[from Jackey Coyle in Rhythms, June, 2001]
A Huge Night for Final Gig
Friday May 11 marked the end of the nine year residency for hot roots band The Moonee Valley Drifters at The Old Homestead Inn, in Melbourne's Clifton Hill. It was a night of the band's country-infused cajun, zydeco and city twang that lifted the roof and shook the floorboards.
Over nine years, it was easy to take it for granted that the Drifters would always be there. On any old Saturday night (or Friday, more recently) you could go to a homey room (not too big), drink a draught Guinness and feel right at home with locals who'd make you welcome with a dance or a chat.
The band laid down a beat drawing dancers from all over Melbourne who swung, jived and two-stepped on a pocket handkerchief-sized dance floor - looking so goddamn happy that they inspired countless other couples to learn to dance. (Little did they know that many of them, like me, risked divorce by that seemingly harmless pastime. Sort of like letting your spouse teach you to drive.)
There would always be Roy, now 67, his long hair going totally grey over the years, with a ginormous beer that he usually managed to dance with successfully. The booths added to the rootsy country feel, with couples settled in briefly before they swung out onto the floor. Leader Tom Forsell was always sharp in his white cowboy hat, western shirt and boots. He'd send a song out if he knew you liked someone specially Lefty or Hank, Ray (Price) or Bob (Wills), Doug (Sahm or Kershaw) - and call the breaks for sizzling solos.
It was also easy to take the musicianship of the band for granted. For instance, Forsell's rhythm guitar and accordion skills are enhanced by his song writing and singing. He left his native Michigan in 1974 and, after serving his apprenticeship here in bands like Rhythm Rustlers and Barefoot Nelly, formed The Moonee Valley Drifters with Warren Rough in 1985. Notable members in the early years were the late Peter Linden (steel guitar) and Paul Pyle (bass).
With The Honky Tonk Blues Show (started in 1984 on radio 3CR) and via the band, Forsell gave us an American roots musical tradition that was exotic and engrossing. At the same time Rick Milne was blasting the airwaves, also on 3CR, and the Dancehall Racketeers were spreading the news. Steel guitar was always an area of excellence in the Drifters; The Racks' Rick Dempster, also on harmonica and vocals, followed Linden.
Ed Bates, currently sliding the bar, was in top form on that Friday. The room was packed and dancers were like runners on starting blocks, barely waiting for the first chord to sound before they sprang into action. There was a mini-set with former members Brendan Shearson taking over axe duties from Nick Grant and Paul Pyle commandeering the bass from Kip Dale.
Songs like Kershaw's "Louisiana Man" followed hot on the heels of "Huggin' Thin Air" from beloved Texan Sahm, and Lefty Frizzell's "If You've got the Time, I've Got the Money". Grant stepped up to the mic for Buck Owens' "Close Up the Honky Tonk" and drummer John "Dude" Brockton for "Down Yonder". Of the originals, a standout for Forsell was his "You're Crying". It was a night that seemed to fly by. Finally it came to an explosive end with the old Pee Wee King hit "Catty Town". Then Roy brought us gently back to earth with two numbers on the harmonica.
The crowd straggled out with hugged goodbyes, the band packed up. Forsell took his Bob Wills tape out of the deck. Bates was still chatting. "Hey Ed, it's your turn to do the table!" yelled someone. He moved the trestle seats and the long table out from the wall and all of a sudden it was an ordinary bar with a TV on and too bright lights. The cold of the early morning drifted in.
A new CD [1] is currently being mastered for August release, sort of a "From The Beginning" with tracks going right back to the Rough days and many Drifters staples, like "Sugar Bee", not released before.
Forsell leaves with his family for a month in the States mid-June. Catch the final gig at the Cricketers Arms, Punt Road Richmond, on Friday June 8, a full circle as they played a two year residency there in the early '90s. Stay tuned for new residency details.
Jackey Coyle