February 24, 2025 • 18 mins
Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians.
Rai Thistlethwayte, frontman of Thirsty Merc and founding member of The Fabulous Caprettos, joins us for an engaging conversation about his latest musical adventures.
From sharing the stage with the Goo Goo Dolls on their electrifying Summer Anthem Tour across Australia to reminiscing about his acid jazz roots with early band The Box, Rai lets us in on the stories behind the music.
He also opens up about his collaboration with Delta Goodrem, including a memorable festive performance and a creative songwriting camp escapade in Bali. Dive into the unique sounds and cultural influences that have shaped Rai's musical journey, drawing parallels with icons like Jamiroquai and Brand New Heavies.
Meanwhile, we explore the evolving career of legendary musician Russell Morris, who now prefers performances closer to his heart and home. Evergreen and energetic Joe Camilleri and the dynamic Wendy Matthews has joined the tour, bringing fresh energy and to the mix.
We celebrate the synergy Wendy adds to the group, harkening back to past collaborations and her memorable contributions at events like the Don Spencer Children's Music Fund show.
As we chat about embracing change and honoring the contributions of artists both seasoned and new, you'll discover how the music scene continues to thrive with vibrant, fresh talent.
What has Rai Thistlethwayte been up to lately? Let's find out!!
Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!
Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cheryl Lee (00:02):
That Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still Rockin' itpodcast where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith some of our favourite
Australian musicians and artists.
We have spoken to members of theFabulous Caprettos before, the
greatest of all time, DaveGleeson from the Screaming Jets
(00:23):
and previously the Angels,Russell Morris, Jack Jones from
Southern Sons and RaiThistlethwayte from Thirsty Merc
, and today we're catching upagain with Rai.
To find out all the gossip, tocatch up on podcasts from other
favourite artists, simply go tothatradiochick.
com.
au.
You're with Cheryl Lee thatRadio Chick and I'd like to
(00:47):
welcome into the Zoom room todayRai Thistlewayte from the
Fabulous Caprettos and ThirstyMerc.
Of course, we've got some greatnews to talk about some changes
to your boy band.
If we can talk about those in aminute and perhaps start with
what you've been up to lately.
Rai Thistlethwayte (01:05):
I just did a gig with the Goo Goo Dolls last
night.
In where were we?
We were in Newcastle last nightand then played at the Sydney
Horton Pavilion the night beforethat, and then, being in
Canberra Tomorrow, I'm going toBrisbane with those guys and
then going to Adelaide, thengoing to Melbourne and then
that's that run wrapped up.
I'm just doing bits and piecesof Thirsty Merc stuff touring
(01:26):
around and basically just beinga working musician, though
having a good time as well.
Cheryl Lee (01:30):
Yeah, I noticed that you were special guests of the
Goo Goo Dolls Summer Anthem Tour.
Had you worked with them before?
Rai Thistlethwayte (01:38):
No, this is the first time actually, but
they're really lovely guys andeverybody's really cool and the
crew and really really goodorganised project and, yeah,
it's been fun.
Cheryl Lee (01:50):
So get onto the Google-o-meter, because the
Adelaide date is still to come.
I saw recently a clip you andDelta Goodrum at the Christmas
special doing Rockin' Around theChristmas Tree.
That was so good.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:01):
It was fun.
I think that wasn't filmed lastyear, it was the one before.
Right was so good, it was fun.
I think that wasn't filmed lastyear, it was the one before
right.
Yeah, I just reposted itbecause it was just.
You know, it's probably themost Christmassy thing I've got.
It also sounds and looks, youknow, nicely presented and
Delta's also just an absolutelegend and I love her.
Yeah, it was really cool it wasbeautiful.
Cheryl Lee (02:18):
I really loved it.
Thank you for posting that hadyou worked with Delta before or
since.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:23):
Well, I had worked with her more in a
songwriting sense really.
I attended a thing in Bali, ofall places, we were both at the
same sort of songwriting.
It was almost like a camp.
Everybody kind of went overthere and set up in studios and
collaborated with everybody, andit was a nice vibe.
Cheryl Lee (02:37):
I read about that.
Actually Does that happen veryoften, Because I hadn't heard of
that sort of thing before.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:43):
That sort of thing's happening all around
the world quite often, but youknow, a lot of places like
Nashville, which are known fortheir songwriting scenes, will
host things like that.
This was more of an LA guy who,yeah, had people from Sweden
and UK and US and a few Aussies,of course, as well.
In fact, there was a Scottishguy I did a song with as well
there, which was pretty cool.
Yeah, it was a good vibe,Awesome.
Cheryl Lee (03:06):
Now, what else have you been up to?
At the end of last year youtoured a little bit with your
first ever band, the Box.
Rai Thistlethwayte (03:12):
Oh my God, yeah, just like catch-up gigs
around the place sometimes.
Just, you know, basically we'vegot a guitarist that lives
overseas.
When he comes back we just sortof put a few gigs in the book
and just we use thoseopportunities as a way to play.
