MICK NADIN DIGS THE 'POOR BOY'

You'd have to say Mick loves his music. He's heavily into it. Not only does he write songs, he also sings, plays harp, and always enjoys the time he spends hanging in the PBGB Shed. Working under  the pseudonym 'General Mikey'  he even has a weekly reggae hour on our local community radio station 97.5 Sapphire fm.

Yep, he sure loves his reggae, but he also has a soft spot for the blues.

Mick turned up in The Shed one day with a song he called 'Poor Boy'.

We liked it. So we tossed it about for a while........ set up a groove, figured out what should go where and when.

A close listen to the lyrics will tell you it's a story about a poor boy who "ain't got no dollars, ain't got no sense,  ain't got no home, no friends, ain't even got a puppy. But he's happy just playin' the blues."

Wouldn't be the first one !

Click HERE for a listen

Thanks Mick, it's a really good song, fun song to play. Made us happy just playin' the blues !

Mick Nadin wrote the song, sang it and played his harp

Steve Faggotter played the Lead Guitar
Al Noble - Guitar

Louise Nadin played Bass

Graham Brown played Percussion

Pete played the drums

Neil Porter did the production work.

AL NOBLE CRIES "TRAIN, CARRY ME AWAY"

Cuppla weeks ago Al wandered into The Shed loaded up with a song he called Train.

Al writes some mean bluesy stuff, and we know that trains are iconic in the blues idiom. Yes siree!

Trains were often the only way to escape the harsh reality of life in the South of the USA.  They were often times the ticket to the Promised Land.

The railroads were also a major source of work at the time of emancipation.

As early as 1854, the Rock Island Line, a line featured in many early blues songs, ran trains from the Delta all the way up to Chicago. Many a famous blues player jumped aboard  that line. 

As such, railroads were a logical subject matter for  cotton field chants and gospel songs.

The legendary clandestine escape route to the North for Southern slaves was called ‘The Underground Railway’.  The people who helped the fleeing slaves en route were called ‘conductors', while the places they hid in, barns or cellars, were known as 'stations'. Some spirituals were used as codes to indicate that a journey was preparing start.

So to the litany of railroad songs by artists including Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Otis Rush, Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis Presley we now add Train, by Al Noble!

Anyway, Al strolled in, played the song through once. We figured a shuffle was the way to go. A railroad shuffle.   We ran through it a cuppla times. Sounded good.  Manny suggested we record take one with just his rhythm guitar, then overdub his lead.

That's what we did, and THIS is what we got!

All shunted together, go to whoa, in three hours. Great fun.

We dig it, hope you do too.

Thank you brother Al!

Al Noble wrote Train, sang it and played Acoustic Guitar

Manny Aigner played Electric Guitar

Mick Nadin blew his Harp

Neil Porter played Bass and did the production work

Graham Brown played Percussion

Pete played the Drums

CHELSY ATKINS OFFERS WORDS OF WISDOM .......'DON'T LET LIFE PASS YOU BY'

In October 2018 we had the pleasure of recording two original compositions by local artiste Chelsy Atkins.

We posted her first song, 'Positivity' back in November. Scroll down to the post dated November 7, 2018, or click on Chelsy's name under 'The Musos' tab at the top of your screen to read all about Chelsy's musical journey through life. 

Now we have the pleasure of presenting  the second song Chelsy recorded on the day. It's titled 'Don't Let Life Pass You By'. 

Chelsy reminds us that our time on planet Earth is fleeting. In the greater scheme of things,  we're here for just an instant. Time keeps on ticking away.........clock goes around and around.......sun rises, sun goes down.......people come and go.  Don't let life pass you by........make the most of the brief time we have.  

Chelsy is a great believer in appreciating life and all that it offers. She sees so much beauty in the simple things that surround us, and she expresses her appreciation through her music and her art. She believes that everyday offers us something we should truly appreciate and savour.

Have a listen to 'Don't Let Life Pass You By'.

Thanks Chelsy!  It's a great song, presented in your truly distinctive style. We appreciate your sharing it with us, and we hope you will come back with more of your songs. Better make that soon.........life just keeps passing by you know !

MICK NADIN'S ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 'CATHCART JOHNNY'

About 60 ks up the back road from Pambula to the high country ski fields is a little town called Cathcart.

Perhaps Cathcart's most talked about character is a fella most folks call Cathcart Johnny.

Little is actually known about him. He's very reclusive. 'Spite of that, Cathcart Johnny is a local legend.

People spot him walking along Mt. Darragh Road. Rumour has it he lives in a hollow log up near the top of Big Jack Mountain and walks to the Cathcart store to collect his goodies from time to time. 

