Dave Graney
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Dave Graney (born Mount Gambier, South Australia) is an Australian rock musician and singer/songwriter.
Graney is generally accompanied by his wife and longstanding creative partner, drummer Clare Moore. The pair have fronted such bands as The Moodists (1980-87), The White Buffaloes (1989-90), Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes (1987-97), The Dave Graney Show (1998-03) and Dave Graney and Clare Moore...featuring the Lurid Yellow Mist (2004-).
"he abounds in sublime thought and love of humour, in dignified feeling and malignant passion, in elegant wit and obsolete conceit. He alternately presents us with the gaiety of the ballroom and the gloom of the scaffold, leading us among the airy pleasantries of fashionable assemblage and suddenly conducting us to haunts of depraved and disgusting sensuality….he turns decorum into jest, and bids defiance to the established decencies of life." A quote from the Dave Graney Show website,.
Dave's 1993 album with the Coral Snakes, Night of the Wolverine (1993), is considered by many to be an Australian classic. No singles were released from the album but it contained many memorable songs (The title track, 'You're Just Too Hip, Baby' and 'Three Dead Passengers in a Stolen Second Hand Ford', co-written with Stephen Cummings) and this level of quality was equalled on the next album,You Wanna Be There But You Don't Wanna Travel (1994), with 'I'm Gonna Release Your Soul', 'You Wanna Be Loved' and 'The Stars Baby, The Stars'. (This album debuted at number 3 in their home state of Victoria and in the top 10 nationally.) 1995's The Soft and Sexy Sound of Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes (with 'Rock 'n' Roll Is Where I Hide' and 'I'm Not Afraid To Be Heavy') earned Dave an ARIA Award for Best Male Vocalist. The next album The Devil Drives (1997), with its Top 20 hit 'Feelin' Kinda Sporty', was to be Graney and Moore's last with the Coral Snakes and also Universal Music. After starting anew with the 1998 Dave Graney Show single, 'Between times' and the self titled album on Festival records, Dave Graney and Clare Moore have continued to play live around Australia and have released seven cds on their own Melbourne-based label, Cockaigne. Initially with MGM, the label is distributed by Reverberation, a Sydney based boutique label and distributor. Clare Moore released her first solo cd, "the third woman" on Chapter Music in 2002. She has also appeared with Melbourne band The Sand Pebbles on stage as well as on record. She also contributed strings and keyboards to albums by Kim Salmon as well as the Wagons. She played on Robert Forster's ( Go Betweens) covers cd "I had a New York Girlfriend". She also appears with Stephen Cummings' Rockabilly band and with jazz weirdos Henry Manetta and the Trip. Dave Graney and Clare Moore also engineered and mixed the debut cds by the Darling Downs (Kim Salmon and Ron Peno) and the Muddy Spurs. They both also play in the seven guitar, two drummer heavy rock orchestra devised and led by Kim Salmon.
Dave Graney played at the Big Day out Festival on many occasions, as well as the Livid festival and the Falls festival, performed on the tv shows Recovery, Nomad, Smash hits, Live and Sweaty, Denton, Midday with Kerry Anne, Jimoein, Shaun Micaleff, Mornings with Bert Newtown, AM with Denise Drysdale, Sale of the Century, the Games, Rokwiz, Spicks and Specks, Australias dumbest musician, had a two episode story spot on Neighbours,Review, Roy and HG's Club Buggery (1996-1997), wrote a lyric book, It Is Written, Baby (1997), and, with Clare Moore, composed and performed the score of the movie Bad Eggs (2003) and Tony Mahonys short film "ray" (2005). Dave Graney also contributed music to and played a small (musical) part in a stage production of the 1960s British play "Stone" in 2004. 2006 saw the debut of Dave Graney "Point Blank", "a song cycle of a life as a heavy entertainer", for which Graney was accompanied by Jazz player Mark Fitzgibbon on piano and Moore on vibes.
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[edit] Discography
[edit] with The Moodists
7 single, "where the trees walk downhill" b/w "I should have been here" on Au GoGo 1980
7" single "Gone dead"/"Chad's car" on Au GoGo 1981
- Engine Shudder (1982)
Originally a 6 track ep on Au GoGo, later combined with the second Au GoGo single and released as an album on Red Flame Records in the UK (1983).
- Thirsty's Calling (1984)
Recorded and mixed at Livingstone studios in London with Victor Van Vugt, who had travelled from Melbourne with the band as their live sound mixer. A reformed Yardbirds , known as Box of frogs, were working in the same studio at the time. The Moodists did a John Peel session as the album came out. 7' single "enough legs to live on/"can't lose her". Continued the Moodists knack of having the best songs as b-sides released late 1984. Another Victor Van Vugt production.
