5 Feet High And Rising Podcast Episode One

This podcast is a spin off of the radio program I present on 106.7 PBS-FM Monday afternoons from 1.00pm AEST.

There are a couple of ways you can listen to the podcast.

1.You can download this episode via itunes HERE.
2.Visit the 5 Feet High and Rising page on mypodcast.com HERE.
3. You can download the podcast as an mp3 file. Right click HERE.


With this podcast I aim to highlight the great alt-country talent we have here in Australia.

All artists have given their express permission for their songs to be used on this podcast.


Feautred first is a song from the Melbourne based duo Jordie Lane & Tracy McNeil who together are know as the Fireside Bellows. Jordie is a born & bred Melbournian but Tracy comes from Toronto in Canada. Having made contact firstly via the internet, the two finally meet face to face at the start of 2007. It quickly became clear that they could sing together like they’d been doing so for centuries. With a shared love of old-time country music and bluegrass, Fireside Bellows skillfully pay homage to these traditions through their two part harmonies and classic songs from days gone by. They also maintain a sense of their own roots, crafting songs from stories from personal experiences in this modern day existence.

If you are in Melbourne you can catch one of the regular the Fire side Bellows gigs. Jordie also performs solo on a regular basis. Check their myspace pages for further details www.myspcace.com/firsidebellows
& www.myspace.com/jordielanemusic

The Fireside Bellows have been working on their debut album which should be out soon. In the meantime, Jordie sent me a couple of songs recorded in his home studio located in the backyard shed.





Matt Joe Gow, who was born in NZ, spent three years travelling the world writing & playing music & developing a sound of his own. While in Canada he formed the band Tearlighter and released an EP called The Truth This Winter. Relocating to England in August 2005 he recorded his debut solo EP called Bullet, a collection of 5 songs reflecting his time overseas.

Now calling Melbourne home, Matt has spent the last year or so writing and recording songs for a new self-titled album, which is out now.

The songs have been recorded at the Woodstock Studios here in Melbourne with Matt’s band The Dead Leaves, an eight piece studio band featuring two members of Augie March (Ed Ammendola & David Williams). The Dead Leaves also include notable local musicians Chris Elliott, Brendan Mitchell & Greg Whitehead.

Matt says he has been influenced by the likes of Whiskeytown & Grant Lee Buffalo as well as fellow Kiwi's Neil Finn & Dave Dobbyn. His new songs are infused with country flavours that can be attributed to these influences. Here is a song from his new 8 track album called At the Seams. The album is available to buy from www.blastmymusic.com. Visit Matt at his myspace page www.myspace/mattjoegowmusic





Downhills Home are another Melbourne based band. The band is made up of Sean McMahon (guitar, vocals), Michael Hubbard (guitar, vocals), Brendan McMahon (keyboard and piano), Josh Duiker (drums) and Tim McCormack (bass).
They deliver a sound that is raw and pure, with a late- 60’s country quality, inspired by The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, The Band and early Wilco. Also, to my ears the vocal sounds of vocalist Sean McMahon remind me of Jim James from My Morning Jacket. Their debut album Minor Birds was released last year to widespread acclaim. The album was recorded live with few overdubs. Guest appearances on the album include Matt Walker, Jen Cloher and Laura Jean.
Further details can be found on their page at myspace. www.myspace.com/downhillshome






Next is the Sydney based out fit Jeremy Edwards and the Dust Radio Band.

On the bands myspace website they described their music this way ‘Dirty twang to swampy gospel and southern rock n’ roll from the heart’.
Led by Jeremy the band also features the vocals of Julieanne Henry and this vocal pairing is at the core of the band sound. The other essential ingredient is the pedal steel guitar playing of Roy Payne. Counterpoint to the guitar work is the pulse of one of the country’s finest rhythm sections. From hot swing to grinding R n’ B and fierce boogie, drummer George Brugmans and upright/electric bassist Ben Edwards lay down a passionate, melodic groove.
The band’s album Stay Hungry was released last year and is available from Waterfront Records and all good records stores. Visit them on myspace at www.myspace.com/jeremyedwardsandthedustradioband





Finally on the program is a song from Abbie Cardwell from her album By Hook or By Crook.

Originally from Adelaide, Abbie has travelled the world with her music. For her latest album, Abbie secured the services of her golden fingered, six-stringing older brother Jeb, double bass work of Andy Albanis, tub thumping of acclaimed drummer Ashley Davies and special guest Bedge from Bernard Fanning’s band. A regular on the Australian Festival circuit Abbie has impressed many during 2007 and look set for bigger things in 2008.

Find her myspace page here. www.myspace.com/abbiecardwell






Don’t forget who can listen to the show I present on community radio 106.7 PBS-FM here in Melbourne Mondays from 1.00pm. You can also listen live or on demand via the website at www.pbsfm.org.au.

Stay tuned for Episode two coming soon.

Album of the Month - August

Power of County - See You in Rock & Roll Heaven
Label - Union Records

This month we feature Power Of County's latest album "See you in Rock & Roll Heaven". Our own Mr Doo-Wop, Peter Merritt, who also doubles as Music Manager at PBS was more than impressed with the album. So much so that he provided the band with a quote to use on their website. Here it is again:

"This is an exceptional in ya face take no prisoners Country album full of the licks and kicks that most contemporary Country music lacks. It is absolutely ornery with tobacco spitting arrangements with great tempo changes that call out for the listener to keep up. How could you not like this album, it calls out for a party, so pass the bottle of whiskey and lets dance! You have won us over with this cd, yes definitely impressed us all." Peter Merritt, PBS Australia.

