Had a take at Waiting for the Country.

waiting for the country 

Hi,

I hope you like my latest recording. It has been a lot of fun putting it together.

Try to forget,

Cigarette as I fumble

Ash on the sheets

Watch it fall watch it crumble

Black on my face and there’s sweat on my pillow

I try hard to sleep

Close my eyes

Close the window

Finding out is the hardest thing

Sends your heart racing down, down, down

Lay me out

So I can’t feel a thing

Knock me out

Put me under

My mind repeats

Half asleep the door opens

My heart skips a beat like a crash in slow motion

A kiss on the cheek

You don’t speak

Keep your eyes low

A light on the street

Pulls away past the window

Chorus

I’m drowning in sand

I’m burning but I don’t feel a thing

I try to see all of the good things around me

I take myself out on the street to think clearly

I jump on the first bus I see

What am I doing

I crash

Head on glass

I don’t care

Just keep moving

(c) mattralph 2012

Finding Out

We are having an awesome tour of the Dylan play. We have our 3rd and last night in Coffs Harbour tonight, which will be great. Weather sunny and warm and lots of time to see the area, fairs and markets.

Off west next.

Acoustic Caravan presents
MATT RALPH BAND + Nick Arnold Band + Under the Purple Tree + Paul Prestipino *8PM START*

buy
The Basement, NSW
Tue 20 Jul, 2010
08:00 PM

The Big One: Best New Australian Music from Coast to Coast!
*EARLY START 8PM*

Hosted by Rooney West (from Acoustic Caravan).

Acoustic Caravans curated showcases are long established as always featuring the best original Australian music both new and known. This night is no exception, with four extraordinary, talented and unique groups. Hosted by ACs own Rooney West, get ready for a night of discovery and wonder as we delve into the best new music on offer!

Dont miss this special selection of some of Australias most creative and dynamic new talent!

The Matt Ralph Band
This Bondi crooner has an acoustic in his hands and the sea in his heart. A singer/songwriter and guitarist, Ralph has a large body of original work and is a consummate interpreter of some of modern musics most lauded legends. He quotes influences such Nick Drake, Mason Jennings, JJ Cale, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits with his original songs having whispers of the troubadors before him.

His theatrical portrayal of Bob Dylan in an extended sell out Sydney season of The Chronic-Ills of Robert Zimmerman with the Tamarama Rocks theatre was a smash. The Sydney Morning Herald called it, terrific! and the production was a critical and box office success. Fresh from this triumph, Ralph brings his original band back to The Basement and dons his songwriters hat as part of this fantastic night of new Australian talent.

www.mattralph.com

Paul Prestipino
But a brief pit stop en-route to a New York engagement, Paul Prestipino, joins ACs quality lineup and has Perth RTRFM radio raving about his debut album as “absolutely outstanding just returning back to Earth after perhaps one of the best tracks we’ve heard this year!”

Perth based Prestipino is a writer, arranger, producer and musician with one of Australias most creative and experimental approaches today. His debut album Tunnel features field sounds recorded across three continents. Horse hooves from a Virginia farm, crows from the Australian outback at the stark burial site of the song’s dedicatee and most interestingly, for Hiroshima, Prestipino persuaded a nurse to allow him into a radiology lab to record the blood pumpng through his heart.

In addition to writing and producing his own music, Prestipino designs soundtracks for experimental theatre projects. He has worked with renowned directors Roman Paska (US), John Turturro (US), Romeo Castellucci (Italy), and Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. His soundtracks have been performed in New York, Naples, Vienna, Linz and Amsterdam.

Some more critical acclaim:

“A kind of gut-bucket folktronica that is all the more remarkable for its exquisite lyricism”
- THE IRISH TIMES
“A distinct and involving world of sound.. with an acoustic troubadour integrity… immensely moving”
- DRUM MEDIA PERTH
“Dark ballads of the 19th century”
- ROMEO CASTELLUCCI

www.paulprestipino.com

Under The Purple Tree
Winners of Songs Alive in 2009, Under the Purple Tree is an ensemble as evocative as its name. Gearing up for the release of their debut album, Romany’, their inclusion in tonight’s AC showcase heralds their first show for 2010.

The Sydney based UPT is a trio featuring the gorgeous Megan Barnes on guitar and vocals, guitarist/producer Matt Lee and guest bassist, Anthony Lee. Their brand of electro-fused rock, is rapidly gaining ground across Sydney venues and a network of community radio stations. Poised to catapult to the next level with the release of their forthcoming album, they are a group to stay tuned to.

www.myspace.com/underthepurpletree

The Nick Arnold Band
Composer/musician Nick Arnold has many strings to his bow. Following the slightly theatrical theme of the evening, Arnold is a consummate composer for film, television and theatre with an impressive list of internationals credits.

He is also a writer and if composing, singing, performing and producing werent enough, Arnold is currently working on a series of environmental books for children and is in pre-production for his short film, The White Room which he wrote and is producing. Arnold brings a rich and energetic close to the night with drum-tight, pulsing rock grooves. This all round-renaissance man will definitely be a name to watch!

