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S P E C
T R U M S P E C T R U M S P E C T R U M |
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I K E R U D D B I L L P U T T . C O MM M
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M I K E R U D D |
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Mike
Rudd, Brenden Mason, Peter 'Robbo' Robertson, Daryl Roberts
and Broc O'Connor
Spectrum today is, conceptually
at least, similar to the original band launched way back in
1969, but the loss in 2013 of bassist and fellow founding member
Bill Putt leaves singer/songwriter Mike Rudd as the sole original
member in the current line-up. The recent addition of Madder
Lake guitarist Brenden Mason (pic) however has added
a very positive dimension to the band, especially in the live
performance arena - a recording would seem to be inevitable.
Spectrum and Madder Lake played a very successful series of
double bill shows during 2019 celebrating Spectrum's 50th anniversary
and as 2020 marked the Madders' 50th anniversary there had been
another series of double bill shows planned throughout the year,
another good intention scuttled by COVID-19.
Today's Spectrum plays a
batch of retrospective songs from the various Spectrum, Murtceps
and Ariel albums, including a selection from their many singles
released over the decades. Like Spectrum's But That's Alright
and Play a Song That I Know, The Indelible Murtceps'
Indelible Shuffle and Esmeralda and Ariel's
Jamaican Farewell and Disco Dilemma - and
there are quite a few more.* Never forgetting the legendary
song that started it all, I'll Be Gone (Someday I'll have
money) of course!
* See Spectrum's
Heritage song-list
nnnSee
the official Spectrum
bio |
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Mike
Rudd's Indelibles - inc. Spectrum Plays the Blues
AKA The Indelibles, this is the
very same band that was known until quite recently as Spectrum
and is the band that can evince the original Spectrum, The Indelible
Murtceps, Ariel, WHY, Mike Rudd & The Heaters and even Mike's
first band, Chants R&B songs just for you. With
songs like I'll Be Gone, Launching Place Part Two, Going
Home and Fly Without Its Wings, Ariel's Jamaican
Farewell, Rock & Roll Scars, Red Hot Momma and
Worm Turning Blues, Murtceps' Esmeralda, Some Good
Advice and We Are Indelible, you'll be in Spectrum
heaven.
The Indelibles (pic) will also treat you to a set of
more recent songs from the Breathing Space EP series
like Rocket Girl, Silicon Valley and Xavier Rudd
is Not My Son, followed by a set of crowd pleasing blues
from the Spill - Spectrum Plays The Blues and No
Thinking CDs. Irresistible? Up to you. Indelible? Certainly!
See
The Indelibles live in SA (in Spectrum Plays the Blues mode)
play Albatross
PS - If you find you haven't enough space (or money) for the
four-piece, you might consider the three-piece version of The
Indelibles, Mike
Rudd's Three-piece Suit
(AKA The Suits).
See large
portrait (pic
Dale McCabe) |
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pic - Peter Lamont |
| Mike
Rudd
'solo' with George Butrumlis
Throughout
his long performing career, Mike has preferred the comfort
and safety of 'the band' format, so the prospect of playing
buck-naked solo gigs was daunting. Nonetheless, he persevered
for a couple of years making the odd solo appearance with
only his Morris nylon-string guitar and an assortment of blues
harps for company, until happenstance intervened and another
path was revealed.
The Mike
Rudd Trio, with accordionist George
and bassist Jeremy Alsop, had been booked for an appearance
at Doc White's Gilmore Street Sessions, but when Jeremy had
to pull out at the last minute, Mike and George played a very
satisfactory night alone together - and the Mike with George
die was cast.
Mike sees playing 'solo' with Sympatico George as an opportunity
to tackle songs that, for one reason or another, don't get
played in the group setting. Outrageous songs like Excuse
Me Just One Moment from Murtceps' Warts Up your
Nose album and Confessions of a Psychopathic Cowpoke,
from Ariel's A Strange Fantastic Dream album,
which of course was famously banned from airplay by the FCB*
on the album's release.
Naturally the solo repertoire isn't just comprised
of controversial songs - for those who just can't get enough
there are three (!) interpretations of Spectrum's perennial
biggie, I'll Be Gone, as well as other some damn
strange and occasionally beautiful songs. Songs like Superbody,
from the Spectrum Part One album, the Ariel single
Jamaican Farewell and I Wonder Who's Kissing
Her Now from the Living on a Volcano CD and
newer songs from the Breathing Space series, like
Look at the Moon and Star Crazy and newer
still as yet unrecorded songs like Old Black Dog
and You're in My Heart.
*Federation
of Commercial Broadcasters |
Mike
& George play Casey Radio Storytellers |
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Discuss
- is Spectrum dead?
The
original Spectrum played around Melbourne and beyond between
1969 - 1973 when it was known chiefly as a sit-down-and-listen-to
concert band, playing at venues like the Thumpin' Tum, Berties
and Sebastians (oddly known as Discotheques) and the occasional
riotous TF Much Ballroom event.
When pub gigs came into vogue in Melbourne, The Indelible Murtceps
was devised to cope with the more visceral demands of pub audiences
and happily co-existed with its big brother Spectrum, occasionally
even playing a support role in the bigger concerts.
The popularity of Spectrum's national number one single, I'll
Be Gone, put the band in front of many more people than
an outfit retrospectively dubbed as a prog rock band might've
expected, but Spectrum doggedly pursued its own musical course,
to the point of NOT including I'll Be Gone on its first
album, Spectrum Part One.
You will hear echoes of the original Spectrum in all the contemporary
configurations listed above and, while it's still a useful reference
point, the fact is that Spectrum as it was known back in the
'70s, doesn't actually exist any more.
Don't be disheartened though. If you really want a genuine,
purely Spectrum-Murtceps contemporary recreation, let's talk.
In the meantime, if you'd like a stimulating concert-type reappraisal
of Spectrum and beyond there's the Spectrum option
with the effervescent guitarist Brenden Mason to consider.
And there's much, much more, so rather than me
rabbiting on, check out the list above. (See official bio) |
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M I K E R U D D B I L L P U T T . C O MM M
I K E R U D D B I L L P U T T . C O MM
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