-
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- Anna Rose Country Notes 21st
September 2007
- Andrew,
Dheeraj, Dya, Parvyn and Josh at the Blue Skies Festival, near
Toronto, Canada.
-
- Parvyn, Josh, Simon and Andrew discovered The Oz Pub in
Seattle.
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- Nothing but blue skies, for Andrew Clermont.
-
- WHEN Tamworth-based Andrew Clermont leaves the Country Music
Capital, you can rest assured he’ll come back with multiple passport
stamps and loads of adventures to tell you about. Right now, he’s
sunning himself like the proverbial lizard on a beach in Mombasa, on
the Kenyan coast, having a few days’ R’n’R before returning to the
land of Oz.Since he took off a couple of months ago, he’s fiddled
and diddled with Dya Singh from Canada’s Rocky Mountains to Orlando,
Florida – and all points in between. As the band’s gigs were quite a
distance apart, they recruited a driver in wandering Aussie, Simon
Harder, who coincidentally, had fulfilled that same role eight years
previously.
“Eight years ago Simon was in the right place at the right time and
agreed to put his own peculiar life on hold, and amazingly enough,
he was ready to do it all again,” Andrew said. Simon met the Dya
Singh troupe at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and dropped
them at Vancouver Airport, nine concerts and a couple of thousand
miles later, returning the van to Seattle airport and he went back
to San Diego to his job as a computer programmer.
Merritt is proud to hold the title of Canada’s Country Music
Capital.
-
-
- Randy Travis is BIG in Merritt, Canada.
- Reba McEntire – larger than life, in Merritt, Canada.
- On the trip they also discovered the North American answer to
Tamworth – Merritt – the Country Music Capital of Canada. Although
there was no Big Golden Guitar, Andrew did find immense murals of
the stars and Walks of Fame, with various shops sponsoring large
plaques of gratitude to the assorted luminaries who frequent their
city on an annual basis.
Along the road of song and dance, Andrew met up with former
Brisbane-based violinist Joanna Lack, who is now working in San
Francisco – twice, in fact, as she turned up in Berlin towards the
end of their journey. Andrew spent a week in London with Tamworth’s
own Tom Donald, and Armidale’s Gypsy Hot Club fiddle champ, Willow
Stahlut-Kemp, and during that time ventured into the recording
studio – so stay tuned for news of that release. The troupe met up
with Australia’s favourite guitar son, Tommy Emmanuel, at a festival
in California, which Andrew said was a unique experience.
- A taste of home for Aussies in Seattle.
-
-
Lawrie Minson enjoyed his first beer on touchdown in Europe after a
long and tiring flight.
-
- “Canadian festivals are a little unique in that they love to
present multiple band workshops. For example Dya Singh meets The
Bebop Cowboys, or Madagascar Slim meets the Quebec Ska Kings … you
get the idea,” he said. If you would like to see firsthand what
Andrew was describing, get onto the You Tube website and search for
“Dya Singh Nth America Tour”. At the last Tamworth Country Music
Festival Supper Club Andrew welcomed The Beez, a very funny and
theatrical group from Berlin, as special guests. Two weeks ago
Lawrie Minson and Andrew became their special guests at a very retro
venue, LUX, in East Berlin.
“The building is a cross between a bunker, machine shop and from the
inside, like a huge, darkly-lit hippie bus,” Andrew said. Apparently
the Berliners came and filled the place and a had a hoot of a night
with the lads from Down Under, No doubt Andrew will have lots more
tales to tell upon his arrival back in the CMC.
-
Starring at The Albert, Tamworth, this weekend - Corn Liquor Band
from
Brisbane.
- A BAND from Brisbane is playing in Tamworth this weekend at
the newly renovated Albert in downtown Peel St. Corn Liquor Band,
finalists in the 2007 Northern Daily Leader/Bisley Buskers’
Championships, they’re doing a two-night stint (tonight and tomorrow
night), bringing their out there style of music south of the border.
Leading the troupe is Pete Martini, accompanied by Two Buck Buzzard,
Tone Deaf and Des J Johnson. Sound like a nice, normal bunch of
boys, don’t they?
And what do they play? Their bio says “Apalachian love songs,
mariachi soundtracks, to shotgun weddings, songs about chickens and
the growl of 18 wheels over fresh gravel.” But they do come with a
warning: “Their music will have your feet doing a crazy Mexican
voodoo dance as the spirits take hold. Listen at your own peril.