But also, you know, becauseit's a chance to get together,
we end up spending an extra dayhaving a rehearsal and then just
turns into a bit of a hang anda party and you know, that's
(03:33):
kind of it's fun, it's a reallygood vibe.
It's a lot of groove and a lotof we.
It just gives us a chance tosort of check in with a very, a
lot younger version of ourselveswhen we were sort of, you know,
just coming up through theranks.
And yeah, it's nice to be ableto do that every year.
Cheryl Lee (03:54):
So just an excuse to hang out.
Really, it's described as acidjazz, funk, jam band grooves.
What's acid jazz?
Rai Thistlethwayte (04:02):
Oh, look, if you look up the classic sort of
Acid Jazz, it was probably likea combination of funk, disco,
jazz sort of, but it hadelements of improvising and
elements of danceable grooves,but they weren't really in that
sort of jazz swing sort of sense.
They were more in a kind of amodern fusion sort of sense.
But some of the instrumentationwas borrowed heavily from jazz
(04:22):
and some of the elements ofimprovisation borrowed heavily
from jazz.
But really it's sort of acrossover between funk and
groove music.
Really we had a an element ofjam band stuff in there because
we were sort of mixing that witha fusion of other things.
You know slightly sort ofpsychedelic lyricism and things
like that, and our lead singerkind of brought that to the the
front.
But I think, yeah, like it'sjust a thing that was basically
(04:45):
also going on in the UK in the90s.
I guess the most well-known bandthat had pop crossover appeal
from that time was Jamiroquai.
Yeah, also bands like Brand NewHeavies and those sort of
things.
It's got some of those elements.
Sonic, it's the kind of musicthat you'd hear a lot in venues
in the 90s when you'd go out tolike a residency show.
You know there'd be that sortof music going on on stage,
(05:08):
you'd have a lot of, you know,trumpets and saxophones and a
lot of groove kind of element inthere it's just a product of
the time, really and you playedin um Brisbane.
Cheryl Lee (05:18):
Ever any chance of bringing that around down south
to Adelaide?
Rai Thistlethwayte (05:22):
maybe I mean we actually yeah, myself and
the singer from that band,richie we ended up hanging out
in Melbourne pretty recently andwe thought maybe a few gigs
around Melbourne could besomething to talk about.
And that's not too far awayfrom Adelaide, so maybe we can
do a little jaunt Adelaide andMelbourne would be kind of fun.
Cheryl Lee (05:38):
Sounds good, so keep an eye on your Facebook page
for details on that.
Rai Thistlethwayte (05:44):
Yeah, of course, if anything comes up,
I'll be posting that
Cheryl Lee (05:53):
Well, the life of me , I can't find audio of a song
with Rai and his first band, theBox.
So let's have a hit from theGoo Goo Dolls.
They're touring buddies at themoment.
Their song from 1998, Slide.
And then we're back to speaksome more to Rai from the Box,
from Thirsty Merc, from theFabulous Caprettos, et cetera,
(06:15):
et cetera.
Something else I noticed onyour socials which I just have
to ask you about.
I know I'm a cow.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:31):
Oh my God, I've been doing silly little
parody songs just for fun.
Cheryl Lee (06:35):
So that was the Cat Stevens song, Father and Son,
with a little bit of a change ofwords.
You're very clever.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:42):
Well, it was half that song and it was also
half a One Direction song, Ithink, or it might have been a
Five Seconds of Summer song, itmight have been One.
Direction.
Yeah, I can't even rememberwhich of those two bands.
It's kind of half and half ofboth those songs, with different
lyrics, of course.
Cheryl Lee (06:55):
Very funny, very clever.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:57):
Just for fun , I mean, sometimes I have the
idea.
Cheryl Lee (07:05):
I wake up in right and I do love that.
You know you do share yoursilliness with us and let us
laugh along with you.
Rai Thistlethwayte (07:14):
Yeah, why not?
That's what it's all about.
Cheryl Lee (07:15):
The big news that you did last year.
I read the headline ThirstyMerc singer joins Joe Santorini
and Sammy Hagar from Van Halenin International Supergroup.
How was that?
Rai Thistlethwayte (07:28):
That was great.
Yeah, had a really cool runwith those guys.
It was like a 10-week runaround the US Some very large
venues and very large crowds andobviously playing a lot of the
Van Halen catalogue and JoeSatriani doing some legendary
guitar playing, feeling thealmost impossible to fill shoes
in beautiful style of eddie vanhalen, but just did
fantastically.
(07:49):
And you know sammy's a reallygreat guy, really generous,
lovely guy.
You know he's in his 70s andsings great, unbelievable.
So yeah, I was really, reallylucky and fortunate to be part
of that group.
We're actually going to vegasto do three weeks as a residency
soon, actually leaving at theend of april.
So I'll be doing that untilmid-May and then back for some
Aussie work again.
(08:09):
So, yeah, kept in touch withthose guys.
That'll be fun.