Story goes the Cathcart community gave him a caravan but he prefers his log.

His long black coat, black trousers and boots never seem to change, despite the extremes of weather up the top of the range.

That's about all we know.

PBGB loves producing songs about local people and places. We were stoked when Mick told us he had written a song about Cathcart Johnny. 

We kicked it about, performed it at the Merimbula Classic, then took it back to The Shed and turned on the recorder. 

Take a listen......click  HERE

Mick Nadin wrote the song, sang it, and played Harp.

Steve Faggotter played Lead Guitar

Al Noble played Guitar

Louise Nadin played Bass

Pete played Drums

Neil Porter Produced.

Anyone seen our friend ?

SOMETIMES AL NOBLE FEELS LIKE A CAVE MAN !!

Towards the end of 2018 we started kicking around a song Al had dragged out of his kit bag. He called it 'Cave Man' and he wanted us to get down and dirty with it.

We think words like sludge, grunge, gritty and nasty best describe the feel Al was after. Al steered us towards the Trogg's version of Wild Thing as a guide. He wanted it to sound loose. Sort of sounds that might well come up best after a bottle of bourbon or two. You know, just enough to take the edge off.

Essentially Cave Man is an alpha male song that has no place in the 21st century.................talkin' 'bout the sort of feelings a totally unreconstructed Neanderthal might sense creeping up on him when sitting across the fire from a woman draped in a leopard skin.  "Waaaah !!  Come with me to the cavern of love baby......we can jump all around........ I got a PhD in primitive love !! "  You know, basic instincts.

We got  Manny to get out all his grungy trick toys and turn them all on at once. Volume 11 please Manny.

It's probably true to say that we actually spent more time roughing this song up than polishing it.

Click HERE to have a listen.

Al Noble wrote the song, played guitar, and sang it.

Manny Aigner played the lead guitar

Steve Faggotter played electric rhythm guitar

Mick Nadin blew the harp

Graham Brown played percussion

Neil Porter played the bass and did the production

Pete played the drums

PBGB TEE SIGHTED AT ANDY O'DONNELL'S PENULTIMATE GIG (?) WITH THE FIGMENTZ

Andy, John, Ken and Dave

So there we were at Pambula's Longstocking Brewery, for to witness what could be one of Andy's last gigs with the mighty Figz.

Andy and his new family are heading off to live in Orange in the new year, so we figured this might well be one of the last Figz gigs with Andy up front. So of course we went along. Had to.

The Figz blazed ! 

And there, up the back on the Hammond, was John Drews sporting his PBGB Tee!  That gave us a great excuse to post a very fond farewell to Andy, and a Figz line-up that has endured for over a decade, thrilling local crowds and visitors with their brilliant performances.

Word has it that Andy reckons he might come back for 'special' shows with the Figmentz, but.........who knows where or when ?

What we do know is that The Figz are appearing at Merimbula's Ford Park on New Year's Eve, and you'd be mad to miss Andy's final appearance before he shoots off.

See ya there !!

Thanks Andy, for fronting the band through an incredible run of music that has spoiled us rotten. How lucky are we, in this little corner of the planet,  to have had such a spectacular band at our fingertips ?

Cheers Andy. All the very best from all your mates in the PBGB Shed. We'll miss you and keenly await your return.

STRETCH LIMOUSINE "HEADIN DOWN" TO THE LOW DOWN SIDE OF TOWN

Listen up folks........here's another song by local boogie boys 'Stretch Limousine'.

A few weeks back we posted Stretch Limousine's version of Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Hug You Squeeze You ".  Click on the title in The PBGB Vault to catch that bit of backroom boogie, and to read about how it was that Stretch Limousine came to motor right into the PBGB Shed.

The Limos put down a few songs on the day, including an original song called 'Headin Down'. Vocalist and Lead Guitar player Stevie Knight told us that Headin Down was written by Melbourne band Electric Mud, for whom he played bass back in the early 90s.

'Headin' Down' is a classic Southern style blues, in both structure and story. The lyrics conjure up those time honoured blues laments of despair, worry, broken men, broken lives and life in general on the low down side of town.

If you like Johnny Winter you'll be right at home with Headin' Down !  It's a forlorn yet jumpy  little number that does a great job of showcasing the talents of this throwdown threesome.

The boys reeled it off in a single take, so what you hear is straight off the desk, one go, no add ons or re-runs.

Have a listen to Stretch Limousine crankin' out  Headin' Down by clicking HERE

Nice one lads !!!  We enjoyed the session and we dig featuring original material by local musos on our website.........so how about headin' down to The Shed for more ? 

