The Good Ship- 'A Harbour Fair' by HeapsaWill
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Drawing inspiration from fellow denizens of the deep like Nick Cave, The Decemberists and The Pogues, The Good Ships tune’s explore the seedier side of humanity.
Since forming only 12 months ago, their rousing live shows have seen them quickly snag a strong fan base and score some sought-after supports in their hometown of Brisbane including Skipping Girl Vinegar and Mick Thomas (Weddings, Parties, Anything). While risqué lyrics certainly grab the punters’ attention, it’s the rich layers of folk, rock, country and pop textures that keep them coming back for more.
The Good Ship’s debut single 'A Harbour Fair' is a rousing singalong that tells the story of a band of sailors headed for shore after a long journey, eager for the triple delights of booze, ladies and gambling that await them in their Harbour Fair. Pursuing whales across the waves these past thirty days, the lads are well ready to hit solid ground.
The single is the first off the Good Ship’s debut album 'Avast! Wretched Sea'. The album, recorded over a long hot summer with Neil Coombe (John Steel Singers, Go Betweens) and Jamie Trevaskis (Wilson Pickers, Texas Tea), is a triumph of dark, sweaty, heaving beauty, featuring the Good Ship’s trademark blend of sweet melodies and debauched lyric.
Live, The Good Ship are a seething maelstrom of decadent musicality, with 8 to 9 members on stage at any one time and a whole heap of archaic instrumentation from mandola, lagerphone, fiddle and trumpet to accordion. This sense of joy and anarchy hasn’t been lost on audiences and after only a year on the Brisbane scene the band have gathered a substantial loyal following. The Good Ship will be touring east coast Australia through May / June to support the release of 'A Harbour Fair'.
SATURDAY 22 MAY 2010 8PM
Grace Darling Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
with Dead River Deeps and the Wildes
COST: $10
SUNDAY 23 MAY 2010 8PM
The Old Bar, Melbourne, VIC
with The Hired Guns and RSVP
COST: FREE
SATURDAY 5 JUNE 2010 8PM
The Joynt, Brisbane, QLD
COST: FREE
SUNDAY 6 JUNE 2010 2PM
Peregian Originals, Peregian Beach, QLD
with Mardi Lumsden & the Rising Seas and others
COST: FREE
SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2010 8PM
THE CANNON BALL “A ROCK N ROLL PIRATE MASQUE”
Great Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
with the Rocketsmiths and Jimmy Willing and the Real Gone Hick-Ups
COST: $20
Maiden Single ‘A Harbour Fair’ is Out Now
The Good Ship’s Debut Album 'Avast! Wretched Sea' is out on June 19 through Autumn Recordings
“However real excitement is reserved for the seven gentlemen and two ladies of The Good Ship. Sans usual pirate attire, the merry crew rip it up on The Decemberists’ Rake Song, Violent Femmes’ Country Death Song and Gunners’ rabble-rousing I Used To Love Her. Murderously good.”
Rave Magazine – Live Review
“On stage from left to right there’s an accordionist in a puffy white shirt, a violinist with eye patch, admiral’s cap and a fake bird teetering halfway down his back, 3 guitarists, a bassist, a drummer and the one female member doing back-up vocals. The music was fun, melodic inlayers and full of vocal harmonies. The energy from the stage easily transferred itself into the crowd.”
Life Music Media – Live Review
