1. Howlin Wolf. One of history’s most influential bluesmen, Wolf was an electric live performer. His long time guitarist Hubert Sumlin had a profound impact on most of the rock players that followed him. Song titles such as ‘Built For Comfort’ and ‘300 Pounds Of Joy’ say it all.
2. Hollywood Fats. This LA blues guitarist was given his nickname by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, and played as a sideman for Muddy Waters. He also performed with the likes of James Harman, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, John Lee Hooker and Albert King before he died way too young.
3. John Belushi. The Blues Brothers introduced an entire generation to the blues and also resurrected the careers of most of the great musicians who played in the Blues Brothers Band. Belushi was a passionate blues fan who sadly went the same way as Hollywood Fats at a young age.
4. Willie Dixon. He may not have received as much stardom, but Willie Dixon was the songwriter/ arranger/ producer/ session musician behind many of the classic cuts by the likes of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin Wolf and others during Chess Records’ golden age.
5. 1970s Elvis. By the ‘70s, Elvis may have become a drugged and bloated parody of himself but his 1950s recordings with Sun Records, featuring some covers of classic blues tunes are some of the most raw and exciting ever made.
Morningside Fats performs as part of the Queensland Festival Of Blues at The New Globe Nov 2.
UP, UP AND AWAY
After forging a great teaching and performing career in Australia, local jazz chanteuse Lauren Lucille will be departing our shores to embark on a European career. Before she jetsets, Lauren has two final local shows at Lock N Load November 26 and December 3.
THE WINNER IS....
A big congratulations to Queensland's Joseph O’Connor (now based in Melbourne) for winning Australia’s most prestigious jazz competition, the National Jazz Awards. Congratulations also to Queensland's Dave Spicer who also made it into the finals. Joseph will receive $10,000, plus an ABC studio recording session, and an invitation to perform in the 2014 Stonnington Jazz Festival. The Award has been a central feature of the Wangaratta Jazz Festival since it began in 1990. A different instrument is featured every year, and this year it was the piano.
1. Playing bass on a cultural tour of Japan, getting stage rushed by the Queen of the Ainu who played mean Djembe. Scored mad embroidered jacket and headband.
2. Getting a sneaky handjob on stage during Die Rude’s pirate set at Woodford Folk Festival.
3. Touring PNG with Sunny Dread — DJd a delightful hell-hole club called Shooters in Port Moresby, hired a bodyguard called Moses, narrowly missed getting robbed at machete point by Raskols. Much betel nut consumed; I looked like Dracula.
4. Eating a tab of acid on stage at Kuranda Amphitheatre with my most ridiculous band ever — Derek And The Cabbages — and leaving my body for most of the set. MC burned us on the mic as 'legends in our own minds'.
5. Giving the Liverpool Kiss to obnoxious punter while performing with Lotek at the Bohemian Masquerade Ball in Melbourne. My face was painted with what I thought looked like Mighty Boosh's Spirit of Jazz, but he thought I was being racist!
DJ Rudekat supports Kooii’s last Brisbane show for the year at the Hi-Fi Saturday July 13.
1. ‘The Life Aquatic’. At the end of the film when Steve Zissou finally locates the Jaguar Shark that killed his friend Esteban, Steve says “I wonder if he remembers me”. Sigur Ros’ song ‘Starálfur’ then plays; utterly heartwrenching and unexpected.
2. Real life. Instead of giving some guys an autograph, Bill Murray gives them a Slow Motion Walk, like the end of ‘Life Aquatic’. Similar incidents have occurred where Murray has sung karaoke with complete strangers and tended bar at a party at SXSW in Austin.
3. ‘Rushmore’. Murray doing a bomb into his pool at his son’s birthday party, cigarette hanging out of his mouth. There is something I find very sad about Murray's deadpan delivery in this scene. I would do almost anything to have Bill Murray perform in a music video for me.
4. ‘Coffee And Cigarettes’. Delirium with RZA and GZA from Wu-Tang Clan. Bill drinking coffee straight out of the coffee decanter. Also the sound of Bill off-camera gargling oven cleaner to get rid of his smoker’s cough as prescribed by alternative medical doctor RZA. I like this scene because Murray seems so effortlessly kooky while the Wu-Tang guys seem very scripted, uncomfortable even.
5. Rushmore. Bill smoking two cigarettes in an elevator. Once again the deadpan performance in this scene is hilarious, but somehow very poignant.
Eden Mulholland supports David Bridie at the Brisbane Powerhouse July 13. To win a double pass and a copy of each artists’ latest release (Mulholland’s ‘Feed The Beast’ and Bridie’s ‘Wake’) visit scenemagazine.com.au