Stevie Knight features on Vocals and Guitar

Kingi Wineti played Bass

Yarrnie Drakopoulos played Drums.

Neil Porter - Production

CLASSIC PICS

Had a really good night doing our annual live gig at the Merimbula Classic.  Alice Wiebe, PBGB and the Jennz brought a varied few sets to the competitors and locals.

Alice did really well - she has a beautiful voice and some great originals.

The Nadins play (while Dexter was away!).

Probably - "Leaving It All To The Dog"

Rock star Al

One day Neil will remember lyrics without a cheat-sheet (or in this case a cheat-iPad).

Big Car - No Shoes

Tell Me Honey

Manny

Jennz

The Jennz first ever show - thanks Ken!

The Jennz

The Jennz

MERIMBULA CLASSIC GIG - THIS FRIDAY 23/11/2018

This Friday (23/11/2018), catch this collection of PBGB family members at the 2018 Merimbula Waveriders Classic at Ford Park in Merimbula.  Alice Weibe opens proceedings at 6pm, followed by Chelsy Atkins at 6:30.  Then "PBGB" will be playing from 7pm, with "The Jennz" closing proceedings from 8pm.  Food and drink is available and the event is free.  This is effectively the one chance you'll get to see PBGB playing live this year, and is the first live performance from The Jennz.

Playing as PBGB: Manny Aigner (guitar), Graham Brown (percussion/vocal), Louise Nadin (bass), Peter Reid (drums/vocal), John Drews (Hammond), Ken Vatcher (drums), Mick Nadin (harmonica/vocal), Neil Porter (bass/vocal), Al Noble (guitar/vocal), and Steve Faggotter (guitar).

The Jennz are: Dennis Milsom (keyboards), Neil Porter (bass), Jenny Halper (vocal), Ken Vatcher (drums), and Manny Aigner (guitar).

 

PBGB

The Jennz

 

     

Alice Weibe

Chelsy Atkins

                                                 

CHELSY ATKINS BRINGS A POTION OF 'POSITIVITY' TO THE PBGB SHED.

Chelsy Atkins is a talented songwriter, singer, guitarist who lives right here in Pambula. She performs at local venues and festivals. We've been aware of Chelsy's talent for a good while, and have keenly anticipated welcoming her to The PBGB Shed.

It took a while, but back in early October ( 2018 ) all the ducks lined up and Chelsy spent an afternoon in The Shed recording a couple of her original tunes. It was great fun. Chelsy is a charmer, and was as cool as. She reeled off her songs in no time flat. Well done Chelsy !

Chelsy was born in Albany, Western Australia. She is a descendant of the Yamatji Widi cultural group, whose country spreads across the  mid‑West and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia, stretching from Carnarvon in the North to Meekatharra in the East, to Jurien in the South.

At age seven, Chelsy, one of five kids in the family, moved to Tamworth NSW. There, at age thirteen, Chelsy joined in the family's music making fun and games, and started writing and performing her own songs.

That there was always music in the family home is not surprising. Google 'Mark Atkins' ( Chelsy's dad ) and you will learn that father Mark is celebrated worldwide for his skill on the didgeridoo.

In fact, Mark, a storyteller, songwriter, composer and painter, was the 1990 winner of the Golden Didjeridu Competition, and has worked with artists as diverse as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Hothouse Flowers, Philip Glass, The Black Arm Band ( which he founded ), and the London Philharmonic !!

No wonder Chelsy has an artistic bent !

In her teens Chelsy travelled widely around Australia .........back to explore the West Australian Coast at fifteen, then a year in Currumbin ( Queensland  )  where she continued her reconnection with her culture by performing traditional dances for visitors to the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Chelsy is now settled in Pambula with her two girls, who are lucky enough to attend the beautiful Pambula Primary School.

Anyway, yea, we knew about Chelsy and had seen her perform at various culturally connected events, including the opening of the Tilba Aboriginal Art Centre and the spectacularly successful 2018 Giiyong Festival at nearby Jigamy Farm.

Chelsy is working hard to realise her dream of recording an album in the USA in 2019.

In the meantime, she graciously accepted our invitation to lay down a couple of her original songs in The Shed.

The first, 'Positivity', tells about the choice between viewing things as either positive or negative. Chelsy says that is our choice.........that we shouldn't  cry about things......there is invariably a positive side if we just seek it out.........and that we should recognise opportunities, and learn from them.

Sounds good to us Chelsy !  

Thank you so much for sharing your songs with us.

Have a listen to Chelsy's fine guitar playing and powerful vocal rendition of 'Positivity'  by clicking HERE.

And keep an eye on the PBGB Blog for a second song by Chelsy............ coming soon.