SAPPHIRE FM 97.5’S GENERAL MIKEY BEMOANS ‘BUREAUCRACY’

Mick and Louise Nadin started hanging out in The PBGB Shed around April 2015.

We knew them beforehand.........part of the gang hanging out at The Cheeky Mango and so on, friends of friends etc 

Louise came equipped with an acoustic guitar. Mick toted a box of harps and a voice. 

It soon became very apparent that Mick is a HUGE fan of the reggae mon. In fact, Mick’s alter ego is General Mikey, presenter of Sapphire FM’S 2 hour ‘General Mikey’s Reggae Show’, broadcast 8pm Thursdays and repeated at 4 pm Fridays. Tune in rasta freaks............The Gen hangs out some serious grooves !! 

No surprise then......Mick soon had us sharpening up our reggae skills. 

Mick had written some lyrics. He had a bee in his bonnet about government ‘procedures’. He also had a groove in mind, and we started kicking it all about. 

Have a listen to our finished product. Click here to play BUREAUCRACY. We had a great time putting it together. You did good Mick ! Hope ya’ll like it. Mick Nadin wrote the lyrics, knew what groove he wanted, sang and played harp. Go General Mikey !!

Steve Faggoter played the lead guitar. Louise did the percussion stuff. Neil played bass. He also did all the recording and production. Nice work Neil ! Pete played the drums

VALE KEVIN ABBEY

 We are truly saddened to learn that on the evening of February 26, 2016, long time friend and PBGB Family Member Kevin Abbey was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Kevin’s long time partner Sophie was riding pillion with Kev. Fortunately Sophie has survived the accident. At the time of writing we believe Sophie is recovering in Canberra Hospital. We wish you a speedy, complete recovery Sophie.

Kev was a great guy. A true rascal. A stirrer. 

Love him and curse him in the same breath.
   

A very talented musician who leaves behind two lovely daughters. Our hearts are with them, as they are with Sophie, and the girls’ Mum Dorothea. 

Kev’s ties to PBGB actually pre-date the formation of PBGB.

Indeed it was Kevin who approached Pete way back in the seventies, asking Pete if he would become the drummer in Kev’s successful Canberra based cabaret band Sprunter. Strange thing was, Pete had never played drums, didn’t even own a kit. But Kev had the confidence, and it happened. Pete has been in Kev’s debt ever since.

When PBGB kicked off back in 2005 Kev was amongst the earliest ‘special guests’ who used to travel far and wide to join in our crazy Shednanigans. Most of our earliest recordings that were of any value featured Kev – he was able to inject a spark into our proceedings that lifted the early PBGB bar.

Click on ‘the Musos’ tab at the top of this page. Click on Kev’s name and listen back to the recordings we made with Kev. 

We’ll miss you Kev. Thanks for a lifetime of music and mayhem.

FIRST SHED SESH/PARTY FOR 2016

Big day in the Shed today for our first play of 2016 - record set with 14 players/singers all up. Nothing recorded, but some interesting and varied music.   Max, Maceo and Michael (from the Zeitgenoßen session) brought young trumpeter Johannes along; Ken, Chris and Corinne dropped by for a visit, plus the regular seven made for a very enjoyable afternoon - my ears are still ringing!

Max, Ken, Michael and Steve

Maceo, Mick and Johannes

Dawson and Max

Louise, Pete and Rob

Chris and Corinne left early, and Neil took the pics.

FEEL THE BEAT

A funky RnB tune from me (Neil), written in 2009 and previously recorded by me with Anne Cozean (a very talented singer from the US) 


The song was written with PBGB's bass player at the time in mind, and our regular urging for him to break away from written charts and to "feel the beat".

We've been running through this over a few seshs in The Shed, and decided to try a recording with those present on the day - which turned out to be Steve, Peter, Louise and myself.  We focussed on the rhythm tracks (rhythm guitar, drums, percussion and bass) with the idea of adding vocals later, which turned out to be a good idea, as we caught a pretty tight version.

I took off to add vocals and tidy things up a bit in my home studio, and, as often happens in my home studio, I became obsessive about finishing the production off asap.  So after adding my vocal parts and sitting with no second backing vocal and no guitar solo, I decided to add both.   Dawson's backing vocals were taken from a previous recording I had on file, and I played a double tracked solo (does that make it a "duo"?).

End result was pretty good. 

I've been pretty hard to please on versions of my songs by PBGB, but I can say honestly that I am very happy with the PBGB version of "Feel The Beat".  It's very different from the original, but the playing and recording standards are among the highest raw materials from the Shed that I've worked with.

So, have a listen HERE - I/we hope you like it.

Players:
Steve Faggotter - guitar
Louise Nadin - shakers
Peter Reid - drums
Dawson Graham - backing vocal (via the wonders of digital recording!)
Neil Porter - writer, bass, vocal, guitar solo/duo, production

HENRY JONES, MALIBU SURFING ASSOCIATION 2015 ‘CLASSIC’ EVENT CHAMPION !!

