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When the Bondi Cigars were first gigging around Sydney, late 1989, they moved in a blues/R&B circuit which, while robust enough since the 60s, had then been sparked into new life by the ‘blues revival’ of the mid-80’s, spearheaded by Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughan and similar crusaders. And while many of the Sydney bands from that era have vanished, become historical footnotes or undergone major changes, the Cigars – true survivors – have battled on, without ever compromising their distinctive no nonsense style, to become a leading force in Australian R&B.

That original Cigars line-up brought together four like-minded experienced players, all veterans of Sydney play pokies online inner-west blues venues, and from the word go, as the 1990 tracks demonstrate, the Cigars have been the very model of the ‘no passengers’ band, a well-oiled machine plus soul: no room for slackers here. Always one of the country’s hardest working outfits (on the road more than off), the Cigars have kept their music tight, hard-driving and down – to – earth: the Australian bar band par excellence.

Apart from the timeless, unpretentious nature of the music, an obvious reason for the longevity of the Cigars must be the ongoing musical team work of 2 foundation members, Shane Pacey and Al Britton, who continue to co-lead the band. This also explains the consistency of the band’s sound, instantly recognisable for 17 years now, despite personnel changes and occasional stylistic variations.

Front man Shane Pacey has long been a forceful, convincing singer, and a hard-attacking, razor sharp guitarist in the modern blowtorch style of Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, Larry McCray and other crazy stringbenders; he’s also an outstanding prolific songwriter, and there’s ample evidence in these tracks of his sardonic, savvy and slightly warped way with lyrics.

Bass player Al Hollywood Britton is another blues trooper, having survived the Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders, and puts real backbone into the rhythm section – rock solid, responsive and funky; what’s more, he’s a dab hand in the organisational department, playing great lead telephone, according to the credits of Mercy (1998).

These dual father – figures have kept the music tough and vigorous by usually recruiting new members from Sydney’s inner-west breeding grounds of exciting young R&B/roots bands.

The first 2 Cigars albums had featured the original line-up, but after the departure interstate of Les Karski and Ace Follington, the next CD ‘Got The News’ (appearing under the name Shane Pacey and the Cigars) included hot young Adelaideians Clayton Doley on keyboards and Matt Morrison on drums, both also paid surveys associated with play po Robert Suez of Mighty Reapers fame. ‘Got The News’, expertly produced by Sydney funky/soul boss Jackie Orszaczky, and the Cigars sound was further spiced up by the precision horns of Paul Panicci and Andrew Robson.

By 1995, with the release of ‘After Closing Time’, 2 fine new Cigars had been press-ganged from the youthful but punchy Balmain R&B band The Beefs: Mitch Grainger (guitar/harmonica) and Declan Kelly (drums), who have both since moved on, but remain active in Sydney’s roots/funk scene.

The following album ‘Mercy’ saw the introduction of drummer Andrew Vainouskas, plus on guitar and vocals Eben Hale, ‘the second-best left handed guitarist in the band’ according to Shane; Eben has remained a paid – up member to this day. Since then, the only changes have been on the drum stool: Frank Corby and Joel Sutton.

2004 saw the band release their eagerly anticipated 7th album, 12 Lies, an album hailed as their best yet. Along with the mix of rhythmic, rootsy grooves and flavours of blues, soul, funk and R&B that fans have come to expect, this album saw the band branch out even more, with some tracks having an “alt country” feel, and others more pop rock than blues and roots based. The response from fans and critics alike was fantastic, with the band winning Best Group, Best Album and Best Producer at the 2004 Australian Blues Awards.

The Cigars have consistently delivered the goods; with Down In The Valley nominated in the 2003 ARIA awards for Best Blues & Roots Album, 1995’s After Closing Time awarded Best Blues Album at the 1996 Lithgow Blues Festival, and two of their songs, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care, chosen to feature on the popular ABC Seachange album.

As with all great bands, the sum of the whole exceeds the sum of the parts and the Bondi Cigars are no exception:

Shane Pacey (vocals and guitar)
The principal songwriter and vocalist, came to the Bondi Cigars after playing with bands such as Sydney’s Earls Of Duke. His song writing and dynamic vocals, teamed with the fluid rhythms of Alan, have largely defined the sound and direction of the Bondi Cigars.

