Pleased to announce that I’m back hosting my Ebb Tide show on 102.7 RRR FM in Melbourne over summer. The show is much the same as past years – some facts and figures behind 20 or so songs, all linked together by a loose theme – a very lazy Sunday afternoon summer radio show.
A few weeks back now, JVG’s theme for the RRR radio show was ‘bodies of water that evoke memories/emotion’.
Yep, quite a theme – thanks Jon!
One of the most astounding songs I’ve ever heard that incorporates water and memory and metaphor is John Prine’s Lake Marie. I was lucky enough to see John perform the song live at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne (thanks to my mate Gerard). I remember on that night, another muso mate – James Kenyon – was sitting not far from me, in the front row. I remember James’s head swaying through the gig, and that he was wearing a green trucker’s hat with ‘Lake Marie’ printed on the front of it.
So, we gave the song a go on the show – sounds a bit weird with my Australian accent. Vale John Prine. What a writer. D
Lake Marie: Bass – Nathan Farrelly; Lap steel – Ed Bates; Accordion and BVs – Dave Evans; Guitar & Vocal – Dan Warner
As Pumpy was away that Sunday – we played a bonus track: Nanci Griffith’s Banks of the Pontchartrain…
Banks of the Pontchartrain: Bass – Nathan Farrelly; Lap steel – Ed Bates; Accordion and BVs – Dave Evans; Mandolin and vocal – Greg Field; Guitar & Vocal – Dan Warner
This is the sole release of the celebrated Melbourne 90s duo – Dan Warner and Al MacInnes. Dan & Al were known for their long residencies at The Punters Club, The Corner and The Great Britain.
All the tracks are single takes, recorded either live at a gig or live in the studio.
This recording is actually from an Ebb Tide show from early 2020. The theme was ‘bodies of water’.
I’ve always loved the Kenneth Slessor poem, Five Bells, written about his mate Joe Lynch who drowned in Sydney Harbour (he fell off a ferry on his way to a party).
Anyway, I had a crack at reading Five Bells on the RRR show. I lopped off the opening invocation, just to shorten it a bit. I also made a couple of small mistakes – apologies to the purists.
My mate Mike Thatcher recorded it, mixed it and produced it – thanks Thatch!
This week, JVG’s theme for the radio show was ‘Protest’.
Many years ago, in the ’90s, I sent these lyrics to my good friend Sally Dastey from the band, Tiddas. Sally wrote the perfect music and melody for the words – a song all about words.
The song is called Anthem and the definitive version, believe me, is on Tiddas’s self-titled record from, I think, 1996.
Incredibly disappointing that this song is still relevant today.
D
Bass – Nathan Farrelly; Lap steel – Ed Bates; Accordion and BVs – Dave Evans; Guitar & Vocal – Dan Warner
This week, JVG’s theme for the radio show was ‘Protest’.
