In Session: The Drones: Shark Fin Blues

[@sosh45]

Isn't it strange how you can hear a song earlier in life and cast it off, then years later (in this case 15+ years), be absolutely floored upon hearing it again, and again, and again...

[@madd.coconut6820]

If anyone wants to check more of this guy’s beautiful work he’s now in a band called Tropical Fuck Storm and I guarantee you.... it brings out his full prowess even more

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Yourevgodamn right im uk seen em london manchester and barcelona... my new love since old days of sonic youth! Best band right in the moment. And i love im gareths age and still banging my head on the alt rock door! Gives me hope.. wishes and prayers can go get fucked but without hope and hard work whats the fuckin point.

[@jorgemartinez42069]

TFS put on one of my favorite live shows I've ever been to. The crowd was going insane for them, definitely a lot of pent up energy from the lockdowns being let out that night.

[@sirvidia]

I like TFS a lot more than this tbh. I also wish he didn't have that fucking belt tied round his head

[@Conky769]

I've seen both and don't agree. Tfs is a bitter pill of political hatred.

[@conorgilles81]

That is one of the gnarliest guitar sounds and it is so satisfying to listen to.

[@jezmez68]

Totally agree. When this came up in my discover weekly on Spotify, I pulled the car over and made sure I added it to a playlist. That intro guitar and tone is just killer. Got home and messed around on my pedals to get that overdrive tone.

[@madsen3]

I totally agree my friend

[@sirvidia]

it reminds me of Anomoanon

[@blakestewart7200]

Gareth fucking HAS it.

[@christopherhall7560]

I love the nod and a wink between Gareth and Mike (Noga) at the start. Partners in a great barrage of raw musical crime. RIP Mike Noga, a great artist in his own write.

[@peterwdekker]

Why no one ever told me about this band? I discovered them via an review about Tropical Fuck Storm. I am 58 years old and became unfortunately a bit jaded about popmusic, but this song gives me the same feeling as seeing Joe Strummer, Nick Cave, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen for the first time in one person.

[@danielhughes5250]

me too

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Frickin ace... she's right there on cctv forgettin to tak her medication, and shit aspirin one of my fav songs of all time yet discovered post 21st century... who knew? Ace bands drones and tfs love u ausie c*nts... its ok they talk like that god love em

[@chinaskibukowski7747]

Give Michael Beach a listen.

[@Oseanacoceanblue]

Having met Gareth and hung out and was friends with him .....you are on track there ain’t too many poets left they got bought and sold by cheap gags , nosy oblivion, manic perfection ...is how I like to remember the drones , the early days at the tote and cobbled stoned paths of Fitzroy the drunken soaked days , where there felt inside there music we could all be the poets and soar to the sun like Icarus ....long live great Australian rock music and I’m so glad to have met Gareth Rui, and Fiona way back in Sunday school 😊👍 it was an education being part of your music .and sobriety has bought me home to sunny white shores..... and what a magnificent dark horse the drones were .

[@dazross8729]

Amen brother

[@theattentionseekers2579]

I think this is the best Australian song ever recorded.

[@baudtotears7081]

"Why Write a Letter That You'll Never Send" and "Tender is the Night (The Long Fidelity)" would like a word with you.

[@tripppsta9444]

lol

[@CRFLAus]

You haven't heard "I might be a cunt, but I'm not a fucking cunt" by avant-garde pop techno thrash metal band Tism.

[@aaronlucas7378]

@@CRFLAus yeah but TISM are shit

[@popolbruh8263]

I'd still go with Cattle and Cane. This is up there though. For sure the best one of the 21st century.

[@simoltan]

This is the best version of possibly the best song ever written

[@Jamesfirth1000]

Love the belt to keep his headphones from falling off!

[@aimspader]

Okay, firstly, I wanna start off by saying I think I'm in love with this Gareth guy. :) He's charismatic and talented as hell. Secondly, I think this is my favorite song in the world--such moving, poetic lyrics. I just discovered these bad-asses tonight because of the Missy Higgins' cover. So I'm a bag of mixed emotions right now; I'm overjoyed that I found The Drones, and I'm also pretty peeved I've been deprived of such wicked talent (Where the hell have I been hiding?) My brother would have loved this song. It makes me a little sad to listen to it without him, actually. He wanted to be eaten by sharks after he died (partly in jest, because he loved that Samuel L. Jackson beer skit on The Chapelle show, where Dave Chapelle, as Samuel L. Jackson, incredulous that the bar patrons didn't recognize him, was reliving his role in Deep Blue Sea. "A shark ate me; a mother-fuckin' shark ate me!!" ) Lol. Well, my poet-musician brother somehow romanticized being eaten by sharks, and wanted a funeral at sea. That's just how he was: completely absurd, at times, but he was charismatic and beautiful enough to make it work. He was just all the more charming and lovely. God, I wish I could have played this at his funeral.

