. Instead they absolutely rolled me, despite being in a venue in which the architecture seems to insist that you sit still in you seat. The choir overcame this by asking the audience to stand for a rendition of the South African national anthem, and then going into some uptempo gospel. The joint was jumpin' and swaying and clapping along till the end, by which time even Peter, a life-long atheist, was contemplating getting religion.

This is more than a choir. This is a 30 piece explosion of colour, movement and joy. If they visit your town, drop everything and go see them.

What was played in the shed last night

2005-07-01T10:13:00.000+10:00

We gave 'John Howard Blues" an airing last night in support of the campaign against the feral governments proposed new industrial laws. For lyrics freaks see the May archives.

What Is Country Music?

2005-06-28T14:25:00.000+10:00

Is it the words, the instruments or just the whole vibe? Is it the praties or the cooking?

It sounds as if

Flop 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.

ABC Gets The Blues

2005-06-24T09:02:00.000+10:00

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.

Drunks, Domestic Violators and Hank Williams

2005-06-22T05:08:00.000+10:00

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?

Guitar meme

2005-06-21T00:48:00.000+10:00

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

Bookish Meme

2005-06-20T08:20:00.000+10:00

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.

Fat Dusty at the Lobotomy View (Botany View Hotel)

2005-06-14T06:06:00.000+10:00

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.

Cream Reunon Photos

2005-06-14T03:14:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Dennis Lawrenson for this link to photos of the Cream Reunion concerts:

http://spaces.msn.com/members/hhckb/

Red, White and Blues - DVD Review

2005-06-13T09:49:00.000+10:00

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.

Cream Reunion DVD

2005-06-06T09:12:00.000+10:00

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.

Cover Versions

2005-05-31T13:10:00.000+10:00

I got to thinking about what the most covered songs are. I went to my collection and the most covered track is 'Orange Blossom Special" (OBS) by the following:
- Fiddlin' Arthur Smith
- Pixie Jenkins
- Muleskinner (Clarence White, Peter Rowan, Bill Keith, David Grisman, Richard Greene)
- Bullamakanka
- Chris Duffy
- Flatt and Scruggs
- The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Charlie Daniels
- Roadapple
- Johnny Cash ( the only one with lyrics)

I still think Fiddlin' Arthur Smith's is the best, it is played at a less frenetic pace and really captures the atmosphere of a steam train. Most of the others seem to be vehicles to demonstrate how fast they can play. Four Australian versions.

Any advance on OBS in the country genre.

What is the most covered song of all time? I've heard that Lennon/McCartney's 'Yesterday' was at one stage.

John Howard Blues

2005-05-28T04:52:00.000+10:00

I woke up this morning, the unfair dismissal law was gone
I woke up this morning, the unfair dismissal law was gone
If you're boss is a bastard, you'll be all alone

Better join the union, that's all I gotta say
You'd better join the union that's all I want to say
Cause what Bob Hawke gave us, John Howard's taken away

Hey Mr Howard, this might be the beginning of the end
Hey Mr PM, this might be the start of the end
Cause without this protection I'll look to the union to defend

The boys play cross genre in the shed

2005-05-27T07:56:00.000+10:00

In the tradition of failed efforts at cross genre songs i.e. our bluegrass version of 'Little Wing', we attempted a country version of 'Itchycoo Park' last night. Verdict? It sounded like a bunch of blokes in a shed playing 'Itchycoo Park'. Highlight "Get hung up feed the ducks with a bun". Try singing that with a straight face!

Song list:
Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down
Shanty Boat Blues
You Ain't Going Nowhere (for Bobby's birthday)
Hot Rod Heart
Stormy Monday
Highway #1 (improvised blues which managed to rhyme "wide brown land" with"Queensland")
No Expectations
Walking Blues
Can't Be Satisfied
Little Red Rooster
Highway 49
Pride and Joy
Rx For The Blues
Who'll Stop The Rain
Six Days on the Road
Death Don't Have No Mercy

Feel Like Going Home - DVD Review

2005-05-26T00:10:00.000+10:00

Directed by Martin Scorsese from The Blues Film Collection

This well crafted film explores the roots of the blues. It follows folklorists John and AlanLomax’s journeys through the southoern USA documenting folk music for the Library of Congress. We see work hollers and songs of slaves on the plantations, levees and prisons of the Mississippi delta area and early dance music performers and street musicians. The film shows the increasing sophistication of the music with performers such as Robert Johnson. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker are featured in a section about the electrification of the blues when post World War 2 blacks moved to the industrial centres of the north, especially Chicago, in search of jobs. Scorsese then explores Alan Lomax’s thesis of the ancient African origins of the blues, firstly in the Misssissippi with cane player Otha Turner and then to Mali with Ali Farka Toure.

Scorsese uses archival footage of the older performers such as Son House, whilst Corey Harris interviews and plays guitar with descendants and current practitioners of the music which brings it to life very effectively. You never get the feeling that you're watching the National Geographic Channel

Blues aficionados will love it. While there is nothing new musically, it brings together in one package much rarely seen footage. The extras package has some great performances by Harris with Taj Mahal, Keb Mo and others. For newcomers to the genre it will serve as an excellent primer. If you are tempted to delve deeper you could read Alan Lomax’s ‘Land where the Blues Began’, Pantheon Books, New York, May 1993.

What's on Willie's Turntable Today?

2005-05-25T01:58:00.000+10:00

Bluegrass Widow - Robert Earl Keen
Walking Blues - Robert Johnson
I'm Still In Love With You - Steve Earle and The Del McCoury Band (with Iris Dement)
You Win Again - Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee's sister)
Spanish Harlem - Run C&W
Stormy Monday - Eva Cassidy
Hot Dog - Johnny Green's Blues Cowboys
Motorcycle Madman - Dr Bob's Travelling Cough Medicine Show
Hot Rod Heart - John Fogerty
Dublin Blues - Guy Clark
Columbus Stockade Blues - Doc Watson