Honky Tonk Highway

. . . everything's almost back to normal after the influx of overseas acts and special nights so it's good to get back to what we enjoy most about our local music. Tonight (Friday) sees the third gig at the Balmain Bowling Club, Darling St, East Balmain at 8pm for the Hunter & Suzie Owens Band. The line-up includes Jake Lardot, Doug Bligh and Tomi Graso backing Hunter & Suzie. Saturday night at the Bald Faced Stag Hotel at Leichhardt, the Murray Hillbillies will be in full flight with a four-set night of genuine country/honky tonk starting at about 9pm - the usual surprise guests will be lining up to assist Murray get through the marathon. Then if you're still up to it on Sunday, Rob Luckey and the Lucky Bastards will be gracing the stage at the Coopers Arms Hotel in Newtown from about 3.30pm. There's sure to be something on at the Botany View Hotel in Newtown after Rob's gig but this bloke might just say enough's enough and go home to watch the replay of Pauline Hanson being shoved off the floor, once and for all!

. . . just keeps on travellin' on . . .

Looking very much the Chaplainesque character he's happy to emulate in his approach to life and music, Prine has decided, after almost a decade, to release another album of new songs. Here's the press release:

Press Release: Oh Boy Records - 01/28/2005

John Prine - Fair & Square

First New Original Music In 9 Years Hits Streets April 26

Nashville: John Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him a little longer to write the songs that capture moments and reveal the gently folded human truths that bind us all together, it's always worth the wait. Now, nearly nine years since the release of his Grammy-nominated Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, the iconic American writer is putting the finishing touches on Fair & Square, which will be released on Prine's Oh Boy label April 26th.

"It was just time," says Prine in his always understated way. "I had a bunch of songs. I'd started recording 'em, and it turns out, I liked 'em pretty well. So, now, I get to get'em all just the way I like 'em -- and then I get to let'em go out to meet the world."

Drawing on Prine's incomparable sweetness, his wicked wit and social commentary and his split rail simplicity, Fair & Square turns on the phases of the human heart -- and the way the people getting by live, dream, love and survive their lives. With the occasional wheezing accordion, curlique electric guitar parts, quick-wristed mandolins, billowing B-3 pads and puddles of pedal steel guitar, the rough-voiced singer/songwriter's first self-produced record is a homey affair that draws generously from the palette of traditional American music -- be it folk, bluegrass, shuffles, almost vintage rock & roll, torch, country -- for an amalgamation that would be at home on any Wurlitzer in a whiskey-soaked tavern with beer signs flickering from age and the walls stained deeper than sepia from the years of constant smoke.

Whether it's the sultry celebration of post-encounter rapture "Morning Train," the afterglow burning until the next moment can happen "Long Monday" or the down-stroke electric guitar charged "She Is My Everything," Fair & Square captures Prine's candy heart. But there's also the Joshua Tree dry wit of our culture's tabloid obsessive culture "I Hate It When That Happens To Me" and the fame-chasing self-mockery of "Crazy As A Loon., not to mention the gentle political nudge "Some Humans Ain't Human" that's soft-spoken indictment at its most aw-shucks.

With bluegrass queen Allison Krauss on the ode to his Irish refuge "My Darlin' Hometown" and the street corner desolation of "The Moon Is Down" and alt.country princess Mindy Smith bringing allure and tartness to "Morning Train, "Long Monday" and the melted neon ponder of "Taking A Walk," Fair & Square is the work of a man at ease with his life, secure with his place in the world and willing to share the things that he sees.

"It's been a while, so I'm pretty excited," Prine admits with that Oh Boy! grin. "And that's a really good place to be."

Tour dates will follow shortly. Advance music is being pulled together.
But given the working class Midwestern origin of the Grammy-winning songwriter, you can bet the songs will be served -- and the fans who want to see and hear them will have their chance.

