Why was Australia’s legendary rock band Radio Birdman at equally legendary Sugar Hill Studios in Houston, Texas in 2007? For breakfast, a tour of the studio's and tape archive, and an interview for Houston’s KPFT radio. They were on the docket for the early part of the day’s activities.
Following that it was back on the road to Atlanta, Georgia with a stopover in Mobile, Alabama. The interview and a live recording done both at Houston’s Meridian Club, and Emo’s, Austin will eventually be broadcast on ‘The Radio Sessions at SugarHill’ show on KPFT Radio.
Well, they were here for two other underlying reasons. This is the studio where a lot of their musical influences have recorded, i.e. The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, the Bubble Puppy, the Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head and many others. The other reason is me, Andrew ‘Mort’ Bradley.
In late 1976 and 1977 I was Birdman’s touring sound engineer. In 1978 and 1979 I did the same for Chris Masuak and Warwick Gilbert’s spin-off group, The Hitmen and helped get that ensemble off the ground by being their first fan, tour manager, and cohort. I wrote articles about both bands for Rolling Stone, New Musical Express, BOMP, JUKE and RAM magazines. Radio Birdman is also the reason I am currently one of the owners of SugarHill Studios and a recording engineer. They are also featured in the book, ‘HOUSE OF HITS’ which will be published by University of Texas Press, co-authored by noted author Roger Wood and me.
Through the 1980’s Deniz Tek recorded with me here in Houston for “indie” releases. In 1990 Chris Masuak’s, ‘The Hitmen’ came to Houston to record what would be their last album, “Moronic Inferno” for Shock Records. I was partly responsible for getting Deniz Tek to come to Houston and make a guest appearance on that record. That sowed the seeds for Tek and Masuak to repair their broken relationship and eventually resulted in Radio Birdman reforming in 1996/7. In 1991 Tek also recorded his first solo album “Take It to the Vertical” on Red Eye/Polydor/PolyGram Records here at SugarHill. This album featured Masuak together with legendary Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, and sax great Grady Gaines. Masuak also recorded four cuts with Houston drummer/producer Robbie Parrish that appeared on Phantom Records in Australia. Masuak’s new band at the time was The Juke Savages, and the CD was simply titled, ‘Juke Savages’. Tek also appears.
Deniz came to Houston in September of 2002 to make a guest appearance to two cuts of the yet un-named Gold Star/SugarHill remake the hit double CD which will also commemorate the history of this building. With the rhythm section of Houston group, Clouseaux and Rob Landes (keyboardist of 60’s legend, ‘Fever Tree’) Deniz re-cut the classic “Wake Me Up Girl” from The Continental Five. The original was recorded here in 1967. He also joined up with Roy Head and a group of All-Stars to re-record the giant hit originally recorded here, “Treat Her Right” (Roy Head & the Traits-1965). Of the forty some new recordings for the double CD, these two cuts may become classics in themselves. I will be asking Radio Birdman’s permission to use their explosive version of the 13th Floor Elevators classic, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” as a bonus track on the compilation CD.
I was not able to join the band on their first tour of the USA in September of 2006. So I vowed to not miss their Summer 07 swing through the ‘deep south’ on their way up to New England, Canada, and the Midwest. The band had also agreed to let me record them ‘live’ for broadcast on KPFT. So I arranged with fellow recording engineer Fran Schmidt to record all three Texas shows; Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Fran has a terrific mobile recording rig and is a fellow ‘rocker’. Please realize that I had not seen the band play live since their final (first era) Australian show at Paddington Town Hall in 1977. Thirty years later and Deep in the Heart of Texas…
Fran and I left Houston on Sunday lunchtime June 24 and drove the 180 odd miles from my house to Austin. Birdman was playing ‘Emo’s’ with two opening bands, “Awesome Color’ and ‘The Queers’. The road crew arrived with the band’s gear at 5PM. They drove straight in from Ft. Stockton. The band arrived at 6PM. Fran, the Bird-crew, the Emo-crew, and I were all ready. Many hugs of hello-Mort, and on to the sound check. Hearing “Smith & Wesson Blues” and “Alone in the End Zone” again made me misty eyed (sorry all you testosterone people). These guys still had it; new drummer and bass player not with standing from my heyday with them. These guys could rock and it was a sound-check following a six-hour drive. Hey, Jim Dickson, the current bassist and I were in college together in 1972.
