FM and I took ourselves off to the Basement on Friday night for a look at the reunion tour of the great ’70’s country rock band “The Dingoes” – first time back together after last year’s inauguration into the Australian Rock Hall of Fame. The band is as great today as it was back then – and is the same lineup except for the passing of the legendary John Lee.
Back together after 31 years, they’ve released a new album “Tracks” – a must buy for country rock fans.
The gig was great ! The (Melbourne) band was assisted by an old friend – Kevin Bennett – also the proud creator of a a new album “Solo” – check that out too..
Here’s a clip of the original Dingoes from 1973, playing “Way out West”.
And Brod Smith – the Dingoes founder (and with Kerryn Tolhurst (lap steel and lead guitars), the heart and soul of the band) recorded in 2007. Chris Copping (former Procol Harum keyboard player) and Ashley Davis (drums) joined Chris Stockley (lead, slide and rhythm guitars) and John Bois (bass), rounding out a rich and smooth lineup.
Brod Smith played with “Carson” before he formed the Dingoes. You might want to chase them up on Youtube too.
The stage patter was often hilarious with lots of geriatric self-spoofing jokes about getting old. In the audience – up front – were some members of one of the other stalwart ’70’s bands – Greg Quill and Country Radio. An unnamed member of their entourage fell asleep during some of the best pumping tunes … prompting Brod Smith to ask someone to find a pulse and get the roadies to bring in the breathing apparatus.
It was a great night ! The new album “Tracks” is really tight, like the days of old – and like many of the patrons at the Basement Friday might.
“Not worth fighting for” and “No rain, no river” were the standout tracks for me.
Have a good look for yourself over at www.thedingoes.com.au .
In honour of their pal who had a little kip, here’s the most famous Country Radio clip – Gypsy Queen – sadly not readily available on disk.
Greg Quill and Country Radio
…. so get out there and catch them while they’re still alive and kicking.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
Nice stuff Emmjay. Was that a GTK shirt I saw?
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Thanks, Hungy ! I see that when you unwrapped the election we had to have that you got your very own parliament.
Well done, old son !
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OK Hawkeye, now I’ll have to go back and watch it again. Tough job, but I think I can handle it 🙂
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Australia’s rock’n’roll history is, sadly, an alien land to me, I’m afraid, having grown up on the other side of the planet. Don’t feel like it now, but I’ll check these guys out a bit later, when I do…
🙂
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Because I know you love a little rock trivia MJ, think on this. When Marc Hunter finally left Dragon after being shown the door so many times it became quite dull sport betting on when he’d finally go through it, but none the less before Billy and Richard Lee became fixtures it was considered by many insiders that Broderick might join the band. He didn’t of course and probably quite wisely. There was a dynamic in that band that very few could penetrate let alone become part of but it was very seriously considered on the basis that Broderick was the only other singer in the country at the time that could carry the Dragon gravitas. Billy and Richard joined and for an insight into the feeling of the moment seek out the rear cover art for the last album of that first line up, “Powerplay”.
And while we’re being trivial in a Brodish way, my favourite album of his is probably the least Brodish of them all; 1984’s “Broderick Smith”. When I think on it now it wasn’t actually that much of an album, not quite fully thought through but it was an attempt to transmute that Dingoes/Aussie Folk and Bush Ballard thing into something else, something modern. For quite a time back then it was all I’d listen to in my car and one of my favourite memories is of being at the Manzil Room, of all places, when Brod was promoting that album. The band was tight and the stripped down production sound of that album seemed to suit the nihilism of the Manzil in its heyday. (This is all I could find from that album and its not particularly indicative of the real quality and strength of that album but it was the single so there ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQUaHjOC1CM) An album that’s burned into my brain.
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my brother sent me a Dingoes CD for my birthday last year…in the 70s I was all about Skyhooks and The Angels and ACDC so I paid no attention to them back then; but…tastes change. Go go dingoes!
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