Steve Cropper RIP

Another musical genius joins that great gig in the sky. If all Steve Cropper had done was to co-write (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay that'd be enough, but he played on some of the greatest soul songs of all time too. Oh hang on...he also co-wrote Knock On Wood and In The Midnight Hour too?! Not too shabby eh? Here are just three other tracks that Cropper added a little magic to...

Dr. Ice Cold - Room Service

Another instant classic from Room Service. Drop this at the Christmas party and you're guaranteed to pull. Hell yeah. 

Gemini Rising - New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble

Managed to limit myself to just the two CDs over the weekend, one of them a compilation of New Orleans music entitled Jockomo Jockomo (you can pick it up online for less than a fiver). It's a cracking comp featuring, amongst other gems, this track. Cool eh? 

Frightening Machines - Katherine Priddy

How beautiful is this track eh? It seems pretty appropriate for this time of the year too, when most of us are counting down the days until we can chill out a little over Christmas. Next year sees Katherine embark on her biggest solo tour to date, including one (a home town gig) at the legendary Town Hall in Brum.   

The Package - De La Soul

Loving the current single from De La Soul, a real summer vibe...even though it's currently hovering above freezing in the UK right now. 

Jimmy Cliff RIP

Just a few days after losing Mani now Jimmy Cliff's passed away. We saw him play an amazing set in Brum about 20 odd years ago when he was a mere 60-ish and I think he continued to play live until fairly recently. How about this for a performance eh? 

RIP Jimmy. 

Mani RIP

You know you're getting on in years when the people from the bands you grew up with start popping off to that great gig in the sky. A few weeks ago we lost Dave Ball and now Mani's gone at just 63...I say 'just' 63...I suppose that's not a bad age all things considered and, let's face it, the dude fitted a lot more into his life than most of us. 

In my humble opinion The Stone Roses' self titled debut album is one of the top 20 albums of all time. Of course it all went a bit tits up after that but I was lucky enough to see the reformed Roses play V Festival (they were supposed to play Glasto '95 but Squire broke his collar bone, so we saw some band called Pulp instead...I wonder what happened to them?). 

Between the split and the resurrection Mani went on to play with Primal Scream during arguably their best and most experimental period.

It's his work with the Roses that people are quite rightly looking back on today though and here are a pair of absolute 24ct gold bangers...

I Wanna Be Adored? Mission accomplished I reckon Mani. RIP. 

Children of the Baked Potato - Thundercat (ft Remi Wolf)

Been meaning to post this for a few weeks now, just in case you've not heard it. It's jazz...with the kitchen sink chucked in for good measure. There are whole albums...nay careers...with less content and skill than this single track. PS: Apparently The Baked Potato is a jazz club in LA where you cam watch jazz...and eat a baked potato. Brilliant. 

Room Service/Pigeon Wigs/Suckle @ The Folklore Rooms, Brighton – Friday November 14th 2025

                                                        Room Service 

What does 11quid buy you these days eh? Not a fat lot sadly. Unless you happened to be one of the lucky ones in The Folklore Rooms, Brighton (cracking venue too by the way) last Friday when they dished up three top notch bands kicking off with Leeds’ finest, Suckle. Bluesy, rocky, garagey, Captain Beefhearty…Suckle’s the kind of ultra cool underground band you wished you’d been around to see back in the 60s and 70s (except that would make you…I dunno…70 or something and that’s gotta hurt…good grief being 55’s knackering enough). If you’re looking for a great night out Suckle’s pretty much un-teat-able (see what I did there?). 

Pick of the pops (or set, if you will, and you really should) Beef Pudding and Hollow Legs.

We’d barely got our breath back (to be fair that takes a while these days) before Pigeon Wigs flew in. They’d had a ‘mare driving down from Wales in the sodding rain but it didn’t show. Indie garage rock superstars in waiting…if Jack White’s reading this snap ‘em up for Third Man Records and you’ll make a bob or two. 

Crucially the world will get a much-needed kick in the musical crotch as well. And boy does it need it. Pick of the pops…Plumpy and All Your Fun. 

PS: Some tidy facial hair going on in the band too.

Last up Room Service, celebrating the launch of new EP The Plastic Cosmic Fantastic Hotel, delivered some of the greatest jazz tinged groovers this side of the Atlantic. They can rock out with the best of ‘em too though courtesy of Hot Dog and, quite possibly one of the finest tracks I’ve heard this millennium, JCVD (Jean Claude Van Damme). Loved the Love Shack cover as well. Pick of the pops…JCVD of course. 

Why the chuff hasn’t this been a number one smash hit yet eh? The world’s gone mad.

So there you go, at less than £4 per band tonight’s gig was proof that the grassroot live music scene’s still capable of giving you one hell of a night out without breaking the bank. Cheers to each and every member of each and every band, plus whoever set up and put on the show, you made an old bloke’s ears very happy indeed. All together now, "J...C...J C V D!" 

Only Shallow - My Bloody Valentine

Dusted off my copy of Loveless last night and this track seems pretty perfect for these times...a woozy disconnected feel followed by an ever so slightly brain melting wall of noise. Yep, that's 2025 in a nutshell.  

Now That I Own The BBC - Sparks

When this track came out over 30 years ago the thought of Sparks buying the BBC seemed pretty out there...now it seems like a cracking idea. I reckon it would be in much safer hands with Ron and Russell. 