Both opening bands acknowledged to the crowd that Birdman were influences on them and that they (the crowd) were in for a treat. Deniz sat next to me at the recording position while ‘The Queers’ were playing. We yelled at each other while watching. I told Deniz that the crowd looked exactly like the one at Paddington Town Hall in 1977; spiky red-green-blue-purple hair, a few Mohawks, fishnet hose, miniskirts and vibrant enthusiasm. He placed a hand on my shoulder and said, “Mort” those kids are our grand-children!” I should have felt old instead I felt glad that my homeboys were still making music thirty years later. Most of the audience wasn’t alive when I last saw these guys play together.
Birdman went on stage at about 10:45 that night and blew through a 75-minute set that included a four-song encore. Emo’s rocked that night and memories of many shows and tours of Australia flooded through my mind. This band is as good as the old band in their heyday, but it was different. Their 21st Century sound is a bit more modern and possibly more sleek and defined. With Chris, Deniz and singer Rob Younger on the front line it was vintage Birdman all over again. The twin guitar attack of Tek and Masuak is still unparalleled. I’ve recorded individual players as good as these two, but together…
Dallas cancelled the Monday show, not enough pre-sales. Two-thirds of the Emo’s full house was walk-ups. I guess the Dallas folk were too busy watching their lousy baseball team lose another game. Tuesday Fran and I met up with SugarHill staff engineer Steve Christensen at the Meridian about 3PM. Steve is the main engineer for the guest bands that come to the studio to record for the radio show. I asked him and Fran to record the Houston show so I could bound around and be a fan that night. Crew arrived and 5PM and band at 6PM. Sound check was great and the Meridian rocked. Man it was loud. After the sound check Deniz, manager John Needham and I went to the ‘China Garden’ for dinner. The Meridian is close to the Toyota center, home of the Houston Rockets and the restaurant frequented by many basketball fans.
Opening act was the ‘Kimonos’. Singer/Keyboardist Gina Miller and her husband/bassist Major, make up half of the tight retro-pop punk outfit. Gina is also our studio manager/promotions person here at SugarHill. ‘Awesome Color’ was second on the bill and their set in Houston was stronger than Austin. Birdman totally blew the house down in Houston. The small but enthusiastic crowd knew every lyric to every song both old and new. The band responded and just exploded on the stage. They changed a couple of songs from the Austin show, which gave us more to choose from. The people who missed the show, I hope, will listen to the radio broadcast. They missed an event. My partner, Dan Workman and wife, Christi danced all the way through the show and had a blast.
10:30AM Wednesday, the 17th June the two vehicle touring party arrive at the studio. Tacos, tamales, hot sauce, OJ and coffee are ready. This is Rusty, Jim, and Rob’s first visit to the studio: same for John Needham and the three-man crew. Before breakfast I gave them a guided tour of the 66-year-old studio that ended in the tape vault. I showed them the original reel that contained “She’s About a Mover” Rusty took photos and Jim placed his hand reverently on it. We looked at reels by The Bubble Puppy, Roy Head and Bobby Bland. On to breakfast and then an interview for KPFT. Rob, Deniz, Chris, and Jim participated. I was the guest interviewer filling in for Rhonda Gardner. She sent me a list of questions and I added a few. The road crew left about Noon and headed for Mobile. The band left about 1PM wishing they could stay longer. We got some great photos at the studio and more are on the way from the live show.
To see my favorite band in the Universe again was cathartic. To record them live and then mix these songs for radio and possibly for some other future use goes beyond pure happiness. These walking legends passed through our doors on their way to another round of greatness. I hope New York, Canada, and Ann Arbor had as much fun as we did…
On July 18th in Melbourne, Australia Radio Birdman was inducted into the ‘ARIA HALL OF FAME. For thirty years this band has (arguably) been a major artistic influence in that country and all over the world. They have influenced many generations of kids. The band was inducted into the Hall of Fame by one of those kids, Silverchair's Daniel Johns. He was born in 1979, a year after Birdman’s first incarnation came to a sad end in Britain, but in a pre-recorded induction speech he acknowledges the band's influence.
"Regardless of musical style," Johns says, "any artist who thinks of themselves as 'underground' or 'independent' or 'alternative' is walking in the footsteps of Radio Birdman." Silverchair has even covered Birdman’s anthemic, “New Race” with Birdman guitarist, Deniz Tek making a guest appearance. Today the band is recognized internationally as one of punk’s most important progenitors
When the Birdman North American tour dates were announced, we debated where we might want to go see them. A return trip to SF seemed like it might be too expensive. Karen and I had already talked about a trip to Wyoming and Colorado as a possible summer holiday. Now it seemed obvious to combine the two events. The deal was sealed when Jim Dickson asked if he could ride back to Montana with us.
