Due to unforseen circumstances, and amongst other things an internet provider that won't even let me get on to my own website, I haven't updated this for quite some time. The upside is that I have a whole heap of reviews sitting here waiting to be posted. There is going to be new stuff up on an almost daily basis, so keep your eyes peeled. Here are three of the reviews.

Cornish arms 5^th birthday Celebration

I arrived at around six to catch Nick Barker’s set. He opened with “Imogene” and stated that it was an example of “songwriting revenge”. Following “World’s a Peach” and “Action Jackson”, Nick changed the tone and explained that “The Other House” was about his grandmother, before playing “Protection”. The short set was finished with “Space For Rent”. One of the other acts I had the pleasure of seeing was Vika and Linda Bull who sang a powerful set full of soulful, feel good, up beat tunes before Karma Country and State Of The Union Jack. Kerrie Simpson came on stage, with Chris Wilson joining her through out the short sets. The last set for the night belonged to Ross Wilson who opened with a new song “Here On God’s Island” before “Time Destroys (As Well As Heals)”. Daddy Cool’s “Come Back Again” was the third song of the set. “Mood Swing”, which featured in a Mothers Day CD to help raise funds for charity earlier on in the year was the next song. It was back to the older songs with “Daddy Cool” before “Cool World”. A new entry to Ross’s set list came in the form of an older song, “Woman Of The World” which was originally released when Ross was with The Party Machine, before the upbeat “Hi Honey Ho”. “Bed Of Nails” from Ross’s latest album, Country and Wilson was followed by a Mondo Rock classic that had the audience clapping along – “Come Said The Boy”. The night finished with everyone singing along to “Eagle Rock” before happily cheering Ross back on stage for an encore of “Hound Dog

Daddy Cool DVD Launch.

 

I was fortunate enough to go to the Daddy Cool DVD launch last Tuesday night and I must say it was a gas! The night kicked off their short set with “$64,000 question” followed by “Good Rockin’ Daddy” (which still features regularly in Ross Wilson’s solo set). After the song that has been dubbed “The Stalker Ballad” by many a newspaper, “Come Back Again” before the B-side to Eagle Rock, “Bom Bom”. Daddy Cool’s newest release, “The Christmas Bug” was next and it was more than clear that the band loved being onstage as much as the lucky audience loved having them back. My personal favourite Daddy Cool song “Hi Honey Hi” was next and has never sounded better. The short set finished with “Eagle Rock” leaving the audience wanting more (hopefully it won’t be another 30 year wait)

 

Finally I’d just like to say a big thank you to the folks that put the night on, particularly the person that got me into the launch. Thank you for a great night; it’s something I’ll never forget.

 

The DVD is available right now at all major retail and music stores. It’s one of the most professionally done music DVDs and contains footage of the Tsunami benefit gig earlier this year, which, if you weren’t there, you should buy just for that concert alone, let alone the other few hours of great viewing.

 

Andy Baylor benefit gig – The Rainbow Hotel

 

The night started with a great set by Mike Rudd as you may have never have heard him before – solo and acoustic (also gigging at Fresh in Elwood on the 22^nd of Jan.) I love hearing Mike solo as the acoustic approach breathes new life into classic songs, as well as a few new ones. Mick Thomas played a set as well. Before the Hornets came one featuring none other than Daddy Cool’s Wayne Duncan and Gary Young. The Hornets played a short blues set, including “Heart attack and Wine” and “Save Somebody”. By this time the Rainbow was well and truly packed to the point where it was hard to move, but there was a great atmosphere as Joe Camileri came on for a short two song set before Lucy Miller came on for three and then Ross Wilson came on to play “Flamingo”, before “Mood Swing” and the night finished with a song that should hopefully make it on to Ross’s new album, “Sexy Girl”