Still Rockin' It - Cheryl Lee
Still Rockin' It - Cheryl Lee
What have 63 Deluxe been up to lately? OR From Norwood to Memphis, a bluesey-ish journey
Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians.
Have you ever wondered how a band evolves from casual jamming sessions to creating hits? Join us as we sit down with Brett, Anthony and Jack from 63 Deluxe to uncover the fascinating journey behind their musical success. Filmed in their rehearsal and recording space, Cheryl Lee and Vince Contarino lead an engaging conversation that captures the essence of the band's beginnings, revealing how friendship and spontaneity turned into unforgettable tracks like "My Favorite Hurricane." Dive into the warm, humorous atmosphere that defines their recording sessions at Twin Air Studios and get an intimate look at the band’s dynamic and creative synergy.
In the second part of our episode, we venture into the meticulous yet exhilarating world of music video production. Discover the blend of technical prowess and emotional depth that goes into creating visually stunning and impactful videos. Learn why a strong online and visual presence is an asset for artists in today's music landscape.
Our guests from 63 Deluxe share their pride in their latest work and the ongoing joy of collaboration, we introduce their hit song "My Favorite Hurricane" and invite you to watch the captivating film clip on YouTube.
Tune in for an episode filled with passion, creativity, and behind-the-scenes insights!
What have Bret, Anthony and Jack been up to lately? Let's find out!!
Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!
Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au
That Radio Cheek Cheryl Lee here. Welcome to the Still Rocking it podcast where we'll have music news, reviews and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians and artists. The other night I was lucky enough to catch up with Brett Anthony and Jack from 63 Deluxe, as Vince Contarino and I interviewed them for the telly as they embark on a trip overseas in the new year. We'll tell you all about it, as you can be a fly on the wall during the filming of that interview, including the usual behind-the-scenes stuff, arguments, stuff-ups and bloopers. Hope you enjoy this little sneak behind the curtain and get behind our boys as they head to Memphis To catch up on podcasts from other favourite artists. Simply go to that radiochickcomau. We're rolling on this one here. I'm rolling on this one now, so you want me into this one as well For the intro into that one.
Speaker 3:Give me the intro into this one. I'm ready to go. So I'll give you a clap, the usual clap One intro into this one.
Speaker 1:I'm ready to go, so I'll give you a clap, the usual clap one, two, three. You're with cheryl lee and vince contorino. Welcome to rider tv this week. We are very blessed. In fact, we've had a fight over who's going to interview this band. I've just got both here. We've just got out of the concussion protocols we're both here in the rehearsal room to interview 63 deluxe. Let us introduce you to brett, Anthony Scott and Jack Thompson.
Speaker 3:It's been a while since we saw you, indeed. Yeah, good to see you again, and I'm looking forward to catching up on all the stuff that's in between, in between times here so you can fill us in. So the last time you just released an album and it had sunshine on it and come on.
Speaker 1:Did the hurricane song hang on it and, come on, did the hurricane song? Yeah, my favorite hurricane, my favorite, hurricane geez.
Speaker 3:It's been a while just over a year, two years, no, just over a year. Great album, fantastic sounds, and we've come to the studio where you're, yes, where you recorded that very spot where jack recorded the marathon effort of a lot of songs.
Speaker 5:But yeah, we released a whole bunch of singles out of that.
Speaker 3:Uh, and yeah, my favorite hurricane was possibly the first yeah, my favorite hurricane was the first, the first single with all the tracks we've been releasing and um, yeah, no, it's really cool. But you've got to be happy with the sounds you got out of this room. Yeah, they sound natural. It's fresh, garden and that's how I I like in your music. Yeah, because it's instantaneously good and that's because it's fresh. Your guitar might be a bass drum. Please face it. Yeah, you have to have them, but your guitar man, we're there, the server. That guitar is so crisp and twangy and beautiful and it's clean. I appreciate it and it's nice and it's still fat and it's choked. I love it. I've got to steal some more.
Speaker 5:I don't know what you're doing, but I'm going to find out Trade secrets. But yeah, we're here at the Twin Air Studios. John runs this. It's such a great space. This is a rehearsal space as well. Yep, rehearsal space as well. Yeah, got a few rooms and you might hear some you know, uh murmurs we like that there's a thrash, but is it a heavy metal?
