Music For Pleasure 12

02 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Playlist by Algernon

The fool on the hill – Aretha Franklin

She’s Leaving Home – Mel Torme

Compared to what – Roberta Flack

Hard Times –David “Fathead” Newman

All I ever need is you – Ray Charles

Gentle on my mind – Glen Campbell

Cycles – Frank Sinatra

Wand’rin Star – Lee Marvin

Wild horses – Johnny “Hammond” Smith

Sunny – Bobby Hebb

The Making of you – Gladys Knight and the Pips

Think – Curtis Mayfield

Fire and Rain – Bobby Womack

Something – James Brown

Happy 60th Algy ! Congratulations from the patrons and friends of the Pig’s Arms

27 Saturday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Algernon

≈ 17 Comments

algernon

Algernon’s Indulgence

Playlist by Algernon

Well you only turn 60 once, so I thought I’d put together a list of songs that might have some sort of meaning to me along the journey. They aren’t necessarily favourites with this list being longer than my usual lists. I could have easily done three of these at this length.

Started receiving mail in recent weeks congratulating me on reaching my seniority and some of the discounts that are now available to me. Given that I’m “trialing” retirement at the moment one might just take advantage of some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah637P0_cts

Volare – Dean Martin

Number 1 60 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx06XNfDvk0

Downtown – Petula Clarke

Always an earworm don’t know why

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_4u7MTEPKY

You don’t have to say you love me – Dusty Springfield

No list is complete without something by Dusty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhkIh4x4mmM

River Deep Mountain High – Ike and Tina Turner

Love the Ikettes in this version. Had a love of girl bands and singers in the 60’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwI7GYCqUBo

Yellow river – Autumn

First single I bought. This was the Sydney version, other states had other bands record it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w

I can see clearly now – Johnny Nash

I already had developed a love of soul music, this married reggae into the music as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0kcet4aPpQ

Money – Pink Floyd

Parents bought be Dark side of the Moon for Christmas in 1973, Money stuck out for the language which somehow “shocked” my father.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhmLwhJ4iQ

Funeral for a friend/Love lies bleeding – Elton John

A fan of Elton John for his earlier albums up to Caribou. Could have picked at least a dozen, this though the opening tunes from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

We were in England when this was released and this was number 1 for the entire time were there, then came home where it became number 1 here for a period. In the end I got sick of hearing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n3OepDn5GU

Love is the drug – Roxy Music

What can I say, what a band. Phil Manzanera always a favouriteguitarist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yxlZwvlIU

Girls on the avenue – Richard Clapton

One of the many enduring Australian performers, It was a toss up between this or Deep Water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

It was the jangling guitar work in this song that I liked when I first heard it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpMwMDqOprc

I’m stranded – The Saints

Sixth Form (my year were never Year 12 even though it was the first year it was called that), and there was talk of this punk band called The Sex Pistols. The Saints beat them to it really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkKiZ9VSD6U

Aloha Steve and Danno – Radio Birdman

See above, so did Radio Birdman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7kUDkK70qQ

Eton Rifles – The Jam

Could have picked any Jam song really, this one stuck it up the nose of the establishment. I saw Paul Weller earlier this year one of the best concerts I’ve seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c

London Calling – The Clash

The only band that mattered, saw them at the Capitol in 1981. London Calling well it did on a few occasions between 1975 and 1986. The Clash were more than a Punk band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv584jRwh0s

Exodus – Bob Marley and the Wailers

See above, arguably the best known reggae singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTizYn3-QN0

Rio – Duran Duran

Not really a fan but Simon Le Bon and I share a birthdate, I’m older though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CAzwewVjZ0

Long hot summer – The Style Council

Probably summed up the 80’s for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnh7x8aU26g

Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood

So did this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3j2NYZ8FKs

West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys

This song came out when Mrs A and I were in London and we lived in the West End.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCdLKXNF3w

Everybody wants to rule the world – Tears for Fears

Another tune of Mrs A and my time in London

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzd_bcVDnJQ

To her Door – Paul Kelly

I think Australia’s best song writer. Could have picked plenty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofrqm6-LCqs

Blue Sky Mine – Midnight Oil

One of many I saw in pubs. Once again could have picked plenty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYQTL-ws6p4

Always the sun – The Stranglers

40 years and still going strong, this is Power Pop more than Punk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLxpNiF0YKs

Man on the moon – R.E.M.

My favourite alt Rock band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IbMiqIdeME

Johnny Appleseed – Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

Joe Strummer after leaving The Clash took him in many directions, The Mescaleros was one of the many before he died.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_EADBnXjXc

Valerie – Amy Winehouse

What a voice and music that harked back to the soul of the 60’s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ouI5KcyHfE

100 days 100 nights – Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

More old school R&B, another great voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrKkqE9p1o

Coming home – Leon Bridges

Thought I was listening to Sam Cooke the first time I heard him, similar to Sharon Jones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKmit_uQrSQ

Cedar Lane – First Aid Kit

These girls are a similar age to Junior. Mostly indie and Americana, Klara has an amazing four octave voice

The Raghu Dixit Project

26 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Emmjay

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Lokada Kalaji, Raghu Dixit Project

Post by Emmjay

Had the privilege last year of seeing and hearing Raghu Dixit and his band at the Sydney Opera House – this one raised the roof ! Massive local audience participation and a joyful set !