Alan Britton (bass and vocals)
Alan brings to the band his many years experience playing with some this country’s foremost roots outfits, including the Mangrove Boogie Kings, the legendary Dynamic Hypnotics and the Foreday Riders. His instinctive feel for a groove and ability to find the rhythm and lay the bass for those great Bondi Cigars tunes.

Eben Hale (guitar and vocals)
Eben was a driving force behind the successful Blue Mountain Blues Club, playing in the house band at the Club’s meetings as well as taking a behind the scenes role, booking acts and ensuring their events ran smoothly. Eben’s burgeoning song writing talents and effusive guitar lines add an extra dimension to the already vibrant sound of the Bondi Cigars.

Frank Corby (drums)
From Boston, Massachusetts, USA, now a resident in Australia who cut his teeth in various Drum Corp, Swing and funk bands before playing in various original rock, R&B and funk bands touring all over the USA. Since arriving in Australia he has lent his awesome skills to acts such as Gangajang, Floyd Vincent and the Childbrides, Guy LeClaire and Latin big band Babalu. He was resident drummer with the Blue Mountains blues jam band where he played regularly with soon-to-be Cigar, Eben Hale.

At this point we have ourselves some income protection, we got it at a pretty good rate as well because we got quotes from rate detective. These guys compare amongst most the major insurers, just thought it was worth the mention.

32 Premium Quality Cuts 1990 – 2006 (2007)

When the Bondi Cigars were first gigging around Sydney, late 1989, they moved in a blues/R&B circuit which, while robust enough since the 60s, had then been sparked into new life by the ‘blues revival’ of the mid-80’s, spearheaded by Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughan and similar crusaders. And while many of the Sydney bands from that era have vanished, become historical footnotes or undergone major changes, the Cigars – true survivors – have battled on, without ever compromising their distinctive no nonsense style, to become a leading force in Australian R&B.

At this point w

That original Bondi Cigars line-up (Disc One, tracks 2 – 12) brought together four like-minded experienced players, all veterans of Sydney inner-west blues venues, and from the word go, as the 1990 tracks demonstrate, the Cigars have been the very model of the ‘no passengers’ band, a well-oiled machine plus soul: no room for slackers here. Always one of the country’s hardest working outfits (on the road more than off), the Cigars have kept their music tight, hard-driving and down –to-earth: the Australian bar band par excellence.

Apart from the timeless, unpretentious nature of the music, an obvious reason for the longevity of the Cigars must be the ongoing musical team work of 2 foundation members, Shane Pacey and Al Britton, who continue to co-lead the band. This also explains the consistency of the band’s sound, instantly recognisable for 17 years now, despite personnel changes and occasional stylistic variations.

Front man Shane Pacey has long been a forceful, convincing singer, and a hard-attacking, razor sharp guitarist in the modern blowtorch style of Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, Larry McCray and other crazy stringbenders; he’s also an outstanding prolific songwriter, and there’s ample evidence in these tracks of his sardonic, savvy and slightly warped way with lyrics.

Bass player Al Hollywood Britton is another blues trooper, having survived the Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders, and puts real backbone into the rhythm section – rock solid, responsive and funky; what’s more, he’s a dab hand in the organisational department, playing great lead telephone, according to the credits of the 1998 album, Mercy.

These dual father-figures have kept the music tough and vigorous by usually recruiting new members from Sydney’s inner-west breeding grounds of exciting young R&B/roots bands. The first 2 Cigars albums had featured the original line-up, but after the departure interstate of Les Karski and Ace Follington, the next CD ‘Got The News’ (appearing under the name Shane Pacey and the Cigars) included hot young Adelaideians Clayton Doley on keyboards and Matt Morrison on drums, both also associated with Robert Suez of Mighty Reapers fame. ‘Got The News’, expertly produced by Sydney funky/soul boss Jackie Orszaczky, and the Cigars sound was further spiced up by the precision horns of Paul Panicci and Andrew Robson.

By 1995, with the release of ‘After Closing Time’, 2 fine new Cigars had been press-ganged from the youthful but punchy Balmain R&B band The Beefs: Mitch Grainger (guitar/harmonica) and Declan Kelly (drums), who have both since moved on, but remain active in Sydney’s roots/funk scene.