Cheryl Lee (08:12):
I saw a little bit of footage of you guys and you
look like you're having anabsolute ball.
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:18):
Yeah, I mean it's always fun to play the
large crowds and those largestages and everything.
So that was it's a real show,it's really fun and there's an
album out.
Cheryl Lee (08:28):
Is it g3 reunion life album that's actually more.
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:32):
Joe Satriani and his guitar collaborators
are really sort of the headlineartists in that whole thing.
But yeah, I was singing on afew things that they used from
live footage and things withdown tracks and stuff like that.
So yeah yeah, that's a wholefamily of musicians that are
sort of in that world, and I'vebeen lucky enough to sort of get
to know a few of them over theyears, which has been cool.
Cheryl Lee (08:51):
Awesome.
Did you get any royalties?
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:53):
I don't know if I will get royalties from
that sort of stuff, becausethey're just playing a lot of
their old material and I thinkthat they're all their own
compositions.
Cheryl Lee (09:06):
Probably pleased to be, you know, involved a little
bit.
It's cool to be on stage withthose guys.
Yeah, yeah, still rocking thatpodcast with that radio chick,
cheryl lee.
I don't care how cool you are,you will never be as cool as
playing on stage with JoeSatriani and him breaking song
to play you happy birthday,including a cake and candles to
blow out.
The performance was inCincinnati last year, includes a
(09:30):
solo from Brian Beller and iscourtesy of Joe's YouTube page.
Then we're back to speak to MrCool himself, Rai Thistlethwayte
.
Now you know I said before wehad a birthday in the house.
(09:51):
Oh yeah, mr Thistlet, this iswhere you are getting away with
this.
You know what I'm saying.
I mean, it's not every daysomebody turns 144.
We'll talk about the tour that'shere when you get back from the
us, which is the live in 25 toJuly/ August tour for the
Fabulous Caprettos, now this boyband.
You've had a line-up change.
Have you ever worked prior towhen he guested with the
(10:13):
Fabulous Caprettos last year?
Have you ever worked with JoeCamilleri before?
Rai Thistlethwayte (10:17):
Not exactly in a formal sense.
No, I hung out at his studioone time and I've seen him on
the same bill a few times andI've watched the Black Sorrows a
bunch of times, but I've neverreally sort of been in the band
with him.
Obviously he did guest on a fewthings with the Fabulous
Caprettos already.
But yeah, really lookingforward to it.
He's a great, great guy andreally huge high-energy
(10:39):
performer.
Actually, once he starts thosekind of grooves the band just
kind of kicks to a new level, Ifind.
Cheryl Lee (10:45):
No, stopping him.
Rai Thistlethwayte (10:47):
Yeah, he's that kind of guy and he's got
that sort of forward momentum inhis guitar playing that I've
always admired.
And he plays saxophone too andhe's a cool guy.
Cheryl Lee (10:55):
Well, the tour starts on 11th of July and goes
through until the 2nd of Augusthere in Adelaide, july 25, at
the Hindley Street Music Hall.
We'll look forward to seeingyou down the front there.
The departing member, Russell,the legendary Russell Morris.
Rai Thistlethwayte (11:14):
He's too busy.
Well, I think Russell willactually guest on a few things
if we're close to his house.
But I think he's sort ofgetting to the point in his
career where you know he's beendoing stuff since the late 60s
really and he's just getting tothe point where the travel he
wants to pick and choose andreally sort of say, look, if
it's something I can go down theroad, if it's a major event
that I want to sort of go tohere and there, he'll jump on
the plane and do whatever.
But I don't think he wants toget to that routine where it's
(11:36):
like, you know, get up, check.
I think.
If I'm sort of in I'm 75, 76, Ihope I've got the bandwidth and
the resources to pick andchoose and I hope everyone would
respect that if I said that tothem as well.
Of course, huge fan of Russelland we'll have him back anytime.
But been a real honor toactually work with such a legend
who's been around for so longand still crushing it.
(11:57):
Yeah, I think that it wasgetting to that thing where you
know, when you're getting awhole month of, you know, a tour
book which is just leavinghotels and getting in vans and
driving hours to this place andgoing to the next place.
I sort of you know, I canunderstand why he might want to
sit out for certain shows thesetimes, but obviously we won't be
hearing some of the legendaryhits.
But I know that we've got a fewother people coming on board
which are going to more thanmake up for it and I think it's
(12:20):
good to kind of keep a bit ofyou know, a bit of freshness in
the project with some new peopleas well.
There's so many Australianlegends who've been around and
it's really nice to actually becollaborating with some
different artists as well ohyeah, a change is as good as a
holiday.
Cheryl Lee (12:33):
We're looking forward to it.
You can still catch Russell inDarwin and Cairns and your
Tasmanian shows as well, and forthe rest of the tour we've've
got Wendy Matthews.
Rai Thistlethwayte (12:45):
Absolute legend as well.
Yeah, I met Wendy first timewhen I was working at a.
