The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

[jerryjg]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Ive asked more questions on any other well. This will be my third, but i notice you played with, or on thesame bill as 1) Tina Arena.
Thats pretty amazing.. Its sad that someone who I've heard has such talent is virtually unnoitced hear in the U.S.Ive heard her voice is amazing and the music is great.
Ive never even heard her music. Would you please reccoemend a good CD and I will go to Ebay and pick one up tonight.
2)Also, theres another Australian band that has played the US. They are really anti Bush. They got in kind of trouble for it somehow once, I cant remmember the details. They are a big big Australian band, But i cannot racall their name. Maybe you know who Im talkin about?
3) Ever been much to the south and Brisbane?
I dont think people here in the US realize what a massive city that is. Isnt it liek 3-4 million people?
I know its spread out.
4) do you have any Aboriganny friends?
I think this is exciting to me cause its the first Well(is it?) that has a international flavour. I'd like to see the well move around the world a bit.Hopefully to Britian eventually.
5)Have you ever been attacked by a great white Shark while swimming in a beach off the great barrier reef? Im pretty sure most Australians have.
6) what the **** is a Cuccabura?? I know its some kind of parrot?

 

[J Moose]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

At this point, the only grits I've eaten are of the microwave variety. It sort of reminded me of porridge crossed with sandpaper. I'm sure the real thing is a lot better.

An accurate description! I've never had microwave grits but I've tried the "real-deal" a few times while traveling through the southern states. An acquired taste... at least for this Yankee!

Saw you mention the Breakstra... I grabbed one of their discs on a whim years ago based entirely on the cover art. The one with the Ampex '456' logo & 45 spindle... Great disc.

What got you into the soul/funk/afrobeat thing?

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Ive asked more questions on any other well. This will be my third, but i notice you played with, or on thesame bill as 1) Tina Arena.
Thats pretty amazing.. Its sad that someone who I've heard has such talent is virtually unnoitced hear in the U.S.
Ive never even heard her music. Would you please reccoemend a good CD and I will go to Ebay and pick one up tonight.
2)Also, theres another Austraian band that band that has played the US. They are really anti Bush. They got in kind of trouble fr it somehow, I cant remmeber the deatils. They are a big big Australian band, But i cannot racll their name. Maybe you know who Im talkin about?
3) ever been much to the south and Brisbane?
I dont think people here in the US realize what a massive city that is. Isnt it liek 3-4 million people?
I know its spread out.
4) do you have any Aboriganny friends?
I think this is exciting to me cause its the first Well(is it?) that has a international flavour. I'd like to see the well move around the world a bit.Hopefully to Britian eventually.

hahahahahaha! I believe you're looking for wahwah!

but what the hell...

1. I'm not sure I can recommend a Tina Arena CD in good conscience. I'd probably do the gig, though.

2. Dunno who that could be. Silverchair? -without getting bogged down in politics, it's fair to say that most NZ or Australian bands would share a broadly anti-Bush administration sentiment.

3. I've been to Brisbane. Not really my idea of a cool city. Try Melbourne, that's a cool city, and wahwah lives there...

4. I don't think I've met a native Australian. Plenty of Maori and Pacific Islanders, though.

maybe I should pick a pom for the next go...

5. so far so good on the shark front. They are out there, though. Dah dum, Dah dum, Dah dum, DahdumDahdumDahdumDahdum...

6. A Kookaburra? -I guess it's like a parrot. It makes a sound not unlike the Australian accent.

Personally, I prefer this cheeky little guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRW4ztbY8Ok -The New Zealand native Kea.

...wait a second, is that my rubbish bin?

 

[jerryjg]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

hahahahahaha! I believe you're looking for wahwah!

but what the hell...

1. I'm not sure I can recommend a Tina Arena CD in good conscience. I'd probably do the gig, though.

2. Dunno who that could be. Silverchair? -without getting bogged down in politics, it's fair to say that most NZ or Australian bands would share a broadly anti-Bush administration sentiment.

3. I've been to Brisbane. Not really my idea of a cool city. Try Melbourne, that's a cool city, and wahwah lives there...

4. I don't think I've met a native Australian. Plenty of Maori and Pacific Islanders, though.

maybe I should pick a pom for the next go...

Oh ,man Im sorry. Yeeah thats wah -wah. I get all those places down under mixed up . sorry!
OKay. well, thanks for the Kiwis!
what do you all do with all those KIWis?
Do yo make Kiwi margaritas. Kiwi pies, ever seen a Kiwi?
actuallyy Kiwis are prety cheap here. I need to eat more of em!
wait, a kiwi is a bird right, or is it a fruit? Man. Im really sorry about this.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

An accurate description! I've never had microwave grits but I've tried the "real-deal" a few times while traveling through the southern states. An acquired taste... at least for this Yankee!

Saw you mention the Breakstra... I grabbed one of their discs on a whim years ago based entirely on the cover art. The one with the Ampex '456' logo & 45 spindle... Great disc.

