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.

AL NOBLE SCRATCHES HIS HEAD. FIGURES "THERE'S ONLY ONE THING IT CAN BE...........SORCERY"

John and Al having a laugh.

Al's been a regular and welcome presence since he wandered into the Shed back in May 2018.

Al's a friendly dude. Keen as mustard, and a prolific songwriter. He loves any opportunity to sing and play his guitar. And he seems to like playing with us. Great !

We've already posted two of Al's original songs, Red Dress and Hazy Ann. You can listen to them by clicking on their titles in the PBGB Vault.

And you can read all about Al's musical journey by clicking on Al's name as listed under 'The  Musos'  tab at the top of your screen.

Now we're pleased to offer up another of Al's originals........... 'Sorcery'.

Al says Sorcery  is about all those weird feelings that run through his head when he's like 'falling in lurv baby".  Sorcery is Al's only explanation for  da voodoo cast upon him as he falls. Mysterious, miraculous mojo............he never meant to fall in love again. He was fine and free yessiree !

But something strange happened, things started feeling a little jujued. Al figured it can't be 'divine intervention'. Nothing like that.  What the hell is it ??

Only one thing it can be..............Sorcery !!

Check out what we made of Al's "Sorcery" .......click HERE for a listen

Great song Al. We had good fun figuring out how to present it..........thanks for sharing it with us.

Having fun on recording day was this lot............

Al Noble, who wrote the song, sang it, and played acoustic guitar

John Drews, who played keyboards

Manny Aigner, who played electric guitar

Mick Nadin, who played harmonica

Graham Brown, who played percussion

Neil Porter, who played bass and did the production work

Pete, who played the drums

2018 MERIMBULA CLASSIC

23rd November entertainment from 6pm:
Alice Wiebe, Chelsy Atkins, PBGB, The Jennz.
Be there or be square!

LOUISE AND MICK NADIN BOUNCE BACK WITH 'WE'VE GOT IT ALL'

The Nadins have been staunch Shedders for over three years now.

Louise has righteously developed her musical chops since joining the PBGB fray, sharpening her guitar skills, taking up the bass (and with that copping the 'most improved' award) and offering up, with 'We've Got It All',  her third writer's / co-writer's credit.

Mick has proved a prolific songwriter, a sharp harp man, and a fast improving vocalist. Mick also takes a keen interest in the recording side of things. Handy !

So yea, all in all, the Nadins bring a pot of plenty to the PBGB table.

'We've Got It All' marks Louise's second solo writing effort. You can hear her first composition, 'This Place'  by clicking on the title, which you'll find listed in The Vault........click on The Vault tab at the top of your screen.

Louise tells us that 'We've Got It All' was inspired by "some recent sightseeing & camping in our Kombi around the picturesque island of Tassie. Meeting up with friends, walking through majestic mountains, camping amidst the hypnotic calm and by wild oceans, filling up on fresh local produce along the way. We could only feel humble, and as lucky as hell !!!

Sitting around the campfire at night, watching the flames dance over the logs gave us plenty of fuel for lyrics. Looking back over each days adventures brought out  a song that we wanted to share. "

So , with the help of friends in the Shed I definitely feel like.........." We've Got It All ".

Nice work Lou !!

Louise Nadin wrote We've Got It All and played bass

Mick Nadin sang and played harp

Graham Brown played percussion

Steve Faggotter played guitar

Pete played drums

Neil Porter did the studio work

STRETCH LIMOUSINE PULLS INTO THE PBGB SHED

Not too long ago we had a visit from  three likely lads who each have a bit of PBGB Shed time under their belts.

We've known Yarnnie Drakopoulos for yonks. In fact one of the earliest gigs PBGB ever did was at Yarnnie's 'Cantina' tapas and cocktails nightspot in Merimbula waaay back in the early days. Yarnnie is a long time friend of The Shed. He's an accomplished drummer but being left handed he finds it difficult  to just join in the regular fray.

Yarnnie is also the boss man at local community radio station 97.5 Sapphire fm. Sapphire djs are great supporters of PBGB and regularly play our songs. So yea, Yarnnie is in our good books !

Anyway, Yarnnie and a couple of mates have put together a band they call  'Stretch Limousine'. Yarnni's Stretch Limousine cohorts, Stevie Knight and Kingi Wineti have both logged up Shed time, but haven't until now been involved in a Shed  recording session.

So when Yarnnie called up and asked if Stretch Limousine could use The Shed to knock up a demo cd they could play to pub and club bookers we said  "Sure, come on down"

So back in August, they lugged in, plugged in, and with nary a pause knocked out a clutch of songs from their repertoire. Basically they just launched into a set from their repertoire while the recorder was rolling.

Neil took the songs home and did some rudimentary mixing, but basically what you hear is what they played on the spot.

The song featured here is a Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble cover called 'Hug You Squeeze You', a relatively obscure SRV tune that Double Trouble featured in their live repertoire for years before it finally turned up on an SRV compilation cd around the year 2000.

Anyway, have a listen by clicking HERE

Nice job boys !

