Silent Recordings
Unpredictable Music for
Unreliable Times

Artists:

CODA
Prop
Telemetry Orchestra
Tracky Dax

Compilations:

Around The Block
Nocturnal Emissions
Silent Soundtracks
Sounds of Silent
This Show Is About People

Rouseabout Records
Keeping it Real

Artists:

Bondi Cigars
Cathie O'Sullivan
Colin Dryden
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
The Celebrated Knackers & Knockers Band
Donna Fisk and Michael Cristian
Eric Bogle
Fiddlers Feast
Gary Shearston
Gordon Lightfoot
Herb Superb
Johnny Wade
Jim Low
John Munro
Julie Wilson
Koori Classic
Kym Pitman
Marcus Holden
Mic Conway's National Junk Band
Ngarukuruwala
Nyalgodi Scotty Martin
Robyn Archer
Roger Knox
Russell Morris
The Newtown Rugby League Football Club Song
Warren Fahey & Luke Webb
Warren Fahey & Max Cullen (DEAD MEN TALKING)

Compilations:

Before the Boomerang Came Back
Down By The Billabong
The World Turned Upside-Down
Forte – Golden Fiddlers
Stand Up & Shout

Yesterday's Australia:

Barbara James
Bob Dyer
Bobby Limb
Buddy Williams
Dame Nellie Melba
Florence Austral
Frank Coughlan
John Brownlee
Johnny Ashcroft
Keith Branch & His South Sea Islanders

Percy Grainger
Reg Lindsay
Shirley Thoms
Smoky Dawson
Strella Wilson
Tex Morton
Tex Morton and Sister Dorrie
Warren Fahey's Diggers

Yesterday's Australia Compilations:

Australian Radio Serials
Australian Hillbilly Radio Hits
Australian Stars of the International Music Hall Voume 1
Australian Stars of the International Music Hall Voume 2
Band in a Waistcoat Pocket
Mastertouch Pianola
Strike up the Band
Stars of Australian Stage & Radio Vol 1
Stars of Australian Stage & Radio Vol 2

Yep! Records
Music Without Compromise

Artists:

Antenna
Jenny Morris
Michal Nicholas
The Lovetones
Saints of India
Screw the Pooch
sounditout
Southend
Spaceniks

Bondi Cigars
Australia's Rhythm and Blues Success Story

Music is a peculiar animal in that it takes so many ever-changing forms. Rhythm 'n' blues has a noble history born of blues and emerging rock 'n' roll somewhere in America during the war-torn nineteen forties. It is indeed a twisted path that also takes in Elvis-styled hillbilly music, big band beat, jazz, gospel and soul. Musical labels are always confusing however some sense can be made if one generalises as follows: Hillbilly is white country music; rock 'n' roll is latter day hillbilly plus rhythm 'n' blues, and rhythm 'n' blues is soulful blues with a big beat. To further complicate the puzzle there is such a thing as Australian rhythm 'n' blues and there is little doubt that the Bondi Cigars is its greatest success story.

Formed in 1989 the band has well and truly played itself into Australia's musical heart. After nearly a dozen years, a half a dozen albums and exhaustive touring schedules the band continues to attract new audiences for their music.

One of the keys to the continuing success of the Bondi Cigars is the highly original songs written and performed by frontman Shane Pacey. This is no here-we-go-again 'covers' band and that in itself is evidence of a genuine Australian R&B new tradition. Shane Paceys’ songs smack of the real R&B tradition and I when I listen to songs like 'Bad Weather Blues', 'Key to Your Heart' and 'Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You' I still have to remind myself that these great songs were written right here in Australia by Shane Pacey.

When the band does perform covers they do so with real bite and I further recommend you to listen to their highly original version of Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright'. I believe the Bondi Cigars contribute a major slice of originality and excitement to the Australian musical landscape. This album celebrates their 12th Anniversary long may their unique R&B rule this land!

