„SHADOZ‟ CANCELLED!! · - dusty rivers & the rangers / flat river mail ... chuck berry / guitar...
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Transcript of „SHADOZ‟ CANCELLED!! · - dusty rivers & the rangers / flat river mail ... chuck berry / guitar...
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„SHADOZ‟ CANCELLED!! As many of you will already know, we have had
to reluctantly cancel “Shadoz 2010”, due to commitments
of various kinds. Hopefully an alternative „concert‟ will
be arranged for the Queen‟s Birthday weekend – more
later. This issue features a photo montage of the
Cliff/Shadows tour, an in-depth review of the Jeff Beck
gig and new CD, and lots, lots more!
CD REVIEWS FROM GEOFF‟S
JUKEBOX
AUSTRALIAN
THE BREAK – “CHURCH OF THE OPEN SKY”
I don‟t have a copy of this yet, but this features
ex Midnight Oil members Rob Hirst, Martin Rotsey and
Jim Moginie with an all-instrumental set. If there‟s
anything approaching the iconic “Wedding Cake Island”,
it‟ll be worth getting!
OVERSEAS
“SANDY NELSON AND THE SIN CITY
TERMITES - NELSONIZED”
SPINOUT (US) SPINCD037 BACKFIRE / MIDNIGHT CRUISE / PUNCH UP /
CONCUSSION / STUMBLE HOME / LOCK IT IN / SENIOR
BEAT / SURF TUNE / CANDLELIGHT DRUMS / MOODY
Sandy‟s first album in what seems like decades
sees him joined by the SCT – Eddie Angel, Billy Favata
and Remi Gits on “a mix of psychobilly, surf, garage
rock, rockabilly and just plain weird” A far cry from the
likes of “Let There Be Drums”, but, as expected, some
great drumming from Sandy along with some great guitar
from Eddie. A great „comeback‟.
VARIOUS ARTISTS That most prolific of groups – „Various Artists‟,
have really excelled themselves recently. Most of the
material is now „out of copyright‟, so I guess it‟s „open
slather‟.
“LOADS OF INSTRUMENTALS VOL. 18” DANGER - RICK & THE FAIRLANES / SHADOW - THE
DEL-LAGUNAS / REDONDO STRAND - SANDY NELSON
/ JUNGLE BEAT - HAROLD & BOB / SUPERSUDS -
WASHRAG / THE SNEAK - GEORGE YOUNG & THE
ROCKIN‟ BOCS / BUFFALO TWISTER - HOOTEN
HOLLER / THE BROKEN HIP - THE MOODS / DIXIE
DOODLE - LLOYD ARNOLD / DEVIL SURF - CHIYO &
THE CRESCENTS / STOMPIN‟ - BENNY JOY / EL PUTTY
- FABULOUS RAINDROPS / TENNESSEE TWISTER - BOB
JONES & THE BOB CATS / WAILIN‟ GUITAR - DENNIE
MELLO / MOHAWK ROCK - RHYTHM ACES / DANCING
ELEPHANTS - THE DADDY-O‟s / WHEELRIGHT BOOGIE
- DUSTY RIVERS & THE RANGERS / FLAT RIVER MAIL
TRAIN - WALT PRATER & THE PRATERS /
COTTONEYED JOE - AL DEAN & THE ALL STARS /
MELODY IN F - THE HUNTERS / THE GUITAR KID -
THE FLYING ROCKERS / HOPPIN‟ AT THE HOP - THE
RAMBLERS / DIRT TRACK BOOGIE - THE SAFARIS /
BLACK MARIA - DICK DAMRON / TOMMY DORSEY
BOOGIE - LEON BARNETT / BALLAD FOR LOVERS -
DAVE WEST & ORCHESTRA / CHARADE - SI ZENTNER /
RAWHIDE - KURT FROBERG / DIRTY FAST BEAT
(PARADISE WITH STYLE) - SANDY NELSON /
TRAVELLING WEST - BO DIDDLEY
Number 18 in a continuing series containg the
weird and (sometimes) wonderful. I am often amazed at
just how many great instrumentals saw the light of day,
particularly in the early 60‟s, only to sink without trace.