Speaker 3:that's a heavy metal thrash. Yeah, we love it, it's. This is a music show absolutely, we love that sound.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's all good. I'd like to go right back to the very beginning, because what I love about 63 deluxe is you didn't start off wanting to be a band and set the world on fire. You started off really organically as three mates just playing together. It's sort of evolved over time, hasn't it?
Speaker 4:Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I've known Anthony since we were in our teens. I'm sorry to hear that, mate. Yeah, well, someone's got to do it and I'll get to do it. We met Jack through a mutual friend of ours, garrett Bagby. He's an American who was living here. He actually went back to the US and was playing with JJ Reichert from Arrested Development for a while. Oh yes, and Garrett is a fantastic guitar player. But what we decided to do when he had to go home was we set up a project to write and record a few songs just for fun, for the fun of it. Yep, can we?
Speaker 3:hold for a second. When you shifted your chair, you bumped the mic, mate. Sorry about that man. That's it, that's about it there?
Speaker 1:That's the question, or that's the question? That's the question. Just wait a minute.
Speaker 3:Stop that, johnny Just did it. I was going to clap and away you go again all right, you give me the clap again. I'll. Yeah, it should be useful right now. This is still recording. I deserve it.
Speaker 3:We've got a one two, three Well, three mates getting together with no plan, just for the love of music, to me it smells like success. I mean, you know you plan things to work and that never happens. But when you deal with the love of it, and art is art and music, and when you listen to your songs, they're just easy to listen to, but I don't mean that in a patronising way. They're easy to listen to, but there's a lot of depth to them as well. Look, I'm a fan. So I'm going to stop sounding like a fan. I'd better start sounding like an interviewer.
Speaker 2:You are listening to Still Rocking it. The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1:If we can stop Vince fanboying for just a moment, I'd like to play Sunshine. It's a beautiful song, as Vince said, and then we'll be back to be a fire on the wall at the interview with 63 Deluxe very shortly.
Speaker 6:I tell myself I'm open to a chance of living freely. I tell myself I'm doing all I can, but I'm not really. I force myself to hear it. This noisy life, it ain't easy, but the sunshine, yeah, the sunshine, so clearly, I see it through my eyes. Chance of a lifetime Come to set me free the broken chains of a lifetime Cast off in my mind. And the sunshine, and the sun shines, and the sun shines. If time is but a whisper, your words, a second chance, if only for a moment. Life is only moments strung out on a line. Listen to the sunshine, yeah, listen to the sunshine. I see it through my eyes. Chance of a lifetime Come to set me free the broken chains of a lifetime Cast off in my mind. And the sunshine, and the sunshine, and the sunshine. I see it through my eyes. Change of a lifetime Come to set me free the broken wheels of history Cast off in my mind, and the sun shines.
Speaker 3:And the sun will shine. When you recorded the album and now bringing it out, playing it live, how's that feeling? Feeling?
Speaker 5:pretty good. We're really working on our show, yeah, and just putting the energy into the live performance. You do it. You know we're, uh, really working on our show, yeah, and just putting the energy into the live performance. You know we're just we're just enjoying that and yeah, as you know yourself, you know it's a totally different feel and the vibe when you are live and everything's just revved up and just yeah, it just really works you do something in the studio and it's good, and you don't have to say I'll stand for you, you know it's good.
Speaker 3:So when you're playing live, you want it to sound good and your reference is the studio album. But that ain't going to work live. Live is another aspect and good live is another thing. But hey, this is a good thing, it's interesting challenges you again with your own stuff.
Speaker 5:Well, as you know, with albums, you, you put production values in there. We, we have keyboards, yep, yep, yep, right through the album, yep, various percussion elements and maybe some three-part harmonies there's two of us who do it and some strings and strings. Yeah, we'll do strings in there. But you know what I always think these songs if they're good songs it's an old saying but if they translate in a simple format, if you're just playing them acoustically or just as a drillio, then they're good to go.
