By Stevie Connor.
Melbourne singer-songwriter Liam Gerner's striking new album recorded with his band, Los Perros Perdidos, featuring songs shaped by experiences touring in Australia, Europe and the US is out.
Los Perros Perdidos (The Lost Dogs) feature the incredible Daniel Farrugia (drums), James Gilligan (bass), Louis King (guitar), Shane Reilly (pedal steel) and guests Luke Moller (fiddle), Sam Leman (guitar, uke) and horn section Justrin Fermino (sax) and Grant Arthur (trombone).
Liam said, “I’ve been a working musician since my teens and, in that time, I’ve played all over from Arnhem Land to Texas to Ibiza. These songs reflect those journeys and the people I met along the way.”
Born and raised in Adelaide Hills and now resident in Melbourne (after long stretches in London and Los Angeles), Liam Gerner is a triple threat: firstly, he’s a formidable guitarist (acoustic and electric) who, as a hired hand, has played with Ryan Bingham, Elton John, and Vika and Linda, Eurogliders and Pnau (amongst many others). Secondly, he’s an eloquent songwriter who details life as he has experienced it. Thirdly, he’s a fine singer and raconteur whose performances have lit up pubs and clubs, cafes and concert halls across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America.
Now, with say Toodeloo Tuvalu, Gerner’s fourth solo album, Liam delivers nine original songs packed with observation and empathy. Steeped in the great troubadour tradition that stretches from Woody Guthrie and Slim Dusty through to Guy Clarke and Paolo Nutini (a pal from when Liam and Paolo toure together in London), Toodeloo Tuvalu demonstrates how, after his last album celebrating bush poets Henry Lawson vs Banjo Paterson (with acclaimed fiddler Luke Moller in tow), Gerner is now one of Australia’s finest songwriters and storytellers.
“say Toodeloo Tuvalu is a down-home album,” says Gerner. “I recorded it in Melbourne at Tech Noir in 2 days with my band Los Perros Perdidos (The Lost Dogs) all live in a room, no headphones or overdubs. What you hear is what went down as we played these songs. I love the intimacy and immediacy of this way of recording – it was how Hank Williams and Muddy Waters and even Nick Lowe recorded and its why those records sound so timeless: the singer, the musicians and the songs.”
Gerner’s proud not only of the performances here.“Lightning in a bottle,” he says then laughs and adds, “I called a brass playing friend Grant and he brought his mate Justin and they arrived and just jumped into the session! No rehearsals! No trousers actually- as no air conditioning in the studio! Listening back to these recordings reminds me of the live looseness, and sense of fun in records I enjoy.”
Gerner’s songs are compelling documents that tell stories. “When I was in Nashville I got to discuss songwriting with the late, great Tom T. Hall and I’m following his observation of listening and observing and so shaping songs like short stories. I try not to be a navel gazing singer-songwriter! For example, I was at Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a hurricane hit so everyone took shelter in a bar and there I got talking to a tough old Cajun. He told me how if anyone caused trouble out in the swamps then they didn’t call the cops, no, they served up what he called ‘alligator justice’. OK, now I had to write a song inspired by that! Several songs came from my adventures while playing in Arnhem Land including being a bit Kenny Keen to go solo camping and getting rescued.
Album Launch shows
Saturday March 4 2023, 8pm - Archies Creek Hotel
Sunday March 19th 2023 3pm - George Lane, St Kilda
Website: liamgerner.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LiamGerner
Twitter: twitter.com/liamgerner
Instagram: www.instagram.com/liamgerner