Listen to some of these to see what I mean, I doubt if any
ever achieved the Top 100. Always a surprise or two…
“THE BIRTH OF SURF VOLUME 2”
ACE (UK/EU) CDCHD 1252 WALK – DON‟T RUN - THE VENTURES / STAMPEDE -
THE SCARLETS / SHANGHIED - THE WAILERS /
CHURCH KEY - THE REVELS With BARBARA ADKINS /
2
WILD WEEKEND - THE ROCKIN‟ REBELS / BUST OUT -
THE BUSTERS / SURF BEAT - DICK DALE & HIS DEL-
TONES / POINT PANIC - THE SURFARIS / MONSOON -
THE CHANTAYS / BULLWINKLE Pt II - THE
CENTURIONS / HIGH TIDE - THE LIVELY ONES / HOT
DOGGIN‟ - THE ASTRONAUTS / ENCHANTED - THE
PAGENTS / SURFARI - THE ORIGINAL SURFARIS /
MALAGUENA - THE TRASHMEN / MIDNIGHT RUN -
THE PYRAMIDS / BAGGIES - THE BEL-AIRES / BANZAI
WASHOUT - THE CATALINAS / THE THING - JIM
MESSINA & HIS JESTERS / OUR FAVORITE MARTIAN -
BOBBY FULLER & THE FANATICS / CRASH - THE
CREATIONS / CLOUDBURST - THE KAN DELLS /
GOLASH - THE INTREPIDES / MR X - THE VELVETONES
/ UNKNOWN - THE VY-DELS / THEME FROM THE
ENDLESS SUMMER - THE SANDALS
This is Ace‟s second set of instro‟s that heralded the
all-too-brief surf music „boom‟. Most of these tracks are well
know to us “connoisseurs”, but it is often nice to see (hear) a
few rare gems. As usual, Ace do themselves proud with super
sound quality and informative liner notes.
“ESSENTIAL ROCK „N‟ ROLL
INSTRUMENTALS” (2CD)
PRIMO (UK/Czech Republic) PRMCD 6097
CD1:
RUMBLE - LINK WRAY / THEME FROM PETER GUNN -
DUANE EDDY / RED RIVER ROCK - JOHNNY & THE
HURRICANES / GETTIN‟ IN THE MOOD - JERRY LEE
LEWIS / HONKY TONK - BILL DOGGETT / TEQUILA -
THE CHAMPS / RUDY‟S ROCK - BILL HALEY & HIS
COMETS / IN-GO - CHUCK BERRY / GUITAR BOOGIE -
ARTHUR SMITH / ROCKABILLY WALK - BUDDY KNOX
/ THE GREY BEAR - ALAN FREED‟S ROCK „N‟ ROLL
BAND / FATS‟ FRENZY - FATS DOMINO / BASIN
STREET BREAKDOWN - DAVE BARTHOLOMEW /
WALKIN‟ WITH MR LEE - LEE ALLEN / BALLIN‟ WITH
ARCHIE - ARCHIBALD / WHOOPIN‟ THE BLUES -
SONNY TERRY / EASY - WALTER HORTON / TWEEDLE
DEE - CHET ATKINS / ROCKET BOOGIE - PETE
JOHNSON / SPACE GUITAR - JOHNNY GUITAR
WATSON
CD2:
GOOFIN‟ AROUND - BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS /
SECOND LINE JUMP - FATS DOMINO / RAUNCHY -
BILL JUSTIS / ROCK „N‟ ROLL - RED PRYSOCK / BLUE
FEELING - CHUCK BERRY / BIG BABY BLUES -
RITCHIE VALENS / FORTY MILES OF BAD ROAD -
DUANE EDDY / HAVE GUITAR, WILL TRAVEL - THE
SCOTTY MOORE TRIO / BIG GUITAR - OWEN BRADLEY
/ DANCE WITH ME HENRY - CHET ATKINS /
MIDNIGHTER - THE CHAMPS / JUKE - LITTLE WALTER
/ CANNONBALL RAG - MERLE TRAVIS / CANNONBALL
- DUANE EDDY / FLIP, FLOP & BOP - FLOYD CRAMER /
DEEP FEELING - CHUCK BERRY / SWANEE RIVER HOP
- FATS DOMINO / SLOW WALK - SIL AUSTIN / THE
HUCKLEBUCK - PAUL WILLIAMS / REBEL ROUSER -
DUANE EDDY
Yet another compilation combining the well-known
with some tracks that haven‟t seen the light of day for years. A
blend of rock, blues, country, R&B with lots of guitars and
saxes. I liked it!
