  – The Good Ship |
Since releasing their debut album Avast! Wretched Sea mid 2010, Brisbane’s sea shanty folk rock monstrosity The Good Ship have seen a huge response including Triple J airplay, sold out shows around the country, spots at Woodford and Illawarra Folk Festivals, and a deal with Vitamin Records. |
Their rousing live shows and “nautical but nice” attitude, combining sweet, singalong tunes with highly inappropriate lyrical content, have cemented their place as one of the most entertaining and intriguing bands in the country.
Critics from streetpress to the blogosphere have been impressed by the band’s duality and unpredictability, and fans have simply lapped up the good times:
“Sometimes, something original comes along that stands out of the pack of the endless stream of music. The Good Ship stand out like a lighthouse in the dark.” – Death To Your Speakers
“a dark and amusingly frank take on the nature of living with our transgressions. Think hoedowns in the back-room of a cliff-side brothel, on a dark and stormy night… frontier storytellers; pirates afloat in mainstream jangle-folk, but with a weighty darkness that drags at you, much like the fabled pull of a sinking ship.” – Time Off
What better way to show off the bipolar nature of the band than by releasing a double single, two vastly different songs that represent the two extremes of The Good Ship.
Side A’s ‘Bury Me’, penned by Canada-based band member Brett Harris is a mournful and heartfelt, but ultimately joyous paean, a conversation between a man recently deceased and his living loved ones. As it gathers layers and charges forward, the dead man repeatedly celebrates his demise, almost excitedly anticipating what awaits him. The song’s roots are in Gospel and Delta Blues, with more ‘modern’ influences from the likes of Dylan and Guthrie (Arlo). Locomotive rhythm, banjo, fiddle and a Dixie trumpet all add to the warmth and nostalgia of the song.
Side B’s ‘I Can Make Her Laugh’ is the exact opposite, a filthy, debauched pop shanty about carnal matters that frankly no one should probably ever listen to. The song’s deceptively pretty tune and melody barely conceal the raunchy, sexual nature of the lyrics in which the protagonist reflects on his inability to please his voracious woman.
And to celebrate this double release the band have put together a video for each song, an animated clip for ‘Bury Me’ lovingly hand crafted by songwriter Brett Harris, and a hilarious and raunchy live action clip filmed by London-based film maker Nick Smith, featuring a cast of latex and leather clad bondage mistresses.
March and April sees the band head off for their most ambitious tour yet, taking in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, plus a swag of towns in between. As a special treat, Brett Harris is returning from Canada for this tour.
Catch The Good Ship at:
Saturday 19 March – Pacific Hotel, Yamba NSW
$5 at the door | 8pm
Sunday 20 March – Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay NSW
FREE | 7.30pm
Friday 25 March – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart TAS
With Craicpot and Chocolate Bedrock
TBA | 8pm
Saturday 26 March – The Hub, Launceston TAS
With Foreign Films and James Fitch
TBA | 8pm
Saturday 2 April – The Evelyn, Melbourne VIC
With The Beards and The Woohoo Revue
$12 | 8pm
Saturday 9 April – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi QLD
With The Beards and The Greenroom
$12 | 8pm
Sunday 10 April – Rics Bar, Brisbane QLD
With The Beards
FREE | 4pm
Sunday 17 April – Peregian Originals, Peregian Beach QLD
FREE | 1pm
Saturday 30 April – Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide SA
With The Beards
TBA | 8pm
Saturday 7 May – Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna QLD
FREE | 3pm
Saturday 7 May – The Joynt, South Brisbane QLD
TBA | 8pm
Friday 20 May – The Great Northern, Newcastle NSW
With Gay Paris and The Early Birds
FREE | 8pm
Friday 21 May – The Vanguard, Sydney NSW
With Gay Paris and Juke Baritone
TBA | 8pm
Friday 27 May – The Loft, Gold Coast QLD
With Gay Paris
TBA | 8pm
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