Beautiful Days 2022 @ Escot Park, August 19th - 21st

Oh for the days when I had the time and energy to write proper reviews of gigs and festivals…by proper I mean pages of the bloody stuff that reminds me of what I’ve seen over the past 30 years or so which, even if no one else is interested, mildly amuses me. So, for the purposes of recording who I saw at this year’s Beautiful Days here’s a whizzzzzzzzzzz through the highlights…

Cam Cole 

After spending a traditional night wandering around the site drinking cider and talking bollocks with loads of lovely random strangers we kicked off Day One proper with bluesy busker extrordinaire Cam Cole followed by some sultry rocksteady courtesy of Hollie Cook and The Rumjacks, neatly summed up as The Clash meets The Pogues in the programme, I’ll go with that. 

                                                        Hannah Moule and The Moulettes

Hannah Moule and The Moulettes were a new one on me but at times their mash up of strings, proggy rock vibes and folk blew my socks off…so much so that we parted with £20 for a double CD after their gig. And that don’t happen very often. Caught a snatch of The Dandy Warhols before dancing our knackered old asses into funk soul oblivion to Disco Panther in The Bimble Inn. 

                                                                Disco Panther 

Caught a little bit of Flogging Molly but what happened after that is a bit of a blur.

Day Two saw us rise and shine (ahem) to Idestroy’s riot grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl punk on the main stage and then…oh my…oh my…Opus Kink. 

                                                                    Opus Kink

If Nick Cave and Searching For The Young Soul Rebels era Dexy’s got it on in an opium den the Kink would quite possible be the result. Not to be outdone by the keyboard player who did the whole show in his boxer shorts and socks the lead singer played the last few tracks in his pants. 

                                                                    Opus Kink-ier

And this was all before 1pm. Quite frankly one of the best live bands on planet earth right now or ever. Feet served up some fine post punk to bring ours back down to earth (our feet that is…oh you got that…good). The Lovely Eggs DIY punk snapped us (and our ankles...pogoing at my age is a risky business) before Snapped Ankles' (see?) krautrocky beats sent me slightly squiffy (although that might have been the cider). Retiring to our tent for a much needed respite we heard a little Neds Atomic Dustbin in the background before emerging for a quick blast of The Interrupters (who I wish we’d seen more of) on our way to see Seth Lakeman. I’m not a huge fan of the Big Top, it’s a festival dammit…I want to be outside…come rain or shine…and when it’s busy it’s hard to see much so we scurried (I say scurried…I mean crawled) over to the main stage for Maximo Park’s hit littered set and, another festival highlight for many, The Specials. Musically they sounded better than ever but perhaps they missed the youthful leaping about of Neville Staple…although at 67 I’m not sure how much leaping about he’d be up for…as a counterpoint to Terry Hall’s considerably dourer than thou delivery. I still loved every second of it though and happily ticked one of the few remaining bands off my bucket list. As if that wasn’t enough for one day we even made it to the majority of a truly moving set from The Imagined Village featuring, amongst others, folk legend Martin Carthy, daughter Eliza and, popping up now and then, Billy Bragg. Martin looked a little frail this time and his contribution seemed modest but then again he’s 81 for god’s sake. He ended the set singing a spirited Cum On Feel The Noize with Billy Bragg though followed by a quick blast of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles that for some reason seemed incredibly poignant this evening. 

                                                                The Tiny Tea Tent...awww...bless it

A cup of tea in the Tiny Tea Tent capped off one of the best days at a festival that I can remember…and I’ve been to one or two.   

Day Three already? How?! After a little breakfast red wine to steady the old feet we made it down just in time to join Funke and The Two Tone Baby’s monkey army (you had to be there). 

                                                            Funke and The Two Tone Baby

I first encountered Funke waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2013 and he’s doggedly played gigs here, there and everywhere to a small but perfectly formed group of fans ever since then. Normally a resident of The Bimble Inn this year he was justifiably elevated to the mains stage and blew the frankly huge 11am crowd away with his one man assault on the beats and blues. If there’s any justice one day he’ll be headlining. Yorkshire post punkers Deadletter continued the incredible run of great bands with an equally lively set necessitating a quick walk around the site to catch our breath before catching something else…Bob Vylan. 

                                                                            Bob Vylan

There’s controversial and then there’s Bob Vylan who’s stream of grime rock fuelled “righteous anger” reached its peak with a little speech about wanting to kill the queen. Judging by Facebook some people took offence at the Vylan’s set but somehow, given the chance, I doubt whether Mr Vylan (either of them, the drummer's called Bob Vylan too...that's handy...ahem) would actually murder a 96 year great grandmother. 

Personally, whilst I didn’t agree with every single word he said, I bloody loved the set (and even ended up on the stage with the Vylans and a bunch of others who’d jumped the barriers at Bob’s request…never a simple move for a man of my age). We’re living in a painfully bland age at the moment and it was refreshing to see someone up there who’s not afraid to say what they’re thinking, even if it’s likely to attract all kinds of flack. 

I was interested to see someone who appeared to be their manager, a grey haired American dude, who clearly enjoys a little limelight himself judging by his sound checking. Could he be encouraging the band to ramp up the controversy in a tactic taken straight out of Malcolm McLaren’s playbook? Hmmm, maybe. Given the grim inevitability of riots and civil unrest that’s hurtling towards us Bob Vylan could well turn out to be 2023’s Sex Pistols.

