I don't remember what my excuse was for missing Andy Baylor's last Sydney show, but I'm sure my excuse was inadequate. Melbourners should not follow my foolish example.

Randomly surfed by the Byron site just to see. Lucinda Williams is listed there!

And some other people but WHATEVER.

LUCINDA!

Leonard Cohen ticket buying expedition FAIL.

is on tomorrow night. This is the only review I can find of the three shows he's done so far. Melbourne was only last night though so ... anyone?

I remain to be convinced about the DJ.

Iris DeMent was my entree into Tom Russell. I loved her and her first three albums. This is was the late 90s. I then read she was featured on this album "The Man From God Knows Where" by Tom Russell, so I bought that, never having heard of him. Iris toured Australia in 1998, I was living on the empty fumes of Austudy but I went and saw her live at the Basement, but to do so I had to skip Steve Earle that same week. To even afford to see her I lived on the $1.90 hot dog and slurpee deal at the servo on Alison Rd in Randwick for weeks and walked to Bondi and back to pay my rent to my slumlord landlady who lived in a mansion on Edgecliff Rd, because I couldn't afford the $5 bus fare. A second $50 gig was out of the question, sorry Steve.

One amusing moment in the US campaign (and oh my, how many of them have there been?) happened when MY GUY Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr took on some Freeper drongo who has a gig on Florida telly. She asked, "hey, "from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs" is that proto-Islamofascist Marx right? So, B. Hussein Obama is a Marxist, right?" And Joey responded, "You are Ashton Kutcher in drag and this is a Punk'd skit, right?" (paraphrase) That was pretty funny. The better answer was, "Actually that was first used by Louis Blanc and merely, literally, popularised by Marx in reference to a specific phase of economic development bearing not even theoretical relevance to the USA in 2008 but, hey folks, gawd love ya, easy mistake, sweetheart."

My point is this. After America becomes a Socialistic utopia a la GASP Sweden on November 5th (6th AEDST), I do hope to see the immediate creation of The Department of Homeland Musical Redistribution, with, say, Doctor John as its first Secretary.

America has the ability. Australia has the need.

Give me your tired singer-songwriters, your poor troubadours,
Your honky tonk angels yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your brief major label deals.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
And vow to bring five of my friends to your gig in Sydney.

Once upon a time I had a wee mental list of the five singers I most wanted/needed to see live. Dylan, Springsteen, Cash, Cohen and ... Um, it might have actually been Billy Bragg in truth. Tremendous back catalogue, still know all the words to St Swithin's Day and Between the Wars, but compared to the way I felt at 21 the attraction has not really worn well. Can I blame Wilco? Sure, why not. Anyway, I've seen him (the night of the hail storm, for Sydneysider nostalgia) so either way he gets crossed off. Obviously there were many more I was thrilled with the prospect of seeing live, but those were the Big Tickets.

Done Dylan, in double figures for his gigs now. Bruce, not yet but he'll swing back here again sometime so I'm not worried about that. Cash, alas to the power of infinity, no and no chance now. Leonard Cohen, at the time I had the list I honestly thought I would never get to see. He wasn't touring, wasn't recording, was still doing the Buddhist biznitz. But, I've got those tickets now so that's an unexpected strikethrough on the list. Someone said to me the other night, we should be grateful his manager ripped him off and he needed to go back on the road. Ha.

Anyway, that list has been overtaken by time.

Being philosophical about the prices of the Cohen tickets I said the other day it's tax on not living in the USA or the UK. You just have to cop it sweet Oi Oi Oi -- or move.

But anyway, all the names on that list are crossed-off one way or the other, finally or provisionally so I need a new list. Behold the new Category at left: The New List, of folks I have not seen but must. Astute readers will note it's mostly an excuse to feature some wonderful music via YouTube. Later today, I kick it off with Tom Russell.

Just got two tickets for my sister Fuschia and myself to Leonard at Centennial Vineyard in Bowral (their site, broken at the mo). Second row, front section. Remember in the last thread we all said we'd PAY ANYTHING to get to see Len? Lucky that, 'cause they were $300 each! The Ent Cent gigs gold tix are $200. If it be your will, Len. We shall also chance our arms with the internet pre-sale for the Ent Cent gigs which starts tomorrow.

A Day on the Green details (winery gigs, you have to sign up on their site to get the code for the pre-sale)
Frontier Touring site for other dates/details (you have to sign up with them for the pre-sale. Physical sales 9am Monday 10th)

To celebrate here is Famous Blue Raincoat in Norwegian.
09 Gikk Du Noen Gang Fri_.mp3 by Kari Bremnes

Which is from this album, all of which is really good even if like me you no speakee norskee.

Cannot fnd any actual dates yet BUT:

CANADIAN songwriting legend Leonard Cohen is to tour Australia for the first time in 24 years.

Best.song.ever:

I think all my problems with the term "world music" -- I use it as a category left because it is annoyingly convenient, but note the scare quotes -- can be summed up with the fact Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu won "Best World Music Album" at the ARIA's last night.

