[00:00:00] Welcome to Trevor McCormack Music Podcast. I'm Chrissy Mack from Radio Northern Beaches and I couldn't be more excited to kick off this musical journey with you. Joining me is my brother, the legendary Trevor McCormack known as Mack, a true storyteller and music enthusiast. With each episode we're peeling back the layers behind the hits, sharing untold stories from artists and exploring what sparks the creativity behind the music that moves us.
[00:00:30] Whether you're a diehard music fan or just love discovering new sounds, this is the place where passion meets storytelling. So, hit the follow button, share this with your fellow music lovers and leave a review. Your support keeps the vibe alive. Turn up the volume and get ready to be inspired. And let's dive into the world of music together. Let's go! Okay, it's time to talk to Trevor again. This is Chrissy Mack. Hi, Trev! Hey everybody, how are we doing today?
[00:00:59] So, how did you go at the Giddy Up Festival on the weekend? Oh, that was a big day. Big day. So, tell us all about it. Alright, well Dave said I'll meet you there at 8 o'clock. He had to teach all day so he was sort of up and down. So, we got there, I think I got up at 6 o'clock in the morning, had a quick breaky and I took off. So, I set up all the gear, I think about quarter to 8. Set it up where?
[00:01:24] Now, we set up in a new shop which is still not finished. They actually didn't finish it in time but it's close. It's a wine bar on the main street of Sandgate up the far end, right next door to DKM Music, which is our studio where we teach.
[00:01:39] So, we got there and the girls have got the lady who owns it, Annalise. She's got a boutique beside. The left hand side of this wine bar and we're on the right hand side of the wine bar. We're up near the clock tower. So, she brought all her specials out of her shop and put them into the wine bar. So, people had some specials to come in and have a look at whilst they were listening to music. So, it was good fun. So, I set it all up. We had a few students that wanted to get up and play.
[00:02:05] We started with the owner which is getting lead guitar lessons off Dave. So, she was first up and she owns the wine bar. So, she kicked off the show and she's a really good singer. I've got a really good voice and can play her guitar reasonably well and she's all excited about having a bit of a play. So, she ran off about five or six songs, I think, in the kickoff.
[00:02:30] And I said to her, would you like a bit of percussion beside you? So, oh, she said, oh, that sounds good. So, I got the shakers and did a bit of shakers and helped her out there and she did her set. And the funny thing is, I've met this lady. I actually went to her home and we had a barbecue there. Dave, myself and Shelly from the music shop.
[00:02:54] They wanted us to come and say hello and mingle and get to know people which we got to meet all the people in the dress clothes shop. And they had music there and they got the grand piano and they got microphones and guitars and we had a good night and they played all their music. And they did say, bring your guitar so you can play something. And Dave did say to me, oh, should we get up and do some songs? And I went, no, actually, let's just wait a little bit. I said, we're going to play in the wine bar.
[00:03:23] So, let's let them have their fun. They're doing all their thing and let's just enjoy the music and what they do, which we did. And they had a DJ there as well at the end of the night. This girl, it's one of the daughters of the workers in the dress shop. And her daughter did the DJ for the rest of the night, which was fantastic. Dancing and lights flashing and had a good time while we went home. So, weeks went by and we had this giddy up festival we knew about.
[00:03:50] So, I've set up everything. They still don't know who I really am. I was just, they'd see me come and go doing maintenance in the new shop we had. So, that's as far as that, that's who I am. And I had to wait for the next student to turn up. So, I thought, oh, well, I'll do a couple of original songs. So, I sat down, grabbed a guitar out, set up, but all right, I'll just tweak the sound to make sure it's all still good and ready for the next people. So, I started singing a couple of songs.
[00:04:19] Well, it stopped a few heads. It was a bit of a shock. So, I thought that I'll just go, that's nice. Well, everybody just come into this little spot, sat around and their heads in windows and they're going, oh, my God. Well, that's terrific. I finished just the first song and they're all like coming over going, oh, that's unbelievable. Who are you? And it was great. It was like, wow, you can sing. So, it was a real pleasure then.
[00:04:48] It was just, they just loved every song I'd sung. They just, the people just kept coming up going, wow, you wrote that song. I said, I'm going to sing nothing but my songs all day now. And I did. And they just couldn't believe it. They were just, they said, that's amazing. I was so honoured and so, just felt so good that I could be myself in this place and help so many people.
[00:05:18] So, the next step was after I did a set myself then. So, I sung a few songs, which was Velvet Howl. Honestly, they love our song. Oh, wonderful. Just, and I nailed it. Like, I nailed it from start. Every song I did, I nailed. It was, I was in the right place. This Sandgate area, I feel so comfortable in that it's just, it's, the love and the people are just so warm and welcoming and love music.
[00:05:47] So, it's a good place for me to kick off out again and really get going again. So, with that, the next student comes in, young girl, 13, 14, 15, somewhere around that age group. Dad's with her. She gets up and she's, she's got a backing track and she's got a beautiful electric guitar, which Dave teaches her and she sings.