We’ve been fans of Henry Jones for ages. As best as we can remember, Henry was the first local DJ to feature PBGB songs on a radio program. We think it was 2008 when we went in to the studio with a clutch of our songs and talked about music and surf on Henry’s ‘Surf Safari’ show. 

Henry’s been running his show on Eden’s 2SEA 104.7 fm station for years. The show airs from 1 until 3 every Saturday. Henry mixes the music up but it’s basically rock and roll from the 60s on. He hosts great discussions about what’s going on in the world of surfing, but the music tends to take priority. Listen in ! 

Anyway, we’ve always known Henry to be a keen surfer. We often see him cruising around with his boards on top, in the car parks, and out in the line ups. We also know he has won a good number of contests over the years. 

But recently we heard he had won an International Event in California ! WOW ! Turns out what Henry had won his Division ( over 70s – Go the Grey Grommets ) in The Malibu Classic, and that folks, is no tin pot event - it features top surfers from all over the world. 

This overview comes from the MSA Classic website.................. 

“The Malibu Surfing Association’s Classic Invitational is the United States' most prestigious club-level surfing contest and premier event in the Coalition of Surfing Clubs annual series. The 2015 Invitational Contest was held at Surfrider Beach, Malibu from September 11-13, 2015. More than 260 invited athletes representing surfing clubs from around the world competed at First Point, Malibu, one of surfing’s legendary waves." 

We were stoked for Henry, so we congratulated him and asked him to shoot us over some details and a picture. He did, and here, in his own words, is what he said.................... 

“Thanks guys, or should I say “Buddies” in a phoney American accent ?, for featuring my recent win on the PBGB Website. 

So here I am…. (with my only connection to music being a lowly DJ)…. Being asked to blow me own trumpet. Ooompa Ooompa…. oompsadazy…. (that sounds more like me bleedin’ trombone….) But, of course I can’t resist this invitation to feature on the PBGB Blog. Thanks again buddies !! 

I scored an invite into the 2015 running of the world famous Malibu Surfing Association Classic contest on the basis of my wins in some important Ozzie contests. California here I come…. Well, here WE come…. (I couldn’t find my way to the nearest corner shop without Trish). 

The surf was simply fantastic, the fun factor was really bubbling... and when I paddled out, I knew I was only ever gonna get just one brief shot at a win, at iconic Malibu. I actually had to pinch myself when I realized I was getting all the best waves, and everything appeared like it was simply falling into my lap. Yes, totally surreal … surfing perfect Malibu point WITH ONLY SIX GUYS IN THE WATER !! I reckoned I’d been practising for that moment for over sixty years…. (ever since I first pulled on a pair of tiny red budgies)…. and when they announced that I’d won, I felt I’d magically pulled my big white rabbit out of their smooth black silken hat. 

We had parked our motor home in Micky Dora’s favourite spot, so maybe some of his famous “charisma" had rubbed off…. (who ever fully understands the mystical voodoo related to one’s very good luck)? So I’m currently the Men’s Senior Legend !!! 

When they handed me the trophy I was absolutely stoked (as you could imagine) and someone yelled out “hold it up”. So I did. Trish snapped me looking a little silly I reckon (because winners are SUPPOSED to be grinners). But I guess I was just contemplating… "Jebus…. is this a REAL moment - or am I just dreaming it” ? 

Luckily again, on my last night I went to this amazing rock-concert in Del Mar (down near San Diego). It was huge, and the head-lining band was The Killers. Well, I knew every word to every song... so I flew out of LA the next night with the my spirits floating on cloud nine… (are we human, or are we dancers?) I had definitely found my winning grin…. and yes, I’m still proudly wearing it !” 

So there it is folks – local Community Radio Station DJ and keen surfer Henry Jones puts Pambula on the International Surfing Map ! Well done Henry !!

"DRAG QUEEN" VIDEO BY DAVID KELLY

'Drag Queen' from THE VAULT by PBGB from David Kelly on Vimeo.

DAWSON GRAHAM TURNS ON THE COLOURED LIGHTS

Here comes Dawson again! 

Dawson wrote Coloured Lights in response to that vivid memory most of us have of the first time we wandered around King’s Cross on a Saturday night. Bright lights, characters, clubs, shady deals, crammed footpaths, smells, flashing blue lights, sirens. Sex and drugs and rock and roll baby! 

A clutch of very hip New Zealand blues and soul singers made their way across the ditch to the big smoke of Sydney in the 60s and 70s. Many of them drawn and catering to, the money being spent by American servicemen on r and r leave from Vietnam. Max Merritt, Mark Williams and Ricky May for starters. Oh, and Dawson Graham. 

A true troubadour, Dawson moulded his early memories of the Cross into a song. And HERE it is ! Coloured Lights. 

This version of Coloured Lights is very much live from The Shed. What you hear is a raw representation of what went down in The Shed in late November 2015. 