Speaker 1:A good song is a good song, and you know what else is really important these days, and part of the whole picture is the film clip. Now, we loved the film clip from my Favourite Hurricane. It's a good one. Where did you get that young lady? What a spunky chick she is. She's gorgeous isn't she.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And who does the filming?
Speaker 5:Well, that's yeah. Well, that was done by myself, thank you, yeah, look, my son is currently at Flinders Uni for filmmaking, so that's his kind of first start. That's not what you know. Well done, yeah, no worries, aunt, keep it in the fairway. That's right, charge you like a wound.
Speaker 5:Yeah look, he's been gracious enough to film us. I've been the one in the background. The software putting it all together, yeah, and it's just. I tell you what. It's a labour of love, it's a lot of work, yeah, but I tell you it's so much fun.
Speaker 1:You must be pretty proud of the result. It's pretty schmick, I must say. It looks great, don't you think?
Speaker 5:it it. You know it's hard to know like you. You do it. You, you put all your heart and soul into it, all your technique. You put it together best you can and you, just you just hope that it's good enough. But it's good. Good to hear from it.
Speaker 1:music, of course, speaks for itself, but in this day and age it really is helpful to have that online presence and that visual presence as well, and I reckon you nailed it.
Speaker 5:Oh, thank you. Appreciate that yeah.
Speaker 1:Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick, cheryl Lee. We've spoken about it so much, we better play it now. My favorite Hurricane from 63 Deluxe. If you'd like to have a look at the film clip, look it up on YouTube. Vince and I will be back shortly to continue chatting with 63 Deluxe guitar solo.
Speaker 6:Well, you rode into the world in a tumble of defiance, didn't flinch at high winds, didn't even check the science and check the science. You're my favorite hurricane, blowing me down again, smiling high on the breeze. You're my storm without the pain Cloud. My simple brain, loving you right down on my knees. You're east and and you're west. There's never any compliance, but I'm still your weatherman. It's a sign of my reliance on you. It's a sign of my reliance on you. You're my favorite hurricane, blown me down again, smiling high on the breeze. You're my storm without the pain Cloud. My simple brain Loving you right down on my knees. I'm relying on the way you tilt your head when you tell me that the storm has passed, or whatever it is.
Speaker 6:You said Tire the house down with the chains. You had me in Singing with the sirens. The ship's coming in, guitar solo. You're my favorite hurricane. Blow me down again, smiling high on the breeze. You're my storm without the pain Climb, my simple brain. I'm loving you right down on my knees. The. I'm going to go ahead and hit the record button.
Speaker 3:Thank you. The geek situation's improving all the time. It led you into being, kind of like, pushed into this area of entering a blues competition, if it's called it. It's a competition, it's a challenge.
Speaker 1:It's a challenge. Adelaide Roots and Blues Association Arbor Memphis Blues Challenge.
Speaker 3:Not like a battle of bands. This has been around for a long, long time because the recipients, the ones that win they get to go to Memphis and spend some time there. That's the heart of the Blues. Memphis is the maker of the Blues BB King City Blues Club. You guys bloody well was.
Speaker 4:That was a bit of a surprise, to be honest.
Speaker 3:It is because you're not like you guys, aren't, John Lee Hooker? You're modern.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean, you know everyone has their own influences and you know you can hear a lot of blues in Scotty's guitar playing and more and more in his singing. I've always liked blues and rock and Jack's got his own influences as well. So it's just really been a matter of. The first lot of songs that we did on the album were mostly written by Scotty. We put a little bit of our own feel and groove to it, but basically, the songs of the songs, most of the song was written by him, whereas what happened was when we decided to to go into the blues challenge, we decided well, is it blues enough? Everyone kept saying look, you know, blues is a broad church, you know, and we're going okay. So we sat down and we decided that we probably did need to lose it up a bit well, lean more that way.
Speaker 4:You know, it's not a matter of sort of pretending to do something that's not natural, it was simply a matter of just leaning more. In that direction.