- Double Life (1985)
Again recorded at the same studio with Victor Van Vugt recording and mixing. A compilation of the "enough legs" single and b-side and unreleased material which was the beginnings of a new album. Never actually mixed, "Double Life" is the most focussed, dynamic and powerful song the band ever recorded. The last release on Red Flame. Another John Peel session was done in 1985.
12' single "justice and money too" b/w "take us all home" and "you've got your story" released on Creation Records in 1985. Recorded and mixed by Victor Van Vugt. Featured Mick Harvey on piano and Adam Peters (at the time working with the Triffids as well) on viola.
two four track 12" vinyl eps released on Tim/Abstract in 1985/86. One featured "Take the red carpet out of town" (with horns by Louise Elliott of the Laughing Clowns), b/w "everybody don't tell her" and the traditional "jack of diamonds". The last ep featured "someones got to give" b/w "hey little gary", "somebody to love" and "it takes a thief". The band by this time featured former members of Orange Juice , David McClymont and Malcolm Ross. With their influence, the songs grew tighter and more ambitious and generally more arranged. The last session also included Mark Fitzgibbon on piano who later re surfaced in 2005 , working on the Dave Graney and Clare Moore cds, "Hashish and Liquor". All were recorded and mixed by Victor Van Vugt who had by this time become a much in demand live and studio engineer. He later went on to work with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for many years on the road. He also worked as producer for Beth Orton, PJ Harvey and, in a brief return to Australia, for "the soft'n'sexy sound" of Dave Graney 'n'the Coral Snakes.
- Two Fisted Art (2005) (Retrospective double CD, did not feature any of the last two eps)
One disc was a collection of their recorded work. The other disc was live and unreleased material from 1982 in Melbourne and 1984 in London.
A film of the Moodists was made in 1984 and this was broadcast on ITV. This film, "The Moodists live in London" was released on dvd in Australia in 2004. The original footage of their live show ( shot by several cameras and a 24 track mobile studio at the Camden Palace) was the main part of the dvd but there was also an interview with the band in 2004 (conducted by David Nichols) as well as another complete show of the band playing at the Hacienda club in Manchester. Dave Graney and Clare Moore resided and worked in London from late 1983 to late 1988. They toured Europe extensively and made one tour to the USA.
[edit] with The White Buffaloes
- My Life on the Plains (1989)
No singles released, although a video was shot by Tony Mahony for the song "robert ford on the stage". Album cover (done as a vinyl sleeve) featured a brilliant drawing by London artist Dave Western. It was based on a Frederick Remington cowboy epic painting. It reflected Dave Graney's obsession with wild western myth and late 60s psychedelic bands who were of the same tastes, namely The Charlatans and Quicksilver Messenger Service from San Francisco. The album title was from an autobiographical tome written by George Armstrong Custer in 1876, the year he died at Little Big Horn. The album sleeve, designed by Western , featured images of a young Jesse James , Custer and ornate Edwardian lettering. This was the band formed by Dave Graney and Clare Moore in 1989, intending to do a handful of shows before returning to the UK, where they had intended to live permanently. Former Moodists member Chris Walsh on bass,old friend Conway Savage on piano,new friend Rod Hayward on guitar. The album also featured Martin Lubran (formerly of Hunters and Collectors, and later of Crackpot) on pedal steel guitar. After Conway Savage's departure to join the Bad Seeds in 1990, live shows featured former Triffid 'Evil' Graham Lee on pedal steel. The band played many songs written by other artists. Included on the album were songs by Gene Clarke, Fred Neil, Gram Parsons and the traditional "Streets of Laredo". In the live show they included songs by Doug Sahm, Lou Reed, Buffy St Marie and Tim Rose. A 5 track 12" vinyl ep called "Codine" was recorded in 1990 and released in that year. (This was the post Savage line-up of the band)."Codine" was a song written by Buffy St Marie and played by the Charlatans in swaggering space cowboy style. Dave Graney and the White Buffaloes picked up the suede dusters and handlebar moustache and rode off on their own. The ep sleeve was another brilliant Dave Western illustration. Included on the cd version of the "I was the Hunter and I was the prey" album.
[edit] with The Coral Snakes
4 track , 12' ep "with the Coral Snakes at his stone beach" released in September 88 on Fire records. These tracks included on cd version of the White Buffaloes album, "my life on the plains". The ep featured the songs "world full of daughters", "listen to her lovers sing","a deal made for somebody else" and "the greatest show in town". The band had started playing around in London pubs and clubs in late '87. Featured Malcolm Ross ( Orange Juice/Josef K/Azrec Camera) on guitar, Louis Vause on piano, Gordy Blair (whom Clare Moore had met while working in a band formed by former Jasmine Mink, Adam Sanderson) on bass and, of course, Clare Moore on drums. The session was produced by former member of Magazine and the first version of the Bad Seeds, Barry Adamson. The cover was an ornate, Edwardianly lettered affair by Dave Western.
- I Was the Hunter and I Was the Prey (1990....not released until 1992)
Recorded in London , after the White Buffaloes' album, with the original Coral Snakes lineup of Gordy Blair on bass, Malcolm Ross on guitar,Louis Vause on piano, Clare Moore, Dave Graney and now with Melbourne guitarist Rod Hayward. The studio was in Croydon, in a house run by former Procol Harum organist Mathew Fisher. Produced by Phil Vinall, a London producer and friend of Dave Graney and Clare Moore. Phil later worked with the Auteurs, Placebo and Magic Dirt ( among hundreds of others). Album cover by Dave Western caught Dave Graney in full "Custer" curled moustachioed and velvet pomp.
- The Lure of the Tropics (1992) A live recording of the Coral Snakes (Gordy Blair,Rod Hayward,Clare Moore,Robin Casinader-piano) in blazing form at what was their home turf, the Prince of Wales in St Kilda. A week earlier they had done their traditional "Little Big Horn show" (a tradition Dave Graney had started for the hell of it in 1989) and cooked up the title track. The album featured three other improvised tracks. They were caught on tape opening for former Husker Du frontman Bob Mould. An amazing, wild record. Originally mixed by Phil McKellar and released by Torn and Frayed on Shock records...re released in 1997 with extra tracks and remixed by Tony Cohen. Cover by Tony Mahony.
- Night of the Wolverine (1993)...Released on This Way Up in the UK in 1996....re released on Cockaigne in 2004 with extra tracks from post Coral Snakes cds. Produced by Tony Cohen.
Cover by Tony Mahony. No singles released but a video made by Tony Mahony for the song "you're just too hip,baby".
- You Wanna Be There But You Don't Wanna Travel (1994). Produced by Tony Cohen. Cover by Tony Mahony.
Singles released ( with accompanying Tony Mahony videos and covers) "I'm gonna release your soul" and "you wanna be loved". First 500 copies came with a limited edition rarities album called "Unbuttoned"
- The Soft and Sexy Sound (1995). Produced by Victor Van Vugt. Cover by Tony Mahony.
Singles released (only the first with accompanying Tony Mahony video, all with deluxe Mahony covers), "I'm not afraid to be heavy", "rock'n'roll is where I hide" and "I'm gonna live in my own big world" ( the latter, a song inspired by New West aftershave, was released with a scratch and sniff sleeve). First 500 copies came with a limited edition rarities album called "music for colourful racing identites". Album also accompanied by a media cd with an interview with Dave graney by HG Nelson called "a word in yer shell like". This album was released in the UK and Europe on This Way Up in 1996. Dave Graney and Clare Moore spent 6 months of that year recording and working in London.
- The Devil Drives (1997). Produced By Dave Graney , Clare Moore and David Ruffy. Engineered by Kenny Jones. Recorded in Melbourne and mixed in London at Maison Rouge studios.
Cover by Tony Mahony. Single released (with accompanying Tony Mahony video and cover), "feelin kinda sporty". A single also came out of "A man on the make". Album also accompanied by a media cd with an interview with Dave graney called "coffins have no pockets".This was part of a media booklet based on a Holden Monaro owners manual in a plastic booklet/folder.
- The Baddest (1999) ('Greatest Hits' with additional tracks)
This compilation included an unreleased version of the song from "the devil drives" called "the sheriff of hell". The track was virtually re written by Andrew Duffield , Phil Kenihan and Billy Miller ( who was later to play in the Royal Dave Graney Show and the Lurid Yellow Mist). It also featured an unreleased cover version of the AC/DC song "showbusiness".Cover by Tony Mahony.
[edit] with The Dave Graney Show
- The Dave Graney Show (1998). Produced by Andrew Duffield and Phil Kenihan (with Billy Miller). Andrew Duffiled, formerly of the Models, was an old friend of Dave Graney's. The working relationship was extended when Duffield and Kenihan remixed "Feelin' Kinda Sporty" a year before. Bill Miller had contributed guitar and vocals to that song.
