Dave Hogan's Meltdown

Artist Information

Biography

Dave Hogan’s Meltdown Biography 2009

Bursting onto the vibrant Melbourne music scene in 2002, Dave Hogan’s Meltdown, are a seasoned outfit inspired by classic 20th century blues harp/guitar combos. With 3 albums to their credit, DHM’s debut album “Atlantis Sessions” in 2003, followed by the MBAS award winner “Little Lies” in 2005 and most recently released a country blues album “Holler and Twang” released in June 2009 which has won no less than five 2009 MBAS Victorian/Tasmanian awards on the 16th of August 2009 including,

• Album Of The Year: "Holler & Twang"
• Song Of The Year: "Going To Texas" (Texas QLD) (Dave Hogan/David Adam)
• Band Of The Year: Meltdown for their performance on "Jesterman"
• Producers: "Double D Productions" (David Adam & Dave Hogan) for "Holler & Twang"
• Male vocalist/artist of the Year: Paul Neuendorf for his performance on his composition "April Fool"

DHM has toured both Australia and overseas and has been a featured act at festivals as diverse as the prestigious Wangaratta Jazz, the Noumea ‘Live in August’, Apollo Bay, Queenscliff and Caloundra Jazz & Blues, to name but a few. Hogan’s history makes him the world’s southern most blues man, hailing as he does from the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island. He started his career in the 1960s with his first band The Unknown Blues. Moving to Australia in 1970 he has become well known over the last 4 decades fronting tough blues act Southern Lightning, electric country blues outfit, The Paramount Trio and the legendary Blues Hangover, which also featured the late slide guitar icon Pete Wells and British bass legend John Stax. Hogan has also been featured as a harmonica player both on the road and on recordings with country artists such as A.P Johnson, Doug Mansfield, Vic O’Neill and Peter Caulton.

Lead Guitarist David Adam has been a professional musician who wields an old strat with style and grace and knows how to apply the gas when required. David was just 22 when he joined local rockabilly blues band The Rhythmatics around the St Andrews Christmas Hills area north east of Melbourne. In 1984 he joined Melbourne institution Relax With Max, which featured players like Gary Young, Ross Hannaford, James Black, Greg Ham et al. Other collaborations include The Brent Parlane band in the late 80’s, in the 90’s the soul groove band The Impossibles, David also became a master of New Orleans style funk grooves, playing with T-Hammer for many years at the famous Rainbow Hotel Fitzroy. David has also performed with local artist including Leslie Avril, Mark Smith (Chicken House) and Sam Linton Smith’s Black Cat Bone.

Drummer Ken Farmer is known and admired by virtually everyone on the Australian blues and jazz scenes for his ‘playing like no-one else’ drum and washboard skills. There are few people he hasn’t played with since beginning his career in 1960. Ken has over 30 bands listed in ‘Who’s Who of Australian Rock’ – and that’s only up until 1992! Long time friends Hogan and Farmer have been sharing stages for more than 20 years and both were founder members of The Paramount Trio and Blues Hangover. Dave declares Ken to be “the most musical drummer I have ever played with and one of the few true gentlemen in the ego driven music business”.

Stepping into the bass role is Chris Farmer, Ken’s wife. She is well known as a founder member of The Mojos, Percolators, Mudcats, and Hoochie Coochie Boys. Equally adept on electric and double bass, Chris has also toured Europe with New Orleans and R&B stalwarts The Sydney Stompers. Chris’s musical knowledge, feel and experience make the band swing even harder. Joining the Meltdown crew at the same time as Chris is Paul Neuendorf, a wonderful and versatile guitarist and singer renowned for his work with The Dancehall Racketeers, Zydeco Jump, Blues Before Sunrise and Texacali Rose among many others. With Paul, like the Farmers – you name ‘em - he’s played with ‘em.

Instrumentation

Dave Hogan – Vocals, harmonica
David Adam – Lead guitar
Paul Neuendorf – Guitar, vocals
Ken Farmer – Drums, vocals
Chris Farmer - Bass

Discography

Atlantis Sessions - Released 2002
Little Lies - Released 2005
Holler & Twang Released 2009

For more information see:

Website: http://davehogansmeltdown.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/davehogansmeltdown

Audio

• Holler & Twang
  Listen  
• Going To Texas (Texas QLD)
  Listen  
• April Fool
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• Little Lies
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Holler & Twang
• Going To Texas (Texas QLD)
• Little Lies

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Holler & Twang [+ Show ]
  

  26/07/2009 Those who have been in a bar bar rocking to to the music of Dave Hogan's Meltdown and ...26/07/2009
  
  Those who have been in a bar bar rocking to to the music of Dave Hogan's Meltdown and have felt Ken Farmer's timekeeping recalibrate their body clock will find much to enjoy here. New member Paul Neuendorf (ex Dancehall Racketeers, Blues Before Sunrise et al.,) brings his strong vocals, swinging guitar and fine songwriting - April Fool is a sly crooner that would suit well with Bing Crosby in his day, or Willie Nelson.
  
  Bassist Chris Farmer (ex Mojo's) joins husband Ken in a rhythm section of taste and drive. Hogan (vocals, harmonica) and guitarist David Adam have co-written four strong songs; especially worthy are album title track, an ode to life-enhancing qualities of howlin at the moon, and Going to Texas (Texas QLD), a genuine Australian road song.
  
  There is more of a country accent than on Meltdown's previous album (2005) but only because the treatment suits the new material. Long-time fans of one of Melbourne's best bands will be pleased that the live favorite Lonely Woman Make Good Lovers, by Spooner Oldham, finally makes it disc.
  
  Ken Williams

• Dave Hogan's Meltdown Holler & Twang [+ Show ]
  

  July 2009 In a note acompanying this new release, Mr Hogan himself wrote, "a bit more country lea...July 2009
  
  In a note acompanying this new release, Mr Hogan himself wrote, "a bit more country leaning than usual but I'm having more fun with this current line-up than I've have had in years" And it shows!
  
  Indeed, look more closely and this is an all star line-up with vast experience. Gun guitarist David Adam, probably best know for his role in Relax With Max, wields his strat with style and grace; Paul Neuendorf has worked with the likes of of the Dancehall Rackateers, Texicali Rose and Zydeco Jump; and how many bands can boast the husband-and-wife rhythm section (Ken and Chris Farmer).
  
  Launching from Dave Hogan's long and rich grounding in blues, Holler & Twang does what it promises, the twang element rising to prominence in a significantly country/honky tonk influenced set.
  
  The title comes from a track of the same name written by Hogan and Adam, one of four compositions by the pair. Neuedorf contributes one, 'April Fool', and the remaining songs are well-chosen faves' from the twangin' stars like Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, Tom T Hall (their soul-blues flavour in 'That's How I got to Memphis' is a great album closer), and Delbert McClinton.
  
  But Holler & Twang is just one facet of of what Meltdown are capable of. Next time you see'em in the gig guide, go see for yourself.
  
  Martin Jones
  

Setlist

Way too Much
Going to Texas (Texas QLD)
Holler & Twang
Jesterman
Little Lies
Tigerman
Melbourne Bound
The Hustle Is On
Six Days On The Road
Adoration Train
That's How I got Memphis
Hole In My Head
The Part I Like Best
Walking Blues
Automatic
Every Night About this Time
Not Fade Away
When The Levee Breaks
Little Mama
I wish You Would
Sneaking Around
It's All Good

Basic Requirements

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