Dave Anderson

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David Ford is an absolutely genius. I can't get enough of his album's 'I sincerely apologise for everything I've done', and 'Songs for the Road'. His gig at the Hopetoun a year or so ago was the best gig I've have ever seen.

Here's why!

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 Chris says...
Genius
Monday, November 17, 2008 8:57:00 PM  

 

We are putting the final touches to the album and are expected to have everything mixed and mastered by end of next week. I found myself a little bit anxious to be honest, as it started to dawn on me that our final decisions would be set in stone, as opposed to the wet scenario mix that we've been working on.

One thing I do know is the final song list...but of course not in proper order yet:
- Write You Away
- Love is Gone
- Last Day in London
- Finding it Hard
- Half a Man
- Love is a Fairytale
- Song For Charmaine
- Promise I Made
- Sing Me A Song
- Simple Pleasures
- Will You Wait
- Who Am I To Decide.

We are close to working out an order but it's never easy. I've recently written 3 or 4 songs that I would have loved to have included but I guess this will wait for album 2. Songs like Walk in the Park, All My Devotions, Wish I Could Say How I Feel, and Maybe were reluctantly ommitted.

Anyway just can't wait to finish it and see if we can make something of it.

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Another year gone, here is the music that made my year a pleasant and insipiring one.

Best Album
1. David Ford - Songs for the Road
2. Wilco - Blue Sky Blue
3. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
4. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild
5. Art of Fighting - Runaways


Best Gig
1. David Ford at the Hopetoun - Blog
2. Gomez at the Metro - Photo's
3. Art of Fighting at the Metro - Website
4. You Am I at the Metro - Review
4. Paul Kelly at the Domain - Blog

Unlikely to miss out:
- Bertie Blackman's album and her gig at the Annandale

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 Fi says...
Your gig at the Vanguard would definately be in my top 5, as well as your Bar Me gig which you dedicated to Charmaine.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:59:00 PM  

 

The Vanguard, Newtown
Sunday 13 January

Larissa Agosti
We arrived mid way through Larissa's set and I was immediately captured by her soothing, almost husky voice. She looked quite the picture, right at home in the beautiful surroundings of the Vanguard despite the fact Larissa has barely experienced life outside her teens. I thoroughly enjoyed her set, and having been to many local gigs I found myself finally relaxing in the ambience and soothing sounds of a talented singer/songwriter.





Rupert Reid
I shouldn't be allowed to review Rupert's gigs given he plays lead in my band as well. So....playing his first gig at the Vanguard, Rupert again put on a great show. The violinist in his band is absolutely oustounding...I don't think there has been a better combination since steak and red wine. His new bass player fitted in sweetly, and drummer, gosh I think it's John, but anyway he makes it all look to easy. They all did. A great combination of fast and slow, with soaring violin solo's and easy guitar and vocals from Mr charisma Rupert Reid.

Kellie Marie
Kellie launching her EP made an impressive enterance wearing less than you would expect to see at the Vanguard. With a kind of Christina Aguilera look going on, I must admit it took a while for me to focus back on the music. Kellie had an almost country feel to her music, a good voice, and upbeat songs. Her backing keyboard player fitting in very nicely with perectly delivered hamonies. Again another young talent destined to make an impact...hopefully it's her music that does the talking! All in all an absolutely brilliant night!

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Do we really need to open the Sydney Festival with a drug spent musician who can now barely walk let alone sing in Brian Wilson.

It reminded me to much of 'Weekend at Bernies' than the opening of a culturally significant event. I admire the Beach Boys, and enjoyed their albums, but their used by date sas well and truely expired.

This is a poor reflection on our culture and music industry that we have to resort to this when we have our own homegrown hero's. Paul Kelly was brilliant on Saturday night.

And then to watch and read the reports the next day that Brian Wilson was fantastic opening the event without much mention of Paul Kelly is s*&t. They were clearly not watching the debacle that I was watching or the reporters figured that PR is more important than the truth. This just irrates me. I'm not sure if it's a new thing, a Sydney thing or what but I'm growing increasingly tired of reading the paper and hearing about Hollywood when there is plenty of real news, that actually affects us at home.

