Megascene issue 3

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

. . . featuring music, food, fashion and lifestyle in Adelaide

Issue 3

November 2015

Rock Of Ages photos

Interview with Walking With Thieves

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Interview with The Dead Daisies

Interview with Zkye

Interview with Adam Cocca

High School Reunion photos

Rising Star Media Photography - Video - Design

Photography

by Sue Hedley

Specialising in music industry photography, portraits and events

www.risingstar.com.au 2

rsm@risingstar.com.au

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

John Schumann 4

Photo by Sue Hedley

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

IN THIS ISSUE 8 10 14 17 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 56 58 59 60

Interview with Walking With Thieves Interview with Adam Cocca Interview with Zkye Interview with The Dead Daisies Live gig photos of High School Reunion 1927 Dragon

Deborah Conway

Wendy Matthews

The Europgliders

Steve Kilby Misex

Psuedo Echo

Ross Wilson Swanee Music News Gigs for November Lily and The Drum Live gig photos of David Day’s Rock of Ages

The Angels

Vince Contarino Swanee

John Schumann

Brian Cadd

Bev Harrell

Russell Morris

Masters Apprentices

The Twilights Live Sound Advice SA Paranormal Markets in Adelaide Maria’s Column - 2015 Corporate Cup Run and

2015 Australian Masters Games Followup

2015 Duathlon ITU World Championships 5

The Angels

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Photo by Sue Hedley

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

MEGAscene Editor: Sue Hedley Associate Editor: Carina Bonney Editor’s Assistant: Maria Szczerba

EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the third issue of online magazine MEGAscene. I hope you enjoy reading it and looking at all the music photos.

Regards, The Editor

Sue

Editorial Assistant Jo Newman Contributors: Allen Tiller Deb Brunotte Carina Bonney Maria Szczerba Frank Lang Jo Newman Photographer: Sue Hedley Additional Photography: Maria Szczerba Layout: Sue Hedley Published by: Rising Star Media www.risingstar.com.au MEGAscene web address: www.facebook.com/megasceneoz Editorial and Advertising enquiries: rsm@risingstar.com.au Telephone: Sue - 0414 984 739 Postal address: PO Box 333 Greenacres SA 5086 © Rising Star Media 2015 All rights reserved

David Day’s Rock Of Ages photos All materials published in MEGAscene are subject to copyright. No part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. The opinions expressed in MEGAscene are not necesarily those of the editors or publisher.

No responsibility is taken for the contents or illustrations of advertisements. This linking to other sites within MEGAscene is provided strictly as a courtesy by Rising Star Media for the convenience of its’ users and Rising Star Media is not responsible for the content of any site linked, or linked within a site, nor does it constitute the endorsement of the web sites or of their policies, products, services or delivery of goods. Rising Star Media will not be held accountable for the content of any postings contained in any site linked or linked within a site, nor does it deem reliable any offers, expert advice, financial opportunities, or otherwise that any such postings should imply.

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

WALKING WITH THIEVES

Words by Jo Newman Photo supplied by Walking With Thieves

“My ultimate gig would be to play a major European festival like Reading or Download Festival!”

In 2012, fairly new to the music scene of Adelaide, young original rock band Walking With Thieves take out the winning place for Northern Sound Systems Battle Of The Bands.

The most valuable of all the prizes was they were under the watchful eye of PJ Murton, the man who also helped launch and manage Hilltop Hoods in their early days.

According to guitarist Luke Busuttil, “PJ Murton and Northern Sound System are genuinely great people and were an instrumental part of us learning the basics of the music business.

They do a lot of awesome work and really care about local music. I think that was the point, when we started spending time with them, that we started taking the band more seriously and ultimately we put ourselves on a path to continuously improve our abilities.”

Jo: Where did this all begin?

Luke: This all began with Dillon on bass and myself on guitar after high school. We wanted to form a band so we brought Randell in who was an old friend of Dillons and a classmate of In the same year Walking With Thieves also won mine. Then we started the long road of finding the National Campus Band Competition which a drummer and a singer - we went through showcased over 252 Acts from 37 Institutions many of both, and finally landed on these two around the country. This competition has seen scrubs (says jokingly). known bands such as Eskimo Joe, Jebediah and Vasko Era progress to international/ Dillon: We took awhile, we wanted to make national success. Walking With Thieves were sure we found the right guys so we had quite the third band from SA to have won this a few people come and go. competition, winning $8,000 worth of prizes, including some valuable recording time, which Jo: What was it that clinched the deal, that in 2013 they spent at Chapel Lane Studios these were the right guys? alongside engineer Gabriel Agostino recording Dillon: Obviously first and foremost it was their debut EP “What’s Left of Your Head”. actual ability, watching them play. Once you That was 2 years ago and here we are tonight were in a room with these guys we knew, we at the launch party for their newest single just felt it.

“Take The Dark Way”, which was recorded at Blackhaus Studios with Mike Sinclair and Matt Jo: Have any of you been involved in other Cooper The single was released on October musical projects?

2nd this year and is now available via iTunes, Luke: Most of us had been in a band before Spotify and other outlets.

Walking With Thieves, during and just out of I got to chat to the guys just before they High School but this has been the first serious band for all of us and we have managed to were due on stage.

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keep the same members from the beginning.

Jo: Musical Influences?

Cam: (Vocalist) - I grew up with 70’s and 80’s rock. The 3 singers I’m most influenced by are Thom Yorke from Radiohead, Maynard James Keenan from Tool and Ian Kenny from Karnivool.

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Dillon: Ultimate gig for me personally would be any sort of big show or festival that holds special meaning to Australians. Playing a festival like Big Day Out (although it is currently defunct), one that is held close to people’s hearts as an iconic musical event in our country.

Luke: From the beginning we have said Soundwave would be an amazing gig Dillon: (Bass) - I’m very much influenced by milestone. My ultimate gig would be to play glam, like Guns And Roses and Motley Crue. a major European festival like Reading or Download Festival!

Luke: (Guitar) - My Influences learning guitar early on was Slash and Joe Satriani.

The Thieves style of music can be described as Randell: (Guitar) - For me it’s Macedon and Emotive Rock, songs with depth and meaning.

The Melvins. I grew up with bands like Tool My personal favourites are Renaissance and and Led Zep, I like a cross between rock metal Guillotine, and Cannon always gets the crowd going. and psychedelia.

Jesse: I play drums and my influences are Chad Smith from Chilli Peppers and I listened to a lot of A System of The Down. I like heavier simpler style of metal.

Do yourselves a favour and visit the website have a listen and even write a review and better yet see them live. You will not be disappointed.

Jo: Any brushes with fame musically?

www.soundcloud.com/walkingwiththieves

Luke: We supported the Angels in 2012 and www.triplejunearthed.com/ were lucky enough to have John Brewster WalkingWithThieves come out to a studio session and give us feedback and advice on our songwriting.

Dillon : Yeah, meeting John Brewster from the Angels was incredibly cool. Though I missed a chance to catch Dave Gleeson before a show that we played together when Dave started singing in The Angels.

Jo: Where to now for the band?

Luke: Interstate touring. We are playing a couple of gigs in November in Victoria Grumpys in Fitzroy and Megastore in Bendigo - further time in the studio recording another EP, and playing more shows.

Jo: As a band what would be the most ultimate gig ?

Jesse: The most ultimate gig would probably be a show packing out Adelaide Oval.

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

ADAM COCCA

Words by Deb Brunotte

As a child I always had an affinity with guitar and I used to make out I could play guitar with frying pans and broomsticks.

Adam Cocca has been on the Adelaide music scene for over 3 decades and has played with many people. He is a rare find that can play almost anything and sing as well … plus a really good guy. I decided since he was visiting me that I would interview him. Meet Adam …

Deb: At what age did you dabble in music?

Adam: As a child I always had an affinity with guitar and I used to make out I could play guitar with frying pans and broomsticks. I even had a kid size electric toy guitar … but I couldn’t play it back then. I would have been about 8 or 9 years old.

Deb: Were you influenced by anyone to play music? When did you start taking it seriously?

Adam: No, I just saw it on tv and wanted to do it. I listened to ACDC records, Beatles … stuff like that and just wanted to play along to it. I learned the long hard road by trial and error. I learned to play lead guitar better than I could play chords because I found it really easy. I pretty much learned to play because at that time I wanted to write music. Once I realised I was pretty good at it I started to jam with anyone. I had confidence in the rehearsal room but no confidence to perform on stage.