                                                                        Katy J Pearson

A quick dash to the Big Top to catch the lovely Katy J Pearson (wearing a dress just purchased from our good friends at Kinky Melon) country tinged pop before legging it back to the main stage for Jim Bob, former lead shouter behind Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. I’ve been wanting to see this dude for years and he didn’t disappoint, even if he didn’t play Sheriff Fatman. That just left The Unthanks' hauntingly magical clog driven folk, Billy Bragg’s mix of singalong hits and social commentary and The Levellers traditional festival closing set culminating in a pretty spectacular firework display. 

                                        Billy Bragg...and someone's head...I'm available for weddings 

I was too far away to see which one of The Levs made a comment about how this year going back to the real world would be harder than ever with what’s going on but the coming 12 months are going to be pretty hideous for an awful lot of people, here and across the world. I don’t have the answers but pogoing about in a field every day after a pint of scrumpy or 5 seems more appealing than ever right now...     

Splendor In The Grass - Pink Martini

How's this for a beautiful track eh? One of the picks from last weeks CD haul the album it comes from cost me a whole 33p. 

Summer Nights - Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

Grease was huge when I was 7 or 8 years old and I've loved the film and soundtrack pretty much ever since. Olivia may have gone to that great High School dance in the sky this week but, for the next few days, at least we can look forward to some pretty hot summer nights. Let's make the most of it eh, judging by the predicted gas and electricity bills most of us will be lucky to make it to next summer... 

Summer Sun - Matt Berry

On a bit of a Matt Berry binge at the moment and gave disc one of the 4 cd Gather Up boxset a spin last night. It's all really rather ace, as this cut goes to show (we seem to be having a summer...for the next few days at least...so it seems appropriate too). And at £10 for the set...bargaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain! Sadly that was just a two day offer but even at £25 it's a ruddy steal. 

The Good Life - Matt Berry

Finally got hold of a copy of Matt Berry's joyful Television Theme's album and am particularly impressed with the funky breaks in his cover of The Good Life theme tune. Who knew Tom and Barbara were so cool eh? Play this track a few hundred times and you'll forget, for a moment at least, all about our pitiful wannabe PM's (good grief, talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel...actually the scrapings from the bottom of a barrel would make a better PM), the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine, the skyrocketing rate of inflation and...oh yes...the possibility of China going medieval on America's ass. I'm now old enough to have lived through this kind of crap at least half a dozen times and, trust me, it'll all come out in the wash eventually. Probably.   

Lycanthrope Jig - Matt Philip Hale (aka Bandleader MPH)

Huzzah! Matt Philip Hale's back with a brand new album, Surprise In Variety, available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/28bjPHil7TnU1ZecMlSbrB and Bandcamphttps://mattphiliphale.bandcamp.com/album/surprise-in-variety and, as you'd expect if you've been following Matt's prolific and varied output over the past 15 years or so, it's utterly unique and ruddy ace from start to finish. Rave, psych, glam pop, folk, punk...you name it, Matt's jammed the whole lot into his brain and switched the blender to the max. If variety's the spice of life this album'll blow your head clean off. 

Right Said Fred - Bernard Cribbins

Sad to hear that Bernard Cribbins has passed away today at the ripe old age of 93. I'm guessing most people under the age of 40 know him for appearing in the Dr Who reboot but he actually had no less than two top 10 chart hits back in the early 60s. Here's the other one...another Cribbins classic. 

It's a Brum Ting - Friendly Fire Band

If you've not heard this on the trailers for the Commonwealth Games yet you soon will. It's as catchy as hell too, so once you have heard it you'll have it spinning around your brain incessantly.  As a Brummie now living in sunny Devon it's great to hear and see the City celebrating itself, especially as we don't tend to do it half as much as we should. 

 

100% Endurance - Yard Act...featuring Elton John...yes...THAT Elton John

Who knows how the hell this happened but Elton John and Yard Act have hooked up to 'cover' the latter's 100% Endurance. Whatever next? Michael Ball and Amyl and the Sniffers? Hmmm...maybe not...the mix of their names conjures up some rather unpleasant images. 

Savanna Silver Band - Ruby Running Faker

Picked up this funky gem from eBay together with 5 others from the mysterious Seelie Court record label, who seem to have re-released a shed load of rare private pressings from the 70s and 80s last year. Apparently there's only 300 of each CD so the £3 I paid for each one (including postage) would seem to be a ruddy bargain... 

Jaya Ram (excerpt) - The Gouranga Powered Band

Came across 4 CDs (three sealed) by The Gouranga Powered Band last week for a mere 50p each and thought I'd give them a punt. Apparently the band were formed by a bunch of Hare Krishna monks in Scotland and they used to flog these CDs on the streets of Edinburgh in the noughties. Musically it's classic psych rock, lyrically it's well...have a guess...

Call me an oddball but I rather like it, at least I won't forget the words.  

Honeytrap - Squeeze

Finally caught up with one of Squeeze's most recent albums (and one of the most successful of their illustrious career too by all accounts), courtesy of one of Paignton's many excellent charity shops. It's classic Squeeze from start to finish, as this track proves. 

The title track's a belter too. 

It's a shame that the TV series it theme tuned didn't make it to a second season, either due to Peter Kay's withdrawal from the business we call show or possibly Danny Baker's now infamous tweet...

Let’s Rock Exeter 2022 – Powderham Castle, July 2nd 2022

Our fifth (I think…it’s hard for me to count that high) Let’s Rock and a reliably awesome line up once again. Thoroughly enjoyed every single act, which I can’t always say I have in the past, and spent almost 9 and a half hours at the front, beating last year's 8 hour record. Ouch.

There were too many highlights to list (and who the hell wants to read a list of highlights for a festival you probably weren’t at eh?) but special mentions must go to…deep breath…JoBoxers, who knew they didn’t just have 2 great songs and why the hell have they waited 30 odd years to get back together again?...Scritti Politti, greeting the crowd with a “Hello cats and kittens” Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside might look a little older but that voice, that angelic voice, good grief it’s as if the past 30+ years never happened…pop perfection…Tom Bailey, well, I’ve only waited 40 year to see Tom live and he didn’t disappoint,

an emotional singalong of You Take Me Up genuinely seemed to move him too…Heaven 17, one of my favourite synth pop bands and one I could frankly watch and listen to for 9 and a half hours alone…Belinda Carlisle, be still my beating heart…Billy Ocean,

what a legend and a bloody lovely bloke too by all accounts as I got chatting to his plumber before his set…Human League, blimey Phil doesn’t stand still for a second but manages to sound as imperious as ever, it’d be wonderful to hear some new material from them one day but I guess when you have as many great tracks as they do why mess with the setlist eh?

It rained a bit, the sun shone a bit, people moaned about the toilets a bit but I probably enjoyed this Let’s Rock a bit more than any of the others. How about Jimmy Somerville next year? And Cyndi Lauper? She’d be great! Grace Jones?! Yes. Hell yes! Although somehow I can’t see Grace appreciating seeing people dressed up as Beetlejuice…

Come Inside - Thompson Twins

Off to Let's Rock tomorrow and hoping to finally see Tom Bailey (of Thompson Twins fame) live, a mere 40 years after first getting into the band. Somehow I don't reckon he'll dust off this track from 1991 but you never know...

PS: ...or this track...how 90s is this?! 

Dieman Noba Smoke Tafee - S E Rogie

Classic helping of palm wine music from S E Rogie courtesy of another 50p CD bargain last weekend. If this doesn't chill you the hell out then there's no hope. 

Ellie Finnerty @ The Gresham House Inn, Sunday 26th June 2022

Had the great pleasure of catching up with Ellie again during an all too brief return home between a season entertaining holiday makers in Dorset and a stint on a cruise ship pottering around the Med. As with the last time we caught her set Ellie picked classics from the last 7 decades or so and sprinkled in some gems of her own including Generation Jaded (a sorry tale of the perils of internet dating…don’t do it) and Screen (all about following an ex’s social media life and wondering about the life she could have had with ‘em…I reckon she’s better off cruising the Med myself).

It’s a really encouraging sign when your audience calls out for one of your originals - as they did with the aforementioned Screen - rather than a cover and it really doesn’t take a huge leap of imagination to see Ellie belting it out in front of a huge festival crowd. There are plenty of great singers out there but Ellie has a seemingly natural ability to really ‘sell’ a song, to make you believe in what she’s singing, and that’s something a lot rarer. Particularly impressive this afternoon was Ellie’s soulful cover of That’s Life and an emotional Hey Jude which got The Gresham enthusiastically “Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaaa”-ing. Who needs Glasto eh? 

With the dark days of lockdowns hopefully behind us and at least side one of that self-penned debut album stuffed with catchy singalong hits in waiting who knows how far Ellie might go now…maybe
to…wait for it…in-Finnerty and beyond (sorry, can’t recent a pun…blame the pints of Devon Scrumpy).

The Vulture - Labi Siffre

Soulfully funky deep cut from the hugely underrated Labi Siffre. Not heard this track before picking up the 3 CD Labi Siffre Gold album for a whole 99p at the weekend. Ace innit? 

Train of Love in Motion - Heaven 17

To...er...'celebrate'...today's rail strike let's revisit Heaven 17's rarely heard Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho album and this single from it which sadly failed to chart back in 1988. 

We Gets Up - Prince

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunky deep cut from Prince's unfairly maligned 3 disc Emancipation album (picked up from a chazza for a mere 50p last week) to gets you up over 'hump day'. Play it loud muthahumpers. 

Up The Mountain - Regina Spector

Possibly inspired by 'there was an old woman who swallowed a fly' Regina Spector's back with a simmeringly seductive slice of superlative orchestral pop (try saying that with false teeth). And just because it's a Monday let's drop in the tune that made me a fan waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2006-ish. 

 

Dumb Head - The Dumbettes

You Tube suggested this track this morning and it turns out to be a Misty's Big Adventure side project that had somehow escaped my ears. I'm assuming the late, great Grandmaster Gareth had a hand in its production... 

The Bike Song - Mark Ronson and The Business International

So, how was your 'Platty Joobs'? We really should have more 4 day weekends, how about it Liz? I took part in the local annual vintage bike ride. with any luck I'll have recovered by the next one. 

Shake Your Pants - Cameo

I'm reliably informed that Her Majesty likes nothing better than getting down to Cameo's Shake Your Pants so this ones for you ma'am.  

Mick's Up - The Style Council

Finally got my hands on The Complete Adventures of the Style Council boxset recently and span disc one last night which features this instrumental gem from the underrated genius that is Mick Talbot. It's a funky souly thang.  

Reach For The Sun - The Polyphonic Spree

If there's one band that comes close to the life affirming nature of a Misty's Big Adventure gig it's The Polyphonic Spree and this track in particular seems appropriate right now... 

Grandmaster Gareth RIP

I have no words. Okay, that’s not strictly true but after trying for three days to digest the frankly shattering news that Gareth Jones aka Grandmaster Gareth, the driving force behind legendary Birmingham band Misty’s Big Adventure, had ‘left us’ I still can’t take it in. The nature of Gareth’s passing is his and his family’s affair but I hope he knew how much he was loved and admired by those of us who had the privilege of seeing him perform, hearing his music and meeting with him in some sticky floored venue or another over the years. I could waffle on and on…and quite possibly on…about what he and his band meant to me but I think it’s best to let the music speak for itself. My thoughts and sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and many (but nowhere near as many as he and the band deserved) fans who are no doubt feeling just as numb as I am right now. RIP Gareth. X

PS: If you're new to the band you can still pick up a copy of The Young Person's Guide To Misty's Big Adventure here...please do...

One Life To Live - Lou Rawls

Uplifting and classy slice of Philly disco soul from Lou Rawls, courtesy of another bargain CD compilation (West End Girls on the...er...Laserlight Digital label...nope...me neither). It's easy to be sniffy about compilation albums but I've grown to love 'em. At £1 this CD contains no less than 16 great tracks which works out...hang on...at 6.25p each. Bargain. Evidently somebody else thought so recently as they snapped up a copy on eBay for just under £8.00  West End Girls (1971-85, incl. Maxis) Jesse GREEN, Lee Marrow, Lime, Linda Carr, | eBay

Sweet Potato - John Renbourn

Picked up a 'best of' John Renbourn CD last week for 50p and can highly recommend spending an hour or three exploring his back catalogue. How easy does he make playing the guitar look...? Surely he had twice as many fingers and hands as the rest of us? 

Genocidal Humanoidz - System Of A Down

Not sure if I ever posted this comeback track from SOAD when it came out back in 2021 but even if I did you can never have too much SOAD can you eh? Sadly given Putin's current insanity this track's even more relevant than when it was written (in aid of the victims of the most recent Armenian and Azerbaijan conflict). 

I'm Travelling On - Ruby Turner

I'm not remotely religious but I do love a bit of gospel and this cut from Ruby Turner (another of last weekend's CD picks) hit the spot when I was lounging about in the bath last night. Amen! 

My Sweetheart - Rahsaan Patterson

Took a punt on this CD at the weekend (laying out a whole pound coin) and uncovered a bit of a neo soul gem. Here's one of the picks of the album, echoes of Stevie Wonder with a light dusting of Prince on the top.

I Want To Live - Gavin Friday

Picked up a cheap compilation of Irish related tracks on CD (okay, so all CDs are cheap at the moment but I think this one was 10p) and the first one was this goth tinged blast from the past from Gavin Friday (which I'm pretty sure I have on vinyl somewhere). Staggered to discover that it's now 30 years old...and even more staggered to think that I'm 30 years older. 

Unnecessary Drama - Belle and Sebastian

Channelling their inner The The the...the new track from Belle and Sebastian's amongst the best things they've ever done, which is quite some achievement. I can't believe that anyone reading this - hello to you both - isn't already familiar with B&S's back catalogue but just in case here's a trio of classic cuts: 

Hey Joe (Relax) - Lynks

 Another banger from the mysterious Lynks, I reckon it's Jacob Rees-Mogg in disguise. 

There's No Stopping Us - Ollie and Jerry

One of the picks of the weekend's CD haul was a double album of the soundtracks to Breakin' 1 and 2. I might be guilty of wearing the old rose coloured spectacles here but weren't the 80s sooooooooooooo much more fun than nowadays? Answers on a ZX Spectrum 16K. 

The Birth Of Cool Britannia

Watched the 'Rock Family Trees - The Birth of Cool Britannia' last night (available on iPlayer right here), an enjoyable romp through arguably the UK's last great musical movement. Sadly it seems as though we're supposed to be ashamed of anything remotely to do with Great Britain these days and one or two of the contributors seemed a little too keen to distance themselves from 'Britpop', even though some of its best tunes were actually less than flattering about dear old Blighty. Oh well, if you don't like it here you can always toddle off somewhere else. Anyway here's a trio of early 'Britpop' classics, all of which I was remarkably lucky to see played live before each of the respective bands made it big. 

Oh go on then, lets have one more from Blur's underrated Modern Life Is Rubbish album...a title that seems to get more appropriate with each passing day: 

Blue Train - John Coltrane

Despite being a member of Ronnie Scott's in Birmingham in my early 20s it's taken almost 30 years before I started buying jazz cds by the bucketload, like this classic by John Coltrane...mine for £1 last Saturday. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. 

Ping Pong - Stereolab

When's a pop song more than just a pop song? When it's one of the sharpest summaries of the economic and political system that you're ever likely to hear. If the lyrics have ever passed you by (and they passed me by for years) cop a load of this:

It's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
How the economical cycle tends to revolve
In a round of decades, three stages stand out in a loop
A slump and war, then peel back to square one and back for more

Bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
Huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

You see the recovery always comes 'round again
There's nothing to worry for things will look after themselves
It's alright, recovery always comes 'round again
There's nothing to worry if things can only get better

There's only millions that lose their jobs and homes and sometimes accents
There's only millions that die in the bloody wars, it's alright

It's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing
It's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing

It's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
How the economical cycle tends to revolve
In a round of decades, three stages stand out in a loop
A slump and war, then peel back to square one and back for more

Bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
Huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

Don't worry, be happy, things will get better naturally
Don't worry, shut up, sit down, go with it and be happy

Bloody genius. 

Purple Zone - Soft Cell/Pet Shop Boys

This snuck out a couple of weeks ago and has already racked up almost half a million views on You Tube (I think it was briefly number one in the i-Tunes chart too). Cleverly fusing the DNA of both bands it appears to be a song dedicated to old age which, now I'm edging towards 52 (how did that happen?), certainly strikes a chord with me. Ahem. 

Amazing to think that it's 40 years (!) since I first became a Soft Cell fan. How fresh does this track still sound eh? I wonder what Cindy Ecstasy's up to these days? 

It Sure Is Groovy - Marlena Shaw

A suitably groovy cut from a remastered Marlena Shaw double CD I picked up in Bristol a couple of weeks back for 25p. The discs are a little scratched and the booklet's missing so I'd normally leave it on the shelf but 25p!!?...you can't even get a Mars Bar for that price these days...and Mars Bars aren't anywhere near as groovy. 

Slice of Heaven - Dave Dobbyn

Heard this on Chris Hawkins' 6 Music show earlier today (courtesy of Sports Team). Never heard it before. What a great slice of uplifting 80s pop eh? And we could all do with some uplifting 80s pop right now. Enjoy!

Troubled times...

The 2020s are shaping up to be pretty bloody awful aren't they eh? A pandemic, a war and now a cost of living crisis not seen since the 1920s. I'm just waiting for the four horsemen (sorry...horsepeople) of the apocalypse to ride into town and then I reckon we're pretty much done. Against this backdrop a couple of tracks have been spinning around in my head for the past few days, Thee Headcoats Troubled Times and Go-Kart Mozarts tragically underrated Relative Poverty.

Still at least it's warm and sunny in the UK at the moment...what's that...snow by the end of the week? Oh bugger off. 

Lighthouse - Mattiel

"Let me know when you can breath again" sings Mattiel on this perfect slice of springtime pop, after 10 days or so of sodding coronavirus I'd like to know the answer to that one myself. If snot was a valuable commodity I'd be a millionaire by now. 

Cough Cough - Everything Everything

Still coughing like someone who's smoked a crate of untipped ciggies, so what better track to end the week on than Everything Everything's prescient ode to Coronavirus, Cough Cough. 

The Plague - Marc Almond

After dodging Coronavirus for two years it finally caught up with us this week, presumably after our break in Bristol which included a couple of cheeky indoor gigs (our first since 2020). Thankfully, as with most people, it seems to be like a bad cold. No idea if it would've been worse if we hadn't been triple jabbed or if wearing a mask at the gigs would have made much difference. No one else was so I suspect it wouldn't have done and let's face it we have to get back to normal at some point so it might as well be now. Sadly some people seem to be particularly judgemental when it comes to vaccines and masks. Get jabbed if you want, wear a mask if you want, stay indoors for the rest of your life if you want, pop on a tinfoil helmet to stop Google from stealing your thoughts if you want...it's up to you.  

Happy Birthday 6 Music!

Working from home for the past 13 years or so 6 Music's kept me company for many, many hours and introduced me to more than its fair share of great music, like Sufjan Stevens for instance. I can remember hearing this track at a particularly stressful time in life (so that'll be most days then) and knowing instantly that it would be a firm favourite for as long as I'm alive and kicking (which, given what's going on right now, might be next week sometime). I'm not a huge fan of some of the changes its made recently but there's still enough good stuff on there to keep me listening, so Happy Birthday 6 Music, may your decks keep spinning (do they still use decks?) and your woofers and tweeters keep...er...woofing and tweeting. 

Ой у лузі червона калина - Eileen

Forgive the endless war related musical posts of late but I couldn't resist this one. Beautiful and justifiably defiant stuff. You listening yet Vlad? 

Mad World - Puddles Pity Party

Given Vlad Shitcan's recent actions...bombing Europe's biggest nuclear power station...wow...smart move there fella...Puddles Pity Party's cover of Mad World seems pretty appropriate right now. Let's hope no one 'accidentally' sprinkles some novichok on his cornflakes eh? 

Super Strut - Deodata

Another selection from last weekend's charity shop CD stash, this time something I spent a whole £1.99 on. I know, big money eh?! It's a little bit jazz, a little bit funk, a little bit rock...and more than a little bit ace. Play it loud and feel at least 78% cooler. 

Remember The Children - Earth, Wind and Fire

Picked up Earth, Wind and Fire's Last Days and Time on CD for mere 33p over the weekend and, especially given mad Vlad's deranged rantings, it struck me a being a pretty spot on title for what's going on right now. 

The Best Mistakes - The Divine Comedy

Channelling his inner Benny and Bjorn Neil Hannon's latest track is an instant classic (especially if you're of a certain age when you can dimly remember seeing The Divine Comedy play upstairs in a pub back in the 90s). File next to My Way, yep, I think it's that good. 

Two Tribes (Annihilation Mix) - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Way back in 1984 the world was a scary place...there was a virus (HIV) spreading across the world, inflation was running at 5% and the threat of nuclear war seemed pretty real. Fast forward to 2022 and, well, not a lot has changed really has it eh? At least it's a great excuse to dust off Frankie's Two Tribes. 

Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

Just how effortless does the bearded dude (Elliott Randall?) make playing the guitar look? And how much fun does the bloke who looks like Rod Hull seem to be having? And how does Donald Fagen manage to fit in all those lyrics? Steely Dan-tastic. 

When The Wind Blows - David Bowie

Given the storm currently battering large parts of the UK today what better than this all too rarely heard gem from Bowie eh? Best not to put out the washing right now...

Im Nin'alu - Ofra Haza

Saw Ofra Haza singing with Sisters of Mercy on an old Top of the Pops last night and was reminded of this track from '88 that I've still got on vinyl somewhere. Compared with the pretty limited range of music that seems popular these days (did you see the TOTP Christmas specials....oh dear) the 80s seem positively cosmopolitan. 

If I Had $1,000,000 - Barenaked Ladies

Another great track from last week's 10p per CD haul, this time from Barenaked Ladies' (hmmm, wonder if you could get away with calling a band that name these days...) Gordon album. I think the song dates back to the late 80s/early 90s when $1,000,000 was still a staggering sum. Sadly the way things are going in a year or two if you have $1,000,000 you could probably just about afford to pay your gas and electric bill for a year... 

The CD revival part 256

Two more recent articles have appeared in the last week heralding the revival of the CD with one of them suggesting that the little silver discs that still seem pretty miraculous to me may once again become 'the discerning music aficionado's format of choice'. I bought 12 of the buggers last weekend for a grand total of £3. This included a signed promo copy of a Roy Ayers CD (£1) and a cool New Orleans compilation featuring Dr John's Basin Steet Blues (10p). Bonkers. 

Streaming may always be the most popular way of consuming music now but, as Neil and Joni showed last week, one day the tunes you love may be available, the next...meh...not so much. And what about the hedge funds that are currently hoovering up back catalogues like a starving ant eater in an ant farm. Are they going to continue allowing their assets to be streamed for a fraction of a penny until the end of time? I'm still convinced that the internet will end up being charged for like water, gas and electricity one day too. It's got to happen. Possibly. And then, when listening to Steps' Greatest Hits will cost you £5.99, well...come and see me...I can do you a deal. 

Let's Dance (Club Bolly Extended Mix) - David Bowie

It's a nippy one today so let's end the week with a cheeky Bollywood Remix of Bowie's Let's Dance that I heard last night for the first time on yet another charity shopped bargain CD (Club Bowie). Enjoy! 

Norma Waterson RIP

Sad to learn that Norma Waterson (arguably the grandmother of the UK folk revival that kicked off back in the 60s) has passed away at the ripe old age of 82. Despite suffering ill health for a number of years as recently as 2018 she was still kicking it folk stylee...

...and here's another treat, John Peel visiting Norma, Martin and Eliza back in the 90s

Get Me To The Weekend - Betty Boo

Yes I know it's Monday morning but the weekend's just round the corner isn't it eh? Owing more than a little debt to The Human League's Love Action this is Betty Boo's first proper single for almost 30 years!

For anyone new to the Boo try these couple of bangers...

Nino - The Linda Lindas

Top pop punk from The Linda Lindas. I knew nothing of them until recently but it transpires that they've been making waves for quite a while even though one of them is...wait for it...just 11 years old. Good grief, I could barely read and write at that age. 

The Associates LIVE!

I've been lucky enough to see plenty of musical heroes live but sadly I missed Billy Mackenzie whilst he was still on this earth and last Saturday marked 25 years since he took his own life at the age of 39. There are relatively few live vids of Billy and The Associates out there but this one seems to capture Billy in pretty fine form. 

Heaven Can Wait - Meat Loaf

After reading his autobiography a few years back I developed a bit of a soft spot for old Meat Loaf. Whilst he'd had huge success a series of misfortunes resulted in him losing his home and at one point he ended up playing in bars just to earn a crust. Happily in recent years he was afforded the elder statesman of rock status and was even planning to return to the studio this month to record a new album. He may be better known for his bombastic numbers (and no one could do bombastic like Meat Loaf) but the vid above shows his more subtle side. RIP Meat. 

Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

After wanting an open fire/log burner for more years than I care to mention we finally got a stove fitted this week and last night saw its official first burn-day. Wanting to stick on some tunes whilst watching the fire get going I toyed with The Prodigy or The Crazy World of Arthur Brown but this classic from CSN&Y seemed to fit the bill best. 

Change - Blue Rondo A La Turk

I'd been trying to pick up the 2CD reissue of BRALT's album Chewing The Fat off eBay for a while now but it kept going for almost 40 quid. Ouch. So I thought I'd try getting in touch with the good folk at Cherry Red to ask if they'd...er...reissue the reissue. I didn't hear back from them but a few months later...voila...it's out again. Hurrah! I ordered my copy and it arrived last week. Double hurrah! And, of course, it still sounds as ruddy awesome now as it did when it was first released 40 (seriously 40 years...blimey) years ago. You can snap up your copy for just £10.95 right here, right now. 

Let's Have A Kiki - Scissor Sisters

Somehow this track passed me by when it first came out in 2012 but after picking up its accompanying album (Magic Hour) for 33p last weekend it's been playing pretty much non stop in my head. Loved the Scissor Sisters since first seeing 'em at the old Academy 2 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2004, couldn't the world do with their reunion right now? 

Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge

Another weekend and another stack of bargain CDs...including the best of DeBarge! Could this video be any more 80s? Dust off those leg warmers and party like it's 1985. 

Beatmaker - Matt Berry and Emma Noble

The second I heard this track at the end of the first episode of Toast in Tinseltown I knew I'd heard it before but couldn't for the life of me remember where. Until now. It's a cover of Doris' original from an album I stumbled across 20 odd years ago and played to death for months. If you've not heard anything else by Doris check her/them out on t'You Tube. Here's their version of the track...

And here's another classic cut to wrap yer ears around...enjoy!

PS: Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango. 

Pink Panther...the sound of 2022!

Great to hear that Pink Panther's been named The BBC's Sound of 2022. About time someone decent won. Here's one of his best tracks. Classic. 

Funk McLovin - Lyle Workman and Bootsy Collins

Watched Superbad last night for the first time in years and reckon we could all do with a little McLovin to get us through the first few weeks of 2022. Enjoy! 

Have a Groovy Chris-mix!

I forget how many years I've been trawling the internet to find a suitably funky, groovy Christmas mix to post but I'm guessing it's more than a decade (yuup, 2010 was the first one apparently). Here's this year's offering from DJ Better Music which has, so far, received a massive 29 views on You Tube. Let's see if we can get this into treble figures for poor Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Non Binary DJ Better Music eh? 

I'll be logging off now until 2022. Have a suitably Messy Christmas and a Hippity Hoppity Happy New Year!

Toby Slater RIP

"Who?" I hear you cry...yes...both of you. That was my reaction when I read that Toby Slater had passed away but a quick click on his band's minor hit and, 'Bingo', I was sent hurtling back in 1997, almost half a lifetime ago in my case. Ouch. The whole 'Britpop' scene's still to be properly reassessed and appreciated but as someone who lived through it I can confidently state that it was pretty bloody brilliant. After Slater's first band, Catch, split he seemingly released some solo stuff including this rarely heard Britpopunk gem Consumption. 

By all accounts Toby was a proper character too and sadly there's far too few of them around these days. RIP chap. 

Fresh Garbage - Spirit

Picked up a cool 3 CD psych comp over the weekend and discovered this track by Spirit. I may have heard it before but at my age the old brain's not what it was. 

The Hale Bop - Mystery Jets

Underrated track from underrated band and album to polish off the last full week of the year (for most of us at least). I can remember hearing most of the tracks from the Radlands album at The Rainbow in Brum but was gobsmacked to learn that this was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2012. Seriously....that's almost a decade ago, when coronavirus was merely a twinkle in the eye of...well...whoever/whatever spawned it. Enjoy! The track that is...not coronavirus...that can do one along with masks, jabs, social distancing, lateral flow tests, self isolation etc etc etc. 

Hertz - Amyl and the Sniffers

Don't think I've posted this vid up yet but if I have what the hell eh, it's worth sticking up again. In a better world Amyl and the Sniffers would be Christmas number one but I suspect we'll be lumbered with a song about sausage rolls or pork pies again. 

RIP Steve Bronski and Mike Nesmith

 

Blimey, Steve Bronski and Mike Nesmith both checked out for that great gig in the sky last week. I do love a bit of Bronski Beat and The Monkees too. 

Apparently Nesmith was still out on tour with Mickey Dolenz last month, monkeying around right to the end. Anyone who's mad enough to doubt the genius of The Monkees just needs to, well...Listen To The Band. 

Boops Here To Go - Sly and Robbie

RIP Robbie Shakespeare, one half of the duo responsible for this oddly addictive 80s classic. Almost three and a half decades later and it still sounds fresh as a daisy. Genius. 

Enough Is Enough - Chumbawamba & Credit To The Nation

Recorded almost 30 years ago this track couldn't be more appropriate for where we now find ourselves. Are some countries (maybe even our own) really going to make vaccines mandatory, introduce vaccine passports and create two tier societies? Looks that way. For the record I've had my two jabs, I wear masks in shops and on trains and I don't believe that we're being injected with microchips (monkey brains, yes....but microchips, no) but I do defend the rights of people who choose, for whatever reason, not to do any of this stuff. If they're wrong then old ma nature will take care of 'em (one way or the other). Of course it's sad that some people have died from coronavirus but it's also sad that families have been kept apart, kids' futures have been cocked up, businesses have gone to the wall, performers have been prevented from performing, mental health problems and suicides have gone through the roof and the generations after us will still be paying for the last lockdown (never mind the next one...god forbid) when they drop down dead at 98...still at work...just 5 short years away from their retirement. 

These Are The Days Of Our Lives - Queen

I missed the 30th anniversary (seriously...30 years?!) of Freddie's death on Wednesday but today seems like a suitable point to revisit the original band's swansong, especially as there's an interesting looking documentary on their last days on BBC 2 tomorrow night as well, I'd better get the hankies in for Mrs Hearing Aid. 

Ellie Finnerty @ The Gresham House Inn, Dawlish – Sunday November 21st 2021

We were only popping in for an hour or so. Three hours (and several fine pints of The General) later we emerged from The Gresham House Inn (what a ruddy lovely pub) after spending an afternoon in the company of hugely talented local singer songwriter Ellie Finnerty. In a hits packed two hour set Ellie literally took us through the A to Z of pop, rock and disco from Abba to The Zutons, kicking off with a sublimely soulful take on Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine.

There was pretty much something for everyone, absolute heaven for a musical magpie like me. Highlights included a Nash-tastic cover of Kate’s Foundations, a spirited rendition of Fairytale of New York (not easy with just one person) and arguably ABBA’s finest moment Dancing Queen (luckily for the rest of the audience I resisted the urge to strut my stuff…it was such a great cover it was a close run thing for a moment or two though).

But the real treats were Ellie’s originals like Generation Z anthem in waiting Screen and a beautifully poignant reflection on the place Ellie and we call home (South Devon’s best kept secret, Dawlish), called Home appropriately enough. Writing and singing from the heart sounds simple but it ain’t and in many of her self penned numbers Ellie cleverly combines that cocktail of emotions that sum up what it’s like to be young and in…and out…and quite possibly back in again…love.

Simply one of the most enjoyable Sunday afternoons I’ve had in a looooooooooooooooong time. Ellie’s off to Cornwall for a while but hopefully she’ll be back in Dawlish soon and, if there’s any justice in the world, on her way to much bigger things. Catch her while you still can and look all smug when she does a Sheeran and ends up playing Wembley.

PS: Went for a walk afterwards and took a little snap of 'home' at night...

Blame - Gabriels

Just in case you don't listen to 6 Music (who've been spinning the heck out of this track recently) here's one of 2021's most remarkable singles. It's a bluesy, jazzy, classical masterpiece!

Suga Mama - The Getup

After a couple of glasses of vin rouge I 'accidentally' placed a bid on 178 CDs on eBay on Saturday night and won the lot for a sniff under £75 (that's roughly 40p per disc). They arrived on Tuesday - free postage too...good grief - and there's some great stuff in there including a gem of an album from The Getup. Get in! 

Linus and Lucy - David Benoit

Picked up a ridiculous number of CDs at the weekend including The Best Of David Benoit featuring a rather ace cover of Linus and Lucy. Good grief. 

Taking Me Back - Jack White

Good grief if only I had 1% of the energy and talent of Jack White. Twenty odd years into his career and he's still producing stuff like this. Apparently he played all of the instruments on this track too. Put him in charge of planet earth for a couple of weeks and he'd sort everything out, he'd probably knock up a killer soundtrack to the whole shebang as well... 

Astro RIP

If there's one thing sadder than the recent passing of both Brian Travers and Astro it's that the band, UB40 of course,  couldn't put their disputes behind them whilst they were all still here. I don't know what really lies behind it all but hopefully now the remaining members of the band will realise that life's too short for grudges... 

This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us - 'Weird Al' Yankovic

If this doesn't make you feel at least 75% happier then quite frankly there's no hope for you. I've never played the accordion but I'm guessing this track ain't that easy to do justice to. 

Ha Ha - Mates Of State

Had a week off work and inevitably ended up in one or two charity shops. Ahem. Over the course of three days I picked up no less than 45 CDs including Mates Of States' Team Boo album for a mere 20p. Good grief. Other bargains included some rare jazz CDs for £1 a pop and a U-Roy album for 30p. Whether my mountain of plastic will ever be worth anything is uncertain but at 20p-£1 per album that's not really of much concern. CDs sound a hell of a lot better than streaming music and, as a man of a certain age, I like to have a physical thing to hold, look at and drool over...and at my age drooling's something I'm probably going to be doing a lot of. 

Quiet On Set - Remi Wolf

 

Blame 6Music for this one. Catchy as covid (remember that?). 

Melt Yourself Down - Pray For Me I Don't Fit In

Rather ace new single from Melt Yourself Down. I bought tickets to see them on the night of my 50th birthday (waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in May 2020) but the way things are going now I'll be lucky to see them now before I'm 60...  

Empty Pages - Traffic

Picked up a copy of Island Record's legendary El Pea...er...LP...from SPS Records (Teignmouth) on Saturday for the bargain price of £1.66 (it was 3 records for a fiver!) and here's the rather groovy bluesy track one from side one courtesy of Traffic. Enjoy!

PS: When the record first came out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1971 it cost £1.99...you could probably buy a house for that back then. 

Oh Babe, What Would You Say? - Hurricane Smith

I only knew this track from an episode of Frasier but last night the original popped up on TV and it turns out it was sung by a Brit, Norman 'Hurricane' Smith, an RAF glider pilot from WW2 who also worked on records by some band called The Beatles, no idea what happened to them. He then moved on to produce a trio of Pink Floyd albums and The Pretty Things' seminal S.F. Sorrow before releasing his own music and hitting the top 5 in both the UK and US at the tender age of 49. Now that's a life eh? 

For reference here's Frasier's version...ouch...

Wild Flowers - Warmduscher

Until today I'd only heard the heavily edited version of this track on 6 Music. That's pretty good but the original...oh my...awesome with a cherry on top. If Bill Hicks and The Love Unlimited Orchestra hooked up in CBGBs and then got jiggy in Studio 54... 

Bruises On My Illusions - Soft Cell

40 odd (very odd at times) years after they swept to global fame with Tainted Love Soft Cell are back (!) with a new single from forthcoming album *Happiness Not Included. Not bad going for a band that originally jacked it all in waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1984 with this twisted little beauty (and yes, I can remember watching this on TOTP...good grief, where does the time go?).

Disaster - Bobby Conn

A Facebook chat prompted me to check out what Bobby Conn was doing these days and I stumbled on this from last year, it seems pretty appropriate given what's going on in the world right now eh? 

If you've got a few weeks to spare I urge you to dig into Conn's con(n)siderable back catalogue. Enjoy. 

Greg Gilbert RIP

So sad to hear of the passing of Greg Gilbert, lead singer with the much underrated Delays, at the age of only 44. Just listen to this track...utterly beautiful. I only had the pleasure of seeing the band once but I've rarely seen such a devoted audience and, after experiencing them live myself, I could see why. Here's another track to remember him by...