Who did what ? 

Dawson Graham Writer, Vocals 

Steve Faggotter Electric Guitar 

Mick Nadin Harp 

Louise Nadin Acoustic Guitar 

Neil Porter Bass, Production  

Peter Reid Drums 

Enjoy! 

Coloured Lights is the second of Dawson’s original songs we have posted on the PBGB Blog. Dawson has a swag of original tunes up his sleeve, so watch this space for more

STEVE FAGGOTTER DEBUTS, ON LEAD GUITAR, ON DAWSON GRAHAM’S ‘DRAG QUEEN’

Couple of months ago Neil said he had a mate, a guitarist, who might just be interested in checking out The Shed. "Steve ...... he’s a good player”. “Invite him along” 

In came Steve. He liked what he heard, he liked what he saw. We liked him, we liked what he played. He’s turned up to virtually every Sesh since ! That’s fine by us - Steve makes the sort of noises we like. You might too. Check Steve’s lead licks on THIS .

That is a song Dawson wrote called Drag Queen. Listen up and you’ll click it’s about a drag racing car. Nothing to do with transvestites. The song is a tribute to Sandy Rose, a member of Dawson’s family, who died of cancer earlier this year. Rose’s husband Jerry drag races a Fiat Topolino in Dawson’s home country – New Zealand. The Fiat is called Little Mouse. 

That version of Drag Queen is an off the desk live blast from The Shed. It features what has been a relatively stable line-up of late.  

The recording was cut about the third time ‘we’ played the song. ‘We’ ? 

Dawson Graham Writer, Vocals, Resonator Guitar 

Steve Faggotter Lead Guitar 

Louise Nadin Rhythm Guitar 

Mick Nadin Harp 

Neil Porter Bass, Recording and Production 

Peter Reid Drums 

Nice one team ! Welcome to the PBGB Family Steve. More noises like that please. You can read more about Steve by clicking HERE

THE MATT BURROWS PROJECT

Our association with Matt started a couple of years ago when we spotted Matt playing with GUITARAMA  at Lynne and Andy O’Donnell’s Cheeky Mango Cafe. 

We were impressed with Matt’s playing and before long Matt was in The Shed where he recorded ISOLATION and RITUAL with the help of PBGB Family Members Dave Crowden and Ken Vatcher on bass and drums respectively. Dave is the creator / guru of Guitarama and a former music teacher of Matt’s. Ken is, well Ken is almost everywhere when it comes to music in the Bega Valley. 

Fast forward a couple of years, and Matt got back in touch. He had composed five new songs and was wondering if Neil might be kind enough to record and produce them for him. Neil was in fact kind enough, so The Matt Burrows Project got underway. You can listen to all five of Matt’s new songs – Canaan, Moonlight Over Mundaka, Petrichor, Scarlett and Somnium – by clicking HERE. 

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Matt wrote all five songs, and played all the guitar parts. It is a completely solo effort apart from Neil’s production work, and Pete’s drums on Somnium. PBGB is proud to help promote the work of young musicians, in particular those who write their own music. Matt fits this bill perfectly. 

We are super impressed with Matt’s composing and playing skills, and look forward to working with Matt again. Beautiful songs played superbly Matt. Come back to The Shed anytime sir !

DAWSON GRAHAM DEBUTS ON SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT

Not so long ago, Mick and Louise brought a friend (Dawson) along to The Shed. They reckoned  Dawson would fit The Shed vibe pretty well. They said that he liked music with a gospel tinge, or laced with a bluesy feel. Not only that, said they, Dawson can sing and play guitar at the same time!!

Sounded good to us.

So in came Dawson. He toted a Resonator and a clutch of original songs.

It quickly became apparent that Dawson has a powerful, soul filled voice, and can wring some very tasty sounds out of  his guitar. And, for that matter, his uke.

It is sort of normal (if anything in the Shed might be described as ‘normal’ ) that we ask newbies whether they have a song they feel very confident playing and or singing.

When we asked Dawson, he launched into a solo rendition of Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

It sounded pretty special, so we made a mental note to consider recording it as a solo effort.

And so it came to pass that as soon as Neil came back from swanning all over Europe we decided we’d ask Dawson to front the microphones and put down a version of Swing Low.

And THIS is what happened.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot is believed to have been written by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman, around 1860. A Choctaw freedman is a freed slave who has joined the Choctaw tribe of native Americans.

The first known recording of Swing Low was made in 1909. It has since been covered by zillions of people, including Eric Clapton. No pressure there Dawson!  It was also performed by Joan Baez at the seminal Woodstock. Festival in 1969.  Perhaps strangest of all, Swing Low Sweet Chariot is the anthem of the English Rugby Union Team. Huh ??

Dawson is now, to our great pleasure, a regular Shedder so if you watch this space you will hear more of his playing and singing.

Welcome to the PBGB Family Dawson !

You can read more about Dawson’s musical history by clicking HERE