I remember Lisa Vasey asked me to jam at a hotel but I didn’t go … she said to me “when you’re ready you’ll know”. And that’s how it was. It’s just very natural for me to play.

Deb: Did you ever have guitar lessons?

Adam: I taught myself how to play guitar. I didn’t even know how to tune it so I made up my own tuning. I didn’t learn properly until later on. To this day I have still never had a guitar lesson. In the early days I just used to go to Custom Music and watch everybody and 10

listen and learn and then go home and practice 8 hours a day.

Deb: What was your first big gig?

Adam: Opening for Jimmy Barnes and Swanee at the Bridgeway hotel about ’84/’85. It was 5 nights sold out which was pretty cool.

Adam: That was with Woodstock with Harry Kerylidis on vocals, Cos on bass and Mark Potter on drums. We wrote originals but played covers our way as well. It was just hard edge rock and roll, pretty much. Woodstock went all around Australia touring supporting acts like Swanee, Moving Pictures, John Mayall Blues Band etc. We also played a lot of

festivals back then.

Deb: What other bands have you played with?

Adam: I played with an original band called Third Wish with the rhythm section from Woodstock. We wrote and recorded songs and released a single “Give Me Good Loving” and “What Your Loving Man Can Do”. That was on vinyl. Then Thoroughly Good Party Band played a lot of gigs around town in the 90’s. The Front Page was pretty cool. Then I was asked to join High Voltage and spent five years with them. They went everywhere man … they were good days. It was awesome they treated us like rock stars. After that I had a 3 piece covers band called Bongo Boogie.

They were good players and that was fun too.

I’ve jammed with many musos since then, including Dino Jag. Deb: I know you did a lot of solo work and also some duo stuff … but you gave up music for many years? Why was that?

Adam: I was worn out. I played so much I was just worn out. I just stopped. I got very depressed and was diagnosed with depression.

I spent the next 7 years not playing music.

Deb: How was that working for you?

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with High Voltage and I walked out onto the speaker stacks out front of the stage and he was screaming at me to get back on the stage in case I fell off the speakers and I got stuck out there. He had to help me get back on the stage, haha. Yeah, never did that again man. I don’t read music it’s all to ear. I have a naturally good ear and my hearing is a lot sharper so I hear the notes in my head without even playing them.

Deb: Who are your favourite influences?

Adam: My favourite influences hmmm … when I was younger I loved the guys from Status Quo, ACDC obviously, Ian Moss, Mick Ralph from Bad Company. There are so many great players to choose from. I’ve taken something from all of them and now I just play my own stuff the way I wanna play it and that’s working for me. I love Zeppelin and players like Satriani and early Gary Moore.

Deb: What guitars do you play?

Adam: When I play acoustic I use mini Matons.

I love those guitars, they sound great. On electric I use a Gibson Les Paul through a BlackStar S145. It’s great rock and roll sound man….that’s what it is. I’ve got a Fender Strat that I never play that I bought in about 2013. Don’t know why I bought that one. I like playing the white Gibson Les Paul Studio too.

Adam: Not real good. That’s when I started talking to you… you idiot! Lol! So I went around and saw you and that was it … did a gig with Acoustic Blonde, no rehearsals and Deb: Not only are you a great guitarist, you bang it’s always been like that. I realised that also sing great lead and backing vocals. Did not playing music was making me depressed. you ever learn singing?

Deb: I hope you don’t mind me asking this.

You have vision impairment. How much vision do you have and has it affected your music or performances in any way? You must have a very good ear and memory to be able to play as many songs as you do all by ear?

Adam: For a short time I went to see a singing teacher and then I just stopped. It wasn’t for me. I found my own way with that as well.

I found that pretty natural as well. I always sang for as long as I can remember. I wasn’t always good though. That took a while. I had no confidence and never thought I was any Adam: I have less than ten percent vision. It’s good so it took a while to be comfortable with been like that for a long time so I don’t think my voice. I still don’t really like hearing myself it affects me. It doesn’t affect my playing … on recordings. more likely to trip over a microphone lead or something, or fall off a stage. I’ve done that. Deb: Where are you at now and what do you Haha! When I was with High Voltage we had vision yourself doing in the future? this little roadie guy called Flea and he would always look out for me. We were at Ponde Adam: I’m in a great place at the moment.

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

Enjoying playing music and just loving life.

What do I want to do in the future? Just to continue what I’m enjoying doing now and look forward to what the future brings with the music … and the next gig. Gotta live for the gigs.

Deb: How do you source most of your gigs?

Do you use an agent?

Adam: Pretty much most of gigs are booked direct. Through word of mouth seems to be the thing. If you do a good job you get work.

Acoustic Blonde These days people ring us for gigs and it’s a Adam: I’m pretty good in the kitchen. I can do good feeling. a good Elmer Fud. I’m good at doing funny cartoon drawings of my friends. I’m not sure.

Deb: Do you do anything other than music?

You’d have to ask my girlfriend about the rest. Haha!

Adam: Music is pretty much my life.

Deb: Well Adam, this has been very entertaining. Thank you for your time. Is there anything you would like to say to sign Adam: Don’t worry about anyone else just do off with? what you want to do. That was from my mate Dino Jag. Plus something you told me once … Adam: It’s been great talking to you my friend.

Now let’s drink beer. See you at the next gig.

Remember Who You Are. Deb: What is the best advice you were ever given?

Deb: What hidden talents do you have?

Deb: It has been an interesting journey. Thank you Adam.

If you have any ideas on what you would like to hear about email us.

Until then ... Keep rocking, stay true to yourself and RWYA (Remember who you are).

Yours Truly Deb Brunotte

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Adam in Thoroughly Good Party Band

Acoustic Blonde

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

Words by Deb Brunotte Photos supplied by Zkye

ZKYE “Occasionally I’ll get some butterflies but I love that feeling and it turns very quickly into raw energy on stage. ”

Twenty years ago the Adelaide live music scene was mostly dominated by males. Over time this has changed, with many ladies taking some of the limelight from the boys and proving they are a force to be reckoned with. Zkye is a stand out singer/performer/ song writer and is currently dominating the Adelaide scene with her various acts. Meet Zkye….

Deb: What is your music background?

Zkye: I started out on Classical piano when I was in year two at school but I always sang along.

guitar skills ain’t quite up there) :P Deb: What are your songs about? What specific themes do they cover and how would you describe your music to people?

Deb: What was the first tune you learned?

Zkye: I can’t really remember the first tune.

God knows where my kiddy piano books are Zkye: They could be about anything. From now. living with Fairies (eg: A Fairies Tale from my Deb: How often and for how long do you first album “Beyond The Pane”) drinking too practice and what do you practice – eg. much (eg. The Vow also from “Beyond The Pane”), being the best that you can be (The exercises, new tunes, etc.?

Perfect Me from the album “In The Case”) Zkye: Because Damo and I play so much, or not wanting to be second place in love practice can be hard because your voice gets (Secondhand Love from the album “Just The tired if you sing all day and then gig every Way It Goes”). night. I do a lot of internal practice. I feel my voice singing the things or songs I need to My music these days is Soul/blues/country. work on, feel the larynx move to the right I like so many different styles of music that places etc. I also find that’s really good for I don’t want to be put in a box but at the pitch, knowing where notes sit in your throat. moment those are the styles I’m messing with.

Deb: You write your own songs. What do you usually start with when working on a new Deb: You travel regularly overseas. Apart from Australia where have you played live and with piece? whom have you recorded your material?

Zkye: I start with a premise and go from there.

Usually I’ll just jam some chords on either the Zkye: I lived in Europe for a couple of years. piano or guitar and then find something that Holland was where I was based and recorded works then often the lyrics flow from there. with a few different bands. I was also signed I like to write melodies on the piano because to EMI Holland (for publishing). I also spend a I can come up with more interesting places lot of time in the US every year. I record and write and get to see some awesome music. that I might not push myself to go (as my 14

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

Nashville is home there and I miss it when who are nervous? we’re home here. I kind of have two homes Zkye: Occasionally I’ll get some butterflies these days. but I love that feeling and it turns very quickly Deb: Is there a particular song or musical into raw energy on stage. To anyone that gets passage that never fails to move you nervous, take a deep breath and remember that you’re the best you there is and no one emotionally? else can do it like you.

Zkye: There’s heaps. I love the part in “Unchained Melody” - The Righteous Brothers, Deb: What is the best advice you were ever where he goes “I NEEEEEED your love” - given? awesomely sung, and there’s a million more.