. . . which can also be seen at the excellent John Prine Shrine:

Following hard on Fred Eaglesmith's honky tonk heels were a couple of his fellow Canadians, John and Michelle Law who travel the world as a folk duo, The Laws. The night after Fred's final Sydney gig, I ventured over to the Rozelle Community Centre for their final Sydney show. I had seen The Laws at a couple of Tamworth's annual 10-day country music festivals and had been impressed, not only with their songwriting abilities but also by their harmony singing. They've been on a five-year touring honeymoon so maybe there's something in the old adage: ". . . they who stick together sing perfect harmonies together . . ." One of the songs they covered back then was Greg Brown's The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home. As I discovered later, listening to both Brown's and his wife, Iris Dement's versions, it was about the only song I've learned which sounded close to the original without having ever heard the song. I can't help it if I'm lucky! While the song is full of depair and sadness, The Laws have injected a brighter feel which carries an image of the world being a better place for having Rodgers as one of the true artists of the American music culture.

Gary Brown, the owner of possibly the best collection of slide steel and resophonic guitars in Australia, and not forgetting his prowess on Dobro or his triple fretboard Fender console steel, promotes these Saturday night concerts in the old church building in Darling Street, Rozelle. It must be a hobby for Gary as most of the time I've attended one of these shows, there's barely enough paying customers to cover the hall rental, let alone the band. He's got great connections, though, and he's well respected drawing some of the better folk/country acts who happen to be passing through on their way to bigger bookings. As a side interest, the church was built on a block which had, in the old-town plan, the street number 666! It was decided by the Presbyterian brethren of the day to have the place re-numbered 665A. Maybe if Gary used a pitch like that in his almost non-existant publicity, he might get the punters he needs to fill the place. Not sure there's connection with the number, but there's a huge poster of what looks like Robert Johnson hanging high in the rafters, almost as a sold-his-soul devil finger to all the once-hallowed hall had been witness to.

But back to The Laws and the music of the night. The folk/old timey/ singer/songwriter community is, surprisingly, fairly small in Sydney and many of those present at the gig would eventually do a number or two before The Laws took over. Hunter & Suzie Owens, Mary Heard and Mary-Anne Burton, Dennis Aubrey and Hugh Roberts, with help from Les Scott on guitars and bass and Gary Brown on Dobro and console slide, all warmed up the few others of us who were there as mere listeners. Being a non-smoking, bring-your-own grog venue, I found myself out on the front balcony taking in some of my addictive refreshments of choice almost all night which turned out to be a smart move because The Laws spent a fair bit of time out there as well. They enjoy a good chat and the odd beer and are a delightful couple. I'm sure (as they are) they will be back at Tamworth next year and I'd recommend catching them if you like snappy and mostly up-tempo folk/country songs.

Had to put in a whole day's work before I'd get my second dose of Fred Eaglesmith and, as Murphy's Law would have it, our publication decided it would throw a couple of spanners into my plans. Even if we finished on time, I knew I would miss the opening act, Karl Broadie, another young up-and-coming talent from the Central Coast - which seems to be home to almost all the worthwhile country music talent - in this State at least. As it happened I arrived just in time to see Willie P. Bennett take a bow for what I was told was an excellent addition to Bill Chambers' set. Dan Walsh was also on stage and Bill played another two songs and that was the openers. The Bridge Hotel is one of the constants in Sydney's music scene and has been home to many of the local and overseas blues acts for almost 30 years. It's a medium-size room with a few old posters on the walls from acts which had passed through over the years. The floor is concrete but still has that unmistakeable odour of stale beer pervading the air. Didn't seem to worry the throng of punters who had turned out to see Fred. This was the biggest crowd I've seen at one of Fred's gigs and it all looked good for another great night.