But he's ...? Um, but it's ... ! So, why ... ? Er, what? (Archie Roach was also nominated.) He was also nom'd for Best Album so it was a safe sop to give him something else which everyone thinks he deserves for it, but O RLY WTF.

I'm also annoyed because I bought a ticket to see Gurrumul at the Opera House and thought it was late October, but I stumbled over the ticket on the weekend and it was ... last Friday. I then proceeded to an anguished Mendoza! moment. Fug.

Hat tip to Cat Politics for the much joyfully received news that Justin Townes Earle is touring in November. Yay!

Current dates:

11.23.08 Brisbane (AU) The Troubadour
11.25.08 Sydney (AU) Annandale Hotel (Ticket, I haz it)
11.26.08 Adelaide (AU) The Grace Emily
11.28.08 Hepburn Springs (AU) Palais
1.29.08 Meeniyan (AU) Meeniyan Town Hall
11.30.08 Melbourne (AU) Toff of the Town

JTE and "Ain't Glad I'm Leaving." Hope the cute mando dude is coming too.

And cos I'm in a Civil War mood, "Lone Pine Hill."

So Steve Earle is touring again, I guess I have to go. Can't wait for the part of the show with the DJ. *rolls eyes*

Also, I saw this morning that Ryan Bingham is at the State Theatre tomorrow night. He's a bit of a roots country It boy at the moment, his album Mescalito is a sort of Earleish excursion into dust and whiskey soaked south west story songs. A gruffer Hayes Carll. I thought the buzz must be bigger than I realised if he's commanding $60 at the State, but then realised he's opening for Kasey and Shane. I thought the record was Just OK actually but it got big praise from various quarters. I have a previous engagement anyway.

Went to the monthly Balmain Ukulele Klub meetup on Monday night over at the Gladstone Park Bowlo. It was Dylan night! I do not play the ukulele and don't anticipate taking it but it was a lot of fun and it warms me to know these thriving subcultures exist across the city. The house band of friends of mine (buy the CD) did a great job with some Dylan songs, including a clever Red Sails in the Sunset/Beyond the Horizon medley. Then there was a ukulele tutorial on more Bob songs, then an open mic of Bob songs. All on uke, of course. Col Joye was there, big uke man apparently.

* Joke totally stolen.

I consider myself very fortunate to have seen Bo Diddley live last year at the Basement. He was clearly a bit frail, seated the whole time but still had the licks and was backed by a really good, mostly female band. A few weeks after that he had a serious stroke and I don't think performed publically again.

Lots of YouTube goodness to choose from. Let's try this one:

And a New York Times slideshow.

And a Stones cover:

I whined a little down the page about the lack of reviews in print of the fabbo John Hiatt gig, Drum Media took their sweet time but they've got one. Don't squint, click for big version. I didn't mention Henry Wagons in my review, I thought he was pretty good. His band had their album launch at the Hopetoun a weekend or two ago and I almost got my act together to go. Almost.

... also saw Kasey and Shane and thought much the same as I. Two people can't be wrong.

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.

I have odd reservations about Patty Griffin. When I see her I get concerned she's going to crumble into dust so frail she looks and I get the same sensation when I listen to her delicate voice. I quite like listening to her but have a weird detachment about it. So I did not go see her, but Wayne at Oceans Never Listen did and says it was rather special.

I would like to hear her do "Live Forever."

In other news, CMT actually had a decent song on it the other day when it played a track from the forthcoming Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson record. It bodes quite adequately. I'm going to see them preview the album at the Oxford Art Theatre next week. I've never been there but it sounds like a place with expensive drinks.

Well, I was going to go to Parramatta Stadium on Friday to see the Knights win again but then I saw Corb Lund is on at the Sando in Newtown at the same time. I'm kind of wavering but I think I'll see Corb. After all, we get to beat the Eels twice a year (at least) and I haven't seen Corb for a while.

From the new album I particularly like the song Lament for Lester Cousins. (YouTube. Ignore the, um, Sims)

Seeing Loudon Wainwright III was the first reason I thought of going to the Blue Mountains Music Fetsival and I'm glad I did. Long and photo heavy so going over the fold.

John Hiatt is on this Thursday at the Enmore, got my third row centre seat and can not wait.

I've also been making a Hiatt compilation for an acquaintance who is unaccountably unfamiliar. List below. It leans heavily towards the later rootsy stages because of this particular audience but there are many gems in the earlier stuff. I can't find my copy of Riding With the King but if I could I would absolutely have to include "She Loves the Jerk." I do like the sullen bravado of the original but here's the mature acoustic version.

So many dilemmas. Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan is the album I listen to the most but I substituted most for the studio versions for time, the live ones being a minute or two longer -- Mike Ward really tears up those guitar solos. I had to include the Budokan "Icy Blue Heart" (really recorded: Chicago) 'cause that's my fave song and my fave version of my fave song. The Tiki Bar is Open is a glaring ommission from this era. Oh well, next time. To make it easier on me I arbitrarily ruled Little Village inadmissable.

The final CD over the fold, annotated by YouTube: