Zevon Wagons

Zevon Wagons

By Chris Mineral

Alternative country muso Henry Wagons will be performing on stage at The Athenaeum Theatre in Zevon, Accidentally Like A Martyr from October 16 to 26. 

One of David Letterman’s favourite musicians was Warren Zevon, declaring him one of the most intelligent writers and performers on the music scene. This show at The Athenaeum is devoted to celebrating the cult musician’s music and songwriting style. 

Zevon is celebrated in the realm of Townes Van Zandt as a brilliant songwriter by many musicians. 

Zevon’s third album Excitable Boy from 1978 contained several of his most popular songs including Werewolves Of London. His cover of Prince's Raspberry Beret performed on David Letterman is worth catching on YouTube. 

Zevon was also in a group called Hindu Love Gods which featured some musicians from the band REM. Henry Wagons, a brilliant songwriter himself, will be interpreting with gusto and verve the songbook of Warren Zevon, and perhaps even Raspberry Beret. 

The show’s music director will be country muso and Ringo Starr fan Lachlan Bryan, and will be presented by Beatroot Services. Bob Dylan cited Desperadoes Under The Eaves as one of his favourite Warren Zevon songs. The song is from the Warren Zevon’s self-titled album from 1976. 

Bruce Springsteen fan Henry Wagons has a radio show on Mondays from 8pm to 10 pm on Double J playing Americana, alt-country, bluegrass, rock and roll and folk. His most recent album Songs From The Aftermath is magnificent and is available from all good record stores in Melbourne. Keep On Coming Back is a rollicking tune featuring great lyrics about Leonard Cohen, the song is set somewhere in California, the film clip is an animation clip art by Grant Haffner and animation by Thomas Rawle. It has fauvist colours depicting a journey along the highway.

Berta Brozgul played a sublime selection of classical piano music at the Scots Church on Tuesday, September 3. The program included Schumann: Kinderszenen - Scenes from Childhood; Chopin: Ballade no 4 in F minor; Scriabin: Sonata no 5. Scriabin wrote this music in 1907 while living in Lausanne. Sviatoslav Richter described this piece by Scriabin as one of the most technically demanding works in the entire piano repertory, and the brilliant Brozgul was able to scale the magnificent musical peaks with a sensational languid delivery of supreme musicianship. The well-credentialed Brozgul has the fantastic ability to play with great clarity and passion and after an excellent Chopin, the Scriabin entered into an otherworld realm with distinguished languid passages. On the first Tuesday of every month there is a classical musical performance at The Scots Church on the corner of Collins and Russell streets in the CBD between March and November. The music is always of an impeccable standard.

Gifted Millingimbi and Maningrida rapper-songwriter from East Arnhem Land Baker Boy is curating a superb night of music and dance at 170 Russell during the Red Bull Music Conference on Sunday, October 20. Popular all over the world and prominent in Scandinavia, Baker Boy has been grinding away at rehearsals, building up a great show and this should be an awesome night of music and dance featuring Electric Fields Music, Rebecca Hatch and Drmngnow. In Yolngu culture dance plays a prominent role in culture. Baker Boy won the Artist Of the Year Award at the most recent National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) . He first came to prominence for many people with his positive uplifting song Marryunna Lets Dance. Baker Boy’s song Cool As Hell from 2019 is the vibe of a hip hop artist performing at his best. The choreography in the film clip is awesome and is worth checking out. Cool As Hell was written by Baker Boy, hip hop greats Thundamentals and writer-producer Carl Dimataga. Baker Boy got his name from his uncle and father who performed as a dancing group called Baker Boys and he sees himself as being the next generation of performers. Baker Boy raps in Yolngu Matha, one of many native languages in Australia and is keeping his language strong by embracing his culture. 

Sampa The Great has a superb new album out that is being acclaimed as a superb album by many critics called The Return. This is a debut album, although Sampa The Great did give us a collection of music last year called The Birds And The BEE9. Born in Zambia and raised in Botswana, she will be performing her superb neo soul hip hop music aligned with great visuals at The Red Bull Music Festival at The Forum Theatre on Friday, October 18, bringing The Return album to life.

Gigs/Shows

Nicholas Young/ Gemma Kneale - Scots Church, Tuesday, October 1.

Dandelion Wine, USER, Light Magnetic, Duet - The Spotted Mallard, October 4.

The Cat Empire - Forum Theatre, Saturday, October 12.

Sampa The Great - Forum Theatre, Friday, October 18.

Baker Boy - 170 Russell Street, Sunday, October 20.

Randy Feltface - The Toff In Town, Wednesday, October 23.

Zevon, Accidentally Like A Martyr - Athenaeum Theatre, October 16 to 26.

Henry Wagons Radio - Double J, Monday nights.

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