Gilson Lavis RIP

Sad to hear of the passing of Squeeze/Jools Holland drummer Gilson Lavis. Here's a wonderful clip featuring Gilson, Jools and Rowland Rivron that I'd never seen before. 

Vive La Vie! - Vanity Fairy

Channelling her inner Prince and Scissor Sisters, Vanity Fairy's latest track's just what you need to cheer up an autumnal Thursday. One to dance around in your pants to. I'm dancing around in my pants right now...lovely image eh?  

Shake the Boogie - Sonny Boy Williamson

Picked up some great blues CDs at the weekend including four Sonny Boy Williamson compilations. This particular track was recorded almost 80 years ago and it still sounds as fresh as a daisy. Sadly the original Sonny Boy was murdered just a year or so later at the age of just 34. 

Somewhat confusingly another artist, Rice Miller, 'borrowed' his name in the 50s and 60s, cashing in on the UK blues boom by recording with The Animals and The Yardbirds before shuffling off to the great gig in the sky at the age of anything between 52 and 68 (the exact date of his birth appears to be a bit of a mystery). 

Dracula - Tame Impala

What better track to end the week, whilst also celebrating Halloween...whoohahahahahaha...than Tame Impala's new one, Dracula. We've all heard of Yacht Rock, I reckon this is a fine slice of Yacht Dance. Suck it up. 

Walk On - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Along with my penchant for jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaz as I get older I'm digging back into the blues too, so here's a jaunty little number that might just float your boat. As with jazz the blues is one heck of a genre to explore, but I reckon as long as I live to 170 I should have heard just about everything that's worth hearing. 

Blind - Jake Ryan

Having worked behind the counter in a convenience store (7-Eleven in Hove...1990-1991) I know that some people can treat you with, let's say, less than a modicum of respect, courtesy or even human decency. I imagine it's got a lot worse over the past 30 years or so and it never ceases to amaze me when you see some people fail to even acknowledge the poor sod serving them. Personally I welcome a quick chat with the person behind the counter/bar/bullet proof glass and that's how I got to know Jake. I knew he played music (he's just left the joys of the Co-op to study music in Cornwall) but I've only just found out that he's recently recorded and released a whole album too. Darn fine it is as well, with hints of Billy Joel at his Piano Man-tastic best. 

You can stream the whole thing on Spotify (and no doubt various other streaming 'platforms' that old duffers like me know bugger all about) but please also share it with, well, anyone who'll listen and help give a new artist the break they deserve.  

Dave Ball RIP

No matter what he turned his hand to any track that involved Dave Ball had that signature sound that, judging by the many tributes being paid to him today, was as adored as it was influential.  

I loved the stuff he did with Psychic TV in the Acid House era but, of course, it's Soft Cell where Dave Ball obsession began. Bear in mind the group started in 1977 when synths were still a relatively new thing that could cost as much as a house and you'll appreciate just how ground breaking they were, as their first EP Mutant Moments shows.

File under 'Uneasy Listening'. 

Memorabilia sanded off some of the rougher edges but, blimey, it still sounds futuristic to me.  

After making it bigger than...well...pretty much anyone in 1981 with their cover of Tainted Love the Cell spent much of the next three years confounding expectations with one brilliant but - for the majority of the record buying public - ever so slightly odd album after another. Take this little beauty from This Last Night In Sodom for instance. Punk goth synth pop anyone? 

Amongst other things Dave then went on to form The Grid who helped the define the 90s dance scene with tracks like A Beat Called Love. 

I could go on...and on...and on...but trust me, anything and everything that Dave Ball had a hand in is well worth a listen. My musical world would have been much poorer without him but apparently he'd just completed the final mix of a brand new Soft Cell album days before he passed away, so it's not quite time to 'wave goodbye' forever. 

RIP Dave.   

EMF / Jesus Jones / Bis @ Prospect Building, Bristol – Sunday October 19th 2025

 

A very welcome chance to see Bis again (having seen them way back in 1999 at The Flapper in Brum and 2013 at the much-missed Indietracks Festival in Derbyshire) and EMF and Jesus Jones for the very first time. Bis kicked things off with 30 minutes of the best pop tunes your ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing including their breakout track Kandy Pop and a joyous Eurodisco. Action and Drama still being well and truly delivered.

You have to feel for Jesus Jones trying to follow that.

But it was great to hear the likes of Real Real Real, International Bright Young Thing and Right Here, Right Now again.

Headliners EMF were a rave riot from start to finish, with a hits packed set, including a slower version of their cover of I’m A Believer (which gave a bit of a nod to Robert Wyatt’s interpretation, albeit with 90s indie disco vibe) and a couple of new classics in waiting including recent release LGBTQ+ Lover.

This last track saw a special guest appearance from Bis who they seem to have formed a particularly special bond with on this tour. Speaking of special bonds tonight saw the return of band member Derry Brownson. I’m not sure what’s been ailing him in recent years but he and the band had an…wait for it…Unbelievable time up there.

Ending the night with a singalong EMF (the track that is) the crowd (mainly 50 somethings like me but lead singer James’ son was there with a bunch of his Uni mates who seemed to be enjoying it as much as everyone else) lustily belted out the “Motherfuckers” like…well…motherfuckers. A joyful celebration of the 90s for those who were there the first time round and those who wish they had been. It might just be the old rose coloured spectacles (or varifocals in my case now) but the world really did seem a better place back then.   

Stay In Your Lane - Courtney Barnett

Brand new single and video from the ever reliable queen of Aussie bedsit indie anthems Courtney Barnett. Best not to watch the vid before having your tea though...

