Fruitier Than Thou

THE CUBAN HEELS Farnborough Technical College 17th November 1981

2012-01-01T10:32:00.000Z

Farnborough Technical College was probably somewhere I should have a gone, as opposed to the Sixth Form. Certainly my lack of interest in academia was probably a clue.. Even the Head of the Sixth Form, Dr Badcock (I know that is funny in itself), head carved of the beetroot, Churchillian demeanour, guttural “blurgs” of utter disapproval emanating from a stomach not dissimilar to that of an elephant seal, with fingers taping the table like a sectioned centipede in a rush, unaware that his ward was no longer a grammar school. Came out with the classic “My Boy… If you want to wear silly clothes.. Go to tech!!” My crime, I wore a cravat instead of a tie, my excuse “I was feigning homosexuality so I could be like the rugger buggers..” was disregarded.. Maybe I would have taken up his offer if it wasn’t so much sport annoying him…

The Technical College actually put on gigs… In the late 70’s early 80’s they put on quite a lot of reggae, which I loved.. I saw THE CIMARRONS and ASWAD there, though the latter was only in the bar as the band had turned up but all their kit had gone to the Kent Farnborough as opposed to Hampshire Farnborough…

So to THE CUBAN HEELS... At the start of 1978 saw a Glasgow shouty punk band called JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS split into two.. Half of which would become THE CUBAN HEELS.. THE CUBAN HEELS very quickly released a single, an almost SOFT BOYSesque version of "Downtown.." Which I have but bore very little to THE CUBAN HEELS of the early 80's..

By 1980 they had started their own label "Cuba Libre" which also released records by THE SHAKIN' PYRAMIDS, toughened up their sound with guitar driving and chiming, vocals yelping to Hadleyesque torch song, bass fretless and wobbly.. One of things that I got from this gig was the wish to be able to play bass like that.. There are a couple of songs that I didn't recognise.. Still don't 30 years later but by the time of this gig they had 2 great JOHN PEEL sessions behind them and the release of their album "Work Our Way To Heaven" the cover of which appeared to be hated by everyone but me... But I didn't care I love the record.. On this night they a had a go at "Coming Up For Air" which I never heard them play live previously and was in marked contrast to the lush string arrangement of the album version...

Listening to this old recording there are a number of things that come flooding back.. Firstly, the level of malevolence directed at the band by my learned friend as a result of them not playing "Matter Of Time.." You really should hear him on the subject of bands he doesn't actually like.. Secondly, I missed the last train at Farnborough and got close to having a punch up with a taxi driver, who wanted £10 to get me the six and a half miles home.. I walked home in a haze of drunken righteous ire, which was going to happen anyway (but without the righteous ire) as I didn't have ANY money left... But thirdly and most importantly.. I only found this out a few days ago.. Although, I wouldn't know Jo and Danny (of IT'S JO AND DANNY, BLUETRAIN fame..) for another 4 years or so... This gig was one of their first romantic dates.. If this gig hadn't happened then history may have been different.. No BUZZ CLUB, no STONE ROSES playing Aldershot and no GREEN MAN FESTIVAL... Phew Wow!

Oh the other half of JOHNNY and THE SELF ABUSERS? They became SIMPLE MINDS...

mp3: "THE CUBAN HEELS Farnborough Technical College 17th November 1981"

The Innocents
Sweet Charity
Unknown To Me
Work Our Way To Heaven
Unknown To Me
Where The Days Go
Primitive
Coming Up For Air
The Call Of The Wild
Walk On The Water
Liberty Hall
Primitive (Reprise)
My Colours Fly

JOHN WALTERS Walters Week 1983-1985 (8)

2011-12-31T15:27:00.000Z

More Walters...

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 33"

With Kid Jensen … I don't have no leading lady, I don't have no orphanages, I don't have any Christmas tress, all I have is Dannnnnce'in!! Peter Powell, Butch Wilkins lookylikey, Robert Wyatt's unwanted puppies & Spike Jones' Loretta Soaparetta…

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 34"

With Richard Skinner… Yippy Yi Yay (Coytes) old red bandana.. The Globe Theatre of Los Angeles reduced production of Shakespeares' Corialanus, & the maturing cake left out in the rain…

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 35"

The paper thin walls of the Kharzi De Spaghetti, Waldemar Januszczak premature appreciation/critique? & Connie Beckley's feline appreciation to Faust a footnote…

THE RAW HERBS Janice Long Session 17th May 1987

2011-12-04T15:00:00.000Z

I only found out relatively recently that Brian Alexis, former JUNE BRIDES and RAW HERBS tub thumper and all round nice guy, had passed away after complications the result of DVT... In fact 24 years to the day after this session.... A combination of Phil Wilson dedicating THE JUNE BRIDES set the other week to Brian & Dan Treacy (who is out of ITU and making progress) & Jo at "Fringe On Top" reminded me of the couple of "Medium Cool Reviews" played at the West End Centre in Aldershot,

So here's to Brian & Dan.....

mp3: "THE RAW HERBS Janice Long Session 17th May 1987"

Don't Bury Me Yet
Holland
Syd's Late Night
Bless This Day

MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE The Oakford Social Club, Reading 5th November 2011

2011-11-08T00:14:00.001Z

I just wanted to mention MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE gig of last Saturday... As it reminded me of gigs in the late 1970's.. Inasmuch as it was a FREE gig, the pub was a cattle market, with pissed rugger buggers, extras from that "Every which way but Essex.." thing, with (in many ways quite impressive) lasses tottering around in ridiculously high heels & not falling over (although, I suspect that wouldn't be the case at the end of the night). & a considerable amount of shouting for no apparent reason.. There was probably about five people who (1) Have heard of MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE (2) Have come to see MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE.. As MISTY come on stage, a rugger bugger jumps on stage too, pulls his arm around Grandmaster Gareth & demands one of his mates take a picture of them together.. Then like willow the wisp.. He has gone.. Grandmaster Gareth left with the expression that he has been inadvertently goosed.. "Well.. That's a good start?" ... When Erotic Volvo arrived he was greeted with the loudest "Oi Oi.." drunken welcome that normally would be reserved for the rugger buggers end of season do, for the award for the player who most valiantly tried to piss in Nelson's good eye from one of the Lions... Actually I genuinely did LOL after the first song "We love you Handy!!!" I don't know why? It's not that funny but context is everything.. In many ways it was the perfect gig for MISTY as they had something for everyone.. A bit of madness (the band, not the situation) for the rugger buggers, some slow swing vaudeville for the drunken lasses (you can only sway to it) & some Northern Soul for me (if it was for the lack of cartilage in my knees, I would have been spinning like a good'n, for sure..) Erotic Volvo was even handing (sic) out biscuits during "I Wanna Biscuit" .. I had to decline.. Diabetes.. Beer is good, biscuits.. Not so. The funniest point of the evening for me was the power of the word "Paedophile"... When Grandmaster Gareth went through his acappela "Crumpled Up Guy"... When he sung the line "You drew a picture of me as a Paedophile Priest.." There was an almost stunned silence for about ten seconds, before the drunken hubbub continued.. A great night.. Even Madam liked it & she hates music... Especially when it is played!!!