…. and hear here – some Indian Celtic Bluegrass

Shovelling it #2

25 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Atom, Emmjay

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Justin Johnson, Roberto Ignis, Shovel Guitar

I was going to ask whether you can dig this – but hey – WAAAAY TOO CHEESY ! The great Justin Johnson

OK, pedants – I realise these are spades, but what the heck, they’re a lot easier to play than a fork or a rake 🙂

Pig’s Arms patrons can secure one of these for the musical gardener in your life for a snip – US$400 plus postage A$1,790. Try not to get it dirty and definitely don’t leave it out in the rain – especially plugged in !

Resophonics Arrive at the Pig’s Arms

24 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Clip clipped by Emmjay

Hi Music Lovers !

Some of us might be aware that a blossoming interest in ukulele led your humble servant to forming the UTS Ukulele Band – later renamed Mike and the Uketeers – tipping a hat to Mickey Mouse and the Mouseketeers – after my lovely boss at UTS declined the opportunity to renew my contract.

Well the more we played and the more we gigged and by definition had to practice, the more the passion grew. Then came a Riptide Tenor Semi-acoustic uke made in Boulder Colorado, and a concert sized Tribute semi, and a Mr Mai concert uke made from koa – the preferred uke wood and an Aiersi (Chinese premium brand) bass uke.

Bass ukes are a comparatively new thing with really fat strings made out of a polymer called “thunder gut” – sounds like me after drinking milk. Bass ukes, like normal basses involve a lot of learning of note playing rather than chords. So this last effort is still in its infancy.

And then I discovered resonator ukes. Resonator guitars were the 1930s predecessors to the 1950s electric guitars – and attempted the same thing – a sound loud enough to compete with the other instruments in swing bands. They achieved this with an all-metal body and a clever conical mechanical ‘amplifier’ – called a resonator. The archetype had three resonator cones – called not surprisingly a Tricone and gave good amplification of bass as well as treble notes. As the Depression deepened, the makers sought a cheaper version – using just one cone – called a ‘biscuit’ – referring to the hardwood biscuit shape that held the bridge up over the resonator,

The instrument was invented by one of the Dopera brothers who formed the National Guitar Company and later a new company – Dobro – making essentially the same technology. Both companies folded after the war as the new electric guitars made by Gibson, Gretsch and Martin became the weapons of choice for rock and rollers, country and western crooners and my favourites – rockabillies.

When I was a pup going to folk gigs in the 1960s, every now and then some “in-the-know” dude would show up with a massively dilapidated Dobro or National steel guitar – mostly played with a slide or the neck cut off a bottle (yep – bottleneck slide) – often played sitting down with the guitar laying flat across the knees – referred to as lap-steel. Those original Nationals are selling for upwards of $20,000 now. The company was resurrected a few years ago – and one can buy a brand new National for somewhere around $6,000 – one of those price points for special guitars.

The sound back then, was incredible. Big, bold, slick and fluid – echoing the early Mississippi Delta blues played mostly by black musicians.

And the sound is still great today – notwithstanding the development of superb electric guitars. Here’s some:

And so we come full circle – today I ordered a ‘steel’ ukulele – a Chinese made knock-off. These are beautiful things made from bell brass and chrome or silver plated metal bodies, a mahogany or rosewood neck (a bit dodgy perhaps – rosewood is now an internationally protected species) and a single aluminium resonator. Etched on the back is the obligatory Hawaiian palm tree and beach scene.

—ooo—

Kids OFF ! Everyone OFF ! Libnats Fuck Off !

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Emmjay, Politics in the Pig's Arms

≈ 4 Comments

Rant by Emmjay

Dear patrons of the Pig’s Arms, no surprises that the rich cats of Wentworth gave the Liberal counts the hiding they deserve, but I want to remind everyone that this is early days for the fight for decency.

The good doctor Kerryn Phelps has a very spotty track record as far as things the traditional left might hold dear – she had a flirtation with preferencing the Liberals until somebody pointed out the wackiness of that idea and she dropped them to number ten on her how to vote card. Not low enough, I say.

Helen Razer (possibly the last living Marxist ‘journalist’) on New Matilda wrote a piece titled Pig Shit in reference to Kerryn’s win and highlighted some of Dr Kerryn’s previous achievements. Now, I’m no big fan of Ms Razer, but I reckon she’s more than adequately reminded us that replacing a deposed PM by someone who’s not a Liberal, but a quasi Liberal sympathiser is a very small step for mankind.

Helen Razer gives Kerryn the Big Finger !

It remains to be seen what Dr Phelps can actually achieve before (one hopes) the greatest Libnat thrashing since Federation.

