Tag Archives: Alan Brooker

Nov 2017 – PUNK

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This was one the most fun nights I can remember. My theory is that the music you listen to when you are around 13 years old becomes ingrained in your psyche so much that nearly 40 years later you can recall what it felt like when you were their the first time. I had a ball playing these songs. Special guests Vesudha Harte loved singing the Ramones I Wanna Be Sedated and of course fooled everyone that she is French with Ca Plane Pour Mois. Jono Hillman cut the image a dirty punk very well with his renditions of the Saints’ Stranded and Know Your Product and and even went bare top for his Iggy Pop number.

John Campbell from Brisbane dropped in to play Harmonica on ‘Another Girl Another Planet’, Erina Leach sang Patty Smith’s Because The Night and nailed Frenzal Rhomb’s Never Had So Much Fun. Most agree though that Val Hodgson’s Oh Bondage Up Yours was the highlight of the night. For me the the best fun was seeing all the old punks come out of the wood works and… was I surprised to see Monday night regulars Jan and Lizzy in there above and beyond punk outfits. Great work from Sam Sanders on Guitar who only had a few days to get his parts down. Thanks to Al Brooker on bass and Jason Caspen on drums who kept the energy up. Luis on Sound and Ashara on the door. Thanks To Lyn McCarthy from nichpix for these great pics of the night. OI!

Jan 2017 Modern Australian

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Thanks to everyone for coming to the Modern Australian UKE NIGHT. It was in the end a fantastic evening albeit with a late start and even later finish. I was up at the crack of dawn and so was our trusty sound man Luis Christia and Door Technician Deb Stoker at the Brunswick Heads Breakfast in the Park Australia Day celebration. The NRUO was leading the songs for the forth year in a row. So we were a little pooped.

This book featured Australian songs from the last 20 years. So not surprisingly some folk had never heard of them. This was the exact reason I did the book. It seems ludicrous that songs most people want to hear and play are the ones they know, usually from their youth when they first fell in love with them. While I understand why that is, in the past 20 years 10s of thousands of songs have been written… some real treasure too. We must keep moving along folks.

With this in mind I thought it important to have some young folk up on stage with us. Local band 100 Words consists of 12 year old – Miller Stuart-Long, (fantastic singer / song writer in the making), Jack Edmonds and Sam Sanders. These guys share the instruments around and have learned how to hold it down and keep it tight. So refreshing to see. Milly sang with daughter Rose Eadie on ‘Big Jet Plane’ before the band got up and played two original songs. Also Sonny Flynn played trumpet. What a great feeling to share the stage with these young musicians. Sam Sanders was actually in the UKE NIGHT band as guitarist and did a mighty job with a talent way beyond his years, playing some wicked riffs and solid grooves and solos on songs he heard for the first time the week before.

The first half of the show was full of pop songs from Australian bands and solo artists, including the wonderful message song ‘Caught In The Crowd’ by Kate Miller-Heidke. Guest vocalist Sara Tindley’s daughter Poppy Baily-Tindley sang this one with Rosie – they were amazing. Both Miss Amber and Sara sang harmonies with the girls unable to contain their proud mother smiles.

Brad Green won the highly coveted poster in the raffles and Noel won the two tickets for next month. Barb won the Australia Day ukulele and promptly told Miss Amber to bend over so she could show her were to stick it. (Barb is over 80 and doesn’t fancy learning I guess).

The 2nd half of the show was more singer songwriter flavoured, perfect for our guests Sara and Mr Ash Bell. Ash is having a break from performing at the moment and it was so great to hear his voice again. See clip of Ash singing Paul Kelly’s ‘They Thought I Was Asleep’. A few people had left by now as it was getting late so it was a very special intimate 30 minutes, finished of by a rockin’ version of  ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ from Jet sang by Sara, who can belt out a rock tune with the best of them. (I love when Sara Rocks out)

There was a lot of learning from the musicians this month and I really appreciate the time and effort that went into recreating all the little details. Brilliant keys from new comer Dan Brown who was the perfect man for the job with the ability to pull authentic synth sounds one minute and beautiful piano solos the next. Thanks To Al Brooker and Jason Caspen for their exceptional rhythm section work. The night was ended with a soulful version of Nick Caves ‘Into My Arms’ with impromptu 4 part harmonies in the last chorus. We were packed up and out of there before 10pm.