SHELLEYAN ORPHAN Richard Skinner Session 3rd June 1984

2011-11-07T23:22:00.000Z

SHELLEYAN ORPHAN or as me & friends referred to them as "That skinny lad who phrases stuff & sounds a bit like Martyn Bates & the lass with the pre-Raphaelite hair... They also reminded me a bit of post RAVISHING BEAUTIES, VIRGINIA ASTLEY. It wasn't particularly ground breaking but then it certainly wasn't chiming guitars & foolish grins that was coming to the for... This session was the first I had heard of them.. To me it was a sophisticated version of IN EMBRACE's "Passionfruit Pastels" (a personal favourite) with hand claps, strings & flute.. & that skinny lad DID phrase stuff & sound a bit like Martyn Bates! However, after this session it seem to take an age for anything to be released.. They had signed to ROUGH TRADE but it must have been two or three years before a single appeared, maybe longer for the album.. Nothing wrong with the record but I really can't remember too much about them compared to this session.. I suppose it must have been like starting again for them.... I know by the late eighties they were touring with THE CURE but I never witnessed it.. I thing they still get together now & then

mp3: "SHELLEYAN ORPHAN Richard Skinner Session 3rd June 1984"

Calvary Of Cloud
Melody Of Birth
Midsummer Plumes & Pearls
Tangled Perpetual

JOY DIVISION, KILLING JOKE, A CERTAIN RATIO, SECTION 25 The High Wycombe Town Hall 20th February 1980

2011-10-11T21:44:00.002Z

I was just thinking about this gig from back in the day... Then found some fine person has loaded the JOY DIVISION set on to youtube....

STEEL PULSE, GANG OF FOUR, AU PAIRS, THE MEKONS, JOHN COOPER CLARKE The Rainbow Theatre, 18th September 1980

2011-10-02T18:14:00.001Z

DUOTONE The West End Centre, Aldershot 22nd September 2011

2011-09-24T00:13:00.003Z

I saw these guys the other night... Barny Morse Brown is half of the duo.. But probably 85% of the content.. When he sings he sounds remarkably like BEN WATT

Buy!

JOSEF K, ORANGE JUICE, BLUE ORCHIDS The Institute Of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London 4th January 1981

2011-09-24T00:01:00.000Z

Just because it brings a tear to my eye....

THE WOLFHOUNDS The Basement, Brighton 16th January 1988

2011-09-23T17:46:00.000Z

Most people who know me, know how much I loved THE WOLFHOUNDS & think they were woefully over looked... Jo from FRINGE ON TOP has just reminisced about a fun & violent WOLFHOUNDS evening in Aldershot which I have mentioned before... So I thought I would load up a gig that was a little bit more even tempered, the only disturbing incident to report being Andrew from JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES leg's. Which not only resembled a pair of pipe cleaners hanging from a pair of Eric Morecambe khaki shorts, but were the ultimate homage to the sickly white, pasty, Anglo-Saxon in being that even if they spent 3 weeks under a sun-bed they would still be the colour of... Tippex.

mp3: "THE WOLFHOUNDS The Basement, Brighton 16th January 1988"

Another Hazy Day (On The Lazy A)
Me
(Banter/Guitar repairs)
Non Specific Song
Rain Stops Play
Son Of Nothing
Handy Howard
Happy Shopper
Cruelty
Rule Of Thumb
The Anti Midas Touch

STEEL PULSE John Peel Session 4th April 1978

2011-09-05T12:26:00.000Z

Just following on from the later session.....

mp3: "STEEL PULSE John Peel Session 4th April 1978"

Hansworth Revolution
Jah Pickney - Rock Against Racism
Makka Splaff

THE DIAGRAM BROTHERS John Peel Session 27th January 1981

2011-09-04T15:18:00.000Z

I always remember Manchester’s post punk pop combo THE DIAGRAM BROTHERS as being labelled as, the UK’s answer to DEVO... I suppose there was suggestion of process music, well processed voice. The mechanical, methodical vocals; “I get out of bed, I put my slippers on, I go to the bathroom, I have a poo, I wash my hands, opps!! I flush the toilet…” kind of thing, with little allusion of poetry, but more than a hint of sarcasm & (dark) humour..

Their inaugural gig was apparently a disastrous affair for the John Peel Roadshow at Manchester University in early 1980, where sound went from Norman Collier–esque embarrassment to the bang of “That’s your lot Ladies & Gentlemen”… Still. The great man saw merit in what they were doing & offered them a session from which came the mighty “We Are All Animals.” A song about a cat, a fish & a budgie…

Personally, I think this session they sound more like XTC than DEVO.. They did eventually release an album by the end of 1981 “Some Marvels of Modern Science” which was heralded with tumultuous indifference, & with various members time at college coming to end, the decision was made dissolve the DIAGRAMS. ANDY DIAGRAM swapped his bass for a trumpet & contributed to many bands from the North West; THE FLORISTS, THE PALE FOUNTAINS, DISCLOCATION DANCE, JAMES to name but…. Err four!

mp3: “THE DIAGRAM BROTHERS John Peel Session 27th January 1981”

I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today By Being A Right Git
My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now
Postal Bargains
Those Men In White Coats

Buy!

72 Today.....

2011-08-30T18:32:00.000Z

19th January 1980...

JOHNNY OSBOURNE & THE INSTIGATORS Kid Jensen Session 15th March 1984

2011-08-29T17:44:00.000Z

Johnny Osbourne started life in the mid 1960’s as the vocalist of Jamaican rock steady tappers THE SENSATIONS before vocalising for THE WILDCATS towards the end of 1960’s.. In the early 1970’s Osbourne emigrated to

Canada

to be with his family.. By the mid 1970’s he had formed a Canadian roots reggae band (four words you would never expect to see together) called ISHAN PEOPLE….They toured with pop, jazz hybrid BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS all over Canada…. Odd bedfellows? Apparently, David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Seat & Tears (a Canadian) got them hooked up with a Canadian label, which released two ISHAN PEOPLE albums. However, there was a problem.. ISHAN PEOPLE hated each other. It was rumoured that they had to have a special trailer to hold the various band members ego’s, only for to be opened at show time. ISHAN PEOPLE split up, Johnny disillusioned returned to

Jamaica

….

Of course by 1979-1980.. I knew nothing of this. The only Johnny Osbourne I knew was the “overnight reggae sensation” of the "Folly Ranking" & “Warrior” albums from the RODIGAN & PEEL shows.. Although, I remember at the time I think there was four or five albums all coming out around that end of 1979 start of 1980 period…

For the next three to four years Johnny had considerable success, I have to admit post 1980, I only have the “Get Cracking” single, which I suspect spurned this Kid Jensen session…

mp3: "JOHNNY OSBOURNE & THE INSTIGATORS Kid Jensen Session 15th March 1984"

Get Crackin'
Give A Little Love
Truth & Rights
Water Pumpin'

Facebook: THE JOHN PEEL ARCHIVES

2011-08-26T21:46:00.000Z

See Link

HELEN & THE HORNS The Imperial College, London 9th December 1983

2011-08-26T16:00:00.000Z

In my little world, there a number of people who just have a God given voice that just demands me to listen. From Dusty to Cathal I love them all but none more so though than Helen McCookerybook. Yes, she does sound a bit like Doris Day (Hey I love Doris almost as much as Dusty) but there is something so uplifting in her voice that I think she would genuinely struggle to sing a melancholic song.

