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The ‘It’s Real!’ CD is the dream-child of old friends Terry Darmody and Steve Messer. It was inspired by their long-term affection for vintage gospel and ‘roots’ music. With Steve’s band, Strange Country, and other generous contributors, they revisited 14 classic songs.

The 12-page sleeve insert explains how and why they did it, and introduces the new listener to historical gospel music legends including Blind Willie Johnson, Fanny Crosby, Washington Phillips, Arizona Dranes and Charles A. Tindley. Most important of all is the intention to leave listeners with the impression that these people love the gospel they’re singing about.

In the 1960s, Terry sang & played harmonica & jug with Sydney’s Original Battersea Heroes, a good-time rock’n’roll/jug band. That developed into Uncle Bob’s Band, an audaciously eclectic outfit that amalgamated genres like 1930s swing & novelty music, 50s rock’n’roll, 60s psychedelic & sharp 1970s songwriting. After Uncle Bob’s Band, Terry supported songwriter Ken Brumby on harmonica & sang with hot Melbourne comboes Les Swing Modernes, The Fabulous Nudes & The Gents. Since 1981, he’s been singing gospel in pubs, jails, churches, Praise Corroborees & an acapella quartet the Amazing Grace Bros, as well as coordinating a weekly gospel music show on Sydney’s Radio Skid Row.

Steve Messer’s Strange Country comprises Steve Messer (harmonica, mandolin, slide guitar and vocals), Steve Camp (acoustic guitar and vocals), Darryl Thompson (electric guitars, dobro, lap-steel, accordion, piano, organ and vocals), Rod Boreham (bass and vocals), Paul Rooney (guitars), Chuck van den Belt (guitars) and Michael Stritch/Andy Messer (drums). The band’s sound fuses elements of country, bluegrass, blues and gospel into a high-energy whole.They’ve performed widely across Victoria with occasional trips interstate particularly every year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Their performances combine deft musical interplay and full-bodied vocal harmonizing along with songs rich in life’s joys and struggles, hard times, high hopes and the triumph of faith.

Their collaboration with Sydney gospel music livewire Terry Darmody is a rootsy exploration of a variety of gospel styles. The result is a diverse & rewarding gospel music experience where contemporary sounds reflect reverence for tradition, and city meets country in an electric-acoustic harmony of influences from blues to bluegrass & hillbilly country. It's Real.

   You can e-mail them via smstrangecountry@yahoo.com.au