[@slam0571]

I don't have a single tattoo, but I want these lyrics tattooed on my dry old parchment coating before I die.

[@samwestlake7092]

Get real ? You bleeding Heart ? When I hear this drivel makes me go to the toilet, this is for ice addicts are you one?

[@shannonlamont]

Bleeding Heart, drivel, ice addict. Andrew Bolt???

[@krashdown5814]

@@samwestlake7092 I know you've waited 3 years for a well earned vote up Sam, I'm off to the can man !

[@danielhughes5250]

yeah i just discovered this song tnite... how did i not know about this?? brillo

[@ptklip]

This is amazing.

[@Tanner.Bananner]

I love how this whole song is what 7 to 9 beers sounds like, including the intro. Not a slap against the song, it's fucking awesome

[@aimeef3559]

Ha! Yes, I agree! It’s got that good, drunken energy. Isn’t it a great song? Love your screen name, by the way! :)

[@thefreakinhappyfairy]

It is 6/7/2020, in just over a month I'll be 65 (whoa) I'm FINALLY watching RECTIFY; season 1 episode 2 and I JUST discovered this AWESOME band at the end... so good I had to FIND IT HERE!!! What a GREAT SONG.... thank goodness I was able to track it down! Goes to show you youngsters you're never too old to make great discoveries!! THANKS DRONES!! ❤❤❤

[@crieverytim]

wow, I was thinking about watching that show. I feel like this is kind of a spoiler lol.

[@philh.5066]

Thank you YT Algo on this Sat. Morning. This is ace.

[@MarcinHongKong]

Man, what an aching performance. He really attacks the song. Love it!

[@MrRourke70]

One of the best songs I've ever heard, and a wonderful, captivating performance. This is fkn pure.

[@marnieotto5353]

i love this dude!!!

[@wmeche7]

This song is so raw and emotionally charged I felt this one. The Drones fucking rock!!!!!!!

[@ShmuckOnWheels]

The tv show "Rectify" turned me on to this awesome song about 7 years ago.

[@godsgurl2231]

Yes thanks to RECTIFY!! Quality series that could never be matched imho. And amazing song choices like Shark fin blues👌

[@troynewport4396]

I first heard this song on the Sundance show Rectify. It was immediately one of my favorites ever. And now that I know who the Drones are, I love it even more. A punk band playing the blues........

[@maxdeangelis5019]

Same here man. I finally found it. The song hit me and became my favorite right away as well.

[@petenstein247]

I only recently watched Rectify. Great show. Was stoked and surprised to see Shark Fin Blues played. A few Oz actors in the show, so maybe they recommended it.

[@oldercloudify]

I heard that he wrote this song after his mother died. My mother died in July of this year. This song conveys the visceral feeling of loss resulting from the loss of a mother.

[@AmmoniteDragon]

Standing on the deck watching my shadow stretch The sun pours my shadow upon the deck The waters licking round my ankles now There ain't no sunshine way way down I see the sharks out in the water like slicks of ink Well, there's one there bigger than a submarine As he circles I look in his eye I see Jonah in his belly by the campfire light See the albatross up in the windy lofts He gets to beating his wings while he sleeps it off I hear the jettisoned cries from his dreams unkind Gets to whippin' my ears like a riding crop The captain once as able as a fink dandy He's now laid up in the galley like a dried out mink He's laying dying of thirst and he says or I think Well, we're gonna be alone from here on in Well you are all my brothers, and you have been kind But what were you expecting to find? Now your eyes turn inwards, countenance turns blank And I'm floating away on a barrel of pain It looks like nothing but the sea and sky remain A harpoon's shaft is short and wide A grappling hook's is cracked and dry I said, why don't you get down in the sea Turn the water red like you want to be? Cause if I cry another tear I'll be turned to dust No the sharks won't get me they don't feel loss Just keep one eye on the horizon man, you best not blink They're coming fin by fin until the whole boat sinks

[@surfinmuso37]

Oh Oh Oh my God....I just came. What a performance! This guy puts everything into it... wow. 5:15 to end (lead sounds like bagpipes!) best bit.

[@johnsdea]

cray cray. up there w the best of AUS, ever

[@bobwehadababyitsaboy1252]

incredible art.

[@Alan-gi6ny]

One of my favourite performances of any song ever

[@db23out48]

If I could sing, play music, & had a band. I could only dream it would sound this good. Love these guys

[@jhalqu8209]

R.I.P. Mike Noga.

[@geeclatters6121]

😢 I came to this song as it seems poignant right now. RIP Mike.

[@jhalqu8209]

OK, but he did play on this performance. Regards.

[@dreamydreamy17]

best song ever

[@stevebond4458]

Gold love Australia & the Drones. Gareth Liddiard a man with real passion.

[@bonbonjames16]

Damn!! They are even better live!!

[@sammydennison5550]

love it. so raw and melodic.

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

You kno hes got those cans strapped to his head cause.... you know .... passion.

[@multheman]

Achingly beautiful song about depression.

[@maxdeangelis5019]

Finally found this song! Really hits me.

[@craigmoorcroft9601]

This is with me for ever

[@DonFucker84]

I love that energy ! :o)

[@stjames3410]

Bravo,great fucking tune! Love from Philadelphia

[@PetchyJ]

damn they got good at that song over a number of years and wow live is a magic time

[@HigzyTeflon]

Rectify brought me here. Special thanks to Shazam.

[@AJandWrmyinitials]

Dude ate on this joint 🍽️

[@dls3939]

AAAAAHHHH Such an awesome song.

[@MrBootle]

Great version! Always best live

[@soulcityrocker3799]

It's a hard road writing the best song ever written.

[@radsy5821]

god *damn* just played this about 20 times on repeat

[@postcardsfrompat8083]

Who filmed this!? What lenses did you use... The bokeh is gorgeous. I also like the shoulder rig work. Very well filmed!

[@HaydenBooth]

Cool thanks! I think the main camera did have a good lens, a Zeiss CP.2 85mm on a 5D mkiii, and yep on a shoulder rig. The other 2 were older 5Ds (or maybe a 7D) with just photo lenses.

[@TheDummbob]

brilliant stuff! Thank you thak you thank you! :))

[@benpeacock6354]

so good

[@davideverett2263]

God I miss them!

[@salty2667]

Triple Mmm will play this in another 10 years time... it’ll always thrill...

[@Majigitajog]

Nah way, Murdoch law. Liddiard lore will forever remain underground

[@decapitatedmonkeypenis9963]

when I was down like 10 years ago this was my fucken jam. I'm a happy person now but this still kicks ass.

[@vidabuena3589]

Is it just me thinking that he looks a bit like Pete Townshend? Superb song, by the way. The first one to actually send chills down my spine in the last years, the first time I heard it! Insanely intense.

[@ericmeechglobalnetwork2273]

Wow!

[@theageofbeinggoodtogether9087]

the purpose of my life is to fail while putting up a descent fight?

[@aidanwright4022]

I'll fight with you

[@krashdown5814]

You guys interested in a 3-way. ?

[@binscabs]

How good? ❤❤

[@lage1984]

incredible.

[@rocketmanrick]

He's just like making up brand new chords and appreggios and shit and if I did that it would sound like bolts in blender. Magic.

[@DefThrone]

You should probably get music lessons and learn theory.

[@MOLLOYALLOY]

Seriously? That's your response?

[@DefThrone]

A logical one? Yeah.

[@MOLLOYALLOY]

Yep, because I know for a fact that Gareth was a star pupil at MIT.

[@MOLLOYALLOY]

*GIT

[@patricksteinhuber6981]

Wow einfach nur wow 😮

[@alanmadec4853]

EXCELLENT !!!

[@crieverytim]

fantastic.

[@Jlauciusandhislady]

Can't help but think Gang Of Youths Ripped the structure and melodies of this song off with their song Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane. (Chords the same) That saying, the recording of this song is freaking incredible. Dark and expressive about the depths of depression. Damn!

[@manonymous4737]

Where’s Rui?

