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’Whats He Building In There’ is a tribute night to for Tom Waits.
It takes place annually at the Chemic Tavern in Woodhouse (leeds)
This year some of the artists taking part recorded a tribute E.P. which is now available to purchase through this site. Just send us a message if you would like a copy. All profits will go to the OXJAM music festival which supports OXFAM.
Tracklisting:
1. Art Fuck & Death Shit - Earth Died Screaming
2. Oli Deakin - Alice
3. Max Broady - Jesus Gonna Be Here
4. The Prolific Bakers - I Wish I Was In New Orleans
5. The Prolific Bakers - Long Way Home
6. Oli Deakin - Lie To Me
7. The Prolific Bakers - Heartattack & Vine
8. The Prolific Bakers - Cold Cold Ground
Jo Wolfarth wrote this ace review of the CD:
"The Tom Waits Tribute Night has become an annual affair, employing the rum-fuelled rantings of a madman to scare money out of gig-goers in aid of Oxjam. This year, said madman arranged for a group of Leeds musicians with interesting facial hair to record an EP of Tom Waits covers in a matter of days in order to raise some extra cash.
Art Fuck Death Shit kick off the EP with a bass heavy Jesus and Mary Chain style cover of Earth Died Screaming, suggesting that this CD isn’t going to consist of straight-forward cover versions.
Samsa front man Oli Deakin performs a haunting rendition of Alice on a creaking old piano, probably recorded in a drafty lakeside shack; amazingly he manages to make this beautiful song his own.
On Jesus Gonna be Here Max Broady has perfected the Tom Waits guitar sound.
The Prolific Bakers consists of various residents of 19 Walmsley Road but on track 4, with David Broad on lead vocals, they sound more like a rag taggle bunch trying to hitch a ride to Louisiana with nothing but a trumpet, guitar, wash tub bass and whisky to their name. Which is probably the only belongings they have in their house anyway.
Oli Deakin manages to nail the distinctive pots n pans percussion sound on Lie to Me, with vocals that sound like Bryan Ferry and Elvis’ demonic lovechild. It just gets better with the bizarre snake-charmer solo.
Living up to their name, the Prolific Bakers finish off the 8 track EP with Ian Williams making a bold, brave and fairly accurate attempt at Wait’s vocal style. I’m sure this success has nothing to do with the vast amounts of rum imbibed during the recording and everything to do with the plastic bottle megaphone he is doubtlessly using.
On the final track Max Broady takes over vocal duty, making Cold Cold Ground sound indie pop with cute keyboards and cuter vocals.
Covers albums can so often transpire to be bland impersonations, but these are the kind of quality covers that would make Jo Whiley blow her brains across her live lounge. None of the tracks are obvious choices and each artist has made the song their own. "
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