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

So, seeing these guys next week. The tour has already started taking in Brisbane and Melbourne but if you have a chance, go. My ticket was only $22 which is such a steal it's embarrassing. Joe Pug is a Chicago folky singer-songwriter. He's a playwright in his spare time and you can hear that in the poetic nature of his lyrics, but without skimping on the melodies and astute observations. Chris Altmann is apparently well known in Melbourne rock circles, though he didn't hit my radar til his album this year Que Paso? which is 70s style country rock but done brilliantly, avoiding hollow imitation or pastiche. In fact, Que Paso? (promo video here gives you a good taste) is one of my very favourite records this year. He is solo on this tour doing support for Joe so is obviously not going to reproduce the big band sound and I'm keen to see that other side of him. So yeah even if you can't get to a show get Que Paso? for a good Aussie country time. Two gigs in Sydney one at the Raval in Surry Hills and the one I'm going to at the Red Rattler in the People's Republic of Marrickville. I've been intrigued by the latter for a while, it sounds super-cool, so looking forward also to checking it out.

The Burgo Blog has an extensive review of the Brisbane gig this week, including lots of YouTubes. Has certainly whet that small part of my appeitite that wasn't already, er, whet.

If that doesn't convince, here's a final push from none other than Justin Townes Earle: