Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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ROCKY CHALLENGES CHINA WITH AN INOFFENSIVE OFFENSIVE

Stanley Butler
Stanley Butler
Currently a writer of ESL materials and a teacher of English and Japanese in Hong Kong, his journey to the East started in the 1850's goldfield town of Ballaarat where the Eureka Rebellion took place on Dec 4 1854. After 2 decades there he then went on to spend three decades in Melbourne to pursue studies at Monash Secondary Teachers College (Rusden) and La Trobe University before taking up an active role in (Asian) furniture making and design, alongside running a business with his partner that had a dramatic impact on migrant education in Australia, the opening up of the overseas student market to Australian schools and institutions, and provided a link for Australian educators to establish their expertise throughout the Asia region, particularly in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. On the way to Asia with an obligatory trip around Australia in mind to see his own country, Darwin and the Northern Territory captivated him. Shortly after arriving, he found himself resident in Alice Springs, in the heart of the Australia, where he had for the first time, contact with Aboriginal people and the problems that confront them in a land that has largely left them marginalised. That was a real learning curve for him and is something that empowers him to see they have their problems redressed in a just and equitable way. For a culture that has existed for over 60,000 years, the world's oldest continuing living culture, that had never been messed with prior to the 1788 British First Fleet of convicts, of whom some of his roots came from, the takeover of their land and their culture deserves nothing less. However the East has always been something that's fascinated him since childhood. After many trips to Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, The Philippines and Indonesia over the years, it wasn't until 2008 that he was finally able to live in the heart of this region, in Hong Kong.

Since touching down in Hong Long last week, Rocky Dabscheck has wasted no time in finding his footing in this part of the world where massive audiences of millions will take to his inspirational version of Aussie-rooted blues.

The Wanch outside pic
The swinging, vibrant coomunity that frequent the Wanch live music bar in Wanchai, Hong Kong.

As frontman for his group, Rocky and the Two-bob Millionaires, and travelling as single act at this stage in this new field, Hong Kong is his first stepping-off point before he enters China mainland where already Rocky and the Two-bob Millionaires have an impressive following.

rocky 3
Rocky and the Two-bob Millionaires band

Wasting not a moment of time or a chance to advertise his presence, Rocky has already been heavily engaged by the local media as well as fronting solo performances in some of Hong Kong’s premier night spots.

Rocky 5
Rocky Dabscheck delivering the blues in his inmitable style on blues guitar

The evident warmth to Australian musicians and performers who chose to try their luck and expand their audiences in the Asian area, is evident in his interview on the top English language Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) morning radio programme, Morning Brew. It is a delight to listen to. The programme’s presenter, Phil Whelan, one of Hong Kong’s most loved English language radio personalities, spent an earlier period in Australia as a musician for the production of the ‘Hello Dolly’ musical many years ago. His fondness for the Australian vernacular gives a lot of sparkle to this interview.

 

Link to RTHK Morning Brew programmes’s interview with Rocky Dabscheck and PhilWhelan

http://programme.rthk.hk/channel/radio/programme.php?name=radio3/morning_brew&d=2016-07-26&m=episode

IMG-20130408-WA0003
Phil Whelan, Frank Howson, Stanley Butler captured at the Wanch

Rocky’s engagements in Hong Kong before entering the mainland include a session on Tuesday at the Wanch for their Acoustic Tuesday nights. In this spot Rocky brought a homely Australian witty charm to an adoring audience of people quite unfamiliar with his form of directness and his use of language. He was able to directly cut to the chase without messing around with obsfuscatory  embellishments. ‘You’re here to hear original music, so let’s get on with it’ was his style and his patter between songs gave easy and suavely connected segways into his next song. This warmed the audience immeasurably to his warm inclusive style.

FRank Juky 16 BAR Scene
Barry O’Rorke, Brain Greytak, Phil Whelan, Rocky Dabscheck and Frank Howard swearing the Hong Kong Drinkers’ Oath of Allegiance before a Justice of the Peace at the Wanch live music bar….let see how that goes….soeone was prodding Rocky from behind.

Blues from the heart is probably the best description of his solo music. He is raw and direct on the guitar to deliver his emotionally charged and well-understood lyrics. At the end of his set he had won everyone in the audience over, along with the bar staff to his genuine and unpretentious appeal.

His audiences in China are going to be thrilled to witness him in action. Check out his love song, one of many he performed at the Wanch…..

Checkout his Shtick interview to announce the publication of his book, “Stoney Broke & The Hi-Spenders”, about his adventures as a nice jewish boy playing guitar with an Aboriginal indigenous band.

 

Stanley Butler

Currently a writer of ESL materials and a teacher of English and Japanese in Hong Kong, his journey to the East started in the 1850's goldfield town of Ballaarat where the Eureka Rebellion took place on Dec 4 1854. After 2 decades there he then went on to spend three decades in Melbourne to pursue studies at Monash Secondary Teachers College (Rusden) and La Trobe University before taking up an active role in (Asian) furniture making and design, alongside running a business with his partner that had a dramatic impact on migrant education in Australia, the opening up of the overseas student market to Australian schools and institutions, and provided a link for Australian educators to establish their expertise throughout the Asia region, particularly in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. On the way to Asia with an obligatory trip around Australia in mind to see his own country, Darwin and the Northern Territory captivated him. Shortly after arriving, he found himself resident in Alice Springs, in the heart of the Australia, where he had for the first time, contact with Aboriginal people and the problems that confront them in a land that has largely left them marginalised. That was a real learning curve for him and is something that empowers him to see they have their problems redressed in a just and equitable way. For a culture that has existed for over 60,000 years, the world's oldest continuing living culture, that had never been messed with prior to the 1788 British First Fleet of convicts, of whom some of his roots came from, the takeover of their land and their culture deserves nothing less. However the East has always been something that's fascinated him since childhood. After many trips to Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, The Philippines and Indonesia over the years, it wasn't until 2008 that he was finally able to live in the heart of this region, in Hong Kong.

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