There was a Don SpencerChildren's Music Fund show that
was on at the State Theatre inSydney and I'd never really hung
out with Wendy Matthews before.
She was in one of the backstagerooms and we just started
chatting and I just thought, mygosh, she's got such a beautiful
energy.
By the end of the gig there wasa big you know, russell Crowe
(13:10):
was there with Danielle Spencerat the time and a lot of people
were there because it was abeautiful music fund sort of
fundraiser.
I guess is what the gig was,and Don Spencer's a lovely bloke
and he put a sort of item atthe end of the night where
everyone who was involved in itwent on stage.
I think I actually sung one ofmy songs, 20 Good Reasons, as a
collaboration with Ian Moss.
Yeah, I think that's on YouTubesomewhere.
Anyway yeah, we all ended up onstage basically for the last
(13:32):
song.
By that stage I'd been chattingwith Wendy Matthews that much
that we were almost like twolittle silly little school kids
like standing there next to eachother, like giggling at each
other, just like, oh, let's singthis song, you know, and I just
thought this girl's like gotthat energy that reminds me of
you know, like when I was atmusic school or something, and
you'd end up be put in the samelike school music, theater
(13:53):
production or something, and shejust had that energy that I
just, I just love that sort oflike cheeky, childlike vibe of
like just the love for music.
You know, it reminds me of whyI started music and she's really
got that vibe and but she'sjust a beautiful soul, I think,
and great, great artist too, soI think.
And plus, she's got some prettystonking big hits too.
So I think it's the audience isgonna have a great time with
(14:14):
her involved.
Cheryl Lee (14:21):
let's have one of those big stomping hits from
Wendy Matthews now I don't wantto be with nobody but you.
And then we're back to saygoodbye to Rai.
You know, when Joe guested lastyear, some of us were like ooh,
(14:46):
what's going on?
And ultimately Joe has become agoat.
So is there a possibility ofWendy being your first female
goat?
Rai Thistlethwayte (14:57):
Well, certainly, on these shows she'll
be more than just a guest,because she's actually at least
from what I've heard from thepromoter uh, she'll be singing
backing vocals for the wholeshow, so it's not like she just
comes on and does a few songsand then we back her.
It's going to be that kind ofthing where I think she might
stay on for the entire show andand sing backing vocals and
things.
So, yeah, well, I mean we'reyet to do the final rehearsals,
(15:19):
but we are pretty, uh wellversed in getting things
together at a fast speed andmaking it sound great.
So I think we're going to beable to pull it all together
very nicely and she's going tobe a great addition.
You know, the blend of hervoice in there as well is going
to be a nice addition that wehaven't had before, so it'll be
really, really good you're allsuch you know seasoned
professionals that you guysdon't even need to be in the
(15:42):
same room.
Cheryl Lee (15:42):
now you can rehearse remotely and make a fabulous
show.
Rai Thistlethwayte (15:47):
Yeah, it's good to get together a few days
here and there and just nut outwhat we're doing.
And you know, sometimes songs,you think something's going to
work and then you try analternate song.
You know, Sometimes you've gottwo songs that were both
well-known in the public sort ofsphere and one of them, for
some reason, when you gettogether with a certain bunch of
musicians, just seems to find ahome quicker and easier.
So you know, it's all about thatkind of thing rehearsals.
(16:08):
It's not as if we're worryingwhether we can cut the mustard
in terms of making a performancework.
It's more making the set listwork really well for the
audience.
I think we do think about thata lot and I think the audience
is finding that it's got a goodflow to it.
Well, we're looking forward tocatching up with you at our
(16:30):
Hindley Street Music Hall.
Have you performed at that onebefore?
I haven't actually.
No, I do a lot of shows with myown band at the Gov and I've
played at the Thebby BridgewaySorry, which one?
And the Bridgeway yeah.
I've played at places likeNorwood.
You know quite a few showsaround and some stuff up in
Gepps Cross and a few otherthings as well, and then I've
done small jazz things at theWheat Sheaf as well.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's somegreat venues, but I've been
hearing more about the HindleyStreet Music Hall now.
Cheryl Lee (16:52):
So yeah, it's been renovated.
I think you'll like it.
Rai Thistlethwayte (16:54):
So it's been there a long time, has it?
Cheryl Lee (16:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's quite nice.
I think you'll enjoy playingthere there.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:01):
Yeah, cool, we're looking forward to it.
It's nice to play somewhere alittle different as well.
Sometimes we do the gov andthose sort of venues, but um,
yeah, it'll be really, reallycool to check it out we look
forward to seeing you then.
Cheryl Lee (17:09):
In the meantime, have a great tour overseas with
Joe Satriani, and we'll see youand your boy band when you get
back yeah, sounds good.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:19):
Thanks for the chat and have a great rest
of the day you too was thereanything haven't covered, Rai,
that you wanted to mention at?
All, I think you've gone very,very comprehensive coverage
there.