The following album ‘Mercy’ saw the introduction of drummer Andrew Vainouskas, plus on guitar and vocals Eben Hale, ‘the second-best left handed guitarist in the band’ according to Shane; Eben has remained a paid-up member to this day.

Since then, the only changes have been on the drum stool: Frank Corby, heard on CD Two, tracks 10 – 14, and Joel Sutton, present on the latest tracks ‘Right Or Wrong’ and ‘Twilight Walking’.

This very welcome Bondi Cigars retrospective offers a good opportunity to follow a great Australian R&B band through 17 years of hard-hitting music that is readily identifiable, and continues to evolve. For the few not familiar with the muscular sound of the Cigars, this is the perfect introduction, while for veteran followers it provides a comprehensive overview, with 2 bonus tracks from the most recent line-up.

The Cigars have by now surely clocked up as many gig miles as any band in the country, and have seen more bars and clubs than even the most determined drinker; if they haven’t swung by your local recently, the next best way to enjoy this enduring and gritty outfit is to slide disc one into your player right now, pour yourself a drink, settle back and press play…

CD ONE
Track

Writer
Right Or Wrong *

S Pacey
Ghost Train

S Pacey
Howling At The Moon

S Pacey
Cry To Me

BR Berns
Don’t Bight The Hand That Feeds You

S Pacey
Steppin’ In

Denise La Salle
You’re A Mystery

S Pacey
The Path Is Clear

S Pacey
Bad Weather Blues

S Pacey
The Pain

Sally King
You Get That

Les Karski
Calling Card

S Pacey
Key To Your Heart S Pacey
Alberts’ Alley S Pacey
Got The News S Pacey
Last Man In Town S Pacey
Nobody See’s Me S Pacey

CD TWO
Track

Writer
Paris On $10 A Day

S Pacey
Intensive Care

S Pacey
Life After You

S Pacey
Seperation Blues

S Pacey
Leaving Thing

S Pacey
Second Skin

S Pacey
Mercy

S Pacey
Betcha Don’t Know

S Pacey
You Can Never Go Back

S Pacey
All I Want Is Everything

S Pacey
I Can’t Sleep t

S Pacey
Some Other Man

S Pacey
Talking Tombstone S Pacey
Tell Me What I Need To Know S Pacey
Twilight Walking * S Pacey

* Previously Unreleased Tracks

12 Lies (2003)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Electric/Acoustic Guitars, Slide & Resonator Guitar, Vocals & Backing Vocals
Alan Britton -Electric Bass, String Bass, Backing Vocals & Percussion
Eben Hale -Electric/Acoustic Guitars, Percussion, Vocals & Backing Vocals
Frank Corby -Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

REVIEWS
BARFLY WEBSITE (Tony Hillier) Although they’ve had a profile on the national scene for a dozen years and more, releasing some half a dozen albums, 12 Lies as the first release on their own label represents a career watershed for the Bondi Cigars.

One of Australia’s most admired blues-aligned bands, the Bondi’s have pretty well been doing it for themselves since they commenced operations in 1989, establishing a formidable reputation as a live band par excellence as Johno’s regulars would be aware.

If 2001′s Down in the Valley captured the essence & spirit of their gigs over the years, 12 Lies is a barometer of where they are at the present time. The new album sees the band edge a little further away from their original sound, adding alt.country & pop/rock feels to the rhythm & blues/soul/funk amalgam base. The result is a contemporary & accessible sound.

Shane Pacey, the band’s powerhouse vocalist, guitar player and songwriter, is still the dominant force, in tandem with co-founder/bassman Al Britton, whose instinctive feel for groove and rhythm remains a salient element. But 12 Lies reveals a more prominent role for co-lead guitarist Eben Hale, while expat American drummer Frank Corby certainly puts his stamp on this, his first recorded outing with the Sydney band.

The Cigars trademark twin lead guitar concept works brilliantly, as always, with Pacey and Hale working in tandem, overlapping and alternating in well formulated arrangements, each solo carefully constructed and comparatively free of cliché. Pacey’s incisive and inventive guitar playing is always a pleasure to hear.

A few blasts of harp or sax or some Hammond organ would have been icing on the cake, but you have to admire the band’s commitment to its on-stage sound, and a style that hangs on meaty electric guitar hooks. Shane Pacey’s originals are as punchy as ever, nitty gritty, down to earth, plainly worded songs relating to everyday life recurring patterns Junkie For The Past, alcohol dependence Raging Thirst, rejection You Soon Will Be and bitterness Talking Tombstone etc.