Go West (1992 12" Mix) - Pet Shop Boys

Where does the time go eh? 10 years ago today we relocated from Bearwood to the sunny South West. Inevitably the pace of life is a 'tad' slower down here and getting to and back from gigs via public transport isn't that practical (especially the kind of gigs I'd want to attend, the ones that start just as the last train's leaving...) but regular visits to Bristol and the odd festival are more than sufficient these days, especially as the old knees start giving up the ghost. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the joys of growing old.  

Birdland - Weather Report

Picked up some better than usual CDs at the weekend, including a neat Weather Report best of that, of course, features the classic track Birdland. Seems like a good choice to kick off a new week. Smoooooooooooooooooooooooth. 

Matches - Katherine Priddy

Hauntingly beautiful new track and video from one of folk's leading lights, Katherine Priddy, who's heading out on a major tour next April and May...culminating in a headlining show at the legendary Birmingham Town Hall! 

This Heart Wasn't Made To Kick Around - Peggy March

I still pick up CDs by people I've never heard of and a few weeks ago I found a best of Peggy March compilation on the ever reliable Ace label. Apparently Peggy had a number 1 hit in the States when she was just 15 and she went on to record some absolute bangers like this one.  

Hello Beautiful - Dodgy

My history with Dodgy goes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back to their pre-Brit Pop fame days (anyone else out there who saw them at The Hibernian in '92/'93?), so it's lovely to see that their new single's made the charts again. If you're new to the band they've got a bostin' back catalogue to explore too, here's a trio to get you started: 

This is Phil celebrating...

A very happy belated birthday to Phil Oakey, who turned 70 years young yesterday. This track's before the split that birthed Heaven 17 and took Phil to a club where he picked up, in the nicest possible way, a couple of school girls. Within a few months they went from watching Top Of The Pops to being on it at number one... 

40 years later the band's still together and playing live but sadly there's not been much in the way of new music for more than a decade. Here are a couple of later era League classic's though, 1990's Soundtrack To A Generation and 1995's Tell Me When. 

Beefhearts and Bones (Live) - Michael Marra

Just heard this on 6 Music and had to stick it up. Marra's a new name to me but bugger me it's a cracker. Sadly he went to that great gig in the sky back in 2012. I wonder what happened to his record collection...? 

Oh My God - Mark Ronson ft Lily Allen

Just about to go to the dentist to have a tooth extracted and this track keeps going round and round in m head. If you're familiar with the lyrics you'll know why... 

Happy Bri-day

In honour of Brian Ferry's 80th (!) birthday and the arrival of the weekend let's have a trip of Roxy Tracks, kicking off, appropriately enough with a track from 1980, when Brian was just a mere 35 years old. 

Next a rawer, rockier Roxy live on The Old Grey Whistle Test from 1973. 

And who can forget Brian's short lived eye infection inspired pirate scout leader look....

Danny Thompson RIP

Just found out that legendary double bassist, founding member of Pentangle and John Martyn's long-term collaborator Danny Thompson passed away on September 23rd at the ripe old age of 86.I've only just learned that he was born in Teignmouth too, just a mile or so down the road from my adopted home town of Dawlish. 

Time to dig out my Pentangle CDs...

Hey Man - Misty's Big Adventure

I'm pretty sure I've posted this track at least once before but for anyone new to this blog (welcome, take a seat...tea? Coffee? Cider?) it's by one of my favourite bands of all time, Misty's Big Adventure. If you've not heard of them before I urge...nay...implore you to pop over to You Tube for a few hours to listen to everything they ever recorded. Trust me, your ears will thank you. 

The Happy Dictator - Gorillaz ft Sparks

Another track I've been meaning to post for a while, this time it's Gorillaz's hook up with Sparks and a cheerful ditty entitled The Happy Dictator. 

Taxes - Geese

I meant to post this a few weeks ago but I forgot...probably all that worry about paying my tax bills. They say only two things in life are certain, death and taxes, but I'm not sure which is worse. Only joking...of course I am...it's taxes. Clearly Mr Geese feels the same way.  

The Beat(en) Generation - The The

Some 36 years after it was written this track from The The seems far more appropriate now than it was when I was a teenager. The world's undoubtedly far more divided and there's sooooooooooooo much more misinformation these days than there was then...and I'm talking both on the left and right of the political spectrum...so it's little wonder that this country and many others are in such a bloody mess. Still, it's the weekend and I'm having fish and chips and a bottle of wine for tea so screw it!

Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter - Ike and Tina Turner

Picked up an Ike and Tina Turner best of CD over the weekend and particularly enjoyed this version of the Nina Simone classic. Better than the original? Answers on a mosquito's tweeter...

Stephen Luscombe RIP

Sad to hear of the passing of Blancmange's Stephen Luscombe over the weekend. Adding a distinctive Indian flavour to 80s synth pop Blancmange's were one of that decade's more interesting bands with Living On The Ceiling even making it to the dizzy heights of number 7 in the UK charts back in 1982. 

If you're new to the band their cover of ABBA's deliciously dour The Day Before You Came is well worth a spin too. 

Porcupine - Sparks

The world may be continuing it's rapid descent into the great dustbin of existence but as long as there's new music from Sparks there's still a little hope eh? Almost unbelievably Ron Mael turned 80 last month... 

Just Two Girls - Wolf Alice

Good to see Wolf Alice make the Mercury Music Award nominations again, along with CMAT and Pulp. If I had to pick a winner though how great would it be if Martin Carthy won eh? A mere 68 years into his professional career... 

Rick Davies RIP

Who doesn't love a bit of Supertramp? So it's sad to hear that Rick Davies, one of the band's founder members has passed away, but 81's a pretty fair innings eh? And what a life, 60 million albums flogged by 2007 and a number one album in the US and Canada when such things mattered. 

Plus they wrote the unofficial West Country anthem...It's Raining Again. Ahem. 

Darkness - Van Der Graaf Generator

 

This is what it sounds like when one band puts more thought into a single track than some do into their entire career. Sure, it's gloriously OTT in places but why not eh? And the track's title...it couldn't be more appropriate for the times we're living in. Play it loud and give the neighbours a treat. Possibly.

The Strange World of Gurney Slade theme tune - Max Harris

I'm guessing very few people have heard of let alone seen The Strange World of Gurney Slade, a surreal 1960 comedy series starring Anthony Newley who wanders around London mulling over life to himself. It's been on Rewind TV recently though and it stands up pretty well almost 70 years on with lots of 'breaking the fourth wall' bits, talking dogs and Una Stubbs coming alive from a bill board to dance around with a vacuum cleaner. The jazzy theme tune's pretty cool too, penned by Max Harris it apparently reached number 11 in the charts. 

The Telephone Always Rings - Fun Boy Three

Spent a couple of very happy hours (ahem) helping Mrs Baron set up her new smartphone yesterday and this track kept popping into my head. As someone who doesn't have a mobile phone of any kind smart phones are a bit of a mystery to me. Bring back the 2p red phone box that always smelt of piss, that's what I say. 

The Hearing Aid Hits a Million!

Okay, so it's taken 19 years but today The Hearing Aid reached a mind boggling one million 'hits'. Back in day I'd spend hours writing gig reviews (if you've got a spare few months you can work your way through 'em all, some of them are even mildly entertaining) but more recently I've mainly stuck to posting tracks I love and somehow the hits have carried in ticking up. As an ad free site I've earned exactly bugger all from it, but if anyone would like to send me a million quid I'll put it to good use. Cider and CDs count as a 'good use', right? 

A Partridge in a Blur tree

Just been reading about the Andy Partridge produced versions of some of Blur’s Modern Life Is Rubbish album (the band’s best release in my opinion) and, thanks to the wonders of Barry You Tube, you can give ‘em a spin. As you’d expect the Partridge versions have a bit more of a 60’s psych meets 70s indie vibe, with Seven Days perhaps the best sounding of the lot.  

I'm so used to the album version of Sunday Sunday that the Partridge one's taking some getting used to but it's turning out to be a bit of a grower...

So High - The Janet Lawson Quintet

Heard this on Craig Charles' weekday 6Music show last week and it tickled my jazz fancy. For anyone who says they hate jazz there's a little funkiness in there to sweeten the deal. 

Beautiful Days Festival – August 15th - 17th 2025

                                         Panic Shack

Our eighth Beautiful Days and goodness knows how many camping festivals and…miracle of miracles…the sun shone. Non-stop. For all three flipping days. Not since our first festival, Glastonbury 1995, has this ever happened. Hurrah!

Music wise the outlook was every bit as sunny and we somehow managed to catch…deep breath…The Deadlians, Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Misty In Roots (pictured below)

Terrorvision, The Mary Wallopers, Penguin Café, Peter Doherty (pictured below)

The Kairos, Girlband!, Panic Shack, a bit of Kid Kapichi, a bit of Sleeper, Kula Shaker (pictured below)

John Grant, Shed Seven, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Grandma’s House, Heavy Lungs, Young Knives, The Meffs, The Bluetones, a bit of Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Fantastic Negrito (pictured below)...who well and truly lived up to his name...

and The Levellers (from outside our tent and then up at the Tiny Tea Tent, as is traditional for the best view of the fireworks...and 'cos by then we were knackered with a capital K).

Peter Doherty was in fine form, fitter and happier than he’s seemed in a long time and joined, on drums, by none other that Mike Joyce from t’Smiths. Panic Shack were a riot (grrrl), John Grant really is the Greatest Mother Fucker, Frank Carter’s settled into the shoes of Johnny Rotten brilliantly and Fantastic Negrito more than justified the cost of the ticket on his own (think the lovechild of Sly Stone and Prince raised by Ozzy in a blues club…sort of). As always the entire weekend was pretty much a twat free experience (if only the rest of the world was eh?) and we even managed a little sleep (an inflatable mattress and decent tent have proved to be lifesavers over the past few years).

Given how many festivals have folded over the past few years it’s heartening to see that BD still sells out year after year, even before the line-up’s announced, but I reckon the combination of letting punters take in their own food and drink coupled with decent, sensibly priced booze on offer at the bars, toilets that are cleaned regularly (shout out to Andy Loos) and a sponsorship free environment has a lot to do with it. As The Levs are behind the whole shebang too I wouldn't be surprised if they propped it up with some of their own dosh too.  

PS: Sad to see that the bloke who normally has the hanging bar thingy wasn't there this year, nor were The Curry Shed (although I believe they've retired).  

PPS: Getting onto the site seemed to have been a nightmare for most people. It took us over three hours instead of 35 minutes. That's something the organisers need to watch if they don't want to lose their licence. Having traffic backed up all the way to Exeter can't have gone unnoticed... 

Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension

Okay, so we may be entering the age of AI-arius (see what I did there?) but at least we're having a little sunshine this summer, which at least makes all of the other shit that's going down a little more bearable. Hurrah! Mine's a pint (or three) of scrumpy. 

Don't Go (Kicks Like A Mule) - Awesome 3

Whilst I've never really been a clubber (live music played by groups of sweaty people is more my bag) I can appreciate the tunes and this one from 1992 is...officially...a banger. Ahhhh, the early 90s. Simpler times. If this doesn't get you ready for the weekend, nothing will. 

Candyman Messiah - Army Of Lovers

Picked up another copy of Army Of Lovers classic Massive Luxury Overdose on CD over the weekend, because you can never have too many copies of it can you eh? On top of Obsession and Crucified here's one more gem from the album. 

Enjoy Yourself - Prince Buster

I remember the first time I cottoned on to the two meanings behind this song. It was at Glastonbury and I was in my late 20s listening to a ska band cover it. When I'd heard the track before I thought it was all about having a great night out and not wanting it to end rather than its true meaning...life's pretty short. Now, in my mid 50s, that's a lot truer and when I heard a DJ spinning it on Saturday the last 30 years or so seemed to have flown by. Time flies when you're having fun though, so that must be a good sign eh?  

Thelma & Louise - Panic Shack

Punky indie pop from Panic Shack to end the week. Not the first pop song to reference Simpsons characters of course, a bonus point if you name at least one other...

God Save The Pony - Big Special

Another slice of Black Country brilliance from Big Special, "I want to do a backflip at a French sex party". Classic. Failing that they could always try getting a hand job in the Aldi car park in Bearwood... 

Don't Rain On My Parade - Japan

As a fan of Japan's early 80s era I was vaguely aware of their earlier work but had no idea they'd produced this glam punk version of the Funny Girl classic. It's a world away from their hits and ever so slightly nuts but all the better for it. If I ever get around to launching my DJ career I'll be playing the hell of this one...

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Brian Jackson

Gil Scott-Heron's classic updated for the modern world by his friend and musical collaborator Brian Jackson, a mere 50 years or so after the original. I wonder what state the world will be in in another half a century? Doesn't bear thinking about does it eh?  

Cut & Rewind - Say She She

I meant to post this weeks ago but, you know, I'm old and stuff. A slight change in direction from Say She She but still an instant banger, as the kids probably said back in the day. It looks like they're only playing a couple of UK gigs this year in Oxford and London. Wot, no Dawlish dates? Pah. 

War Pigs (Live In Paris 1970) - Black Sabbath

The fact that Ozzy's death was still the number one news story on the BBC at lunchtime today shows just how important his contribution to music and popular culture was. As a proud Brummie and Sabbath/Ozzy fan myself it's a sad day but what a way to bow out eh, playing a triumphant gig in your home city just a few days before going to that great gig in the sky. Sadly I don't think we'll ever see the likes of Ozzy and Lemmy ever again but let's be grateful that they walked among us for a while. 

Work Song - Cannonball Adderley

Prompted by rumours of the government considering upping our state pension age even higher than 67 let's have a little jazz to kick off the week and a tune that Cannonball was inspired to write by hearing a convict chain gang paving the street in front of his home. Sadly prisoners aren't made to work anymore, perhaps if they were there might be some money left to pay those of us who've paid into the system for half a century enough to live on if we're lucky enough to make it to 67, 68, 69...or whatever number the pension age will end up being. 

On drums...Brian Viglione

This popped up on my You Tube feed just now and just watching it has left me feeling like I need a lie down for a week. I've been lucky enough to see The Dresden Dolls a few times and Brian's always come across as an awesome drummer, this pre-tour rehearsal footage shows why. 

PS: Brian's latest project is a band called DAME, there's not a lot of material out there yet but here's a little teaser...

The Makings @ The Canteen, Bristol - Thursday July 10th

 

Had the great pleasure of catching this band on our mini break in Bristol (quite possibly my favourite city in the world right now) at a place called The Canteen. It was hotter than the surface of the sun in there but they played a blinder, sweating up a soulful storm of self penned belters and culminating in a truly gloria-ous cover version of the Them classic. I got the impression that the band's been on hiatus for a while and some of the members have changed since this video was recorded but on tonight's form this current line-up's got 'the makings' of something pretty special. 

What's he like...

 

A mere 40 years or so since I first heard Dexy's I finally got to meet Kevin Rowland last week at an interview and book signing in Bristol. Despite suffering from some dental discomfort he was very chatty and put up with my random gibberings, especially in relation to what I consider to be one of the band's and music's highpoints, the epic This Is What She's Like. Here, just in case you haven't heard it is the full 12 minutes and 23 seconds version. 

And yes, apparently they really did used to meet up at The Little Nibble (now, sadly, a chicken shop) in my old home of Bearwood! 

The Heel - Eartha Kitt

I first heard this track on Marc Almond's sublime mini album A Woman's Story way back in the mid '80's but Eartha's original version is pretty hard to beat. It's the perfect example of a story song too, in just 2minutes and 45 seconds you get more action and intrigue than the average movie. Purrrrrrrrrrrfect. 

Mothers Talk - Tears for Fears

I'd forgotten how great this track, one of the picks of Tears for Fears' epic Songs From The Big Chair, was until I dug out the CD version of album at the weekend. This year the album turns 40 too, how the hell did that happen? I had it on vinyl (still got it somewhere) and played it to death at the time. Classic.  

