Product Overview
Legendary Western Australian band The Stems turn 40 this year and are celebrating
with the release of an official live album. Having forged a reputation for their
electrifying and powerful live shows throughout Australia and Europe, The Stems live
shows have long been a favourite among boot-leggers, with many unofficial live
recordings surfacing over the years. To coincide with their 40th anniversary tour, The
Stems ‘Official Live Recording’ is now being made available through local label
Cheersquad Records &Tapes.
On November 11, 2017, during the 3rd of a highly successful 6 show national tour,
celebrating the 30th anniversary since the release of their debut album, ‘At First
Sight, Violets are Blue’, original members Dom Mariani, Julian Matthews and Dave
Shaw, bolstered by Ashley Naylor (Even, Paul Kelly, The Church) and Davey Lane
(You Am I) took to the stage at the legendary Gov Hotel in Adelaide for what was to
be a scintillating live set, that unbeknown to the band was being recorded.
How it happened;
Enter Vic Conrad, leader of Adelaide band The Garden Path, one of the supports for
the show. Vic’s connection to The Stems goes way back to the 1980s when the band
slept on his floor one early tour! Vic had arranged for a multitrack recording of his
own band that evening. With the tour done and dusted and a few months later, Vic
contacted Dom, to tell him that he had a multi-track recording of The Stems,
performance from that concert also. Vic generously sent the recording to Dom, who
then promptly forgot about it... until a recent conversation with Julian ignited the idea
of a live album. Unsure of what it sounded like, they decided to check out Vic
multi-tracks and were pleasantly surprised by what they heard.
Dom Mariani the band is in full flight and rocking. If we knew it was being recorded,
we probably wouldn’t have been so uninhibited. We let it all hang out, warts and all.
With the intention of releasing a vinyl album of the recording, 8 songs were selected
from the set-list and were duly and expertly mixed by Julian at his Nut Sauce
Studios.
Julian Matthews: “this recording is a joyous rendition of what we sound like live.”
“The Stems Official Recording’ released through Cheersquad Records & Tapes
captures the band in a powerful performance proving they deserve their reputation
as one of Australia’s best live bands.
Tracklist:
Get To Know Me
For Always
Mr Misery
Move Me
Sad Girl
At First Sight
She Sees Everything/Make You Mine/Baby Please Don’t Go