The raga like Edge Of The Dirty River, with resonator guitar backing, has a more poetic feel; the genuflection to New Orleans/The Meters funk, Everybody Do The Second Line an infectious refrain. Whether any of Shane’s new numbers surpass past masterpieces such as Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care only time will tell.

Cigar Aficionados (Dave Edwards) Seems The Black Keys aren’t the only ones caught up in a blues revival at the moment. Aussie bluesmen Bondi Cigars have released their latest, 12 Lies. This outing is a rather smoother effort with less of a hard edge than their American cousins, Thickfreakness. The Cigars offer a wider range of instrumentation, including acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar and bass to create a rich but distinctly Australian sound.

The 12 Lies of the title refers to the album’s 12 tracks all penned at least in part by Bondi Cigars’ lead singer and guitarist Shane Pacey. Typically, the songs touch on issues of pain and loss; from the lonely pain of life on the road in Some Other Man, to a swipe at capitalistic greed in I Won’t Lay Down With The Devil. Alcoholism gets a going over in Raging Thirst; although there is a moment of New Orleans style exuberance in Everybody Do The Second Line.

All this raises a question – if the album contains 12 Lies, is all this soul-searching and darkness just a little tongue-in-cheek? Is Pacey having a bit of a dig at his audience? I guess that’s for you to decide. What’s for certain is that 12 Lies is an accomplished slice of Australian blues from Bondi Cigars.
Track

Writer
Tell Me What I Need To Know

Shane Pacey
Some Other Man

Eben Hale
Raging Thirst

Shane Pacey
Everybody Do The Second Line

Shane Pacey
I’ve Been Trying

Eben Hale
I Won’t Lay Down With The Devil

Pacey/Britton
The Edge Of The Dirty River

Shane Pacey
Talking Tombstone

Shane Pacey
You Soon Will Be

Pacey/Hale
She Shakes Me To The Bone

Shane Pacey
More Light Than I Can Stand

Shane Pacey
Junkie For The Past

Shane Pacey

 

Down In The Valley (2001)

Live double CD Down In the Valley nominated at ARIA’s for Best Blues and Roots Album 2002.

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Eben Hale -Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Vainauskas -Drums

REVIEWS
ROUSEABOUT RECORDS (Warren Fahey) Down in the Valley 12th Anniversary live (and kicking) double album The Bondi Cigars’ music is a peculiar animal in that it takes so many ever-changing forms. Rhythm ‘n’ blues has a noble history born of blues and emerging rock ‘n’ roll somewhere in America during the war-torn nineteen forties. It is indeed a twisted path that also takes in Elvis-styled hillbilly music, big band beat, jazz, gospel and soul.

Musical labels are always confusing however some sense can be made if one generalises as follows: Hillbilly is white country music; rock ‘n’ roll is latter day hillbilly plus rhythm ‘n’ blues, and rhythm ‘n’ blues is soulful blues with a big beat. To further complicate the puzzle there is such a thing as Australian rhythm ‘n’ blues and there is little doubt that the Bondi Cigars is its greatest success story.

Formed in 1989 the band has well and truly played itself into Australia ‘s musical heart. After nearly a dozen years, a half a dozen albums and exhaustive touring schedules the band continues to attract new audiences for their music. One of the keys to the continuing success of the Bondi Cigars is the highly original songs written and performed by frontman Shane Pacey.

This is no here-we-go-again ‘covers’ band and that in itself is evidence of a genuine Australian R&B new tradition. Shane Paceys songs smack of the real R&B tradition and I when I listen to songs like Bad Weather Blues, Key to Your Heart and Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You I still have to remind myself that these great songs were written right here in Australia by Shane Pacey.

When the band does perform covers they do so with real bite and I further recommend you to listen to their highly original version of Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright. I believe the Bondi Cigars contribute a major slice of originality and excitement to the Australian musical landscape. This album celebrates their 12th Anniversary – long may their unique R&B rule this land!’

RHYTHMS – AUSTRALIA ‘S ROOTS MUSIC MONTHLY (Billy Pinnell) Sydney band The Bondi Cigars celebrate twelve years together with the release of a double CD Down in the Valley recorded live over two nights at The Healer, Brisbane, in February of this year. Playing a mixture of Blues and R&B, the two guitar quartet is dominated by the awesome talents of guitarist/singer Shane Pacey who wrote fifteen of the albums’ nineteen songs. A veteran of the Sydney blues scene, Pacey was an on-again off-again member of the Foreday Riders where he met bass guitarist Alan Britton, the other founder member of the Bondi Cigars.

From the band’s earliest days, Pacey insisted on a two-lead guitar concept, initially with Les Karski who had been a member of Super Charge (remember `You’ve Gotta Get Up and Dance’?) and the Hippos . The Current line up consists of Pacey, Britton, drummer Andrew Vainauskas and guitarist Eben Hale who was discovered while playing in the house band at an RSL club in the Blue Mountains. Both of the new members have been in the band for five years and, on the strength of their performances on this album, have made comfortable transitions.

While there’s no question that Pacey is the star of the show, his willingness to arrange songs to accommodate his guitar playing partner makes for exciting and satisfying listening. The album’s first track – a re-working of Denise La Salle’s R&B hit Someone Else Is Stepping In – opens with Hale’s sustained wah-wah before both guitars settle in to a solo trade-off as Pacey interprets the lyric from a female point of view, as it was written.

The other non-original songs include a blues arrangement of Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright. Solomon Burke’s `60s soul classic, Cry To Me becomes a cruisy sensuous vocal workout from Pacey with the guitars playing second fiddle while Little Milton’s Ain’t No Big Deal takes it’s inspiration from Albert Collins who is paid a heartfelt tribute on the instrumental, Albert’s Alley, highlighted by Pacey’s sustained, earthshaking solos and his thoughtful, passionate and inventive musicianship, free of clichés and devoid of unnecessary histrionics. Pacey also takes great care in providing varied ideas within the twin lead guitar arrangements.

On You’re A Mystery Pacey and Hale play rhythm in sync, before the younger partner lets fly with another rousing wah-wah solo. Path Is Clear allows both musicians to push each other into flurries of melodic improvising, while Intensive Care (featured in the ABC-TV show Sea Change) is the album’s most interesting musical diversion, the moody, atmospheric intro preceding it’s funky laid-back feel that’s held together by Britton’s pulsating bass. This talented musician, who has played an integral role in Pacey’s musical life, anticipates every move the soloists make, and with Vainauskas, fronts a tight adaptable rhythm section.

It sounds like it must have been a special night when these tracks were recorded, because the Bondi Cigars certainly came up with an inspired performance.

CD ONE

Track

Writer

Someone Else Is Stepping In

Denise La Salle

I Can’t Sleep

Shane Pacey

Bad Weather Blues

Shane Pacey

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright

Bob Dylan

Calling Card

Shane Pacey

Ain’t No Big Deal On You

J Campbell

Got The News

Shane Pacey

Albert’s Alley

Britton/Doley/Morrison/Pacey

Driving Blindly Through The Night

Shane Pacey

You’re A Mystery

Shane Pacey

CD TWO

Track

Writer

Path Is Clear

Shane Pacey

Leaving Thing

Shane Pacey

Life After You

Shane Pacey

Intensive Care

Shane Pacey

All I Want Is Everything

Shane Pacey

Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You

Shane Pacey

Cry To Me

BR Berns

Howling At The Moon

Shane Pacey

Key To Your Heart

Shane Pacey

 

Mercy (1998)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Eben Hale -Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Vainauskas -Drums

REVIEWS
BASEQ – Blues Assoc. of South East Queensland (Helen Farley). Nine years and numerous lineup changes have seen the Bondi Cigars go through many highs and lows, or probably more accurately many highs with some lesser ones. Hard working and totally committed to the quality and integrity of the music, the Cigars have earned themselves an enviable reputation as one of Australia ‘s favourite Blues / R&B bands, both live and in the studio.

As always we have the core of Shane Pacey (vocals, guitars-acoustic, electric, resonator and slide), and Alan Britton (bass, vocals), joined by newcomer Eben Hale (guitars) and Andrew Vainauskas (drums and percussion). Mercy features thirteen great songs that really move along. Each song has an infectious melody and rhythm that has you bopping and grooving to the beat.