Yarrnie's on the drums

Stevie's on the guitar and vocals

Kingi's on bass

AL NOBLE DOUBLES DOWN WITH 'HAZY ANN'

Just three days ago a gaggle of Shedders gathered with no particular agenda for the afternoon. After a quick natter we decided to try to get a new song down, from start to finish, on the day. An ambitious plan, but we have done it before, so........away we went.

Al had a fresh song in his kitbag, so we asked him to sing it through solo. He did. We liked it. We set to work.

We sorted out an arrangement and decided Al would play the first solo and Manny the second.

After two or three run throughs we thought, yea,  we might just be able to pull it off.

So we played it through as a rhythm section with Al providing a ghost vocal just so we knew where we were arrangement wise. Sounded good.

Al used the rhythm track to put down his 'proper' vocal track, then dropped in his lead break.

Neil took it home and mixed it down, adding a dash and sprinkle of his magic potion.

Voila !  THIS  is what came out.

All done in just three hours in The Shed and a couple of hours in Neil's Jiguma studio.  Cool!

Al tells us about Hazy Ann in his own words.......................

" OK,  so there really was a Hazy Ann but it was all a long time ago. I think as songwriters we sometimes say more about ourselves by our reactions and the positions we assume, than the protagonists we write about. A few women I have known fed into the song, but maybe they were cagey with me  for different reasons of their own. Maybe I brought that out in those women, I have no idea. In the end we mine our experience and knowledge to craft a vignette of life that explains or describes something. If a song is able to convey that to a listener in some way then that's a valid exercise.  I like the structure of Hazy Ann. I like the way the phrases clock onto the chords. I'm really happy to have a working version of Hazy Ann down on record and my thanks go to PBGB for that."

Well hell yea Al, thanks very much sir . It was pure pleasure!  Hazy Ann is a great little number and we had a ball putting it together.

We ?  Well,

Al wrote Hazy Ann, sang it and played his battered acoustic guitar

Manny Aigner played his acoustic, including on the second solo

Neil Porter played the bass and produced it

Graham Brown played the percussion

Pete played the drums

Hope ya dig it !!

MICK AND LOUISE NADIN RETURN WITH 'JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED'

Mick and Louise are such prolific songwriters that it seems like a long time since we last posted a song that one of them offered up. But the reality is that it was only in February 2018 that we posted Mick's 'Leaving It All To The Dog'.

'The Doctor' has been a while in the making. It's a song we've been toying for a good while. We've had it close to completion a couple of times, but Mick has, until now, been looking for that little extra something. That certain 'Je-ne-sais-quoi' !  Seems Mick wanted it to be 'just so', and in his search he has approached his vocals from a few different angles. Now he is happy, and HERE it is!

Louise and Mick co-authored Just What The Doctor Ordered.

Mick says the song "emerged during a weekend when he and Louise were camping and surfing at Saltwater, a particularly beautiful spot about an hour and a bit south of Pambula. The first line of the song came out of the blue, and basically inspired a tongue in cheek story which is fairly self explanatory. It draws on my dark sense of reality and life experience. Its seasoned with a little male chauvinism to keep it light hearted. Louise helped with the lyrics when I got stuck. Many a truth said in jest they say!"

Many PBGB Shedders have played around with The Doctor as it came together, but on this version

Mick sang the song and played harp

Louise played rhythm guitar

Steve Faggotter played lead guitar

Neil Porter played bass

Pete played drums

Neil also helped out with the recording and did all the production work

It's a great song thanks guys................a swinging little ditty that's always fun to play, what with its loping groove and dynamic changes.

All the Shedders like playing it, hope you like it too !

AL NOBLE DEBUTS WITH HIS 'RED DRESS'

PBGB Shed stalwarts Louise and Mick Nadin recently introduced us to their friend Al Noble. Al is a songwriter, singer / guitarist who hails from Vimy Ridge, near Tathra. In fact Al told us that he lost his house and much property in the recent Tathra bushfires............unfortunately, grim stories relating to those devastating fires continue to roll out.

Al tells his fire story like this................." We live on Vimy Ridge, up the road from where the fire started at Reedy Swamp. The fire had a howling North West wind behind it. It destroyed our neighbours on the ridge to the west of us then hit us, jumped the river and continued on to Tathra. I had built a studio which we have been living in while building the main house which was unfinished but destroyed. We somehow saved the studio and so still have a place to live. There is a black line a metre or so around the studio where we fought the fire. Everything else is soot and dust for miles. I had stacks of humungous beams that I'd Lucas milled from trees on the block and all my building materials, machinery, tools, workshop, surfboards, boats, cars and trailers and caravans full of family heirlooms and antiques........ all gone. Hard to throw a dart at where to start again. One foot in front of the other I suppose."

So it must have been a somewhat dazed and confused Al who wandered in to the Sapphire fm local community radio studio with a sheaf of songs under his arm and played us one of his songs. He calls it 'Red Dress', and we were impressed.

It's a pretty simple ditty, as many of the best songs are. Just ask any blues fan. And like many great blues songs it includes lyrics that tell of toil and relief...........relief as spelled S E X .

We were on to it in a flash. We put down a very simple rhythm groove with just a flourish or two, and thought it sounded pretty good just like that. Al's vocals suit the scene really well, sort of gruff and growly.