“DOUBLE COOKIN‟ – CLASSIC NORTHERN
SOUL INSTRUMENTALS”
KENT (UK/EU) CDKEND 336 DOUBLE COOKIN‟ - THE CHECKERBOARD SQUARES /
MAKE ME YOURS - ARTHUR WRIGHT & HIS
ORCHESTRA / FESTIVAL TIME - THE SAN REMO
GOLDEN STRINGS / LITTLE QUEENIE - BILL BLACK‟S
COMBO / TRACKS TO YOUR MIND - THE SOUNDS OF
LANE / THE CHAMPION PT.1 - WILLIE MITCHELL / LAY
THIS BURDEN DOWN - ARTHUR WRIGHT & HIS
ORCHESTRA / CIGARETTE ASHES - JIMMY CONWELL /
SLICED TOMATOES - JUST BROTHERS / IF I COULD
TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME - ARTHUR WRIGHT
& HIS ORCHESTRA / THE SPY - THE GUYS FROM
U.N.C.L.E. / SHERRY - HUGO MONTENEGRO & HIS
ORCHESTRA / BEFORE IT‟S TOO LATE - ARTHUR
WRIGHT & HIS ORCHESTRA / GONE WITH THE WIND
IS MY LOVE - THE DORE STRINGS / MARCHING - THE
CAMP / THUMB A RIDE - EARL WRIGHT & HIS
ORCHESTRA / DANSE A LA MUSIQUE - THE FRENCH
FRIES / THE SAME OLD THING - THE FRED SMITH
ORCHESTRA / JERK BABY JERK - SMOKY & THE
FABULOUS BLADES / STIRRIN‟ UP SOME SOUL - THE
MAR-KETTS / RIGHT ON - AL DE LORY / HEY AMERICA
(SING-ALONG) - JAMES BROWN / HOUSE FOR SALE -
THE MUSCLE SHOALS SWAMPERS / CALIFORNIA
MONTAGE - YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED
Something a little different, this one. Ace‟s soul label
Kent comes up with their first ever instrumental collection. Lots
of brass and keyboards with some guitar and sax thrown in. A
little too many strings and choruses for my taste, but listenable
nevertheless.
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STYLUS GETS THE QUEEN’S
TELEGRAM!!
...and of course, our prestigious compiler from the UK has
continued with his seemingly endless output. This batch sees
Trev reach the magical century. Congratulations!!
BUDDY MERRILL
“THE GUITAR SOUNDS OF BUDDY MERRILL
PLUS”
STYLUS (UK) 10P TING 97 THE WORM / HAVA NAGILA / EL CID / FASCINATING
RHYTHM / LOVE‟S ROUNDABOUT / CARAVAN /
POINCIANA / MILANO / ECHOETTE / BUSY BEE /
INVITATION / MALAGUENA / LA PALOMA / MISERLOU
/ HOLIDAY FOR GUITARS / GRANADA / TAKE FIVE /
DONKEY SERENADE / SONG OF INDIA / WOODEN
MONKEY / THE GODFATHER THEME / LOS
GUITARRAS / NATURE BOY / RITUAL DE LE SABRE /
FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE / BLUES IN THE
SHADOWS / SCHUBERT‟S SERENADE / GALVESTON /
BLUESETTE / PERFIDIA / THE PEANUT VENDOR /
STRANGER ON THE SHORE / MEMORIES OF MARIA /
THE SHARK
Buddy was a prolific guitarist in the 60‟s in the „easy
listening‟ mould. He recorded over 20 albums for Accent, GNP
Crescendo and Ranwood, using multi-tracked guitars, Hawaiian
steel and other styles. This CD includes selections from 4 of
those LP‟s and some singles tracks. Very good.
BOB BAIN
“ROCKIN‟ ROLLIN‟ STROLLIN‟”
STYLUS (UK) 10PTING 98 “ROCKIN‟ ROLLIN‟ & STROLLIN‟” LP:
THE STROLL / NIGHT TRAIN GUITAR / AT THE HOP /
KEEN TEEN / ROCK N ROLL MARCH / PRETENDER /
RAUNCHY / YEA YEA / ROCK N ROLL WALTZ / DIPSY
DOODLE / BIG DOO WAH / STROLLIN‟ HOME / FENDER
BENDER / HONKY TONK TRAIN / FANDANGO / SOFT
ROCK / EXPERIMENT IN TERROR / SOFT GUITAR /
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? / LOOSEY
GOOSEY /
“OUR MAN FLINT” LP - JERRY GOLDSMITH:
OUR MAN FLINT / TAKE SOME RISKS, MR FLINT? / IN
LIKE FLINT / GALAXY-A-GO-GO / FLINT‟S ALONE
“GUITAR DE AMOR” LP:
MISERLOU / TABOO
Bob Bain was a Hollywood session guitarist who
released his own album in 1958. He featured on many
soundtracks, including Henry Mancini‟s “Peter Gunn”,
“Bonanza”, “M*A*SH”, “Jaws”, “Blazing Saddles”, “Dr.