Warren Fahey
Rouseabout Records

The Bondi Cigars are:

Shane Pacey: guitar and vocals
Eben Hale: guitar and vocals
Alan Britton: bass guitar and vocals
Andrew Vainauskas: drums

The Bondi Cigars first came together as an informal 'jam band' while its component members, Shane Pacey and Alan Britton, stabilised early in 1990 with the band releasing its debut, self-titled, album on the ABC label released that same year. 'Bad Weather Blues' (Larrikin) followed in 1993 receiving widespread critical acclaim for its originality.

In 1994 the band underwent a line-up change and added some classic Hammond organ sounds and going by the name of Shane Pacey & The Cigars released 'Got The News' (Larrikin). By 1995 the band had returned to its original Bondi Cigars tag notching up a grueling national touring schedule and recording 'Closing Time' (Larrikin). The 1996 release of this album won 'Best Australian Blues Album' of the year and the band winning 'Best Australian Blues Band' at the annual Lithgow Blues Festival.

The band's record label, Larrikin, had been sold to Festival Records and this saw The Bondi Cigars being featured on the highly successful soundtrack for 'Seachange' (Festival Records) and, in 1998, releasing a new album 'Mercy' (Larrikin/Festival) featuring 13 original songs. When ex-Larrikin, ex-Festival, record producer, Warren Fahey, announced his new Rouseabout Records label one of the first bands to sign to the label were The Bondi Cigars. They maintain a schedule of around 150 live gigs every year so try and catch them live.

Tour details are available on their website:

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The Bondi Cigars
'Down in the Valley' Double CD
Catalogue Number RRR2

Buy   Buy

'Down in the Valley' is the sixth album release for the Bondi Cigars and their most anticipated because, at last, they have been 'captured live'. It is all very well to record songs in a studio but something else again to record in front of an audience. There is little doubt that R&B sounds better when the audience is right up there with the band. James Nunn has done a great job in capturing the songs over two steaming nights at Brisbane's 'The Healer' in Fortitude Valley (hence the title of the album). Russell Pilling also supplied some magic when he mixed the albums at Sydney's Damien Gerard Studios before handing over to Nathan Johnson and Kristian Bell for editing at Festival Studios. William Bowden wrapped the magic with his expert mastering at Festival.

As with all great bands, the sum of the whole exceeds the sum of the parts and The Bondi Cigars are no exception to this rule. Shane Pacey, the principle songwriter and vocalist, came to the Cigars after playing with the Sydney Earls of Duke. His song writing and dynamic vocals, teamed with the fluid rhythms of Alan Britton, have largely defined the sound and direction of the band.

Alan began playing with some of Australia's foremost roots bands including the Mangrove Boogie Kings, the legendary Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders. He has an instinctive feel for a groove and an ability to ride the rhythm. The addition of Andrew Vainauskas on some mighty powerful drums and Eben Hale as vocalist, songwriter and all-important bass guitarist, have given The Bondi Cigars a youthful exuberance and adventurous edge that is very apparent on this new recording.

'Down in the Valley' is a rare opportunity to hear The Bondi Cigars recorded live (and kicking).

Track Listing:

CD One:

  1. Someone Else Is Stepping In
  2. I Can't Sleep
  3. Bad Weather Blues
  4. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
  5. Calling Card
  6. Ain't No Big Deal On You
  7. Got The News
  8. Alberts Alley
  9. Driving Blindly Through The Night
  10. You're a Mystery

CD One:

  1. Path Is Clear
  2. Leaving Thing
  3. Life After You
  4. Intensive Care
  5. All I Want Is Everything
  6. Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You
  7. Cry To Me
  8. Howling At The Moon
  9. Key To Your Heart

Press
What the Media have to Say...

"While you may never see these guys in the top ten, there'd be few better choices for a good night's drinking and dancing at the pub."
(X-Press Magazine)
 
"Australia's premier blues outfit."
(Drum Media)
 
"The hardest toruing roots blues band in the country. The Bondi Cigars have well and truly worked their way into Australia's musical heart."
(Drum Media)

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