This is Power of County's (P.O.C.) third album. The band members are Matthew Stark: Vocals, Guitar & Banjo. D Rives Curtright: Vocals & Guitar. Mike D: Bass. Andy Bacon: Drums. Dan Baldwin: Percussion. Erik Clampitt: Pedal Steel & Harmonica. Sean Buck: Mandolin & Fiddle. The band come from Portland Oregon & started in 2002 when Cutwright & Stark took off for an extended tour of the US West Coast. Growing to the full band not long after they released Dream Destroyer in 2006 and followed this with Dirt Western in 2007.

"Cowpunk as a movement married a punk sensibility with a love and knowledge of classic country and good ole rock ‘n’ roll"

This quote perfectly describes P.O.C sound as they continue the good work stared by the like of Jason & the Scorchers et al. I will be playing three tracks per show throughtout August.

Links:
Myspace
Union Records
Offical Site

You Tube Clip

Let's all help cowboys sing the blues (Weekly Show 7/4/08)

The show this week featured some new music from a new project from M Ward called "She and Him", a song from Chuck Prophet's tribute to Waylon Jennings called "Dreaming Waylon's Dreams" and a couple of tracks from the fantastic new album by Justin Townes Earle called "The Good Life"

Local music came from new albums by Clinkerfield, Silver City Highway & Kasey Chambers with her husband Shane Nicholson from their forthcoming album "Rattlin Bones".

To view the full playlist click here.

Firstly, Justin Townes Earle.

Justin is Steve Earle's son. If that wasn't enough to raise expectations Justin has the added burden of carrying the name of one his Dad's heroes Townes Van Zandt. His debut album, out on Bloodshot Records is called "The Good Life". At 25 Earle has already packed alot into his short life. A veteran of a few bluegrass combos he also playing in his fathers touring band until Earle senior kicked him out due to various bad "habits".

Justin has since cleaned up his act to release this great album.

The Good Life is produced by RS Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth) and Steve Poulton. The album was recorded (with the exception of “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving”) at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Younts (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley. - Bloodshot Records



She and Him - Volume One

She and Him are Zooey Deschanel & M Ward. M Ward I know of course but if you heard the show you would know that I had no idea who Zooey was. I admit it OK. After a bit of research I know who she is now - an actor as well as a singer. She was on Weeds - one of my favourite shows amongst other things.



The She & Him story begins when in 2006 , renowned one man band M. Ward, recorded a duet with a girl named Zooey Deschanel. A delightful recording session, the experience lead to a dialogue between the two about collaborating further. This, in turn, led to Deschanel admitting to secretly making dozens and dozens of home demos and hoarding them like acorns for the winter. Sick and tired of being stingy and secretive about music, Deschanel realized that if songs were acorns then this was indeed her wintertime: she sent the recordings to Ward and these demos became the basis for their first record, entitled Volume One.

Ward’s unique arrangements and virtuostic guitar playing paired with Deschanel’s affinity for vocal harmony give Volume One its characteristic sound . Ward and Deschanel share a mutual affection for the songs they grew up hearing on Los Angeles radio stations - and keep in their hearts the records that most DJ’s aren’t playing anymore: Les Paul and Mary Ford, The Ronettes, Nina Simone, Chet Atkins, Linda Ronstadt, the Carter Family and about a hundred others. Aiming to achieve the warmth and charm of pop and country records from the early and mid part of the twentieth century, Ward, who also produced the record, and Deschanel, who wrote most of the music, called upon the help of a number of extraordinary musicians including: Rachel Blumberg, Adam Selzer, Mike Coykendall, Tom Hagerman, Peter Broderick, Mike Mogis, and Paul Brainerd. Without whom this record would just be two people with no drums, bass, strings or pedal steel. - Spunk Records

See. She was in Weeds!



Chuck Prophet - Dreaming Waylon's Dreams

Chuck Prophet was a member of Green on Red. He has issued a very rare tribute to Waylon Jennings "Dreaming my Dreams" called "Dreaming Waylon's Dreams". It is a track by track tribute featuring Max Butler, Stephanie Finch, John Murry, JJ Wiesler, Mark Pistel and others.. Only 1000 copies have been made. Some may be available to order here otherwise you can download it from emusic

Local music this week came from Kasey Chambers & husband Shane Nicholson. Also we heard a couple of tracks from the new albums by Clinkerfield & Silver City Highway.

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson release their first collaboration together later this month. It's called "Rattlin Bones". Here is the video.



Clinkerfield launched their album "A Head Full Of Rain & A Heart Full Of Puddles" last week at the Corner in Melbourne with the Idle Hoes. The album is out through Green Media/MGM Distribution on their own Waste Management label.

Silver City Highway are launching their new album on April 26th at the Tote. The album's called "Everything Is Breaking” through Green Media/MGM Distribution. Playing with them at the launch will be Abbie Cardwell and band, The Ukeladies, Van and Cal Walker, and The Family Hour (featuring Henry Wagons).

Letters from sinners & strangers (Weekly Show 24/3/08)

This weeks show featured interviews with Henry Wagons from The Wagons & with Dave Miles from the Hard Way plus Pete from the Skinners. Music was also provided by Wilco, Whiskeytown, Todd Snider, Old Crow Medicine Show, Felice Brothers & a whole lot more! To view the full playlist click here

HENRY WAGONS

Henry Wagons came in & played a couple of tunes. One, "Never been to Spain" is a song made famous by Elvis & a tune that Henry says he enjoys playing at gigs. Henry also played "Pamela May" from the latest Wagons album, "Curse of the Lightning". You can here Henry's performance by logging onto the PBS website & follow the links to the listen live section.

Henry is supporting John Hiatt at the following shows:
Thu March 27: Henry Wagons w/- John Hiatt @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Fri March 28: Henry Wagons w/- John Hiatt @ National Theatre, Melbourne

Following on from this the Wagons embark on their Lightning Strikes Twice Tour:
Sun March 30: The Retreat, Melbourne
Wed April 2: Electric Light Hotel, Adelaide
Thu April 3: Edinburgh Castle, Adelaide
Fri April 4: The Pub, Bendigo
Sat April 5: National Hotel, Geelong
Wed April 9: Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
Thu April 10: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Fri April 11: Woodport Inn, Erina
Sat April 12: Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
Sun April 13: Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Thu April 17: Shark Bar, Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
Fri April 18: Bon Amici's, Toowoomba
Sat April 19: Sol Bar, Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast

Henry recommends getting along to the Bendigo & Geelongs shows for an extra special "good" time!

Wagons latest video from Youtube for the song "Snake Bite"



www.myspace.com/wagonsmusic

DAVE MILES & THE HARD WAY

Dave Miles is a Melbourne based singer & songwriter with an iron in a couple of fires. One of his outfits, The Hard Way have just released their debut full length album called "These Blue Miles". It is available at their gigs or from their myspace page.

They are playing at the Old Colonial here in Melbourne on April the 5th & 11th with the Skinners. A admission price of $10.00 will also get you a six track ep with three songs each from Dave Miles & the Hard Way and The Skinners.

Dave Miles & the Hard Way on youtube



www.myspace.com/hardwayband

WILCO

Wilco are coming to town this week playing at the Palace in Bourke street (the old Metro with a new name).

Here is a couple of interesting performances

The first features Jeff Tweedy & the Bottle Rockets performing Passenger Side recently. Lead singer with the Bottle Rockets is Brian Hennmann. He was a guitar tech with Wilco in the early days & played a bit of guitar on the first Wilco album "A.M."



You can log onto the Wilco website & request songs for them to play (no guarantees that they will though). I played two songs as kind of request for the upcoming show, Far Far Away from Being There & Too Far Apart from A.M. If I had a bit more time I also would have played Via Chicago from Summerteeth & Dash 7 from A.M. (maybe next week).

Wilco - Dash 7



Some other clips from band featured this week.

Eilen Jewel - Drop down daddy



Old Crow Medicine Show - I hear them all



Todd Snider - Conservative Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White American Males

Too Crowded on the Losing End (Weekly Show 17/03/08)

The show this week featured some previously unheard songs from Whiskeytown from the deluxe edition of Strangers Almanac.

I also played a few songs from the fantastic compilation featuring songs played by Bob Dylan on his Theme Time Radio Hour that has just been released by Ace Records (distributed by Shock in Australia)

To view the full playlist click here

Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac Deluxe Edition (Geffen/Universal)

Released in 1997, when Adams was twenty-two, Almanac was Whiskeytown's major-label debut, and although the group was in upheaval, the record is remarkably polished, coloring Gram Parsons-style country rock with R.E.M.'s vocal drama ("Not Home Anymore") and the Replacements' beer-breath blues ("Yesterday's News"). The album is a minor classic, and this reissue proves Adams was ridiculously prolific even then.

Whiskeytown at the time of Strangers Almanac were:
Ryan Adams (Guitar, Vocals)
Caitlin Cary (Fiddle, Vocals)
Phil Wandscher (Guitar)
Steven Terry (Drums)
Jeff Rice (Bass)

Two original members, Skillet Gilmore (Drums) & Steve Grothmann (Bass) had recently left the band.

The newly expanded version will include previously unreleased Whiskeytown tracks plus several classic covers.

The first disc includes the original album, produced by Jim Scott, plus five live public radio performances recorded in Santa Monica 10/9/1997 on the program Brave New World for KCRW-FM.

The second disc features acoustic demo versions of "16 Days," "Avenues" and "Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart" plus seven previously unreleased Whiskeytown tracks, including "Kiss & Make-Up" and "10 Seconds." Most of these tracks were recorded at the legendary Barn on Fire sessions. Recorded in a loft in Durham for Bloodshot Records the sessions acted as a warm up for the Strangers Almanac sessions to follow.
Steven Terry had just joined &Chris Stamey produced & played bass.

Most of the acoustic tracks on the second CD come from another session called the Baseball Park Sessions which began at the Modern Recording Studios in Chapel Hill by just Adams & Wandscher. Later the full band joined in (the original line up with Gilmore & Grothmann) to record a series of songs, most of which appeared on the bonus released of Faithless Street.

Also on the second disc the band also tackles Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," Gram Parsons' "Luxury Liner," Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" and the True Believers' "The Rain Won't Help You When It's Over."

Youtube Clips





Theme Time Radio Hour with Bob Dylan (Ace/Shock)



A 2CD set featuring 50 tracks, representing the 50 shows of the first series of radio shows. For those that are new to the show, each programme lasts an hour and has a different theme each week, for example Drink or Mother. Each track is introduced by Dylan with his dry humour, eclectic interest and vast musical knowledge. His voice does not appear on this CD, just tracks selected from the shows.

A further summary of what the show is all about & where to here it can be found on the wikipedia page here.

Track Listing:
Disc 1
1. Turn Your Radio On - GRANDPA JONES
2. Papa’s On The Housetop - LEROY CARR and SCRAPPER BLACKWELL
3. Shortnin’ Bread - PAUL CHAPLAIN & HIS EMERALDS
4. Seven Nation Army - THE WHITE STRIPES
5. Gun Fever (Blam Blam Fever) - THE VALENTINES
6. Pistol Packin’ Mama - AL DEXTER & HIS TROOPERS
7. Pistol Packin’ Mama - THE HURRICANES
8. Homework - OTIS RUSH
9. He Will Break Your Heart - JERRY BUTLER
10. Take It Away Lucky - EDDIE NOACK
11. Buddy, Stay Off The Wine - BETTY HALL JONES
12. Tears A Go-Go - CHARLIE RICH
13. Rich Woman - LI’L MILLET & HIS CREOLES
14. Laughin’ & Jokin’ - ERNIE CHAFFIN
15. Me And My Chauffeur Blues - MEMPHIS MINNIE accompanied by LITTLE SON JOE
16. If I Lose - THE STANLEY BROTHERS
17. I Sat And Cried - JIMMY NELSON
18. Beatnik’s Wish - PATSY RAYE & THE BEATNIKS
19. Devil In His Heart - THE DONAYS
20. Let’s Invite Them Over - GEORGE JONES & MELBA MONTGOMERY
21. Don’t Take Ev’rybody To Be Your Friend - SISTER ROSETTA THARPE with the Sam Price Trio
22. Good Morning Heartache - BILLIE HOLIDAY
23. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man - JAMES CARR
24. I Drink - MARY GAUTHIER
25. Mother Earth - MEMPHIS SLIM

Disc 2
1. Chain Of Fools - ARETHA FRANKLIN
2. Walk A Mile In My Shoes - JOE SOUTH & THE BELIEVERS
3. Cry Tough - ALTON ELLIS & THE FLAMES
4. Tommy Gun - THE CLASH
5. (Everytime I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone - ROY MONTRELL
6. Those Dj Shows - PATRICE HOLLOWAY
7. I Ain’t Drunk - LONNIE “THE CAT”
8. Eat That Chicken - CHARLES MINGUS
9. Mama, Get Your Hammer - BOBBY PETERSON QUINTET
10. How High The Moon - SLIM GAILLARD
11. Cool Water - THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS
12. Only A Rose - GERAINT WATKINS
13. I Walk In My Sleep - BERNA - DEAN
14. Stars Fell On Alabama - JACK TEAGARDEN’S CHICAGOANS
15. Mama Tried (The Ballad From Killers Three) - MERLE HAGGARD & THE STRANGERS
16. Big Long Slidin’ Thing - DINAH WASHINGTON
17. Black Coffee - BOBBY DARIN
18. I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water - THE CATS AND THE FIDDLE
19. Ain’t Got The Money To Pay For This Drink - GEORGE ZIMMERMAN & THE THRILLS with the Bubber Cyphers
20. Bottle And A Bible - THE YAYHOOS
21. Okie’s In The Pokie - JIMMY PATTON
22. If You’re So Smart, How Come You Ain’t Rich? - LOUIS JORDAN
23. Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio - SANTIAGO JIMENEZ
24. Mona - BO DIDDLEY
25. Roadrunner (Twice) - THE MODERN LOVERS

Finally here aer a couple more clips by a few of the artists I played today.

Trailer Bride (Melissa Swingle!)



Jim White - Searching for the wrong eyed Jesus



Happy Easter

Whiskey in My Whiskey (Weekly Show 10/3/08)

This week I played a couple of new songs from the Felice Brothers & Chatham Country Line. Local music was supplied by the Idle Hoes, Jane Dust & Dogsday.

To view the full play list click here.

The Felice Brothers hail from the Catskill Mountains in up state New York & three members of the band actually are brothers. James, Ian & Simon are three of seven children that grew up in the woods around Palenville in the Catskills. They credit this upbringing as a major influence on their music, this & a steady diet of Hank Williams, Blind Willie McTell & Jimmie Rogers. The fourth member of the band is a shady character simply named Christmas who is apparently a published novelist & dice player.

The Felice Brothers new self tilted album, recorded mainly in a chicken coop is out now on Team Love.

Here is a live clip of the song I played "Whiskey in my Whiskey"



The Chatham County Line are a Bluegrass band or as they call it, an acoustic country band who come from North Carolina & were formed back in 1999 by Dave Wilson & Greg Readling. Wilson was in the band Stillhouse & after that band broke up he spent some time with Readling in the backing band for Tift Merritt. Joining with some long time Stillhouse fans, John Teer Chandler Holt, Chatham Country Line was born. The new album IV is out now on Yep Roc & follows on from 2006's Speed of the Whippoorwill.

