The Falcons in Flight

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the formation of one of Australia’s most loved live bands from the seventies, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and to celebrate they are “getting the band back together” for one very special performance in Melbourne.

The formation of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons happened on somewhat of a whim when in 1975 Daddy Cool front man, Ross Wilson asked man about town, Melbourne musician Joe Camilleri to perform vocals on what was meant to be a one-off Christmas single he was producing, a remake of Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run.

To promote the single it seemed a good idea to put together a band comprising some of the other people who had worked on the record including former Daddy Cool members Gary Young & Wayne Burt. On stage, they called themselves Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons.   Initially the Falcons music had a distinct  r ‘n b flair, but when Wayne Burt left the band, Joe Camilleri took on songwriting duties with band members Tony Faehse and Jeff Burstin and the Falcons sound soon evolved into the contemporary ‘new wave’ rock.

This new direction saw the band garner interest from Elvis Costello who invited them on his Australian tour in 1977. Sharing somewhat of a musical affinity with Joe, Costello even recorded his own version of the Falcon’s track So Young.   The Falcons continued to experiment with their sound with shades of r ‘n b, ‘new wave’ rock and even reggae, and with the addition of Wilbur Wilde and John Power to the band, the Falcons had established themselves as a must-see live band, particularly in their hometown Melbourne where night after night they were turning away eager fans at jam packed venues.

The band experienced their greatest chart success in 1979 reaching  No. 12 on the Australian Chart with the single Hit and Run off the album Screaming Targets which also spawned the hits Shape I’m In, Puppet On A String and I Will Return.   Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons toured extensively through Australia, Europe and the United States, garnering much interest and broadening their fan base even wider, but with band members taking on different directions musically they decided to call it a day in 1981.

The band reformed briefly in 2003 for the album Ricochet and a national tour, and in 2007 Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons received perhaps their greatest honour, being inducted in the ARIA Hall of Fame.   And now the classic Falcons line up of Joe Camilleri, Wilbur Wilde, Jeff Burstin, Gary Young, John Power and Tony Faehse are back together to do it all again this September for one very special show in their hometown of Melbourne.

The Forum – 2 September 2011

 

Chris Isaak Loops Back To Australia

Chris Isaak, who appears to be on a perpetual touring loop that includes Australia, returns in March 2011, with tickets going on sale from 9am Tuesday 30th November 2010.

“Chris has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Australia over the years. The response to his shows has always been amazing and we can’t wait to have him back on our shores next March. Australia has always been one of Chris Isaak’s most successful markets” said promoter, Andrew McManus.

In addition to being a platinum-selling artist, award-winning singer (including two Grammy Award nominations), acclaimed actor, TV star, charismatic showman and all-round great guy, he even had a race named after him at Melbourne’s Spring Carnival in 2008.

Chris Isaak’s shows are much talked about events, which draw audiences back again and again. His long-time legendary band, Silvertone, featuring Kenney Dale Johnson on drums, will accompany Chris Isaak in Australia for his March tour.

Throughout his impressive recording career, right from his stunning 1985 debut Silvertone to 2009’s Mr Lucky, Chris Isaak has tunefully and artfully explored the good, the bad and the ugly of love, as well as other matters of profound human interest. He has done so with an abiding respect for popular music’s past, but at the same time with clear and vital passion for the here and now. He has given us the hits Wicked Game, Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing, Blue Hotel, Somebody’s Crying and many more.

He will be joined by special guests Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows. Melinda Schneider & Danielle Spencer will also perform at the Hunter Valley, Melbourne and Brisbane shows.

Saturday 12th March

Hunter Valley Wyndham Estate Winery

Sunday 13th March

Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre

Wednesday 16th March

Perth Kings Park

Saturday 19th March

Melbourne Mornington Racecourse

Tuesday 22nd March

Sydney State Theatre

Wednesday 23rd March

Sydney State Theatre

Friday 25th March

Wollongong WIN Entertainment Centre

Saturday 26th March

Brisbane Riverstage

Brian Wilson Replaces Peter Gabriel

You win some, you lose some.

The bad news is that Peter Gabriel will no longer be headlining the November 1st Concert at Intimate Arena Mode, Etihad Stadium. The cancellation is said to be due to scheduling issues.