Cheryl Lee (17:30):
I will let you fill up your petrol tank and get to
your mum.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:33):
Yeah, I'll do that.
Yeah, we've got to take her upto the bank.
Cheryl Lee (17:37):
Thanks so much for your time All right, no worries,
thanks, cheryl.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:40):
See you later.
Cheryl Lee (17:55):
Still Rockin' It podcast with that radio chick
cheryl lee time, I think, forone of Rai's songs, thirsty merc
with 20 good reasons, and I'moff to try and find his version
with ian moss, one of my otherfavorites.
I need to know.
Yeah, you're with Cheryl Lee,that radio chick.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
(18:17):
down the front.
That Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still Rockin' itpodcast where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith some of our favourite
Australian musicians and artists.
We have spoken to members of theFabulous Caprettos before, the
greatest of all time, DaveGleeson from the Screaming Jets
(00:23):
and previously the Angels,Russell Morris, Jack Jones from
Southern Sons and RaiThistlethwayte from Thirsty Merc
, and today we're catching upagain with Rai.
To find out all the gossip, tocatch up on podcasts from other
favourite artists, simply go tothatradiochick.
com.
au.
You're with Cheryl Lee thatRadio Chick and I'd like to
(00:47):
welcome into the Zoom room todayRai Thistlewayte from the
Fabulous Caprettos and ThirstyMerc.
Of course, we've got some greatnews to talk about some changes
to your boy band.
If we can talk about those in aminute and perhaps start with
what you've been up to lately.
Rai Thistlethwayte (01:05):
I just did a gig with the Goo Goo Dolls last
night.
In where were we?
We were in Newcastle last nightand then played at the Sydney
Horton Pavilion the night beforethat, and then, being in
Canberra Tomorrow, I'm going toBrisbane with those guys and
then going to Adelaide, thengoing to Melbourne and then
that's that run wrapped up.
I'm just doing bits and piecesof Thirsty Merc stuff touring
(01:26):
around and basically just beinga working musician, though
having a good time as well.
Cheryl Lee (01:30):
Yeah, I noticed that you were special guests of the
Goo Goo Dolls Summer Anthem Tour.
Had you worked with them before?
Rai Thistlethwayte (01:38):
No, this is the first time actually, but
they're really lovely guys andeverybody's really cool and the
crew and really really goodorganised project and, yeah,
it's been fun.
Cheryl Lee (01:50):
So get onto the Google-o-meter, because the
Adelaide date is still to come.
I saw recently a clip you andDelta Goodrum at the Christmas
special doing Rockin' Around theChristmas Tree.
That was so good.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:01):
It was fun.
I think that wasn't filmed lastyear, it was the one before.
Right was so good, it was fun.
I think that wasn't filmed lastyear, it was the one before
right.
Yeah, I just reposted itbecause it was just.
You know, it's probably themost Christmassy thing I've got.
It also sounds and looks, youknow, nicely presented and
Delta's also just an absolutelegend and I love her.
Yeah, it was really cool it wasbeautiful.
Cheryl Lee (02:18):
I really loved it.
Thank you for posting that hadyou worked with Delta before or
since.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:23):
Well, I had worked with her more in a
songwriting sense really.
I attended a thing in Bali, ofall places, we were both at the
same sort of songwriting.
It was almost like a camp.
Everybody kind of went overthere and set up in studios and
collaborated with everybody, andit was a nice vibe.
Cheryl Lee (02:37):
I read about that.
Actually Does that happen veryoften, Because I hadn't heard of
that sort of thing before.
Rai Thistlethwayte (02:43):
That sort of thing's happening all around
the world quite often, but youknow, a lot of places like
Nashville, which are known fortheir songwriting scenes, will
host things like that.
This was more of an LA guy who,yeah, had people from Sweden
and UK and US and a few Aussies,of course, as well.
In fact, there was a Scottishguy I did a song with as well
there, which was pretty cool.
Yeah, it was a good vibe,Awesome.
Cheryl Lee (03:06):
Now, what else have you been up to?
At the end of last year youtoured a little bit with your
first ever band, the Box.
Rai Thistlethwayte (03:12):
Oh my God, yeah, just like catch-up gigs
around the place sometimes.
Just, you know, basically we'vegot a guitarist that lives
overseas.
When he comes back we just sortof put a few gigs in the book
and just we use thoseopportunities as a way to play.
But also, you know, becauseit's a chance to get together,
we end up spending an extra dayhaving a rehearsal and then just
turns into a bit of a hang anda party and you know, that's
(03:33):
kind of it's fun, it's a reallygood vibe.
It's a lot of groove and a lotof we.
It just gives us a chance tosort of check in with a very, a
lot younger version of ourselveswhen we were sort of, you know,
just coming up through theranks.
And yeah, it's nice to be ableto do that every year.
Cheryl Lee (03:54):
So just an excuse to hang out.
Really, it's described as acidjazz, funk, jam band grooves.
What's acid jazz?
