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!