Most people were shocked when we told them we would be driving down to Denver. The idea of crossing Wyoming is not usually considered a "quality vacation". Actually there is a real beauty in wide open spaces. By the time our trip was about to begin, Deniz pointed out that they would be flying straight out to attend the ARIA ceremony so Jim's Montana trip was scratched. Deniz said he would have joined us for the ride too, had it worked out.
By now we had a real plan. After the gigs we would head west to visit an old friend of Karen's for a couple of days. At the end of the week, we had two nights booked at Colter Bay, in the Grand Tetons National Park. That left two days open for travel.
We managed to get a good start on Friday the 13th and got to Billings with time to stop for Chorizo and eggs at Mamacita's. The home made tortillas and the salsa are the real deal. Refreshed we were back out on the highway, headed South. I-90 takes you through the Crow Indian Reservation and right past Custer Battlefield. No stopping there today though, we have a lot of miles to cover, so it's pedal to the metal all the way. Several hours later, we are in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and making calls to meet up with a friend for dinner in Boulder. It's amazing that as you leave Cheyenne and cross into Colorado, the traffic instantly becomes a mad rush hour. They have been working on this stretch of highway for years, but it doesn't seem to have improved the traffic flow.
Boulder is a grown up hippie university town. The drum circles must get permits and schedule their one hour alloted time to play on the Pearl Street mall. We visit our friend Cass, but can't convince him to join us for the show. I think the Neil Young gig a few years ago tested his rock and roll patience. We have a meal, but as I still have to get us into Denver, I pass on the drinks.
We had hoped to book rooms at the Ramada on Colfax, near the Bluebird, but when we had called they said they were full up. We opt for another Ramada on the interstate. It turns out to be less than 5 star accommodations. The A/C is bust, but their is a bar. Our first thought the next morning is to find another hotel. Karen calls the Colfax Ramada to see if anything has opened up. Turns out Saturday is no problem. We pack our bags and head over so we can get on with our day. As we walk away from the desk, we hear the clerk on the phone asking "what's your last name? Needham?" It's no surprise the band will be staying here too, as it's the only hotel close to the show.
Our next stop is breakfast at Sam's Kitchen a few blocks up the road. We had been introduced to the Denver landmark when we were in town for the Treble Fest. There was a memorable gathering with a load of friends and musicians including Holly Golightly. Now we were ready for a trip to Twist and Shout, Denver's best record shop. They've recently moved to a bigger store, also on Colfax... Several hours later, and several hundred dollars lighter, we haul our goods out of there with a vague plan to look for a guitar shop. I finally decide it's getting too late and we circle back to the hotel. We find the lobby full of tired band members, and a frantic John Needham, who hands me his briefcase, and says "this is all my important stuff, don't lose it". Rob is not only tired, he come down with a bad cold.
Deniz tells us to meet them at the club and then join them for dinner. He says to hurry as it will probably be a short soundcheck. Most of the time is spent trying to sort out monitor gremlins that literally blow Rusty off his drum stool. He retreats to the side of the stage while Matty, the roadie, is put in harm's way. It takes a while to sort out, and eventually the band are satisfied that it'll be good enough for the show.
John asks me if it's ok that we are going to eat at a Mexican place across the street. It's his birthday, so I suppose he can choose what ever he wants. The place has some proper down home dishes on the menu. This should be good. Deniz, Karen and myself prove to be the more adventurous diners. The others order standard fare with an emphasis on mild! Den asks me what looks good and he decides I should share what ever I get with him! We are joined by Heywood Big Day, his wife Marilou and friends of theirs. Heywood is the head of the Big Day clan, and Deniz' adopted Indian parents. I'm surprised to learn they have come down to see the show. They are wonderful people and everyone is pleased to meet them.
As it turns out it's not the Last Of The Bad Men playing tonight, it's The Exploding Fuck Dolls. Either way, it's great to see Steve and Art Godoy. They play a good punky set while the crowd slowly filters in. Pearlene are an interesting band. There is a definite early 70's rock-soul thing happening. The mix isn't very good, which sort of spoils it for me, but they try hard to get the audience moving.
By the time Radio Birdman hits the stage, the club has filled up to near capacity. The sound is all drums and guitar when they launch into Smith And Wesson. It isn't until I-94 that the soundman gets a good balance. From there on out, it's a great mix. The Blue Bird is an old theater with a bar at the back and another upstairs in the balcony. It can't be all that big, maybe holding 500 bodies. The audience is a mixed group. Old punks, record nerds, young fans, and lots of women. They know the songs and sing along with everyone.The first of the new songs gets a big cheer from the crowd and a lot of people seem to know all the words. I finally get to hear Subterfuge played live. It's one of my favorites from the new album. Heyday is dropped from the set to make room for this one.