I don't want to read about Britney's problems, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie or any of those tools. And stop putting those US correspondents on the morning shows...it's just embarassing.

Do us all a favour. Stop reading trash magazines, don't idealise Paris and pals, embrace our own culture rather than resort to tabloid crap.

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December 12, The Vanguard Newtown
Ladies and Gentleman Elvis has the left the building.


The last time I saw Alex Lloyd was at the Fly By Night in Fremantle with a minidisc player and a few too many red wines. I've heard the rumours that he tends to lean on the bottle a little too much as such I wasn't sure what to expect, and by the time he walked out on stage (via the front steps) he was looking a little more Elvis than I remembered.

But appearances aside we were in this 1930's chick room known as the The Vanguard to hear the songs that we've heard to often through a CD player, radio or television, and not enough out of the mouth of the man himself.

So to open with a Jeff Buckley Hullalejah rendition was odd, inspiring, confusing and fantastic. Why open with a cover with a catalogue like Lloyd's? Because you can.

Why sit and reveal very little about yourself or your songs? Because you can.

It was an intimate experience, just a guitar and a bag full of hits. But while it was intimately performed, to the point where the bar staff would cringe at a coffee order - which meant breaking the earie silence with the sound of grinding coffee beans, he kept as at an arm's length throught the night. Not a word about his insipirations.

When in song his performance was faultless. His voice - pitch perfect and majestic, soaring around the room, reaching effortless heights. Every song was a hit.

I asked everyone on our table their thoughts and they all agreed that he looked a little disinterested, like he has lost his passion. But maybe that is just him.

Would they come again, most said they enjoyed it, but no. Me on the other hand...I was captivated. Maybe it's his effortless voice and guitar, his presence and then lack of it, or maybe just because when his voice soared, I was transfixed.

Maybe it was his black cole clark fat lady 3, which I was told I was the first to ever order. Matt or polished I was asked when my girlfriend ordered it for me. I chose matt, Alex polished. I like to reveal, Alex to conceal.

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Friday November 16 - Metro Theatre, Sydney

There are a few things to point out before I discuss this gig.
a) I'm not a wanky reviewer...I'll just tell you how it was
b) This is not a picture of them at the last gig...I forgot my camera (revert to point a)

Having walked out of the last Tim Rogers gig at the Annandale with the very unimpressive combination of Tex Perkins, who had clearly binged on all sorts of molotov cocktails, I wasn't excepting that much from Tim and band. However You Am I is an all together different feel.

You can't help get a bit excited with the rockstar Tim Rogers swagger onto stage. Every step commands attention, and dispite the fact he is probably not the most clean cut attractive figure, he has most of the girls drawling for personal attention. On this night we brought two friends who are relatively unfamiliar with You Am I's repertoire...both girls....one from Sweden and the other, who is a little more attentive to Tim's radio friendly backlist. 3 chords in and we are dancing, pointing the ceiling and singing our hearts out...and at no stage did the cheesiness ease.

This was a good old fashioned rock show. Tim thankfully relented from telling us that every song was a "massive f*&ken hit" and instead let our singing acknowledge his presence in the Australian rock and roll hall of fame.

A few VB's into the night, and wondering if they might dry up of genius, and on rolls a strange man/woman in pink tights singing in a Led Zepplin kind of scream that had Tim highly impressed but left us wondering whether we had caught some sort of mind altering, eye faulting wonder drug. I assumed it was a guy, but it looked a lot like my friends mum, which really weighed on my mind.

In anycase this was a sensational gig. I sadly missed the accoustic treats that Tim usually supplies but you can't help but marvel at the song craft, stage presence and energy at a You Am I gig. Sorry but you can keep the Killers....this is good old fashioned, home grown, shitty carpet rock.Surely they couldn't put out another album of hits....could they?

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It always seemed like a long time between drinks with Pearl Jam. As a band that never did video's, stayed away from the media, and obviously began in a pre main stream internet world, I felt starved of Pearl Jam substance. I would have to admit I was an addict. I once took a video camera into the Entertainment Centre in Perth, and traded these video's for other rare tapes across the globe. Video was extremely rare so I managed to pick up some pretty great casette tapes but obviously it didn't seem like enough.

I guess in a nutshell I've been waiting for an Eddie Vedder solo album since the dawn of time....and here it is. I guess it's not entirely Eddie Vedder inspired solo as it's heavily influenced, or directed I should say by a movie. I've always felt that Eddie's husky baritone voice would sit nicely around a rugged campfire. You probably couldn't get anyone to play a better part for Sean Penn's movie 'Into the Wild' which is about a disillusioned twenty-something named Christopher McCandless, who dropped out of society, hitched cross-country and perished in the Alaskan wilderness, than Eddie Vedder.

It's a short album, no longer than half an hour, and each track barely over 3 minutes. It is a pretty cruisy album as one of my friends, and fellow Pearl Jam fan commented...but cruisy is what I want. 'Society' stands out for me as a classic, haunting song that just want leave me alone. 'Society...your crazy breed, I hope your not lonely, without me.' 'No Ceiling', another stand out is a simple banjo driven lullaby. Definately grab the album, and you'll find days, weeks, and potentially years of enjoyment.

10 years to long waiting for this album, but hopefully as Eddie or perhaps Ed gracefully ages we might see more folk inspired beauty.

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Dave Matthews for those that aren't familiar is one of the highest earning entertainers in the world. Relatively unknown outside of the U.S. this you would assume makes him pretty damn popular in the states.

I would have to say he is one of the most brilliant musicians, especially live which he has been built up over years of touring colleges (I believe this is what he does religiously). He also a very unique style on the guitar, playing some relatively unkown chords and his dancing....well it's funky but not quite orthodox.

Listening to him talk between songs, being so creative, having a slightly unusual dancing style...I don't think that makes autistic. Yes he is brilliant and I'm sure a number of brilliant people throughout time have been labeled somewhat 'special'.

A definition from wiki suggests:
"Autism is a brain development disorder characterised by impairments in social interaction and communication".

As somebody that can pull in excess of 100,000 people to a concert, blow them away, and leave them begging for more I would have to say he has an advanced social interaction and communication ability not an impaired one.

Don't forget he is a rock star. he has been able to live and breathe a world where people hang off everything he says and does. This allows him to take his creativity to all new levels, and to play with you more than you think...because at the end of the day he is entertaining!

I must admit I've seen him come across as somewhat different, and it has crossed my mind. What do you think?

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 John says...
As long as he's happy, he shouldn't have to change.
Friday, July 25, 2008 3:58:00 AM  

 Dave Anderson says...
Couldn't agree more.
Monday, August 18, 2008 9:04:00 PM  

 

So who the hell is Dave Matthews? I usually list him as one of my inspirations and get that very response. I was introduced to the world of Dave by a good friend of mine Nathan Eglington who religious covers his songs...not a bad way to practice cos he has a unique playing style.

Anyway my normal answer to the 'Who is Dave Matthews question' is he is one of the highest earning entertainers in the U.S. How can that be I've never heard of him? Well mostly because he tours the U.S a bit, then a bit more, and then a bit more than that. But touring is not enough unless you can entertain like he can. Watch one of his live DVD's and you'll be hooked.

Live at Central Park is possibly the greatest music DVD that I've come across, and it mostly comes down to one song "Jimi Thing". A lot of people think Dave Matthews maybe be a bit autistic...he's definately a bit strange, regardless he is brilliant. More for his live stuff than his albums which is how it should be.

Jimi Thing Live @ Central Park - part 1


Jimi Thing Live @ Central Park - part 2


Personal favourites, and songs I like to cover, include Gravedigger, Ants Marching, Stay or Leave, Say Goodbye, #41 and Big Eyed Fish. There would be more but I'm not sure I have enough time to learn all his stuff and still write myself!

Official site
www.davematthewsband.com/

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Have you had your head stuck in the sand for the last 5 years? If you haven't heard or seen Gomez then the answer is a big yes! I get a smile just thinking about how much fun their gigs are. An unusual set up with 3 singers, all with varying qualities, it's kind of hard to understand how 3 independently talented guys have been able to stick it out for so long.

Liquid Skin and Bring it On were steady openers. They won a Mercury award for one of the albums...probably Liquid Skin my guess without doing a google search and finding out, but anyway songs like Rythm and Blues Alibi, Whipping Piccadilly, Free to Run and Get Myself Arrested are stand out.

Then they release In Our Gun and get this it receives crap reviews. W.T.F. This album is a scorcher. It was with this release I saw them at Metro's City in Perth and I just about died and went to heaven. Unbelievable. I won't even bother telling you what songs off that album are brilliant.

Split the Difference I like, particularly Silence, Catch Me Up, and Sweet Virginia.

Then How We Operate....I'm not going to say anymore. I could just go on and on and on. Just buy their albums. All of them, and if they are not playing nearby...then get on a plane.

Gomez official website

Click here to see the brilliant photo's from their Metro gig in Sydney in July this year

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His album "I Sincerely Apologise For Everything I've Done" is an album that will have found memories forever. Everyone who I've told to buy this album has loved it, and in turn has helped spread the love. You must see him perform live with his trademark multiple instrument looping. It's no suprise that his follow up album "Songs For The Road" is taking a little longer to adore because his first was just so good. However the title track "Song for the Road" is a corker as is "Go To Hell". These are definately must have albums.

Must see footage


www.david-ford.mu
www.myspace.com/davidford

Read my blog post
"David Ford, the Frames and co-incidence"

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I guess the first post is always going to be the most important. I felt I should reserve this spot for a Victorian band that taught me it's ok to sing emotive tunes. The album "Goodbye Girl" I played over and over and over, and it inspired me to write. Personally I adore songs such as "Goodbye Girl", "So Broken" and "Armies Against Me". On the new album, which is probably even better I'm addicted to "Hoping It's Not Hopeless" and "Main St" however they are all equally brilliant. This is a band you have to see live...emotive lyrics, beautiful harmonies and perfectly arranged. I was humbled to open for them last year. Can't wait for the new album, see them play live again and share some beers with some extremely talented yet grounded guys!

Go behind the scenes with Epicure


www.epicuretheband.com
www.myspace.com/epicuretheband

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Wow...went and saw Melbourne band Art of Fighting on Saturday night with a group mates. To be honest I wasn't sure if we were going to make it through the day given the AFL grand final however thanks to a one sided Geelong thrashing the beer started to slow somewhat.

I've got 2 Art of Fighting albums, Second Story and Wires...both with a very similiar melodic rock feel. I was worried that I would get bored of this band after a few songs, however I hung on to nearly every word. But that's just the thing. I normally really really hang onto words, but the music just transcended me into a state of pure calm as I found myself eyes closed swaying back and forth...this may have had something to do with the level of alocohol in my system!

Anyway I've bought the album, and I'm in love. I can hear elements of Epicure coming through on some of their tracks but I guess with just a little less punch.

Great stuff. Go and buy "Runaways" as it's a great album.

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I'm a big believer in co-incedence.

I once saw a full page article on David Ford which was published in the Sydney Morning Herald. The Herald isn't exactly my go to paper for all things new and fantastic so with a little interest and a bit of skepticism I looked up David Ford's myspace site and was blown away.

Although the article didn't say that his debut album "I Sincerely Apologise For Everything I've Done" had been released in Australia, I looked up itunes, found it, and bought it. On my first listen I was blown away which like more music fans, is pretty rare. Anyway I was kicking back listening to this brilliant discovery, when I glanced to look at my Gomez gig poster from the U.S. and noticed that David Ford was the support act for this gig.

Anyway I read in the Herald about his gig that was coming up at the Hopetoun Hotel which is a pretty small little music venue in Surry Hills.

So...if your still with me this is where it gets cool. I was at my local in Ultimo, and had maybe double the recommended dosage of alcoholic units for a week, when I get chatting with my girlfriend to two english guys asking about the AFL. Being a self confessed AFL junkie I brought them up to speed. 6 points for a goal, 1 for a point, highest score wins, and there are very few rules.

Anyway I sat down when I noticed one of the guys put on the David Ford trademark bowlers hat. Fans of his will know what I'm talking about, and I went wow he has the same hat as David Ford...I sent my girlfriend back over to ask....