Wonderwall - The Mike Flowers Pops

I hope Oasis will give full credit to the man who made 'em...Mike Flowers...on their reunion tour. The original version of Wonderwall's sooooooooooo much better than the Oasis cover. Yes, I know...

Dust On The Wind - Velvet Sundown

So, here we are then. An AI generated band, 'singing' an AI generated track that's racking up hundreds of thousands of plays on Spotify. I daresay the 'band' will go out on tour soon in an Abba Voyage style and hundreds of thousands of people will pay hundreds of pounds to see 'em. Truly it's the end of days...

Everybody Laughs - David Byrne

The amount of bile spewing through the internet these days convinces me more than ever that it's probably the worst thing the human race has ever created. Next to AI that is. That's going to be a doozy. Call me a luddite if you will but wasn't the world a better place when you could only argue with the person opposite you and discuss things rationally, over a pint or a cuppa, rather than trading badly worded insults, memes (whatever the hell they are) and emojis from behind the safety of a screen? Ah, happy days. I could be wrong but I suspect David Byrne may feel the same way. 

Hell On Wheels - Cher

Picked up a two albums on one CD copy of Cher's late 70's epics Take Me Home and Prisoner a couple of weeks ago and if this track and video doesn't send you into the weekend with a warm feeling in your loins (no matter what floats yer boat) there's no hope for you. 

PS: Apparently Cher performed this video with a broken arm too, what a trooper. 

Kid Creole & the Coconuts / Barbara @ The Bath Forum - 24th

After a fine warm up set from newcomers Barbara (think the love children of The Divine Comedy and The Lemon Twigs with a little Gilbert O'Sullivan and Mika thrown in for good measure) Kid Creole & the Coconuts played one of the tightest, most joyful and energetic sets you're ever likely to see. Put this lot on at Glasto and they'd steal the show. At almost 75 Kid Creole (aka Augustus Darnell) should probably have his feet up with a nice cup of cocoa, instead he's putting on the kind of gig that acts half his age would struggle to manage. Playing the hits, deeper cuts and a fine jazzy cover version of Big Joe Turner's Flip, Flop and Fly the whole band gave at least 111% from start to finish. How the Coconuts didn't spontaneously combust half way through is a mystery to me. If this is to be their last tour they're going out on a high but the world needs bands like this more than ever. If you do get a chance to see 'em you'd be (coco)nuts to miss it. 

PS: I had the very great pleasure of meeting Augustus after the show and he's every inch the gentlemen you'd hope he'd be. 

No Rain - Blind Melon

Eleven days ago I found a wingless bee (apparently a virus can cause some bees' wings to fail to develop) on the floor. It was covered in ants who clearly thought it would make a decent lunch. Despite being overwhelmed the poor bee was doing its best to fight them off so I stepped in, picked him up (I found out later he was a he) and popped him in a Tupperware box with some sugar water. A few hours later Buzz-Bee (as I named him) had perked up considerably and for almost two weeks we shared an office and enjoyed a little lunch outside (he did like a clover flower or two) in the sun. Last night he buzzed his last buzz though, but our brief time together reminded me of this classic video and track from Blind Melon. RIP Buzz-Bee. 

Bullshit Anthem - Fantastic Negrito

Halfway through the week and what better track to blast out than Fantastic Negrito's Princey/Funkadelicy Bullshit Anthem...which should probably replace this country's national anthem right now when you think about it.

Allbarone - Baxter Dury

 Another offbeat banger from Baxter Dury. I reckon his old man would be chuffed with this one...

Sly and Bri RIP

It's odd but rather fitting that both Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, two artists who burned brightly back in the 60s but then spent much of the next half a century battling addictions and mental health issues, both passed away within a few days of each other at the grand old age of 82. 

Just imagine what they might have come up with if they'd both ended up in a studio together when they were firing on all cylinders eh? 

Got to Have Love - Pulp

Every time this track comes on the radio it still takes me a few seconds to realise it's Pulp's new single. Lyrically it's classic Pulp, especially the spoken word bit, but musically the soulful, flamenco tinged sound's a world away from Brit Pop's Common People clap along. It's pretty remarkable to think that the bands just three years away from celebrating its 50th anniversary (yes, seriously) even if it took the world almost two decades to catch up with them. 

This was my gateway into the band, via a 12 inch single from Swordfish Records bought back in 1993. 

Hang on, let's see what it's worth...good grief...Pulp - Lipgloss 12" Vinyl Single 45RPM 1993 Britpop | eBay UK

Long Blondeshell anyone...?

Maybe it's just me but every time I hear Blondshell's 23's A Baby I can't help thinking of The Long Blonde's classic Once & Never Again...thematically rather than musically...

Ahhhh, the joys and tribulations of youth eh? Still, you get some cracking songs out of it. 

Take A Sexy Picture Of Me - CMAT

CMAT was one of my live highlights last year and this summer she's made it to Glasto's legendary Pyramid Stage, sandwiched between Supergrass and Burning Spear, now that's an entertaining afternoon right there. Sadly my Glasto days seem to be over as it's easier to get to the moon than it is to snap up a ticket but I'll always have Bowie's show in 2000 and Pulp's super sub slot in 1995, amongst many other memorable moments (Jeff Buckley, REM, Billy Childish to name just a few), to look back on. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'd just end up spinning around like a loon if I ever got in again though...how the heck do you even begin to choose what to see now that there's a gazillion stages? 

