The two albums that had the biggest impact on The Undesirables were Exile On Main Street by The Stones and The Basement Tapes by The Band. Others that shaped what we do: Leon Russell, Dr. John, J.J. Cale, Tom Waits, Little Feat. The books of Ray Bradbury and Keith Maillard (read either of these writers and if you know The Undesirables' work the influence will jump off the pages and tickle you under the chin), the poems of Robert Frost and Edna St. Vincent Millay, or James Fenton. The lyrics of Johnny Mercer, Dave Frishberg, Frank Loesser, Lorenz Hart. The Coen Brothers, big time. Maria Muldaur. Bob Snider. Jesse Winchester, and a lot more Memphis on top of that: virtually anything STAX ever put out-- Otis Redding, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Sam and Dave, William Bell, the whole crew-- and from the other side of town, Al Green and Ann Peebles, Willie Mitchell. The Soul Stirrers. The Swan Silvertone Singers. The Five Blind Boys of Alabama. Dorothy Love Coates and The Harmonettes. Brother Joe May, and more. Not to mention those who crossed over. Sam Cooke. Ray Charles. Sam Cooke. Tina Turner. Sam Cooke. James Brown. Sam Cooke. Willie John. Sam Cooke. Garnett Mimms. The Impressions. And what about the blues? Howlin' Wolf, above all. The Wolf should have been up there with The Stones and The Band. Muddy Waters is next, and Slim Harpo and John Lee Hooker right behind. Doug Norquay and Bob Snider, of the people we know in the flesh, had the greatest influence on what we do.
DOGHOUSE DREAMS REVIEWED!! B Borzykowski NOW Magazine| JUNE 21 - 27, 2007 | VOL. 26 NO. 42 Reviewed this week: THE UNDESIRABLES Doghouse Dreams (independent) Rating: NNNN There are intimate records, and then there's Doghouse Dreams by Georgetown, Ontario, duo the Undesirables. Sean Cotton and Corin Raymond have since moved to Toronto, but this stripped-down disc sounds like it was recorded right on their rural Canadian porch. Combining blues, ragtime and country with touching lyrics about their hometown, this disc is a great summer cottage listen – especially the boozy opener This Town. While the gritty, Kid Rock-like choruses and infectious harmonies are worth a listen alone, it's the warm production – it sounds like they're playing right in front of you – and simple arrangements that make this a memorable listen. The Undesirables play Hugh's Room October 9.
"Corin Raymond sings, Sean Cotton plays guitar and sings. Corin's a master storyteller, the bizarre lovechild of Ray Bradbury, Sam Cooke, Rod Serling, Cormac McCarthy and Spiderman. Sean Cotton's fingers do cartwheels, round-offs, spinning kicks and pirouettes with the strings, and he sings harmony as if his fingerwork were no distraction to him at all. The two of them come together and never fail to do anything less than absolutely astound and transport their audiences." --TJ Dawe, Vancouver Actor, Playwright, and one of the best performing writers we know.
“Two grown men, one guitar, and a natural disaster. These guys rock harder than rock bands. Being in the same room with them is like standing in the engine room of an ocean freighter pulling 20 knots”. --Jonathan Byrd
Great new album! Very enjoyable listening! Placed my review at http://www.johnnysgarden.nl and http://www.altcountryforum.nl Wouldn't mind have you both over to our country next year, or so.
Hey guys - I just came across a band I think you would sound great with on tour - check them out www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers. They've been selling bucketloads on emusic recently.
Corin and Sean....LOVE,LOVE,LOVE the new tune Have a great tour on The Travelling Show, cannot wait for the CD,sounds like its going to ROCK.......LOVE YAH !!
Loving the new song, gents. Looks like we'll just miss each other along our Southern Alberta rambles... Have fun with those Weber Brothers, they are freakin amazing. Happy trails to ya, see you somewheres,
the new tune made my mouth hang open. i think you guys just (r)amped it up several notches. bueno. hopefully everyone else will get the uplifting kick in the pants i got. you know i'm gonna score a copy (or three).
and may Mario P's life continue to be entirely free of debt as it has been to this point...
You two are magic together really - why anyone wouldn't invest in your new project is beyond me. In a world full of plastic hearts and plastic dreams once in a while a true flower pops up. Seems to me we should all help water that flower so it doesn't die and is replaced with another plastic one. Stay well both, Mario
Catchy song guys. Always impressed with your guitar work Sean as I am impressed with the hard slog you two put into promoting yourself. "You're Gonna Find Out" how to be successful in the music business even if it kills you in the process. Good luck raising the rest of your CD funds - you inspire me.
Oh, I'll definitely be coming to see you in Australia next year! If you're in Fremantle area next year, give me a buzz. I wouldn't mind some free singing and/or guitar lessons, Ehh, Ehhh?! Aha. Have a good one.
PS. I'll be donating some money towards that new cd of yours. I wish I could give you guys 10 grand, but I don't exactly have a job, so I'll only be able to donate about $15-30. Hopefully I win the lottery!
PPS. Watched the youtube vids of the tour, great job!
I saw the sublime David Ross MacDonald play at the Wheaty here in Adelaide on Sunday, which was wonderful, naturally, but left me feeling a little undesirably sick. Australia adores you, lads. xx
*laughs* One can never have too many friends show up at a gig! Unless you're the Stones and you've hired bikers... then I can see it being a wee problem. Thanks so much for the add, Corin!
I can hear the slinkies...I thought they were shakers but they've got a metallic ring to them on second (or 10th!) listen. I wanted to add yesterday that I love the fact that I can hear the birds in the background on 'good news' - who needs a studio? I'll have a listen to the new one in a sec...I need to reboot - everythings's crashing around me.
I seem to be getting obssessed with your songs...I just love what I'm hearing. Since I bought the CD at pinakarri the other night I noticed that there was a bass and snare on 'bus stop walk'. I noted that the only drum I saw on stage was a single snare. Then I thought and realised that the reason you only need a snare is because the bass is taking the role of the kick, and it's not being overplayed either, so it sits in that groove nicely. I was also thinking what great lyrics they are - really musical, but at the same time really telling the story, painting pictures and so on. It's so rare to hear writing like that in songs. It's like I'm reading a page in a novel. I love to hear your first musical. You must be just about done in WA. It was a pleasure to meet you, and have a safe trip home.
Have a great trip home boys. Was a pleasure to hang out again and take in your shows. Be hearing from you soon about next years tour de force...and bring that Byrd with ya. The Law and The Lonesome is almost burnt through...may the river run dry if I lie to you.
