Honky Tonk Highway

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.