Spring has Sprung

New tunes to review this month. Three local with two out of the same recording studio and one from overseas by two old blues travellers.

Spring has sprung and local songwriter (expat banana bender) Stephen Grady has a short little ditty with a sprinkling of harp celebrating the City of Melbourne in Spring. Spring is the lead single from the album Wonder due out on October 23. The song was recorded at Union Studios in Brunswick by Roger Bergodaz, a musician himself with popular local outfit Lost Ragas. Another new toon from the same studios is Boots To The Grave by the Luke Sinclair Set. HRR followers will know Luke from Americana group Raised by Eagles. Luke has gone solo and written a ripper song with an introspective reflection on finding his place in the sun. Boots To The Grave is out now on all good (Bandcamp) and substandard streaming platforms and is from the album Heavy Dreams set for issue soon. Luke has been known to blow the ‘Tennessee Triller’ before, but not here, you’ll have to put on your own harp (song is in the key of ‘D’). You can hear Luke performing Travelin Bone (with harp) on HRR from days gone buy – just click on the radio.

Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite have united and released a new album on Alligator Records entitled 100 Years Of The Blues. The first single What The Hell is a cracker blues jam that reflects their dismay with the leader of the free world.

He is the president but wants to be the king
Know what I like about the guy? Not a goddamn thing
I want to know, how can four years seem so long?
Lord have mercy, what the hell is going on?

Melbourne Bluesman Dan Dinnen has teamed up with Anthony ‘Shorty’ Shortte for a cracker double single. These Old Walls has been dusted off (from his 2013 album Last Thing On My Mind) and had a ripper refurbishment which really makes it pop. This spiritual number is driven by Shorty’s percussion and Dan’s riffs on guitar and low harp. Streaming (and download) on Bandcamp. Well done lads.

Had to make mention of the recent releases of Goanna. Their follow up album to the classic Spirit Of Place, Oceania (1985) is finally available for streaming and download. And, from the same year, a live album taken straight from the mixing desk is out now. A series of live releases of Aussie bands from ‘back in the day’ are being drip fed to aid, support and say thanks to our roadies who are doin’ it tuff. Shane Howard front man of Goanna has had a new album Dark Matter out in the market place since June and he adds a dash of harp on a couple of tunes. For more on Goanna read Goanna Man Of Mystery.

Ch EssDawg