This is dangerous mojo.” There’s nothing quite like promotional
material that’s informative and to the point. Venture to The Albert
– if you dare. Take a sneak peak at their profile and song samples
on
www.myspace.com/cornliquorband
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Jeremy Edwards and the Dust Radio Band – a must see.
-
- A FESTIVAL favourite who visited Tamworth all too briefly in
January was Jeremy Edwards and the Dust Radio Band. They came, they
played, they conquered (in other words, sold out of CDs), and as
they had no further gigs, left town and returned to Sydney, leaving
audiences definitely wanting more. The cluey people at Joe Maguire’s
Pub, who gave the band their intro to the Tamworth Festival, have
re-booked Jeremy’s band for a week’s worth of gigs in 2008, so mark
that down on your festival planning calendar.
The band played at The Rails in Byron Bay on Thursday night and
according to the North Coast Musical Appreciation Society, chaired
by one Wendy Broome, “it was brilliant”. Wendy reports they have a
new CD, Stay Hungry, with not a dud track on it. Apparently from
track one you want to get up and dance, so best grab yourself a copy
of that one when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime
Jeremy and the lads are doing a couple of gigs this weekend in the
Hunter, at sunny downtown Maitland and the ‘Brook. Prince of Wales,
Muswellbrook, Saturday night and Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland, at
4pm Sunday. Check them out. You’ll love this band. Visit their
website,
www.jeremyedwards.com.au
Simply Bushed – a simply wonderful band.
- HERE’S a quick tip for Tamworth punters. Simply Bushed.
Simply delightful. Next Saturday night – Tamworth Services Club. See
you there. More on this fab outfit in next week’s column. Hooroo.
- Anna Rose Country Notes 14th
September 2007
- Ross Kettle, 2005 Roll of Renown
recipient, pictured with good mate, Terry Gordon. Photo: Northern
Daily Leader
- COUNTRY music singer-songwriter Ross
Kettle, part of the highly acclaimed Singing Kettles, died
peacefully at his home in outer Sydney on Wednesday, September 12,
shortly before 6pm, surrounded by his loving family. Born April 24,
1943, in Launceston, Tasmania, Ross, for many years, had bravely
battled several different forms of cancer. His initial diagnosis of
nose cancer in 1981 was just the start of his long struggle with
health problems, but he didn’t let it stop him doing what he loved
best – performing and writing songs.
Although he enjoyed a successful solo career, Ross was possibly best
known for his role in “the band of brothers” – the Singing Kettles.
Ross’s older brother, Bill, became interested in country music at
age 12, and took some guitar lessons from an uncle, with young Ross
watching his every move. Naturally gifted with a unique sibling
harmony, Bill and Ross won the 7LA Launceston Talent Quest in 1952,
where announcer Clive Windmill made a tape recording of their song,
and played it each afternoon on air. Later Bill and Ross met Eric
Scott, who became owner-operator of Hadley Records in Tamworth. Eric
suggested The Singing Kettles consider recording. Hadley’s first
output was a Singing Kettles single, Judy I Miss Holding You,
released December 1, 1961. Another single followed and in 1963
younger brother Max joined the team and they released their first
EP. This outing featured White Silver Sands, which gained quite a
deal of airplay across Australia’s eastern states.
- The Kettles’ first album release for
Hadley was Country Harmony, and nine Hadley albums were to follow,
together with single releases such as Toy Telephone and a version of
Johnny Ashcroft’s big hit, Little Boy Lost. The Kettles based
themselves in Tamworth and continued recording and performing
throughout the region and the state. Then in 1969 the brothers were
part of an all-Tasmanian contingent to tour Vietnam, presenting 25
shows in 18 days. Little did Ross know at that time just how much
this short tour of duty would mean to him later in life. Tragedy
struck the trio in 1971 when Max suffered a fatal asthma attack on
January 22. He was just 21 years old. Soon after this, Bill and Ross
left Tamworth and moved to Sydney, where they continued their act as
the original duo. With the move to Sydney came the opportunity of a
recording contract with EMI and the release of their most successful
album, Kettle Country. They recorded a further two albums with EMI
before forming their own independent label, Van Diemen (2) Records.
The Singing Kettles released several albums on this label with many
of their own compositions including Maryanne and Living In Darkness,
plus songs penned by Laurie Allen and Mick Hamilton – What Amanda
Needs, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and It’s Too Late Now, and
a Mike McClellan song, Rock’n’Roll Lady.
