JOHN HOOD

In July 1976, playing blues guitar again was not what I expected. However, when Reg and Ivan Zar told me they were putting another band together, I turned up at Reg's place to check it out. 

I had only met Terry Serio a couple of times, in fact he turned up at the Sid Rumpo house I think around 1973 with his friend, John Ryan (RIP).

Then there was Dave Brewer, young, long hair and the kid could play. On bass was Keith Jacob, I didn't know him either.

As I said, I didn't expect to be playing blues again but these guys were seriously good musicians! So I signed up.

                     How many Elks does it take to roll a smoke?

We were quite successful in Perth, and did a couple of tours to the East coast. I learned so much about blues from this band. I haven't heard a better Chicago-styled blues lineup in Australia and it certainly wasn't because of me. 

I got to play a lot of guitar, but having Dave on the other side of the stage was a joy. Night after night, he would burn it up. Dave and I got on really well and the playing always seemed to blend, we certainly didn't have any major problems with the allocation of guitar parts.

Terry was the consumate stage performer, a cliche I know, but this time it's true. Listening to him every night, he constantly changed his phrasing, always keeping it interesting.

Reg and Ivan both had incredible feel and, when we picked up Howie Shawcross on bass, it was perfect. I didn't really notice Howie at the time, but after going back to the tapes years later, I realised how much "push" he gave to the band.

I sometimes say to people that it took me ten years to really understand the music of Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy and all of those other Chess artists. With Reg, Ivan and Dave in the band, they were so into getting the correct feel of the tunes, the secrets of this music started to be revealed to me.

On to the music. This gig was a live recording in Melbourne. At that time the lineup was Terry Serio - vocals, Ivan Zar - harp, Reg Zar - drums, Howard Shawcross - bass and vocals, Dave Brewer and JH on guitars. The date on the cover says April 1978, but I'm pretty sure it was late in 1977. (I have evidence)

I believe this to be the classic live Elks' gig. A youthful HG Nelson made the introductory remarks (honest). The room was great, with natural reverb. 

There is a point in my solo in She's Into  Something when the reverb really kicks in, it may have also been something to do with the sound guy. I can still remember the feeling when I hit that note - awesome. 

I once heard a guy play my solo note-perfect at a blues festival. Hearing it was weird, Dave and I never played the same solo twice.

    This was the totally politically incorrect cover from the original cassette.

So, here it is The Elks FM Live ...

We also did a couple of tours with Dutch Tilders. We would play a set, then Dutch would do a solo set. Then we would come on and back him for the finale. Ivan wasn't always very fond of this arrangement. One night at The Broadway Tavern, he let me take his place on harp - I had an absolute ball. I'm still a fully paid-up member of the mythical Harmonica Player's Union. 

A friend of mine reckons that the harmonica is the only instrument that you don't have to learn before they let you record with it.

                   Dutch Tilders and a herd of Elks in King Street, Perth

Next Chapter: 1978 and The Elks' Refer To Drawer LP.

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