“I’m on my 49th album. 21st with the Black Sorrows,” says Joe Camilleri with a sideways glance that dares you to believe it. “So there’s a lot of sins I got to repent.”
For those who came in late, the 48 recordings that arrived before new disc Citizen John range from the ‘70s soul-ska revolution of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, the peerless FM radio conquest of ‘Hold Onto Me’ and ‘Harley & Rose’ and, from the Drollies circa ’65 to Bakelite Radio and the Revelators, which is probably more soul-fed, sweat-soaked bar bands than he cares to count.
Right now though, it’s all about Citizen John, and as the new album opens onto the rain-soaked black-country panorama of ‘Wednesday’s Child’, it is the only album that matters to Joe. All that came before — six decades’ worth of songs that flow like molten gold through the annals of Australian music — has been leading to this expertly crafted world of soul and intrigue.
A staggering 55 years on, Citizen John drinks from the same bottomless well that made Jo Jo Zep and the Falcon’s Screaming Targets and the late ’80s Black Sorrows blockbuster ‘Hold Onto Me’ indelible landmarks in the history of Australian music. In one sense however, the key is what remains the same: the gut-wrenching stories of lyricist Nick Smith and the deep roots in rhythm & blues of countless shades that sustain long-time touring companions Claude Carranza (guitar), Mark Gray (bass) and Angus Burchall (drums).
And as is the norm, The Black Sorrows take to the highways of Australia to showcase the new album, including a feature performance at Bluesfest in Byron Bay, before heading back to Europe for a string of dates in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
For Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows, the new album is about perpetual change.
“I’m not a heritage act. I’ve never been a heritage act. I’ve always been a constant player. The Sorrows continue to thrive and grow not because we’re an ‘80s band, or a ‘90s band, or any other kind of band.
We exist because of the now. Just treat me like a new act,” he says. “It’s just that this one’s got a very old face.”
Citizen John Album
The Black Sorrows
Out Friday 29 March 2019 through Bloodlines
Deluxe Edition with bonus live tracks available for a limited time only
Pre-order available here
Citizen John tracklist:
1. Wednesday’s Child
2. Brother Moses Sister Mae
3. Lazy Slide Guitar
4. Way Below The Heavens
5. Worlds Away
6. Wild Times
7. Messiah
8. Storm The Bastille
9. Play It Sentimental
10. Citizen John
11. Silvio
12. Lover I Surrender
13. Wednesday’s Child (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
14. Do I Move You (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
15. Silvio (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
16. Lover I Surrender (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
17. Way Below The Heavens (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
18. Down Home Girl (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
19. Brother Moses Sister Mae (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
20. Citizen John (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
21. The Honeydripper (Live) – Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition only)
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Friday 15 February – Bay Central Tavern | Hervey Bay, QLD
Tickets available here
Saturday 16 February – Anges Waters Blues & Roots Festival | Anges Waters, QLD
Tickets available here
Thursday 21 February – Garden Of Unearthly Delights | Adelaide, SA
Tickets available here
Friday 22 February – Old Mill Inn | Hahndorf, SA
Tickets available here
Saturday 23 February – Coopers Inn | Wallaroo, SA
Tickets available here
Sunday 24 February – Blues Brews And BBQ | Hobart, TAS
Tickets available here
Sunday 17 March – By The C at Leura Park Estate | Geelong, VIC
Tickets available here
Sunday 17 March – John Power Memorial Concert at Memo Music Hall | St Kilda, VIC
Tickets available here
Friday 22 March – The Star Hotel | Gundagai, NSW
Tickets available here
Saturday 23 March – Rewind In The Vines | Griffith, NSW
Tickets available here
Friday 29 March – The Palms At Crown | Melbourne, VIC
On sale soon
Sunday 31 March – Royal Hotel | Meredith, VIC
Ph: 03 5286 1100
Friday 5 April – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre | Mandurah, WA
Saturday 6 April – Bridgetown Hotel | Bridgetown, WA
Sunday 7 April – By The C | Cottesloe Beach, WA
Tickets available here
Thursday 11 April – Camelot Lounge | Marrickville, NSW
Tickets available here
Friday 12 April – Dee Why RSL | Dee Why, NSW
Saturday 13 April – Belmont 16s | Belmont, NSW
Tickets available here
Sunday 14 April – By The C | Wollongong, NSW
Tickets available here
Thursday 18 April – Byron Bay Bluesfest | Tyagarah, NSW
Tickets available here
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
Thursday 25 April – PizzaExpress Live | Maidstone, UK
Friday 26 April – Nell’s Jazz & Blues | London, UK
Saturday 27 April – Nidaros Blues Festival | Trondheim, Norway
Tuesday 30 April – på Hjörnet | Nesbyen, Norway
Wednesday 1 May – John DEE | Oslo, Norway
Thursday 2 May – Folk & Rock | Malmo, Sweden
Friday 3 May – Bryggerhuset | Halden, Norward
Saturday 4 May – Portalen | Copenhagen, Denmark
For more info go to: http://www.theblacksorrows.com.au/
