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TALES OF THE CITY
Alice Cooper once said: "City people live the city. We live
in LA, New York, we live in places where it's chaotic and
you never know what's gonna happen. And that's the music
- you never know what's gonna happen." JR Reyne's new EP
is called Surrounded By The City (available at Bandcamp).
The strength of the songs suggests that musically he has
finally found his way - thousands of miles from home. The
title comes from the song Heart & Soul, which JR wrote in
New York. "Even though I've always mainly lived in cities,
none had quite the effect on me that New York did," he explains.
"On one hand, there's so much noise and energy and people,
but on the other hand, it can also feel a little lonely,
especially in winter. So I guess the line 'you're surrounded
by the city but somehow alone' is about the juxtaposed feelings
of suffocation and loneliness, or something like that."
A highlight of the EP is Montgomery. "I wanted to write
a tune with a name as the title, but not a female name,
as there are lots of those. The song's about having a word
with yourself: 'don't sweat the small things … snap out
of it'; you know, stop being a jerk and get over it." The
song includes the line, "Some people keep on fucking up."
What's been JR's biggest career mistake? "Where do I start?"
he laughs. "To be honest, there are many, and there will
most probably be many more. Without sounding too clichéd,
I've found that the mistakes you make along the way are
the best times to look at what you're doing and make changes
for the better. A lot of the best fuck-ups have ended up
being the best opportunities."
Don't sweat the small things, and, as Warren Zevon said,
enjoy every sandwich. JR kicked off 2013 covering Zevon's
Sentimental Hygiene for Pure Pop's Summer of Classic Albums.
"More than anything, I love his lyrics," JR says. "He makes
you laugh and think at the same time. He's one of the only
songwriters I know who can mix super dark humour, sarcasm,
cynicism, wit, politics, and drop a few historical and landmark
references effortlessly into a tune - and without sounding
pretentious. Bloody genius." Coincidentally, Sentimental
Hygiene was produced by JR's friend, and sometimes producer,
Niko Bolas, "so it has a personal attachment to me, too".
A bonus track on JR's EP is his cover of the Stones' No
Expectations, which he did for a Canadian tribute album
to mark the band's 50th anniversary. The line "Once I was
a rich man, now I am so poor" could perhaps refer to JR's
pursuit of the rock 'n' roll life after some well-paid acting
gigs, including a stint in Neighbours. Will he do more acting?
"Definitely." But right now, music is his focus. JR is based
in LA, and doing EP launch shows in LA, Austin and New York.
He plans to come home for a summer tour later this year.
EVEN FLOW
Even launch their fan-chosen compilation, First XVIII, at
Ding Dong on Saturday (with The Fauves' Andrew Cox). If
you were choosing a song from Even's 18 years to play in
the ruck? Howzat! would opt for Black Umbrella, a song of
which The Kinks would be proud. And the Even tune to play
at centre half-forward? How 'bout the majestic Shining Star?
MADNESS, MOUNTAINS & MUSIC
Great to see Aztec Records back in business. Gil Matthews'
label shows the music world how to do reissues, with deluxe
packaging and remastering. Aztec's latest release is Blackfeather's
1971 debut, At The Mountains Of Madness. An Aussie prog
rock classic, Blackfeather could have been our Zeppelin.
Glorious '70s indulgence, with elongated instrumental breaks
and trippy lyrics (the title was taken from a H.P. Lovecraft
novella). It features the timeless Seasons Of Change - with
Bon Scott on recorder. Ian McFarlane's excellent liner notes
reveal Bon was in the running to be the band's lead singer,
but the gig went to teenager Neale Johns, who still fronts
a version of Blackfeather 42 years later.
GOOD EVANS
Bob Evans was in a nostalgic mood at the Corner last Friday,
recalling how he met his wife at the venue in 1996. Bob's
sparkling set included a cover of I Touch Myself, as well
as a touching walk through the crowd for Darlin' Won't You
Come? Bob's band included support act Davey Lane, while
the other support, Sydney's Tigertown (seemingly oblivious
to the fact they were in the heart of Tiger town), impressed
with their Fleetwood Mac-like sound. Definitely a band to
watch.
CHART WATCH
Luke Kennedy leads The Voice charge on the charts.
Time To Say Goodbye LUKE KENNEDY (number eight, debut)
Hello STAFFORD BROTHERS (12)
Mas Que Nada EMMA PASK (15, debut)
If I Were A Boy CATERINA TORRES (28, debut)
Woodstock CELIA PAVEY (29, debut)
Home Is Where The Heart Is BLISS N ESO (31, debut)
Holdin On FLUME (35)
Alive EMPIRE OF THE SUN (39)
No Aussie albums in the Top 10.
Life Is A Highway JASON OWEN (number 12)
Romantique RACHAEL LEAHCAR (15)
The Golden Jubilee Album THE SEEKERS (17)
Flume FLUME (20)
Sharkmouth RUSSELL MORRIS (26)
Some Other Spring EMMA PASK (32, debut)
The Sapphires SOUNDTRACK (34)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Heart & Soul JR REYNE
Shining Star EVEN
Lions And Witches TIGERTOWN
Maps BOB EVANS
Seasons Of Change BLACKFEATHER
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