[@MrMattkorea]

Holy shit this is better than the recorded version

[@AVAdelonge87]

Pezzo stupendo. La parte finale mi ricorda i “band of horses”

[@HarrietBond1]

did these guys come to NZ and I missed them?????/ wahhhhhh :(

[@PinkoLoungeRoomBand]

Man I got them blues blues blues blue blues

[@rocketmanrick]

Firstly this maybe the greatest ever Australian song recorded. The world is truely fucked with 210 dislikes. Secondly on a recent online poll I was voted as KZbins 3rd shittest guitarists but even I can appreciate the guitar work of the lead singer

[@blakemelhuish1118]

It’s a downvote bot don’t worry bro I’m sure you’ll get better bro keep you’re head up bro I fucking suck piano just vibe bro

[@stephenfinney3101]

Play this song at my funeral

[@mindwaterfallakaleroythech75]

Awesomeness. Very punk clash like but BETTER!

[@zurijonsson2085]

Wow. Just wow.

[@outerspecies6497]

'Shark Fin Blues' and 'I'm Stranded' are the most compatible Desert Island Songs ever..........

[@briantercero1213]

"How about a bucket full of kick-ass rock n' roll?" ----- Yes, please.

[@jasonthedogcatcher]

You go Garreth.

[@robertpatterson6282]

Is he still going out with Myth...

[@apjordaan1]

Neil Young meets Iggy Pop!!!

[@Bikewithlove]

Or Bob Dylan meets Nicholas Cage. But better.

[@carmonnfrench357]

Fuck yes

[@sjmoetsie547]

❤

[@yt8co]

Coleridge wishes

[@thomasthomas8102]

Sound remains me of Mott the Hoople

[@slowfuse]

Is this song a bunch of 3/4 with the odd 4/4 bars thrown in on the D? or something else

[@g33fer94]

Absolutely nailed the whole of music, bloke. Let's all pack in now and lets just listen to 'slowfuse' the Messiah. (let me know if you're American and you can't understand sarcasm).

[@slowfuse]

@@g33fer94 lol

[@igavehimadollar3354]

So Australian so fucking brilliant

[@yt8co]

This is what Coleridge wished he could do

[@ZoomStranger]

Very happy to get involved in more Drones ... absolute gold, but I'm afraid Ben Salter has done a bit of a Johnny Cash on this song - stripped it back and let the lyrics shine as they should. Will check out the Missy Higgins version next.

[@crieverytim]

lyrics?

[@mikekennedy6228]

nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah never sounded so good.

[@oliverzone]

damn!

[@ColeWheeler4Lyfe]

Pete Townsend Phenotype

[@strokesman]

Jesus

[@rustopherhayden]

Rectify masturbation scene, fuckin epic

[@buluiz]

:)

[@buluiz]

:)

[@buluiz]

:)

[@ZoomStranger]

yep, Missy comes second. Gareth Liddiard fourth. Absolutely confident in recommending a go at the Ben Salter cover, sorry Drones.

[@agpat132]

He looks like Clive Owen.

[@1080TJ]

With a touch of Nicolas Cage

[@youshallbeasgods]

I lean more towards a hammered Pete Townshend and Ryan Gosling. The raw emotion feels of Blue Valentine.

[@Conky769]

The drones were great- before woke happened- before tfs went so hard left they fell off a cliff. It was about life/ history and music- not about a bunch of woke tripe.

[@nedhammond9782]

Shit for brains alert

[@yoosh9034]

bro was listening to the ruthlessness of British colonialism depicted in Sixteen Straws thinking wow they’re just like me fr

[@internationalpostspacecent3357]

Bro really listened to private execution, jezebel and taman shud and thought they were apolitical

[@jaycharger72]

He cant sing but hell the rest of it is so good , he just doesn't have a voice

[@swirlingfudge]

It's too long

[@knittingnickel]

boo! it's perfect. :-)

[@MrOvipare]

it's too long for you ;)

[@geeclatters6121]

Millennial with a tiny attention span Little Smedley??? Another couple of minutes of that guitar would do me fine.

[@jyeb001]

Came here after listening to Missy Higgins' version. The instrumental is great, but the singer is horrible. Not only is he just shouting, you can't understand a word he's saying - he sounds like he's doing some kind of drunk karaoke. Disappointing ☹️

[@AdamDodds]

Drunk yes, Karaoke, nananananana na

[@TonyB1950]

Well he wrote it so he is entitled to sing it as he wishes 🥴