But there’s a very bright silver lining to this dark cloud. Brian Wilson will replace Gabriel on the November 1st Concert as the headline international guest. Australian fans can expect to hear Brian Wilson’s greatest hits along with his solo classics and a selection of songs from his new album Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin.

America, Chicago, Peter Frampton, Blue King Brown, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson, Joe Camilleri, Stephen Cummings, Deborah Conway and Danielle Spencer will continue to perform as scheduled on Monday 1st November at Intimate Arena Mode, Etihad Stadium.

Andrew McManus Presents will refund any disappointed ticket holders in full and tickets are still on sale via Ticketmaster for Brian Wilson fans. Having seen Wilson a couple of times in the last decade you wont want to be getting a refund, trust me!

Brian Wilson is one of popular music’s most deeply revered figures, the main creative force behind some of the most cherished recordings in rock history.   It is no exaggeration to call Brian Wilson one of the most influential composers of the last century.

Beginning as one of five members of the Beach Boys, Wilson’s career took off when the single ‘Surfin’ hit big locally and made ripples on the national charts, the Beach Boys were then signed to Capitol Records. Seven albums later, the Beach Boys became one of the most popular touring acts in the world. Wilson remained a key contributor to their albums, writing some of his most affecting work. Behind the timeless songs of surf, sun, sadness and longing is the quintessential prince of introspection and inspiration, Brian Wilson.

Claimed by Paul McCartney as having written the greatest pop song ever ‘God Only Knows’. In early 1966, while the other Beach Boys were on a tour, Wilson embarked on a trip of his own and created what many today consider ‘The Great American Pop Album.’ With the release of Pet Sounds, Wilson became recognised as a groundbreaking musical force. Anticipation was sky high for the Beach Boys’ next album. However, the Smile album became the most legendary album that never was. Through profound personal setbacks and professional frustrations, Brian Wilson has overcome many obstacles and remains one of the most influential pop composers of the last 50 years.

The Brian Wilson live show is a wonderful example of recreating the magic of the timeless melodies and complex harmonies that made the Beach Boys sound.

Gabriel, Frampton to Headline Cup Eve Concert

Peter Gabriel will return to Australia to headline a huge Cup Eve concert in Melbourne to celebrate the Melbourne Cup’s 150th year.

Gabriel will be joined by a big classic rock line-up that includes Peter Frampton, Chicago and America at the Cup Eve Celebration Concert at Etihad Stadium on November 1.

Local acts, including Kate Ceberano, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson, Joe Camilleri, Deborah Conway, Stephen Cummings and Danielle Spencer will also perform at the Cup Eve show.

Tickets for the concert go on sale on June 24

The Cup Eve concert will be staged within a new configuration at Docklands Stadium, an intimate concert mode for 19,000 people.

Gabriel will be performing a set that includes all his hits and selections from his latest album Scratch My Back, which sees him covering songs by artists including David Bowie, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, Radiohead and Talking Heads. Apparently the album will have a sequel with those artists covering Peter Gabriel songs, entitled I’ll Scratch Yours.

Peter Gabriel was of course the frontman of Genesis before releasing a host of important solo work including hits like Sledgehammer, Solsbury Hill, Don’t Give Up and Games Without Frontiers. He’s also known as the founder of the Womad festival.

Peter Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. Raised in London, Frampton taught himself to play guitar while still a child. He studied at the Bromley Technical School with classmate David Bowie (with whom he later recorded and toured). At 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British teen band, the Herd. At 18, he co-founded one of the first super groups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. His fifth solo album, the electrifying Frampton Comes Alive!, is one of the top selling live records of all time.

Frampton is undergoing a career renaissance in recent times with the release of his new album Thank You Mr Churchill.

“This album is very autobiographical. It starts with my birth, in which I thank Mr. Churchill for bringing my father back from the Second World War,” says Frampton of his new set. “I woke up one morning and I wondered what would have happened if Winston Churchill hadn’t been at the helm and the British and the Allies had not won. Would my dad have not come back? Would I be here? Probably not.”

Mr Churchill is Frampton’s first collection since his innovative Grammy-winning instrumental album, Fingerprints. “Since Fingerprints, it’s been a very creative period for me,” he says. “I wrote over 50 songs between Fingerprints and choosing what will be the 11 on the record. Awards aren’t supposed to enhance one’s creative juices, but they don’t hurt. With the Grammy I feel validated as the musician that I always felt I’ve been.”