Here is the video for "Let it Rock" from the new album.



Local music this week.

The Idle Hoes have their debut coming out on Friday March 14th called "Little Victories". Recorded by Craig Pilkington at his Audrey Studios & at Mick Thomas's Two Feet High & Rising studio (both located here in Melbourne). The band are launching the album at the Corner Hotel on Friday April 4th with Clinkerfield (who are also launching a new album on the night).


Jane Dust is Melbourne based singer-songwriter & one time member on the band Muddy Spurs. Her new album is called "A Spray of Red from the Deep" & was recorded by Dave Graney & Claire Moore at their Ponderosa studio. Moore provided some percussion on the album were required, otherwise it is an acoustic affair.

Jane is launching her album on Sunday March 30th at Bar Open (317 Brunswick st Fitzroy) with special guests Kim Salmon, Claire Moore & Leon Stackpole.

Here is a clip of Jane's from Youtube.



Finally I played a song from Dogsday's self titled 5 track ep. After a break of nearly ten years while the band spent time raising kids & paying off the mortgage, they are back! Check local gig guides for details on the EP's launch date sometime in March or April. Here is live cut from the EP

No Depression - No More (Weekly Show 3/3/08)

For the full playlist from this weeks show click HERE.

The key element to this weeks show is the news about the pending demise of the No Depression Magazine (follow link to the website for a full transcript from the magazines editors). The main reasons for the demise are stated as falling revenue from advertising & the rising cost of printing. I can also see other factors such as the increased use of the Internet & the use of myspace & youtube by record companies & music fans alike to get the message out there. A bi-monthly magazine such as No Depression is out of date as soon as it hits the stands. They say they will continue on line but we sure will miss the great articles (something the Internet is not good at) & informed reviews.

Anyway this week I paid tribute to the magazine with a few choice cuts from artists most associated with the magazine. When the last one comes out in May, I'll probably devote a whole show!

Here is an Uncle Tupelo clip of the song that started it all



This weeks show also featured three songs from ex-Jayhawks members who all have solo albums out. Tim O'reagan & Mark Olson put theirs out last year & Gary Louris's Vagabonds is just out now.

Vagabonds was co-produced by Black Crows front man Chris Robinson. He also worked with Louris on the forthcoming reunion album with Mark Olson called " Ready fro the Flood". It was actually recorded before Vagabonds but it's release has been held over while the focus it on the solo albums. Ready for the Flood is due in mid 2008.

Here is Gary Louris singing "True Blue" from the new album.

Andre Camilleri & The Broken Hearts - One Fine Day

Andre arrived from Malta in 2006. In Melbourne he fell in with some like minded musicians who make up the Broken Hearts. They are Chris Birnie on bass, James Stewart (T-Bones, Overnight Jones, The Warner Brothers) on lead guitar, Brendan Mitchell (Dead Livers) on pedal steel and Mauro Del Citto (The Rhumbats, April Seven) on drums.

Andre is influenced by the likes of Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Bo Diddley, George Jones, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, Townes van Zandt, Roky Erikson and Jay Farrar. He writes & sings songs about the heart broken & down trodden & together with the band he produces a unique take on real country music with an authentic Australian flavour (with a touch of extra spice from Malta).

Their first album CD ‘One fine day and other songs’ is released by Ramblin’ Man Records, distributed by Sound Vault Records. It is out now.

Andre Camilleri & The Broken Hearts are playing at The Famous Spiegeltent as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, dates as follows:

19 Oct 2007 8:00 PM The Famous Spiegeltent Melbourne, Victoria
20 Oct 2007 8:00 PM The Famous Spiegeltent Melbourne, Victoria

Also, they will be playing live to air on 5 Feet High & Rising during the annual PBS Live Music Week in December - more details to follow.

www.andrecamilleri.com
www.soundvault.com.au
www.myspace.com/theandrecamilleriband

Matt Joe Gow & The Dead Leaves

Matt Joe Gow, who was born in NZ, spent three years travelling the world writing & playing music & developing a sound of his own. Relocating to Melbourne Matt has been recording songs for a new album, his debut which is due out soon.

The songs have been recorded at the Woodstock Studios with the Dead Leaves, an eight piece studio band featuring members of Augie March (Ed Ammendola & David Williams). Other members of the Dead Leaves are Chris Elliott, Brendan Mitchell & Greg Whitehead.

Matt has been influenced by the likes of Whiskeytown & Grant Lee Buffalo as well as fellow Kiwi's Neil Finn & Dave Dobbyn. His new songs are infused with country flavours that can be attributed to these influences.

Links:
www.mattjoegow.net
www.myspace.com/mattjoegowmusic

Clinkerfield - New EP

Clinkerfield have sent in an ep containing two new songs from their forthcoming album called "A Hand Full of Rain & a Heart Full of Puddles" which is due in early 2008. It will be their debut album.