POP - Miso Extra

 UK-Pop meets J-Pop in a poptastic summertime smash (if such things still exist) from Miso Extra. 

The World Is Gonna Break Your Little Heart - Dan Sartain

A photo popped up of me and Dan from 15 years ago on Facebook today and this track was the first I stumbled on when I looked him up on You Tube. Given the way he left this world it's a heart breaking listen... 

A Tale Of Two Rhapsodies

Picked up Elaine Paige's Queen album last week which, like it says on the tin, is an album of Queen covers including a suitably orchestral take on Bohemian Rhapsody. In stark contrast (but every bit as good in my humble opinion) here's Fuzzbox's a capella version...

I like to think that Freddie would have approved of both of 'em. 

Never Stops, Never Rests, Never Sleeps - Misty's Big Adventure (live 2015)

Last week saw the third anniversary of the passing of Misty's Big Adventure's Grandmaster Gareth and I still find it difficult to comprehend that I'll never see them again. I find even harder to comprehend that most of the world has no idea who the hell Misty's were. Hopefully this clip conveys just a little of the magic of a Misty's gig...

Living For The City - Pat Rhoden

Given the remarkably sunny weather most of us are enjoying at the moment let's end the week with a chilled out reggae take on Stevie Wonder's classic.  

The Pigeon & The Golden Egg - Melin Melyn

Had the very great pleasure of seeing Melin Melyn (with sublime support from Mari Mathias) at The Cornish Bank in Falmouth last week on the eve of my...good grief...55th birthday...and danced myself into a slightly sweaty mess to this track. In retrospect wearing a waistcoat and tweed tie to a gig may not have been the best idea. 

Sunday Street - Squeeze

Play might not be one of Squeeze's most well known and successful albums but it does feature this classic 'counting down the days of the week' track (see also The Cure's Friday I'm In Love and...er...probably many others). Well worth a 'play' or six on this remarkably warm and ever so slightly moist Friday (here in the UK at least, big shout out to my many readers in Abyssinia...hope it's sunny out there).  

Omaha Bar-B-Que - Preston Love

Whilst that strange orange thing in the sky is still miraculously hovering above us what better tune to cremate some meat to than this funk fuelled gem eh? I've only just come across it but I'm on the 9th play already...

Piggie In The Middle Eight - Cook Da Books

You meet some interesting people in charity shops and yesterday we got chatting to a chap who's brother was the lead singer (I think) in a Liverpool new wave band called Cook Da Books. They were a new name to me but this track, a bit of a reggae groover, was their biggest single, reaching number 18 in the charts back in 1982. 

Here's another one from 1984, shades of The Blue Nile at their finest in there perhaps? 

The band split in 1988 and sadly their singer and bassist Owen passed away in 2022 but from what I've heard so far their back catalogue's well worth a listen. 

Sweet Child O' Mine - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox ft Miche Braden

Finally found a copy of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox's Essentials album in the wild at the weekend and here's just one of the best tracks from it. Blues-ily brilliant stuff. 

Aerial Troubles - Stereolab

A mere 15 years after their last release Stereolab are back with another instant classic. For my money the 'lab are one of the finest bands to have come out of the 90s and if you haven't heard their back catalogue I can highly recommend pretty much everything they've ever released. This track in particular is utter genius...everything you ever needed need to know about the economy, politics and life in a cool pop song. 

Spike Island - Pulp

This new Pulp track's been growing on me over the past week, especially as I've just realised that this June it will be 30 years (!) since we saw their career making Glastonbury performance when they were drafted in at the last moment to replace The Stone Roses. Time flies eh? 1995 was a different world and we were hopelessly ill prepared for our first camping festival. I'm pretty sure we just took a tent, two sleeping bags and a change of clothes. No pillows, no food, no coats, no loo roll and...now this is serious...no booze. Madness. We didn't turn up until midday on the Friday either, although Glasto wasn't the almost week long shindig that it seems to be now. Fortunately '95 was one of the dry ones, unfortunately it was scorchio and we hadn't taken much dosh with us. Remember, there were no smart phones or mobile cash machines in those days, so it was cash or nothing. We made it until early on Sunday evening and then Lady Baron who, in her own words, resembled "an animal experiment" (she suffered from a particularly nasty bout of hay fever that year), wanted to go home. I don't think I took that much persuading. Despite stating that she'd never go to another camping festival ever again we went to nine more Glastos and numerous other events over the past 30 years and are still dragging our old bones to at least one a year... 

Ordinary Joe - Terry Callier

We'll gloss over the small mountain of late 80s hair metal band CDs that I picked up over the weekend (ahem) and focus instead on Chess Chartbusters Volume 2, an ace compilation featuring this Northern Soul classic from Terry Callier. Nothing ordinary about this little gem. 

Seven Days Long - Charles Brown

To celebrate the end of the week here's a jaunty little blues number from Charles Brown taken from a CD (what else?) that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. If you like your blues you'll I reckon love this track but the whole album's well worth a spin, especially the tracks featuring none other than the Night Tripper himself, Dr John. 

PS: Good luck to all those who'll be queuing up for Record Store Day releases overnight. I hope you get what you want. Have a quick flick through the CD racks when you're there though, you might bag a bargain or six.  

He's a CD lover...