Rai Thistlethwayte (04:02):
Oh, look, if you look up the classic sort of
Acid Jazz, it was probably likea combination of funk, disco,
jazz sort of, but it hadelements of improvising and
elements of danceable grooves,but they weren't really in that
sort of jazz swing sort of sense.
They were more in a kind of amodern fusion sort of sense.
But some of the instrumentationwas borrowed heavily from jazz
(04:22):
and some of the elements ofimprovisation borrowed heavily
from jazz.
But really it's sort of acrossover between funk and
groove music.
Really we had a an element ofjam band stuff in there because
we were sort of mixing that witha fusion of other things.
You know slightly sort ofpsychedelic lyricism and things
like that, and our lead singerkind of brought that to the the
front.
But I think, yeah, like it'sjust a thing that was basically
(04:45):
also going on in the UK in the90s.
I guess the most well-known bandthat had pop crossover appeal
from that time was Jamiroquai.
Yeah, also bands like Brand NewHeavies and those sort of
things.
It's got some of those elements.
Sonic, it's the kind of musicthat you'd hear a lot in venues
in the 90s when you'd go out tolike a residency show.
You know there'd be that sortof music going on on stage,
(05:08):
you'd have a lot of, you know,trumpets and saxophones and a
lot of groove kind of element inthere it's just a product of
the time, really and you playedin um Brisbane.
Cheryl Lee (05:18):
Ever any chance of bringing that around down south
to Adelaide?
Rai Thistlethwayte (05:22):
maybe I mean we actually yeah, myself and
the singer from that band,richie we ended up hanging out
in Melbourne pretty recently andwe thought maybe a few gigs
around Melbourne could besomething to talk about.
And that's not too far awayfrom Adelaide, so maybe we can
do a little jaunt Adelaide andMelbourne would be kind of fun.
Cheryl Lee (05:38):
Sounds good, so keep an eye on your Facebook page
for details on that.
Rai Thistlethwayte (05:44):
Yeah, of course, if anything comes up,
I'll be posting that
Cheryl Lee (05:53):
Well, the life of me , I can't find audio of a song
with Rai and his first band, theBox.
So let's have a hit from theGoo Goo Dolls.
They're touring buddies at themoment.
Their song from 1998, Slide.
And then we're back to speaksome more to Rai from the Box,
from Thirsty Merc, from theFabulous Caprettos, et cetera,
(06:15):
et cetera.
Something else I noticed onyour socials which I just have
to ask you about.
I know I'm a cow.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:31):
Oh my God, I've been doing silly little
parody songs just for fun.
Cheryl Lee (06:35):
So that was the Cat Stevens song, Father and Son,
with a little bit of a change ofwords.
You're very clever.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:42):
Well, it was half that song and it was also
half a One Direction song, Ithink, or it might have been a
Five Seconds of Summer song, itmight have been One.
Direction.
Yeah, I can't even rememberwhich of those two bands.
It's kind of half and half ofboth those songs, with different
lyrics, of course.
Cheryl Lee (06:55):
Very funny, very clever.
Rai Thistlethwayte (06:57):
Just for fun , I mean, sometimes I have the
idea.
Cheryl Lee (07:05):
I wake up in right and I do love that.
You know you do share yoursilliness with us and let us
laugh along with you.
Rai Thistlethwayte (07:14):
Yeah, why not?
That's what it's all about.
Cheryl Lee (07:15):
The big news that you did last year.
I read the headline ThirstyMerc singer joins Joe Santorini
and Sammy Hagar from Van Halenin International Supergroup.
How was that?
Rai Thistlethwayte (07:28):
That was great.
Yeah, had a really cool runwith those guys.
It was like a 10-week runaround the US Some very large
venues and very large crowds andobviously playing a lot of the
Van Halen catalogue and JoeSatriani doing some legendary
guitar playing, feeling thealmost impossible to fill shoes
in beautiful style of eddie vanhalen, but just did
fantastically.
(07:49):
And you know sammy's a reallygreat guy, really generous,
lovely guy.
You know he's in his 70s andsings great, unbelievable.
So yeah, I was really, reallylucky and fortunate to be part
of that group.
We're actually going to vegasto do three weeks as a residency
soon, actually leaving at theend of april.
So I'll be doing that untilmid-May and then back for some
Aussie work again.
(08:09):
So, yeah, kept in touch withthose guys.
That'll be fun.
Cheryl Lee (08:12):
I saw a little bit of footage of you guys and you
look like you're having anabsolute ball.
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:18):
Yeah, I mean it's always fun to play the
large crowds and those largestages and everything.
So that was it's a real show,it's really fun and there's an
album out.
Cheryl Lee (08:28):
Is it g3 reunion life album that's actually more.
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:32):
Joe Satriani and his guitar collaborators
are really sort of the headlineartists in that whole thing.
But yeah, I was singing on afew things that they used from
live footage and things withdown tracks and stuff like that.
So yeah yeah, that's a wholefamily of musicians that are
sort of in that world, and I'vebeen lucky enough to sort of get
to know a few of them over theyears, which has been cool.
