Tag: Acoustic

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Live Appearances in 2021!!!

While first waiting for restrictions to allow it, then bouncing back from an injury with my hands / arms, in February 2021, I played my first live anything since October 19 at The Sloth Bar in Footscray, quickly followed by a set at Wheelers Food Trucks and Bar in Werribee, both of which I’m appearing at again this week. To say it felt amazing to be back in a bar, drinking a beer, and listening to (and playing) live tunes, is a huge understatement.

Next week we have a Cunning Stunts double header in Hobart, which also includes an acoustic set from me to open the first show. Tickets still available for the first show, but the second show is sold out. Info below.

(Thanks as always to Dan Verkys for coming up with the awesome alternate poster for the first show that includes me on the billing!)

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Update – May 04, 2019!!

Been a big couple of months, I figure I will just do a summary of everything here since I didn’t manage to keep up with adding everything along the way!! Hope everyone is well!!

TUNES AND PARMAS WITH FRIENDS:

Early March I was at the Royal Oak Hotel in Fitzroy for the first time, and in the crowd were a few of my good friends from New Zealand!! We closed my acoustic set there with “Slackers and Wankers” and they didn’t throw us out, so that was good!! 😀

Will be back there on May the 8th @ 8.30pm!!

THE ART MASTER BRANCHES OUT:

Next up my mate Dan Verkys who has handled artwork for myself and The Feckers for 10 years and going strong, came to me with the idea of having more articles on his website to go with the amazing artwork that has always been there. He was kind enough to have me as one of the first things he did with the new format of his website. When that guy comes calling, I am THERE – I don’t mind what it is. Thanks so much mate!!!

JAMMING WITH A LEGEND:

Early April, my brother Skube had tagged me in something about local guitar legend Phil Para inviting people to come and jam with him at his gigs. Skube and I have sunk quite a few pints in the crowd at Phil’s gigs before, and I always remembered (despite the pints) how amazing he was – I HAD to do this!!

What a great bunch of guys he and his band are, and the staff at The Fyrefly where the event was held were also very lovely. An amazing night!!


LIVE AT SWAMPLANDS:

Late April I did a solo gig at Swamplands Bar in Thornbury, as part of a night that Dylan Beast runs there every week. Dylan and I used to play in an acoustic duo a year and a half ago, so it was a great excuse to catch up and play some tunes as well. We played solo sets and guested on a song for each other too. Amazing fun!!

THE FECKERS AND WHAT’S NEXT:

The next album from The Feckers is well underway and has actually begun the mixing process with Dennis Leeflang of Livelong Productions handling that stuff. The third song to be mixed is currently underway in his very good and capable hands and it is sounding KILLER.

This coming week I have the live set at The Royal Oak @ 8.30 as mentioned (May 08), as well as a two hour slot on Casey Radio as part of the Casey Beat program (May 11) where we’ll be talking and playing some songs live and studio. Should be great fun.

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New Music!!! – “Your Song” available now!!!

New music!!! This is “Your Song”…..

A little tribute to our boy Keds who left us in December last year at 14 years of age. This was written and recorded during Feb 28, and March 1, 2019. Audio, video and playing on all tracks by me. I hope you enjoy!!

LYRICS:

First thing I see when I get home
The same friendly familiar face I know
Talking before I get indoors
You went next to the tray on the floor

You pissed on me, made me retrieve
You from the neighbours roof next door
Approached every day comically
Fly through the air before chicken hit the floor
You’d run to stay right by my side
The galloping of horses running with such pride
With the choice of an empty queen size bed
You’d stretch out along my ribcage instead

Accepted me, quickly
I guess it was, meant to be
That side of you, many would never see
How they misunderstood you, is how they don’t get me

Don’t worry we won’t tell your brother how you felt
You were always down for it, no matter what you were dealt
Ultimate gangster right til the end
Your territory you’d die to defend
Never back down, if right or wrong
My mate Kedi, I say “so long” (this is your song)

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New Music – “Following”!!!

Full length video for the song “Following” that I wrote in 2003, when I knew that I had to leave my home town and move away to keep growing. At the time I played in the metal band Jigsore, but was also getting into more melodic things like this and it was coming out in my writing. Wanted to keep both things going, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Had been pondering whether I should wait til I have the money to give it the full production, or just release it quick, as is. Turns out with the loss of my old mate Keds recently that my soul really needed some healing, so I finished it up on boxing day. Here it is, warts and all. Music purely for the soul.

All vox, guitars, bass, percussion, mixing, mastering and video editing by me, artwork by Dan Verkys. Hope you dig! 😀

Free – Grab a copy of the song for FREE here!

 

FULL LENGTH VIDEO:

 

LYRICS:

Dreams to follow, yet so bogged down
Nothing more for me in this town
Lands far away, they’re calling me
What they propose, I’d like to see

What exists now, will always be
Around as far as I can see
I will not change, what makes me me
Be back some day you will see

Want to acheive, in myself I believe
Don’t be sorry but, happy when I leave

Following that I dream
Much closer than it seems

Something I, I need to do
How can you know if ya don’t pursue?
And it may prosper, and it may sour
If my way’s had I’ll progress in the hour

I need respect, for what I’ll do
I’d have no problem if I was you
We’ll carry on, do what we do
All the things that get us through

Following that I dream
Much closer than it seems
Still a part of the team
The last of me not yet seen

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New TCSO song – “One Half Of Two”!!!!

The fifth in a “once a month or so” series of tracks from TCSO, a mellow acoustic song written by Chris in his Mount Stuart unit up in the hills in 2001 on the old Tascam four track, where he would sometimes write and record three songs in a day. Not having a job had some benefits.