[00:06:09] So, she's been teaching herself to sing and we got her up next, got her going and she did a few songs and then a few guitar leads and things like that. And Dad's going, do some more. I said, mate, do as many as you like. But, like, that's what I'm here for, to keep you going and support you. And, you're doing great. Getting the crowd to clap and, you know, whistle and cheer and, you know, egg them on to say, well, you know, you're doing great. And she says, oh, I might sing Shallow. So, I've walked up because I'm doing sound. I'm walking around doing sound and checking everything.
[00:06:39] Make sure it's all levers, right? So, I walk up and say, Shallow, do you want to do Shallow? She goes, yeah. I said, well, do you want me to do the male part? She's like, oh, it is a duet, isn't it? I said, yeah. I said, I can help her. She looked at me like, oh, oh. I said, we can do this. I said, you just sing it like you normally do. I said, no, just, I'll drop in. I said, I kick it off. Shallow, the guy sings the first part. She goes, oh, okay. I said, no, I'll just point to you and off you go. You sing the next part.
[00:07:08] I said, and then you just keep singing because it's a guy-girl mixed in. And I said, it'll be fine. Anyway, she's like all scared because she's never sung with anybody before. I said, this is what it's all about. Let's go. So, anyway, we kick off and I start singing. Well, I've seen the first male part of it. And she's just looking at me like shaking her head going, I don't want to do this. Anyway, I said, come on. So, I think I sung the first two words and then off she went and she was away.
[00:07:37] Well, she was so wrapped after I got high fives. She was astounded. She was just amazed and so happy. She said, I've never done that before. I said, no, you have. I said, so sing with other people. Come back any time. I said, we're doing this. I want you to come down. We'll sing some more songs together. So, the encouragement giving them was just so beautiful. It just felt so good to give that to these guys and these students.
[00:08:07] There's another one, Ed. He struggles in some of his notes and he knew I was going to be there and setting everything up. And I said to him, you've really got to really practice on your notes like where they've got to fit, you know. And he's been practicing like you wouldn't believe. So, he did a set next and oh my, he really, really did well. Excellent. So, he'd been doing his homework.
[00:08:34] Now, this is a kid that every song I've sung, even if I've sung it once, even Velvet Howe, I think he's heard it once. He's got a memory like you wouldn't believe. He's sung that beside me. I could hear him just off to the left of me. He's sung every word. Wow. Every word. I said, mate, have you heard this somewhere else? He goes, no, no, no. Just when you're saying it, I remember it. Your photographic memory. They're talented kids. They really are talented kids.
[00:09:02] So, he did his first set and I was so proud of him. I said, mate, add off to it. I said, that was, I'd say 95%. I would give you a tick of improvement. It's great. So, he did really well and he played on and off through the day. He even got up and sung with me when I did a few songs off the album because he knows the album as well. Okay. And he did a really good job. Really good job. So, add off to that one. Then later on, we had a guy who's played, kicked off actually, Pete Murray. He's that good.
[00:09:31] Dave taught him guitar from a little kid. I think he dragged a little guitar around when he could barely walk until he could pick it up and hold it. That's how good this kid is. He can play. And boy, he can sing. So, he did really well. I was very impressed with him but didn't have to do anything for him except set him up sound wise and let him go. Amazing. So, with that, I just played in between again and until later on in the day, they closed up the shops and then we carried on.
[00:09:59] And I think Ed did another one at the end of the night. His mother came and hasn't ever seen him sing or play. Oh, wow. And sung with me and then he sung a few on his own and she filmed the whole thing from start to finish and we wrapped it up. That was about somewhere around the 8 o'clock mark. It was a big go-to. So, you went 8 to 8. Oh, easy. Yeah, yeah. And I sung on and off all day. Like, I was the main. I think I did more than any. Yeah, I did.
[00:10:28] I sung more than anybody just filling the gaps until people turned up. And then Dave came down. That's right. Then Dave came down from upstairs. He finished his teaching. That was about 3.30. And so, of course, we punch out some big bangers and some big songs and do a bit of blues and rock and jazz and a couple of my songs that he loves. And yeah, that was the day. So, very big day yesterday. So, can't wait to get home. And I still haven't unpacked all my gear yet. Still all in the U. So, I'm going to get home.
[00:10:55] So, you got home last night and you got up and got to work this morning and you're still not home yet. Yeah, I rest to work. Worked all done. I'll be home at 7.30, 8 o'clock and I'll unpack the bus and try and get to bed quick and early and get up and go again. Yeah. So, for the listeners' benefit, you are sitting on the side of the road in a bus talking to me in between shifts. Yes, yes, yes. So, hi, everybody. If you pass the bus, give me a two.
[00:11:22] And that's the RSL bus at Bribie Island. That's it. Yep, yep. They love me. They love my music. They love what I do. I look after them. Get them in. Get them out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's all fun. Great place to be. All right. Well, I'm going to let you go then because you're just about to start driving again. And I'll catch up with you next week. All right. Everybody stay safe. Keep dancing. Lots of love.
[00:11:52] Talk to you soon. Bye. Bye. Now, don't forget to check out Trevor McCormack's YouTube and you can also go to Trevor McCormack Music for any podcasts that you might have missed. So, don't forget to follow and share. Bye.