A Virtual Unreal Top 10
A little quieter for me in 2024. It’s getting harder to get me off the mountain or am I just getting old?
1. Birdman Five-0
Birdman at 50? I first saw them in Melbourne in 1977 at La Trobe uni. My mates hated them. I loved them.
I nearly didn’t go to this one because I’ve seen them so many times, but when I was told that these were to be their last gigs, I pulled the finger out and got a ticket to the last show. In a word, fantastic, but they always are. Deniz and Dave play so well together, Rob remains one of my favourite frontmen and everyone else does their bit.
Hard Ons were great in support. Glad I went.
2. Murray Engleheart’s Birdman book
What a book! I loved every word of it and it told me so much that I didn’t know, including stuff about myself. His retelling of how the band came together is a sublime piece writing. You’re practically watching these guys get into each other’s orbits and once they did, forming a band was inevitable.
These are complex people and Murray deals with the tensions and frustrations within the band very fairly. Everyone gets a good run. An extremely satisfying read.
Best of the rest
The rest are in no particular order, just as they emerged from my increasingly dodgy memory.
The Pleasures (album and gig)
The Pleasures are country legend Catherine Britt and Melbourne bluesman Lachlan Bryant. Too very different musicians, but it turns out to be very complementary combination. Their debut LP “The Beginning of the End” sits neatly between the two genres and was one of the records of the year. The show in a beer garden one Sunday arvo in Camden was a highlight.
Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite played the Manning Bar with Kid Andersen in September and was in fine voice and his playing is still amazing. Hard to believe that he’s 80. Great show. Great band. The blues still lives.
The On and Ons – Clyde’s birthday gig
Another great show. One of the best bands going around and well done getting on a US label.
Scattered Order (album and gig)
Their latest release “All things must persist” continues an excellent run of recent releases . Their gig at People’s Republic as a two-piece shortly after the passing of Michael Tee was wonderful and a fitting tribute to him.
Neil and the Horse
What is it with Neil Young? Still churning out stuff in his late 70s.
The 1980s was a weird time musically for him but he returned to form big time with 1990’s “Ragged Glory”. Bang! At the age of 78, he has another look at it and rerecords the entire thing, renaming the tracks and calling it “Fu##in' Up”. Bloody hell, it’s almost as good as the original. Is there one last Australian tour in him? I hope so.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live From the Ryman Vol. 2
Live album of the year. Masterful. The version of “King of Oklahoma” is worth the price alone.
Shonen Knife at the Crowbar in Sydney
Shonen Knife have been bringing me joy since I first heard them in the late 80s. They toured their 2023 album “Our Best Place” which is their best album in a while. This album takes them back to the fun and playfulness of their early albums, but with a much harder edge. Rock, costumes, choreography and lots of smiles. What more could you ask for?
2RRR turns 40!
In an era when it’s getting harder for local rock bands playing originals to get gigs and air time, community radio provides valuable support and access. Along with comrades Natalie (Timeslides) Big Daddy K (Sydney Sounds) we’ll continue the good fight.
I probably left some good stuff out, but I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. :)
Chris Virtue presents Virtual Unreality on 2RRR 88.5 FM on Friday nights at 19:00, playing an eclectic mix with studio