Speaker 3:I've seen you at one gig to sit down and where I wasn't playing with, just sitting down and watching. You guys are such a blues act. No, seriously, because the three of you together. I once again I don't want to sound like it's this bad thing For me it's a wonderful thing. I felt like I was transported back in time watching a three-piece where you know it's open and you can do your own improvisational bits. And Jack's drumming sensational, the rhythm section, oh, we've got to praise them. I'm sorry it's killing me too, but they were just brilliant. What a beautiful bed to have. Yeah, and it's not just like Stop, it's on a metronome. You know it's got a groove and it swings. And then Jack does all his. You know, almost A Mitchell type stuff. You know it's just there, you go, flourishes, fantastic, and then you're doing what you're doing.
Speaker 4:It is a blues act, man, it's a blues rock act well, what we did when we went into the to the blues challenge was was we just kind of like I say, let ourselves lean further that way? And we wrote a couple more songs? By that stage of the game we kind of transitioned on to all of us starting to write together. Yeah, um, I mean obviously, you know scotty, when we started all of this he came up with a whole bunch of songs and said listen, we've got to get the ball rolling, here's a whole lot of work to do.
Speaker 4:Once we sort of got that working and we started to get onto the blues thing, it was a bit like well, okay, well, let's just naturally let ourselves express things in that direction. And so we wrote a couple of more songs that suited that style of thing. We wrote a whole bunch of other songs too that haven't, but we included the blues songs in the set, you know you are listening to still rocking it the podcast with cheryl lee one of the studios our 63 deluxe boys may record their new ep in his son's studios.
Speaker 1:Here's my first boyfriend, elvis Presley, who famously also recorded their Polk Salad Annie, polk Salad, annie.
Speaker 3:You've got your granny Now. I know that crowd and they've been going to those Memphis Blues challenges for many, many years. How were you received?
Speaker 5:Really surprising.
Speaker 1:They won it.
Speaker 3:I know they won it, but what the crowd does and what the judges do is two entirely different things. I think it's one of those things that is hard to judge because, again, when you're in that moment, you tend to be very insular and you're thinking about what you need to do, focused, and you're so focused. So then, whether it becomes a good reaction or a, you know, tepid reaction, whatever, you're not really thinking it. So once you get on stage and you get a particular reaction, it's actually just like oh, that's nice, yeah, it's kind of cool. I see you've got a bit of an energy, yeah. So you see, yeah, so you really just sort of take it in its stride, but also it gives you that thing okay. So maybe what we are doing is kind of cool or it kind of is working.
Speaker 4:It is mate, yeah because you don't really know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Until you get feedback from other people and you know if you play to that crowd at the Semaphore Workers.
Speaker 3:Was it the Semaphore Workers? Because that's where it's been traditionally Competition, because that's where it's been traditionally Competition, competition. No, I was at New York. Okay, that was the final one, was it? Yeah, that's the one. Can you imagine what it's going to be like when you go to Memphis? Wow, because those people, they love that earthy roots music. It doesn't matter if it's blues or country or country, rock or rock, blues or blues, you know whatever rock, country or whatever. As long as it's got those elements that you love, it'll work it up. Can we talk about Nashville? Sure, you're planning to do another album.
Speaker 5:Planning on an EP which is specifically based. So you've done some pre-production for all that sort of stuff In the way that we're planning on recording the songs that will be played at Memphis and you want to record them there?
Speaker 4:We figured that out by head around. At the end of a week of playing them in the clubs, we're probably going to be more inclined to go in and record us there. Oh right, yeah.
Speaker 1:You're off to Unworld Blues Challenge in January. Yep, yes, and then you're going to record the next album there.
Speaker 5:Yeah absolutely yeah, in mad full or uh muscle shoals or maybe memphis while you're in the breeze, yes, right, so excited.
Speaker 4:I'm so bloody jealous and again getting back to what I was saying before, these will be the songs that are more bluesy, uh, the blues songs that we've kind of presented for this competition and uh, are you thinking?
Speaker 3:are you going to produce it yourself? Are you thinking of having a?
Speaker 5:producer around, see how we go, see how the donations oh cool, that's right.
Speaker 3:There's a GoFundMe page, is there? Are we allowed to talk about that? Oh, I was going to Go for it then.
Speaker 1:Promote, promote, promote.
Speaker 5:So we have a website going where you can buy a T-shirt off us. You can also donate, so, also donate. So we do have a donations page. It's just 63 deluxecom and go to our donations page. We've got a tiered donation so we give rewards for that too. So if you donate a certain amount, we'll give you something in return.
