"FLYING HIGH" - NEIL'S LATEST ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE

"Flying High" is my first new solo "album" in 4 years -  since I released "The Disappearing Man" into the wild 1n 2021.  That makes this my 7th full album.

I've been making and recording lots of music in the meantime - with the "Pambula Beach Garage Band" in The Shed in Pambula Beach; with Joe Cannon as 50% of  "The Cannon Porter Project" and with "The Safe Hands Band", as well as putting a compilation of my French/France inspired music together in a short form album(ette) for the local Alliance Française  - ("Perdu dans la Traduction"). I've also been happily involved in helping my old MacJams friend Ed Hannifin with what's looking like being an epic collection of his great songs.

There are 14 songs on "Flying High" : some are major remixes of older songs of mine that were pretty underdone when they were first made available to the general public; a few are new(ish) tunes that have been re-mixed but have only had limited releas previously as "singles"; and the rest are recent recordings of totally new music.

1. Flying High 03:23

2. Do For Love 03:39

3. Icarus Wings 03:55

4. A Little Bit Older Now 04:02

5. Looking For El Dorado 04:15

6. Modern Girl 05:00

7. 10000 Miles Between Us 03:35

8. Shakin' ('Cos It's Cold Outside) 04:14

9. Les Échelles De La Mort 03:10

10. Blainville-sur-Mer (White Sea, Black Jersey) 04:12

11. Darker Side 03:13

12. Under My Skin 04:03

13. (Why Are You) Burning Down The House? 04:27

14. This Perfect Morning 03:39

I'm really happy how all 14 songs have responded to time, love and care to come up with this final collection.

All amounts received from sales of “Flying High” will be donated to The Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast. 

"Flying High" is mainly a solo effort, but I had some excellent musicians joining me here and there.  

Thanks to: 

Joe Cannon from Sydney (NSW) (backing vocals on "Darker Side" and guitar on "This Perfect Morning").  Extra thanks to Joe for inspiation and support getting some of the songs together;

John Drews from Merimbula (NSW) (keyboards on “Darker Side”;

Thor Oliversen from Norway (lead guitar on "Burning Down The House"); 

Sisters Ann Cozean and Marty Ross Vining from California (backing vocals on "Burning Down The House"); 

John Libby from Boston (keyboards on "Burning Down The House"); 

Mike Watkins from Virginia (drums on "Burning Down The House" and "This Perfect Morning", and "drum inspiration" for "Darker Side"); 

Roger Ilott from Stanthorpe (Qld) (12 string Rickenbacker guitar on "This Perfect Morning");

Ed Hannifin from Boston for reviewing the songs and providing timely feedback before release.

Love and thanks to Jan for putting up with all the time I spent on this project.

Photo by Kerry Hines

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

The Cannon/Porter Project

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".

The Disappearing Man

 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.

"BiiK"

"BiiK" is a collaboration between Peter Reid (drummer with PBGB) and myself.  The concept and many of the ideas are Pete's - my job was to put them into a workable recording.
  
Pete played all the drum loops in using his Roland e-kit and I played all the bass, guitar and keyboard parts (many of which I turned into loops). 

It's big and it's dirty and was a joy to work on - a classic PBGB Pete'n'Neil collaboration..

It's up on the PBGB BandCamp page HERE.  Give it a listen.

"When Ya Gonna?" - more Shed fun :)

This started out as a PBGB jam in the Shed with John Drews, Peter Reid, Steve Faggotter, Graham Brown and me. I took the rudimentary instrumental tracks and added some words (and some length) in my home studio - et voila!

We had a ball doing this - whenever John drags a Hammond into the Shed it's always a good musical omen.

Steve Faggotter - Telecaster
Neil Porter - Bass, Vocals and Production
John Drews - Hammond organ
Peter Reid - Roland E-Drums,
Graham Brown - percussiony bits and pieces


When Ya Gonna?
©2017 Lyrics: Neil Porter

1

When you gonna
Lift your game
When you gonna
Say my name
When you gonna
Get it right
One day you gonna
See the light

2
When you gonna
Play your part
When you gonna
Break my heart
When you gonna
Walk away
One day you gonna
Up and stray

SOLOS

3
When you gonna
Show a sign
When you gonna
Say you’re mine
When you gonna
Take my hand
One day you gonna
Understand

4
When you gonna
Lift your game
When you gonna
Say my name
When you gonna
Get it right
One day you gonna
See the light

One day you gonna
See the light

One day you gonna
See the light

MARASTIQUE - Surfing World

Here's one from the archive - Surfing World Edition16 #5 article on Marastique.  Some continuity problems, but you'll get the gist.  Must have been early 70s.  Good times!

PBGB On a Roll with "Wood U Like Chips With That?"

PBGB recorded this in 2010. We'd written it for a gig we did for a local conservation group, and played it live once. We forgot about it soon after recording it as we changed personnel and the gig was over. This is the second studio recording we did at the time and features Chris Ralfs on bass, Gus Washbourne on guitar, Peter Reid on drums and me on vocals, guitars, keyboards and production.

