Spectrum
L-R
Peter
'Robbo' Robertson, Broc
O'Connor, Mike Rudd,
Daryl Roberts
and Brenden Mason
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! |
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The
Indelibles
Mike
Rudd, Peter
'Robbo' Robertson, Daryl
Roberts and
Broc O'Connor
The Indelibles 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 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 (in Spectrum Plays the Blues mode) play Albatross |
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Mike
Rudd with George Butrumlis
Throughout
his long performing career, Mike has preferred the comfort and safety
of 'the band' format, so the prospect of playing a 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 release of the album.
Naturally the 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 just damn 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 |
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2018 mikeruddbillputt.com |
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