In his mid 60s Russell Morris is having the biggest year of his career. His album ‘Sharkmouth’ has been certified Gold and about to pass Platinum and his concerts are sell-outs.
‘Sharkmouth’ has been the quiet achiever of the year. It has consistently lived in the Top 20 of the ARIA chart this year outselling and outlasting more high-profile acts such as Paramore that debuted at no. 1. With little fuss, ‘Sharkmouth’ is on track to be one of the biggest selling albums of 2013.
Russell Morris has also been one of the most consistent performing artists of 2013, taking the ‘Sharkmouth’ show to the cities and regional areas of Australia.
The first half of the show is ‘Sharkmouth’, the second half greatest hits (and he has had plenty) and the encore a few well-known covers.
‘Sharkmouth’ is the musical story of Australia’s famous and infamous characters from the early to mid 1900s. With the success of ‘Sharkmouth’, Morris is definitely planning a sequel and possible a trilogy. The audience was treated to ‘Bendigo Blues’, a potential for the next album early in the set.
For ‘Sharkmouth’ he decided to make a blues record acknowledging that most of the storytelling of Australia’s history has been handed down by country artists. This makes ‘Sharkmouth’ unique.
When you see the live show you will learn about characters like Squizzy Taylor, Les Darcy and notorious Sharkjaws who is the character Sharkmouth for the album.
Part two of the show runs through the classic hits of Russell Morris. In the late 60s and early 70s Russell was one of Australia’s most enduring music stars. When he plays the hits back to back you immediately recall just how many Russell songs you know.
His signature tune ‘The Real Thing’ kicks off the classic rock set. The 1969 epic produced by Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum was a number one hit in Australia. Years later it would be covered by Midnight Oil and Kylie Minogue.
The follow-up ‘Part 3 Into Paper Walls’ was also a no. 1. ‘Wings Of An Eagle’, ‘Mr America’, ‘Sweet Sweet Love’ were all top 10 hits and ‘Rachel’ and ‘Hush’ also captured national airplay back in the day.
Russell gave a nod to The Beatles with ‘Please Please Me’ in the encore before finishing off with the blues standard ‘Before You Accuse Me’.
The setlist from Flying Saucer Club, Melbourne was:
Black Dog Blues (from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Bendigo Blues
(unreleased)
Big House (from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Sharkmouth
(from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Walk My Blues
(from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Bout To Break
(from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Les Darcy
(from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Squizzy (from Sharkmouth, 2012)
Money Don’t Grow
(from Sharkmouth, 2012)
The Real Thing
(single, 1969, peak no. 1)
Part 3 into Paper Walls
(single, 1969, peak no 1)
Wings Of An Eagle
(single, 1972, peak no 9)
Rachel
(single 1970, peak no. 25)
It’s All Over Now Baby Blue (single 1967)
Mr America (single 1970, peak no. 8)
Hush
(single 1967)
Sweet Sweet Love
(single 1971, peak no 9)
Please Please Me (Beatles cover)
Before You Accuse Me (Bo Diddley cover)
Upcoming live dates:
August 17, Montmorency, Football Club
August 20, Melbourne, The Corner Hotel
August 23 and 24, Stoneyfell Winery South Ausralia
August 25, Gympie, Gympie Muster
Sep 12, Toronto Workers Club, Toronto, Australia
Sep 13, Hexham Bowling Club, Hexham, Australia
Sep 14, Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay Nsw, Australia
Sep 15, Wests New Lambton, New Lambton, Australia
Sep 21, Spiegeltent – Brisbane Festival, Brisbane, Australia
Sep 22, Spiegeltent – Brisbane Festival, Brisbane, Australia
Oct 04, Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin Nsw, Australia
Oct 05, Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra, Australia
Oct 06, Great Southern Blues Festival, Narooma, Australia
Oct 11, SS & A CLUB, Albury Nsw, Australia
Oct 12, Lake Wendouree Foreshore, Ballarat, Australia
Oct 13, Lake Weeroona Festival, Bendigo, Australia
Oct 18, Angelsea Music Festival, Anglesea, Australia
Oct 19, Akoostik Music Festival, Wingham, Australia
Nov 03, Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Wangaratta, Australia
Nov 08, Blues at Bridgetown, Bridgetown, Australia
Nov 09, Blues at Bridgetown, Bridgetown, Australia
Nov 10, Blues at Bridgetown, Bridgetown, Australia
Watch the Noise11 interview with Russell Morris here:
