The Safe Hands Band

In 2011, an international bunch of talented musicians (from Norway, the US and Australia) from the music collaboration community “MacJams” got together to produce an original song (with video) called .  

In April 2025, the band was reconvened to record a slightly (lol) political song called "(Why Are You) Burning Down The House".  Unfortunately Chris was unavailable on bass.

This album highlights songs recorded and released by "The Safe Hands Band": Anne, Marty, John, Thor, Mike, Neil and Chris.

Videos are available for both songs in this mini EP (links on the BandCamp page).  We hope to add more songs in the future.

credits

Mike Watkins (Virginia USA) - drums
Thor Oliversen (Norway) - lead guitar
Anne Cozean (California USA) - backing vocals
Marty Ross Vining (California USA) - backing vocals
Chris Flynn (Texas USA) - bass on "Safe Hands"
John Libby (Massachusetts USA) - keys
Neil Porter (NSW, Australia)- vocal, guitar, bass (on "(Why Are You) Burning Down The House")

license

©all rights reserved

Les chansons françaises

Prepared for the Alliance Française de La Côte de Saphir, this is a collection of my songs (from 2004 to 2024) either about, written in, or inspired by France (Ougney-Douvot, Mantes-la-Jolie, Blainville-Sur-Mer) and French-speaking Switzerland (Cernier, prés de Neuchâtel). Most are in english (or mainly english), but all are deeply influenced by our friends in, and visits to, french-speaking countries.

Merci pour tout: Daniel et Nicole; Marc, Brigitte, Karine, Bertrand, Apolline, Laurentin, Jean-Francois, et Joëlle; Marie-Thé, Pierre, Mathilde, Marceau et Gaëtan; Robert.

The first 5 tracks are the most obviously “French” one way or another. There are another 5 tracks included as “bonuses” which are more French-inspired, rather than French. 

There is no cost to download the complete "French Collection" :)

It includes one song (in french) sung by our friend from Ougney-les-Champs in Franch Comté, Marc Trannoy.

Musically, it covers the ground between folk and rock, and reflects our obsession with France - probably won't appeal to all tastes :)

My apologies to any native speakers who listen - my French accent is "interesting" at best :)

Thanks to Jan for help avec les mots français!

Credits:

Marc Trannoy - vocals and lyrics on "Je Reste sur le Sable"
Mike Watkins form Sterling, Virginia in the US plays drums on "Sur le Sable" and "Lost In Translation".
The rest of the songs are me on guitars, bass, keyboards, drum programming and vocals.

license

©all rights reserved

A collection of songs featuring Joe Cannon and Neil Porter.

Joe Cannon and I were founder members of "The Rusty Dusty Brothers" in during the mid 70's.  RDB played a wide range of country rock, and enjoyed some reputation on the Sydney music scene (mainly after I left the band it must be said).

We both took different paths through the following 39 years, although we each continued to write and ultimately record, a considerable catalog of original songs.

In 2023 we rejoined forces with some friends (from RDB and internationally) to develop a collection of our originals recorded with modern tech.

Of the 20+ songs we were working on, 4 reached final production and were "released" via BandCamp et al.  We've had radio exposure on 2SER FM's "Dirt Music" with Stuart Coupe and various community radio stations (including 2SEAFM in Eden and Sapphire Community Radio in Merimbula).

Musicians appearing are:

Joe Cannon - words & music, vocals, acoustic & electric guitars

Neil Porter - words and music, vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, post production, editing, mixing

Roger Ilott - 12 string guitar, pedal steel guitar

Lee Williams - ukulele

Mike Watkins - drums

John Drews - keyboards

Kevin Purdy - post production, editing, mixing & drums

William Bowden (King Willy Sound) - mastering

Available for purchase at the CPP BandCamp Page: 

thecannonporterproject.bandcamp.com

©all rights reserved

5 Years of Catch-up History

Greetings from Pambula Beach!

So, it's almost exactly 5 years since my last post.  Embarrassingly, it seems I forgot about this blog.  Not as though nothing musical has been happening.

