Flop Eared Mule A Country Music Death Beast and Worker in the Dylan Industrial Complex | Sydney, Australia | Est. 2004

The short version: The upcoming Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson album Rattlin' Bones sounds really great and you should get it. There is a tour.

So last night I went to the Oxford Art Factory (fancy!) on Oxford St for a preview of the album which is out 19th April. Very "intimate" space, roughly the size of the main room at the Basement I suppose but not as cluttered, a brick loft-style arrangement. There were maybe fewer than 200 people there but two of them were Jimmy Barnes (squeeeeeal!!) and Michael Gudinski. I gather the thing was not only a dry run for the tour but also a soiree for the media and label too because there were quite a few chatters in yellow wristbands, and the bar is only a couple of metres from the stage. I hate chatters at gigs. Were you people raised by wolves? Wolves who hate music? Michael Gudinski, are these people your employees? Because I really think we could get unions onside for a WorkChoices-style exemption allowing such clowns to be sacked on the spot. The "You don't get to work for a record company unless you STFU at intimate acoustic gigs" Fairness (to the rest of us) Test. I'm going to start the Facebook group right now.

This is the end of the bitching part.

The vibe was really great overall though. There were some hard core Kasey types there and everyone sensible was left very happy.

The format was they ran through every song from the album (in order, I guess?). Kasey, Shane, Bill Chambers on mando and lap steel, James Gillard (nice surprise! -- Kevin Bennett also in crowd) on bass and "Bucky" on banjo -- sorry I can't find his full name but I'm guessing it's him. Banjo man identified! See comments.
The new songs are country-folk of a banjo/steel and harmony heavy gothic bluegrass-cum-Americana variety. They all sounded great, although I didn't take notes or anything so have no detailed specifics except it all sounded great. The record was done with the stage band in a week at Jimmy Barnes' studio so although there were some lyrical prompts required the whole thing was very tight and can presumably only get better. Bill Chambers is always great on his instruments but there was one song where he really brought some moves to that lap steel ... I hope when I get the record I'll be reminded of which one.

Kasey is perhaps a unique case of my being able to follow a big name on my own turf through all phases of a career. From the ye olde days of Bill and Audrey at the Hillbilly Jams at the Vic on the Park, to her first proper Sydney gig at the Newtown RSL in 1999 (?), to on stage with Emmylou Harris at the State, to obsessively listening to Barricades and Brickwallls in Moscow for a year straight, to now. It was first time seeing (or really hearing) Shane Nicholson and he brings a cool rock style to the mix, obvious songwriting chops and they harmonise together beautifully. I read about their wedding in the paper, a surprise do in the backyard with Kasey in jeans and a Bob Dylan t shirt. This is LOL how LOL I LOL would LOL do LOL it LOL if such a thing were to ROFLMAO!!! happen to me. That or Vegas. The years and success has not rubbed any of the rough edges off her charm, they kept us laughing too.

I got a bit of a chat with the always accomodating Bill at the end so that was nice, and also swiped a promo poster. I also got a few videos and if they turned out OK I'll YouTube -- I had four hours between when I got home and when I had to be at work and I elected to spend it sleeping not compressing video files.

A top night! Try and catch them.