Bob Log III, The Annandale Hotel, 26/06/09

Kicking off the The Annandale’s annual birthday week was the enigmatic, bizarre, freaky talented (I could go on, but you get it) Bob Log III. The America/Australia based Log is an Annandale semi-regular and judging by the enthusiasm of the full house, he’s always welcome. Having missed his last 2 tours due to conflicting gigs (the bane of many regular punters) I was steadfast in my half-arsed determination to make it for this show, with nothing but apathy standing in my way.

Bob Log III has released 4 funky blues albums; School Bus, Trike, Log Bomb, and this year’s My Shit Is Perfect. These all sound something like ZZ Top or John Lee Hooker or even BB King on acid. It’s delta blues performed as a one man band with slide guitar and feet powered drums. With his full body suit and helmet rigged with telephone, Bob Log III is no dipshit gimmick, but the real deal who gave us a blues rock dance party. He’s toured with the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Franz Ferdinand and The Blues Explosion, which is a pretty damn impressive resume.

But poke me with a red hot poker if his guitar work isn’t phenomenal. His rollicking slide guitar chops need to be analysed in closer mathematical detail – I believe he may be from the future, or perhaps some beautiful alternate reality where music like this is the norm and deadbeats like Britney Spears are non-existent. And his multitasking abilities were stretched further, when while still playing guitar he attempted to sail over the crowd in a inflatable dingy. Unfortunately the crowd failed dismally and dropped the poor bastard and the dingy. He hit the floor head first but was back on stage soon enough. Late in the show he even wandered off the stage into the crowd, heading out the past the bar and out the back – where he looked a little lost but was soon guided back behind the bar and on stage again.

Bob Log III’s deeply witty tunes are genuinely hilarious –what do you expect with songs like Clap Your Tits, Drunk Stripper, One Man Boom Band and Manipulate Your Figments? Crowd favourite Boob Scotch was a riffing highlight and had a few of us singing along; “I think we need to sit down and talk, put your boob in my scotch. Come on dip your tit in my drink, stir my scotch with something that’s pink!” Good wholesome fun right there.

After a hip shaking, toe tapping, totally rockin’ performance sadly it was all over – but never fear, Bob Log III and his band will return soon enough. Yes, that’s right – his band. As he says; “Lemme introduce the band to ya. On cymbals, left foot. Over here on the bass drum we got right foot. Shut up! This is my left hand that does all the slide work, right hand does the pickin’. My mouth hole does most of the talkin’. And you’re looking at my finger. My finger is an asshole!” Sounds a little crazy? That’s Bob Log III for you.

Click here Bob Log III if you want to buy some of his music.

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