The band spent a week in a "lonely" farmhouse called "Carrigmore" in Central Victoria in February this year recording the album with Aaron Cupples. Two tracks from those sessions have surfaced on this ep, "Hello Dreary" & "Someday we'll get married". Both are excellent & no doubt familiar to those who have seen the band live. The band themselves say (tongue in cheek I assume) that "the rest of the songs on the album are all much better". The EP also contains 4 live tracks recorded at several live show around town this year.

Lead singer Jimmy Stewart is off to Europe to play some solos shows & the band plan to tour with their new album in October & November after Jimmy returns.

Ep track listing
1.Hello Dreary
2.Someday we'll get married
3.Wine Whinge (live)
4.Cast Off Naked (live)
5.Travellers Heart (live)
6.Someday we'll get married (live)

Links:
www.clinkerfield.com

Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge

Richard Hawley comes from Sheffield in the UK. His previous album "Coles Corner" was a finalist in the 2006 UK Mercury Music Prize (it lost out to the Artic Monkeys). His new album is called "Lady's Bridge" & is out now on the Mute Records Label. Th etitle comes from the name of the oldest bridge in Sheffield that goes over the river Don.

The album was recorded at Yellow Arch Studio in Neepsend, Sheffield in the dilapidated building that Hawley had helped out with the restoration of almost four years ago. Yellow Arch gives Hawley what he calls "that Sun Studio red light factor" and the pressure of turning up with the bones of an idea and leaving with a masterpiece.

From the Mute Website

"I didn’t want to re-invent the wheel or anything,” he explains. “I write songs and I play guitar, that’s it. There isn’t any mystery to it. I’m just constantly in search of something beautiful, melodies that just hit. That’s kind of what I do, I find it difficult to explain because its so simple.”


It's an intensely personal record for many reasons but mainly because during its recording Richard lost his father Dave Hawley, after a three-year battle with cancer, in February 2007. Hawley Snr was a man who not only inspired his son to pick up a guitar but who gave him his work ethic (he was part of a generation of musicians who’d work in the steel industry all day then play gigs at night) and his sense of humour. Here, in Richard's words was “a first wave teddy boy who lived life to the full” and “could make a cat laugh”.

“It was very difficult to not let the events that were happening affect the record,” he says “I tried to keep balanced and keep my eye on the ball. The last thing my dad would say to me every night at the hospice would be, 'Now then bastard, keep your eye on ball' and then just as I was leaving he'd say: '... and don't forget my ale and fags'.”

Links:
www.mute.com
www.richardhawley.co.uk

The Sadies to release new album

Canadian band The Sadies are set to release their first studio album in over three years on October 2nd. It's called "New Seasons" & will be on the Yep Roc label. Gary Louris (Jayhawks, Golden Smog) & Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) make guest appearances.

This from the Yep Roc site.

TORONTO, ON: Toronto's cosmic cowboys The Sadies, consisting of brothers Dallas and Travis Good, drummer Mike Belitsky and upright bassist Sean Dean, return with their fifth studio album, New Seasons, October 2 on Yep Roc Records. Featuring the brotherly harmonies and dazzling guitar interplay of Dallas and Travis Good, New Seasons is the band's most confident studio album to date. The Sadies' inspired amalgam of psychedelic country rock, surf, bluegrass and Ennio Morricone-esque inspired instrumentals has made them the preeminent torchbearers of cosmic American music.

Although 2006 saw two Sadies' releases, their star-studded double live album, In Concert: Volume 1 and an instrumental soundtrack for the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth documentary Tales of the Rat Fink, this is the band's first studio release since 2004's Favourite Colours. New Seasons' 13 all-original tracks show a greater emphasis on lyrics and narratives, and these tales often are filled with foreboding and of lessons learned the hard way.

Recorded both at Paco Loco in Spain and at the Woodshed in Toronto with friend and collaborator Gary Louris (Jayhawks, Golden Smog), New Seasons' gorgeously layered harmonies prove that The Sadies have the vocal tracks to equal the mastery of their instrumentals. While the album features appearances by Louris and Giant Sand's Howe Gelb contributes piano on a number, New Seasons is pure Sadies. But, as with all Sadies' albums, it's also a family affair: Dallas and Travis' father and uncles, aka Canadian Country Hall of Famers The Good Brothers, as well as their mother, Margaret Good, also contribute.

Links
www.thesadies.net
www.yeproc.com/thesadies

Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch

Accomplished guitarist and songwriter Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive By Truckers (DBT), releases his debut solo album Sirens Of The Ditch. Isbell appears to have left the band on friendly terms as members of the DBT help out on the album & Patterson Hood co-produced most of the songs.

It was always going to be hard to fit the three pronged songwriting & singing talents of Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, and Jason Isbell into the one band. Isbell has made song contributions to all DBT albums but only got a couple onto their last, A Blessing & a Curse. It makes sense for him to go it alone with the full backing of his former bandmates.

The album rocks with 11 tracks all written by Isbell kicking off with "Brand New Kind Of Actress", followed by the rocker "Down In A Hole", a swampy number featuring Muscle Shoals natives Spooner Oldham and David Hood. Isbell s songwriting skills shine especially on "Dress Blues" a pensive ballad about a high-school classmate who lost his life fighting in Iraq and "Chicago Promenade" a tribute to his late Grandfather.

Listeners caught glimpses of Isbell s skills on Drive-By Truckers records with tracks like "Danko/Manuel" and "Outfit".

Sirens Of The Ditch's mystical quality can be partially attributed to the FAME recording studio (Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Otis Redding) in Isbell s hometown of Muscle Shoals, AL where the album was recorded. A lot of old soul musicians came through here in the late 60s and 70s and helped define the Muscle Shoals sound, the lifelong Alabamian explains, so that influence was always in my environment, but on this record I really tried to capture that.

Co-produced by Isbell and Patterson Hood (DBT), Sirens Of The Ditch features Isbell singing lead vocals and playing guitar throughout, joined by Shonna Tucker (DBT) on Bass and Brad Morgan (DBT) on drums. Several musicians pop in for cameos including Spooner Oldham and David Hood (Patterson s father) on "Down In A Hole", John Neff (DBT) on "Dress Blues" and Patterson himself guests on "Shotgun Wedding".

Links:
www.newwestrecords.com
www.myspace.com/jasonisbellmusic
www.jasonisbell.com
Buy CD

Felice Brothers - Tonight At The Arizona

Released in June this year by the UK based label Loose The Felice Brothers hail from the Hudson Valley in the USA (upstate New York), the same part of the world that Bob Dylan & The Band sometimes called home & recorded. Fair enough to say that the Felice Brothers owe a debt to these great artists, which is fine as they do not try to hide the obvious influences.

The Felice Brothers actually contain some brothers plus some drifters who have latched on them. The band are, Simone, Ian and James Felice, a runaway dice-thrower called Christmas, The Searcher and Farley. They call themselves unschooled illegal street/subway musicians & from the start, their distinct brand of songwriting and the lawless sound they've forged has earned them comparisons to Woodie Guthrie, Neil Young, Walt Whitman & the aforementioned Bob Dylan.

Probably the best on-line review comes from Drowned in Sound.

Fresh of face but haggard of voice, The Felice Brothers have weathered a few storms, quite literally. Composed by the (unschooled) eldest three boys from a carpenter’s family seven children strong, along with their runaway friend called Christmas, Tonight At The Arizona documents the reality of happy endings not being one of life’s guarantees. From teenage pregnancies and the study of your firearm as you contemplate suicide, to being arrested for the drugs you were dealing to pay for your mother’s medical bills, the gritty contents are delivered with a wavery-voiced nod to all-time greats Dylan and Guthrie, backed by wailed group choruses liberated from hick bars and films set in the Deep South.

Links:
myspace.com/thefelicebrothers
www.loosemusic.com/thefelicebrothers
www.thefelicebrothers.com

Frank Smith - Heavy Handed Peace & Love

My New Favourite Band - Frank Smith


I've recently fluked upon this band by accident while browsing around here & there on the net. Didn't know much about them except that they are now signed to Juliana Hatfield's label Ye Olde Records & have a new CD called Heavy Handed Peace & Love. They are also her backing band on the latest from Juliana called Sittin in a tree. For a reference think Drive By Truckers, Uncle Tupelo or early My Morning Jacket.

The Ye Olde Records website has the following about the band.

Frank Smith is a band, not a man. Formed in Boston and recently relocated to frontman Aaron Sinclair’s home state of Texas, the band has a sound as vast as America. Like the country they come from, Frank Smith reconcile countless would-be opposites, as songs from the back porch are driven straight into the noise of the city, simple folk tunes are given the most intricately complex arrangements, and the freedom of the music is constantly pulled back by the authority of the beat. “Heavy Handed Peace And Love” is the band’s first release since moving from Boston to Austin, and their first release on Ye Olde Records.

Links:
www.yeolderecords.com
www.franksmithmusic.com
www.myspace.com/franksmith

Wash Winters Willies Away with Whiskey

Sunday 29th July, Tote Hotel
(71 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC, Ph 03 9419 5320)

The Third Annual “Wash Winter’s Willies Away With Whiskey” mini-festival.

Clinkerfield host their third grog-worshipping big day out in the pub.

A day-long celebration of great Australian music, inspired & impaired by the bottle. For the past two years this event has showcased some of the best of Melbourne and Australia's independent, underground scene... underground mostly for the fact they never seem to be able to get themselves off the ground due to being too pissed. And that, my friends, is why they're here in glorious display!

With: The Great Apes, The Gin Club (QLD), Silver City Highway, Jordie Lane, Maurice Frawley, Kim Volkmann, The Violent Mood Swings, The Idle Hoes, Gareth Eunson & The Graveyard Sons, Van & Cal Walker & Clinkerfield.

A compilation CD featuring one song from each of the acts will be available on the day and is free to the first 50 payers with $12 entry. Otherwise, you can score the CD and entry for $20, plus there’s a BBQ!

Links:
www.thetotehotel.com
www.clinkerfield.com

Downhills Home - Minor Birds

Downhills Home - Minor Birds

Minor Birds is the fantastic debut for the Melbourne based Downhills Home.

They deliver a sound that is raw and pure, with a late- 60’s country quality, inspired by The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, The Band and early Wilco. Also, to my ears the vocal sounds of vocalist McMahon remind me of Jim James from My Morning Jacket. The album was basically recorded live with few overdubs.

The band consists of Sean McMahon (guitar, vocals), Michael Hubbard (guitar, vocals), Brendan McMahon (keyboard and piano), Josh Duiker (drums) and Tim McCormack (bass). Guest appearances on the album include Matt Walker, Jen Cloher and Laura Jean.