I was a big CHEFS fan.. They always looked like they were having fun & just made me laugh. I defy anybody to listen to “Thrush” & not smile.. Post CHEFS on a slightly damp Friday night in South Kensington was my induction to the way of THE HORNS. Apparently the format, HELEN with a big semi acoustic & bigger voice & THE HORNS who looked like a slightly dishevelled OXFAN suited “Blues Brothers” tribute, came about by accident or more by the physical inability to hump drums across London to practices. Either which way, I’m glad they did. Like THE CHEFS, HELEN & THE HORNS just seemed great fun, whether it be, surprised eyebrows emerging from the top of THE HORNS’ raybans, the result of some unintentional jazz at the start of “Surrey With The Fringe On Top!” to Helen looking like she was fit to burst with the giggles whilst singing “The Boy From Ipanema” .. It looked like a fun group to be in…

mp3: "HELEN & THE HORNS The Imperial College, London 9th December 1983"

Pioneer Town
Surrey With A Fringe On Top
Oh Boy
The Boy From Ipanema
I'll Be Hoping For A Happy Ending
Snakebite
Twice Brewed
Southern Belle
Secret Love
Footsteps At My Door
Freight Train
Take Five

Buy! Buy! Buy!

DO YOU FEEL WHAT I DO DEER The Horse & Groom, Brighton 23rd August 2011

2011-08-26T11:30:00.000Z

<a href="http://doyoufeelwhatifeeldeer.bandcamp.com/track/silence">Silence by Do You Feel What I Feel Deer</a>

DANANANANAYKROYD The West End Centre, Aldershot 22nd July 2011

2011-07-29T21:09:00.001Z

Line up changes since I last saw them... They still remind me a bit of THE PROCLAIMERS backed by BIG COUNTRY but they were even more energetic than last time.. & that is saying something with these guys, especially at the beginning when they were all bouncing along up & down, like a synchronised trimpet bob team....

Buy!

ROZI PLAIN The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 20th July 2011

2011-07-29T21:00:00.000Z

Buy!

THE FLORISTS John Peel Session 13th July 1983

2011-07-29T20:47:00.005Z

Updated link.... For Rick's Mum...

mp3: "THE FLORISTS John Peel Session 13th July 1983"

Julia
Our Much Loved Daughter
The Longest Hour
Top Models Know

THE MONOCHROME SET John Peel Session 14th February 1979

2011-07-16T13:57:00.000Z

Some time ago I promised a number of friends that I would dig out some old MONOCHROME SET sessions..

Starting life in the post punk era, where it was obligatory to live in a squat & shout a lot… Thanks to the wit & charm of Bid, you felt after gigs THE MONOCHROME SET post gigs would retreat back to their South Kensington, weekly residence for salmon & cucumber sandwiches & a bottle of Hennessy Cognac (although, they probably lived in a squat or slept in a skip)… That was it for me, not only did they have sensible trousers & impeccable headgear, Bid just made me laugh!! I was once told a storey, & I so want it not to be an urban myth, that Bid was due to give a local radio interview to promote that evening’s gig in Bristol… He managed to persuade a ginger lad down the pub to substitute for him & on air when the interviewer asked “So is it true you are from Indian nobility?” The reply in the strongest Bristolian brogue was “Arrr.. Dat be right boy, proper nobility me!!”

The first MONOCHROME SET single I purchased was "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" although there was a predecessor; "He's Frank" (in fact there were two versions of it...), I loved the albums; “Strange Boutique” & “Love Zombies”… I always loved the songs, but never thought they were that good in the studio compared to live.. The PEEL sessions did get closer…

mp3: "THE MONOCHROME SET John Peel Session 14th February 1979"

Expresso
Ici Les Enfants, Fat Fun
Love Goes Down The Drain
Noise

Buy! Buy! Buy!

DODGY The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 4th June 2011

2011-06-05T18:14:00.000Z

SPARROW & THE WORKSHOP The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 2nd June 2011

2011-06-05T18:09:00.000Z

LOVE AMONG THE MANNEQUINS The Links Hotel, Fleet 20th May 2011

2011-05-31T22:10:00.001Z

I like LOVE AMONG THE MANNEQUINS because they pla on my doorstep & remind me of PAVEMENT… I quite like being reminded of PAVEMENT

PENETRATION John Peel Session 5th July 1978

2011-05-31T21:41:00.000Z

Following the “re-up”of the PAULINE MURRAY seesion, I like to add PENETRATION… PENETRATION born of the North East punk scene “The Durham Contingent” This was at a time when there was a lot of contingency; whether it be the “Melvin Street Infants Playgound Twist Contingent” or the Courtmoor Youth Wing There Must Be Something Better Than OSIBISA You Can Play Contingent!” (I was the founding member, & was absolutely chuffed when the membership doubled to…. 2). The “new wave / punk” music created contingency everywhere. I suspect that I loved PENETRATION mainly because I had a crush on Pauline Murray.. Even the skinhead shaved eyebrow look, I thought looked great on her. It was also the voice.. Somewhere between SIOUXSIE & POLYSTYRENE, a resonance which was like whale-song through water.. Another contributing factor was that hoppity-flaying arms dance she use to do, I was transfixed by every skip from her red pixie boots.. In fact during their last tour at the Guildford Civic Hall, if I hadn’t been so transfixed I would have noticed a chap emulating said hoppity-flaying arms dance & avoided a broken nose... It’s funny when it happen no problem at all .. But when I went into 6^th form next day, it wasn’t until people started to pass comment & quick rush to the mirror in the toilets made me realise that my face did resemble that of a Panda that had just had a decomposing beetroot nailed to it’s face.. Happy days…

mp3: "PENETRATION John Peel Session 5th July 1978"

Future Daze
Movement
Stone Heroes
Vision

Buy!

PAULINE MURRAY John Peel Session 19th March 1980

2011-05-30T22:17:00.000Z

Updated link....

mp3: "PAULINE MURRAY John Peel Session 19th March 1980"

Dream Sequence
Shoot You Down
Sympathy
When Will We Learn

THE HANDSOME FAMILY The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 14th May 2011

2011-05-17T18:39:00.000Z

THE JUGGERNAUTS John Peel Session 11th December 1984

2011-05-17T18:38:00.000Z

Updated link..

mp3: "THE JUGGERNAUTS John Peel Session 11th December 1984"

Made My First Million
Mystery Train
One Thousandth Part
The Body Of The Kirk

SONS OF NOEL & ADRIAN The Lexington, London 27th April 2011

2011-05-04T21:35:00.001Z

CROWNS ON THE RATS ORCHESTRA The Green Door Store, Brighton 21st April 2011

2011-04-23T10:59:00.000Z

ROSENBRIDGE The West End Centre, Aldershot 2nd April 2011

2011-04-04T22:44:00.001Z

THE PASSAGE John Peel Session 18th November 1980

2011-04-04T22:44:00.000Z

This posting is a result of a compilation of me playing an old single, boring a friend with an old anecdote & smirking at a comment made at the old anecdote from a guy I previously bored retelling it… The single was “Devils & Angels” by THE PASSAGE. The anecdote was that I managed to flatten the little one out of GODLEY & CRÈME. The scenario being that in early 1981, I was rushing in to “Honest Johns” record shop off Portobello, as the little one from GODLEY & CRÈME was rushing out… I’m a big guy, it was always going to be bad situation for the little guy from GODLEY & CRÈME.. What made me laugh in retrospect was that as I helped him back up. He said “Sorry.” The other thing was that the beardy one from GODLEY & CRÈME’s expression didn’t change at all.. The rest of his body seemed to function. It was if just his head had been cryogenically frozen, to ensure facial rigidity. When previously boring people with this anecdote I mentioned I was surprised at the lack of physical stature of the little guy from GODLEY & CRÈME comparing his to the proportions of musical historian, main PASSAGE contributor & all round good egg, Dick Witts.. The comment? “Hence the phrase ‘Half Witts..’” OK, I know for you guys that isn’t funny but in the little world I in habit.. It makes me smirk!!