The album features all original material. Ten tracks were written by Shane Pacey, two were written by Shane and Alan and one written by Eben Hale. It’s great to see Eben already making such a significant contribution. It must be very daunting suddenly becoming a part of such a well-established institution. The material is instantly accessible, you won’t have to wait for it to grow on you.

There’s a variety of textures and moods partly due to the variety of guitar feels. Both Eben and Shane contribute solid solos. Eben also takes lead vocal duties on his own Make Up Your Mind lending a little vocal diversity. In The Cold Light Of Day sees Shane go it alone with his acoustic guitar, just superb! I also enjoyed Feeding Time , the lyrics of which I’m sure most musicians could identify with. High points also came with the easy grooves of Second Skin and Save A Little Mercy For Me, but in reality I loved each note of every song. Make sure you pick up a copy!
Track

Writer
Second Skin

Shane Pacey
Betcha Don’t Know

Shane Pacey

Save A Little Mercy For Me

Shane Pacey
Drinking Blindly Through The Night

Shane Pacey
I’ve Forgotten More

Shane Pacey/Alan Britton
Make Up Your Mind

Eben Hale
In The Cold Light Of Day

Shane Pacey
No Honeymoon

Shane Pacey/Alan Britton
Spirit Level

Shane Pacey
My Own Little World

Shane Pacey
Feeding Time

Shane Pacey
You Can Never Go Back

Shane Pacey
What A Sweet Relief

Shane Pacey

 

After Closing Time (1995)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Mitch Grainger -Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Declan Kelly -Drums, Vocals

REVIEWS
RHYTHMS – AUSTRALIA ‘S ROOTS MUSIC MONTHLY (Mark D. Blues Editor, Presenter of 4ZZZ’s Nothin’ But The Blues) This album presents one of the country’s hardest working, most widely travelled and most popular electric blues combos, just as most of us remember seeing them last. No studio ‘sweetener’ in the form of horns or fancy production – just the basic quartet in all it’s throbbing funky blues-sodden glory.

Nine Shane Pacey originals, one almost-instrumental by the whole band, one by ‘new boy’ Mitch Grainger (whose guitar and excellent harp are welcome additions) and a brace of covers. Pacey’s Albert Collins – influenced guitar style (sauced with soul and funk) supports an expressive voice which communicates emotion without sacrificing clarity – and his lyrics are worth hearing – not profound, but touching on our collective experiences. Alan Britton (bass) and Declan Kelly (drums) are definite groove-setters. You don’t have a choice. Your body parts have to make rhythmic movements when these two are at work. The soloists work in that groove – no hysterics.

I find that the CD requires a couple of listens before individual tracks make their presence felt. This is not a bad thing. Albums which give a quick fix are often not stayers. My guess is that this one is a grower and a stayer. Nice one.

BLACK’S BEAT, THE DAILY PLAN-IT (Dan Black) Australia ‘s best blues band have returned with a killer new album. After Closing Time is the long awaited follow-up to Bad Weather Blues which put the Cigars firmly on the map a couple of years ago. Forget the big organ sound of last year’s soul-funk effort by the short-lived Pacey & the Cigars. The new outing is what the band does best: stinging guitar & harmonica driven by a punchy rhythm section with Alan Britton surely one of the best bass players anywhere. Songwriter Shane Pacey delivers up nine original numbers mixed with a few covers, the standout being the old Dr John track, Imitation of Love.

New guitarist Mitchell Grainger contributes a fine original number for a first up effort, Cold Cold World. The non-stop touring of blues dens, nite-clubs and booze barns has paid off; the album smokes – just listen to Lead me not into Temptation . Already getting airplay, After Closing Time should sell well for the Cigars, especially in centres where they’ve established big reputations through their constant touring.
Track

Writer
Seperation Blues

Shane Pacey
Leaving Thing

Shane Pacey
Life After You

Shane Pacey
Intensive Care

Shane Pacey
Imitation Of Love

Doc Pomus/Mac Rebennack
Cold Cold World

Mac Grainger
After Closing Time

Shane Pacey
Too Bad

Shane Pacey
Lead Me Not Into Temptation

Shane Pacey
They Only Come Out At Night

Shane Pacey
If Walls Could Talk

Bobby Miller
Paris On A $10 Day

Shane Pacey
Speak Easy

Britton/Grainger/Kelly/Pacey

 

