In a flurry of love and infatuation, I purchased three CDs by the Australian band, The Waifs. Is it possible for the American blues to make it to down under? Apparently, yes. While The Waifs have been categorized as Folk, make no mistake that these guys (& girls) are as much country blues as folk. The use of mandolin, acoustic guitar and banjo clinches the old time blues in their original and fresh music.
The first CD I purchased is Sink or Swim and was put out on their own independent record label, Jarrah Records, in 2000. Right from the get go this CD rocks and rolls with The Waitress, a beat poetry ditty from the POV of a busker in Australia. I can only assume that these songwriters write about what they know, making music and traveling, all a part of their lives as professional musicians. Lies is a happy tune that preaches the virtues of cynicism and of questioning the media.
The Waifs is Josh Cunningham, one of the principle songwriters, a sometimes singer, who also plays guitar and mandolin. Donna and Vikki Simpson are sisters, and provide songwriting and the primary voices of The Waifs. The voices of the Simpson Sisters provide as much soul as any Motown sister from Australia. (Vikki is now Vikki Thorn.)
The second Waifs CD I purchased is Shelter Me released in 2004 on Jarrah Records. I love the second song, People Who Think They Can about people who have that amazing sense of confidence and entitlement, people who think they can make it in life and tread on other people. Shelter Me is a beautiful song about surrender and loss, the rhymed couplet to end the song is a Waifs hallmark. “Take me now, a shelter be, before there’s nothing left of me.” The sweet and touching melodies of The Waifs as on Lest We Forget are enough to inspire the listener to tears. You could call it schmaltz, but the production is so spare and sensitive that the effect is breath taking.
The third CD I purchased is entitled The Waifs…A Brief History and was put out on Jarrah Records in 2005. This double album is a terrific collection of Waifs songs and includes some songs from the previous two albums discussed including Lies, Haircut and Shelter Me. My only criticism of this album is that you must be a total Waifs geek (like myself) before buying this album so that you, too, can sing along with the crown during the immensely popular London Still. Remember Beatlemania? Clearly, Australians have Waifsmania.
Bob Dylan is a big Waifs fan, so much so that he invited them to open for him on his Australian tour in 2003 and then asked them to come with him to America on his tour there, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival. The John Butler Trio co-owns Jarrah records along with The Waifs. What a great way for two talented bands to pool their resources.
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of The Waifs is their healthy Australian accent that is sassy and real. If you’ve never heard of The Waifs, you will soon. If you can only purchase one CD I recommend Sink or Swim.
The first CD I purchased is Sink or Swim and was put out on their own independent record label, Jarrah Records, in 2000. Right from the get go this CD rocks and rolls with The Waitress, a beat poetry ditty from the POV of a busker in Australia. I can only assume that these songwriters write about what they know, making music and traveling, all a part of their lives as professional musicians. Lies is a happy tune that preaches the virtues of cynicism and of questioning the media.
The Waifs is Josh Cunningham, one of the principle songwriters, a sometimes singer, who also plays guitar and mandolin. Donna and Vikki Simpson are sisters, and provide songwriting and the primary voices of The Waifs. The voices of the Simpson Sisters provide as much soul as any Motown sister from Australia. (Vikki is now Vikki Thorn.)
The second Waifs CD I purchased is Shelter Me released in 2004 on Jarrah Records. I love the second song, People Who Think They Can about people who have that amazing sense of confidence and entitlement, people who think they can make it in life and tread on other people. Shelter Me is a beautiful song about surrender and loss, the rhymed couplet to end the song is a Waifs hallmark. “Take me now, a shelter be, before there’s nothing left of me.” The sweet and touching melodies of The Waifs as on Lest We Forget are enough to inspire the listener to tears. You could call it schmaltz, but the production is so spare and sensitive that the effect is breath taking.
The third CD I purchased is entitled The Waifs…A Brief History and was put out on Jarrah Records in 2005. This double album is a terrific collection of Waifs songs and includes some songs from the previous two albums discussed including Lies, Haircut and Shelter Me. My only criticism of this album is that you must be a total Waifs geek (like myself) before buying this album so that you, too, can sing along with the crown during the immensely popular London Still. Remember Beatlemania? Clearly, Australians have Waifsmania.
Bob Dylan is a big Waifs fan, so much so that he invited them to open for him on his Australian tour in 2003 and then asked them to come with him to America on his tour there, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival. The John Butler Trio co-owns Jarrah records along with The Waifs. What a great way for two talented bands to pool their resources.
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of The Waifs is their healthy Australian accent that is sassy and real. If you’ve never heard of The Waifs, you will soon. If you can only purchase one CD I recommend Sink or Swim.