Most people my age remember Dick Witts from the Oxford Road Show “ORS” which was a strange mix of part Top Of The Pops & not quite the Old Grey Whistle Test… In as much as having some bands that really didn’t have much chance of appearing on Top Of The Pops but in the same breath were not a bunch West Coast American Longhairs chugging away admiring each others riffs through a curtain of hair… There was always one daytime Radio One DJ omnipresent & in TOTP form would be surrounded by a gaggle of bored young ladies, or pointing from a gantry at the live band in the distance in the manner of Hervé Villechaize’s “Boss Boss The Plane” or a rather stunted interview, where you suspect the interviewer & interviewee would rather be down the pub… Different pubs… Occasionally there would be more art conscious sections which usually involved Dick.. I always thought he had that knowing smirk “Yes this is shite, but I’m on telly & I might just be able to sneak in some stuff I like…” look about him… ORS was later parodied in the first YOUNG ONES as Nozin' Aroun' … Almost a double parody in that I remember Ben Elton doing his right on in the Mandela Bar set on ORS which wasn’t a million miles away from Rick’s “People Poet”

Which brings me to THE PASSAGE's first PEEL session, which was just about the time of the release of their first album "Pindrop." Nearly everything that THE PASSAGE produced is available on LTM.. See below:

mp3: "THE PASSAGE John Peel Session 18th November 1980"

Dark Times
Devils & Angels
Shave your Head
The Shadows

Buy!

DAMN DAMN PATRIOTS The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 25th March 2011

2011-03-27T22:02:00.000Z

REVEILLE The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 17th March 2011

2011-03-27T21:59:00.000Z

JO BARTLETT & THE GENTLE GOOD The Piccolo Caffe, Farnham 16th March 2011

2011-03-27T18:57:00.000Z

THE WOLFHOUNDS John Peel Session 23rd March 1986

2011-03-27T18:51:00.001Z

Just got around to loading up the first WOLFHOUNDS Peel Session, following on from the second one I posted a few years back... Saw them a little while ago.. They were still pretty fine. Back in 1986-1987 I really could understand why they were not a global phenomenon.. I still love them. I could never worked out why "Public Footpath Blues" was never on any of the compilations... Shame.

mp3: "THE WOLFHOUNDS John Peel Session 23rd March 1986"

The Anti Midas Touch
Hand In The Till (Again)
Me
Whale On The Beach

BEARSUIT The Railway Inn, Winchester 11th March 2011

2011-03-27T18:50:00.000Z

BEARSUIT The Boileroom, Guildford 10th March 2011

2011-03-13T22:32:00.000Z

HJALTALIN The Slaughtered Lamb, Clerkenwell 8th March 2011

2011-03-13T22:26:00.001Z

STEEL PULSE John Peel Session 7th May 1980

2011-03-07T22:28:00.000Z

Just following from the ICARUS session, I was listening to this STEEL PULSE session in the car & earlier today & two things struck (me lamp-post & a white van from the back... Only joshing)... Firstly, this was where STEEL PULSE musically got choppy & lovers vocally.. Secondly, that bloody siren on the intro & outro of “Drug Squad”.. It must have been a good 25 years since the Met have gone from the traditional ‘Na na, na na, na na, na na..” to the distressed clanger siren.. But this afternoon when it came over the stereo, immediately I was looking over my should looking for The Sweeny to come flying past last for their dinner… Doh!!!

mp3 "STEEL PULSE John Peel Session 7th May 1980"

Drug Squad
Nyahbinghi
Sunshine & Shining

Buy!

ICARUS John Peel Session 26th November 1980

2011-03-05T14:28:00.000Z

I only caught some of the BBC 4's Reggae Britannia programmes of a few weeks back, but what I did catch was pretty damn fine in my world... It did remind how great some of those old reggae records were, especially some of the dub & pre-releases that PEEL & RODIGAN, played in the late 1970's.. As I have mentioned before, I was a great fan of the British reggae bands, who would often get criticised, virtually on the basis of not being Jamaican, & singing about subjects that effected their day to day lives ... ICARUS could be argued one such band..

I have no idea how many records they released, I have an album "State Of Mind", a 12" "A Me Na Culture Dat" & a more rootsy version of "Don't Put Reggae In A Bag" on one of THE MOONLIGHT CLUB compilations, apart from I believe that they were based around Hammersmith.. I know nothing about them.. I always loved "Tower Block Kid" .. It probably says more about me that for some reason the lines "Mama said to Jimmy, don't look out of the window, cos you just been watching Superman, it's a long way down from the 22nd floor & you don't have a parachute..." always make me smile...

Don't keep Reggae in a bag......

mp3 "ICARUS John Peel Session 26th November 1980"

Don't Put Reggae In A Bag
Shall We Roam
Tower Block Kid

THE MO-DETTES John Peel Session 28th January 1980

2011-03-01T22:15:00.000Z

Updated link....

mp3: "THE MO-DETTES John Peel Session 28th January 1980"

Dark Park Creeping
The Kray Twins
Norman, He's No Rebel
The Bitter Truth

BEARSUIT The Hope, Brighton 27th February 2011

2011-02-28T19:03:00.000Z

AZTEC CAMERA Kid Jensen Session 28th February 1983

2011-02-28T18:59:00.000Z

Updated link...

mp3: "AZTEC CAMERA Kid Jensen Session 28th February 1983"

Back On Board
Down The Dip
Release
Walk Out To Winter

SUUNS The Hope, Brighton 20th February 2011

2011-02-27T12:33:00.000Z

Buy!

LO CòR DE LA PLANA The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 15th February 2011

2011-02-27T12:04:00.000Z

Lo Còr de la Plana…. The rhinophonia, asthmatic Gallic Kings Singers? The Polyphonic brie? The Marseillan muezzin broadcast company? Banghra Français? Occitan Roucoulement?

Lo Còr de la Plana are all the above.. Six guys with extreme tolerances of hair, shoe size & hands (I swear the big guy on the left had flounders for hands).. Stamp, clap, vocalise their way through the grimier, blood thirsty aspects of Marseillan history.. Some of the tales are surreal (actually just plain daft, lost in translation for comedic effect). As the night went on, I found it quite infectious, & became quite envious of their gracile vocalising.. It’s not something I would want to do in public, I would just like to be able to sing like that to myself with out scaring livestock..

Buy!

BMX BANDITS The West End Centre, Aldershot 14th February 1987

2011-02-14T19:32:00.001Z

Ah Valentine’s night… 24 years ago on a damp, windy night in Aldershot, my anaxiphilliac tendencies were already to the fore.. There was an antidote, in the form of Duglas T Stewart’s dulcet tones & (very) shiny green shirt & matching tie.

Tonight, BMX BANDITS were headlining the BUZZ CLUB & there was indeed love in the air.. I remember Duglas asking Jowe from support HOUSEHUNTERS “Is it gonna be alright, I always having to deal with ruffians..” Jowe’s reply was something like “Dear Boy you are consummate professional, they can do nothing but love you!!”

