News – Page 3 – Chris Szkup

04/02/2018

New Music – “Forgotten Ones”

“Forgotten Ones” is a piece I had for years and years that never ended up on any album. I actually recorded an early version of this with Colin Mahoney in 1994 that was my first time ever in a studio come to think of it! As there is a bit of a gap in TCSO studio releases coming out right now I thought it might be a good time to put it out 100% on my own, right down to the playing of all the parts, “mixing”, “mastering” and video editing, and liked the idea of a full length accompanying video for it.

I started it on March 17, 2018 and intended it to be all done within a day. Sometimes you just aim a little bigger than is possible though haha. So while I did most of it on that day, there was also a small amount of work a week later, and the final touches being added today on April 1, 2018. My shirt changes in some of the clips will give you an idea as to what was tracked when. I did some mic’ed up electric guitars for the piece but for some reason the direct recorded ones sounded better on this. So that’s how I kept it.

All up, a very fun thing for me to do, and something I may do again at some point! I hope you enjoy!!

01/06/2018

Free Soundgarden cover – Roy Bratbakken and Chris Szkup – “Fresh Tendrils”

Roy and Chris had discussed this song going all the way back to the making of The Feckers “It’d Be Rude Not To” album from 2013, both sharing a love for the album, and great band, being Soundgarden’s “SuperUnknown” album from 1994.

The guys had kept in touch since that album’s release, and in late 2016 had revisited the idea and started tracking the song, not really sure what the end result may bring, but being driven purely by their feelings for the album, and track in particular. A full “band” version was tracked during this time, with Chris playing guitar tracks, then building the “band” around those, adding bass and bad drums, that were tweaked a little bit, hence the quotation marks around “Drums” in the credits.

Fast forward a few months, all instruments, and Roy’s vocals had all been recorded, and the guys were talking about throwing the track out there when the tragic news of Chris Cornell’s passing broke all around the world. Devastated, the guys didn’t feel it was the right time to put their version of “Tendrils” out there at that time, although Chris did do their song “Spoonman” a bit with his duo partner Dylan Beast at live appearances as a nod to the amazing talent that was Chris Cornell.

Fast forward again to early 2018, and it’s time!!! It felt right to keep this version raw and “demo like” in some ways rather than hiring drummers, mix and mastering engineers etc – Music purely for the fun of it. We hope you enjoy it!!

Listen and / or download for free at the Bandcamp store here.

12/30/201708/16/2018

New TCSO single “Nobody Knows”!!!

The third in a “once a month or so” series of tracks from TCSO, a hard rocker called “Nobody Knows”, which sees the founding members of The Feckers reuniting for the first time since that album’s release in 2013, with lyrics here being written by Richard Anderson, and the music by Chris Szkup.

Featuring Mathew Szkup (guitar), Rob Lundgren (vocals) and Dennis Leeflang (drums and mix) alongside Chris Szkup (guitars and bass), this song was once upon a time going to be included on a 2nd album by The Feckers, however when those plans were halted due to life getting in the way, Chris was very keen to still have the song be heard and released, especially with a new ensemble that he felt could do good justice to the track. The rhythm guitar track on the left hand side is Mathew Szkup, while on the right is Chris, which is “a mark of respect” says Chris – it seemed like when we were growing up that all the great rhythm players in the metal bands we were listening to would usually be panned to the left hand speakers, and anytime a riff would “break down” to introduce a song or so forth, it would always be panned to the left hand side. “As I owe a great deal to my brother in terms of rhythm playing, it felt right to have him panned left on the songs he plays on” says Chris.

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

Listen in full and purchase (if you wish) via Bandcamp!!!

11/11/2017

New TCSO single – “No Way Back For Us”!!

The second in a “once a month or so” series of tracks from TCSO, a cover version of the great song written by New Zealand artist Rob Smith of RPJ called “No Way Back For Us”.

Featuring Mathew Szkup (guitar), Rob Lundgren (vocals) and Dennis Leeflang (drums and mix) alongside Chris Szkup (guitars and bass), this song was originally intended to be used for GONE WILD when a third album was being discussed a few years back. However, when plans changed in regards to that album, Chris obviously had fun on the track and asked the question “can we do the song anyway”!!! Luckily Rob Smith being the great fellow that he is, agreed to it.

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

Check it out right now for free on Bandcamp, and if you feel like purchasing it, then thank you so much but either way, I hope you like it…….especially you Rob Smith!!!

10/02/201710/15/2017

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/

09/20/201709/20/2017

First new music in three years (and more too)!!!

Introducing The Claremont Symphony Orchestra (TCSO), with the new song “Ride”!!!