Deb: What genre of music can’t you stand to Zkye: Play every gig as though you might get hit by a bus tomorrow. In other words, you listen to? don’t want anyone leaving the gig going yeah Zkye: Not into death metal or anything where that was ok but last time was better. You the singing is just cookie monster vocals. want to blow people away every time they Basically anything where pitch is optional, see you. ain’t gonna do it for me.

Deb: How would you describe and rate the Deb: Which famous musicians do you admire music scene here in Adelaide? and why?

Zkye: It’s sad that music isn’t as important to Zkye: Billie Holiday was a big influence when people’s social lives now. But we’re still lucky I was younger. She wasn’t afraid to just sing to get to do what we do as a full time job and the melody. Aretha Franklin has given more there are definitely still people out there who than I could fit onto a page (let’s just say I love their music, you just have to get it to LOVE HER) and Ray Charles as well. Then we them. go modern with Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedechi, Ann Willson and, just coz I love her, Cyndi Lauper.

Deb: Where would you most like to perform and who would you most like to open for?

Zkye: I’d love to open for Heart ANYWHERE. I love the Greek Theatre in LA. Would like to sing there :) Deb: What acts do you currently perform with and who handles your daily business activities?

(Bookings, promotions etc.)

Zkye: Zkye & Damo (duo with Damien Steele Scott), Zkye & The GuyZ (4 piece rock/pub band) Zkye Blue (5 piece blues band and my favourite) and when it’s just a show booked as Zkye, then I’m doing my originals and it could be a band from 8-10 players. I do all the booking and business and try to do as much as I can directly.

Deb: Do you get nervous before a performance and what advice would you give to beginners

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Deb: If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing, any loves other than music?

Zkye: I’d either be working with animals or working in mental health with music therapy or the likes.

THE DEAD DAISIES Words by Sue Hedley Photos by Katarina Benzova

Deb: What other hidden talents do you have?

Zkye: I can climb trees really well :)

“They are like ‘dude, did you do a song with Jimmy Barnes?’ and I go ‘yeah’.

Deb: What are your immediate music career They were like ‘dude, Cold Chisel!’ and they started rambling off all this stuff goals?

I don’t know. So again I go back and Zkye: To get Zkye Blue on a bunch of festivals I’m looking him up and I’m like, oh my both here in Australia and overseas. god, this guy is like Australia’s Bruce Deb: Where would you like to find yourself in Springsteen.”

ten years?

Zkye: Playing music all over the world (kinda We caught up with Marco Mendoza and John lucky, I get to do that already) but I want Corabi from The Dead Daisies in October more, there’s always more. I’ll have to get when they were in Adelaide as the opening act for KISS on their 40th Anniversary tour.

Ziva (my dog) a passport.

The Dead Daisies have just released their Deb: If you could blink your eyes and be in a second album ‘Revolución’ and were on favourite place right now, where would that tour in Australia with KISS to promote the release. It is available on CD, vinyl and digital place be? formats. Opening with the single ‘Mexico’, Zkye: Anywhere with castles or Nashville so which is already popular in Europe, the album I can see my friends. Maybe I could just blink has eleven original tracks with two covers my Nashville friends to the place with the and ‘Midnight Moses’, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band track which has been going castles. That would work. very well live in concert, and ‘Evil’.

Deb: Lastly is your favourite colour blue? ☺ The Dead Daisies is comprised of a line-up Zkye: Yellow actually but blue is right up there. that features some of the world’s best rock musicians: Deb: Thank you for giving us an insight into John Corabi - Vocals (Mötley Crüe, RATT) the world of Zkye. Would you like to add Marco Mendoza - Bass (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) anything?

Dizzy Reed - Keyboards (Guns N’ Roses, Zkye: Reckon you’ve covered it. Thanks so Hookers & Blow) David Lowy - Guitar (MINK, Red Phoenix) much for letting me share.

Richard Fortus - Lead Guitar (Guns N’ Roses, The Psychedelic Furs) Brian Tichy - Drums (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol)

Zkye Blue is playing at the Semaphore Workers Club on Friday November 6th. Richard Fortus was unable to do this tour

due to an injury in a motorcycle accident so they had Dave Leslie from Baby Animals fill in.

Revolución was recorded in Sydney and Havana earlier this year after being inspired

by the bands historic visit to Cuba. Two songs were recorded in Cuba by Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson/Sevendust).

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

They were the first band (which included American musicians) to visit and play in Cuba since President Obama relaxed political relationships between Cuba and the US. “I think it took us all by surprise, said Marco.

“We didn’t realise the importance of it, for me until I was actually there, because after working and doing so many gigs all over the planet you get a little bit jaded and the idea kind of programmed to believe that Russia, was ‘we’re going to Cuba, yeah, yeah great. I Cuba, you know, communists … oh god it’s always wanted to go to Cuba’.” the evil empire, you know what I mean. I’ve been to both now in the last few years and “Officially we were the first rock n roll band I had a blast in Russia, the fans were out to be there under the right circumstances of control, and I had a blast in Cuba. It was through the proper channels with a blessing amazing. I had a great time. And at the end from Cuba and the US,” says Marco. “We did of the day you kind of leave there going “You two shows but we could have done 30 for the know what, f*** politics, it’s really just about amount of people that were there.” the music”. There was a ton of fans there who were wearing Iron Maiden shirts, some Guns ’n John said, “We did a club show and the club Roses shirts and Kiss shirts . . . they just love was a decent size. It held about 1500 people. music.”

You couldn’t have dropped a paper clip from the ceiling. There was not a gap in the building “The cool thing is it was all documented,” said at all. There was to wall people. If there were Marco.

1500 people inside there was probably double that outside trying to get in.”

The bands entire Cuban adventure has been made into a documentary film titled Revolución “The second to last day we were there,” which fans were able to view the premiere of continued John, “we did a huge show at a via Twitter. It also aired on Qantas Inflight ‘On place which is an old amphitheatre from the Q’ Entertainment. Another first for the band ’40’s, where they used to do all the Salsa is that their single ‘Mexico’ is also airing on concerts. That was for probably about six or Qantas Inflight ‘Rock On Q’ till November. seven thousand and that was completely sold out.”

There is also a coffee table photo book, available as a hard copy or as an e-book, “From a historical point of view I was very which was launched in conjunction with the curious to see what the whole country was documentary via an exclusive partnership all about,” said John. “So it was cool to go with Twitter Music. These photos were there”. taken by former supermodel and in-demand photographer Katarina Benzova.

“I don’t know how your politics in Australia are, but in America news is very divided. There “Literally the minute we all arrived at the is a spin on what they want you to believe, airport in Miami,” says John, “when we all not what they want you to know, but what got together, Katarina was snapping photos. they want you to believe. In America, CNN Then she went off on her own and got these is very pro Democrat and Fox news is very incredible shots of Old Havana and people on pro Republican and they both differ with each the streets. It was really cool.” other and they are both trying to spin some sort of a thing. So my whole life I have been Both are available on the bands website: 17

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www.thedeaddaisies.com

“We recorded two songs in Cuba,” said Marco.

“One of them was a song that John brought up to the table on the first meeting at dinner.

We all went ‘yep, that’s the one’. While we were rehearsing we realised we were in THE recording studio of Havana. So we said why don’t we record. So we started the process and that’s where the inception of the Cuban/ Mexican/Latin American connection began.”

Recording for the band’s second album continued at Studio 301 in Sydney with tracks being produced by Craig Porteils (Guns N’ Roses/Billy Idol).

“Our introduction to John was the Cuban trip,” said Marco. “Right after that we had the studio booked, then we came to the studio and that is where most of the writing began.

There’s a few songs that were hanging around for awhile, we were even playing some of them live. We realised that we had some good songs and we had to stop playing them live because we wanted to record them properly.”

Jackie Barnes (Jimmy Barnes) plays drums on the majority of the album tracks as Brian Tichy wasn’t available.

“Brian is such in demand,” said Marco. “He is one of the top drummers. He gets called for a lot of stuff and he had some prior commitments.”

Is there a reason why they chose Jackie Barnes to drum?

“Jackie had been around for while,” said Marco. “We had done a few tours with Jimmy and Jackie was with him. We saw him play live on the big stage. He is massive. He’s great drummer. I think one thing led to another and management got in touch with Jackie. They threw the idea at us and we were like yeah, it works. Logistically he was there and Brian was not around. We would have to go through the process of picking a drummer and flying him out and we didn’t know if that was going to be good. So we went for the sure thing, and Jackie did a great job.”

“The hardest thing in the whole process was deciding which ones to record,” said Marco.

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John said, “I think there was about 17 or 18 songs in total. There are only 13 on the record. In all honesty I feel we picked the right 13 for the record.”

Cold Chisel were also recording their new album at 301 and in between takes they all hung out together. Jimmy brought in a couple of songs for The Dead Daisies to listen to.

They all really liked 'Empty Heart', which was written by Jimmy Barnes and Tommy Boyce, and the next thing they were recording it as a duet with Jimmy. Featuring two legendary rock singers and powerhouse vocals, this is their latest release, and it falls fully into the classic rock anthem category. This song has now been released and radio stations across Australia have picked up the track. It can now be heard on MOJO Radio, iHeart Radio and community stations across the country.

LISTEN HERE - https://soundcloud.com/ thedeaddaisies/empty-heart/s-WVRhu So you chose Jimmy Barnes song rather than one of the others.

“Yes it is a great song,” says John. “It’s a really great song.” “and it is Jimmy Barnes,” added Marco. “and it is Jimmy Barnes,” agreed John.

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

“We picked what we thought was the strongest of the two songs he gave us and it was a cool way of saying let’s introduce our new singer by way of having him sing with a legend in Australia.”

“Jimmy sings the whole first verse and the chorus, then I sing the second verse and the second chorus. Then at the end of the second chorus there is a little tag line and he jumps back in there, then there’s the guitar solo, then after the guitar solo there is a spot where I start a line and he finishes it. There is a double chorus at the end. He does the first chorus and I finish it off. Everybody is like ‘it’s a duet?’ Yes.”

“I went home after recording and I have this little pub I hang out with all my musician friends. We hang out and drink and watch football. They are like ‘dude, did you do a song with Jimmy Barnes?’ and I go ‘yeah’.

They were like ‘dude, Cold Chisel!’ and they started rambling off all this stuff I don’t know.

So again I go back and I’m looking him up and I’m like, oh my god, this guy is like Australia’s Bruce Springsteen.”

How did you get John in the band?

“All of us at one point or another had known John for years through our circles in LA and all that, and I’ve been a fan of his stuff for years,” said Marco. “We’ve always talked, like a ton of us, we hang out, we meet here and there, and say it would be nice to do something and sometimes it never happens. But when Jon Stevens was having some issues I gave him a call.”

Marco said, “You can’t help but to love who he is as a person”.

“There were some options. We were even considering stopping for Jon Stevens, and then we realised that wasn’t the right move because we had built so much. There was a lot of logistically and financially and otherwise that when you really look at the bigger picture here you go ‘Wow, there’s so much work we have been doing here for a year and a half or more and we are going to lose it’. ‘Cause that is how this business is today. So David Edwards and I were were talking and he said ‘have you got some ideas’. I said ‘yeah, there is a lot of cats out that could do a great job.’

Then I called John.”

“He’s had us over to his house a couple of times already, and him and his wife just cooked this spread. He’s just a sweetheart and I think that makes him that much better as a singer.

And the chops ... oh my god!”

John said, “When we were doing Empty Heart, we actually went in and recorded the track.

Jimmy comes in and he’s getting his tea and water, gets the lyrics, puts his glasses on and starts singing. I’m sitting in the room and he just starts wailing.”

“I get on the thing and say ‘Hey Jimmy, it sounds f***ing awesome but you are killing me! Don’t make me look bad bro, don’t make me look bad! Back it down just a little bit buddy, just a little bit.’ ... What a set of pipes!”.

“But then I go in and do the song and he was the same way. It was cool. We had fun with it.”

Some say it is hard to hear the difference in the two vocals on Empty Heart.

“Some fans said ‘it is great that Jimmy did a song with you guys’. I said, ‘yeah, it was great doing a duet with him’. They said ‘duet?”

“Honestly, not because he is sitting here, we wanted to find someone exactly like John that loves to do music for the right reasons.”

John said, “When you called me I was out of the country and I literally got back the day before to Nashville. I don’t live in LA anymore.

I was out doing shows and I get home and my wife says, ‘honey can you go food shopping?’

So I went food shopping and then I come home. Just as I’m pulling into my driveway I’m shutting my car up and my phone rings and I go ‘Marco Mendosa, I haven’t talked to him in a year and a half.’ So I just answered the phone and Marco and I chatted. He just told me about the band and asked me if I’d be interested in doing it.”

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

Marco remarked, “I said we were doing this band and Jon Stevens got into a bit of a tight situation and we decided to move forward, so check it out.” Then he added, smiling, “Then I sent him four dozen roses and chocolates and a cheque for ten grand ... ” “Not true!” laughed John.

“When he called me and talked to me about it I had my own solo band and I just did shows right before I came here with my band”, said John, “so I was a little bit apprehensive about the whole thing.”

“He’s like saying it’s this great band and he’s telling me everybody that’s involved.

Honestly, I got off the phone and I’m sitting there going ‘I don’t know who this band is’.

At the time, my guitar tech was staying at the house with my wife and I, and I just happened to go inside. They had seen me sitting in the driveway talking on the phone and they asked me who I was talking to. I said I just got the weirdest call from Marco Mendosa and they want me to come out and check out this band The Dead Daisies. My guitar tech is like ‘dude, they were just on tour with KISS and Def Leppard last year’. I said ‘really?!’ So then I started looking them up online. I heard a few of the songs and I’m thinking this shit is really cool. Honestly, I got into it.”

“I am notorious for this, obviously with the Motley thing, but I always seem to find these gigs where I am following someone else.

There was all these things like ‘this band is shit without Jon Stevens’. Some of them wrote to me directly on Facebook and said Jon Stevens is better, whatever. And you know what, I’m not arguing with you … and this is on the record … I f***ing love the guy’s voice and I love whatever songs they wrote with him before because they are f***ing good songs. There are some on the record that they started with Jon, and I have no issue with doing them because at the end of the day they are great songs. I admire the guy. After I heard his voice I found him on facebook and I liked his page. So I’m a fan.”

“Dave Lowy and Jon Stevens put this whole 20

band together. I think the concept was to put a band together. I think that Dave was very smart. He put together a backing band backing band of incredible musicians.”

“I think the whole thing of it is, and management said this to me in the beginning, ‘it’s very lax, we just want everyone to have fun and enjoy doing this. If there are shows that you can do we want you to come and be involved in this.

If ever there is ever a time where you have a prior commitment just let us know.’ At that point they, meaning management, will either have someone fill in for you or we don’t have to do the gig.”

Marco said, “Every so often people ask you about a dream band. For me this is it. A lot of people ask me about a dream band and this is it for me. We are in a good place I think. We can really make a difference out there in the music world.”

John said. “When he says dream band, I laugh sometimes, I go home and I tell my friends who have maybe seen the Daisies before, and they are like ‘wow man, this is such a great gig’. It’s even more than going to Cuba or being onstage in front of Whitesnake or KISS on these huge arenas. Yes, that’s great. We are hitting a lot of people. So it is great that way. But the whole thing is great. Like being in a room with these guys for a month. A lot of bands aren’t doing that anymore. That shows you the talent that is in the band.”

“We got together in one month, 32 days, and we wrote and recorded, mixed, mastered and did the artwork for an album. 17 songs, there were songs that we didn’t even use. So the talent is there.”

“So we are not only doing these great shows, I’m in a band that is talented beyond belief, we all like each other, and then the management kind of make it to a point where there is no pressure. Like if someone says we are doing the cruise and Marco said that he has a prior commitment we say ‘no worries, go and do your thing, it is your gig, you are not losing it. We will just get someone to fill in for you’.

There is no pressure in this thing … at all.”

“A lot of the interviews that I’ve done they

look up the band and get their questions ready and they have this long list of people that have played with the band. A lot of the names that on the list are ones that just filled in for Brian or Marco or whoever. Richard Fortus had a motorbike accident and he couldn’t be here this tour so Dave from Baby Animals is filling in for him. What happens now is Dave goes on the list. So I think a majority of the people on the list are people who have filled in. People say gee, you guys have a lot of members.

No, these are the members and these are the guys that have filled in.”

Marco said, “I give my commitment 100% and everything else is secondary to me. What we are hoping is that everyone who gets involved in this project realises that it’s such a good place to be in creatively, you can do so much here and yet you are surrounded by nothing but the best. So we want this to be a priority for everybody so that everything else becomes secondary.“ “So I sit down with my manager and my agent and say that the Daisies want me from here to here so don’t book anything here”, said John. “So the Daisies is really the priority and I just do my thing around it. I’m going to do a record with them in February and as soon as I’ve finished with that I will start to work on a record with my own solo band. So this is really the thing.”

We were talking about the clubs on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and how they have been knocking them down to build apartments.

“There’s so much to do, and I’m guilty of it too.” said John. “There are tv shows that I like watching. I’ll be laying on the couch watching Sons of Anarchy and I’ll be looking at my watch, then look at my wife and say ‘do you want to go?’ and she’ll look at me and say ‘Yeah I’ll go if you want to go.’ You start calculating and think, well I’m into this show, if I get up I have to get changed, I have to get into my car, I’ve got to drive, I’ve got to pay for parking … so a lot of these landmark clubs are faltering and so they say ‘let’s sell’.”

The Viper Room is mentioned.

“Do you want to hear something creepy?

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

When I was in Motley Crue, Tommy (Lee) called me. He was friends with Johnny Depp and whoever owned The Viper Room. Tommy called me and said what are you doing, we are going to head down the Viper Room. We knew that we were going to be drinking, so we always hired a car to drop us off and pick us up. So we get in there and Tommy is on his cellphone calling Johnny and saying that we are on our way. We pull up at the Viper Room.

There was a liquor store next to it right on the corner. There was an entrance on Sunset Boulevard and one on the side street. The side street was the main entrance to go in but they had a door right next to the stage for loading and unloading. Tommy calls and said that we are a block away and can you get someone to open the this door. We get out of the car and there was this guy there opening the door. And on the pavement in front of the door there was some dude laying on the ground and Tommy and I step over this guy to go in the door saying who is this f***ing rookie, passed out, drunk. We step over him and we walk in to the club and we hang out having some cocktails. At the end of the night we come out the same door. We walk out and Christina Applegate is sitting there and she is hysterical. Tommy says ‘Christina, what is going on?’ She says ‘A friend of mine just passed away. He just died. I just found out.’ We are like, wow that sucks. She says it’s River Phoenix. We are like, ‘the actor River Phoenix?’ ‘Yeah, he was partying and he came out and he died, like right here’, and Tommy and I went ‘dude, that was the guy that we literally stepped over when we walked in the door’. He was just laying on the kerb. It was crazy, crazy! That was a weird night, very odd.”

So when are they coming back to Adelaide?

“When they call us”, smiled Marco. “We’ll do 10 days at the Gov, nowhere else, and we’ll have everyone flown in to Adelaide.” He laughed.

“Let’s just start with one and see how it goes,” said John.

“This guy comes up to me. He’s all dressed up.

He says ‘Hi Marco I’m the mayor’. I’m thinking the mayor, what band? Then his wife come up and said he was the Mayor of Adelaide. Then he said, ‘On behalf of my wife and I we want 21

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

to welcome you. Can I take a picture? We are trying to promote more music in Adelaide’.

So I called David Edwards straight away. We can put our heads together on this.”

From here was the KISS Kruise V in late October sailing from Miami to Jamaica, followed by dates in Europe with Whitesnake kicking off in Moscow in November.

There is no stopping this hard working band.

They are brilliant musicians, all so talented have a good sense of humour, like each other a lot, enjoy touring together, and love what they do. Plus they have great pro-active management. All the ingredients of success.

They will be back in Adelaide soon. In the meantime check out their album Revolución, their documentary Revolución, and their coffee table book. Stay up to date on their mailing list on their website www.thedeaddaisies.com.

Advertise with us

email Sue at rsm@risingstar.com.au for more details

The Dead Daisies latest album Revolución

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION CONCERT

by Sue Hedley Mix 102’s High School Reunion concert was on at Thebarton Theatre on October 24th.

The promoter was Empire Touring. It was a real trip down memory lane. Hosted by Jodie and Soda. Performers were Sharon O’Neil, Swanee, Deborah Conway, Steve Kilbey, Wendy Matthews, Psuedo Echo, 1927, Misex, Dragon, The Eurogliders and Ross Wilson.

Mystery special guest “Bop Girl” Pat Wilson, came onstage to sing “Bop Girl” with exhusband Ross Wilson. What a great show!

Ross once again proved he was “the boss”. It was a fun night.

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@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Dragon

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Deborah Conway

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Wendy Matthews

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

The Eurogliders

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Steve Kilbey

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Misex

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Psuedo Echo

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Ross Wilson

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Swanee

@ High School Reunion concert Thebarton Theatre - 24/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

MUSIC NEWS

Dino Jag will be heading over to Los Angeles this month to work with Grammy Awardwinning producer Jeff Bova. Now it’s time for Dino to record his songs and focus his energy as a recording artist.

Rick Price is playing on Saturday 5th December at the Ramsgate Hotel as part of his Tennessee Sky tour. Tickets are $25 prepaid plus booking fee or $30 at the door.

The Choirboys are also in town on December Jeff Bova has over a hundred platinum and 5th, playing at Chasers. gold-selling records to his name and has worked with an incredibly diverse roster of Andrea Dawson is playing solo at the Old artists including Katy Perry, Michael Jackson, Spot Hotel November 8th, 3pm to 7pm, and Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Eric Clapton, at the Payneham Tavern on November 29th, Robert Palmer, Billy Joel, The Bee Gees, Cher, 2pm to 6pm. Her band Taurus Rising is at The Cyndi Lauper, Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Iron Bridgeway November 7th, as part of the Rock for Modbury Special School Fundraiser.

Maiden, Herbie Hancock, and so many more.

If you’d like to stay in the loop with Dino on Zkye Blue will be performing at the Semaphore his journey forward make sure you’re on his Workers Club on Friday 6th November. mailing list .. just look for the signup box on The Advanced screening of Jethro Heller’s his website at www.DinoJag.com latest documentary “Karaoke Wars” is at The Gov on Monday November 9th. $10 on the door.

The SA Dia de Los Muertos Festival is on again.

Proudly presented by Whiteline Transport and Dirty Devil Kustoms. This festival is about music, cars and good times while raising awareness and money for charity foundation Shine.

Performing are The Detonators from Victoria, The Flattrackers and Pat Capocci Combo from NSW, and The Satellites, The Lincolns, The Dino Jag Saucermen and Fistful of Trojans from SA. DJ Jesse and MC Chris Soulidis playing tracks The Greek Beach Boys, featuring Nick Love, between the bands too. Prizes for best cars play at El Greco in Port Adelaide every Sunday and Sugar Skull entries! Doors open at 5pm from 6.30pm. until late. Tickets are $30 and available from Whiteline Transport on 8281 2444.

Rock The Boss rock the Slug and Lettuce on November 14th.

The Roseworthy Show n Shine, featuring cars and bikes is on November 9th 10am to 3pm New Adelaide Bon Jovi Tribute band One Wild at the Roseworthy Hotel, Horrocks Highway, Night have theirdebut at the Arkaba Hotel on Roseworthy. Rapid Fire are performing there.

Friday November 13th. $15 to get in.

Rohan Powell is playing at the Two Wells RSL Send your music news Sue at on November 7th.

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rsm@risingstar.com.au

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

GIGS FOR NOVEMBER Here is a selection of gigs that are on in November. If you would like your gigs included in the December gig guide email them to rsm@risingstar.com.au by 21st November.

Tuesday 3rd

(NSW ), Pat Capocci Combo (NSW), Fistful Of Five Sided Circle - Lord Melbourne (2pm-6pm) Trojans ,The Detonators (Vic ), The Lincolns, The Satellites, The Saucermen, MC Chris Soulidis, Ms Curvella - Whiteline Transport Wednesday 4th Open Mic Night - The Gov front bar 7pm (free) 1 Belfree Crescent, Greenfields - for charity Shine (5pm) UGLY Barmaid Leukemia fundraiser: Show Thursday 5th & Shine featuring performance by Kat Jade Duncan Trussell - The Gov (Voice finalist) - Sandy Creek Hotel (12 pm) Gumbo Room Blues Jam - The Gov Northern Exposure # 50: Entropy Disrupted, Amaterasu, Sould Harvest, Strider, Spoken Sunday 8th Andrea Dawson - Old Spot Hotel (3pm–7pm) To Few - Bridgeway Hotel (7pm) Dino Jag - Beach Hotel, Seaford Gawler Jazz Festival - various venues in Gawler Friday 6th Naughty By Nature - The Gov Boom Boom Room: Creedence (8.30), Roseworthy Show n Shine: Rapid Fire Dr Malone (9.50pm), Chris Finnen (11pm), Roseworthy Hotel, (10am-3pm) GSM Allstars with Chris Tucker on drums The Greek Beach Boys - El Greco, Port Adelaide (12am) - Publisher Arthouse (6.30pm) Davinyls & Crush - Para Hills Community Club Dawn Raider - The Somerset Diva Demolition (Home Dirt Tour 2015), Mon Monday 9 Cheri, Pearly Gates & Divine Alls - Clovercrest Karaoke Wars Advanced Screening -The Gov Hotel (9 pm) Tuesday 10th The Juggernauts - Playford Hotel (8.30pm) Uke night - The Gov (gold coin) Urban Cover - Albion Hotel (7.30pm) You Am I -The Gov Zkye Blue - Semaphore Workers Club Wednesday 11th Open Mic Night - The Gov front bar 7pm (free)

Saturday 7th

Ash Grunwald - The Gov Gate Crashers - Mick O Shea’s Gawler Jazz Festival launch : Various Nefarious - Prince Albert Hotel Heavy Load - The Cumberland, Semaphore Snap to Zero, Surviving Sharks - Crown And Anchor Rock For Modbury Special School Fundraiser/ We Can Be Heroes: East, Cover Me, Devine Alls, Powder, Shoot To Thrill, Dirty Harry, Taurus Rising, Tribute 3, Laurissa Boyle Bridgeway Hotel (from 2.30 pm) Rohan Powell - Two Wells RSL Rotary Village Fair - Pioneer Park SA Dia de Los Muertos Festival: Flattrackers 36

Thursday 12th

Gumbo Room Blues Jam -Thirty Two Twenty - The Gov Sean Kemp & Life In Letters - Grace Emily The Tea Party - The Gov

Thursday 12th

Northern Exposure # 51: Genuine Vinyl, Cortisol, In Bloom, The Bairns, Outcast Society - Bridgeway Hotel (7pm)

Friday 13th

AMC Sessions 12 with SA Hall of Fame - Bill Chambers, David Moyse, Brian DeGruchy, Bearded Gypsy Band, Maggie Rutjens Goodwood Institute

Benny C. And The Associates - The Ed Castle (9 pm) Future Islands - The Gov Laced In Lust - Blackwood R..S.L One Wild Night (Bon Jovi Tribute Band debut) - Arkaba Hotel

Saturday 14th

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

(VIC), Psycho Zydeco (VIC), Blue Eyes Cry (VIC), Double Wammy, Dirty Roots Band (Featuring Snooks La Vie & Gail Page), Benny C And The Associates, Wasted Wanderers The Gov (2 Stages, 10 Bands, 3.30 pm) Isaiah B Brunt & Band - Tassie Tavern Port Augusta

Eleven, Kylie Lennon, Rapid Fire - Port Dock Brewery Kicked – Colonel Light Hotel Kisschasy – The Gov Reload - The Cumberland, Semaphore Rock The Boss – Slug and Lettuce Stairway To Zeppelin – Midway Tavern , Elizabeth Downs (9pm–11pm)

Sunday 22nd

Tuesday 17th

Thursday 26th

Deep South: SA Roots Blues & Folk Festival – The Backsliders (NSW), Ray Beadle Acoustic (NSW), Mojo Webb Solo (QLD), Ciaram Granger Duo, Brenton Manser - The Gov (12 pm) Isaiah B Brunt & Band - Tassie Tavern, Port Augusta Muddy Road - Royal Oak Hotel (7.30pm) free The Greek Beach Boys – El Greco, Port Sunday 15th Acoustic Blonde – Federal Hotel, Semaphore Adelaide (6.30pm) (4pm–7.30 pm) Five Sided Circle - Lord Melbourne (2pm–6pm) Tuesday 24th Isaiah B Brunt and Band - Gaslight Tavern Kisschasy – The Gov Room To Groove – Wirra Wirra (12.30pm- Uke night - The Gov (gold coin) 4.30pm) The Greek Beach Boys – El Greco, Port Wednesday 25th Adelaide (6.30pm) Open Mic Night - The Gov front bar 7pm (free) Uke night - The Gov (gold coin) Open Mic Night - The Gov front bar 7pm (free)

Gumbo Room Blues Jam - The Gov front bar Northern Exposure # 52: Storm The Asylum, Between Oceans and Earth, Prey For Kings, Soul Harvest, Sonn’ender - Bridgeway Hotel

Thursday 19th

Friday 27th

Wednesday 18th

Deep South: SA Roots Blues & Festival – Fiona Boyes Album Launch – The Gov, Gumbo Room Northern Exposure # 52: The Grain, In Bloom, Kat Jade, Lily and the Drum, Craig Atkins, Keith Barrett - Bridgeway Hotel (7pm)

Friday 20th

Acoustic Blonde - Bacchus Wine Bar (8.30pm– 11.30pm) Deep South: SA Roots Blues & Folk Festival - Women Sing Blues with Zkye, Ursula White, Jan Preston’s Boogie Circus (NZ) - The Gov Isaiah B Brunt and Band - Old Bush Inn Willunga Reload - Lord Exmouth Hotel, Semaphore

Jam Night with Heavy Load - Gaslight Tavern Gate Crashers – The Grove Tavern Rhythm Cats – Blues Piano Club at La Boheme The Juggernauts – Alberfoyle Hub Tavern

Saturday 28th

Lady Voodoo , Lucky Seven , The Satellites – The Gov

Sunday 29th

Acoustic Blonde – Para Hills Community Club (4pm-8pm) Andrea Dawson– The Payneham Tavern (2pm-6pm) Urban Cover – Salisbury North Football Club (2pm) Saturday 21st Deep South: SA Roots Blues & Folk Festival The Greek Beach Boys – El Greco, Port - Ray Beadle Band (NSW), Mojo Webb Band Adelaide (6.30pm) (QLD), Pugsley Buzzard (VIC), Shaun Kirk

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

LILY AND THE DRUM

Words by Sue Hedley Photos supplied by Lily and The Drum

“We got so busy with Lily and the Drum that we couldn’t really put the time into the full band thing.“

John Yacka (Ironhorse, Cosmic Storm) on percussion, harmonica and backing vocals and vocalist and guitarist Lily Higgins (Cosmic Storm) are Lily and The Drum. Though their music embraces a variety of styles it can be generally defined as “contemporary bluesy rock and roots”. Their shows have been described as “honest, raw and energetic” and “a guitar and drum duo with an exciting rich melodic sound”. Their live sound is full but there are no backing tracks, tricky vocal pitch correctors or computers working in the background.

Their first gig was at the Promethean four years ago and since then have been working constantly. They both were used to performing in larger bands and a concept of a duo with drums and guitar was new to them. They were not sure how they would be accepted.

“It was sort of accidental in that Lily and I were asked to perform at a wedding in Darwin,” says John. “I played hand drums and she was on guitar and vocals and it went very well.

When we got back to Adelaide I bumped into the organiser of a singer/songwriters night at the Promethean who asked if we would do something stripped back. Lily and I had a bunch of songs which didn’t suit the band so we performed them at that event and it all took off from there. We got so busy with Lily and the Drum that we couldn’t really put the time into the full band thing.“

Australia.

They were then given an opportunity to perform 10 dates on a small tour through Victoria and South Eastern SA. They set off on the tour armed with a five track live EP recording of their original songs. Reaction to their EP was excellent and so were the sales, so once they returned home they recorded an album.

This debut album had reached No. 2 on the Adelaide Three D Radio Top 20 charts and then No 63 on the Adelaide Three D Radio 2012 Most played Top 101 chart. As an additional bonus, one of their tracks was selected for the station’s compilation “Depth Charge” album of 2012. Their album also charted at number 23 in the Top 25 Most Played Albums, Australian Roots and Blues Airplay chart October 2013.

Their live performances captured the attention of festival promoters and Lily and the Drum Since then they have performed over 375 were added to the bill on festivals throughout gigs. Most of these have been interstate Australia. Several of these have been in front of audiences in excess of 5,000 people. “One across a range of venues and events. of the most memorable was in this small Their first song “Nobody Just Like Me” was country town in Victoria called Heywood recorded in raw fashion to capture the sound where we opened for Mental As Anything. of the duo. They had AMRAP distribution for The town had a population of 1200 but over this song to community radio stations around 15,000 people attended. It was huge! It not 38

only surprised us but also took the Mentals completely by surprise.”

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

not over produced and we were able to maintain our duo identity. We had performed many of the songs live as a duo so we knew they could stand up without the additional players.”

They have performed at the Semaphore Music Festival three years in a row, and other festivals including the Barossa Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Festivals 2012 & 2013, Gellibrand Lily and the Drum are currently recording their Blues and Blueberry Festival 2014 in Victoria, third full length album in between their hectic and the Melrose Music Muster 2015. tour schedule. They are now also organising their own shows combining art, music and “We have spent a lot of hours in the car comedy, both here and interstate, and these travelling through South Australia, Victoria are going very well. The next show like this and NSW,” says John. “You could get a little in Adelaide is at Brewboys on Saturday negative about all those hours on the road November 28th. but we enjoy the travelling and we use the time well. Several new songs were written Website: www.lilyandthedrum.com.au while travelling.”

Sound Cloud: “Welcome Change” https://soundcloud.com/yacka/welcomeThey released another EP called “As A Matter change Of Fact” on 30th of August 2014 and it Videos: http://youtu.be/tClfXWnKYqo debuted at number 3 on Adelaide Three D http://youtu.be/6iYO8P-yKbU Radio Top 20 charts on 7th September. The https://youtu.be/yAtlzfTN0pU EP also charted at number 18 in the top 25 most played albums on the Australian Roots and Blues airplay chart in September. Then the album “Welcome Change” followed.

“Our first album was very much Lily and the Drum in raw duo mode, pretty much as you would hear us live” says John. “Welcome Change is a shift from that sound as we wanted to invite some great friends to perform on some of the songs.”

“We kept several songs in the stripped back form and even where the additional musicians were included we kept it simple so that it was not over produced and we were able to maintain our duo identity. We had performed many of the songs live as a duo so we knew

Lily and The Drum at Semaphore Music Festival 2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

DAVID DAY’S ROCK OF AGES

by Sue Hedley What an excellent night David Day’s Rock Of Ages concert was at Thebarton Theatre on Tuesday October 13th. Friends of David Day banded together to perform to raise money for David Day’s family. Performers all donated their time, Thebarton Theatre donated the use of the theatre, and even the security donated their time. Rob Pippan was the Musical Director.Artists performing were Vince Contarino, Swanee, Brian Cadd, Bev Harrell, Masters Apprentices, The Twilights, Russell Morris, and The Angels.

THE FINALE:

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The Angels

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Vince Contarino

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Swanee

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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John Schumann

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Brian Cadd

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Bev Harrell

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Russell Morris

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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Masters Apprentices @ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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The Twilights

@ David Day’s Rock of Ages concert Thebarton Theatre - 13/10/2015 Photos by Sue Hedley

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

LIVE SOUND ADVICE

By Frank Lang Like I said last issue, the gear is great these days, so where are we letting ourselves down when it comes to mixing bands? Are we too easily seduced by P.A.’s that are bass heavy out of the shop/box? Is it just too damn easy to get the kick pumping away and, well, “Isn’t that’s what the crowd wants”?

put the mixing desk at a distance where the sound engineer might find it easy with a powerful system to pump up the volume and to start to overdrive the room, intelligibility out the window, with mix problems abound.

Years ago some promoters started forcing sound engineers to “back up all this s*** against the back wall”, or over to the side of the room and mix from “out of the way” .

Well, these guys did an awful lot of damage to the cause of good sound, because when they move the gear they move the ear, and the sound guys ears are what the whole crowd hears.

Now getting back to the kick - vocal debate: the answer seems to be as simple as pulling the kick back 1- 3 db and pushing the vocals up a couple. That’s two simple swipes on the faders.

I’ve been using an Ipod now for two years and the biggest issue is finding a spot in a A great sounding Kick is vital to good night’s crowded room to stand for a few minutes, but rock appreciation, but often…..the poor at least I can hear the sound/volume levels vocalist!! Relegated with guitars to some relatively easily. muddied up background sound?

Sometimes I find it useful to just back off a Why can’t I hear the singer? These days it microphone or two, or even the master as a seems to be some sound people tend not to last resort in order to relax the system, and stop and listen, to regularly stop mixing and the room. More moderate sound people just ask themselves, “what am I hearing?” and by keep the levels down and that’s fine too.

As for this huge Kick sound, also try taking follow on, “what are the crowd hearing?”. some frequencies below 100Hz. down on the What are the issues here? Well it’s not the graphic - it gets rid of a lot of mud and clears up the bottom end. gear. Maybe it’s the mixing position?

Now don’t get me wrong here, heavens knows I’ve made all the mistakes, had feedback, that caused rooms full of people turn and glare at me. I’ve stuffed up a whole nights mix, had a Like a good HiFi, the mixer-listener should be good mix and then lost it, had toms take off on at the tip of an isosceles triangle, and not a me and where subs are concerned! I’ve rattled a few cages and shook come glasses, but to very long one at that. use a famous pilots phrase “ any landing you A recent visit to a Uni bar was an eye opener, can walk away from is a good landing”, if you the desk was simply too far back. My old get my drift. mate “Brains” (when he was house engineer) had a good mixing spot at the back of the Every time I have an issue I’ll try to learn from front section in from the exit, more or less it, to take away some better ideas. at the above mentioned triangle spot. Now it seems the mixer is relegated to the front of Till next issue, Frank the back part of the room.

wishing you happy mixing I maintain these extra three metres back has 52

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

SA PARANORMAL

Words and Photos by Allen Tiller A siren mourned woefully at 8am in the north-west end of Adelaide city, marking the moment of the final throes of life of executed man, Glen Sabre Valance at Her Majesty’s Adelaide Gaol.

This was the 45th execution within the gaol walls, and the last hanging undertaken inside the gaol. Forty-four men and one woman lost their lives via hanging in the gaol for various crimes since the establishment of the gaol in 1841.

From 1841 until 1988, The Adelaide Gaol held over 300,000 prisoners and was Australia’s longest serving continuous gaol. It housed men, women and children, and sometimes lunatics.

The first Governor was William Baker Ashton, who was actually appointed two years before the gaol opened. William and his wife Charlotte The Adelaide Gaol (who acted as the Gaol Matron until 1850) had 6 children, with three of them being born during their time at the gaol.

Adelaide Gaol, Elizabeth Woolcock.

In 1854, William, a very large man, died unexpectedly in the upstairs office of the gaol.

The narrow staircase could not accommodate the size of his dead body, so he had to be lowered down through a window to the ground below.

Another infamous character of the Old Adelaide Gaol is the resident hangman, Mr Benjamin Ellis. Ellis acted as executioner for 10 years at the gaol, and lived onsite at the time to help protect his identity. Not much is known about the man, except that he was very good at his job, and undertook it in a precise and serious manner. His lodgings were directly underneath the female dormitories, where he is said to haunt until this day.

Mrs Woolcock had been found guilty of poisoning her husband with mercury and sentenced to death. There are to this day, many who claim she was not guilty of the crime, but that did not stop her execution on December 30th 1873.

The second hanging, and possibly Ellis’ last, was that of Charles Strietman in 1877. Ellis went about his work in the serious manner that he always conducted his business, but for some reason, on this occasion, he forgot to secure the man’s ankles and feet. When Strietman fell through the trap door, his feet hit the trap, and he was able to pull himself back up onto the platform. One of the 13 witnesses present then pushed Strietmens legs off the trap, until he fell and hung. It was reported in the newspapers the following day that it then took Strietman over 23 minutes before he died from hanging.

Ellis would eventually leave his profession after two hangings that haunted him. The first was the only hanging of a female in the Ellis, who is described as an ugly man with a 54

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

large bulbous nose is often seen within the gaol walls, wandering aimlessly – perhaps for his part in so many executions, his afterlife is to be spent within the gaol walls, or perhaps he is looking for his next execution.

Elizabeth Woolcock is also said to haunt the gaol walls, dressed in a long white gown, she is seen in the women’s yards and cells from time to time during the day.

John Balaban was a notorious and sadistic murderer in South Australia. He came to Adelaide from Romania where he worked as an industrial chemist.

The Adelaide Gaol cells

Many of you will be happy to know that the ghost tours, that were run by the Adelaide Gaol Preservation Society for almost 25 years In 1953, Balaban committed a triple murder are returning this November for their famous when he killed his wife Thelma, her six year tours … and alongside them are Ghost Crime old son from a previous marriage, Philip, and Tours.

Thelma’s 66 year old mother Susan Ackland, in the rooms above the Sunshine Café where Both companies are professional and offer the family lived. He then turned his attention unique experiences in ghost tours, workshops on Vera Maine, a 24 year old waitress in the and other paranormal related outings. café. Vera, to escape Balaban, jumped out through an upstairs window. She lay on the You can find out more information through footpath critically injured from the fall, but the Adelaide Gaol Preservation Website at: was lucky to escape, with witnesses able to http://Adelaidegaol.org call the police, and thus save her life.

Or via Ghost Crime Tours at: Balaban was swiftly arrested and quickly www.ghostcrimetours.com.au confessed to another murder, that of 29 year old Zora Kusic. It was eventually the murder of Zora that got Balaban executed at the Adelaide Gaol on the 27th of August 1953, but it would seem he still lingers within the walls where his body, and that of 45 other executed prisoners, remain.

Or via either tour companies facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/ AdelaideGaolPreservationSociety https://www.facebook.com/ghostcrimetours

Balaban has been seen on occasion near the hanging tower, looking remorsefully at his feet – perhaps contemplating his eternal fate within the foreboding walls of The Adelaide Gaol.

Allen Tiller is the Australian star of international hit television show “Haunting: Australia” and author of “The Haunts of Adelaide – History, Mystery and the Paranormal” as well as being a historian, lecturer, poet, musician, Tour Guide, blogger and podcaster. Allen is also a White Ribbon Ambassador and volunteer for many different associations and groups.

You can find Allen online at: www.twitter.com/Allen_Tiller www.facebook.com/AllenHauntingAustralia

https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

MARKETS - November

by Carina Bonney

Here are some of the markets on in Adelaide in November.

Adelaide Night Market When: Last Sunday of the month from October – March. 4pm - 8pm Next market is November 29th Location: North Terrace, Adelaide (between King William Rd and Kintore Ave)

Adelaide Central Market When: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9am - 5pm Location: Grote Street, Adelaide Shop at the Market with free parking after 3pm & before 6pm every Tuesday & Thursday during Spring!

About: A huge range of fresh food, all under one roof - fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, gourmet cheeses, bakery products, sweets, nuts and health foods. www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/

Adelaide Market

Showground

Farmers

Bowerbird Bazaar Next market: 20th - 22nd November Where: Adelaide Showgrounds About: Bi-annual design market http://bowerbirdbazaar.com.au

Wild At Hart Fresh Food Market, Port Adelaide When Open Sundays 9am - 1pm or 2pm Where: The Harts Mill precinct About: A famers market with fresh food and produce http://www.wildathart.com.au

Fisherman’s Wharf Market When: Every Sunday from 9am - 5pm and Monday Public Holidays Location: Lighthouse Square, Port Adelaide www.fishermenswharfmarkets.com.au

Gawler Lions Station Market When: Every Sunday 8am - 12pm Location: Gawler Railway Station About: Arts and crafts, fresh local produce, bric-a-brac, tools and more.

When: Every Sunday 9am -1pm Location: Adelaide Showground Leader Street Farmers markets are the best place to find Gepps Cross Treasure Market healthy food direct from the source. You will be supporting local industry, growers When: Sundays 7am - 1pm and farmers as well as getting the freshest Location: Mainline Drive In @ 588 Main North Road, Gepps Cross produce.

Blackwood Craft Market When: 1st Sunday of the month 10am - 4pm Next Market: Sunday, 4 October Location: Memorial Hall Cormandel Parade, Blackwood About: handmade craft items 56

Gilles Street Market When: October to May the market is open on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from Location: Gilles Street Primary School 91 Gilles Street, Adelaide 10am – 4pm About: a focused Fashion & Accessories market only

Glenelg Markets When: Every Saturday & Sunday 9am - 4pm Location: Moseley Square, Glenelg

Moonlight Markets When: Friday 6th November Friday 4 December 2015 Friday 5 February 2016 Friday 4 March 2016 Time: 6pm - 10pm Location: Thorndon Park, Hamilton Terrace, Paradise About: Food stalls Reminder - Thorndon Park is a bird sanctuary therefore, no pets, including dogs, are allowed in the park, even if on a leash. Thorndon park is not a dry zone. Alcohol is able to be brought into the reserve.

Organic and Sustainable Market When: Every Saturday from 9am – 1pm Location: Henley Beach Primary School Military Road, Henley Beach

Round She Goes Market Adelaide Held in Adelaide 3 times a year Next market on 28th November Location: German Club Hall, Adelaide 223 Flinders Street, Adelaide, SA 5000 Entry: $2, 10am-3pm About: Pre-loved Designer & vintage clothing, and handmade jewellery

Semaphore Community Market When: 1st Sunday of the month from 9am - 2pm Location: St Bedes Anglican Church 200 Military Rd, Semaphore

Stirling Laneways and Market When: Sunday, November 22nd December 20th, January 24th, February 28 April 24th 10am - 4pm Location: Druid Ave, Stirling Free entry

MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

PHOTOGRAPHY

TUITION by professional photographer

Sue Hedley • Learn how to take better photographs • Learn about framing, lighting and composition • Learn about shutter speed and aperture • Post-production techniques to improve your photos One-on-one tuition $75 per hour

Rising Star Media www.risingstar.com.au

Bookings and enquiries email: sue@risingstar.com.au or phone:

0414 984 739

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MEGAscene • Issue 3 November 2015

Vince Contarino 58

Photo by Sue Hedley

MEGAscene Issue 1 September 2015

MARIA’S COLUMN

by Maria Szczerba

2015 CORPORATE CUP RUN AND 2015 AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GAMES FOLLOW UP Well, it was time to put on my running shoes With the first day of the Australian Masters and all that hard training I have been putting Games, the weather was hot, sunny, dusty into this year’s Corporate Cup Run. and windy so all athletes in all sports were really tested, pushed in all their events. Even I decided to enter as an individual, and to do most athletes suffered hayfever, asthma, and the 4.5km run. The first day was a lovely sunny allergies but that did not deter the athletes’ day and we all set off on our first run. I did the enthusiasm and their competitive spirit in 4.5km run in an awesome time. I set my time competing in all their chosen sports and and pace as the first run was a timed run over events. a course of 7 runs, with improvements and points each fortnight for teams or individuals. Some, like myself, really pushed ourselves As I set off in all my fortnightly runs, I found so that to just be out there competing was myself improving, sometimes surprising an overall achievement. Not just achieving myself with my overall ability. In improving, I a medal but catching up with friends, took 3.84 mins off my previous first time run mates, and celebrating the games was good and my corporate cup runs prepared me well sportsmanship. It was a joy to see, even if for this year’s Australian Master’s Games in athletes won or lost, and long lasting memories, the various sports I had competed in. personal bests and all around achievements were done by all.

In this year’s Australian Master’s Games I competed in the following: Athletics 800m 2nd 200m 6th 400m 5th Shotput 9th Javelin 12th/13th Weight Throw 7th Throws Pentathlon 7th

So many things to enjoy, lovely food, officials and many fun times even through some of the toughest weather.

In closing, well done to all! And see everyone in 2017 Tasmania Masters Games.

Maria

Indoor Rowing 1000m 3rd 2000m 2nd Mixed Team Event 3rd Cycling Road Time Trial Mt. Pleasant 2nd Cycling Road Race Mt Pleasant 2nd

Maria competing in the Corporate Cup Run

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2015 DUATHLON ITU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Words and photos by Maria Szczerba

Hi! You may ask yourself! What is a Duathlon? As you will see by the photo i took it was What does it consists of? Well I am about to a fantastic event for all spectators, athletes, tell you. officials and volunteers at this great event.

A Duathlon consists of Run Cycle Run. The Run and Cycle legs are run over a number of kilometres, namely competitors run 10km and cycle 40km and 5km run. Standard legs are 10km Run/40km Cycle/5km Run and sprint legs are 5km run/20km cycle/2.5km run.

This was the first year that Adelaide held the Duathlon ITU World Championships, in which athletes from various countries came here to compete, some even setting their goals for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The Duathlon brought people from Mexico, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Australia, Russia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United States, and Spain.

Australian & France Duathletes that won

It also attracted various para-cyclists, dual cyclists and also the disabled/visually impaired athletes to this ITU World Duathlon Championships.

The ITU World Duathlon Championships was held between 14th to 18th October along the War Memorial Drive near Pinky Flat Adelaide oval and finished in King William Street. The series consisted of Seniors, Women’s, Juniors, Men’s, para-cyclists, and duathletes also.

While watching these extraordinary athletes, it was such a tremendous atmosphere and mateship that I hope Adelaide will hold the ITU World’s Duathlon Championships here in Adelaide again, Well done to all Duathletes.

In closing, these World Duathlon.

Championships were the first of its kind in Adelaide and brought duathletes of different nations together.

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disabled and para cyclists and duathletes

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