Wagons

The Curse of Lightning
by Wagons
A modern-day classic and a throwback to karmic country's golden era, The Curse of Lightning by Wagons dares to incorporate influences as grand and wildly diverse as Johnny Cash, Scott Walker, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Cormac McCarthy, Haruki Marukami, Rod Stewart and Skyhooks.
The Wagons canon is now a trilogy of bold storytelling. The Curse of Lightning goes further than its predecessors, Trying to Get Home (2002) and Draw Blood (2004), adorning its vivid tales in sweeping, Rick Rubinesque production.
The Curse of Lightning reveals Henry Wagons to be a meta-thinker with a propensity to dip his pen into the primordial swamp of the collective unconscious, and a lyrical preoccupation with fate, and the sweet or cruel blows it deals to the common man. The characters in these ten darkly poetic songs walk through a world wrought with emotion and sinister romance. Epic, progressive country of the highest order!
From their home base in Melbourne, Wagons have thrilled and occasionally bamboozled audiences around the country, touring with the likes of Calexico, Cat Power, The Handsome Family and M Ward. A formidable live band, led by the mysterious, slightly ominous Henry, with sublime harmonies courtesy of bassist Steve "Harmony Hassett", expert guitar licks by Richard Blaze, taut rhythms from drummer Mark "Tuckerbag" Dawson and washboard master / percussionist Si "The Philanthropist" Francis, and new member Matt "Softmoods" Hassett providing a tender touch on the keys and the odd lilting third harmony part.
Henry has recently become a regular television presenter on ABC2's music program DIG, hosted by James Reyne and Tracee Hutchison. His segment involves bursting into people's homes and berating them about their record collection; a reporting style which carries echoes of the drama and confrontation that imbues many a Wagons gig.
The Curse Of Lightning is out now on Spunk/EMI.
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Rolling Stone Review (Dec, 2007)
NOW ALSO AVAILABLE
Wagons previous dark-country goldmine
DRAW BLOOD (2004) re-releasd on Unstable Ape
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LIVE SHOW BIO:
It is safe to say that Wagons put on a country show like no other. Inspired by the darkest aspects of traditional country music, it is not uncommon to see these Melbourne boys grapple with death, lust, lost love and the withering effects of time all in the course of one song. Yet, on occasion, the band is also capable of expressing songs with the deepest sentiment. Lead by the booming baritone of lead singer Henry Wagons, the live six-piece show is an extravaganza of a kind not expected from the country genre. In between the bursts of their beautiful vocal harmony laden tunes, Henry provides a unique commentary which regularly delights, and sometimes confuses his audience. Come and see this highly distinctive show for yourself.
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