Zhivago” and many of jerry Goldsmith‟s scores – some of
which are included here (“Our Man Flint”, “In Like Flint” etc)
“DECCA 45‟s VOLUME 1 1956-79”
STYLUS (UK) 10 PTING 99 HAMPS BOOGIE - WINIFRED ATWELL / THE SQUELCH
- LORD ROCKINGHAM‟S XI / BONGO ROCK - THE
JETSTREAMS / SWAGGER - JOE BROWN & HIS
BRUVVERS / CHARIOT - RHET STOLLER / CANDID
CAMERA THEME - BILL BRAMWELL / THE TREK TO
ROME - NERO & THE GLADIATORS / MIND READER -
JOHNNY HOWARD BAND / LOVE AND FURY - THE
TORNADOS / FUGITIVE - THE THUNDERBOLTS /
THEME FROM SAM BENEDICT - GORDON FRANKS
ORCHESTRA / THAT WAS WEEK THAT WAS - RON
GRAINER / SURFSIDE - DIGGER REVELL‟S
DENVERMEN / OO LA LA - PETER JAY & THE
JAYWALKERS / THE SPY - THE ORIGINAL
CHECKMATES / STONED - THE ROLLING STONES /
DODGE CITY - THE RAMBLERS / FUNKY AND
FLEOPATRA - ANDREW OLDHAM GROUP / DOCTOR
WHO - BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP / 365 ROLLING
STONES (ONE FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR) - THE
ANDREW OLDHAM ORCHESTRA / BLUES CITY
SHAKEDOWN - JOHN MAYALL AND THE
BLUESBREAKERS / CHOCOLATE ROLLS, TEA AND
MONOPOLY - THE GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN /
PUSSY CAT - JOHN BOULTON / GROW YOUR OWN -
THE SMALL FACES / THE LIARS - THE MAGICIANS /
I‟M LOOKING FOR A SAXOPHONIST DOUBLING
FRENCH HORN WEARING SIZE 37 BOOTS - THE
ARTWOODS / RUBBER DUCK - THE BLUESBREAKERS /
THE NIGHT I CHASED THE WOMEN WITH AN EEL -
THE COMEDY PLAYERS / NATURAL MAGIC - MICK
JAGGER (RY COODER) / CONCERTO DE ARANJUEZ
(GUITAR CONCERTO) - NIKI HUGO, HIS CHORUS &
ORCHESTRA / DANCE OF THEENA SHEE (DAOINE
SIDHEL) - FAERIE SYMPHONY / LEAP IN THE DARK -
NEIL ARDLEY / BEATNIK FLY - JOHNNY & THE
HURRICANES
A wide variety of styles on this set of tracks which
appeared on the (UK) Decca label over 23 years. As you can
see from the track listing, there‟s something for (almost)
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everyone! Interesting to see the Denvermen‟s “Surfside”
included. Oh, and there‟s a second volume due soon.
“50 TRACKS FROM (MOSTLY) UK LABELS 1959-
1967 – CENTENARY ISSUE” (2CD)
STYLUS (UK) 10 PTING 100 CD1:
TEXAS RIDER - BURT BLANCA / YORKSHIRE RELISH -
APEX GROUP / TENDER SAVAGE - CARNABY STREET
SET / CHECKPOINT - DENNIS NEWEY / THE STORM -
THE HUNTERS / GHIA - THE VIOLENTS / OUTBREAK
OF MURDER - GORDON FRANKS / THE CREEP - BERT
WEEDON / FURY - THE NU-NOTES / STARFIRE - JOHN
BARRY SEVEN / MARCH OF THE ROBOTS - THE
EARTHLINGS / MOON RACE - THE CITATIONS /
SPECIAL AGENT - THE EAGLES / PAGEING SULLIVAN -
LONDON STUDIO GROUP / SHOOTING STAR - SPACE
TRAVELLERS / METEORITE - SPACE TRAVELLERS /
BLACK EYES - THE HEARTS / THE THIRD MAN - THE
CRAZY ROCKERS / GOODBYE JOE - GEMINI / STOP
THE DRUMS - LONDON ALL STARS / UNDERWORLD -
REG GUEST SYNDICATE / CARAMBA - BRIAN
BENTLEY BACHELORS / THE DESPERADOES - THE
PHANTHOMS / SYNCOPATE - THE ASTRONAUTS / Q5
PIANO TUNE (EDIT) - SPIKE MILLIGAN / AND NOW
FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT – SABRE
DANCE- SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION / BRIDGE OVER
THE RIVER SUITE - COUNTRY HAMS
CD2:
SHAMASH - BURT BLANCA / OPUS TO SPRING - THE
JAGUARS / SURFIN‟ JOHN BROWN - THE
AMBASSADORS / THE LOST CITY - THE DIAMONDS /
SPANISH ARMADA - LES REED COMBO / VENUS
- THE HURRICANE STRINGS / JUNGLE STREET - THE
PLANETS / THE PROWLER - BERT WEEDON /
MANHUNT - THE SUNSETS / TIGHTROPE - THE
VOLCANOS / CRAZY DRUMS - THE OUTLAWS /
CHINESE TWIST - THE POPCORNS / BOND STREET P.M.