Links:
www.downhillshome.com
www.myspace.com/downhillshome
Buy CD from CD Online

Neko Case - She is not a Canadian

Neko Case is often referred to as a Canadian. She was actually born in Alexandria, Virginia in September 1970 and she grew up in Tacoma, Washington, a place she still refers to as her home town. She did however get her start in the music business while she was living in Vancouver, British Columbia, from 1994 until 1998.

Her involvement in country music started with the release of her album The Virginian in 1997. She began her assoication with the Tucson Arizona crowd when she recorded the album Blacklisted in 2003. Noted Tucson artists such as Joey Burns & John Convertino (Calexico) & Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) worked on the album as did Dallas Good (Sadies)and notable Bloodshot artists such as Kelly Hogan (Vocals) & Jon Rauhouse (Pedal Steel).She has continued her association with these artists on her later albums & has made regular guest appearances of her own. Moving to Chicago in 2000, she has fallen in with the alt-country crowd via the Bloodshot Records label, home of many US alt-country artists such as the Waco Brothers, Sadies, Paul Burch, Bobby Bare Jr and Wayne Hancock.

In 2006 Case released Fox Confessor Brings the Flood this time on the Anti Records label. Once again the members of Calexico (Joey Burns & John Convertino), the Sadies (Dallas & Travis Good), Kelly Hogan, Howe Gelb, Jon Rauhouse and Garth Hudson from The Band all make siginificant contributions. The album was well received making several Best of 2006 lists, most notably No.2 on the No Depression Best of 2006.

In February 2007 Neko Case returns to Australia (She was here just last November with the New Pornographers). She has two gigs in Melbourne the first at the Spanish Club with Emily Ulman & the sold out gig at the Prince Bandroom with support from Jon Langford.


Links:
Bloodshot Records
anti records
Neko Case
myspace/nekocase

Download from emusic

Neko Case

Jon Langford Tours Australia

Best known as the front man for the Mekons, Jon Langford was one of the most resilient pop-punk bandleaders to emerge from Britain in the 1970s. Now a resident in Chicago, Langford has since become a leading force in alt-country music with the Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, and on his own solo releases. He has also worked with the likes of the Sadies, Old 97's, Kelly Hogan, Alejandro Escovedo and long time sparing partner Sally Timmns.

He is also an Artist of growing repute with he work described by his distributor Yard Dog as follows:
"His multi-layered paintings take imagery from old country music publicity photos and sheet music and envelope them in a haze of ironic nostalgia. He describes his painting technique thusly: "Long process of layering, scraping, minute attention to detail. Basically, I create a very unstable surface with acrylics and pastel on top of each other and work on top of that with Sharpies, felt pens, white out, gunk, snot and whatever comes to hand." Langford produced a book (including bonus CD) in 2006 called "Nashville Radio", a book of his paintings distributed in Australia by Verse Chorus Press.

Last here in May 2006 Langford returns in 2007 primarily to perform during the Tamworth Music Festival. He is also showing some of his art in Tamworth at his exhibition called "Buried Treasure" (the name is inspired by Clinton Walkers book of the same name about the forgotten history of Aboriginal Country Music). Jon is also appearing in support of Neko Case in Sydney and Melbourne during her tour in late January, early February as Jon Langford & the Bronte Pool Cosmonauts (The band consists of Nev Anderson, Dave Hastings and Roy Payne of Fat Dusty + Jason Walker from the Last Drinks). The Melbourne gig is at the Prince of Wales St Kilda tickets SOLD OUT. He is also performing at a House Party on Saturday 2nd February (Invitation Only).

Langford will also be dropping in to PBS-FM in Melbourne on Monday 5th February during 5 Feet High & Rising (3-5 pm) with Myles to talk about his art, his music & to perform a few songs live in the studio.

Links:
myspace.com/jdfanglord
Bloodshot Records
Yard Dog
Verse Chorus Press
5 Feet High & Rising

Download from emusic
Jon Langford


The Waco Brothers


The Pine Valley Cosmonauts

"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow Dies

"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow died on January 6th 2007 in California after complications with Alzheimer's disease. He was 72.

Kleinow is best know for his work on the first two Flying Burrito Albums, Gilded Palace of Sin & Burrito Deluxe. A regular on the live scene in L.A. Kleinow was recruited by Gram Parsons & Chris Hillman to add pedal steel guitar to their sound but with a difference. Kleinow's unique recording methods & ability to extract previously unheard of sounds from his instruments was integral to the Burrito's sound. Parsons himself was to say "I just couldn't understand this guy doing like, eight steel guitar overdubs over himself ... but I liked it" (Gram Parsons "God's Own Singer by Jason Walker page 96 Helter Skelter Publishing).

Kleinow left the Burritos in 1971 & went on to a successful career as a session musician. He worked with many artists including, Jackson Browne, Dillard & Clark, John Lennon, Little Feat, Doug Sahm & Linda Ronstadt just to name a few. Outside music Kleinow also enjoyed a successful career as a special effects artist for the movies & tv programs. He worked on such films as The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 1 & 2 & Gremlins. Prior to his music career he worked on the Gumby animated kids program & even wrote the theme tune.

Links
sneakypetekleinow.com
wikipedia