It is true, Aldershot is the home of the British Army but rarely did any of them get past the raft of specialist pubs or the last line of defence “Johnny Ghurka’s” house of Nepalese cuisine & after hours lager… However, that didn’t prevent the mass attendance of the traditional Aldershot pissed blokes.. (& pissed lasses). All of which added to the love theme.. I always been proud of the quality of the West End Centre’s drunken heckling.. If you can listen closely, throughout at the set you can hear a chap at the back shout “Say sausages!!” … I’d admired his persistence & continuity, “Say sausages” was all he shouted.

BMX Bandits were on top form by which I mean, you know that feeling when you lean back on a chair & nearly topple over, but save yourself just in time? That was BMX BANDITS that night, “anything could happen in the next half hour.” Even the most hardened drunken rugger bugger went “ahhhhh” when he produced his “Groovy Good Luck Friend” a rather well worn Barbie doll whose hair appeared to be in possession of a Boris Johnson bob.. & when Duglas pronounced “I want to come amongst you (er.. to coin a phrase) & kiss you all.” You felt if time allowed, he would. In the world I inhabit he did, by playing “Flipper” one of the greatest indiepop records that never was.. “I wouldn’t cry if the whole human race dies.. Except you… & all my friends.” I think that is the true meaning of Valentine’s Day…

Ladies & Gentleman.. BMX BANDITS

mp3: "BMX BANDITS The West End Centre, Aldershot 14th February 1987"

E102
The Day Before Tomorrow
The Cat From Outer Space
Groovey Good Luck Friends
Flipper
Sad?
Rosemary Ledingham
You Wanna Wash That Man Right Out Of Your Hair (But Can't Find The Right Shampoo) / Purple Haze
Only Love Can Break Your Heart / Sad? (Faster Version)
Dedication (Is What You Need!)
Flipper

Buy! Buy! Buy!

VIC GODARD & SUBWAY SECT The Hydrant, Brighton 12th February 2011

2011-02-13T21:50:00.001Z

Buy!

BENNI HEMM HEMM The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 29th January 2011

2011-02-01T22:53:00.000Z

Horn a plenty....

Buy!

THE FIZZBOMBS Janice Long Session 24th June 1987

2011-01-29T17:19:00.000Z

Legend has it that various Jessies (JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES) got a tad tired & emotional at a birthday party & demanded to play each offers instruments.. With Margarita switching from tub thumping to guitar & Angus from bass to drums.. Add Ann from THE SHOP ASSISTANTS on bass & Katy McCullars taking the lead vocalists & you have the recipe for POP... Thus THE FIZZBOMBS were born...

What no ballads? What you got was what you would expect.. Always fun in my world. They liked the intro of "Neil Diamond One.." ("Cherry Cherry") so much that they employed it a number of times... & "Beach Party" has somewhat AQUAesque vocals..

They only existed a couple of years but after this session released a couple of wonderful singles that have always been close to my heart...

mp3: "THE FIZZBOMBS Janice Long Session 24th June 1987"

Beach Party
Blue Summer
It's Not As Simple As That
The Neil Diamond One

BETTY & THE WEREWOLVES The Buffalo Bar, Highbury 14th January 2011

2011-01-27T18:44:00.000Z

I can't help but think there should be more bands that make their guitars sound like.... Kazoos!

CROWNS ON THE RATS ORCHESTRA The Prince Albert, Brighton 26th January 2011

2011-01-27T18:32:00.000Z

THE WOLFHOUNDS The Buffalo Bar, Highgate 14th January 2011

2011-01-15T15:46:00.000Z

BROADCAST John Peel Session 24th July 2003

2011-01-15T15:41:00.002Z

I was terribly sad on hearing the passing of Trish Keenan from pneumonia, as a result of contracting the H1N1 swine flu virus… I have long been a fan of BROADCAST’s metallic synth other worldliness, to which Trish’s breathy dreamy vocals acted as a perfect counterpoint.

I remember chatting to her after a gig at the Zap Club in Brighton in the mid 90's & I can genuinely say, in the words of Robert Forster "She's a darling".. & wasn't concerned of my particular brand of "humour” Such a great shame... I think her voice is just wonderful on "Colour Me In"

mp3: "BROADCAST John Peel Session 24th July 2003"

Colour Me In
Minim
Pendulum
Sixty / Forty

HOUSE OF JOHN PLAYER The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 8th January 2011

2011-01-10T19:40:00.000Z

GOOD THROB The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 8th January 2011

2011-01-09T12:55:00.000Z

PREFAB SPROUT Kings College, London 28th January 1984

2011-01-08T14:16:00.001Z

A couple of things that amused me this gig was Ms Smith's ashen face at the rugger bugger (he did look a bit like Gary Bushall) singing "boring" as question & answers at the start of 'I Couldn't Bear To Be Special" at the start, & the start of PREFAB SPROUT's long standing 'Spinal Tap' approach to drummers... Tonight it was the turn of one all round good egg, Dave Ruffy.

Actually, the most amusing incident of the night was when THE DAINTEES were playing, Martin Stephenson enticed one of the rugger buggers on stage, leaving him at the microphone while they started a song…. A minute into the tune, Martin nodding intro prompts. He might as well as being standing there stark bollock naked, he look that uncomfortable.. “Aye. It’s not that easy is it.. Now shut yer rap yer twat!!” Quality

mp3: "PREFAB SPROUT Kings Collge, London 28th January 1984"

I Couldn't Bear To Be Special
I Never Play Basketball Now
Cherry Tree
Green Isaac
Diana
Don't Sing
The Devil Has All The Best Tunes
Hallelujah
Lions In My Own Garden Exit Someone
I Couldn't Bear To Be Special
Don't Sing

A SHORT COMMERICAL BREAK John Peel Session 18th August 1982

2011-01-02T18:28:00.019Z

I know very little about, in fact next to sweet wotsit about A SHORT COMMERICAL BREAK... I know there was a suggestion that the session should not be aired as it conflicted with the BBC advertising guidelines. I don’t know if the suggestion ever got to the ears of John Peel, I suspect it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.
For some time I thought they were DOLLY MIXTURE in disguise, playing nothing but the soundtracks of adverts of the time. I know that there was a CAPTAIN SENSIBLE connection as I remember reading somewhere that Kirsty the vocalist was his girlfriend at some point at the end of 1970’s. They played live as well but I never witnessed them. There was a review that highlighted "They're short, they're not commercial & don't deserve a break…” Which I think was a bit harsh. I think it would have been a great record; 40 minutes long, around 65 tunes… Every one recognisable!! So here is A SHIORT COMMERCIAL BREAK in all their glory..

mp3: "A SHORT COMMERICAL BREAK John Peel Session 18th August 1982"

For those who didn’t live in the UK in the late 70’s/early 80’s, thanks to YOUTUBE here are the originals… Linked to the tracks:

BENNET The West End Centre, Aldershot 15th December 2001

2011-01-01T17:14:00.005Z

You know you are getting older when a reunion gig is slowly heading towards 10 years ago... So it is with the BENNET reunion gig at the West End Centre... Some years before the emergence of BENNET in the early 90's I played in a band with erstwhile bass player & all round good egg, one Andy Bennett..