"Is your name David?"....
"Yes" he said

I then told my girlfriend to perhaps ask a more probing question which may lower the odds.

"Are you David Ford?"
"How do you know?" Was David's reply.
"My boyfriend just bought your CD and was talking about your music for most of the night".

Anyway we all got back into a conversation and were offered tickets despite the fact that I had already bought them. Nice to be asked I guess.
I asked Ford if he would sign my Gomez poster or if that was just a stupid idea. Clearly alcohol has an ability to intefer with decision making. Thankfully it was also intefering with his, and the answer was yeah cool.

So after the most amazing gig I have seen (p.s he looped absolutely everything without a mistake which I thought was just genius), I waited to get my poster signed. Now I realised I was in danger of being a bit of tool, however this co-incidence had me on a mission.

As I waited this lady says to me:
"Are you wanting to get something signed"
"Um know I thought, I always walk around with a big black pen and a poster in a tube"
"Are you the Gomez poster guy?" She said.

Then David Ford yells out,
"Hey Dave, come over".

I don't flinch. It's common to hear people yell, 'Hey Dave' (which I have got used to over the years and has very little effect on me. The herds of women (my girlfriend and two others) move away and I realise it was Ford yelling out. Show me this poster.

I put it down to which he says..."this is my favourite gig ever".
"Write that on the poster then". I said.

And that ended my cool little David Ford story. Until I saw Ford's mate, Bobby (who has a great blog site!), at an MTV after party (I'm certainly not cool enough, or enough of a loser to deserve to be at this party). Anyway we get chatting and it turns out he lives in Ultimo (hence the reason they were at the local).

And well that's it. What does this have to do with the Frames? No idea...oh that's right...my girlfriend mentioned the Frames last night, then the producer who is doing my album mentioned them about 30 mins later.

And I thought...

Where was the SMH article and if only I had a poster.

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 thaoie says...
that's an unrool coinkidink, roolly choice
Friday, August 17, 2007 11:40:00 AM  

 

Prior to the sensational Gomez concert on Sunday at the Metro, which was just after the awesome performance by yours truely : ) an interesting topic of conversation arose...name your top 5 favourite artists?

I rattled mine off fairly quickly - Pearl Jam, David Ford, Ben Harper, Epicure and Gomez. Damien Rice narrowly missing out (shouldn't have split with Lisa).

It got me thinking though... who's in your top 5 and why?

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 Paulos says...
Dave Matthews - solo or with his band, has created his own sound and has an amazing energy on stage
Gomez - took northern indie rock to a different place with there electronic samples and unique vocal harmonics
Pearl Jam - nuff said
Radiohead - still trying to recreate themselves, are one of only a few artists that treat their music as art and they start with an empty canvas at the beginning of every album
Counting Crows - Adam Duritz's amazing lyrical skill was the driving factor behind the perfect album, August & Everthing Afer
Monday, April 16, 2007 6:37:00 PM  

 Dave Anderson says...
mmm Counting Crows of course. Many great albums, 'step out the front door like a ghost in to the fog' is an awesome lyric. I guess David Ford is a wildcard based on 'the best gig I have ever seen. Otherise CC would be in for sure.
Monday, April 16, 2007 6:48:00 PM  

 Anonymous says...
queens of the stone age
the strokes
pearl jam
tim rogers
not sure on the 5th as yet...will get back to you.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:51:00 AM  

 Fi says...
It has taken my a while to put together my top 5, but I have had a long hard think about it .....

You Am I
Foo Fighters
Powder Finger
Toss up between -
Sterophonics and Chris Cornell
Dave Anderson : - )
David Ford (this is also a wild card for me)

Maybe that is a few more than 5 but I couldnt decide ...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 8:22:00 PM  

 Antoinette says...
Prince
Michael Jackson
Boys II men
Wham
John Legend
Thursday, April 19, 2007 9:56:00 AM  

 Dave Anderson says...
Trovey are you lost, tired or even serious? Prince and MJ...shamefully my first CD was Boys II Men (it was a present I promise!)
Thursday, April 19, 2007 10:00:00 AM