Got The News (1993)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Clayton Doley -Hammond Organ, Piano, Vocals
Matt Morrison -Drums, Vocals
Track

Writer
Let Me Get My Foot In The Door

Shane Pacey
Sentimental On Me

Shane Pacey
Nobody Sees Me

Shane Pacey
Always A First Time

Earl King

Got The News

Shane Pacey
Gravy Train

Britton/Doley/Morrison/Pacey
Long Line Of Fools

Shane Pacey
Key To Your Heart

Shane Pacey
Cut Me Slack

Britton/Pacey
Albert’s Alley

Britton/Doley/Morrison/Pacey
The Last Man In Town

Shane Pacey

 

Bad Weather Blues (1992)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Les Karski -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Ace Follington -Drums

REVIEWS
BLACK’S BEAT, THE DAILY PLAN-IT (Dan Black) It’s been a long time since a fully blown blues album by an Aussie band has made the national charts. This seems sure to change with the release of Bad Weather Blues by the Bondi Cigars. Out now on Larrikin, the Cigars have unleashed a scorching set of blues and rock numbers that more than match the white blues bands coming out of the USA on such famous labels as Alligator, Rounder and Black Top.

Most of the album tracks are Pacey/Karski compositions, rather than tired old covers that most blues acts seem to rely on. Les Karski’s guitar work confirms his status as one of this country’s very best – smoky on the slow numbers and full of fire on the rockers. The opening track Booze Blues, a driving rocker, sets the tone for the album; but the Cigars also show they’re adept at bluesy ballads with track three, Lies and Tenderness.
Track

Writer
Booze Blues

M. Lane
You’re A Mystery

Shane Pacey
Lies And Tenderness

Les Karski
Path Is Clear

Shane Pacey
Medley (Old Grey Mare/Killing Floor)

P. Green/Chester Burnett/Les Karski
Bad Weather Blues

Shane Pacey
You Get That

Les Karski
Calling Card

Shane Pacey
Let Me Rubber Glove You

Les Karski
The Pain

S. King
Problem

Les Karski
All I Want Is Everything

Shane Pacey
Brushed

Shane Pacey

 

Bondi Cigars (1990)

Band members:
Shane Pacey -Guitar, Vocals
Les Karski -Guitar, Vocals
Alan Britton -Bass, Vocals
Ace Follington -Drums

TRACK

WRITER

Howling At The Moon

Shane Pacey

Somebody Else Is Stepping In

D. Lasalle

Cry To Me

B.R Berns

Snatching It Back

C. Carter/G. Jackson

Ghost Train

Shane Pacey

Look What You Done

Maghett

I Just Got To Know

J. McCracklin

I Can’t Sleep

Shane Pacey

Come To Mama

Mitchell/Randle

Every Night About This Time

Unknown

Hidden Charms

W. Dixon

Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You

Shane Pacey

The following is a list of record stores who stock our albums in Australia.

D.S.E. Powerhouse, HMV Music, IN2, JB HiFi, Leading Edge Music, Readings, Sanity, Sight & Sound, The Music Shop, Virgin, Virgin Myer and all good Independant Music Stores.

 

 

BONDI CIGARS

When the Bondi Cigars were first gigging around Sydney, late 1989, they moved in a blues/R&B circuit which, while robust enough since the 60s, had then been sparked into new life by the ‘blues revival’ of the mid-80’s, spearheaded by Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughan and similar crusaders. And while many of the Sydney bands from that era have vanished, become historical footnotes or undergone major changes, the Cigars – true survivors – have battled on, without ever compromising their distinctive no nonsense style, to become a leading force in Australian R&B.

That original Cigars line-up brought together four like-minded experienced players, all veterans of Sydney inner-west blues venues, and from the word go, as the 1990 tracks demonstrate, the Cigars have been the very model of the ‘no passengers’ band, a well-oiled machine plus soul: no room for slackers here. Always one of the country’s hardest working outfits (on the road more than off), the Cigars have kept their music tight, hard-driving and down – to – earth: the Australian bar band par excellence.

Apart from the timeless, unpretentious nature of the music, an obvious reason for the longevity of the Cigars must be the ongoing musical team work of 2 foundation members, Shane Pacey and Al Britton, who continue to co-lead the band. This also explains the consistency of the band’s sound, instantly recognisable for 17 years now, despite personnel changes and occasional stylistic variations.

