Tag: Dan Verkys

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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!

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

Cunning

(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
    Cunning_Stunts
    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!
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The selfie wall!!
dv_cs_exhibition
Dan and Chris catching up before kickoff!!

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

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New Dan Verkys Exhibition – Launch Date Feb 20, 2016!!!

YesterdayCheck this out if you’re anywhere near Romsey next weekend for the launch, and through March for the length of the exhibition!!!!!

It’s always a pleasure being asked to be involved with such a talented man as Dan Verky’s creative pursuits, and I know for a fact that he’s REALLY going the extra mile to put on a real show. I’m totally excited to see everything he’s cooked up!!!

As it happens I’ll be polluting the airwaves with some instrumental acoustic music as well, but don’t let that put you off. Just make sure you come cause it will be a cracker!!!

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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:

chaos_dreaming

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“Resist to Exist” cover art, tracklisting!

Resist to ExistThe new release, “Resist to Exist” is currently in the mastering stage and will be coming to you asap!

It was recorded at Red Planet Recording in Hobart (by Stew and Jake Long), and also at my home in Melbourne, Australia, mixed by Dennis Leeflang, will be mastered by Andy Van Dette, and the cover art, is by Dan Verkys.

Joining me on the tracks as always is my bro Mathew Szkup (drums, guitars, backing vocals), Paul Jolley (keys), Lyris Hung (strings), Brian Sanders (cello), Adrian Bryan (strings), and Dennis Leeflang (tribal drums), and tracklisting follows:

“Resist Opus”
“Music is Free”
“Friendship Song”
“Born”
“Gossip Train”
“Ascend”
“Gift of Life:
“Influenza Blues”

Sadly for me being a real music love that is totally into physical releases, the way things are in 2014 it just couldn’t happen for “Resist to Exist”, and therefore this will be released via the usual digital outlets only. I will try and throw in some extras for anyone that wants to buy it direct from me as opposed to going through iTunes and the like though. More on that soon!

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New CS music news / Full length Feckers track!!

Hey all,

Just a quick note that as long as all the planets align and nothing goes wrong, I’ll be handing over the new songs to Mr Andy VanDette for mastering late next week when I’ll be also posting cover art and track listing!! As a writer I feel I’ve really raised the bar since my last releases, so to say I’m looking forward to people hearing them is an understatement!

On another note, here’s a full length track from The Feckers album “It’d Be Rude Not To” that we released last year.  It features my cuz Irene Slade on vocals, Mr Dennis Leeflang on drums and myself on guitars and bass, and was mixed and mastered by Mr Stew Long at Red Planet Recording with artwork by Dan Verkys. Enjoy!

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EP Recordings!!

Happy to announce that I’ll be putting out 3 digital EP’s in the very near future (early part of 2014 at this stage) and at the moment I’m recording for the 2nd and 3rd ones!

Here’s a sneak peek from yesterday:

 

Also on another note, I was stoked to be able to not only attend, but also play at my mate Dan Verkys‘ exhibition late last month in Lancefield, Victoria at Mad Gallery!! I got to debut some of my own songs that I never thought would make it to the stage, and also played some instrumental versions of some cover songs. The works are at the gallery through November, so make sure you get along if you can!

mad_gallery

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“Like Yesterday” – Out now!!!

like_yesterday_lower_res“Like Yesterday” is the new single and it’s out now!! This one is also the last in the acoustic run of singles. It remembers and says thanks to my parents and talks about what life was like when they were here. To me, music, and especially rock music is about baring your soul….. after all, whats the point of listening to someones music if it isn’t honest? With this song, I don’t think you could get a more personal song or a song that I believe in more.

I get goosebumps looking at the artwork that Dan created from my concept idea. It really is beautiful. Strangely, the concept for it came from the photo of me with the guitar which existed before the concept, although it looks like I knew exactly what I was doing and was posing accordingly. As usual, Dan was able to take my Tasmanian gobbledy gook and knock it out of the park with another amazing piece of work.

I remember showing my Dad the music for this song before any lyrics existed as I had just gotten strings from the amazing Lyris Hung on a couple of my songs (having real strings in my music was always a dream when I was younger, but one that I was never really sure if it would happen), which in retrospect was a real special thing having him hear the music for this one. Obviously the song wasn’t intended to be what it is back then, but I’ll never forget that night. That was one of my favourite things in the world – just hanging over a couple of beers, playing music for each other and catching up. Will miss it a lot.

In loving memory of my folks, Bysh and Irene Szkup. Much thanks to Dennis Leeflang (mixing), Lyris Hung (strings), Andy VanDette (mastering), Dan Verkys (artwork) and Ren Reich (engineering) on this one especially. It’s available in the STORE here at CS-Songs.com, as well as iTunes and all the usual digital outlets that stock our stuff!

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October Happenings!!

Starting to get the itch again as far as getting out there and playing after an interesting few months!! So far I have these with more to come – will be rescheduling the intended Feckers duo gig that we had to postpone recently!!

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cs_palace_hotel_march_2012Saturday, October 5th – Edwards Place – Free
Playing solo acoustic from 8pm as part of Rockshow!!
48 Edwardes Street, Reservoir, Victoria, Australia (Get Directions)

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Sunday, October 13th – Mad Gallery – Free (I think)cs_palace_hotel_march_2012
Playing some backing tracks for my mate Dan Verkys‘ exhibition launch!! Dan does the artwork for every bit of audio I release I love his work so much. Make sure you get along to this as he’s a huge talent and a great fella too!
19 High Street, Lancefield, Victoria, Australia (Get Directions)

 Dan Verkys Exhibition

More dates to come, and a new single as well!!!! After that one I’ll be putting out some full band electric music!!!