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MORRIS MAJOR
Brisbane's Andrew Morris has got a wonderful double-life.
His solo career is thriving - he's just released a fantastic
single, Horizon, featuring good buddy Bernard Fanning -
and he's also part of the bluegrass supergroup The Wilson
Pickers. The Pickers, featuring Andrew, Danny Widdicombe,
Sime Nugent and John Bedggood, are a surprising success.
As they state on the back of their two-CD set, Land Of The
Powerful Owl/Jolene, they "met on a Thursday, recorded on
a Friday and played our first show on a Saturday of the
same week". "The group seems to have surpassed all our individual
successes, which is not a bad thing," Andrew says. "It's
just funny that a side project, meant to be a bit of fun,
goes better than our serious hard-fought solo enterprises."
Does the Pickers influence Andrew's solo work? "In a way,
yes. What it does is allow me to keep playing 'roots' music
with the Pickers, which I still love, and frees me up to
experiment with my solo stuff. When I write a new song,
it becomes pretty obvious if it goes in the Pickers' pile
or my solo stuff. Generally, everything in G goes to the
Pickers!"
Horizon, from Andrew's fifth solo album, Shadow Of A Shadow,
features Bedg on violin, The Gin Club's Bridget Lewis on
cello, and one of Andrew's heroes, Bernard Fanning, on backing
vocals. "I wanted the second verse to mirror the first verse,
with the lyrics and melody, but take it up a notch," Andrew
explains. "For some reason, I had Peter Gabriel in my head
when I was producing the track. I couldn't sing that high
part comfortably, so I thought of Bernard, and luckily he
was happy to oblige. And as I'm compared to him a lot, I
thought it was pretty interesting to have our voices side
by side."
Ah, comparisons. Music critics love comparisons. Andrew
actually reminds Howzat! of Dave Dobbyn, and we mean that
respectfully - we love Dave. Andrew smiles. "Like most people,
I'm only aware of Slice of Heaven. I suppose he gets lumped
into the one hit wonder category. At least he's able to
write one hit, which is not easy. I'll add him to my 'must
check out' list." Andrew is usually compared to James Taylor
and Bernard Fanning. "I'm not complaining as they are both
great singers. Most commonly I get the Bernard one as I
was definitely influenced by him in my formative years.
Sometimes I get the Ryan Adams one, too. I quite enjoyed
the Sydney Morning Herald review of my latest album - there
was a comparison to George Harrison. I'll take that one!
I did have an unusual, annoying and, at the same time, funny
comparison when a punter at a gig said I had 'a touch of
the Xaves', as in Xavier Rudd. I don't play didgeridoo though."
The Wilson Pickers - with Bedg but minus didg - play the
last Melbourne show before their European tour at the Northcote
Social Club on Friday. And Andrew has two upcoming afternoon
solo shows - at Pure Pop on April 16, and Wesley Anne on
April 17.
ATTENTION SHOPPERS, THE LITTLE STEVIES ARE READY
The Little Stevies were indeed little when Howzat! first
saw them, at the Empress many years ago. Now, they're all
grown up, but they've lost none of their charm and sweet
innocence. And their Toff shows last weekend - to launch
their new album, Attention Shoppers - showed they're set
for stardom. Who knows where the Stevies fit in the crazy
radio world, but the album's opening cut, Accidentally,
is a hit waiting to happen, and their folk cover of The
Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition was chillingly good.
WHAT'S THE DEAL?
The music world has changed. But bands still want to sign
a recording contract. An American survey of 2000 unsigned
acts has found that more than 75 per cent want a label deal.
Nearly all of them will be disappointed. Times are tough
for major labels, and acts have to come up with creative
ideas to kick-start careers. The state government's Vic
Rocks program has helped fund many albums and tours. And
now a local council has started a record company. Decibels
Records - set up by Darebin City Council Youth Services
and Decibels Youth Music Centre - is looking to sign three
acts. Only catch is you have to be no more than 25 years
old and at least one member has to live, work or study in
Darebin. Send your demo and bio to Decibels Records, Level
One, 23 Edwardes Street, Reservoir 3073.
END OF FASHION, ROCK OF AGES
End of Fashion are a great band from Perth. Singer Justin
Burford is the lead in the new musical Rock of Ages, which
has its gala opening in Melbourne on Saturday. But it's
not the end of End of Fashion - their third album is on
the way.
CHART WATCH
Again no Aussie acts in the national Top 20, with Jessica
Mauboy slipping from 14 to 26.
What Happened To Us JESSICA MAUBOY (number 26)
Friday To Sunday JUSTICE CREW (39)
Sparkadia spend a second week in the Top 10, while Shane
Nicholson sells 1020 albums to land at 29.
The Great Impression SPARKADIA (number nine)
Temptation THE WAIFS (19)
Aftermath HILLSONG UNITED (24)
Down The Way ANGUS & JULIA STONE (25)
Bad Machines SHANE NICHOLSON (29, debut)
Birds Of Tokyo BIRDS OF TOKYO (32)
The Experiment ART VS. SCIENCE (35)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Horizon ANDREW MORRIS
Glitter, Gold, Ruin BOY IN A BOX
Accidentally THE LITTLE STEVIES
Half A Man THE WILSON PICKERS
Whistling Cannonballs SHANE NICHOLSON & PAUL KELLY
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