JOHNNY SPITTLES, AKA JOHNNY CASINO, is a legend in the Australian underground rock & roll scene, partly from leading the 90s power rock act ASTEROID B-612 and partly due to a series of records with his bands EASY ACTION and the SECRETS. Live On 3PBS, a live radio session produced by a DJ fan, sums up his later career quite nicely. Casino’s M.O. is essentially to take rootsy melodies and song structures and rock the blankety-blank out of them, like the MC5 playing the STEVE EARLE catalog. So while it’s easy to lose oneself in the simple bash-and-crash of “Take Me Down to Your River,” “Nothing Left to Hide” and “I Am Who I Am, Not Who You Want Me to Be” (especially given the great, raw guitar sound from Casino and co-axeslinger JAMES SAUNDERS), there’s substance beyond goodtime rockin’ for those who want it. “Can’t Find My Way Thru the Door,” an introspective ballad, definitely proves there’s more to Casino than gritty blare. The band also happily rips through some favorite covers – the presence of songs by BOB DYLAN, the SAINTS, the ANIMALS and the COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS give strong clues to the mindset in which Casino resides. Live On 3PBS is a perfect sampler of Casino’s artistic vision, and an open door through which new neighbors can easily find their way.
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http://www.offthehip.com.au
