The longest break between posts ever! February 2004 was better known for its four-yearly extra day than anything really musically outstanding but there's been enough around to keep the punter happy. Hunter & Suzie Owens are still doing their really great stuff at the Orange Grove on Friday nights. Rob Luckey is still doing his more-than-fair-share of gigs around town and has been using some interesting combinations to fill the gaps while Jeff Mercer's away on tour. Ian Young, a blues and jazz guitarist, has probably been the most successful of the stand-ins playing some relatively forgotten covers and giving Rob another ladder or two to follow when he does his solo licks.
There seems to be a bit of a resurgence of music in central Newtown with the Cooper's Arms being host to a couple of good outfits with Reno Nevada (Chris Flynn) moving up there on Saturdays from 3-7 pm after his run of Sunday gigs at the Duke Hotel in Enmore which seem to have been shelved for the time being, at least. Reno has played a couple of oustanding sets at the Coopers and the venue also has another band on Sundays at about the same time (3-7 pm).
Not going to spoil anyone by being too long-winded this time but one gig I think should be pointed out is Chris Smither at the Harp Hotel at Tempe on March 20 and March 21 at The Basement. Smither is one of the more underrated country/folk, singer/songwriters to come out of the US and would be well worth a few dollars cover charge (my preference, for financial reasons alone, would be The Harp).
Of course, if you have a few extra dollars prior to that, there's always the excellent duo talents of Keiran Kane and Kevin Welsh at The Basement on March 16. The Basement seems to have all the better visitors this month with America's Harry Manx (10th), Canada's Bruce Cockburn (11th) and Ireland's Mary Coughlan (12th). Wish The Basement wasn't so bloody expensive!!
Locally, apart from the above-mentioned Hunter & Suzie Owens on Friday night at the Orange Grove and Rob Luckey and the Lucky Bastards at the Riverview on Saturday night, there's a mixed bag, the pick of which would be:
On Sunday March 7 you can find Wes Pudsey & The Sonic Aces at the Empire Hotel, Annandale from 7 pm and Jason Walker & The Last Drinks, Brendan Gallagher and Jenny Queen at The Vanguard, Newtown - a cover charge for this gig would be almost certain.
OK - It's cool to be back and, hopefully, more often this time. Full-time work has its advantages as well as its disadvantages, one of which is not being able to follow all the music I'd like to and then report on it here. I'll try my best.
Oh, did anyone mention Bob Dylan has begun yet another leg of the Never Ending Tour - his fourteenth year on the road.
Keep that live music living.
Ray.
Posted by rayzon1
at 10:13 PM EAST