A veritable “super-group” of local (to me) bands with assorted members in previous incarnations of BLUETRAIN, THE SUGAR MOUNTAIN & THE AURBISONS… The hardest thing was coming up with a name. They originally started off as MEANWHILE… There was another band called MEANWHILE. There was a name change to COOPER.. There was American band called COOPER, although I suspect they weren’t named after Henry Cooper. Legend has it, that the view was “bollocks to this.. Names in the hat guys!!!” So in fact BENNET could have been called either “APPLIN” “MOOREY” or “PEER”. Mr Bennett’s name was first out of the hat. This caused Andy a slight problem explaining to his Mum that the record company that was taking interest said it looked better as BENNET.

They always seemed to be labelled as “Mockney” or even “Britpop”… I more or less just saw them as fun pop band. They always seem to be enjoying themselves & I always felt what they did worked much better live than anything they did in the studio which I felt was a kind of UK alternative to FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE but with a bit of wit, actually a lot of wit. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t (didn’t) sell millions in The States.. & FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE appeared to. You will never convince me that “Someone Always Gets There First” isn’t the play out to an American Teen Movie chock full of knob jokes.. I suppose they are best known for their single “Mum’s Gone To Iceland” which probably gives them the title of “minor one hit wonders.” They did release two albums: “Super Natural” & “Street vs Science” They amicably eventually shut up shop at the start of 1998 I suspect as a result of the pay the bills vs struggle for our art ratio, not going in their favour.

This gig sees their one & only reunion gig at Christmas 2001... & as you can hear it was a genuinely fun affair. With things like bass strings snapping, keyboard leads popping out just adding to the jollities. In particular a mighty fine jazz funk version of “Mum Has Gone to Iceland”. All the hits are here. I would have track-listed the songs but the majority of them would have been “banter” as Jason, God bless his monkey hair, just cannot stop his rap…

mp3: "BENNET The West End Centre, Aldershot 15th December 2001"

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS The Memorial Hall, Church Crookham 23rd December 2010

2010-12-26T11:06:00.007Z

ERIC BOGOSIAN John Peel Session 10th August 1983

2010-12-26T11:05:00.007Z

I don't know if you're ever sitting watching LAW & ORDER & thing.. "Hey that guy with the lank poodle haircut looks familiar... I don't, I think 'Hey that's ERIC BOGOSIAN..."Probably best know on my side of the pond for his portrayal of Barry Champlain in the late 1980's film "Talk Radio"... The adaptation of his Broadway play... The feel of which can be heard in this John Peel session, with Eric's monologues of mainly New York characterisations underlining the fears of the human condition, (of the early 1980'w). Whether it is; cancer, nuclear war, obesity vs. pie & whipped cream, starving little children.."Little starving children.. They're starving & they're little" & poodle obsession... Let's be on honest New York City is the natural habitat of the Poodle.. All the early 1980’s paranoia Americana is brought to the fore.

I have absolutely no idea why or how PEEL decided to get BOGOSIAN in for a session, probably Walters. I can’t think of any other sessions that were totally spoken word… Certainly there was none of that “Right Time Wrong Speed" malarkey with PEEL this night as he nailed BOGOSIAN’s unknown average Joe losing it on “I Got No Answers!!” as the final “I don’t even understand what you are talking about!!! Shut up! Shut up!! Shut up!!!...” decays into the pips leading to the top of the hour news…

mp3: "ERIC BOGOSIAN John Peel Session 10th August 1983"

The Coming Depression - Mario's Ice Cream - Fat Fighters
Inside Inside - I'm Frightened Reverend Tim - Starving Little Children - Cancer Dessert
I Got No Answers!!!

Buy!

DRUM EYES The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 18th December 2010

2010-12-20T08:40:00.005Z

ELTON JOHN John Peel Session 18th December 1973

2010-12-19T16:28:00.007Z

OK it's not really a session.. More a (relatively) impromptu piss up around the piano.. Or as Madam has just politically correctly shouted at me.. “The alternative Queen’s speech from a poof & a piano..” Legend has it that John Walters raided every BBC green room he could find for it’s beverages to get Elton in the mood.. I don’t think that he really needed that much persuading… As PEEL said at the end of ‘Your Song’… “What fun we use to have in those days..” 37 years ago + 1 day…

mp3: "ELTON JOHN John Peel Session 18th December 1973"

Christmas Medley
Daniel / Your Song (Watford 4 Liverpool 2 AET)
Dylan Medley
Pub Medley

SILVERY MAGNUS The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 18th December 2010

2010-12-19T15:56:00.004Z

HAUSCHKA The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 16th November 2010

2010-11-17T23:22:00.006Z

MISTY IN ROOTS John Peel Session 5th June 1979

2010-10-31T21:41:00.003Z

Reggae, I had a head start on most, as a very small child in East Ham, as we had a West Indian family living next door. Reggae was always in the air. But by the late 70’s I living in Hampshire, leaving school, the home county borders kitchen window sound-scapes where very different from East Ham…

I don’t think the world really knows how much reggae, especially British reggae owes PEEL in planting reggae in the psyche of speckly white boys like myself. Much of my musical tastes being driven by PEEL, I also remember listening to David Rodigan’s “Roots Rockers” show on Capital… They always sounded magical to me. It was all the little sounds in the background that I just couldn’t work out what they were that intrigued me so… I know PEEL played a lot of Bob Marley, but I always preferred the British reggae he championed with such gutso… MATUMBI (can you remember Empire Road? Just me then....) STEEL PULSE, ASWAD & later ICARUS, CAPITAL LETTERS were favourites, but MISTY IN ROOTS tops the list.
I think PEEL once said that his favourite live album was MISTY’s “Live at the Counter Eurovision 79” …

I remember post the Southall riots of spring 1979, PEEL kept us, the listener abreast of the various MISTY members arrested & locked up thanks to the zealous policing of the SPG. In particular MISTY’s Manager & star of THE RUTS “Jah Wars”Clarence Baker… In many ways, with all that was going on in the background leading up to this session, their first, that the sounds are so mellow.

If you listen carefully to “Salvation” in the background amongst the whistles & what sounds like a rusty bicycle chain being oiled, there is a sound that sounds like the ping noise when you have new mail.. After all these years I still don’t know what it is.. I think it is a guitar but I don’t know what he is doing to make that sound.. Glad he did though.

mp3 "MISTY IN ROOTS John Peel Session 5th June 1979"

Babylon's Falling
Oh Wicked Man
Rich Man
Salvation

THE MARINE GIRLS BBC Radio 1, Saturday Live 2nd April 1983

2010-10-29T16:08:00.008Z

A little oddity for a Friday evening, which I found at the end of a live tape… There is no music just our heroines Jane, Alice & Tracey being interviewed.
How Jane, a model of politeness, managed just a slightly embarrassed laugh after Andy Batten-Foster’s first question, rather than “Oh Mr Batten-Foster, you are a cock-knob of such staggering proportions, shall we start again?” is beyond me…

However, the interview does reveal a number of things: Ben Watt was lurking in the corridor outside, that Hull is a bit quiet & my favourite, when people asked John Peel for his autograph he insisted on having one of theirs in return…. Bless!

Mp3 "THE MARINE GIRLS BBC Radio 1, Saturday Live 2nd April 1983"

GREGORY ISAACS & THE ROOTS RADICS John Peel Session 27th November 1982

2010-10-25T14:59:00.008Z

What with Ari Up passing away last week. I was saddened to hear of GREGORY ISAACS death earlier today.. It's one of those odd coincidences that I found myself digging through some old lovers rock tracks & PEEL reggae sessions including THE ROOTS RADICS session late last night, that I heard of his passing after losing his battle with lung cancer this morning...

