The Blackeyed Vendors Of Paradise

Steve from Melbourne a long time contributor to the SSS blog

and sharer of much fine music has sent this rare and wonderful

recording from a 3RRR live to air of a band that has a line up

like the who's who of Australian music!

Many thanks to Steve yet again.

Now over to Steve!

A combination of Rob, Phil, Kathy and Mark from

The Blackeyed Susans and Graham and Marko from

the Paradise Vendors.

Also along are Robert and David McComb from

the Triffids who at that time were on

(eventually permanent) hiatus.

Graham and Dave were not in the 1992 incarnation

of The Blackeyed Susans.

This was a 3RRR lunch time gig and there are sound balance

problems in the first couple of songs.

Also, not the best generation tape but the songs shine through.

The Blackeyed Vendors Of Paradise

3RRR Melbourne, March 1992

Mark Dawson (Drums)

Marko Halstead (Dobro/Vocals^)

Phil Kakulas (Bass)

Graham Lee (Guitar/Pedal Steel)

David McComb (Guitar/Vocals#)

Robert McComb (Guitar/Violin)

Rob Snarski (Guitar/Vocals*)

Kathy Wemyss (Trumpet/Vocals+)

01 You're My Flaw*

02 Ocean Of You*

03 Will's Blues*

04 Trick Of The Light#

05 In The Pines#

06 Anchor Me*

07 Before And After Love^

08 Morning Dew Intro

09 Morning Dew^

10 Sheets Of Rain*

11 Tell Me^

12 Who's That By The Window+

13 You're Draggng Me*

14 Raining Pleasure#

15 What Goes On#

Download Here

Mark C Halstead - Before And After Love

Mark Caulfield Halstead - more affectionately known quite simply as Marko - released this album through W Minc in 1994. No-one really payed too much attention to it at the time, and people still haven't really taken the time out to discover this (still in print) album.

Marko's career began in the mid to late 1970s Brisbane. And like many of his musical peers of that era, he found himself playing guitar in a host of punk bands centered around Roma Street's Curry Shop and away from pub venues. The unrecorded The Disposible Fits and the Fuji Angels are but two. An early artefact from his punk/new wave days comes from an unaired TV pilot centered around Brisbane music called Exposure. His band the Hostages were featured alongside JFK & the Cuban Crisis, The Repairs and Ninja Skil (featuring a very young Charlie Owen). This excerpt from the 1981 show is the only studio recording made by this band. The featured song is the Halstead composition Tremble; recorded at Basement Studios in Roma St by Colin Bloxsom.



By 1983, he joined Tex Deadly and the Dum Dums with fellow Fit Cyril Culley when the band moved to Sydney. Marko's tales of wagon wheels and other past curios are written in good detail in Clinton Walker's Stranded book. An example of his song-writing at the time is documented on the 1st Beasts of Bourbon album in the form of the closing track from The Axeman's Jazz, Ten Wheels for Jesus.

[Photo by David Macpherson of Tex Deadly and the Dum Dums l-r Tex Perkins, Greg Wadley, Des Johnson, Marko]

Marko also played in the Kingswoods and Kingswood Trio around this time who existed between 1983 and 1986 released a couple of singles, namely Purty Vacant, which appeared on a FABRICLIVE mix CD put together by DJ John Peel. The trio - Peter Kroll, John Downie and Halstead concurrently played in the Pineapples From The Dawn of Time.

By the early 1990s, Halstead moved to Melbourne where was an adjunct member of the McComb-led Blackeyed Susans and their trio offshoot on vocals and mandolin; and appeared on the bulk of their All Souls Alive album. He also played alongside Graham Lee in the Paradise Vendors, performed in the Disappointments, sang on Robert Forster's I Had a New York Girlfriend album, et cetera.

And of course, he's a part of the current Triffids touring troupe, offering what Rob Snarksi described at their recent Brisbane show as a 'man mountain' with his rendering of Bury Me Deep In Love.

I could go on forever with this biography, but I won't. The aim here was an attempt to bring this album to an audience who may not be aware of who he is, and why this album might actually be worth sinking your teeth into.

This album came out when alt-country was still wondering whether Townes or Earle was better than Guy Clark. Even his appearance on the Ernie & Denise show didn't seem to cement the fact that this man's baritone is a national treasure. And due to its lack of commercial esteem, Before And After Love remains as his only solo release after being a vital conduit for so many musicians and bands since Australian punk's first wave.

Try it out here, but I highly suggest buying this album seeing that's easily available.

Here's a video filmed at the Standard Hotel in Melbourne for Whiskers in the Sink; a song written about his old musical cohort, Cyril Culley.

The Triffids - Brisbane, Powerhouse 24/11/11

Its been 23 years since I saw the Triffids play one magic night

and that long since they played in Brisbane.

A lot has happened since then, the band split up in 1989

and some 10 years after lead singer and song writing genius

David McComb died a few days before he was to turn 37.

For the last 5 years Evil Graham Lee (above) has been at the helm

of keeping Davids legacy alive, along with releases of the Triffids

recordings there has been the reformation of the band and many

gigs around the world. Starting out as a tribute concerts called

'A Secret in the Shape of a Song' and end up as this, The Triffids

and friends. This was a particularly important performance

as it was the first time ever, anywhere that the band had played

their seminal first album ' Born Sandy Devotional'

And what a night it was, I was up front with Carmen and Chuck,

some of the best musicians in the world, Like Martyn Casey (above)

originally the Triffids bass player, now days in the Bad Seeds,

or former Bad Seed himself Mick Harvey (below)

Young Melbourn band Oh Mercy did a fine job opening with a few

early Triffids songs. Lead singer Alex Gow returning throughout

the night to perform on a few other songs.

Then former manager 'Handsome' Steve Miller took the stage

as master of ceremonies.

The Blackeyed Susans took to the stage with the added treat

of Mark Dawson on percussion, it was one of my favourite

moments of the monumental 3 hour show.

Especially 'Ocean of You' which was incredible.

Rob Snarski who shared lead singing in the Susans with David

has an incredible voice and he retuned throughout the evening

also to sing different songs.

And of course Mick Harvey was brilliant,

you should heard Kelly's Blues.

Also Simon Breed English singer guitarist was brilliant

'Lonely Stretch' being a stand out.

And I was very excited when Jill Birt took up the mike to sing

her classic Triffids tunes like Goodbye Little Boy and Raining Pleasure.

And I must mention Graham Lees wonderful vocal work too

especially on one of my fav tracks Jerdacuttup Man .

Born Sandy was a joy to listen to, truly one of the greatest

Australian albums ever recorded.

The highlight of the night was Bury Me Deep In Love

sung by Mark Caulfield Halstead one time Brisbane boy

who was in the Kingswood Trio and The Pineapples from

the Dawn of Time. He has a solo album I

think I must get. He has the most incredible voice and

when Rob Snarski followed him he said, "Thanks Marko

you man mountain I'm gonna sound like a smurf after that!"

It was a concert that was one of those you walk out of bewildered

by how exceptional it was.

There's more dates to follow throughout Australia so if you have

even a passing interest in the songs of David McComb,

don't miss it!