Greetings, my fine feathered friend,
It's now only 10 days out from the launch of my new record, Night Parrots, at The Corner Hotel, Richmond. Now is the time to swoop down like bird of prey (no, you're right, parrots aren't birds of prey) and grab a ticket in your talons (all right, no talons either)...but, nevertheless, it's time to get a ticket from www.cornerhotel.com so you're not sitting like A SHAG ON A ROCK come next Friday night 24 October. You can also BANK OFF A NORTHEAST WIND down to the Corner Box Office in Swan St, Richmond, or call them LIKE A CARRIER PIGEON on 9427 9198. Yes, tickets are also available on the night at the door, so feel free to FLOCK down.
Also appearing is Maurice Frawley and The Yard Hands PLUS Sarah Carroll.
AND CROXTONRECORDSHASGONEMADCROXTONRECORDSHASGONEMAD if you'd like to purchase Night Parrots online before the launch from www.croxtonrecords.com, my label has a COMPLETELY CRACKERS OFFER (Polly wants one) where they will ALSO send you a Croxton Bag PLUS a Neapolitan Croxton EP PLUS a glossy Croxton sticker ABSOLUTELY FREE with each PayPal purchase.
I have some songs for your listening pleasure at www.myspace.com/thedanwarner, so hop up gingerly, cock your little head and go TWEET. Gather up the songs in your beak, fly them home and MAKE A NEST out of them. I know, I know, Parrots don't nest.
See you at the Corner. A PUN-FREE event.

According to my friend, Jan, who lives in Holland, the dutch word for Night Parrots is Nachtpapagaaien... Very bloody catchy; he's a marketing genius, Jan. The Mamas and the Nachtpapas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOex2dK7j_w

A stroll with Marcel Borrack along the Yarra Boulevard in Kew, or, why Night Parrots has taken so long to finish...

It's incredible how much the houses look like International Rescue around here, except for the gum trees in the background. Look at that place on the edge of the hill. Walter-Burley-Griffin-Esque. Nice rock garden. You remind me a bit of Mr Tracy, Marcel, although you dress more like Brains. Sartorial. Sophisticated. Wise, like that Tawny Frogmouth over there. The Mopoke, don't let it speak. Oom. Oom. It would take out both our souls. Maybe you could write an Australian version of the Crossroads song? The Australian selling-of-one's-soul-in-order-to-play-the-gum-leaf-like-a-demon song. You're pretty much a Blues-guy anyway, and you play guitar a bit like Mossy. The protagonist could walk into to the bush, a Jolly Swagman, and sell his soul to the Mopoke. Oom. Oom. Oom. Oom. 'The Mopoke went down to Gundagai, and he was looking for a soul to steal'. Did you ever see that motel on the Hume, about half-way to Sydney, I think it was in Holbrook, The Joly Swagman. Yes. J. O. L. Y. Joly. What is a Joly Swagman? How did the whole town miss it? Maybe Joly was the proprietor's surname. Well, Waltzing Matilda should be our National Anthem, no matter how you spell it. It's a great song. It's who we are. Dispossessed, defiant, riding through the bush. Riding, riding, like Frank and Jesse James. No, that's the Warren Zevon song. Ned and Dan Kelly. Riding along, sleeping in snatches, up against it. The Establishment chasing us down. Hiding in the mountains, like Captain Midnite and Khat. Making camp, identifying birds, singing songs about selling our soul to the Mopoke. That, and the Stubby Index Finger Song, tapping out messages on our telegraph key. Do you really think I can play guitar like Mossy? I was listening to East the other day. You've got to put on East and listen to Barnsey's voice on Standing On The Outside…the 'and I know, and I knowwwwww' bit. Bloody hell. His voice is like a machine. Powerful, hypnotic and musical, all at the same time. What a singer, what a band. At least that's one thing we can agree upon, that Chisel are the greatest Australian band ever. Although, yes, we both also like Clappo and Caddo. I think Class of '74 is one of his best songs, although, I know you're a fan of Alvin Purple. 'Writin' and readin' and and always believin' it's all in the mi hi hi i ind.' You know, my favourite TV ad from the '70s was that Levis ad, set in a pool hall…a guy and a girl playing pool, afternoon sun streaming through the windows onto the felt. Great song. 'When I get into my Levis, I get into a feeling, do you want me, or want me for my Levis?' Did Caddo write that song? Cut to girl crying. Tears in the mirror. Maybe it's on YouTube…oh yeah, I saw those episodes of The Courtship of Eddie's Father are up. I'm spewing I can't get that Nilsson song anywhere else. Maybe that'd be a good cover to play at the launch…or is it too obscure? 'People let me tell you 'bout my best friend…haw, haw haw haw haw haw…' You, my friend, sound like those red-rumped parrots, flying up and down the roadways, making a nuisance of themselves. Quite. Although, did you see, they have a flash of yellow in their breast feathers. Yes, pleasing. Shall we head back, or walk along the river to Hayes' Paddock? I saw some odd-looking waterbirds down there yesterday. Moorhens, maybe. Dusky. And what about the drums on Helicopter Pilot? Maybe lose them altogether? Just guitar, some incidental stuff, maybe get Sarah to do some BVs. Keep the album more acoustic, nocturnal, more night-parroty. Hmm. Controversial. Let's walk a little further and think about it.