- MOOD MOSAIC / S.M.E.R.S.H. - THE MARKSMEN /
93,000,000 MILES - SPACE TRAVELLERS / SPACE
MESSAGE - SPACE TRAVELLERS / MORE LIKE
NASHVILLE - NASHVILLE FIVE / FRENZY - MARK
LEEMAN FIVE / TORNADO - ALAN CADDY /
BEEFEATER - LONDON ALL STARS / DRUM TWIST -
ERIC DELANEY / PUMPING - DAVE CLARK FIVE /
DON‟T STOP - THE PHANTHOMS / CLAP TRAP - THE
VAMPIRES / RACE TO MIDNIGHT - HARRY ROBINSON
/ PIG BIN AN‟ GONE - GRUMBLE / TUBULAR BELLS
(THEME FROM THE EXORCIST) - MIKE OLDFIELD
Trev has really excelled himself with his 100th
release. Actually, there have been 125 different releases
encompassing a whopping 3800 tracks! This double disc has
tracks basically taken from previous issues, although 19 have
not appeared before, and four have been remastered from a
better source. A great selection – here‟s to the next 100 Trev!
LIVE!!
The Twilight Shadows @ Hornsby RSL :Saturday 10th April 2010
The Twilight Shadows is a relatively new part time guise for a Sydney based ‘soft rock’ club band that have joined the 50th birthday cavalcade as they seek out an audience for the music of Sir Cliff & Co. in the abyss, which is Sydney club land
2010.
The Hornsby RSL auditorium on this particular evening had drawn about 100 people , making the environs comfortably populated. Many I spoke to were still recovering from the real thing at The Sydney Entertainment Centre and The Hunter Valley gigs several weeks earlier. Appointed kick off time was 8pm and as the lights dimmed the band launched in to Dance On. The curtain went up . . . and down. . . .and up . . . .and down, finally remaining up as a staff member eventually mastered the switch bay. Throughout all of this, the band did not miss a beat . . . . . it was a welcomed humorous ice breaker for both band and audience. The Twilight Shadows came fully equipped with matching red Fenders, (no Vox amps though) black suits and the famed choreography, (although pulling it off in unison still requires a bit of work lads) I did not bother taking notes on the instrumental repertoire as it was, for the most part, all too familiar fare. The notable exception was the inclusion of Bossaroo . . nice one! Handling the combined roles of Cliff and Jet / John/ Alan / Licorice and Mark (did I miss any?) Bobby Anderson took charge of the the banter and patter, handling the role with aplomb. One blessing for me at least . . . . . he has not yet delved into the Bruce and Hank joke book! His bass playing was neat and tidy although disappointingly, he sang the Cliff numbers in his ‘own voice’ with no stylistic
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reference to the original artist. This was the general approach all around, a covers outfit playing this music in a very polite way, more concerned with getting the notes right rather than playing the music with the zest and zeal that the Shadows would have done in their early days as a genuine Rock & Roll outfit. In fairness though, The Shadows have been no more that a very polished cabaret act since the mid 60’s. Given the excellent quality of the harmonies displayed by the three red Twilight Fenderists, the addition of an authentic sounding Cliff lead vocalist would definitely find them competing on a level playing field with the competition. Drummer Mike Hague was a last minute ring in and spent the evening reading charts, which he handled extremely well, given the groups penchant for performing the live versions of many Shads numbers containing all of those Brian Bennett influenced syncopated sillinesses. The faces of the band exuded absolute relief as they got to the finish line of these more complicated arrangements, which in my view detract rather than add, even in the case of the genuine article. The ‘younger’ keyboard player provided approximations of the Norrie Paramor orchestrations, although the brass stabs offered up in Geronimo would have been more at home in a Warner Bros. cartoon. In his defence, someone from his generation would not have the innate musical knowledge of the genre.
Former drummer Griff Beale, Bobby Anderson & Rob Amos
This evening was a baptism of fire for new lead guitarist Peter Andrews (best known as a fine jazz player and tutor to young guitar slingers VJ King Jnr. and Bryan Browne). Contending with a shiny new red Strat and Atlantis echo unit. He was also now also dealing with a repertoire and playing style, that as a guitarist until two months prior, was completely foreign to him. During the second set, former lead guitarist and now the band’s manager (?) Rob Amos was introduced and played a couple of tunes, including the Breeze & I. His stance of frozen concentration and casual weekend wardrobe supplied a stark contrast to that of his much more uniformly suited, animated charges. In his favour, he has definitely nailed the 80’s + era tone to a tee and his two numbers brought a heightened reaction from the audience. Towards the close of the evening, the band lapsed back into their normal 50’s & 60’s Rock & Roll persona. They became much more relaxed, the drum charts were disposed off and the
guys actually started enjoying themselves as the dance floor filled, the audience not at all caring that Cliff & The Shadows had been laid to rest. With the addition of a lead vocalist, The Twilight Shadows have the ability to develop into a slick approximation of the real thing, but at the end of the day, given all the members have other musical jobs; the decision without doubt rests solely on the economic viability of taking the concept further. KIM HUMPHREYS
JEFF BECK: Enmore Theatre Sydney Tuesday, 30th March 2010 Much has changed in the 14 months since the Beck phenomenon last trod the boards of the Enmore, (all except the audience, which sadly continues to comprise only a smattering of under 30’s.) Jeff now sports permanent sunnies, much shorter hair and more ‘theatrical’ wardrobe. Looking more than ever the consummate 60’s/70’s rock guitarist, Eddie Van Halen may have snatched the belt for a couple of years, but the title is now well and truly back with its rightful owner. Apart from making minimal passing reference to the drummer’s collection of hats, this ends the fashion critique. The pale yellow Strat JB had on the last tour has been replaced by a newer, white Signature Model, (2 to be accurate, one in dropped tuning and played only in one number.) The amp set up comprised two tiny Fender Champs (one mic’d up and the other a spare?) plus the obligatory Marshall head and two side by side quad boxes, with no microphone in the immediate proximity To me, the guitar sound was bigger and more in your face than last time, which goes part of the way to me believing the possibility of the Marshall being DI’d. Effects that I noted were Echo/Reverb, Wah, Chorus, Overdrive, and Octave divider, all taken to another sonic level by the man’s amazing, almost incompressible technique. I had every intention of writing down the set list but I was absolutely mesmerised from the first note and consequently relying on my memory, which has randomly stored my highlights.