So the next time we were in The Shed, Al joined us and we turned on the recorder.

Voila !   THIS is what came out.

That was great fun thanks Al, welcome aboard the good ship PBGB!   We look forward to your next song.

You can read a bit about Al's musical journey HERE.

Allan Noble wrote Red Dress, sang it, and played Louise's acoustic guitar  ( Al's instruments all gone up in flames )

Louise Nadin played bass

Mick Nadin played  harp

Graham Brown played percussion

Pete played  drums

Neil Porter took care of the recording and production work

Nice going team !!!!

PBGB TEES SPOTTED AT THE 'BAND TOGETHER' TATHRA BUSHFIRE RELIEF CONCERT

As mentioned in our previous post, the 'Band Together' Tathra Bushfire Relief Concert went off last night, and it was a raging success.

Not sure exactly how much money was raised yet, but a brace of local and big name national acts put on a thoroughly professional show with crowd estimates ranging between 3,500 and 5,000 punters

A plethora of PBGB Shedders graced the three stages, and a couple of them sported their PBGB Tee Shirts

Here's John Drews readying himself to harangue his Hammond with Michael Spiby and The Badloves

In fact 'The Badloves' set featured PBGB Shedders John Drews on the Hammond B3, Ken Vatcher on drums, Andy O'Donnell on guitar and backing vocals and Dave Crowden on backing vocals.

Not to be out-done, Frankie J Holden fronted up for his sound check with 'Ol 55' sporting his PBGB Tee Shirt...........

What a blast !!

Congratulations to everybody who contributed to this amazing display of community support !!

FRANKIE J. HOLDEN AND 'THE USUAL SUSPECTS' KICK A GOAL FOR THE TATHRA BUSHFIRE RELIEF EFFORT

It is typical of the Bega Valley music community that a call for help for a good cause is answered with an immediate and generous response.

Following the devastating bushfires that ravaged Tathra on March 18, oodles of relief efforts in local communities have sprung to life.

This little story tells of two such efforts that have been organised by the local music community.................a recording for the Tathra Sea Eagles Aussie Rules footy team, and a major fund raising concert scheduled for May 26.

First, the recording...................

Frankie J. Holden is well known across Australia as a singer, actor, TV show host, and more.

In our community he is known for all that, but also as a good bloke who is forever doing something or other to support the community. If it's a good cause, Frank is probably in there helping out !

Following the March 18 fires, Frank agreed to pull together a recording for the Tathra Sea Eagles Aussie Rules Footy Club.  The idea was to record a 'version' of Ross Wilson's stupendously popular song Eagle Rock. This version features lyrics that resonate for the Sea Eagles, and will be put to great use at a gala bushfire fund raising event run by the club.

Frank knows and performs with many of the best local musos,  and very quickly assembled a bunch of the 'usual suspects' to lay down the recording.

PBGB is more than happy to lend a hand to worthy causes, so we quickly  agreed to provide The Shed for the recording, and Neil Porter put his hand up as Producer.

The gang rolled in, set up, had a cuppla beers, a laugh or three, and it was all over in a couple of hours.

THIS is what we ended up with.................the Tathra Sea Eagles Rock.

Our gratitude, and apologies, to Ross Wilson for allowing this to happen. Thanks Ross !

The 'Usual Suspects' are............

Frankie J. Holden             Bastardised lyrics and Lead Vocals, hand clapping and sea eagle imitations

Ken Vatcher                       Drums and backing vocals

Garry Carson Jones         Lead Guitar and backing vocals

Andy O'Donnell                Acoustic Guitar, backing vocals, laughter and handclaps

Mick Potter                        Bass, backing vocals and handclaps

Neil Porter                         Recording and Production

Ken, Garry, and Andy have a fun history with the PBGB Shed................ Frank and Mick have both been in The Shed before, but the Sea Eagle Rock is their first Shed recording. Welcome aboard boys !!

And then, of course, there is 'THE BAND TOGETHER TATHRA BUSHFIRE RELIEF CONCERT'.

Another fund raising effort which has the hands of Frank, Ken, Garry and Andy all over it. They are all closely involved in organising it, pulling in the acts, and performing at this gala event which is going to be a fund raising behemoth.

Featuring some very popular big name acts, including 'The Hoodoo Gurus', 'The Badloves', 'Ol' 55' and '1927', and a stellar line-up of the very best local acts, this show, will be held at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club Racecourse at Kalaru on May 26.

More information, including booking details can be found at

www.sapphirecoast.com.au/event/band-together/

Go there now and book your tickets..............this will be huge !!!!

The Pambula Beach Garage Band is very pleased to be able to contribute to efforts to assist the victims of the Tathra bushfires.

NOTE :  PEOPLE WISHING TO DONATE TO THE TATHRA BUSHFIRE RELIEF FUND CAN DO SO BY DIRECT BANK TRANSFER TO THE BEGA MAYOR'S RELIEF FUND   BSB: 012525,  ACCOUNT NUMBER  837 535 154,   OR BY PHONE USING A CREDIT CARD........PHONE (02) 6499 2345 DURING BUSINESS HOURS.