But to finish on a more positive note, how hilarious is it that the Libnats response is to blame the guy they threw down the stairs for not supporting whatever or whoever the Liberal Candidate was ! I mean how stupid are these muppets ? As hopeless as the Libnats made Malcolm Turnbull (admittedly with a lot of participation on his own behalf), he was a million miles in front of Scott Happy Clapper – boat stopper extraordinaire.

And I sincerely hope that Jane Caro runs – and defeats Tony Abbothole in Warringah – I mean 30% of the Liberal party members did not vote for Tony in preselection – but the pissweak bastards stood nobody against him. Let’s hope that other bastion of Liberal voters , like Wentworth rich cats grows some moral spine and ditches the greatest self-interested fascist wrecker since Federation.

end of rant

Music For Pleasure Volume 11

19 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Algernon, Bands at the Pig's Arms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Ash, Charles Bradley, Crepes, Doe Paoro, Dusty Springfield, Fleet Foxes, Leon Bridges, Michael Kiwanuka, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nina Simone, Nuyorican Soul, Paul Kelly, The Aints, The Teskey brothers

Music for pleasure volume 11

Playlist by Algernon

Lots of new music and some old. Mostly Neo soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYBT90PFmoM

Nuyorican Soul – I am the Black Gold of the sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx8qITIIRiU

I feel a change – Charles Bradley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NISzPuz62uk

Girl from Mars – Ash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJTjsVSzQ1Q

Do you love me – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSm89iFVEac

Isles – Fleet Foxes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY6tIQOQcY0

If it feels good (then it must be) – Leon Bridges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMEqWwRN_Q

As you go – Crepes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMebE3pX7iw

Crying shame – The Teskey brothers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aVB3X2sKWk

Red Aces – The Aints

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jBlJXV1LmU

Spooky – Dusty Springfield

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs

Feeling good – Nina Simone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPNO-i7ApZo

Over – Doe Paoro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsrymeSoeZ0

You’ve got nothing to lose – Michael Kiwanuka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=actrvYz7jSM

A bastard like me – Paul Kelly

16 Lovers’ Lane

05 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Algernon, Bands at the Pig's Arms

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

the Go-Betweens

16 lovers lane 1

Album Presentation by Algernon.

The Go-Betweens released this album 30 years ago. It was the final album by their original lineup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq8ZH-Z59hQ&list=PLC8753AB9D674AFA5

Mervyn Pervis – Grand Final Hero

02 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Emmjay

≈ 10 Comments

Warning: This article contains strong language and a really long sentence that may challenge readers with short atten….. sorry, where was I again ?

Simulated Image of Pig’s Arms Publican ..Merv’s Cousin .Melvin Purvis –

Story – as told to Emmjay by his alter ego…. Walter Wall

In late breaking news, it has been revealed that the long-time stalwart and sometime publican of the Pig’s Arms has produced his greatest grand final triumph this last weekend.

The Pig’s Arms team doctor (Dr Fockter of the St Generic’s Brand Practice) revealed in a pressed conference this morning that Mervyn Purvis pulled beers the entire weekend (the season’s busiest piss-up) with a badly fractured ~~reputation~~ scrapula.

It was originally thought that Merv had been shoulder charged by one of the bankers named in the Royal Commission into Banking and Paedo Activity, however in a front page retraction by the Austrian News broadshit, the paper stated that the injury had been sustained when Merv was attempting to change a keg ….. while Manne was being sin-binned for going into touch on purpose. He was apparently going in to touch Granny who was taking a quick nap in the cellar – as is her usual habit. As opposed to Father O’Way’s usual habit – which is of course, hoarse racing. That is, running with a sore throat.

Merv said that he tripped over Manne and Granny in the dimly lit cellar, took flight and busted his shoulder on a keg tap.

Undeterred (as opposed to “under turd”, which is best used to refer to Scott Morrison’s thongs), Merv pressed on and managed to maintain an uninterruptured ~~cruciate ligament~~ flow of crisp foamy Trotter’s Ale for the duration of all the weekend’s grand finals.

Hung One On was quoted as saying “Don’t quote me, but…”. In which case, Big M undertook not to quote him. HOO then said that provided Big M was as good as his word (supercalifragilisticexpialidocious), he (Hung) could (parenthetically speaking) reveal that Merv was one huge mountain of a Manne and had shown bravery above and beyond the call of the beer taps.

Big M was palpably relieved by the fact that HOO had produced nothing quotable at this time. But he was not nearly as palpably relieved as the time Dr Fokter relieved his palps with a round of ring-banding.

When arsed what his view of Merv’s grand final weekend performance, Emmjay might have replied “He gave his all for the Pub Team”. But he really said “I dunno, I wasn’t paying attention – I reckon footy is a fuckin’ waste of time – except that it clears the streets of boof heads for a few hours for half the year – unlike cricket – which clears the streets of flannelled fools for days on end”.

Then he ordered another glass canoe of Trotter’s. Merv winced.