The Kettles toured extensively on package shows and with their own
travelling country showcase and in 1978 they were inducted into the
Hands of Fame in Tamworth. The brothers’ act disbanded in 1988, with
Ross turning his talents to a solo career and Bill and his fiancée
Kathy Thompson, working as a duo.
Ross was much sought after on the Sydney club and pub scene, and
stayed in remission from cancer until December 2002, when it
returned to make another assault, attacking his left ear and jaw.
In 2005, the Singing Kettles had an emotional return to Tamworth,
where they were awarded Australian country music’s highest accolade,
with their elevation to the Roll of Renown. A few months after that
highlight, Ross’s health took a downward spiral. He underwent a
double hip replacement and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ross
recorded two solo albums in 2006 – Words Say It All and All That I
Am. In 2007 Ross recorded his final album, Waltz of Life. On this
album he was joined by granddaughter Madison on one of his original
compositions, Daddy, What If? In recent years, the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs came to the fore, assisting Ross and wife Marlene
with special accommodation to suit Ross’s medical needs and also
medical equipment to make his palliative care more comfortable.
Ross is survived by his loving wife Marlene, and their children
Faron, Deanna and Nellette. He was a treasured grandfather of
Michael and Madison and a brother to Bill, Tony and the late Max.
His funeral service will be conducted at North Chapel, Forest Lawn
Crematorium, Camden Valley Way, Leppington at 1pm on Tuesday,
September 18.
-
His Funeral
is Tuesday 18th September at leppington Lawn Cemetery @ 1pm.....
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- Anna Rose Country Notes 7th
September 2007
- A VERY happy birthday to Hohner
Harmonicas, which this weekend celebrates 150 years of manufacturing
harmonicas.
Tamworth musician Lawrie Minson plans to be at the big birthday bash
this weekend in Trossingen, Germany, where it all began all those
years ago by Matthias Hohner.
Not only does Trossingen celebrate 150 years of Hohner this weekend,
it also celebrates 150 years of Trossingen as a town of music, and
the locals believe this is truly a cause for celebration.
Trossingen natives believe music is a passion that is meant to be
shared, and this weekend the town looks back with pride on an
exciting history, without losing sight of the future.
As part of the celebrations, they’re attempting to create history by
beating Washington’s record of a 1706-strong harmonica orchestra.
This record was set in 2005 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
I’m sure Lawrie will be waving the Aussie flag
in Trossingen – and
no doubt upon his return, we’ll find out if they smashed
Washington’s record – or whether just partied on regardless.
The Hohner Harmonica Championships is one of the highlights of the
annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. Lawrie’s dad, John (Mr
Hoedown) Minson, was the inaugural host of the competition, staged
annually by Trish Smits from Kurt Jacob & Co, of Prospect in Sydney.
That company is no new kid on the block either, being established in
1937 by Kurt Jacob, primarily as the agent for Hohner harmonicas and
accordions.
Today, under the direction of Jac, Frank and Hans Smits, is remains
the agent/distributor for Hohner products.
Capturing the
moment: Lawrie Minson, Smoky Dawson and Jimmy Barnes, during the
filming of the Homestead Of My Dreams clip
- BEFORE Lawrie flew out for Germany, where he planned to catch up
with fellow globe-trotting Tamworth muso Andrew Clermont in Berlin,
he spent a week in Sydney rehearsing with Lee Kernaghan’s band.
A phone call from filmclip producer Ross Wood put paid to rehearsals
for one day, as Ross had a very special project to complete,
enlisting Lawrie’s assistance.
The project was the recording of Homestead Of My Dreams, the new
Smoky Dawson clip, filmed at Smoky and Dot’s home at Lane Cove.
Lawrie and his mate Jimmy Barnes were the cheer squad and spent a
fabulous few hours in Smoky’s fine company. No doubt the clip will
soon be airing on CMC – so keep an eye out for it.
-
Muster virgins: Belinda Riley and Michelle Silver, from Tamworth,
enjoyed their baptism of mud
-
- Hitching a ride: Getting to the music
was quite a feat once the creek rose. 4WDs were the only way across,
apart from wading through the water.
- WELL it was a muddy old Muster this
year in the rainforest at Amamoor, just outside of Gympie. Light
rain began falling at the site the weekend before the music began
and never let up all week.
By the time the main weekend rolled around, it was swampland, with
the road leading into the site closed on the Friday to all traffic
bar four-wheel-drives.
Tamworth’s Michelle Silver and Belinda Riley were “Muster virgins“
this year and certainly had a baptism of mud, but it didn’t detract
from their fun. They loved dancing in their gumboots!