What got you into the soul/funk/afrobeat thing?

well, I've always like music that grooved.

When I was a kid, the local rock station played Stevie Wonder, and I always used to go mental when I heard his stuff. Up until Michael Jackson exploded, soul/funk/r&b music wasn't very commonly heard down here apart from the occasional Motown tune. But I loved what I heard.

Then, in the 90s, I was hanging out at grunge/industrial bars and gigs, and a couple of the places I went to would occasionally play 'sex machine' by James Brown, or a Sly Stone tune, maybe 'Superstition'. I'd always really get into those tunes, so I started buying cds in that style and expanding my listening.

then, in the late 90s, I was asked by an old drummer colleague to play a birthday gig at a bar downtown. I hadn't played out in years, but after much goading by my girlfriend I consented. The setlist was your typical horrible melange of rock covers, so I suggested we do 'sex machine'.

So we play the gig, and the crowd stands and stares, clapping politely. Until we finish with 'sex machine'. All of a sudden, the whole crowd went bezerk and started dancing. We ended up playing it three times.

From then on, I got back into the idea of playing out, and forming a band that would play funk and soul. that eventually led to The Hot Grits, and a sizeable collection of soul, funk, r&B and afrobeat albums.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Oh ,man Im sorry. Yeeah thats wah -wah. I get all those places down under mixed up . sorry!
OKay. well, thanks for the Kiwis!
what do you all do with all those KIWis?
Do yo make Kiwi margaritas. Kiwi pies, ever seen a Kiwi?
actuallyy Kiwis are prety cheap here. I need to eat more of em!
wait, a kiwi is a bird right, or is it a fruit? Man. Im really sorry about this.

hehe,

The fruit:

is called a 'kiwifruit' down here, to distinguish from the endangered flightless bird and national symbol:

I like both the fruit and the bird version. I've only seen a kiwi in captivity, though. They are rather shy, and you're not allowed to eat them. I'm not sure they'd be much of a meal to be honest. Unlike the now extinct Moa:

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

The Jeff Healy thread made me think of this.
Who are some players that you thought have had their careers cut short , (for whatever reason) , that you would have loved to work with?

In many cases, I'm not sure what I'd add to the session, but what the hey...

Chris Whitley
Fela Kuti
Hendrix
Miles
Albert Collins
Otis Redding
Albert King (if only for the tellings off)
Bonzo (just to be in the same room as he hit his snare)
Coltrane
SRV
Jaco
Rufus Thomas
George Harrison
Dave (of Sam and Dave)

...I'm sure there's tons more. Pretty much any dead soul musician, for starters...

Honestly, JohnJohn, it took a good five minutes before I could pry my eyes off your avatar and regain enough concentration to post. Well done!

 

[subanots]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

whats the best and worst of new zealand?

i have heard that it has all the different types of terrain/climate.
that sounds cool to me!

are there any guitar builders down there?

 

[TheProphet]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

What's more fun to listen to, Sam and Dave or James Brown?

 

[guest1234]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Ever the books "Corporate Blue" or "The Second Favorite Son"? Both written by a nationalized Kiwi, and Corporate Blue beimg based in New Zealand.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Ever the books "Corporate Blue" or "The Second Favorite Son"? Both written by a nationalized Kiwi, and Corporate Blue beimg based in New Zealand.

Nope. You know the author? I've read a few New Zealand authors, but those titles don't ring a bell...

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

What's more fun to listen to, Sam and Dave or James Brown?

Tough choice. But I've danced with my arse shoved right out as far as it can go in a chicken-like fashion more often to James Brown, so he wins this round.

'We all people, we know about the birds and the bees...

...but I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

Now I think about it, Mr Brown would be another dead guy that would have been killer to work with. Even if it was just to get fined for getting stuff wrong. I wouldn't have minded making soundscapey stuff with Jeff Buckley, too.

 

[guest1234]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Nope. You know the author? I've read a few New Zealand authors, but those titles don't ring a bell...

Daniel Myers.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

whats the best and worst of new zealand?

Best:

The amazing scenery, much of it untouched.

The isolation, and the ease with which you can get away from it all to somewhere deserted.

Our art, culture and music. Local music in particular has come on in leaps and bounds in recent times.

Good, practical, sensible people, who can get things done without a fuss and pick up new ideas and skills without passing the buck.

The marginalisation of religious fundamentalism.

Our nuclear free policy, and commitment to peacekeeping worldwide.

A sense of egalitarianism, and a desire to make sure that everyone has a decent standard of living.

Virtually no corruption, at least by overseas standards. We really do have less to fear from our police, government, longshoremen...

The outstanding quality of local produce.

Worst:

The small-mindedness and endless comparisions that seem to be the national pastime of a small country.

The last vestiges of the cultural cringe: distaste from locals for local culture, which is dying away, I'm glad to report.

The tall poppy syndrome: someone that does a little too well for themselves can come under criticism that can be little more than a display of jealousy.