Decent Into The Maelstrom and Love Kills show up in the middle of the set. Deniz takes the solo on the latter. After the gig he says that is the first time he ever played it. In his enthusiasm he tells me it's "like when we record at your place and I just have a go and see what happens". Everyone I talked to about the tour has said they thought the band played better this year than last. I'd have to agree. They are full of confidence bolstered by the great reception they've had on this tour. It's a different sound with out the keyboards. Den and Chris don't really try to fill the gaps, they just are more up front in the mix. The Rickenbacker and Fender guitars compliment each other. I don't know if Deniz has retired the Epiphone from touring, but after the loss of a guitar in transit to a Bad Men gig, he may be more cautious. Not to worry, he was getting a great sound from the rig he used for this tour.
Right before the tour, Deniz had asked me for a copy of Circles (Instant Party) by the Who, as it was one Rob wanted to play. A much better choice than Wild Tiger Woman, the Move song that was on an earlier list of possible covers. The version played tonight takes the song off into a new direction. Pure Freakbeat. Rusty tells me he was actually trying to play it like the Fleur De Lys version. Either way, it works. We get full compliment of covers. Hot Rails to Hell surprises some. Til The End Of The Day is all that you could expect. Maybe not as sloppy as the Kinks, but played to full effect.
The intro to Die Like April is extended some. Seems like the new songs are settling in. They are just as powerful as the classic material. I can only hope that plans for another album move forward. The audience is by now going nuts. The woman next to us, who's been dancing and singing to every song finally shimmys out of her red panties and tosses them at Rob.I think he's too embarrassed to pick them up, or say thanks. The crowd demands and gets a generous encore. Deniz is rolling on the stage by the end of New Race. You can tell he wants see how far he can throw that new guitar, but holds on to it at the last second.
After the gig, we all pack into the dingy basement dressing room to try to consume the rider. Apparently Chris makes quick work on the Stoli. There is much cheerful chatter. Everyone tells me a about their record finds and wants to know what's up with Career Records, Roy Loney and Donovan's Brain. Den and Jim ask me to haul some of their stuff back to Montana. Jim's two pairs of cowboy boots have already been to Australia and back, as they were delivered to the wrong address. He asks if I'd rather take the boots or his records, and mail them to him from Montana. I tell him the boots won't fit me, so he could be assured to get them. I can't make the same promise about a box of records. Den tells me I can keep his Mesa Boogie amp in the studio until "he needs it".
The club crew do their best to clear out the band and friends, but it's an uphill battle. John offers Karen and I a lift the the deluxe band van. For a moment there is some discussion about leaving Chris behind. The vodka has had it's effect on him, and he ignores the call for him to get on the bus.
Back at the hotel, John, Jim and Den decide to stay up for a bit and celebrate. Karen had wisely directed us to stop at Argonaut Liquors in the afternoon, to gather supplies for a post gig party. Many drinks are hoisted to John and the success of the tour. Chris final arrive, and talks my ear of about something. Jim inspects the days haul from the record shop. He carefully examined each purchase, offering a comment, or asking why I might have bought this or that. It was probably around 4am when the room went quiet, and it was time for everyone to stagger off to bed. Plans were made to meet up in the morning.
Rusty was headed to California to meet up with You Am I. He'd get back on to the very same band van and cross the country one more time before heading home. Den had an earlier flight, so he said good bye to all. We were given the responsibility of getting Rob to the chemist for a cold cure. Luckily it was right across the street from Sam's Kitchen, where we planned to have breakfast. Jim and Rob were told to be back at the hotel by noon, where a car would be waiting to get them to the airport.
Everyone was in good shape despite the month on the road, and one last late night. Rob and Jim engage in some cheerful small talk as they work through the mountain of hash brows served up at Sam's. It's one of the few times I've had the chance to talk to Rob in a relaxed situation. I couldn't tell you what we talked about, but there were more than a few laughs.
With time to spare, we loaded the boys into the limo waiting for them back at the hotel. I decided a proper coffee was needed to prepare me for the drive to Gypsum, Colorado, our next stop. The only coffee shop we knew was the one in a bookstore in the same complex as Twist and Shout, so we reluctantly make one more quick spin through the shop. It was worth it just to pick up the Marvelettes compilation I had been looking for.
Shame about our vacation photos. You'll just have to use your imagination.
Alone in the Endzone: Rob awaits soundcheck in Texas.
Mort works the mobile studio desk.
Take Everything, Leave Nothing.