Speaker 1:Oh beautiful still rocking that podcast with that radio chick, cheryl lee another one from the first album. Let's hear free man and vince, and I'll be back to chat to the boys straight after this. The sky is crying and the rain keeps falling.
Speaker 6:But I don't look away. The words are stolen and the crowd keeps brawling, but I don't hear them today, cause I'm a free man, I am, I'm a free man. The earth is turning round the other way, but I fly high. These days, the picket line is a march of ants. At least I see it that way, cause I'm a free man, I am.
Speaker 5:I'm a free man, guitar solo, I move straight ahead and I don't fall back.
Speaker 6:So I don't go astray. There's one way ahead. But the turn away. The people cry free. Got a lot to say Free man, I am, I'm a free man, free man.
Speaker 1:I'm a free man, I am. Are you the only Australian band heading to the World Blues Challenge? Are we the only Adelaide band? Only Adelaide band, there'll be two more one from Sydney, okay, so I think we need to get behind our Adelaide band, only Adelaide band. There'll be two more, one from Sydney, okay, so I think we need to get behind our Adelaide band. So the World Blues Challenge get onto the website 63deluxecom. And let's get behind them.
Speaker 4:There'll also be Craig Atkins. He's the solo artist. He's one of the South Australian oh really.
Speaker 3:Are you guys all going together, it together? Yeah, knock them dead, man, kill them. How much time have you got to record this? How many tracks? Four, okay, you guys smash them. Well, the plan would be that I'd be able to get it done in one day, so in probably an afternoon. So, yeah, yeah, we'll see how the rest of the boys go. Don't get argy-bargy Not I've got a down-to-earth argy-bargy Not to bore the audience. You can always mix it. Once they can mix it, you can be home. This is right. Yeah, so stuff like that can happen. A lot of the stuff that we do. Well, all of it, it's all produced by Anthony. So the reality is is that, you know, it may be produced over there but it may end up, you know, coming home with us one way or another and the finishing touches may be done by the man himself. Man, the way you've come together is an organic, non-structured sort of way why stop?
Speaker 4:keep the formula going? I'm not sure. When you record, well, when you see an opportunity, you'll. You'll see, the interesting thing to do also could be to we'll track it there. Normally we play individually when we've recorded, so the album is all done individually, um, and then put together. This will probably we will probably play all together at the same time.
Speaker 1:So have you ever considered recording it live? That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 4:So it'll be tracked. It'll be tracked in the same room together and I was thinking you know we've talked about it if we let them produce it, but we get the stems and then we can look at what he does.
Speaker 1:Yes, look at what they do Take the best of both worlds.
Speaker 5:And yeah, two different versions even. There's nothing wrong with that. The Memphis session, that's it, oh man.
Speaker 4:That's really cool. So next question for you, vince Would you go to Stax I don't know Aretha Franklin, okay, stax Records, right, the Motown of the South, I like that, I like that already. Or would you go to Sun, you know, elvis Wilson, decker. Or would you go to Muscle Shoals, rolling Stones, lil Skiller, oh dear, where would you go? Or would you go international, to one of those studios there? You're making my head explode. That's what we've got to think about.
Speaker 3:Yeah the hard choices, when choices, well, you know what? When you're there, it'll work. You'll work it out Well.
Speaker 1:Elvis was my first boyfriend, so I was either your son or go to son.
Speaker 5:Go to son and you two recorded there, didn't they?
Speaker 3:I think they did. Yeah, they did. It'll come to me probably after the interview Desire, they recorded Desire there In son. Really.
Speaker 5:Yeah, well, I'll be up for that.
Speaker 1:You know everything, Vince, You're full of it. I knew that Information I mean.
Speaker 2:You are listening to Still Rocking it. The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1:The boys mentioned Wilson Pickett, who actually recorded both at Stax Records in Memphis and Fame Recording in Muscle Shoals. Let's have one from him. Land of a Thousand Dancers. And then back to say farewell to our lads after this One, two, three, one, two, three. We really wish you you know the best of luck over there. You're representing us amazingly. We're really, really proud of you. So do get onto the website and help these guys out to make the best blues album ever. But one thing that I've noticed and this is pretty important is you don't have a tambourine player.
