life gets in the way of living

a song i have heard performed live a couple of times in the last couple of days
it's by up and coming australian country music singer steve ford
i've been flinging myself around the country attending some one day conferences
an annual get together in each state of independent music retailers
night-time is party-time with a dinner and entertainment laid on
courtesy of the big multi-national record companies flogging the latest and greatest
i've been attending these shindigs for a number of years now
which means i have been witness to a lot of latest and greatest acts
the current batch include steve ford who used to be with a country outfit called the flange
they have also laid on a lovely lady by the name of shea fisher
she is all of 19 years of age and it seems has already lived quite a full life
having been born into a rodeo family and travelled extensively throughout australia
as well as picking up some rodeo prizes herself
the other night in sydney we were also entertained by the mcclymonts
who are a trio of sisters whooping it up and singing and playing in harmony
hello are we seeing a pattern emerging here
seems the musicians most likely at the moment are country artists
now excuse me while i splent my veen but i think i can get away with it here
you see i just don't like country music that much at all
i don't want to hear a 19 year old gorgeous looking girl-not-quite-a-woman
singing about the hardships of life to a bunch of middle aged blokes
that seem happy to give their total attention to what could be shania twain's daughter
attention that seems lacking whenever i chance upon the same chaps at any other gig
so you suspect their minds are on things other than the twee music coming our way
note the last song was called cowgirl in my genes (boom boom)
steve ford is a more mature artist and has had some success it seems
but pul-lease i just don't want to hear about an australian bloke loving his chev-ro-let
and complaining that life gets in the way of living complete with an american twang
did someone mention wassisface mr nicole kidman
no but the presenter certainly mentioned the dixie chicks when he introduced the mcclymonts
3 good-looking women playing bass, guitar and electric mandolin
i actually felt sorry for the band that they were so blatantly defined as a clone act
they sang and played with mucho gusto and obvious musical talent
but there was hardly an ounce of originality in their short set
and again the lads in the room seemed to appreciate them and lavished applause
now in a positive note i wish to end this little rant about some country music i love
it's generally called alt.country or sometimes americana
most easily and simplistically defined as a cross between rock music and country
lambchop m ward and calexico i have seen live and have loved the experience
there's many more i have heard recordings of and similarly admire
my feeling is that they lack exposure in this country
seems the emphasis here is on looks and sounds like
rather than substance and originality
rant stops now
over