I had been so disciplined the previous night and had successfully written down most of the set list (sorry for the errors!) and had managed to record the show on my old cassette recorder and had also managed to take a few pictures, which I'll try to upload to my photo host page later. Tonight was going to be my night of fun and frolic with the road warrior and his band of merry musicians - although I did put my little old digi-camera into my pocket just in case. By the time Fred began his set, I was already half-way to my hedonistic target and it wasn't until the second song that I thought I could also take down the set-list. Scratched a few words on a page and then tried to think of the name of the first song Fred had sung so well only a few minutes before, only to realise it wasn't going to come through! That was it - I was going to enjoy and ONLY enjoy! Somewhere along the night Fred played Big Hair, He's A good Dog, among others, and it was all going really well until Fred was well into that drinking song, Do You Drink Too Much? when one of the locals decided to jump up on stage and join in! That Kasey Chambers! - You just can't keep her away from good music! It was right about now I wished I had decided to record this show as well but it was too late to even worry about it. I did remember the camera but I was way away from the stage and behind rows and rows of standing punters who all seemed to grow a couple of inches the moment Kasey mounted the stage. Bugger! I held the camera as high as I could over the heads and clicked a couple of times and the results are as much as one could expect - dark and almost useless - but good enough to prove she and Fred had sung together. Fred asked Kasey to stay and she obliged but before they could begin Fred starts telling a long and side-splitting story about Kasey and their meetings and the obvious admiration he has for the kid. They then sing one of the most beautiful versions of Wilder Than Her I've heard. There's no doubt these two have performed together more than once. Kasey was looking so cool and relaxed and was smiling her head off so much I thought she might lose her lip pin! It was a great gesture by Kasey, not only to keep supporting Fred but to drop in to give some of her fans a little bit of a local pub appearance. I'm sure she enjoyed the night as much as we did. Good on you, Kasey!



Fred MUST have told some really funny stories but my addled brain will never recover all of them now. I do remember the whole room laughing until they cried every time he went on one of his verbal rampages. There was one story I can partly recall about his kids and drugs and booze and parties and the ironies of them not knowing what he did as a youngster!! It also hit me that, until Kasey joined Fred on stage he hadn't repeated ONE song from the previous night. He eventually did repeat Drive-In Movie (this time with the band rockin' along) but the others, if any, have gone. I tried to keep an eye on each individual player as they did their solo spots but the night took its toll and the performance will go down as one of those "holistic" shows where the ". . . sum of all parts is greater than . . . etc". In other words I was away with the pixies and the music was tingling in my ears and the appearance of Kasey and the many, many newbies who came along to see the big Canadian do his thing. Managed to snap a couple of silly stage shots later in the evening but nothing really brilliant. Make up your own mind when I eventually get them uploaded.

The show was over just as the whole thing was warming up - to me, anyway - and there was a measurable buzz going around the room. All this and only one serious heckle all night which made Fred call a halt to his last story of the night. Managed to have a few words with Dan Walsh as he was collecting his gear (which seemed, mostly, to be packed in bottles over the bar!) and I offered my compliments on his handling of the idiots from the previous night's debacle at The Vic. I was startled to hear the fools had hung around after everyone had left and had tried to carry on where they had left off as the band was loading the van. Without going into much detail, Dan said they managed, with the help of some security person, to get rid of them without further ado. Wanted to ask Dan about that blue-light thing he used the night before as he was using the slide on his metal-jacketed guitar. It looked almost like a laser-style effects module which hovers obove the strings or pickups to really bend the notes. Anyone know about that?

All night my friend had been asking me if I could arrange a photo of her and Fred. Said I would if everything was right. Felt a strong presence around me and turned around to see Kasey chatting to one of her fellow singer/songwriters, Beccy Cole and immediately my mate decided a photo with Kasey would be just fine as well! I have been on speaking terms with Kasey for many years but mostly allow her to go about her busines but thought she wouldn't mind just this once. For those who haven't had the pleasure, Kasey is like talking to one of your own kin. She's so open and courteous and always with a smile on her face and tonight was no different. Then we set out to see what Fred was up to. Where else but the merch desk up at the back and he had already signed countless items and the mob was thinning considerably. Waited for the right moment and lo and behold Fred obliges in a trice and friend was truly happy! Had a short chat with Fred about the last tour and the drive back from Newcastle and he's gotta be the most laid-back guy doing the international music circuit. He even hung around while I tutored my friend on how to click the camera so I could get in on the act as well. Earlier I had asked Fred about the version of Hallelujah he sang on the CMT show and why only two verses. Fred's reply, in the way only this guy can do it, was: "Hell, man, they were the only two I knew!!"

And that was it as we made our way out to the beer garden with a hope in our mind that Fred and the Squirrels might join us for a few after-show drinks. No such luck, this time. The excitement and energy levels were overflowing and the only cure was to quench them with more booze and some chatter amongst friends about the concert and the band and the last two days and not hearing Lucille or Flowers In The Dell (again!) and countless other songs I'd like to hear live. But we all agreed it had to be one of the best nights this ol' pub has seen in many years. In Fred's own words: "It sure was GOOD!!"

Way back, during one of Audrey Auld's local pub gigs in the 90s, when she was beginning to make her presence felt in the Sydney country music scene, I remember her talking about a Canadian guy who she just "adored" and she then went on to do a version of Fred Eaglesmith's Crazier. I was hooked. The imagery of a tormented ex-lover demanding chaos back in his life appealed to me. It was also a great excuse to have a chat with Audrey after her set and she gave me the run-down on the guy I now consider one of the better singer/songwriters still on the road for around 300 days a year. I've seen Fred every time he's been Downunder and it's been a strong learning curve to hear him in as diverse roles as a solo performer, in music-in-the round concerts and with pick up bands (mostly involving Bill Chambers and Audrey). I was also fortunate enough a couple of years ago to drive Fred on the two-hour drive back to his Sydney hotel after a great performance in Newcastle with Audrey supporting and joining in.

Fred's first Sydney gig on this tour was at the Vic On The Park, the scene of many nights of pure joy and music memories with Bill & Audrey's Hillbilly Jam. We often heard their songs being aired well before they were released on CD and we would also be delighted when Kasey Chambers or Catherine Britt would drop in for a couple of numbers. Fred played this venue with a pick-up band, including Bill and Audrey, on his last tour which saw quite a few Fred converts. This time, however, Fred was showing up with his own outfit, including the legendary Canadian musician, Willie P. Bennett. Being a work-the-next-morning night, I planned to not drink but to take precise notes, take a few photos and be in full control of my mind and my old cassette tape recorder which I usually put on if I want to review a show later.


Dan Walsh and Bill Chambers

Bill Chambers was already up on stage doing his version of Mary Gauthier's I Drink. He was accompanied by a tall, shaven-headed bloke in a check, flannel shirt who was working away on his Dobro. This HAD to be Dan Walsh! Settle in down the front, mindful of leaving room for the early birds to retain their clear vision of the stage as Bill launches into his rockin' This Ain't Your F'n Town No More. This will be one of the features of the upcoming CD. Dan is obviously enjoying himself and takes each solo Bill throws at him with competent ease. Bill then launches into a set of three covers - Steve Earle's Can't Remember If We Said Goodbye, Cash's Big River and Dylan's Don't Think Twice - all very much appreciated by the growing crowd. Then another song I don't remeber hearing before, Colder Than The Winter, before a neat Arlo Guthrie Old Cowboy Song. The final two numbers are for the CD as well - Last Thing I Expected and Poison Blood, the title song for the new CD and co-written With Kasey's roadie, Worm. Bill is honing his story-telling skills with the introduction to this and it seems totally believable to those who know of the infamous "Worm". Another great set from Bill. He and Dan appear comfortable with each other all through.

During the set break, one of the bouncers orders all the people who had been sitting on the floor in front of the stage to stand, giving the confusing excuse that they may block exit space in an emergency! They were still all there and actually made room for another twenty or so to stand as well - effectively blocking the stage view from almost all areas of the room - let alone exit space!. Gotta love these organisers! There was now a giant of man on stage meticulously arrangng his instruments and playing area who could be none other than Willie P. A few minutes after he finished the band wandered in from every direction and began a soft tuning melody which seemed to herald the person we were all there to see. Fred launches straight into I Ain't Ever Givin' In over the top of a tide of whoops and hollers from the better-than-expected crowd. The song electrifies the room and Fred keeps up the momentum by following up with a rocky Rev It Up which, more than the first song, shows us what a force this band is going to be for the rest of the night.

Fred says hello and slows down into the creepy ballad, Spookin' The Horses, which keeps the crowd on its toes with some fine lyrical nuances wrapped around yet another "love" song. Then the song which had been going around in my head for days and damned if I could get rid of it - Time To Get A Gun. Of course the mob love the illusion of Fred as a gun-totin', rebel-rouser but most of us know it's not like that. But is sure was good to, at last, have that song heard live and allow my head to move on. Then Fred starts the first of many spiels or stories and this first one entails explaining their visit to a wildlife park during the day and their interaction with the rangers and the lack of kangaroos on display. This seemed to cock the trigger for more than a few smart-arse comments from the drunkening few in the room who always seem to turn up at Fred shows down here, presumably because they believe they can easily interject and piss Fred off when he pauses in his stories. Most of the time Fred shuts them up with a few well-chosen words but it was obvious there was someone down front who was getting right into his face with some infantile comments and blowin' smoke on the stage at the same time. As Fred said a little later: "Here's a guy down here, smoking and drinkin' and all he wants is for me to sing Alcohol And Pills!" The story ricochets from kangaroos to boomerangs ("Ya can't get around them, it seems!") to Canada's trillions of seals. Georgia Overdrive blasted off the stage with solo breaks from all and the first appreciation of how hard Roger works his multiple instrumental duties, swapping from lead guitar to pedal steel and back again, while Willie was stoking up the strings on that little monster of a mandolin. He had already shown his prowess on the harp in an earlier song. All this time Dan was hovering anywhere he was needed and the rhythm section was appropriately understated, allowing the people upfront to get on with the business end of the material.

A song I hadn't heard before but which I now know is from Dusty - Crowds. I've yet to buy Dusty so can't make any reference to what the rest of the album contains. Whatever, if they're all along the lines of this one then that's OK by me. Then the hilarious duologue beween himself and himself and why he doesn't play more of his latest album - out on a Major Label, of course. A few more hecklers and Fred's not entirely satisfied he's got control of what's happening in front of him so he continues on with some more about boomerangs and a story about drive-by harpoonists in Canada! Calls booomerangs "rangs" and harpoonists "poons". Most of the crowd is in stitches. Then it's into Wilder Than Her which will take on a whole new meaning before Fred's visit is over - watch this space. Harold Wilson and the first time I'd heard it live - something beautiful going on in there which is not always evident if you aren't listening carefully - note to loudish, loutish talkers. A couple of more new songs, to me, one of them a song about sand in the gears and Sister Cried(?). Had to take a forced "medication" break so missed the next song entirely and couldn't convince my drinking pals to tell me what it was.


On stage at the Vic . . .

Then the racy 49 tons came roaring out at us and the band was in full flight chasin' Fred's singing all the way. Willie almost strangled that mandolin with actions you might normally associate with Hendrix. The slide work was a bonus but I still felt for those little strings. Ironically, it was Fred who snapped a string and Willie immediately put his instrument on the floor to change it for him while Fred went on a ten-minute laugh-a-thon introducing the band members. If even half the stories are true then he's put together a bloody great band from what appears to have been a bunch of amateurs! The re-start of 49 Tons heralds the end of the band for the night and it's obvious Fred was going to settle the crowd with a few solo numbers as an encore. I should have done it earlier but before he starts his first solo song, Evelynne, I called out politely for Flowers In The Dell - as I do - but I think Fred was thinkin' more of how to deal with his "mates" down front. I've heard the Amaretta story before but it's still up there as one of his classics and those in the room who hadn't heard it were breakin' up all over the place - probably recognition within their own life stories. You could tell Fred was becoming a little strained and he wandered softly and gently into Drive-In Movie which would, unfortunately, prove to be the last song of the night. But what a night. I've heard most of the songs - but there's nothing like hearing 'em from the stage with a red-hot band playin' all over and around them as the songmeister goes about his business. Thanks Fred! Thanks Squirrels!

But wait! There's more! The idiot annoyer down front had gravitated to the merchandise table where Fred was being Fred and began to hassle and berate him up close. Fred wasn't about to take a backward step but neither was he about to make a fool of himself. Around about then, Dan appears from nowhere like a great, dark cloud and gently but firmly propels the guy a few metres backwards with a look that says: "If you go back there, you're not gonna like what happens!" The bouncer eventually listens to one of the promoters and discovers the real reason he's on duty and gets the idiot out the door, closely followed by his mate and girlfriend. Everyone relaxes and the night slowly comes to an end and we all say goodbye with a handshake here and a nod there to the band and friends and a good feeling that all the good music we heard wasn't spoiled by the antics of a drunk.

PS: A few things, apart from my brain, have gone haywire over the past two days and I've lost the Bridge review to the black hole of the mysterious cyberspace. I'll try to get another one up tomorrow and add a few more pictures to my photo album. (I think if you click on the photos above you'll be directed to the host page where there's already a few pics for your perusal). If not, try this.

Just a quick note to say if you are undecided about going to the Bridge tonight to see Fred Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels, do yourself a favour and get on down there. Too late to write - gotta get some shut-eye for the second big night tonight. Full details later. Here's most of what we heard:

Bill's set - (I arrived a bit late and missed the first couple of songs):

I Drink (Gauthier)
Ain't Your F'n Town No More (Chambers)
Can't remember If We Said Goodbye (Earle)
Big River (Cash)
Don't Think Twice (Dylan)
Colder Than The Winter (?) Chambers (New)
Old Cowboy Songs (Arlo Guthrie)
Last Thing I Expected (Chambers)
Poison Blood (Worm/Chambers) *

* Song by Kasey's roadie and Bill.

Fred & the Flying Squirrels:

I Ain't Ever Givin' In
Rev It Up
Spookin' The Horses
Time To Get A Gun
(Kangaroo and seal story - first encounter with hecklers)
Sharecroppin'
Georgia Overdrive
Crowds
(Record company spiel)
A Place To land (?New)
Wilder Than Her
Harold Wilson
Sand In The Gears (?)
(Missed one song)
Sister Cried (?)
49 Tons (String break - band intro while Willie changes string)

Encore - Fred Solo

Evelynne (?)
Amaretta spiel
Drive-In Movie

Sorry for all the question marks - there were a few I hadn't heard before and others while I was distracted and didn't quite catch.

Saturday: A completely different show from Fred and the Squirrels at the Bridge last night and I'll being getting it all down in a day or so.

I know I promised to do a big round-up today but these bloody Canadians keep on coming! The Laws (a Canadian couple and damn fine singer/songwriters) are doing their final Sydney gig tonight so I'll have to brush up and get on over. In the unlikely event that either of you read this (I only found out about the gig an hour or so ago) before 8pm, they're on at the Rozelle Community Centre, Darling Street, Rozelle. It's a sit-at-table, non-smoking and BYO gig so it suits those who like to breath fresh air and eat their seafood dinners available from the excellent seafood cafe next door. I saw The Laws at Tamworth a couple of years back and, apart from many great songs in their set, they did a stunning version of Greg Brown's The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home. Watch this space for the promised reviews.