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).