Speaker 5:Here we go. Well, my wife does fill in every once in a while.
Speaker 1:I am good, but I'm expensive. I'm just saying, yeah, you know.
Speaker 3:We'll see how we go by the time we get famous in 2020.
Speaker 1:Get on the GoFundMe page and get me to Nashville.
Speaker 5:She does play a mean tambourine.
Speaker 3:Awesome, I believe it. You're doing us proud. I'm really happy because from the first time I heard your stuff, I loved it, and now everybody else is loving it. I'm back to win. It man Feels good. Well, we want to thank you guys for the support as well. So you know it's a two-way street. We appreciate your support. Oh man, it's an absolute pleasure. You deserve all the good things that are coming to you. Well done, knock them dead.
Speaker 1:We're really proud of you. The musicians love you, the punters love you. So good luck, guys.
Speaker 5:Cheers. Thank you very much. See you when you get back. Yeah, we will.
Speaker 1:There's two questions you haven't asked oh s**t, the most important question oh what do you want on a ride?
Speaker 3:All right, of course, that's why it's called Ride Exhibition. Okay, guys, I've recorded all that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll do one that is C2. Okay, so, each individual one, all right, just one question from me when you're in the car way down.
Speaker 5:here on the way down I was listening to one of our songs, but I don't know the words and the last thing that wasn't yours uh, matt scofield, beautiful.
Speaker 4:Yep, I too was listening to the album to work out which songs go where, but I was actually listening to king brown's album and jake gosh.
Speaker 3:um, the last thing I was listening to was uh, zulu is by frank zapper, zoo Lures by Frank Zappa Fantastic. So yeah, gone on a bit of a journey on that one.
Speaker 1:We are Rider TV. So the obvious question to each of you you first, jack. What's on your rider? What do you have to have in your green room? That's a non-negotiable oh.
Speaker 3:I'm a very easy man, but if I had the choice of anything, it would be Pepsi Max and donuts, Beautiful and hot cows. I'm a policeman. Choice of anything, it would be pepsi max and donuts, beautiful and hot cow. Policeman mate, the matter of this pepsi is going to go a long way. Oh well, that's fantastic. I'll keep that in mind ref.
Speaker 5:What's your non-approachable?
Speaker 4:lemon, lima bitters. Yeah, yeah, that's, I'm pretty easy.
Speaker 1:He's quite simplistic yeah, they're all easy to get along with, huh you know, first quenching.
Speaker 5:after me I'm the singer, so so throw ozenges please. Butterment holes Butterment holes would be beautiful.
Speaker 1:So, no fancy wine, no fancy cheeses. Afterward, ah after, remember to tell them Lots of cheers.
Speaker 5:Lemon-lime ozenges Doeys.
Speaker 1:Easy.
Speaker 5:Thanks guys, thanks very much, thank you.
Speaker 3:Yes, we's got three cameras, yeah yeah, because the ending we did before was beautiful. It was Maybe slow, baby, I'll just slide it on in. Yeah.
Speaker 1:He always good jobs, this thing, Ed. So you just have to get permission to do that. Just look down at the camera and say we agree.
Speaker 5:We agree.
Speaker 1:We're just getting permission to use my favourite hurricane and sunshine.
Speaker 5:Everything we've got.
Speaker 1:Everything Hear, that Got that.
Speaker 3:Everybody All right, let these boys reverse. Well done, thank you. Thank you, I'm going to show.
Speaker 1:Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick, cheryl Lee. We mentioned blues legend Wilson Pickett earlier. He appeared in the 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000, performing 6, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9. And he was previously mentioned in the 1980 film Blues Brothers. Let's go out with a little bit of fun. Shake your tail feather from the Blues Brothers movie and we wish our boys Brett, anthony and Scott all the best shaking their tail feather over there in Memphis representing Australia. You're with Cheryl Lee, that radio chick. Thank you so much for joining me on the Still Rocking it podcast. Hope to catch you again next time. Get out when you can support Aussie music and I'll see you down the front.