If I posted every video about the CD revival that keeps popping up on a daily...perhaps even hourly...basis now I'd probably break the internet. So I'll limit myself to a few of the best and this one takes a more nostalgic/counter cultural (yes, really, CDs are counter culture now...it's official) look at the reasons why more and more people are going 'back to the future'. This dude makes a lot of sense but be warned, if you haven't yet fallen for CDs charms there's a fair chance you will after watching this vid. 

Backwater Blues - George Melly with Van Morrison

I'm currently reading Digby Fairweather's hugely entertaining account of accompanying George Melly on his last few tours and album sessions and was amazed to read that Van Morrison popped along to lend his vocals to a couple of tracks on George's last album. He didn't ask for a penny though (despite having to travel to the studio and stay overnight in a hotel) and even took out the whole band for a slap up meal afterwards. What a Van-tastic thing to do eh? 

Proto Pretty - Wondermints

Picked up another great haul of CDs over the weekend including a mint (appropriately enough) copy of the Wondermints' debut album, cleverly entitled Wondermints. If you're a lover of 60s/80s tinged power pop it's a must have, with echoes of The Beatles and Beach Boys and their spiritual offspring The La's and Stone Roses, all whipped up to create a much underrated modern classic. Whilst their own career hasn't yet scaled the dizzy heights it should have they went on to become Brian Wilson's backing band, so I'm guessing they're...ahem...all minted now.

Thank Christ For The Bomb - Groundhogs

This cheerful little ditty's a track of two halves. The first bit's a little folky and then, at around 4 minutes 30 seconds, it starts to rock harder than granite. One to play loud when the neighbours are out...unless you don't like your neighbours...in which case, crack on.   

Let’s Rock Exeter RIP

Yet another festival bites the dust. This time it’s a local one to us, Let’s Rock Exeter, which has been held at Powderham Castle for the past decade or so. We’d been to the last seven and saw some great acts but the last couple of years it was clear that the organisers were struggling. Fewer bands, higher ticket prices, outrageous prices at the bar (which also went cashless…a bit of a problem for me as I only use cash) and far too much ‘filler’…a two-hour DJ ‘battle’ ain’t entertainment in my book…and ever more stupid rules about what you could bring in to the site, all took the shine off the day. With independent venues all struggling to survive too the future of the live music scene looks pretty dire right now, unless you’re Taylor Swift and her ilk who’ll no doubt carry on playing bigger and bigger stadiums until, eventually, the whole of Manchester will just be one bloody massive arena. What’s the cause of it all? Rising costs, endless spools of red tape, a lack of enough truly great new bands, far too many ‘channels’ diluting the audience (meaning that fewer people get to know about the acts that really matter, think back to when there were just a few TV and radio stations, even your gran will have known who Joy Division were…maybe) and, quite possibly, a growing number of people who simply can’t be bothered to get off their wobbly arses to go to anything anymore. What’s the answer? There isn’t one. Get out and watch stuff while you still can, otherwise before long most of what’s left of the live music scene will be as dead as variety theatre. What’s that I hear you say? Exactly.

PS: Just a final thought. How do The Levellers make Beautiful Days viable every year? No sponsorship, no corporate bullshit, proper cider at £5.50 a pint, decent bands, clean(ish) toilets…and you can take your own food and booze in too. Surprise, surprise, it sells out every year as well. Other festival organisers take note.

Struggle Buggie - Buddy Moss

Picked up some Blues CDs at the weekend, gave one of them a spin last night and this track hit the spot, despite (or maybe because of) being a mere 85 years old. As the very informative booklet pointed out, the guitar solo sounds pretty modern for such a vintage track...Buddy brilliant. 

Destination Unknown - Missing Persons

 A new (to me at least) band from the 80s to end the week. Cheers to John Grant for the tip!

Monkey - Kid Creole and the Coconuts

There are some who maintain that we've evolved from monkeys, but I reckon we've regressed. We work until we drop just to pay the bills (or at least some of us do, but that's obviously a bit of a hot potato right now) and they sit in trees in the jungle eating bananas, getting it on with other monkeys and having the odd scratch. Clearly Kid Creole shares this point of view as this jolly little ditty proves. All gorilla, no filler.

Mess Around - Dr John

Is this the best version of Mess Around ever? Yes. Yes it is. Brings back fond memories of sharing M&S crudites and a little bourbon with Dr John backstage after a gig at the Alex Theatre in Brum waaaaaaaaaaaaay back. 

Body Language - Ezra Collective

Another instant classic from Ezra Collective whipping up a cool Afro Latin vibe with a distinct dash of prime era Stevie Wonder thrown in for good measure. The weekend has landed. 

RIP Stedman Pearson

For a brief period in the mid 80s Five Star released some great pop songs, notching up four top 20 albums and 15 top 40 singles with six of these reaching the top 10 (in the days when that really meant something). The band's Icarus like downfall was sad to see and now one of the two brothers in the band, Stedman, has passed away at 60 years old. I was going to say 'just' 60 years old but I guess 60 isn't a bad innings, especially if you've sold a few million records along the way... 

New York State of Mind - Diane Schuur

How's this for a smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooth cover of the Billy Joel classic eh? Took a punt on the album for 20p last weekend...yes, I know, splashing out again...and it's well worth a spin. 

Roy Ayers RIP

Sad to hear that Roy Ayers has gone up to play that great vibraphone in the sky, but he's left us with some absolute classics...

I was lucky enough to see him play live at Moseley Jazz Funk and Soul a few years back (2015 apparently, good grief time flies) and yes, he did do this track...