For more information on Nick Arnolds projects.

www.nickarnold.com.au

Gen. admission Standing: $15.00 + booking fee
(purchase online at the bottom of this page)

Dinner & Show tickets: $63.80 per person
Dinner & Show tickets include entry, seating and a 2 course meal (entree & main, 4 choices for each). Dinner & Show tickets are only available by phone.
Call the Basement Box Office to book on (612) 9251 2797 (Mon – Fri 10 am – 5:30 pm)

Thursday 8th JULY
The VANGUARD
Acoustic Caravan presents:
The Smiths V’s The Cure
live acts start just after 8pm and play til after 11pm
$15 entry

Two iconic bands who have reached great heights pitted against each other on this battle of the tributes. Cutting edge Sydney artists will perform your favourite Smiths and Cure songs acoustically and let you decide who comes out on top.

The goliaths of gloom go toe to toe… Acoustic Caravan Style!!!

Hosted by Matt Ralph, the audience will decide who will win in this battle of the bands, as the Acoustic Caravan presents the songs of the two groups that made it glamorous to be glum.

So come down and cheer for your favourite songs with The Acoustic Caravan and their fabulous cast of special guest singers!

BAND SET with the songs they are singing:

STICKY FINGERS
Boys Don’t Cry
Just Like Heaven
Love Song

CREEPERS
Sweet and Tender Hooligan
Friday I’m In Love
Lets Go to Bed

RADIO NATIONAL
A Tree
How Soon is Now
Killing an Arab

RAPIDS
Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now
Lullaby
Other Voices

Acoustic Set:
Joel Sarakula
Chris Burns
Katy Wren
Sam Newton
Greg Cade
Matt Heath

Hope you can make it.
Get tixs at
http://www.thevanguard.com.au/

It was so great to play with so many talented musicians on Sunday night. Everyone had a great time and I’m pretty sure that everyone is keen to do it all again in six months time. Now Jono I are preparing for our season at the Powerhouse Museum. We have put together a show for kids called the Tiny Awards Show. Eliza, who did the design for our Bob Dylan play, has created all the costumes and design for this play, and they are fantastic. It should be so much fun. We are performing it at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and at 3:30 PM, from the 5th til the 18th of July. Hopefully you can come and see it.

There are a few things going on this week. We have rehearsals for our highway 61 night coming up at the vanguard on June 27. It will be a lot of fun and we have a great band together for it. Brendan St Ledger on keys, Jacob Cook on drums, Nick Meredith on electric guitar and Simon Rippingale on bass and me on guitar. That’s the band. We also though, have some excellent singers for the night too. Leroy Lee is singing as well as Simon Bruce, James Edgar Francis and Joel Sarakula.
Hopefully you can come along!

First up, Lenni and I are playing at Mocean tomorrow night (Friday 21st May). We will be playing from about 7:30 til late-ish. It is on Campbell PDE, number 34, just near the Campbell pedestrian crossing to get to the icebergs. It’s a cosy atmosphere and downstairs bar. We’ll be playing our songs as well as our favs.

Next is a Jeff Buckley night at The Vanguard on Sunday the 30th of May which I have the pleasure of hosting and playing a couple of songs. They are always great nights and there is an awesome line-up of singers.

Then on the 27th of June at The Vanguard, my band, including special guest Brendan St Ledger on keys, are performing the Dylan Highway 61 album in it’s entirety. We have some special guest singers, which I’ll let you know more about soon.

Finally, but not least, on the 20th of July, my band are joining an amazing line-up for a big night at the Basement.

Hope to see you at some or all of these gigs. They are all different and fun.

This is a shot from Adelaide whilst we were doing a quick sound check. Must have been a hot day (which it was). Seems like the change of season has really kicked in.
I’ve just got back from a live radio gig at Bondi FM which was great fun. Very social and yummy food. I expected a studio but it was definitely more like a party. Lots of excellent poets, drummers and singers. It’s called Monday night live…must be from about 8pm and you can stream it on the net from anywhere.
Just thought it has been a while since I made a post, which is probably because there is just a bit too much going on…working each day and doing the play each night. Night off tonight, hence the post.
The play has been very enjoyable and very much a box office success, happy to say. We have added an extra matinee on the last day the 24th at 2pm, but that has just sold out, so we may add another one at 5pm on the 24th. Busy day that will be. If you are interested you could check the www.rocksurfers.org website. The link is here. It may take a day to appear, but I will post any info as soon as I know.

Next week, after the show, we are taking the production up to Byron Bay for 4 nights. It is very exciting, and 4 times bigger theatre than the Old Fitzroy, so it will be quite an experience. Please spread the word if you know of anyone that may like to come. I will post how to get tix as soon as I have found out, but the website is www.byroncentre.com.au

Lenni and I are playing at Mocean in Bondi again on the 21st of May and we have a great lineup planned for the Basement on the 19th of July. Hope you can make them.

• check out mattralph.com for code to $12 tix to preview of The Chronic-Ills of Robert Zimmerman. Tues night (6th of April)

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