Fortunately for our two “virgins“, they camped next to a great bunch
of fellows, one from Tamworth called Andy, who made their camping
experience a lot more pleasurable.
“We pitched our tents when we got there and went off to see the
music,“ Michelle said. “Lucky for us, the boys re-pitched our tents
after we left, otherwise they would have blown away during the
night. We didn’t have a clue how to set up camp, but lucky for us,
they did.“
Another Tamworthian who loves the Muster is butcher Brian Penrose.
Sadly, Brian didn’t take his mum Marge’s advice and went up there
without his gumboots.
Problem was, the starting price for gumboots at the Muster was $20 a
pair and by the final Saturday, they peaked at $70 a pair. Now
that’s quite a mark-up, isn’t it.
Brian said he got to see quite a few acts he hadn’t caught before,
one of which was Tamworth’s own Matt Scullion.
“I travelled all the way to Gympie and I think I enjoyed Mat
Scullion’s band the best of all,“ Brian said.“I went to a couple of
his gigs. They were great.“
-
- Bar awash: This bar usually had a
drinker or two in evidence, but when Michelle went by, it was a
“washout”.
-
Shower trek: It
was a long and muddy walk up the hill to the showers.
-
- Enjoy Michelle’s pictures of the Muster, or should that be Mudster.
She said she’d be back, probably every second year.
- Anna Rose Country Notes 3rd September 2007
- Larrikins all three: Marcus Holden, Warren Fahey and Garry
Steel - coming to a town near you. Don't miss them.
- NEXT weekend in Tamworth esteemed Australian folk and bush
music exponent Warren Fahey will present two shows at the Longyard
Hotel in the fine company of Marcus Holden and Garry Steel (from The
Fiddlers Feast). They’ve titled their tour Warren Fahey and his
Larrikin Mates, Beating Around the Bush. It’s quite appropriate
really, as Warren was the founder of Larrikin Records – a much
respected record label on the scene for more than 20 years. I
remember going to the Larrikin 20th anniversary concert at Tamworth
Town Hall in 1994. And it’s not only Tamworth that will be treated
to a touch of larrikinism with Warren and his mates. They’re touring
several north-west centres, and performing at schools as well as
concert venues. Their first stop on the tour is Maitland Regional
Art Gallery on Friday, September 7 before they roll into the Country
Music Capital for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at The
Longyard. Book your tickets by phoning the venue directly on 6765
3411.
Tonight (Monday) they’re in Armidale, Tuesday, Glen Innes,
Wednesday, Inverell, Thursday they’re doing school performances in
Bingara and Barraba and on Friday, after several school performances
in Gunnedah, they will perform that evening at the Civic. Saturday,
September 15 will be a delightful show at Bingara’s historic Roxy
Theatre. If you’ve never been to the Roxy, do yourself a favour.
It’s gorgeous. Besides that, Bingara is my home town and it’s a
lovely place to visit – or to live. The Larrikins’ final north-west
performance is on Sunday September 16, when they’re doing a
lunchtime concert in Barraba at the Playhouse Theatre (the old
hotel, owned and operated by Andrew Sharp). Warren draws his
inspiration from the old bush singers of the pioneering 19th
century. His repertoire is a fascinating swag of convict
transportation ballads, early settlers’ stories, gold rush ditties,
shearing and droving songs, railway chants, sea songs, army bawdy
ballads and songs from the Great Depression. He also sings
children’s playground rhymes, recites bush poetry and tells
leg-pulling yarns. If there’s a nostalgia button in the human body,
Warren Fahey knows just where it is – and how to press it. Don’t
miss this fabulous show when it comes to your town. It’s guaranteed
to be a beauty. When you’ve got some fancy fiddling and accordion
playing by Marcus and Garry thrown in – it’s sheer bliss.
New generation balladeer: Amos Morris is a young man with one eye on
tradition and the other firmly towards his shining future. Photo:
John Elliott.
- THERE’S always lots happening in the world of country music –
and lots in the Country Music Capital with an extra special CD
launch on the weekend. Nineteen-year-old Amos Morris, who has been
signed to Joy McKean and the late Slim Dusty’s Nulla Records label,
returned to one of his favourite venues, Des and Joyce Gilfillan’s
Oasis Hotel, on Saturday night to launch his second album – the
first on the new label. Sign of the Times was launched in the muddy
setting of the Toyota National Country Music Muster, but I reckon
this Tamworth launch had to feel pretty special for young Amos. The
Oasis is the home in Tamworth of the bush balladeers and that’s
where this young bloke’s heart is, just like the man he never met
who was to have such a profound influence on his life and career.