Cheryl Lee (08:51):
Awesome.
Did you get any royalties?
Rai Thistlethwayte (08:53):
I don't know if I will get royalties from
that sort of stuff, becausethey're just playing a lot of
their old material and I thinkthat they're all their own
compositions.
Cheryl Lee (09:06):
Probably pleased to be, you know, involved a little
bit.
It's cool to be on stage withthose guys.
Yeah, yeah, still rocking thatpodcast with that radio chick,
cheryl lee.
I don't care how cool you are,you will never be as cool as
playing on stage with JoeSatriani and him breaking song
to play you happy birthday,including a cake and candles to
blow out.
The performance was inCincinnati last year, includes a
(09:30):
solo from Brian Beller and iscourtesy of Joe's YouTube page.
Then we're back to speak to MrCool himself, Rai Thistlethwayte
.
Now you know I said before wehad a birthday in the house.
(09:51):
Oh yeah, mr Thistlet, this iswhere you are getting away with
this.
You know what I'm saying.
I mean, it's not every daysomebody turns 144.
We'll talk about the tour that'shere when you get back from the
us, which is the live in 25 toJuly/ August tour for the
Fabulous Caprettos, now this boyband.
You've had a line-up change.
Have you ever worked prior towhen he guested with the
(10:13):
Fabulous Caprettos last year?
Have you ever worked with JoeCamilleri before?
Rai Thistlethwayte (10:17):
Not exactly in a formal sense.
No, I hung out at his studioone time and I've seen him on
the same bill a few times andI've watched the Black Sorrows a
bunch of times, but I've neverreally sort of been in the band
with him.
Obviously he did guest on a fewthings with the Fabulous
Caprettos already.
But yeah, really lookingforward to it.
He's a great, great guy andreally huge high-energy
(10:39):
performer.
Actually, once he starts thosekind of grooves the band just
kind of kicks to a new level, Ifind.
Cheryl Lee (10:45):
No, stopping him.
Rai Thistlethwayte (10:47):
Yeah, he's that kind of guy and he's got
that sort of forward momentum inhis guitar playing that I've
always admired.
And he plays saxophone too andhe's a cool guy.
Cheryl Lee (10:55):
Well, the tour starts on 11th of July and goes
through until the 2nd of Augusthere in Adelaide, july 25, at
the Hindley Street Music Hall.
We'll look forward to seeingyou down the front there.
The departing member, Russell,the legendary Russell Morris.
Rai Thistlethwayte (11:14):
He's too busy.
Well, I think Russell willactually guest on a few things
if we're close to his house.
But I think he's sort ofgetting to the point in his
career where you know he's beendoing stuff since the late 60s
really and he's just getting tothe point where the travel he
wants to pick and choose andreally sort of say, look, if
it's something I can go down theroad, if it's a major event
that I want to sort of go tohere and there, he'll jump on
the plane and do whatever.
But I don't think he wants toget to that routine where it's
(11:36):
like, you know, get up, check.
I think.
If I'm sort of in I'm 75, 76, Ihope I've got the bandwidth and
the resources to pick andchoose and I hope everyone would
respect that if I said that tothem as well.
Of course, huge fan of Russelland we'll have him back anytime.
But been a real honor toactually work with such a legend
who's been around for so longand still crushing it.
(11:57):
Yeah, I think that it wasgetting to that thing where you
know, when you're getting awhole month of, you know, a tour
book which is just leavinghotels and getting in vans and
driving hours to this place andgoing to the next place.
I sort of you know, I canunderstand why he might want to
sit out for certain shows thesetimes, but obviously we won't be
hearing some of the legendaryhits.
But I know that we've got a fewother people coming on board
which are going to more thanmake up for it and I think it's
(12:20):
good to kind of keep a bit ofyou know, a bit of freshness in
the project with some new peopleas well.
There's so many Australianlegends who've been around and
it's really nice to actually becollaborating with some
different artists as well ohyeah, a change is as good as a
holiday.
Cheryl Lee (12:33):
We're looking forward to it.
You can still catch Russell inDarwin and Cairns and your
Tasmanian shows as well, and forthe rest of the tour we've've
got Wendy Matthews.
Rai Thistlethwayte (12:45):
Absolute legend as well.
Yeah, I met Wendy first timewhen I was working at a.
There was a Don SpencerChildren's Music Fund show that
was on at the State Theatre inSydney and I'd never really hung
out with Wendy Matthews before.
She was in one of the backstagerooms and we just started
chatting and I just thought, mygosh, she's got such a beautiful
energy.
By the end of the gig there wasa big you know, russell Crowe
(13:10):
was there with Danielle Spencerat the time and a lot of people
were there because it was abeautiful music fund sort of
fundraiser.
I guess is what the gig was,and Don Spencer's a lovely bloke
and he put a sort of item atthe end of the night where
everyone who was involved in itwent on stage.