I'll add some new posts as time permits, starting with:

"The Cannon Porter Project"; The "Perdue dans la Traduction" french album; and the "Safe Hands Project".

 Somewhat late in making this announcement!  My latest (6th) album is now available on BandCamp.  Listen for free - buy if you'd like to :)

First Rusty Dusty Brothers release 2020

It's been 44 years since I last played with The Rusty Dusty Brothers, a country-rock band from Sydney. We had good times playing around the city in a range of venues including The Bondi Lifesaver, French's and many others. 

To cut a long story short, a year or so ago, the idea of doing a "reunion album" was raised, and Rainman is the first completed track for that album. 

Interestingly, this ticks off a few RDB "firsts" for me, most notably: my first vocal with the band and; the first song of mine that RDB has played. 

This band is made up of 4/6 of the original personnel in the first two incarnations of the band in the mid to late 70s plus Roger's family (Penny and Jordy) and Mike Watkins from Virginia in the US, with whom I've done quite a bit of online recording over the past 15 years. 

I'm very pleased with how Roger has produced the song, and look forward to being involved with many more.

Personnel:

NEIL PORTER lead vocal. acoustic guitar, bass guitar 

JOE CANNON backing vocals 

JED HUDSON mandolin 

J.D. ILOTT pedal steel 

MIKE WATKINS drums and percussion

PENNY DAVIES backing vocals 

ROGER ILOTT Fender Telecaster, acoustic guitar, backing vocals 

Written by Neil Porter, Produced by Roger Ilott 

Photo by Brian Funnell

© all rights reserved

"Arden Street" by Owl Noble - now available

Here's one I'm proud to be associated with:

Allan Noble is a regular member of the PBGB cooperative, and over the past 18 months or so he's been having some bad luck: losing his unfinshed home to the Tathra bushfires in 2018, and now hopefully coming to the end of a 10 month battle with oesophageal cancer.

We had recorded 10 songs of Al's over the last 12 months, and decided to put them together in an album.  Then, when Al's finances were getting tight, decided to release the album to the world.  With the help of musicians Manny Aigner, Mick Nadin, Louise Nadin, Ken Vatcher, Peter Reid, Steve Faggotter, Graham Brown, John Drews and myself, we are proud to announce that Al's album "Arden Street" is available for a listen and purchase at his "Owl Noble" BandCamp page.

A digital download only costs $10 (or you can volunteer to pay more if you want), and your purchase will make a definite difference to Al and his family - and, you get some well written and performed songs.  Every cent will go directly into Al's bank account.

Thanks!

A little recent history

"The Jenerators" formed in late 2017 with the aim to produce some good RnB music featuring local songstress Jen Halper.  After many rehearsals, 4 drummers and other personnel changes, we played what was reportedly a great set at the 2018 Merimbula Wave Classic in November '18.  Then folded!

Life wasn't meant to include a band along these lines, but it was mostly good fun.  Here are a few pics from the "big night out" featuring Manny Aigner (guitar), Dennis Millsom (Keyboards, Ken Vatcher (drums), Jen Halper (vocals) and me on bass.

There are rumoured to be a vid or two out there of the night, but they haven't surfaced yet.

C'est la vie!

MARASTIQUE - "Just Full And Happy"

In 1972 and 1973 I had the pleasure of playing bass with a bunch of surfer/musicians on the northern beaches of Sydney in the mystical, magical acoustic version of Marastique.  Big on the surfing scene, but never really interested in "pop" recognition, I was really proud to be a part of this unique band of fine musicians and friendly, decent people.

This extract is from the Tracks magazine from July 1972.  Thanks "Gash", wherever you are.

Should be some interesting news on the band front in a month or so

Currently rehearsing with Jen Halper (vocals, harp), Manny Aigner (guitars/vocals), Mark Bichard (drums/vocals) and Dennis Milsom (keyboards/vocals) to add a new band to the local mix in 2018.  Watch this space.