No. Amos never did get to meet Slim, but when Joy spotted him
singing at the Hats Off to Country Festival in Tamworth in 2004 she
was immediately captivated by his natural style. Since then she has
had a guiding hand in his career. Have a look at the words to track
two on the album, Follow in the Footsteps, penned by Amos.
“We both headed off from Kempsey, nearly 60 years apart,
Like him, the songs I sing, old mate, they come straight from the
heart,
To me he was Australia and I’ll sing his songs out loud,
As I play to all his people, the true blue country crowd.”
If that doesn’t tell you where this fella’s heading, nothing will.
Amos first heard Slim’s music before he hit his teen years, when
Slim released Looking Forward Looking Back. He immediately bought
the disc and faithfully learnt every song, word for word, note for
note. In May this year, Joy invited Amos, his mother Juli, and
grandmother, to visit and put the proposal to him for an album deal
with Nulla Records. Not long after that, the young bloke found
himself in Slim’s Columbia Lane studio, recording his debut Nulla
Records disc with The Travelling Country Band, and Slim’s daughter
Anne Kirkpatrick in the producer’s chair. Amos has a new website
where you can read more about him,
www.amosmorris.com . The
first time I heard Amos sing at Tamworth Town Hall I moved was to
tears. He continues to bring me undone every time I hear him.
There’s something very special about Amos Morris.
Click here Amos Morris Artist Report
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-
Doin' great, thanks: Adam Harvey and his beautiful Miss Kathy.
- LAST week the Victorian Variety Bash came through Tamworth en
route to their final destination of Byron Bay. Joining the
contingent for the Tamworth leg was lanky country star Adam Harvey
and his all-star band. The big fella put on a great show for the
Bashers on Wednesday night in Blazes showroom at Wests. Adam’s new
Sony-BMG album, I’m Doin’ Alright, is due for release on September
22. Someone Else’s Dream is the first single and it’s being heard on
radio stations all over the country. It’s one of nine songs on the
disc that Adam had a hand in writing. “There’s a lot of heart in
this new album and I’m really happy with it,” Adam said. “Mind you,
it probably wouldn’t be an Adam Harvey album without one or two
funny songs, so they’re there too,” Adam said. “One I wrote with
Kevin Bloody Wilson called There’s A Genie at the Bottom of a Jim
Beam Bottle, is a real hoot, and another one about a Saturday night
party at the Harveys tells it like it is. Miss Kathy reckons our
reputation will be shot to bits once this one gets out.”
Click here Adam Harvey Artist Report
- Anna Rose Country Notes 24th
August 2007
- He loves a laugh: Funny song title #100 was recorded by Adam
Harvey on his Workin’ Overtime album. The song was written by R
Hardison/B Kennedy. He’s pictured here with his Tamworth girlfriends
– Judy Walmsley and Dorothy Bowden.
- REGULAR Country Music Notes reader, Frank
Williams, from Werris Creek, recalled a column I wrote a couple of
years back with 17 Funny Country Song Titles. Frank was keen to get
a copy of those songs, so I have gone one better, or should that be
83 better, and compiled a list of 100. From what I have read and
researched, these are songs that were actually recorded. I have
heard quite a few of them. How many do you know?
- 1. Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth Cause I'm Kissing You
Good-bye.
2. I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself or Go Bowling.
3. If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You.
4.I Sold A Car To A Guy Who Stole My Girl, But It Don't Run So We're
Even.
5. Mama Get A Hammer (There's A Fly On Daddy's Head).
6. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me.
7. She's Actin' Single and I'm Drinkin' Doubles.
8. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away.
9. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You.
10. I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well.
11. I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better.
12. I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win.
13. I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight.
14. I'm So Miserable Without You; It's Like Having You Here.
15. I've Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Back Cryin' Over You.
16. If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now.
17. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love You.
18. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him.
19. Please Bypass My Heart.
20. She Got The Ring and I Got The Finger.
21. You Done Tore Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat.
22. You're the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly.
23. Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure.
24. Are You On The Top 40 of The Lord?.
25. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With An Ugly Woman, But I Sure Woke Up
With a Few.
26. All I Want From You (Is Away).
27. All My Exes Live in Texas.
28. All The Guys That Me On Turn Me Down.
29. Am I Double Parked by the Curbstone of Your Heart?
30. Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You.
