C.W. Stoneking- Brunswick Music Festival

The annual Brunswick Music Festival is currently happening in venues around town and tonight I attended a sold out performance by C.W. Stoneking at Estonian House. Opening the evening was Melbourne folk singer Anna Cordell, who played an ethereal sounding set on electric and acoustic guitar featuring songs from her latest album. Given the rapidly evolving situation with the coronavirus pandemic, she joked it was hard for her to avoid singing songs about sickness and death.

C.W. Stoneking came out onto the stage and started his solo set with "How Long." He played songs from all three of his albums, including favorites such as "Goin The Country" from King Hokum, "The Love Me Or Die" from Jungle Blues, and "I'm A Jungle Man," "We Gon' Boogaloo," "Good Luck Charm" and "The Thing I Done" from Gon Boogaloo. During the hour and half long set he was his usual amusing self with song intros, and handled a couple ladies in the crowd well who were calling out for him to show his ankles.

There were a few audience sing alongs to "The Zombie," "Talking Lion Blues" and "Jailhouse Blues." C.W. was only half joking when he said we should enjoy this show because after this weekend there won't be any gigs for a long time (restrictions against gatherings above 500 people come into effect on Monday). For C.W. he's already feeling the impact of coronavirus as he's had to cancel a month long US tour that was going to start next week. It is strange times were are currently living in, but he sent us out gently into the night by closing with "Jungle Lullaby."

Here's a live version of "Good Luck Charm"

C.W. Stoneking- The Gasometer Hotel

C.W. Stoneking is playing some solo shows around Melbourne over the next few days. Tonight he did an early evening gig at The Gasometer Hotel under the open roof, which made things interesting as it was still light out when he hit the stage. The set list contained songs from all three of his albums, including some pretty deep cuts that you don't get to hear live that often.

Highlights for me included "Goin The Country," "Dodo Blues" and "Way Out In The World" off King Hokum, "The Love Me Or Die" (C.W.'s version of a murder ballad), "Talking Lion Blues" and "Jailhouse Blues" off of the Jungle Blues album, and the Gon' Boogaloo tracks "The Thing I Done," "I'm The Jungle Man," "On A Desert Isle," "The Zombie" and "We Gon' Boogaloo." C.W. had some amusing observations and anecdotes about songs throughout the night, and commanded the stage with just his voice and guitar. To finish off the nearly hour and half set he played "Jungle Lullaby." It's always a pleasure to get to see C.W. play live, especially in such an intimate setting.

C.W. Stoneking- Solo Tour

C.W. Stoneking is currently doing a solo tour around the country, and tonight was the second of his two sold out shows at Howler. Opening the evening was William Crighton, who also played a solo set of songs off his debut album, which features stories centered around Australian experiences.

C.W. Stoneking came out onto the stage not in his traditional white but wearing an indigo button down shirt, jeans and a brown wide-brimmed fedora. He sat down on a raised platform on the stage and began the evening with "How Long." The set featured many songs off his latest release Gon' Boogaloo, including "On A Desert Isle," "The Zombie" (where we were encouraged to sing along), "The Thing I Done" and "Get On The Floor." C.W.'s banter in between songs was quite entertaining and covered a wide range of topics such as asparagus, rubik's cubes and trying to sell the guitar he was playing. He also dealt quite well with a woman who shouted for him to take off his clothes, saying that he could undress himself as he was wearing his big boy pants.

One of the great things about this show was hearing some older tracks, especially those from his first album which don't get played live that often. Highlights were "Jungle Lullaby," "Talking Lion Blues," "Jailhouse Blues" and an audience request for "The Love Me Or Die" off of Jungle Blues, and the King Hokum tracks "Dodo Blues," "Goin The Country," "Way Out In The World" and "Handyman Blues." We also got treated to a cover of William Brown's "Ragged And Dirty." To finish the night he played "We Gon' Boogaloo," which sent everyone out on a high note. It's always wonderful to get to see C.W. live, especially in a more intimate setting.

Here's C.W. doing a live version of "On A Desert Isle"

C.W. Stoneking- The Croxton

C.W. Stoneking brought along his all female band from recent shows in the US to play a one off sold out show tonight at The Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury as part of the Darebin Music Feast. This was my first time at The Croxton and it's a pretty big space with decent views of the stage from wherever you stand. It's nice to have a larger venue operating on the north side of town.

Considering we are so close to Halloween, C.W. and his band started off the night with the very appropriate track "The Zombie." His latest album Gon' Boogaloo was prominently featured in the set with every song off of it played. Highlights included "Get On The Floor," "Tomorrow Gon' Be Too Late," "The Thing I Done," "I'm The Jungle Man," "The Jungle Swing," "Good Luck Charm" and "We Gon' Boogaloo."