New Album, Night Parrots, produced by Marcel Borrack, out on Croxton Records Oct 1 2008. www.croxtonrecords.com Launch at The Corner Hotel, Fri Oct 24, www.cornerhotel.com

Well it's finally finished. The new album is called 'Night Parrots' and is out on Croxton (www.croxtonrecords.com) on October 1. I've started to book the tour today...the first show locked in is the Melbourne show at my home base, The Corner Hotel, Richmond on Friday October 24.
The album has 13 tracks...many of those songs that I play live but haven't been available for ages, or until now. Happy to say I've finally recorded a decent version of 'Bernie'. The one on the Dan & Al CD was a live version, as was the one on the Deadset Friendlies single. I've also recorded for the first time the song I wrote with Sally Dastey for Tiddas...Anthem.
I'm planning to tour throughout October and December... if you want us to come and play at your local, let me know where it is, and the relevant contact details. I haven't played shows for ages, so I'm keen to get out there...
See you soon,
Dan

Yes, another reunion gig! This Sunday, Overnight Jones will support Weddings Parties Anything at their just added 5th and final reunion show at The Corner in Richmond. That's this Sunday April 20 at 2.30 in the arvo. Line-up includes James Stewart and Ian Kitney. If you missed the show at The Lomond...here's your last chance. Kids under 12 get in free! Songlist already includes Four Leaf Clover, Red Hat and Stuck in Melbourne... Enough Warmth...

...well it's finally going to happen. Jim, the original drummer of The Warner Brothers, is getting married in Melbourne in April. His Bucks' Party wish is to get the band back together. So, on Friday April 4th, after the T-Bones' first set at The Lomond Hotel in Brunswick, the original line-up of The Warner Brothers will take to the stage for the first time in a long, long time. The band is going to play original songs, mainly from Talking In Your Sleep, and covers from the early years...The Mighty Quinn? Anyway, if you ever saw The Warner Brothers during the late '80s and early '90s, here's your chance to see 'em one more time...before the EJ finally makes it over that last hill outside Kalkallo...

Anybody remember the dates of the Continental shows I did with Al, must be 12 or 13 years ago? Someone who has some bootlegs from those shows contacted me and wants to catalogue them etc. Speaking of Dan & Al bootlegs, if anyone recorded the recent Xmas show we played at the Corner (23/12/07), please send a copy to the RRR show, '0ff The Record'...they're keen to broadcast some songs from the gig. Jeez it was a drunken, raucous one... D