Each and Every One - Everything But The Girl

Spent last night with Everything But The Girl's classic debut album Eden, one of NME's (remember them?) top 20 albums of 1984 apparently. The band seemingly jacked it in waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2000 which was news to me. Where does the time go eh? What's that? Elvis is dead?! What?!! Aggggggggggggggghhhhh. 

A Riot On Eastbourne Pier - Captain Sensible

For reasons I won't disclose (mysterious eh?) this track's been spinning around my head today. A long lost classic from the good Captain in my humble opinion. 

Beautiful Days Festival - August 20th to August 22nd

"Welcome to a miracle" observed The Levellers' Mark Chadwick during their traditional opening acoustic set. Given that just a few weeks ago it seemed as though Beautiful Days wouldn't happen this year I'd say that was a pretty justifiable statement. Sure the loos were a bit crap (as it were) and there may not have been as many bands on as usual (or am I just imaging that?) but the organisers deserve nothing but oodles of praise for pressing ahead and giving every attendee yet another memorable weekend. 

Day One's highlights included Peat and Diesel's craic-ing set, Henge's out of this world psychedelia, the return of Alabama 3 (Woke Up This Morning's still a classic) and the sublime pairing of kora player Seckoh Keita and harpist Catrin Finch, all capped off with Frank Turner (the thinking Millennial's Billy Bragg) and his Sleeping Souls and the legendary Hawkwind (whose lead singer Dave Brock turned 80 today...who says (space) rock 'n' roll's no good for you eh?). 

Emerging from our tent in a cider induced haze on Day Two we caught garage punkters Fighting Rhythm (who'd travelled 8 hours to get here to replace another band, now that's commitment) and then bounced between the Main Stage and Big Top. Edward II 's blend of Jamaican and English folk was as inspired as ever, setting us up for some right skanking to The Selector. Is it me or is Pauline Black getting younger?  Despite the rain Gary Numan proved he's still electrifying (although happily he avoided getting electrocuted despite venturing onto a platform away from the shelter of the stage during the peak of the downpour) paving the way for another band who are enjoying something of a late career purple patch, James.

Day Three kicked off with some stunning blues covers from Dea Matrona and some equally awesome self penned folk from Katherine Priddy (whose debut album 'The Eternal Rocks Beneath' recently hit number one in the folk charts...hurrah!). 

The rest of the afternoon saw us lapping up From The Jam. Dreadzone and Skindred before catching the proggier than a very proggy thing at a prog boot camp Van Der Graaf Generator's equally mesmerising , confusing and ever so slightly scary set (although that might just be the cider talking). As is traditional we listened to The Levellers closing set from the Tiny Tea Tent before collapsing in a messy heap. Ouch, my aching everything. 

As ever we missed loads of great bands but spent many happy hours chatting with random strangers and taking in the unique sights, sounds and smells that make a festival such a bloody life affirming event. 

Fly Me To The Moon - Tony Bennett

Sad to read that Tony Bennett's retiring from live performances at just 95 years young. What a legend. How many other singers can say they've been treading the boards for 70 years eh? 70! Good grief. I had the great pleasure of seeing and meeting Mr Bennett at Glastonbury back in 1998 when he was a mere 72 and, despite the rising tide of mud (oh so much mud), he sat there and signed autographs and chatted with fans for a good hour or so.  

Life Without Buildings - PS Exclusive

Heard this track last night on the Ezra Furman fronted Marc Riley show. Reminded me a bit of a female fronted Campag Velocet. Cooooool.  

Superstate - Yoga Town

This sounds like the kind of cool indie track that got played on the much missed (in my world anyway) Pig Radio. It's not though...it's something new from Graham Coxon and chums. Apparently there's a graphic novel that goes with it too that no doubt explains what the track and its vid are all about. Possibly. 

Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players

Hands up who thought the Red Hot Chili Peppers version was the original? Love the dancin' dudes 2minutes 20 seconds in too. 

Ethyrfield @ The Marine Tavern, Dawlish - Saturday July 31st 2021

A gig? An actual live gig? In real life?! Yes. This actually happened. 

18 months after seeing my last live gig (the biggest between gig gap since I was 18 or so) I finally saw a band in the flesh and what a great band they were/are too. Coming all the way from Newton Abbott (a good 10 miles or so away) Ethyrfield rock more than a slab of granite dropping on your head from outer space (narrowly missing Jeff Bezos and Dickie Branson of course). Showcasing tracks from new album In Delirium (you can grab a copy here) they treated to packed and ever so slightly moist Marine Tavern to a stadium worthy set and, if there's any justice in this world, that's just where they're heading. 

Here's a quick taster if you're new to the band...

Gareth 'Gaz' Owen RIP

Late Friday afternoon I spotted a couple of posts on Facebook about the passing of Gaz from Swordfish and thought it was some kind of mistake. Surely it's another Gaz from another Swordfish somewhere? Sadly not. 

I first met Gaz way back in the 80s when Swordfish was in Needless Alley and over the years spent many (many!) happy hours riffling through his racks and chewing the fat about music. He'd suggest some great stuff for me to listen to and kept me well supplied with vinyl, CDs Aphex Twin calendars and that quirky Badly Drawn Boy music box. After moving to Devon back in 2015 I obviously saw very little of him but popped back last time I was in Brum and it was like I'd never been away. 

The genuine outpouring of grief that's followed Gaz's passing says all you need to know about the man. He was a lovely bloke, down to earth, friendly, encouraging of new talent, welcoming to new record buyers and a huge influence on the Midlands music scene for over four decades. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, his business partner Mike and everyone else who who's as shocked as I am that he'll no longer be behind that legendary counter...this one's for you Gaz x.