The first in a “one a month or so” series of tracks from TCSO, or The Claremont Symphony Orchestra – the baby of Australian songwriter Chris Szkup, featuring core members Dennis Leeflang (drums) and Rob Lundgren (vocals) along with himself, as well as guest players on certain tracks, so far including Mathew Szkup (guitar) and Paul Jolley (piano), with possibly more to come. This song, and I hope all of them will be, was mastered by Andy VanDette, while the artwork was done by Dan Verkys.

Due to the geographical distance between the members and the guest players on some songs, Chris felt it necessary to adopt a “collective” type name for the project, and at the same time wanted to use it to pay a little nod to where he grew up in Claremont, Tasmania – it’s meant to indicate in a way that as these songs were for the most part composed by him, these songs were born in Claremont. Some of them literally were.

All of these songs will gradually be revealed as time (and finances) allow, and when complete, will form a “collection” type album which will be available on the usual digital outlets and on the store at www.cs-songs.com however until completion, the best and fastest way to purchase the songs as they are released will be via the bandcamp site. You also have the option to throw in a little tip if you desire and pay more than the listed price for the song. This will help future songs be released faster, however this is completely optional, and you can even just listen to the songs in full for free and not buy at all – up to you!

GIGS:

For a while I’ve been wanting to throw myself in the deep end a little bit and play some piano live. I had done it very briefly one time earlier in the year, but September was the time that it REALLY finally happened. I had two weeks in a row of playing a piano set at Compass Pizza in Brunswick back to back with a guitar set at Whole Lotta Love, just up the road also in Brunswick. Check out some pics and video from both nights below.

(So far three gigs are confirmed for the month of October, solo, duo and band – waiting on the word before I can announce the details on them!)

“Cool Dry Place” (Traveling Wilburys) Sept 13, 2017:

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155695973659921/

Snippets of whole set – Sept 06, 2017:

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

“Lost Soul” (From “Pieces of Eternity“):

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155683908304921/

“Slackers and Wankers” (The Feckers):

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155682023894921/

“Far From Done” (The Feckers):

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155680744469921/

GUEST SOLOS:

Sometimes from time to time I might get asked to play a guitar solo or two on a song that a friend is putting together. I’m always honoured that someone might think of me in this regard, and therefore it’s basically always a “HELL YES” when people do ask. There is no slacking off with any of your “comfort licks” cause a fresh set of ears will always pick up on this, which makes doing guest spots a very cool and fresh thing to do whenever you get the chance. So if anyone ever reads this and thinks I might fit on a song they are doing, please ask! Here’s some vid doing solos for The Calm Before – sometimes you’re lucky enough to just hit record and go for it and something happens, which was the case here.

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155628502019921/

08/17/201708/20/2017

Update – 17.08.17!!!

Had a few months away from the music, doing some quick trips overseas to New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore! Always an amazing time that I thoroughly enjoy, but now it’s time to get back into the music!

As I speak, there are five songs mixed down for my new collection of songs (so far unnamed) , and while I didn’t tell anyone, I decided that when I got to this point with the mixing, it would be time to start putting them out one by one, while carrying on with the mixing of the remaining songs in the background. Dennis Leeflang has been doing an amazing job on these, and I totally can’t wait to have them out there! This morning I sent what will be the first song released to Mr Andy VanDette for mastering. Dan Verkys will also be handling the artwork, as is always the case. We’ve started bouncing ideas around for it already.

It’s a song called “Ride” and is a song I wrote in 2001 back when I was living in Hobart, but knew that I had to pack everything up to move away and start again – which I did in 2004, but that’s another story. It is interesting to look back on the song, and also hear it coming to life in this final version. It features Rob Lundgren on vocals, Dennis Leeflang on drums (and mix), and myself on guitars, bass and keyboards.

Aside from this, I’ve gotten back into the playing live thing, which felt really good to do! Here’s a few recent live vids:

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155608412894921/

(“Born” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, August 11, 2017)

A song from my second album “Resist to Exist”. For some reason this was only the third time I had played it before. Always liked the song!

https://www.facebook.com/thefeckers/videos/1499862263408256/

(“Slackers and Wankers” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, August 11, 2017)

A favourite from The Feckers album “It’d Be Rude Not To”. One that I have been playing since even before the album was released in 2013, and one that is played at most live gigs I do. It had been a while this time, so it felt real good coming back to it!

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155604847674921/

(“Down in a Hole” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, August 11, 2017 – with Dylan Beast)

Alice in Chains cover and wow, what a song!!! Dylan and I had started playing in a heavy band together that is still putting songs together on the quiet. We had also discussed other styles and possibly doing acoustic duo type gigs, which is how this all began. We do quite a few Alice songs as we both love them so much!!

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155604803329921/

(“Sunshine” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, August 11, 2017 – with Dylan Beast)

Alice in Chains cover. See what I mean – we really love the band haha! What a song, and album!!

