Show 170
First Nations, first looks, and so much more
First up, First Nations
ARC Dreaming - the Australian Reconciliation Company performing in 2015 in Byron Bay, New South Wales. The company here comprises the Indigenous dance group Nunukul Yuggera and players Visions of a Nomad. It combines Aboriginal traditional and contemporary music and dance.The performance tells of Indigenous people of the central east coast of Australia, from ancient Dreamtime stories to contemporary urban tales.
Timeless Land - Yothu Yindi, it was on their 1993 album, Freedom. The band's website describes their music as having "sounds stretching from tribal Yolngu beats and vocals to contemporary electronica and thumping rock ‘n’ roll," adding that "a political heart is beating throughout it all."
Light Up the Path - King Stingray, from their album For The Dreams, a 2024 release. Lead singer Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu is the nephew of Mandawuy Yunupingu, and guitarist Roy Kellaway is the son of Stuart Kellaway, who were both founding members of Yothu Yindi.
We've got you covered
White Wedding - Rowland S. Howard, guitarist with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for many years, covering Billy Idol's song. It was on Rowland's 1999 debut solo album Teenage Snuff Film. Billy did it in 1982.
Creep - Frank Bennett, from his 1996 album 5 O'clock Shadow. (in real life he's David Wray, combining "Frank" Sinatra and "Tony" Bennett - geddit?) It was Radiohead's hit single in 1993 from their album Pablo Honey.
Alive - Rebecca's Empire. Rebecca Barnard and her band did it on their 1995 EP Take A Look At Happiness. Pearl Jam did it in 1991 for their album 10.
What's in the vault?
We're staying with cover songs; from 1967, here's the Masters Apprentices with two songs from their self-titled debut album, plus a demo that didn't make the final LP.
- Johnny B. Goode, the Chuck Berry hit, Chuck did it in 1958.
- I Feel Fine, a 1964 Lennon McCartney single.
- Poor Boy, a classic blues number, it didn't make the final cut.
All from a 2009 Aztec Music compilation.
Kahvas Jute, now-ish and then
Kahvas Jute, strange name, no idea what it means, but in 1971 they made a terrific album titled Wide Open, which included the song
- Steps of Time
and then in 2006 they reunited for
- Somebody Do Something, on an album titled The Quickening.
New and new to us
Sly Folk - Dumbhead, from their self-titled 2026 EP.
Second Language - by Tactics, from 1980, the album was titled My Houdini. Apparently they are still going along but are now based in France.
Red Right Hand - featuring a fella who goes by the name of Kram, whose day job is singing and drumming for the venerable Aussie band Spiderbait. It's from a Nick Cave tribute concert tour called Straight To You that went around Australia in 2012, presented by a national radio network. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds did it in 1994 on an album titled Let Love In.
Dom Mariani and the Majestic Kelp start us off, move us along, and tell us when we're done.
The Down Under Hour
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