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First impressions were of the heaviness of this band, in stark comparison to the Vinnie & Tal incarnation. Narara Michael Walden, returning to the fold which he last inhabited during the ‘Wired’ days, is a bloody heavy hitter, complete with twin kick drums he sounded like John Bonham meets Phil Collins, subtlety definitely not a word in his dictionary. The Something In The Air Tonight drum fill performed by the gorilla in the Cadbury advert cropped up more times than I had fingers to count on. There was one noticeable occasion where NMW unsuccessfully stepped into Vinnie Territory and momentarily lost the plot, but I am nitpicking, because this band was tight, tight, tight! Rhonda Smith on bass is the find of the year for mine. The Montreal bred multi talented musician’s solo spot was a showcase of amazing mature technique. She underpinned the band in a very authoritative manner with a faultless sound, her upright bass playing and vocals a surprise bonus. Keyboard player Jason Robello traded pitch wheel 8’s on synth with the Guv’nor, without reaching the spontaneous heights of the legendary Jeff ‘n Jan duels of the 70’s. To me he did not appear as comfortable as he is on This Week At Ronnie Scott’s DVD. Perhaps he is still acclimatising to his new band mates? Jeff’s penchant for slow eerie volume swelled (swollen?) melodies played over layered string pads also had the keys man working overtime. The chord substitutions he delivered in Somewhere Over The Rainbow was pure magic... The weirdest, but most wonderful unexpected surprise came when JB hauled out one of his new Oxblood signature model Les Pauls and launched into How High The Moon . . . . . . played to a backing track that featured Mary Ford’s multi tracked vocals! The new album, Emotion & Commotion was given a heavy airing, Nessun Dorma in particular sending the audience absolutely crazy. All I can say is, only Jeff Beck could have pulled this off and maintained any modicum of credibility. Despite a seemingly nothing is off limits attitude, last tour’s opening number, Becks Bolero, may be the closest we will ever get to an airing of the pre Blow By Blow catalogue. Hi Ho Silver Lining got a trial run for one gig on the recent tour with Eric Clapton, before being dropped.. Big Block, Brush With The Blues, Behind The Veil. Freeway Jam, A Day In The Life, People Get Ready, Rollin & Tumblin, (with Rhonda Smith doing a pretty good job on the hard to beat Imogene Heap version from the Ronnie Scott’s DVD.) and ‘Cause We Ended As Lovers, to name but a few. All were immaculate, and highlighted Mr Beck’s perfect pitch as he played intricate slide melodies beyond the extremities of the fret board, whammied complex phrases derived from one initial
struck note and brought forth guttural sounds that would have done convicted witches of The Reformation proud. If there was one low point, it was an attempted Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsies approach to the Sly & The Family Stone’s Higher. Whilst Jeff wah wahed impressively and Rhonda finger slapped her booty impressively, Narara Michael Walden is not as funky as Buddy Miles, nor matches him vocally. As a result, the piece fell flat, but only when compared to the rest of the evening’s gourmet offerings. Jeff Beck is part abstract, part surreal. He is Don Bradman, Valentino Rossi and Tiger Woods, as important to guitar as is the legacy of, Django, Segovia and Hendrix. As abstract as Miles Davis and Charlie Parker, more accessible than the current mindless fusion fraternity inhabits a more cerebral state than Steve Vai, is non reliant on the Stadium Rock mindset of Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Eddie Van Halen, yet all the while, maintaining a mystique that his highly respected peers Clapton, Page and Santana have long since lost. His seemingly random wide sonic brushstrokes never obstruct the blueprint of composition, while devoted listeners are rewarded with a journey into this man’s creative and emotional world. Once again, I apologise for the lack of accurate recall but the performance at the Enmore transcended the choice of material. I would have listened to them playing Puccini . . . . er, and I did! JEFF BECK EMOTION & COMMOTION Atco/Rhino - Warner Bros Music. Corpus Christi Carol / Hammerhead / Never Alone /
Somewhere, Over The Rainbow / I Put a Spell On You /
Serene / Lilac Wine / Nessun Dorma / There‟s No Other
Me / Elegy For Dunkirk.
