C.W. Stoneking

Wed 12th Nov, 2008 in Features

Hokum: something that on the surface appears to be true or credible but is in fact meaningless or untrue.

The King Of Hokum is a man of many tales and he comes down the phone line at me sounding more American then I do. Although C.W. Stoneking was born here in Australia (from Yankee stock), I sense the eccentric persona he has taken on is one that pervades his existence.

It has been two years since that wild-sounding record King Hokum burst on the scene. The blues and roots music sounded like it came from another age, even though the songs were mostly written by the intriguing C.W. He was a mystery man to me on the phone and besides that I think he put the hoodoo on my technology, as the recording failed to work. His drawl and quotations were lost to the ether but his voice and facade will still echo in my mind.

After my return from being kidnapped in India, I found his latest recording Jungle Blues mysteriously on my desk. Was it delivered by one of his Calypso music loving friends from Africa, who stumbled into my house stoned on rum? Quite possibly, as there was a unique fragrance that I could not quite place surrounding the package. I slipped it out of the wrapping and found C.W. being chased by a tiger on the cover. Frightening stuff!

If you want to take a trip with C.W. and experience his tales from being shipwrecked in Africa and spending time in the jungle, check out his latest release. You may get spooked and you also might have to keep checking the liner notes to believe this record was made in the last 10 months.

Without going through Jungle Blues track by track, simply, if you liked King Hokum you are going to really enjoy this record. But what stands out the most about this record is the anachronistic sound and production. My kids listened to it in the horseless carriage with me and they were gob-smacked that this musical disc was recorded this century. It is a charming and fun mix of music and lyrics that make you smile. I don’t think you can avoid it. C.W. described the record as “more of the same, only more ‘jungley’, with some Calypso too.”

Recently C.W. and I crossed paths in Los Angeles at the Redwood Bar and Grill. A wonderfully nautical styled haunt it was, and hiding in some of the corners were pirates from various foreign locales. Gracing the stage was C.W. and an unconventional Primitive Orchestra of local musicians. I told him watching and listening to him play was a bit distracting with the freaky pirates in attendance and the gruesome pictures of Grindhouse playing silently on the T.V. screen.

“That would have been interesting. Usually they just had pictures of fish swimming in a tank on the television. We were well received in Los Angeles and I tried to find the best musicians I could and pay them enough so they would play,” he drawled.

The horns, his banjo and guitar work and decidedly 1920s sounding vocals made for an impressive set. But I was still a bit worried about the images I saw of blood and guts and those creepy looking pirates edging closer to my vantage point. I was slightly freaked out, so I ordered another double shot of Patron to calm my nerves as C.W. continued spinning tales. The room began to close in on me and I don’t want to recall the visions from the rest of that meandering evening.

Jungle Blues is out now on King Hokum/Shock. C.W. Stoneking is on the road for a solid month, starting this week. The man and his Primitive Orchestra then play Falls, Southbound and Sunset Sounds.