C.W. was in fine voice and told some funny stories throughout the night about his hatred of banjos, hunting for Bigfoot while in the US, his love of chocolate fudge sundaes, and even called out a heckler for arguing in the crowd. The nearly two hour set also contained songs from his first two albums, including "Handyman Blues," "The Love Me Or Die," "Jungle Lullaby" and "Brave Son Of America." The couple of times where C.W. played solo on guitar encouraged the most involvement from the crowd. "Talking Lion Blues" had everyone yodelling (and also a few stops and starts from C.W. as he lost track of where he was in the song), and the audience sang along to "Jailhouse Blues," which was the last song for the evening. It was another great show from C.W. and always a joy to get to see him play live.

Here's a live version of "The Zombie" filmed with his band a couple months ago:

C.W. Stoneking and Marlon Williams- Zoo Twilights

The Zoo Twilights series over Friday and Saturday nights during the summer months at Melbourne Zoo helps the fight against wildlife extinction. Tonight Onagh joined me for the excellent sold out double bill of Marlon Williams and C.W. Stoneking. There was a huge line even before the doors opened, but once we got in we set up our picnic blanket on the lawn and settled in for the evening. Thankfully the weather wasn't too hot today, and despite a few drops it stayed dry.

Marlon Williams was up first and began with a cover of Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" solo on guitar. He then played "Lonely Side Of Her" before inviting out his band The Yarra Benders. They did a couple bluegrass numbers with their covers of The Stanley Brothers' "Nobody's Love Is Like Mine" and "If That's The Way You Feel." Songs from Marlon's debut album were featured with "Strange Things," "I'm Lost Without You," "After All," "Dark Child" and "Hello Miss Lonesome." They also played "The State Hospital," "Heaven For You, Prison For Me" and "The Ballad Of Minnie Dean." Marlon finished the night with a beautiful solo rendition of "When I Was A Young Girl."

As darkness fell C.W. Stoneking took to the stage in his all white outfit and bow tie. He was joined by his band and Vika and Linda Bull and Maddie and Memphis Kelly on backing vocals. They played the entirety of his last album Gon' Boogaloo throughout the evening, with highlights including "The Zombie," "Get On The Floor," "Tomorrow Gon' Be Too Late," "Good Luck Charm," "We Gon' Boogaloo" and "On A Desert Isle," where C.W. had to stop mid-song because a bug climbed up his pant leg. The middle of the set was appropriately jungle themed with "I'm A Jungle Man," "Jungle Lullaby," "Jungle Blues," "Talking Lion Blues" (which had a few stops and starts as C.W. got lost in his yodeling) and "The Jungle Swing." It was great to get to hear "The Love Me Or Die" and a lovely cover of The Soul Stirrers' "He's Been A Shelter For Me." To close out the night C.W. played "Jailhouse Blues" solo and invited the crowd to sing along to the chorus. This was such a great evening of music in the beautiful surrounds of the zoo (with the occasional lion roar in the background).

Here's a live version of "The Zombie"

C.W. Stoneking- Gon' Boogaloo Tour

It's been a long six years in between albums for C.W. Stoneking, so it was exciting when his new album Gon' Boogaloo finally came out a few weeks ago.  Belinda joined me for his show last night at The Forum.  We arrived half way through the set of opening act Fraser A. Gorman, a young singer-songwriter with a bit of a Bob Dylan vibe who was quite funny with his in between song banter.

C.W. Stoneking emerged on the stage wearing his usual all white outfit with a black and white polka dot bow tie.  He and his band played for nearly 2 hours with a set list that included songs from all his albums.  We got rocking numbers such as  "The Love Me Or Die," "The Jungle Swing," "Brave Son Of America," "I'm The Jungle Man," "The Zombie" and "We Gon' Boogaloo," as well as slower tracks "Talking Lion Blues" and "Jailhouse Blues" which had the audience singing along.  C.W. told many stories as he introduced the next song he was going to play, including discussing how some people messaged him to say they were disappointed he's not playing banjo on the new record.  To finish off the evening he went gospel with a cover of The Soul Stirrers' "He's Been A Shelter For Me."  It's good to have C.W. back on the scene after an extended absence, and I'm really enjoying Gon' Boogaloo.

Here's the video for "Jungle Blues" off his last album:

C.W. Stoneking

Tonight I met Tash at Melbourne Zoo for the Earth Hour concert with C.W. Stoneking. She had won a double pass and kindly allowed me to come along with her. It's always a relaxed and family friendly setting at the zoo and the only gig where you get to hear lions roaring occasionally while musicians are playing. We found a spot on the lawn near the pavilion and listened to the opening act, New York blues singer Mamie Minch.

As darkness descended C.W. Stoneking and the Primitive Horn Orchestra took to the stage. He is a very unique artist and storyteller with a New Orleans jazz and blues sound. His accent is a strange mix of Aussie and Cajun. C.W. played songs from both of his albums and it was great to hear "Brave Son of America" (about General MacArthur), "Goin the Country," and "Talking Lion Blues." He brought out his wife to sing "Housebound Blues" and finished the night with the fantastic "The Love Me or Die."