First things to mention, there are 4 guest vocalist tracks on this album and Hammerhead is not the Shadows tune of the same name. I have to assume after an initial listen, this album was recorded over quite a period of time with both the performances and mixes undertaken in a number of different studios, as there is an initially disturbing incoherent quality to proceedings in evidence. The sonic presence of the rhythm section(s) vary from a precision drilled industrial strength war machine (Hammerhead) to an almost midi file replication (I Put A Spell On You) None the less, for lovers of heaven sent guitar tones and impeccable playing, it does not get any better than this.
The empathy Jeff Beck has with his guitar and material has never been better displayed while the preying eagle on the front cover has already dropped Jeff’s guitar onto a whole new audience.
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Nessun Dorma has found its way onto the Oz mainstream airwaves and there is plenty more in the same vein on Emotion & Commotion to pacify the uninitiated. This album has received some very disappointing reviews in the traditional music press, yet the i tunes download generation have given it a massive thumbs up. After my own initial negative knee jerk reaction, I am of the belief that this may be a very clever marketing strategy to help place Jeff Beck back into public view, a position from which he was gradually disenfranchised during the 70’s. For those instro fans that have only given a casual ear to the music of Jeff Beck, or only know him as the guitarist that played with The Yardbirds or Rod Stewart, listen up! The ghosts of Marvin past and many other instro pioneers definitely lurk here, but you will have to be completely open minded to hear them. Jeff Beck is truly unique. His innovative techniques and playing encompass all that is past, present and future of rock instrumental guitar. Emotion and Commotion? Definitely !
KIM HUMPHREYS
HOUND DOG'S BOP SHOP
HOUND DOG'S BOP SHOP is at 313 Victoria
Street, West Melbourne Vic 3003 and always has a huge
range of instrumentals from the 50's and 60's and beyond
– Shadows, Ventures, Duane Eddy, Atlantics, Johnny &
The Hurricanes, Bill Black's Combo, Chet Atkins, Kim
Humphreys, Spotnicks to name a few. Most of the new
releases reviewed in 2G4W are available at HDBS.
There's also a large selection of DVD's as well as lots of
books.
Opening hours are Thursday 10-6, Friday 10-
7.30, Saturday 10-3. Call in and check out the range, or
give DENYS a call on (03) 9329 5362. Denys can also
arrange mail order if you wish.
FURTHER READING
The latest issue of "New Gandy Dancer – The
Magazine For Rock Instrumental Music" is No.92
with tributes to Willie Mitchell, Bob Keane, Mick Green,
Johnny Dankworth and Dick Delvy – too may obituaries
these days! Also includes new releases and the latest
news. The Ventures Special issue (NGD 99) has finally
arrived, and is a superb 148 page discography with cover
pics, annotations and anecdotes. Great!
Most back issues of NGD are available from me
GEOFF JERMY, 9 Hughes Street, Hoppers Crossing,
Vic. 3029. Tel: (03) 9749 3223. Email:
[email protected] Davy still has a large range of
(mainly) instrumental CD's, vinyl and DVD's for sale. He
can be contacted at 10 Camberwell Close, Festival Park,
Gateshead, NE11 9TZ, England or email
"Pipeline" magazine, 4 issues at £18, is co-
edited by Alan Taylor and Dave Burke. The latest issue,
No. 82 has a huge 17 page article on The Royaltones and
great reviews and articles. The Pipeline website is
www.pipelinemag.co.uk
Arthur Moir edits "Twangsville", devoted to
the king of twang, Duane Eddy. Now up to Issue 87, with
news of Duane‟s appearance at Deke‟s “Guitar Geek”
Festival and lots of news, reviews and interviews. Subs
are £15. Contact Arthur at DECUK, P.O. Box 203,
Sheffield S1 1XU, England.
