To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album, the The Waifs are hitting the road from June to September for an extensive run of dates around the country, taking in regional centres too, including Mooroopna, where the band will be performing at Riverlinks Westside on Sunday, June 4.
Country Australia has played an integral part in The Waifs’ upward trajectory since day one.
“Regional towns really embraced us when we were young musicians travelling Australia around in our old campervan,” The Waifs’ Donna Simpson told this column.
“It was the smaller regional towns that gave us a go, gave us local country pub gigs and to be completely honest, we were quite afraid of the cities and the ‘cliquey cool city venues’.
“After years of playing in regional areas we all agree that they’re our favourite places to play and it’s often shown by the appreciation of the local people who come out to hear the band.”
The Waifs have managed to weather the enormous changes in the musical industry during their existence, and while other groups may have fallen by the wayside, Simpson affirms that being truly independent and doing things their way has held them in good stead.
“The music industry has changed more so even now with the music streaming platforms, giving songwriters more ability to be heard, but it’s also a very flooded market out there” she said.
“Basically, you’ve got to keep the dream alive, and you’ve got to get on your own horse and take your music to the people and not sit and count how many downloads you’ve had on your social media this week.”
Simpson is looking forward to performing in Mooroopna and with a passion for horses, she has issued a call to any local horse-riding farms.
“I’m keen to go horse riding,” Simpson said.
“So, if anyone wants to take me riding when I am in Shepparton…”
Music news
1980s heartland rocker John Mellencamp returns with a new studio album scheduled for release on June 16. Titled Orpheus Descending, it is Mellencamp’s 25th studio album.
An act celebrating 20 years is electronic duo The Presets, who will also be embarking on a national tour of smaller venues from July until September, performing DJ sets.
Easy-listening superstar Michael Bublé will be touring Australia next month. He was originally scheduled to tour late last year but due to “logistical issues” was forced to postpone the tour until June.
And speaking of touring, Matchbox Twenty have announced they’ll be returning in February 2024 for an Australian tour, bringing ’90s rockers Goo Goo Dolls along for the ride. Matchbox Twenty were last in the country in 2012, and the group’s new album, Where The Light Goes, is out tomorrow.
When rock meets classical. Check out Drastic Symphonies, the new album by Def Leppard, which hit stores last Friday. It sees the group teaming with Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to drastically deconstruct and reimagine some of the band's biggest hits. Highly recommended listening.
Veteran session drummer Josh Freese has been officially announced as the new drummer for Foo Fighters. Freese replaces Taylor Hawkins, who tragically passed away in early 2022.
Behind the song: London Still (The Waifs)
Donna Simpson shares the story of how she came to write London Still.
“Sometimes a song can write itself, and that’s how I feel about the song London Still. It’s kind of like fishing, I suppose. I had a hook in the water, meaning a guitar in my hand, and hook melody in my head and I just started singing what was going through my mind and heart.
“Back in the day I would travel with a small recording device called a mini disc with a microphone. I was lonely on tour, missing home, stuck in London on tour and a country which I didn’t like too much.
“I just wanted to go home, cook fish and chips, and pour a rum and coke with my dad in our family kitchen, and hang out with my mates on Sundays where we would have a music jam session.
“I literally just started playing a few chords, singing how I felt, and the song wrote itself in about 10 minutes. I love the song to this very day and am very proud of having written such a meaningful and longing song, which people all over the world still relate to this very day.”
Fun fact
Australian 1960s pop-rock legends Zoot, who were led by Darryl Cotton and featured a pre-Little River Band Beeb Birtles in their line-up, performed in Shepparton in August 1969 at the Civic Centre. The following month, the band’s lead guitarist, Roger Hicks, left and was replaced by Rick Springfield.
Readers can send feedback, suggestions, music-related stories, music news items and more to: MusicalMusings@mmg.com.au