Singles released "Between times" (for radio only) and "your masters must be pleased with you". The latter had a video that was part of a twenty minute film shot and edited by Tony Mahony called "Smile and Wave". This album established the working m.o. that would see half an album recorded and played by Dave Graney and Clare Moore and then their band brought in to play the other half. This time the new band was young guitar slinger Stuart Perera and Adele Pickvance on bass who had previously worked with Robert Forster.
- Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (2000) . Produced by Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Adam Rhodes.
Singles released "out of the loop" (with Tony Mahony video) " Drugs are wasted on the young" and "have you heard about the melbourne mafia?". All with deluxe Tony Mahony illustrated covers. A "dark, blue, disco" album is how Dave Graney saw it. Released in the UK and Europe on Cooking Vinyl records. A tour of Europe was undertaken by Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Stuart Perera as opening act for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 2001.
- Heroic Blues (2002).Produced by Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Adam Rhodes.
The title track was recorded live at a soundcheck at the Tarwin Lower pub earlier in the year. Dave Graney improvised the vocal about a heroic performer playing to an empty room. Dave called it a "folk soul" album. Built up from acoustic guitars. It was intimate and bittersweet. They taunted radio with the brilliant r&b lyricism of "Don't mess with the blood", a song about family. There was no format for it.
- The Brother Who Lived (2003). Produced by Dave Graney and Clare Moore.
Single released "midnight to dawn" and "all our friends were stars". The latter song had a video shot and edited by Dave Graney. Tony Mahony made a video for "the brother who lived". Recorded after the first Moodists reunion this was a high energy album.( In a discofied/country latin kind of way) Recorded in a day with the band all blazing in the studio together. No overdubs. Four other tracks put together by Dave Graney and Clare Moore at their Melbourne studio. Mixed there as well. A truly inspired and vivid recording, the blood pumping viscerally through the tracks.
[edit] with Clare Moore
- Music From the Motion Picture Bad Eggs (2003)
- Hashish and Liquor (2005) Produced and engineered by Dave Graney and Clare Moore.
Clare Moore made a video for "the town bike song" with film maker Rob McCafferty. Dave Graney shot and edited a video for "my schtick weighs a ton". Brilliant Tony Mahony illustration on the cover. A double disc. Dave Graney providing "Hashish" and Clare Moore bringing "Liquor". "Hashish" was begun by Garney as he tracked songs at his studio. Finding himslf at a dead end he went into another , bigger studio with jazz fiend/pianist Mark Fitzgibbon and Clare Moore. With Dave on bass they improvised five pieces of music. Working with engineer Tim Stroud aka dj cleankut, Dave put some vocals down and then mixed the songs by himself at home. One being the outstanding 9 minute, "I've got dimensions". Dave had also recorded "my schtick weighs a ton" with Greg den Hartog, a young Melbourne studio demon who had once worked with Duffield and Kenihan. He told Graney he had a "piece of music that sounded like (him)" and Graney went in and improvised the vocal. "Liquor" featured Moore taking one track from the session with Fitzgibbon. A song based on a piece she had come to the studio with. This became "a taste of the abyss". The rest of the album she built up with an old cassette player,her bank of keyboards, her drums and vibes and the occasional bass and guitar playing by Graney. In short, Moore went all sci fi and Graney went Fin de siecle. Hashish and Liquor is one of the most ambitious and strangest and richest (musically and lyrically) albums ever recorded in Australia. An absolute triumph and a masterclass in songwrwiting and artistry.
- Keepin' It Unreal (2006). Produced and engineered by Dave Graney and Clare Moore.
A minimalist, lyrical album where Graney reflects on 15 songs from all over the shop with his 12 string acoustic , Clare Moore on vibes and Stuart Thomas, aka Stu D aka le comte d'alucard on bass. Featured , among many others, " a million dollars in a red velvet suit" from 1990 and "there was a time" from 1994 and "vengeance is on its way" from 2000. Also had a cover of Suicides "diamonds fur coat champagne" and also an English language version of the French hit by "M" called "Qui des nous deux?".
[edit] Awards and nominations
- "Tracks" surfing magazine voted Graney, "brother from another scene" in 1993. The earliest citing of Graney outside the inner city Australian rock scene and the award he is said to have enjoyed being bestowed with the most.
- ARIA award for Best Male Vocalist 1996. Nominated for same award 1997.
- Nominated for ARIA award - 'Best Sundtrack Album' (Bad Eggs) in 2004.