Front man Shane Pacey has long been a forceful, convincing singer, and a hard-attacking, razor sharp guitarist in the modern blowtorch style of Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, Larry McCray and other crazy stringbenders; he’s also an outstanding prolific songwriter, and there’s ample evidence in these tracks of his sardonic, savvy and slightly warped way with lyrics.

Bass player Al Hollywood Britton is another blues trooper, having survived the Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders, and puts real backbone into the rhythm section – rock solid, responsive and funky; what’s more, he’s a dab hand in the organisational department, playing great lead telephone, according to the credits of Mercy (1998).

These dual father – figures have kept the music tough and vigorous by usually recruiting new members from Sydney’s inner-west breeding grounds of exciting young R&B/roots bands.

The first 2 Cigars albums had featured the original line-up, but after the departure interstate of Les Karski and Ace Follington, the next CD ‘Got The News’ (appearing under the name Shane Pacey and the Cigars) included hot young Adelaideians Clayton Doley on keyboards and Matt Morrison on drums, both also associated with Robert Suez of Mighty Reapers fame. ‘Got The News’, expertly produced by Sydney funky/soul boss Jackie Orszaczky, and the Cigars sound was further spiced up by the precision horns of Paul Panicci and Andrew Robson.

By 1995, with the release of ‘After Closing Time’, 2 fine new Cigars had been press-ganged from the youthful but punchy Balmain R&B band The Beefs: Mitch Grainger (guitar/harmonica) and Declan Kelly (drums), who have both since moved on, but remain active in Sydney’s roots/funk scene.

The following album ‘Mercy’ saw the introduction of drummer Andrew Vainouskas, plus on guitar and vocals Eben Hale, ‘the second-best left handed guitarist in the band’ according to Shane; Eben has remained a paid – up member to this day. Since then, the only changes have been on the drum stool: Frank Corby and Joel Sutton.

2004 saw the band release their eagerly anticipated 7th album, 12 Lies, an album hailed as their best yet. Along with the mix of rhythmic, rootsy grooves and flavours of blues, soul, funk and R&B that fans have come to expect, this album saw the band branch out even more, with some tracks having an “alt country” feel, and others more pop rock than blues and roots based. The response from fans and critics alike was fantastic, with the band winning Best Group, Best Album and Best Producer at the 2004 Australian Blues Awards.

The Cigars have consistently delivered the goods; with Down In The Valley nominated in the 2003 ARIA awards for Best Blues & Roots Album, 1995’s After Closing Time awarded Best Blues Album at the 1996 Lithgow Blues Festival, and two of their songs, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care, chosen to feature on the popular ABC Seachange album.

As with all great bands, the sum of the whole exceeds the sum of the parts and the Bondi Cigars are no exception:

Shane Pacey (vocals and guitar)
The principal songwriter and vocalist, came to the Bondi Cigars after playing with bands such as Sydney’s Earls Of Duke. His song writing and dynamic vocals, teamed with the fluid rhythms of Alan, have largely defined the sound and direction of the Bondi Cigars.

Alan Britton (bass and vocals)
Alan brings to the band his many years experience playing with some this country’s foremost roots outfits, including the Mangrove Boogie Kings, the legendary Dynamic Hypnotics and the Foreday Riders. His instinctive feel for a groove and ability to find the rhythm and lay the bass for those great Bondi Cigars tunes.

Eben Hale (guitar and vocals)
Eben was a driving force behind the successful Blue Mountain Blues Club, playing in the house band at the Club’s meetings as well as taking a behind the scenes role, booking acts and ensuring their events ran smoothly. Eben’s burgeoning song writing talents and effusive guitar lines add an extra dimension to the already vibrant sound of the Bondi Cigars.

Frank Corby (drums)
From Boston, Massachusetts, USA, now a resident in Australia who cut his teeth in various Drum Corp, Swing and funk bands before playing in various original rock, R&B and funk bands touring all over the USA. Since arriving in Australia he has lent his awesome skills to acts such as Gangajang, Floyd Vincent and the Childbrides, Guy LeClaire and Latin big band Babalu. He was resident drummer with the Blue Mountains blues jam band where he played regularly with soon-to-be Cigar, Eben Hale.

Blues music