I think I actually sung one ofmy songs, 20 Good Reasons, as a
collaboration with Ian Moss.
Yeah, I think that's on YouTubesomewhere.
Anyway yeah, we all ended up onstage basically for the last
(13:32):
song.
By that stage I'd been chattingwith Wendy Matthews that much
that we were almost like twolittle silly little school kids
like standing there next to eachother, like giggling at each
other, just like, oh, let's singthis song, you know, and I just
thought this girl's like gotthat energy that reminds me of
you know, like when I was atmusic school or something, and
you'd end up be put in the samelike school music, theater
(13:53):
production or something, and shejust had that energy that I
just, I just love that sort oflike cheeky, childlike vibe of
like just the love for music.
You know, it reminds me of whyI started music and she's really
got that vibe and but she'sjust a beautiful soul, I think,
and great, great artist too, soI think.
And plus, she's got some prettystonking big hits too.
So I think it's the audience isgonna have a great time with
(14:14):
her involved.
Cheryl Lee (14:21):
let's have one of those big stomping hits from
Wendy Matthews now I don't wantto be with nobody but you.
And then we're back to saygoodbye to Rai.
You know, when Joe guested lastyear, some of us were like ooh,
(14:46):
what's going on?
And ultimately Joe has become agoat.
So is there a possibility ofWendy being your first female
goat?
Rai Thistlethwayte (14:57):
Well, certainly, on these shows she'll
be more than just a guest,because she's actually at least
from what I've heard from thepromoter uh, she'll be singing
backing vocals for the wholeshow, so it's not like she just
comes on and does a few songsand then we back her.
It's going to be that kind ofthing where I think she might
stay on for the entire show andand sing backing vocals and
things.
So, yeah, well, I mean we'reyet to do the final rehearsals,
(15:19):
but we are pretty, uh wellversed in getting things
together at a fast speed andmaking it sound great.
So I think we're going to beable to pull it all together
very nicely and she's going tobe a great addition.
You know, the blend of hervoice in there as well is going
to be a nice addition that wehaven't had before, so it'll be
really, really good you're allsuch you know seasoned
professionals that you guysdon't even need to be in the
(15:42):
same room.
Cheryl Lee (15:42):
now you can rehearse remotely and make a fabulous
show.
Rai Thistlethwayte (15:47):
Yeah, it's good to get together a few days
here and there and just nut outwhat we're doing.
And you know, sometimes songs,you think something's going to
work and then you try analternate song.
You know, Sometimes you've gottwo songs that were both
well-known in the public sort ofsphere and one of them, for
some reason, when you gettogether with a certain bunch of
musicians, just seems to find ahome quicker and easier.
So you know, it's all about thatkind of thing rehearsals.
(16:08):
It's not as if we're worryingwhether we can cut the mustard
in terms of making a performancework.
It's more making the set listwork really well for the
audience.
I think we do think about thata lot and I think the audience
is finding that it's got a goodflow to it.
Well, we're looking forward tocatching up with you at our
(16:30):
Hindley Street Music Hall.
Have you performed at that onebefore?
I haven't actually.
No, I do a lot of shows with myown band at the Gov and I've
played at the Thebby BridgewaySorry, which one?
And the Bridgeway yeah.
I've played at places likeNorwood.
You know quite a few showsaround and some stuff up in
Gepps Cross and a few otherthings as well, and then I've
done small jazz things at theWheat Sheaf as well.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's somegreat venues, but I've been
hearing more about the HindleyStreet Music Hall now.
Cheryl Lee (16:52):
So yeah, it's been renovated.
I think you'll like it.
Rai Thistlethwayte (16:54):
So it's been there a long time, has it?
Cheryl Lee (16:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's quite nice.
I think you'll enjoy playingthere there.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:01):
Yeah, cool, we're looking forward to it.
It's nice to play somewhere alittle different as well.
Sometimes we do the gov andthose sort of venues, but um,
yeah, it'll be really, reallycool to check it out we look
forward to seeing you then.
Cheryl Lee (17:09):
In the meantime, have a great tour overseas with
Joe Satriani, and we'll see youand your boy band when you get
back yeah, sounds good.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:19):
Thanks for the chat and have a great rest
of the day you too was thereanything haven't covered, Rai,
that you wanted to mention at?
All, I think you've gone very,very comprehensive coverage
there.
Cheryl Lee (17:30):
I will let you fill up your petrol tank and get to
your mum.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:33):
Yeah, I'll do that.
Yeah, we've got to take her upto the bank.
Cheryl Lee (17:37):
Thanks so much for your time All right, no worries,
thanks, cheryl.
Rai Thistlethwayte (17:40):
See you later.
Cheryl Lee (17:55):
Still Rockin' It podcast with that radio chick
cheryl lee time, I think, forone of Rai's songs, thirsty merc
with 20 good reasons, and I'moff to try and find his version
with ian moss, one of my otherfavorites.
I need to know.
Yeah, you're with Cheryl Lee,that radio chick.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
(18:17):
down the front.
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