Just recorded an album
Hi there all cool ones,
How is it going? OK, it’s been a millennium, AGAIN!!!!
I’ve just been at Atlantis Studios in Hawthorn, recording an album with Spencer P Jones and Cow Penalty. It came up all of a sudden. We practically learnt the songs the day before we went in and some actually in the studio, which is kinda good, the songs are fresh! The songs cover a few different styles, ala Cramps, ballads, a Latin/reggae type song, pop rock, gospel, country and blues. Already it’s sounding really good. The album will also include some tracks he recorded in New York with some of those famous types. Spencer fans, you are gonna lerve it!
Cow Penalty have been pretty busy gigging- a couple of roadtrips to Adelaide and Sydney. The photos are from the last trip to Adelaide. Dan Kelly came along to play guitar with us because Matt Heydon (keyboards) couldn’t make it. He was playing in Melbourne with The Sailors who were launching their second album. Already!?!! It’s another damn fine effort too, with the addition of keys. Highlight songs are ‘Penis Colada’ and ‘The Paperless Office’…actually, the whole thing is a highlight…go buy it!!!
So anyway back to the last Adelaide trip…the spooky tour. We played with the fabulous Drones, King Daddy and The Drowners. On the way up we were in the Tarago and Locki, who was driving goes, “Hey look, there’s an emu”. We all look up just in time to see the emu and a big Kenworth Truck coming up behind it. The emu runs off the road but at last minute, it runs back in front of the truck- much to our horror. WHACK!!! This huge emu got sucked under, there was just blood and feathers spurting out everywhere. I just wished I wasn’t watching, …for the whole entire trip we couldn’t get the image out of our heads. The country is in drought at the moment and all the wildlife is coming into the towns looking for water and food. Hence roadkill everywhere. On the way back from Adelaide we were driving along and we spotted a pink, a yellow and a blue cow next to a herd of black and white ones… I managed to get a photo of them. A Cow Penalty moment, it looked as though they were outcast from the group. I think they were painted to represent the Adelaide Crows who were playing in the AFL football finals that weekend.
The Drones and Cow Penalty then did a Spooky Tour of Sydney, this time Harry couldn’t come so we had Andy from Fort Mary on drums. He did a fine job too! Good one Andy.
I went to the launch of Elizabeth Chong’s ‘Tiny Delights’ book and TV show the other night, which was fun. Got to drink lots of wine and champers and caught up with some of the crew. Got my photo snapped for the ‘social’ pages of the newspaper but when I looked at the paper today, obviously I was edited out..d’oh!!! But hey I got to meet the legendary TV personality Bert Newton. I shook his hand and told him I was a fan…the usual fan thing you do! I also won a signature Elizabeth Chong wok in a raffle to boot. WooHoo!!! Aint life grand!
Went and saw The Vines at the Hi-Fi bar recently, to find out what all the hype was about. Who was this Aussie band that had so many reviews in the magazines and had been on Letterman? (I can’t believe people are still impressed with bands behaving badly on TV, like it’s never been done before) I hadn’t even heard a song of theirs or anything but thought I should check them out to see what all the fuss was about. I really wanted to like them, someone said they were a cross between The Kinks and The Beatles, how could I not like them? Alas I was disappointed. They seemed so average really. None of the songs really grabbed me. The amount of reverb they had on the singer’s voice was really annoying, like you couldn’t quite hear the voice or the music for all the reverb. Not that reverb is bad, it suits The Jesus and Marychain perfectly! The crowd was also very reserved, no moshing. When the band finished their set, the crowd clapped, then one of the stage guys comes out and says “if ya wanna hear more you better make more noise than that”. No-one made more noise. The band came back out regardless and played another song. That was it. It was almost embarrassing. I guess the Melbourne audience was suspicious of this band coming out of nowhere and making it big before they had really played in front of their home audience! I dunno, maybe I’ll like the album. I thought the support bands were much better, Jet and The Pictures. Jet sounded really great, in fact the whole record industry is doing the ol’ bidding war over them at the moment. Their songs are kinda derivative of old stuff, but they can write great melodies and lyrics and sing and play well. Radio Friendly!! Go Jet boys, go forth and conquer! The world needs more Aussie bands!
Moler played recently too, we hadn’t played for awhile actually so it was a little nerve wracking. Moler is now back to being a 3 piece, guitar, rock’n’roll! It was Night of the Longnecks at the Espy, (Football Grand Finals day). There were about 40 bands playing on various stages. I must say Moler played well and got a great reaction considering the audience was absolutely drunk by this time. I missed all the other bands cos I had to work but I think the day was enjoyed by all. Fort Mary played last. I must say they looked cute in their footy shorts! They put on a great set. You can get a copy of the Longneck sampler through the local radio station PBS, full of local independent acts; some you know, some you don’t. You can catch Moler again on Nov 10th at the Corner Hotel, with Remake-Remodel, The Mystaken and a few others I can’t quite remember at the moment.
Oh yeah, newsflash! At long last, Los Dominados, one of my other bands, is ready to hit the stage and perform to the public! It’s a great line-up of bands too. We’re on first so you better be early!
FRI DEC 13th, at The Duke of Windsor Hotel, Prahran; with Ref Random, Fort Mary and The Sailors.
I can hardly wait!
There’s been a billion bands I’ve seen lately, I’m spewing I missed Oasis though…rats… Spiritualized was really great! Jape Squad, Baby8 and Run on One at The Pony was a great night too. God I could go on forever. Tonight- The Datsuns are playing at the Tote. Hopefully I’ll make it to that one. I’ve got the album but haven’t heard it yet! It’s cold outside, it’s raining hmmm…should I? I think it’s beer o’clock.
What is happening to the world, I can’t take another horror story, more lives lost. Why can’t we all just get along? Peace and love.
(There’s gotta be another hippy movement soon!)
A special hello to rock goddess, Karina, a new coolgrrrl from Argentina.
Til next time,
Keep it cool.
Helcat
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