Dave Graney and the mistLY release a new album on March 22 called ZIPPA DEEDOO WHAT IS/WAS THAT/THIS? Featuring Dave on vocals and guitar, Clare Moore on drums and percussion, Stuart Perera on guitar and Stu Thomas on bass, the album was produced by Graney and Moore (roughly the 33rd album they have created) and had tracks mixed by Henry Wagons and another by Andrew “Idge” Hehir, who also applied his scholarly amp micing skills to the project. The album art was created by Tony Mahony who has been doing photography, illustration and video for Graney and Moore since 1990. Coral Snake Robin Casinader also appears on a track.
With ZIPPA DEEDOO WHAT IS/WAS THAT/THIS?, Graney set out to make a BAND album this time around and the MistLY revel in the creative freedom of tracks like Is That What You Did?, an eight minute-plus opus executed in the spirit of the great jam bands such as The Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead. Credited to all four band members, there’s a sense of space in the song which allows the band to explore some wonderful musical ideas, taking great advantage of the opportunity to lay down some tasteful, complementary licks.
Where’s My Buzz? is another stretch out exercise, a cruisy, yacht-rocker clicking in at over seven minutes in an orgy of guitar chords. A lot of chords, a lot of questions marks. Could Dave have been a Better Pop Star is another question he ponders in the album opener Baby I Wish I’d Been A Better Pop Star. (see video clip below) What is good pop star etiquette? Where’s the rule book?
Dig deep into Zippa Deedoo and you’ll find various rock ’n’ roll culture nods and winks. However, a more conspicuous homage is the track Ultrakeef. (see video clip below) A Honky Tonk Women-style cowbell beat propels the track along as Dave bullet-points the life of Stones’ legendary guitar hero Keith Richard. Your Masters, a track originally written and recorded in 1998 is re-recorded and mixed this time by Henry Wagons and features a warm 70s west coast flavoured guitar-jangle and includes an equally sweet, old fashioned, genuine guitar solo. Song Of Life contains the album’s title within its lyrics and is a luxurious, lounge-style groove, another track which the band are looking forward to riffing out live.
Eight new songs are offered on Zippa Deedoo, with five of them repeated in re-imagined form totalling 13 tracks in over an hour and seventeen minutes of classy, MistLY fare. Dave, Clare and band head out on the road over the coming weeks to give this album a workout on stage, where I can see some of these tracks taking on a life of their own.
Ahead of the album release and tour Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips headed down to Idge’s Soundpark Studios in Northcote, the spiritual home of Zippa Deedoo to chat to Dave Graney, Clare Moore, Stuart Perera and Stu Thomas about the making of the album.
Thanks to Idge for the studio time and Barry Douglas for recording footage and photos
TOUR DATES:
Shows below are by Dave Graney and Clare Moore.
Thursday 28 March – Stag & Hunter, Newcastle
Friday 29 March – Bent On Food, Wingham
Saturday 30 March – 5 Church Street Bellingen
Sunday 31 March – Brunswick Picture House
Friday April 12th – Memo Music Hall opening for Stephen Cummings (with whom Clare Moore is playing drums)
Saturday May 4th The Gov- Adelaide CLARE MOORE AND DAVE GRANEY opening for Stephen Cummings.
Friday May 24th – Tanswells Commercial Hotel – Beechworth
Saturday June 1st – The Railway Club Darwin
Saturday June 15th-Major Toms, Kyneton.
Shows below are by Dave Graney and the mistLY
Wednesday 8 May – Brass Monkey Cronulla
Thursday 9 May – The Bunker Coogee
Friday 10 May – Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville
Saturday 11 May – Metro Social, Katoomba
Sunday 12 May – Dangar Bowlo.NSW
Sunday May 26th – Northcote Social Club (afternoon) ZIPPADEEDOO album launch show.
Friday June 21st the Bison Bar, Nambour.
Saturday June 22nd- Sunday June 23rd – the Bearded Lady, Brisbane.
Saturday June 29th – The Caravan Music Club – Bentleigh
July 12th – THE GOV – Adelaide.
ZIPPA DEEDOO WHAT IS/WAS THAT/THIS? out now
Soundpark studio photos below by Barry Douglas