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155338819414921/

(“Thank Fuck It’s Friday” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, May 20, 2017)

David Brent cover. Being a huge fan of the British (aka REAL) version of The Office, I was absolutely over the moon when I heard Ricky was bringing back the Brent character and I always enjoyed his songs from the show, drawing that fine line between being a pisstake and actually being pretty bloody good! I’ve been doing a few of his songs from the soundtrack album live this year as I just think they’re really good songs. I haven’t met anyone in the crowds that has recognised them so far though sadly – maybe they think “that guy Chris writes really good songs” when I do it? Sorry Ricky – I always give you a plug when I do them haha.

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155322168969921/

(“Spoonman” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, May 20, 2017 – With Dylan Beast)

This was the day after Chris Cornell sadly passed away. What a SHOCK! We were both huge fans, and this wasn’t planned at all. I sent Dylan a message asking if he’d like to sing something by Chris and he was into it. Some people said perhaps it was too soon, but I don’t think there is a right way in these cases – you just do what you gotta do, which is what we did here. Real glad we did!

https://www.facebook.com/cs.songs/videos/10155367622294921/

(“Drunk” – Live at The Basement Cafe & Bar, June 02, 2017)

Have been wanting to do a song by the great Bumblefoot for a long time, but I’m human in regards to my singing range and guitar abilities while he isn’t haha! So for a long time it didn’t happen, just cause I couldn’t find one I could do justice to! Here is my attempt at the great song “Drunk” anyway. Hope I didn’t balls up your song too much Ron!!

(Never thought I’d get to sing the lyric “I see your face in every drop of golden urine” at an intimate little acoustic gig some day in inner Melbourne though I must admit haha!)

https://www.facebook.com/205478486451066/videos/451161761882736/

(“Kings Highway” – Live at Sash Bar, April 08, 2017 – With Michael Hussey)

Tom Petty cover. I’ve done this song a fair bit this year. The “Into The Great Wide Open” album it’s from is just about perfect to me. Just great songs that are to the point, great melodies and playing, no one going off on any tangents trying to steal the spotlight or anything like that. Just great rock n roll – which is what Tom and The Heartbreakers have done for over 40 years very consistently. My mate Michael Hussey joins me here for some off the cuff jamming of the tune. Great fun to do!

04/08/201704/08/2017

Gig tonight @ The Sash Bar, Northcote!!!

If 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!!

01/11/201701/11/2017

Happy New Year – Gigs for 2017!!!

Happy 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”

cs_basement_1 — Live at the Basement Cafe and Bar – Photo by Andrew Grant

cs_basement_2 — Live at the Basement Cafe and Bar – Photo by Andrew Grant

cs_basement_3 — 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)

cs_arcadia_1 — Live at the Arcadia Hotel – Photo by Andrew Grant

cs_arcadia_2 — Live at the Arcadia Hotel – Photo by Andrew Grant

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

07/28/201608/09/2016

New bands, music, a return to the stage in Hobart, art exhibitions and new vids!!!

(Photo above from the Cunning Stunts gig at the Republic Bar and Cafe, Hobart – thanks to Colin Mahoney!!)

Welcome to the first update in a while! My apologies for that, but here’s the latest!

The Szkup, Lundgren, Leeflang, Szkup collection of songs is still happening!!! Sometimes life happens and gets in the way of the plans you’ve made, but rest assured that this stuff will be coming out. It’s some of the best stuff I’ve ever done by a long shot. Here’s a short vid from guitar tracking today!

Recently I also made my return to the live stage in Hobart for the first time in 11 years, as part of a
Post gig shot photobombed amazingly by Colin Mahoney! (Jake Cowburn, Brett Collidge, Mathew Szkup, Chris Szkup)

Metallica Tribute band Cunning Stunts, featuring Brett Collidge – Drums, Jake Cowburn – Bass / Vocals, Mathew Szkup – Guitar / Vocals and Myself – Guitar. The night was an amazing success and totally took us by suprise. So much so that we’ll be doing it again semi regularly as we’re able to find free dates in everyone’s schedules. Will keep you posted!

(Photo courtesy of Shot By Slaidins Photography)

Over the past handful of months I’ve been getting a line up of guys together slowly. It’s intended to be very heavy and aggressive thrash metal, and we’re writing for it as we speak. Still on the hunt for a singer and a bass player if anyone is out there.

Here are a couple of vids from us jamming!

Back in February I was honoured to be asked again by the mighty Dan Verkys to provide music for his latest exhibition called Chaos Dreaming!!! Was a great day as always. Here’s a few pics from the festivities!!

(Photos by Daryl Bean)

Waiting_Henchmen — The Waiting for Yesterday Henchmen / Women!!! (DJ Bun DMC, Amber, Dan Verkys, Chris)

cs_exhibition — CS noodling away during the exhibition!

dv_cs_exhibition — Dan and Chris catching up before kickoff!!

Here’s a vid of me playing there on the day!