"Shadsfax" celebrates 50 years of Shadows
music, and is an excellent A5 magazine now up to Issue
57 “in full glorious colour”. Editor Tony Hoffman can be
contacted at [email protected] His
excellent website covers all types of instro's – check out
www.instrumentalreview.com
Tony‟s new mag “The Ventures International
Review” is out now, and is of the same high quality as
“Shadsfax”. Lots of interesting articles, pictures and
reviews, all reproduced in colour. Each issue will be on a
pre-pay per issue basis. The maximum pre-payment
should only be for 2 issues at a time. Price is £4.99
(overseas) or £2.99 (UK). Payment can be made by
cheque payable to A. Hoffman, cash in UK sterling, US
dollars or Euros or PayPal to the above address. You can
also contact Tony at 60 Bootham Crescent, York, YO30
7AH, England. Tel: 01904 621761
NEWS
DUANE EDDY
As I‟m typing this segment, it is 26 April, a
public holiday for ANZAC Day – which also happens to
be Duane‟s 72nd
birthday. Happy Birthday, Duane!!
8
SOFA SO GOOD
Our Maitland correspondent, Ed Matzenik, sent
the following:
A mate of mine runs into a mate of his at the
Tamworth festival. The mate of the mate is from Perth.
Does deliveries. Quite recently he got a delivery for a Mr
H Marvin. “Gee, I wonder if that‟s Hank Marvin”, he
thinks. Sure enough it is. “I‟ve got your new couch Mr
Marvin”. “Can you bring it upstairs?” says Hank. “Well,
they didn‟t tell me there‟d be stairs”, says the delivery
man, “otherwise I‟d have brought an offside to help me”.
“No problem”, says Hank, “I‟ve got a mate upstairs”.
Then he hollers up the stairs “Hey Cliff!”. Then Cliff
Richard comes down and helps them get the couch up the
stairs.
FEEDBACK
It‟s always encouraging to hear from readers –
such as the following: “Thank you Geoff! Instead of “late
as usual” I would say “GREAT as usual!. Keep up the
good job”. – Sergio Haussmann Nascimento, Sao Paulo,
Brazil.
OBITUARIES – GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
HERB ELLIS
Jazz guitar maestro Herb Ellis died on 28 March
from complications associated with Alzheimer‟s disease.
He was born Mitchell Herbert Ellis in Farmersville,
Texas on 4 August 1921. He began on banjo, but soon
fell in love with the guitar. He became regarded as one of
the finest jazz guitar soloists, mixing bebop with country
twang in a career that spanned six decades. His work
with Jimmy Dorsey, the Oscar Peterson Trio, Ella
Fitzgerald, Charlie Byrd, Joe Pass, Stan Getz, Laurindo
Almeida and Barney Kessel complemented his own solo
albums. Stan Britt, in his book “The Jazz Guitarists”
writes “Throughout all his musical ventures – on record
or otherwise – Ellis evidences the kind of strong
consistency and lasting commitment that has made him
something of a legend among guitarists. Not in any way
an innovator, simply a well-seasoned pro of lasting
quality”
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Many thanks to those who have recently paid
their subs. If you would like to subscribe or renew, please
send your life savings!. Subs are AU$30 Per Annum, for
SIX Bi-monthly issues, postage paid. Contact GEOFF
JERMY at 9 HUGHES STREET, HOPPERS
CROSSING, Vic. 3029. Tel: (03) 9749 3223, Mobile: 0428 288 577,
Email: [email protected]
Back issues also available – please enquire.
GRAND SALE
RECORD COLLECTOR
I have a LARGE collection of 281 issues of
“Record Collector” magazines – for sale to the highest
bidder. Offers please to Geoff Jermy at the usual address.
STACK IT / TURNING POINT
I still have stocks of the excellent STACK IT &
TURNING POINT CD‟s available for sale – please
enquire about prices – you won‟t be disappointed!!
KIM HUMPHREYS NEW GUITAR, NEW BAND &
NEW ALBUM (almost)
After suffering a number of teething problems, an expected occurrence with any proto type, in April 2010 Kim finally revealed the finalised KH BNW V6 guitar to friend and photographer, Bryce Grainger. The culmination of 18 months work by Kim, along with Eric Devries (who has built custom guitar bodies for ESP/ Metallica) airbrush artist Garry Baker and guitar tech Max Paton, all contributing equally to creating Kim’s dream guitar, which features the best of classic design, electronics and hardware, taken to the next level by the UK’s Trevor Wilkinson for Vintage Guitars. Not only does the guitar look stunning, its ability to absolutely nail both classic and contemporary Strat tones has quite a number of well know players murmuring with disbelief.
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The guitar is featured on Kim’s upcoming CD, a title as yet not decided upon. The word through the grapevine is that we can expect this album to be unlike anything Kim has done before, the set of original music recorded in a bare bones trio format. UK critics have had the opportunity to check out some pre release mixes and their view is that this will take Kim and his new band mates far beyond the circles he is currently know in. . After a 10 year professional relationship with Line 6, Kim is now an ambassador for the Fractal Audio AXE EFX ULTRA, enthusing this unit is an unbelievable reinvention of the wheel.
CLIFF / SHADOWS TOUR 2010
The following photo‟s were submitted
by Mandy Hall, just a little too late for the last
issue. Thanks Mandy!!