I have to admit I was not aware. In honesty, I lost touch with his music a few years after this session, being totally candid I don't think it unfair to say that that beaufiful lovers rock voice had been shreaded by Isaacs addiction to crack... When I hear his name I always think of the lovers rock of the late 1970's.. I think that most people my age have the single or album "Night Nurse" which in my memory was a hit but apparently not...

This is the last PEEL session from around this time.. 28 years ago.

mp3: "GREGORY ISAACS & THE ROOTS RADICS John Peel Session 27th November 1982"

Cool Down The Place
Night Nurse
Sad To Know You're leaving
That's Not The Way

JOHN CALE John Peel Session 1st May 1975

2010-10-20T17:51:00.004Z

My little story regarding this PEEL session, is more to do with BILLY BRAGG than Mr Cale... In post punk Britain I had got into the VELVETS but hadn't listened to too much of the ex VELVETS post VELVETS stuff...

Forward a few years to early 1983.. BILLY BRAGG would quite often support the post punk, pinging harmonic atmospherics of THE OPPOSITION ... I know the name conjures up visions of an Oi! Punk band but they were more studious, twiddly, fiddly ... Musicians!!! Anyway they played North London all the time to hordes of nobody apart from me & a few friends, but seemingly with one Billy Bragg in tow as support at nearly every gig.

One in particular at the Bull & Gate in Camden there was really nobody there as Billy started his set.. Apart from me & a couple of others.. Then this woman walked slightly the worse for wear, obviously proud of her one tooth protruding from her bottom lip.. Staggering up towards to the stage past the dancefloor desert with frankly one of the freakishly biggest dogs I have ever seen. The dog just sat upright below Billy, steely eyed, safety catch off completely motionless. Even between songs the monstrous canine remained static.. At one point Billy suggested that we should considered popping a 10p into it’s head.. I certainly was going to try & look for the slot..

As Billy finished his set, gingerly circumventing the canine mountain, he came & had drink at the little bar at the back.. “I really like that song ‘Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend’, it seems very different from the others” … “Of course it does, it’s a John Cale song you mupp!” … So in memory of that gig, here is the John Cale PEEL session that included “Fear…”

mp3: "JOHN CALE John Peel Session 1st May 1975"

Darling I need You
Fear Is A Man's Best Friend
Taking It All Away
You Know More Than I Know

Buy!

THE SIEGFRIED SASSOON The West End Centre, Aldershot 2nd October 2010

2010-09-26T15:31:00.008Z

DUTCH UNCLES The West End Centre, Aldershot 18th September 2010

2010-09-25T17:11:00.002Z

JOHN WALTERS Walters Week 1983-1985 (7)

2010-09-25T16:10:00.006Z

More Walters.....

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 29"

With Kid Jensen…. Fluffy Bunny waves his little paw, Peel-Pig "You put the phone down first" conundrum & Elton fails to fulfil his homosexual potential...

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 30"

With Kid Jensen…. Thor's slumberland water bottle obliteration. The anonymous Bruce Dickinson, & Julie Burchill The Whackfinder General....

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 31"

With Kid Jensen…. Frankie Goes To Hollywood.. The start of BRIT(ish)POP, Mari Wilson tuppleware party vs Cristina Onassis birthday party bash… & the inherent goodness of BANANARAMA....

mp3: "John Walters 1983-1985 No 32"

With Kid Jensen…. Tony Blackburn's "Tie A Yellow Ribbon.." universal panto gambit, Giles & Cressida's Ken Dodd vs The National Theatre panto dilemma & Robert Wyatt puppy auction….

SLARAFFENLAND, CROWNS ON THE RATS ORCHESTRA Hector's House, Brighton 16th September 2010

2010-09-18T17:59:00.002Z

MARI WILSON & THE IMAGINATIONS Kid Jensen Session 22nd April 1982

2010-08-22T21:58:00.014Z

"Yeah it's gonna be good! Tonight, by special arrangement with Mr Clarke Mono, representing the Compact Organisation, & in conjunction with the Universal Brothers, in session at the British Broadcasting Corporation, I proudly present England's very own, The Neasden Queen Of Soul, Miss Beehive Borough Of Brent 1981... Miss Mari Wilson & Her (Fabulous) Imaginations.." So pronounces Hank B. Hive... The Imaginations where always christened with the moniker "retro". Frankly, Mari was a visionary .. Heck she had songs titled "Rave" & "Ecstasy" in 1982!!!!

The Hank B. Hive Show was something to behold.. & definitely put the show into business, whether it be the the problem with the point on Hank's big pink impala, Wilbur's (G. Force) Little Green Imp or the Kurt's (L'Amour) knitting pattern catastrophes, it didn't detract from the Imaginations (Harry, Larry, Barry, Gary, Carey &.... Jim) really going for it, complimenting Mari's just wonderful voice. None of this "Woahhhh.. Ooooooahh" wobbly vocalising for our Mari .. When a "La La La" of "Ba Ba Ba" can do the trick... In fact I remember them playing live (possibly the Oxford Road Show) doing "Beat The Beat" when they announced that you could sing a long, the words will be on a page on CEEFAX (ask your parents), when you got there... "Ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba..." Mari always reminded me of one of my favourites, Dusty Springfield (by a country mile, my favourite Lesbian, self abusing diva with a voice of treacle, that can bring a tear to my eye).. In fact Mari played the lead in "Dusty The Musical" a few years back

This session was just at the time when the Imaginations had to change their name to The Wilsations. The band Imagination felt that their the record paying public might just confuse their brand of camp as a field in Glastonbury cod piece funk & Mari's soul show band. Frankly, Helen Keller wouldn't have had any trouble differentiating.. But I suspect that both sets of management thought it may good publicity, regardless how daft...

I have a couple of things in common with our Mari.. Firstly, we both have bodies that struggle with sugar, secondly I think I spent of lot of my youth on a settee the spitting image of that on the cover of "Baby It's True" I still believe Mari a Goddess & worship at bunyon coated, stiletto clad feet.... Here's Mari!!!

mp3: "MARI WILSON & THE IMAGINATIONS Kid Jensen Session 22nd April 1982"

Dance Card
Ecstasy
Love Man
R.A.V.E. Rave

Buy!

