Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace is an Australian-based accordion and keyboard player, who for more than forty years has played around the world with a range of outfits including Weddings Parties Anything and Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission. We cover a lot of that career, in addition to some discussion on accordions in contemporary music, some great desert island disc selections and a whole bunch more.
To listen / watch:
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Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):
Mark’s musical upbringing and earning his stripes in a Scottish dance band from age 12.
Auditioning and joining Weddings Parties Anything
Wedding Parties Anything live in 1988 – Under The Clocks
Weddings Parties Anything – Streets of Forbes
Early days gigging with Weddings Parties Anything, including a residency at Fitzroy’s Jike Jika Hotel.
Weddings Parties Anything’s first album – Scorn of the Women
The Infanticide of Marie Farrar
Weddings Parties Anything – Away Away
The second album – Roaring Days
Discussion on Weddings Parties rise and rise and supporting acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Steve Earle and U2.
The third album – The Big Don’t Argue
The fourth album – Difficult Loves
The fifth album – King Tide
Changes in band lineup and making Australia the ‘new Europe’ touring-wise.
The sixth album – Donkey Serenade
The last album – River’esque
The ending of Weddings Parties Anything, the final gigs and stage diving with an accordion
Touring with U2 and BB King
Mark in action with Sally Dastey
The brilliant Tiddas
Playing on Mick Thomas and The Sure Thing albums – including Big Geographical
The formation of Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission
Three Roving Commission songs to check out: Back in the Day, Build This, Anything You Recognise (which in part retells the discussion with Mark on the breakup of Weddings Parties Anything)
Mark’s accordions and go to keyboard: the Nord Electro 3
The solo album: Squeezebox Wally
Thoughts on musical legacy
Desert Island Discs: Kite – Kirsty Maccoll, Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake, Dancer With Bruised Knees – Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Moon Safari – Air, How Will The Wolf Survive? – Los Lobos, Nina Simone At Town Hall – Nina Simone.
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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
A special thanks to Tim Pyers who introduced me to Weddings Parties anything way back in 1989. Do get in touch Tim!
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