DAVE'S DIARY - 6 APRIL 2015 - THE PIGS CD REVIEW
2015 CD REVIEW
THE PIGS
HOME BREW
THE PIGS ROLL IN THE HAY WITH SKYHOOKS
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Sydney bluegrass quintet The Pigs has enjoyed a brief but colourful career with its alternate version of the historic genre rooted deep in Kentucky.
The Pigs have trotted their wares in Europe and on our lucrative folk festival circuit including Port Fairy and Broadbeach in Queensland.
This time around on their fourth album the lads, who share their name with a Bristol punk rock band formed in 1977, turned their talent to refrying Aussie rock hits bluegrass style.
It's a creative challenge after third album Great Bluegrass Swindle.
This time they have invaded territory also indulged by Hayseed Dixie and other U.S. peers.
Obvious peak here is Skyhooks classic You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed .
The task was enriched by recruitment of Skyhooks guitarist-songwriter and latter day ABC radio host Red Symons on pedal steel and accordion.
Their song marketing was maximised by Symons and duet partner Fanny Lumsden appearing in a quirky video.
This 13 song disc entrée is their first single Devil Inside from the INXS catalogue and also accompanied by a video.
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Their revamps of Olivia Newton-John hit Physical and Straight Lines fail to impact. But more successful are the vitriolic Cruel Sea tune Better Get A Lawyer, Ross Wilson's Mondo Rock oldie Come Said The Boy and their rollicking rendition of Cold Chisel love pastiche Ita. Doing covers - even bluegrass - can also be dictated by the strength of the original version. |
The Avalanches techno tune Since I Left You/ Frontier Psychiatry seems pedestrian and Johnny Farnham staple You're The Voice, replete with yodeling, has a severe irritant factor.
Better value is hook heavy Puretones 1998 hit Addicted to Bass , featuring the duo's Josh Abrahams on bottles and cooee's.
The Divinyls 1982 debut Science Fiction also has curio value with its tempo changes.
A fitting finale is Cathy's Clown - the 1995 You Am I hit, not the oft covered Phil and Don Everly eight million selling 1960 classic.
The Pigs , like many peers, have won wider acclaim for their live shows than albums.
CLICK HERE for the national tour dates in our gig guide - venues like the Spotted Cow and Brass Monkey seems apt animal kingdom locales.