Sydney isn’t exactly known as being the country music hub of Australia, but upon entering the legendary Basement nightclub in Sydney last Friday, you might not have known where you were.
With a stage that included an American flag as a backdrop, some faux antique lanterns, and a mounted deer head, it felt like a honky tonk somewhere in the contiguous 48 US states.
With the atmosphere set, it was obvious that Lucky Luke And His Shooting Stars were not going to be a heavy metal outfit.
Luke Webb has done the rounds playing Tamworth and offering up his musical creations with marginal success. For the new album being launched this evening, Howlin’, Luke Webb and his band have decided to dip into the country swing/rockabilly and classic country songbook for a spin on the dance floor.
Kicking the evening off in splendid sonic and sartorial manner were The Two Timin’ Playboys. Pat Capocci is well known around the rockabilly scene as a premier performer. His slick guitar playing and slicked backed hair had the small crowd engrossed and a few people bopping on the dance floor.
Joined by Damien Lawson on upright bass and Joel Davis on drums, the trio were a bright beginning to a night of twinkling stars.
In actual fact, the stars were ‘Shooting’ and they were blazing when they hit the stage.
Commencing with a medley that included Merle Travis’s “9 Pound Hammer” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”, there was no mistaking the rural route this gig was taking. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and other famous ghosts of country music were to follow with the classic tunes “Jambalaya” and “Folsom Prison Blues”.
The Shooting Stars are a combo that consists of Bill Burns Brown, or Triple B to his friends, on guitar; Paul Mason on piano; Iain Tallis on formidable upright bass, and the legendary Andy Baylor on fiddle and guitar.
Baylor has performed and played rockabilly, Cajun and country music for close to 40 years. Baylor formed the first Australian Western Swing Band called The Dancehall Racketeers and they were one of the hardest working bands in this country in the early ‘80s.
Webb thanked the lanky Baylor for joining him and thanked himself for asking him to play with him. Excellent decision all round!
Taking a page from old time outfits like The Texas Playboys, Webb nods to each player as he wants them to take a solo. “Rootie Tootie”, a Hank Williams classic, brought out a rollicking piano solo and beautiful fiddle break to the forefront. “I Saw The Light”, the country gospel classic also penned by Williams, had the crowd bouncing and singing along.
Lucky Luke was galloping along and delivering old time classics faster than his cartoon namesake could shoot his shadow. “Smoke, Smoke Smoke, That Cigarette”, “Big River” and Wayne Hancock’s “Thuderstorms And Neon Signs” were all excellent. They rolled out one original track entitled “Fast Train Blues” which perfectly fit the format of the night.
“Cocaine Blues”, which has been recorded by artists from Johnny Cash to Merle Haggard, was first-rate. The old barroom favourite by Hank Snow, “Six Pack To Go”, gave the drinkers something to hoot about as they ambled to the bar.
It was an album launch that should have been enjoyed by a larger crowd. The room was barely filled to a third of the capacity available, but that was no reflection on the quality of the music delivered.
Maybe it was lack of promotion or the lack of popularity surrounding country music in this city – who knows for sure – but people sure did miss out on an evening of down home fun.
Ending the night on a warm and delicate note, Lucky Luke was joined by a female vocalist to duet on the timeless classic “Hard Times” penned by Gillian Welch.
With a tip of his hat, Lucky Luke took to the trail, but don’t worry, pardner, he’ll no doubt be back in town soon.