Featuring fellow Fecker Paul Jolley (Piano), and Rob Lundgren (vocals) alongside Chris Szkup (guitars, bass, cajon, shaker, backing vocals).

“It’s a song about being a very single goofy guy that is wondering if there is anyone from the better gender that would even notice any of these things which he thinks he has underneath the long hair and taking the mickey out of himself”, says Chris.

For a long time there wasn’t a title for it, until inspiration came from the Sara Bareilles song “Manhattan” from “The Blessed Unrest” (2013) – killer album by the way!

Once again, mastering on this track was done by Andy VanDette at Engineroom Audio in NYC, while artwork was done by Dan Verkys.

Listen and purchase (if you wish) via the Bandcamp site!!

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October Gigs!!

Let the crazy month of October commence!!! Here are the gig announcements I mentioned last post….

TOMORROW night – playing with Dylan Beast at Baxter’s Lot from 9pm (event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1962734097330752/?ti=icl ).

Video – https://youtu.be/otZL6kRyF7M

 

October 15 – Playing the Impact Events Buskers Stage with Dylan Beast at 2.30pm as part of the Spring Fling Street Festival 2017. This is the 40th anniversary of the event and promises to be a great day out. I’m told that we’ll be right next to the Town Hall Hotel, so a perfect spot for people to have a cold one and take in some tunes!!

(event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1424415924272799/ )

More info – https://www.springflingstreetfestival.org.au/

October 26 – sharing the bill with Brett Franke at The Night Heron from 7.30pm (event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1969099936708903??ti=ia)

Video – https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155684022689921/

 

October 28 – playing with my mates in Cunning Stunts at the Republic Bar & Cafe in Hobart again paying tribute to Metallica. This is likely to sell out like last time, so my advice would be to grab tickets asap if you’re interested in coming along from the following link – http://m.moshtix.com.au/…/cunning-stunts-a-tribute-to…/98924

(Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/310812786054912??ti=ia )

Video – https://www.facebook.com/events/310812786054912/permalink/310917542711103/

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Gig tonight @ The Sash Bar, Northcote!!!

Sash Bar April 8 2017If you’re in Melbourne tonight, come and hang at The Sash Bar in Northcote (111 High St, Northcote), for a night of acoustic tunes from Jess Hieser, Dylan Beast and myself.

Will have Solo and Feckers CD’s with me like I always do – TAKE THEM haha – I need my cupboard back!!!!

Music starts from 7pm!!

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Happy New Year – Gigs for 2017!!!

cs_basement_4_paintHappy new year everyone out there!!! I wish you all the best this year and beyond. I’ve started the year running with my third gig in a week coming up. Will also aim to have my next album featuring Rob Lundgren, Dennis Leeflang and Mathew Szkup out this year too. More on that below…….

ACOUSTIC GIGS:

As mentioned, I’ve done a couple of gigs this week for the good folks at Impact Events, playing at The Basement Cafe and Bar (350 Latrobe St, Melbourne) and The Arcadia Hotel (South Yarra). These are are great bunch of folks doing good things for the music scene and I plan on being a part of more events asap. Check out some photos / video / setlists from both nights.

The Basement Bar and Cafe – Jan 06, 2017

  • “Slough” (David Brent Cover)
  • “Harder than your husband” (Frank Zappa cover)
  • “Here Comes the Sun” (Beatles cover)
  • “October 22”

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Live at the Basement Cafe and Bar – Photo by Andrew Grant

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Live at the Basement Cafe and Bar – Photo by Andrew Grant

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Live at the Basement Cafe and Bar – Photo by Michael Hussey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arcadia Hotel – Jan 10, 2017

  • “Gandhara” (Godiego cover)
  • “I Cant Start Again
  • “To Be”
  • “A Better World” (The Feckers – solo piano)

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Live at the Arcadia Hotel – Photo by Andrew Grant

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Live at the Arcadia Hotel – Photo by Andrew Grant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND FOR THOSE IN HOBART, DON’T MISS THIS!!!!

cunning-stunts

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Live at AMR.fm – Available now!!!

EveryoneMan, what a cool night this was!! I had been meaning to get down to the studio in FOREVER but life kinda had other plans. I’ve been signed up to their site since the very early days though and always really appreciated what they do for us indie musicians – was something to finally see it all first hand and meet Gareth and Tony!!

Not to mention the other acts – Jimmy Maddon with his Cat Stevens vibed story telling, and the soul and groove of Thando, this was a fantastic evening and one I hope I’ll get the chance to do again soon!!!

Jimmy is touring Indonesia very soon, while Thando was hitting it for a string of east coast tour dates right after this – hope it goes amazing for both acts!! Great to meet you and AMR!! 😀

Download my set from the night for free via the player below!! (Photography by Gareth McDowell, Artwork by Dan Verkys)

 

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Some new live appearances and more!!

Hey friends, hope all is well out there!!?

As of today, Mr Rob Lundgren sang his final stuff for the next album and it’s sounding killer!! Now we’re at the stage of Skube and myself adding / tweaking guitar bits before mixing and mastering gets underway. Too early to say when this baby might be released, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted!!

I’ll be playing live acoustic at The Eltham Hotel, here in Melbourne on May 27 at 8pm!! Click here for directions and note that there is very likely to be more events happening that same week.

Also, I was recently asked by my mate Dan Verkys, the fantastic fellow that does the artwork on music releases for me if I’d like to play some tunes at his forthcoming exhibition called Chaos Dreaming, which is running at the Mad Gallery from August 16 – September 16. You should definitely make sure you get along to this if you’re in Victoria over that time. This man is an amazing talent!!!! Click here to RSVP via the Facebook event!

Promo poster and video below:

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