31. At The Gas Station of Love I Got The Self Service Pump.
32. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, But Ugly Goes Clean To The Bone.
33. Billy Broke My Heart at Walgreens and I Cried All the Way to
Sears.
34. Bubba Shot The Jukebox.
35. Bubba’s Inconvenience Store.
36. Come Out of the Wheatfield Nellie, You’re Going Against The
Grain.
37. Cow Cow Boogie (Moo Moo My Love).
38. Cow Cow Strut.
39. Did I Shave My Legs For This?
40. Don’t Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You.
41. Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ With Lovin’ On Your Mind.
42. Don’t Give Me A Plastic Saddle ‘Cause I Want To Feel That
Leather When I Ride.
43. Don’t Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes At Me.
44. Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goal Posts of Life.
45. Four on the Floor and a Fifth Under the Seat.
46. Get Off The Stove, Grandma, You're Too Old To Ride The Range.
47. Get Off The Table, Mabel (The Two Dollars is for the Beer).
48. Get Your Biscuits In The Oven, And Your Buns In The Bed.
49. Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart.
50. He’s Got A Way With Women … And He’s Just Got Away With Mine.
51. Her Only Bad Habit Is Me.
52. Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares).
53. He Went To Sleep and The Hogs Ate Him (Now Claude’s Gone
Forever).
54. High Cost of Low Living.
55. Hog Sloppin’ Time in the Hollow.
56. Hold On To Your Men ‘Cause She’s Single Again.
57. How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You, When You Know I've
Been A Liar All My Life?
58. How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come Around?)
59. How Come Your Dog Don’t Bite Nobody But Me?
60. I Bought The Shoes That Just Walked Out On Me.
61. I Can’t Pass the Bar, And There’s One On My Way Home.
62. I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life.
63. I Don't Care if it Rains or Freezes 'Long As I Have My Plastic
Jesus Sittin' on the Dashboard of my Car.
64. I Fell for Her, She Fell for Him, and He Fell for Me.
65. I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart
66. I Gave Her My Heart And A Diamond And She Clubbed Me With A
Spade.
67. I Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Bed Crying On My Pillow
Over You.
68. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You.
69. I Only Miss You On The Days That End In "Y".
70. I Sent Her Artificial Flowers For Her Artificial Love.
71. I Spent My Last Ten Dollars on Birth Control and Beer.
72. I Want a Beer as Cold as My Ex-Wife's Heart.
73. I Wanted You To Leave Until You Left Me.
74. I Wanna Be A Blue Light Special In The K Mart Of Your Heart.
75. I Went Back to My Fourth Wife for the Third Time and Gave Her a
Second Chance to Make a First Class Fool Out of Me.
76. I Went Out On A Limb and Fell Off the Family Tree.
77. I Wish I Were A Woman (So I Could Go Out With A Guy Like Me).
78. I'd Rather Pass a Kidney Stone than Another Night With You.
79. If I'd Killed You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out of Jail By Now.
80. If My Nose Was Running Money, Honey, I'd Blow It All On You.
81. If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets, He'd Have a Ball in Mine.
82. If The Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me.
83. If Today Was a Fish, I'd Throw It Back In.
84. If You Can’t Be Good, Be Bad With Me.
85. If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl.
86. If Whiskey Were A Woman, I'd Be Married For Sure.
87. I'm Drinkin’ Christmas Dinner (All Alone This Year).
88. I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home.
89. I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna be a Diamond
Someday).
90. I'm The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised.
91. I Would Kiss You Through the Screen Door But It'd Strain Our
Love.
92. Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial.
93. My Give-A-Damn's Busted.
94. She Got The Goldmine and I Got The Shaft.
95. She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.
96. Thanks To The Cathouse, I’m in the Doghouse With You.
97. Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw.
98. If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me.
99. She’s Lookin’ Better After Every Beer.
100. Beauty’s In The Eye Of The Beer Holder.
- Anna Rose Country Notes 17th
August 2007
- Take it
easy: Mary Duff sat back and relaxed to deliver some of her songs on
Wednesday night.
- IRISH entertainer Mary Duff and her
five-piece band performed at Tamworth Town Hall on Wednesday night,
the fifth date on her Australasian tour.
For the first half Mary played folk songs of Ireland, and old
favourites, and showed her country style after interval, with
several costume changes throughout the night. While Mary changed
outfits the audience was ably entertained by her hot band. I managed
to grab a couple of shots of Mary singing and also
drummer-percussionist Nigel Connell, while doing a handy balancing
act over the top balcony. Tricky, that. While Mary and the band are
in Australia, promoted by the Gordon-Stahl organisation (that’s Gold
Coast promoters Terry and Bernie who are regular visitors to
Tamworth), they will play NSW dates at several Sydney clubs, then on
to Erindale, Griffith and Barooga, before heading further south to
Frankston, Warragul, Geelong and winding up at Albury on August 30.
They cross the Tasman for eight shows in New Zealand, concluding on
September 10. If you’d like to know more about Mary visit her
website, www.maryduff.co.uk
- Multi-tasker: Mary Duff’s
drummer-percussionist Nigel Connell was a great singer and delivered
the goods with style.
- Guitarist Mickey McCarney was pretty
handy with the axe
too.
WEDNESDAY night after Mary’s show, we popped in to The Vault, where
Tamworth singer-songwriter Matt Scullion was performing for a room
full of Charolais breeders and enthusiasts. The Vault proprietor
Colin Baker said they’d had a stack of great live music in recent
weeks at the former ANZ bank building in Peel St. Lawrie Minson’s
Songwriters’ Night last Wednesday was a huge one, and due to various
functions and special events, more live music was called for – so
Col delivered. Matt took the opportunity to test drive a couple of
brand new songs, one of which he’s written with Jasper Collie
(Jonah’s Road) and the other with Allan Caswell. Both were absolute
beauties. Matt’s an awesome songwriter, as I was informed during the
week by one of his big fans, Steve Forde, who fronts The Flange.
Steve doesn’t co-write a lot, but when he does, he chooses to write
with Matt, who he says will have a huge future in Australian country
music with his way with words.
Host
with the most: Colin Baker is flanked by two lovely ladies – Beryl
Brown
- and her
daughter, Cheryl Byrnes, at The Vault.
- LAST Saturday night in Tamworth a
legend performed in Legends Bar at Wests – the one and only Tassie
devil, Gina Timms. Gina had been in town since mid-week recording
her new EP, which is due for release at that same venue on Gina’s
40th birthday – Saturday, January 19, 2008. The six tracks were laid
down at John Lee’s Fat Tracks Studio, at Moore Creek. What a superb
setting in which to record. When you need to get out of the studio,
walk out the front door and you’re met with the most superb mountain
views.
It certainly is a pretty spot to while away the hours. Don’t know
how they get any work done in that when you’ve got such a great view
outside to sit and enjoy. Gina cut three originals, and three
covers. She was originally only putting down five tracks, but with
the professional team she enlisted in the studio – Tamworth musos
Dave (Stix) Adams, Rob Brown and Rusty Crook, and from Parkes, Mick
Green, the tracks went down with ease so they threw in another
original of Gina’s. By week’s end the boys were red hot and revved
up for their gig in Legends Bar as Gina Timms and The Rockerfellas.
Three great vocalists out front – Gina, Aaron Bolton and Nicole
Geddes – and one super hot band, augmented by Mick Green, who just
couldn’t stay away.
- Gina’s
boys: Rusty Crook, Rob Brown, Mick Green, John (Fatman) Lee and Dave
(Stix) Adams,
- pictured
with Gina Timms at picturesque Moore Creek.
All
photos: Anna Rose
- Anna Rose Country Notes 10th August 2007
- Michael Muchow's band gig at the Toyota National Country
Music Muster will be a beauty.
- SUPERB Brisbane-based singer, songwriter and guitar slinger
Michael Muchow will head to the fabulous Gympie Muster in two weeks’
time, presenting his own show in the Wine Bar at 11am Sunday, August
26. Michael will be showcasing his new self-titled CD, with six all
original tracks. All songs were co-written by Michael, with writing
partners such as Glen Moffatt (on Sandra); Kevin Bennett (Your Fool,
We Were Wrong and Serve You Well) and Bill Chambers assisted with
two songs – Killing Floor and I Don’t Need You. When I first got
hold of Michael’s CD, I put it straight on the player in the car.
I’ve been a major MM fan for years, ever since I judged him in the
Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the Year when he was a little
tacker. He was something special back then and has matured into a
wonderful performer and entertainer. While I was scooting around
Tamworth enjoying the six-tracker, I had a passenger who was pretty
impressed with the sound, so I gave him the CD. It was Bap Kennedy,
from Ireland. I thought Bap should take home some great Australian
country. Then I had to replace my copy, but it was worth it.
In recent years it’s been great to see Michael as part of Bill
Chambers’ band, along with Chris Haig and BJ Barker, and Bill has no
hesitation in showcasing Michael’s talents to the world. Bill has
long been a champion of up and coming talent. When Michael takes
centre stage at the Wine Bar at Gympie this year he will have James
Gillard and Scotty Hills behind him – two not so shabby players!
“I’m really excited to be playing with such fantastic musicians and
to be performing my own gig this year,” Michael said. If you’re
heading to the Muster, don’t miss Michael’s gig on Sunday morning.
It will be a beauty. And don’t forget to take home that great little
six-tracker. It’s still on high rotation around my place. Check out
Michael’s myspace site, by visiting:
-
Click here Michael's Artist Report Page
www.myspace.com/michaelmuchowmusic
MELBOURNE has been spoilt for far too long, having the luxury of Nu
Country TV all to itself. Now this wonderful program is spreading to
Queensland next weekend. The show debuts on Channel 31 in Brisbane
on Friday, August 17 at 9.30pm and is repeated on Saturdays at
9.30am. Channel 31 in Queensland will reach back to series one,
created in the spring of 2003, as its entrée. It will then use more
recent episodes of the show, brainchild of celebrated Melbourne
actor and voiceover maestro, Peter Hosking. Nu Country TV, enjoying
its eighth series on Channel 31 in Victoria, is set to make a big
impact in Queensland, where country music’s popularity is spread by
commercial and community radio exposure and a healthy festival
circuit. If you’d like to find out more about Nu Country TV, visit
the website,
www.nucountry.com.au . While you’re there, check out staff
writer Dave Dawson’s regular columns. He’s one of the best writers
in the business – and very entertaining with his broad knowledge of
all things country (and western).
Danny Mack has made the move north to Brisbane.
Click here
Danny Mack Artist Report Page
- HAD a call from the Cement City Cowboy during the week. Danny Mack,
a Canadian native, now resident in the Land of Oz, has made the move
from the chilly climes of Canberra and followed Graeme Connors’
advice by moving a little further north (to sunny Brisbane). After
unpacking and settling in, Danny will concentrate on getting to know
the local music scene, while his lovely wife Bonnie sets about
solving Brisbane’s IT worries. Bonnie is an IT whiz, so with Danny’s
musical talents and Bonnie’s IT skills, Canberra’s loss is
definitely Brisbane’s gain.
No wonder he's smiling. Who would have thought Graeme Connors would
team with The Fiddlers Feast to create such a fabulously surprising
album?
-
- I MENTIONED Graeme Connors in the previous piece, possibly because
the man has been on my mind this week, ever since John Elliott
breezed through the Country Music Capital on Tuesday. John hand
delivered a delightful surprise in the form of a CD featuring Graeme
Connors and Fiddlers Feast! What a gorgeous combination. I couldn’t
wait to put the disc into my CD player and give it a whirl. Graeme’s
vocals blended beautifully with the fabulous fiddling outfit in a
recording that took place in December 2006 at The Whitehouse Studios
in the NSW Southern Highlands.
The project was the brainchild of producer Andrew Richardson and the
five-day session reunited Graeme, Andrew and Keith Walker, the
legendary studio engineer whom Graeme had last met in Nashville in
1993 when he recorded The Return (my favourite GC album). The
Whitehouse Studios is a live-in retreat in the hills overlooking
Bowral, in a most beautiful part of the world, south of Sydney. The
spectacular surroundings and low pressure environment proved
perfect, bringing out the best in Graeme and the band. Just wait
‘til you hear it. It’s something quite special.
Click here Graeme Connors Artist Report Page
-
The voice is back in town - Gina Timms - a legend returns to
Legends.
- DON’T forget the gig of the week – Legends Bar at Wests, 8pm
tomorrow, when Tamworth’s fabulous Rockerfellas team with the
legendary Gina Timms for a great night of free entertainment. Three
awesome vocalists – Gina, Nicole Geddes and Aaron Bolton, together
with the musical talents of Dave “Stix” Adams, Rob Brown, Rusty
Crook and all the way from Parkes, the delightful Mick Green,
playing anything he fancies – he’s a clever bugger. Then to top it
all off, your listening pleasure will be enhanced by the gorgeous
Peter Scott on the sound desk. What more could a person ask for?
Fabulous band. Great sound. Awesome singers. Where else would you
be?
Click here Gin's Artist Report Page
-
- Print out and have the memories
|
Tamworth
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