See more pics from Lyn McCarthy at Niche pics here

Modern Australian

Riptide – Vance Joy
Cry – The Mavis’s
Lighthouse – The Waifs
Coin Laundry – Lisa Mitchell
Caught In The Crowd – Kate Miller-Heidke
Big Jet Plane – Angus & Julia Stone
Don’t Be Silly – 100 Words
Hoops – The Rubens
To My Table – Mama Kin
Walking on A Dream – Empire Of The Sun

Black Bugs – Regurgitator
I’m Not Coming Back – Husky
Buttons – Sia
Time – Sara Tindley
We Won’t Run – Sarah Blasko
Bowen Station – Ash Bell
They Thought I Was Asleep – Paul Kelly
My Happiness – Powderfinger
Heart Beating – Suzannah Espie
Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye
Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
Into My Arms – Nick Cave

November 2016 – The Best Of the 2016

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The Best Of The 2016 Songbooks

 

This was one of the best fun Uke Nights as it was spontaneous and loose though still very musical and entertaining. Traditionally, November is all about looking back on the songbooks we have presented and choosing the favourites. The result was a very eclectic mix. Sharny Russell was roped in at the last minute. She was coming over to do a guest spot though Stu quickly put her to work on keys, at times playing songs she hadn’t heard before. Of course Sharny (sister of Steve Russell) is one of the Austrailia’s most accomplished Jazz pianists and vocalists. What a touch of class. (we are blessed with the most wonderfully talented musicians).

The band were great as usual – Al Brooker on bass, Jason Caspen on Drums and Evan Landers on Guitars. It was so great to have Misty Henderson back with us. She is such a star in the making. The NRUO backed her during ‘Summertime’ and also performed ‘Lullaby Of Birdland’ which was beautifully garnished with Sharny’s piano.

A great highlight was ‘100 Words’, a band consisting of local 12 year old, Mila Stuart-Long, Sam Sanders and Jack Edmonds who played their 3 original songs during the break. We hope to see more of the group next year. Straight after you could have heard a pin drop during Sharny’s version of Carole Kings ‘You Got A Friend’…. simply stunning. Jono Hillman sang a few tunes with us from the British Invasion book of last month and then did a fine John Kay from Steppenwolf in ‘Born To be Wild’.  Val and Erina did a fine ‘She’s Not There’ by the Zombies. We finished the night with Time After Time which Miss Amber always slays especially with the addition of beautiful harmonies from Sharny and Misty.

Val and Barry won the door prize  – free tickets and somehow convinced Stu that a free bottle of wine was part of the prize. Pete Brosnan took home the poster with the winning number 16. Doesn’t get more fortuitous that. Smiles all round for another fun event in Club Mullum with a bunch of new and familiar faces.

October 2015 – Stones Night

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UM_OCT_2015_600

 

This was the third show at out new home in The Ex-Services club. I was worried sick that no one was going to show up. The publicity had a hitch and it was a rainy night. Just as we were to go on stage, the room started filling up and bang… It was a superb evening. The band was cookin’ – a real nice rockin’ sound.

Miss Amber sang well and really enjoyed herself, I think partly because Maria Stratton was back on violin, percussion and BV’s, the pair were like naughty school girls. Our guest vocalists Pete C and Jerry Chambers were just perfect for the evening. Just the right attitude and tattoos. Al Brooker was the man for the job on bass and Rex Carter on drums made a fine Charlie Watts.

Much kudos and respect to Evan Sun who had all the right guitar tones and the licks and solos worked out brilliantly. Went off without a hitch. Some mighty cheers from the crowd and the participation was excellent, with great choir work. Erina Leech got up again for the second consecutive uke night and sang a wonderful version of “As Tears Go By”. Great sound from Luis.

Much gratitude to all who helped including Deb on the door, Luke from the club and Cristine Sharrat. Sista Mary remarked at the end of the evening, Uke Mullum has now made the club it’s home. Could not be happier with how the night went.

Stones

September 2015 – Happy Folk

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Uke Mullum September 2015

For the theme of our second UKE NIGHT at the new venue Club Mullum in the Ex – Services Club, we went for a feeling… ‘Happy’. We put together a book of happy, uplifting tunes entitled ‘Happy Folk’. Awesome work from the band, Paul Agar on guitar and lap, Al Brooker on bass, Rex Carter on drums and Maria Stratton on violin, percussion and Bv’s. Special guest singer Chris Mallory did a sterling job, specially on 90’s classic, ‘You Get What You Give’ by New Radicals. Also along for the night was rising Uke Stars, Uke Loveys who were very well received and put on a great show, especially Sue Stenning’s original tune – ‘Keeping Up Appearances’. Erina Leech from the Monday night Mullum Uke Club sang the female part of ‘Young Folk’ by Peter Bjorn & John while teenage son Reuben was nonchalant though executed his whistling part with aplomb. Speaking of whistling… we found happy tunes often have whistling… the finale ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ had a massive chorus of whistlers from the audience (including 2 year old Noah). Numbers were consistent with last month just  over 60 payers and the room layout was approved of by our patrons. We had dancers. Great fun night!

whistlers

See the entire album of photos from Lyn McCarthy’s Niche Pix here and awesome video here