LIVE AT CITY MALL Volumes 1 & 2
AXEMEN
Stu K-drums/Steve M & Bob B-gtrs/Al Rite-sax/Gary Scott-clarinet/Pete Hall Jones-trumpet
The Message (E. Fletcher-M. Glover-S. Robinson-C. Chase)
The CONNOISSEURS
Rent Hamilton-gtr, vocals/Shorty Hamilton-bass, vcls/Doug Hamilton-snare, vcls
with Al/Gary/Pete as The Horned Hornet Horns
Divorce Me COD/Just Because (Carl Smith/Bob Shelton-Joe Shelton-Sid Robin)
Setting The Woods On Fire (Hank Williams)
Long Tall Texan/When The Saints (Henry Strzelecki/Trad. arr. Connoisseurs)
Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Williams)
<*>
AXEMEN/The CONNOISSEURS/The Horned Hornet Horns
recorded the same night as Vol.1, same people ALL play
There You Go (Johnny Cash)
Turn Around (Carl Perkins)
Roadhouse Blues (Morrison-Krieger-Manzarek-Densmore)
The Untouchables, Fred & Barney
Bonnie Parker Clyde Barrow monsters on the loose, Axemen heroes
LIVE AT CITY MALL notes
These songs were definitely recorded on a Friday night, the 19th, before the Saturday of the Band Rotunda Free Festival, whenever that was (May? June? July?), at City Mall in Cashel St, Christchurch, 1984 (that information unavailable at the times of THIS & that previous post). On Volume 1, the first four songs are the Axemen busking at one end of the Mall. Note that the version of “The Message” included here is about 6 minutes longer than that one posted previously, and “Untitled By Unknown” is a new mix. Notice Gary Scott noticing cops at the end of “Axemen, Dogs, Cops.” I noticed that – nice of you to notice – steve Hear Stu Kawowski briefly note the date & introduce The Connoisseurs (having discovered them after marching up the other end of the Mall) who play the next four songs accompanied by the Al Right-Gary Scott-Pete Hall Jones Horned Hornet Horns horn section. By the time the songs on Volume 2 were recorded, literally moments after those on Volume 1, the non-horn-toting members of the Axemen had “changed” their “minds” about rumbling with the country and western Connoisseurs for poaching their blowers, and instead passed around the coffee wine & joined in for 8 more fine examples of City Mall-style busking magic. ALL SONGS IN STEREO. The cover photo, almost certainly by Stu, shows Doug & Rent Hamilton playing pentatonic scales in a brave attempt to shield their sensitive nether regions from McCabe’s out-thrust disaster-finger.
Escape from the Planet of the Tapes
Here’s a mixed bag of cassette-only goodies . . .
hello (aka “Burn” alt mix)
cold beer (alt mix)
jah & his herb (alt mix)
–undated, probably from Christchurch practises late 1984. Presence of saxophone and graphic equalizer are big time-clues, plus references to beer & god, plus the other side of the tape features the song “the panther of the suburbs” whose lyrics Steve channeled in trance-state following A SCAR IS BORN sessions, mid-84.
–live at the Star & Garter in Christchurch, 4 November 1983. This is around the time of the MICK’S DANCEFLOOR (MIX) sessions, and Mick himself, M. S. Agro, plays bass with us for the first of a whole bunch of great gigs.
–live at Christchurch City Mall, c.1984. Sounds like there’s a clarinet on this too so likely features members of the Axemen marching band who did stuff up and down Colombo Street. While marching. In a band. More from Live at City Mall
fever (cooley-davenport)
–Axmin biggish band again at Whangarei Busker’s Convention, December 1985.
–live at Cashel St practice rooms, early-mid 1986, with vocal overdubs by Steve & his 4-track.
—V—
FREAK OF THE WEEK (from behind)
Axmin in Whangarei 1985
This picture was taken in Whangarei after the Axmin returned from a day trip to Auckland where they’d scooped 1st prize in the inaugural Auckland Busking Competition (judges: Topp Twins).
Axmin Whangarei 1985
At this time the band had expanded from 3 to sometimes over 10 personnel, boasting a brass section and women members (hence the temporary rename to Axmin).
Busker Stevie pioneers a new technique for collecting coins off punters in Whangarei
Axemin Big Band Busks “Doc Who” in Whangarei, 1985
This is from a cassette recorded in an arcade in Whangarei… There were tons of us up there for the first national busker’s convention. Stu has a couple great photos from then, hope he’ll post ‘em up! Steve’s on lead vocals and it sounds like maybe 3 or 4 percussionists. Great reverb enhances the faux-tardis effect on this famous tune composed by Ron Grainger. dr. who theme
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