I accidentally stumbled across it on an old hard drive and decided to rejuvenate it a bit and set it free. As it turns out, I didn't have to do much to it, just a tweak or two in Ozone 5 really.

I'm really pleased we found this, as it is from a very creative period in the PBGB Shed when we were trying out some pretty "out there" things - definitely the "golden age" of PBGB from my point of view.

Enjoy :)

Wood U Like Chips With That? 

©2010 Peter Reid/Neil Porter 

There’s protest in the forest 

Two different points of view you 

see 

One on the side of nature 

One on the economy 

There are those that see the 

forests 

As revenue, that’s that 

There’s those that see the trees as 

crucial habitat 

Some people protest 

They know just what it’s worth 

They put their bodies on the line 

To save the lungs of the universe 

They know their grandkids 

Need the forests and the trees 

Koalas in the treetops 

Let’s protect the air we breathe 

What do we want? 

When do we want it? 

Hands off our future 

We want it now 

What do we want? When do we 

want it? 

Do it now! 

SOLO x 2 verses (16 bars) 

What do we want? 

When do we want it? 

Hands off our future 

We want it now 

What do we want? When do we 

want it? 

Do it now! 

We can’t all join the protest 

But we can back the people who 

were there 

We can help to pay the fines 

We can show them that we care 

The forests are for everyone 

They belong to us all 

The trees hold our future 

Let’s not see them fall 

There’s protest in the forest 

Two different points of view you 

see 

One on the side of nature 

One on the economy 

There are those that see the 

forests 

As revenue, that’s that 

There’s those that see the trees as 

crucial habitat 

What do we want? 

When do we want it? 

Hands off our future 

We want it now 

What do we want? When do we 

want it? 

Do it now!

Featuring:
Peter Reid on drums
Gus Washbourne on guitar
Chris Ralfs on bass
Neil Porter on vocals, guitar, keyboards

"Dead Man Walking"

It's been at least 4 months since I wrote this, and it's been sitting around gathering dust for ages - until this morning, when I decided it was time to post it so I can start something new. Originally written with PBGB in mind, but I just can't seem to have any success with my songs in that context at the moment.
Lyrics could really be about anything these days - is it just me, or is the world in a mess - though I suspect the subject matter when I wrote it was the voting public responsible for the current nightmare in US politics. I've said it before: wtf were you thinking!
It's a solo effort - drums by Mason in Drummer.

Lyrics

Dead Man Walking
©2017 Neil Porter

D7 D7sus4
You’re just a dead man walking
You don’t realise
You’re just a poor fool talking
Like all the other guys
D#9
Dead man walking
F9
Poor fool talking
D7 D7sus4
D#9
Dead man walking
F9
Poor fool talking

Another blind man watching
Was there another way?
You must be hard of hearing
You had so much to say
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking

BRIDGE: | G7 | G7 | C | C | F9 | F9 | Fm7 | Gm7 |

You’ve got so much to say
But I don’t know what you mean
I hear the words OK
But I can’t read in between
Sometimes I wonder
Did you learn anything at school
You’ve got so much to say
Not saying anything at all

SOLO

I’m hearing what you’re saying
But I don’t understand
I see the game you’re playing
See through your messy plans
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking

You got my blood near boiling
I didn’t understand
Your squeaky wheel needs oiling
You need to kick some cans
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking

Dead man walking
Poor fool talking
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking

Dead man walking
Poor fool talking
Dead man walking
Poor fool talking

PBGB version of "Under The Southern Cross"

I wrote "Under The Southern Cross" in 2011 as a response to Cyclone Yasi which caused so much damage and loss of life in Queensland.

At the time, I recorded my own version of the song, and we went on to also record this PBGB version in The Shed in trio mode.  This has only recently re-surfaced after being inexplicably "lost" on a hard drive for over 5 years.

At the time, trio mode (Chris Ralfs on bass, Peter Reid on drums and vocals, and myself on guitar and vocals) was our regular lineup - this version is a good indication of how we were sounding, although I have added some keyboards and percussion and re-sung the vocals.  Other than that, it's pretty much live.

To me, this is the "golden" period of PBGB when we were original, with each of us working to our strengths in writing, singing and playing.  I miss the creativity and simplicity of these times, and the feeling of potential every time we "had a crack" at a new tune.

So, this version shows Pete's ability to provide a driving rhythmic backbone, Chris' relentless but inventive basslines and my slightly "out there" guitar work and vocals.  I'm also pretty pleased with the production on this.

Under The Southern Cross 

©2011 Neil Porter 

Dark night 

Under the Southern Cross 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Star bright 

Look at the things we lost 

Do right 

Do right 

Dark night 

Under the Southern Cross 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Big rain 

Out of the southern sky 

Big fright 

Big fright 

Hard pain 

After the longest dry 

Not right 

Not right 

Dark night 

Under the Southern Cross 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Hold tight, hold tight 

SOLO 

Don’t know 

How much it’s going to cost 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Can’t say 

How many lives are lost 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Dark night 

Under the Southern Cross 

Hold tight 

Hold tight 

Hold tight