A lack of value for education, and a distaste for the educated. This has changed for the better in my lifetime, but A distrust and lack of understanding of further education was a major factor in my starting tertiary education about four years later than I should have.

the lack of a true national cuisine.

i have heard that it has all the different types of terrain/climate.
that sounds cool to me!

Yeah, there's a lot of variety. I remember talking to Alex Van Halen about the scenery (how's that for a SHOCKING name drop) during a meet and greet, and the way I described it was there is an incredible variety in such a small area. You could maybe see most of we have somewhere else, but you'd have to do an awful lot of travelling to do it. Down here, you could see a braided river, a desert and a glacier in a single day. And you'll be virtually alone, aside from the occasional German tourist.

I know it's a cheesy promo video, but the scenery speaks for itself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sEZ-wdFegU&feature=related

are there any guitar builders down there?

yeah!

Apart from (ahem) Langcaster, there's Ash Customworks:

http://ashcustomworks.com/guitars.php?section=guitar

-he does everything from near clones to his own designs. Top quality work, and he'll build pretty much anything from vintage to modern.

For basses, there's custom rust, made by my mate Andy Rust:

http://www.customrust.co.nz/

-perhaps a bit hippy for my tastes, but lots of amazing work with local timbers.

then there's Evolinn guitars. I really like this guy's sense of aesthetics:

There's lots of other dudes as well...

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Daniel Myers.

Yeah, I'm drawing a blank. My girlfriend hasn't heard of him either, and she's very extensively read. Maybe his success isn't well known down here?

Is it good stuff? -my tastes are more in the literary fiction area: Rushdie, Delillo, Kundera etc...

 

[Wattage]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

For me, rock'n'roll has to have some rough edges, some swagger. I can get into some heavily tweezed and produced music played by virtuosos, but I'll always prefer my rock'n'roll to sound like it's underpants are around it's ankles.

Well said, boxers or briefs?:fart:

 

[Tor]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Thanks for the answers on my questions earlier on the thread! Here's another: what would you say would characterize the Kiwi people (that's New Zealanders, isn't it?) and their mindsets in general, using a few sentences?

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Well said, boxers or briefs?:fart:

Boxers! -my favorite pairs are ones that my girlfriend had hand embroidered: one has a black '72 tele custom, the other has a tweed deluxe.

It's pretty cool being the only person on the planet (surely) with tweed deluxe undies.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

I'm not sure if this has been asked.
How difficult is it to find all of the equipment that you need/want in comparison to what you see in other area's of the world?

Well, we get all the major brands, and seeing as I live near the centre of the largest city my closest stores are the biggest ones with the best stocks. There are three chains, and there is very little overlap in the stock they carry, so it's difficult to get them to haggle against each other. You want a Marshall? -only one chain carries them.

One cool thing that has happened in recent years is the growth in importing more unusual and boutique stuff, mostly due to the devaluation of the US peso (should I actually be pro-war?).

Mojosound in Wellington bring in Carr, Victoria, Custom Audio Electronics, Suhr, Keeley, T Rex and have their own amp line. Poolside studios bring in Top Hat, Jerry Jones, Asher and Reverend, and my friend Ryan brings in 65, Swart, Splawn, Matamp, MI Audio, Telenordia, Durham etc...

On top of that, a lot of people are selling stuff through the internet, either as importers of from buying one-off items.

So, compared to how it used to be, things are pretty good. The market is still small, and there are still brands I'd like to see (god alone knows when my friend will see his Bogner order), but its a hell of a lot better than it used to be.

Plus I know all the small importers and can get deals and try anything I like. Occasionally I do demo work or record clips, too. The most recent was clips of the new 65 Monterey hi-power for prospective clients in Australia. Fun thing to do for half a day...

that said, vintage gear is a b*tch. Heavy import restrictions and tarriffs up til 1984 meant that there was a trickle of classic gear imported, with local musicians having to make do with locally made knockoffs. Since then almost all the nice stuff has been sold overseas via internet. I knew a dealer that had, among other things, half a dozen 62-69 strats around 1999. He sold them all a couple of years later. And he is KICKING himself now...

And there are still little annoying things. Like getting hold of a 230v Voodoo lab pedal power is a b*tch.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The Well XVIX: Hot Grits says it's too drunk to be this early...

Thanks for the answers on my questions earlier on the thread! Here's another: what would you say would characterize the Kiwi people (that's New Zealanders, isn't it?) and their mindsets in general, using a few sentences?

I think we're hard working, can-do people. We're not afraid to get stuck in and figure out a solution to a problem, rather than waiting for some specialist to come along and do the work.

We're friendly, but reserved. We find brashness a bit distasteful, and can take a bit of poking before we come out of our shell. We also have that British dryness to our humour, though I'd like to think it's tinged with slightly less negativity than the brits have.

We're proud, but again, we don't make a fuss. We're not big on flag waving, and we're a bit suspicious of those that are. Perhaps we're not as proud of our nation as we should be, at least subconsciously...