THE TELEVISION PERSONALITIES The Room At The Top, The Camden Enterprise 10th August 1985

2010-08-16T20:33:00.008Z

It's only a small of matter of just over 25 years ago... So I thought it worth an airing. This is the gig mentioned on the (unofficial) TVP's site "A Day In Heaven"... Of the TARDIS in reverse, which created the sweat box of the Room At The Top... Of Legend doing his I'm a cockhead of staggering proportions dance in front of the support.. Of Dan actually getting his teardrop in tune.. Of Jowe's lost Beret & concern of being considered Finnish.. Of the set list by on stage debate... Of the Ice Cream parlour next door, creating gut rot on the train home after being consumed with Guiness.. & ... & the songs... They still sound mighty fine to me!!!

mp3: "THE TELEVISION PERSONALITIES The Room At The Top, The Camden Enterprise 10th August 1985"

Don't Ask My Name, Just Call Me Jack!
How I Learnt To Love The Bomb
Bridget Reilly
See Emily Cry
Geoffrey Ingrams
Conscience Tells Me No
Girl On A Motorcycle
If I Could Write Poetry
Someone To Share My Life With
Happy All Of The Time

PREFAB SPROUT Liverpool Polytechnic 7th December 1983

2010-07-25T17:33:00.013Z

I promised a friend that one day I would dig out a SPROAT gig from back in the day… Well I have finally got around to it. I genuinely never gave much interest to the name PREFAB SPROUT, I just assumed they just scribbled words down on scraps of paper & put them into a big hat, threw the contents into the air, & used the first two words that arose from the confetti on the floor. I have just read in wikipedia (so it must be right).. That the band name was possibly the result of Paddy McAloon mishearing the lyrics to Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood’s “(I’m Going To) Jackson” which has the line.. “We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout".. I like to think that is true, though I suspect that the origin of their name was pre(fab) the Maxwell Tape adverts…

I did know that “Lions In My Own Garden: Exit Someone” the single that Peel played to death, released a year previously, related to LIMOGES, the French college town that Paddy’s, then girlfriend had gone off to study.. I quite liked Paddy’s sometimes unfathomable lyrics, even though I thought most of them came via the process, I thought he named the band. I do remember wandering into a sound-check & just hearing “Bo… Bo Bee.. Bo Bee… Bo” coming from the stage & thought that was different, though the thought may have manifested itself as a loud snigger… I was quickly ushered away “Ms Smith can’t abide people hearing her sound-check”… I was compelled to advise the feeling was mutual, which did get a smile out of Martin McAloon, who came across as probably one of the nicest people in the world.

Here sees THE SPROATS on the Liverpool leg of the Kitchenware Tour

mp3: “PREFAB SPROUT Liverpool Polytechnic 7th December 1983"

Here On The Eerie
Cue Fanfare
Green Issac
Constant Blue
Diana
I Couldn't Bear To Be Special
Don't Sing
Cherry Tree
Hallelujah
Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone)
I Never Play Basketball Now

JOHNNY MARR Collectors Choice, Kid Jensen Show 30th May 1984

2010-07-19T21:43:00.004Z

I found this on the back of old cassette, whilst looking for "lost" session tracks.. If I remember correctly, I got my Aunt to stick a cassette in at 8pm.. So as I could go down the pub to watch the football.. I'm surprised this exists on my old cassette collection as these tended to get taped over on a regular basis.. Back in the day, Kid used to get musicians of the day to discuss their favourite records.. I think our Johnny's selection is pretty darn good.. I have always loved the "Maybe I Know" by THE MARVELLETES, in fact probably one of my all time favourites.. Although when it comes to THE HOLLIES I suspect I have always favoured "Look Through Any Window" as opposed to "Bus Stop" as my favourite... So while Liverpool toiled in the background... Here's Johnnys.. Collectors choice (The last track cuts towards the end as the cassette ran out... & a little bit of PEEL rubbed off on The Laird as he managed to play the wrong side of THE SHANGRI-LAS single)

mp3: "Johnny Marr Collectors Choice, Kid Jensen 30th May 1984"

"Paper Boy" THE MARVELETTE
"Young Boy Blues" BEN E KING
"Maybe I Know" THE SEASHELLS
"Sweet Sound Of Summer" THE SHANGRI-LA's
"Spoonful" HOWLIN' WOLF
"Bus Stop" THE HOLLIES

ONE MAN DANCE TEAM The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 7th May 2010

2010-06-27T22:04:00.003Z

ONE MAN DANCE TEAM are in fact two amiable guys from High Wycombe, one drumming, occasionally shouting down a megaphone, the other playing a plethora of mini keyboards & what appeared to be a wii guitar (Wii is a world I don’t inhabit but it did look a bit like a keytar but didn’t have the keys...)
Like most drum & something two pieces, they play from the middle of the room rather than the stage & ask everybody to ‘come join them’. Unfortunately, such is the undemonstrative nature & politeness of OMDT they whisper “Come closer.... Please... Come closer” which seems to sound to the sadly small audience as “Look there is a chance we might just be a bit shite... But please come closer” The result is that everyone plays statues.

This was a shame because they weren’t at all a bit shite... The drums weren’t just sub hardcore thump but stop-start, hard & funky .. The keyboard sounds were nasty but played in a burpy fun way. At one point for a song called “Paper Fight” the drummer produced an Adidas bag which was full of screwed up balls of paper ...”Help yourself to paper, if you fancy a fight (passing the bag to the audience)... Oh! Oh! Be careful my phone is in there, please don’t throw it, it might hurt somebody!!” The track that particularly appealed was “Whiskey & Cheese” incorporating a new megaphone... Though for me the appeal was, that for a fraction of a second there was just a hint that they were going into the theme from everybody’s favourite homoerotic moustachioed 1980’s detective... “Magnum” Towards the end of the track I started to think this is how early electronic keyboards ‘bagpipe’ settings sounded like ... Or would have sounded like if they existed.

Fun!

ONE MAN DANCE TEAM The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 7th May 2010

mp3: “Whiskey & Cheese (When do you want it? Now!”)

DOLLY MIXTURE John Peel Session 7th August 1979

2010-06-24T22:47:00.003Z

Huzzah! Huzzah! Finally it looks like the DOLLY MIXTURE Demonstration Tapes” & more is finally going to see the light of day!!!

Seen by most as CAPTAIN SENSIBLE’s backing band on such hits as “Wot?” & “Happy Talk” DOLLY MIXTURE were Debsey, Rachel & Hester…. Three lasses that shook the world.. Well a bit of my world anyway.

In the summer of 1979 when the trend for post punk girl bands was either the teutonic screamy shouty approach or a more angularly rhythm approach (both of which I was, still am, a big fan of) but DOLLY MIXTURE bless, went for the pure pop route & charmed the pants off me.

As far as I can remember everyone I knew (girls as well) fancied Debsey or Rachel.. But my favourite, was drummer Hester. Mainly because of an incident in summer of 1981 at a gig in Guildford where, as a result of I suspect a miscalculation with regard to alcohol fell flat on face but rather than get up & brush herself down… She just stayed on the floor; forehead, nose & the tips of her doc martens simultaneously touching the cigarette & beer woven carpet, giggling incessantly, doing that shoulder bobbing thing that Mike Yarwood used to do whilst “impersonating” Ted Heath. I dunno.. I was just at the time of my life when I found that type of thing appealing in a woman. That & I suppose ridiculously catching singles… I genuinely can’t believe that anybody who hears “Everything & More” for the first time … Will not have it buzzing in the head for days… Even 28 years on!!

mp3: “DOLLY MIXTURE John Peel Session 7th August 1979”

A Dream Come True
Ernie Ball
He’s So Frisky
New Look Baby
The Locomotion
Theme From Dolly Mixture

THE SHIVERS The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 12th April 2010

2010-06-19T09:16:00.008Z

THE SHIVERS, a minimalist three piece from New York City, have been an entity for nearly ten years, & over this side of the pond for a short tour & in search of one of the few analogue only studios left in the world, that just happens to reside in Mossley, Manchester, to record their next album.. & I had never heard of them before (doh!)

“Come & see ‘em.. You’ll like them.. They’re like THE VELVETS” I was confidently sold. Well, I liked them but they weren’t really like THE VELVETS but I can understand why they get the moniker. Keith Zarriello’s vocals have a a vague (very vague) hint of Uncle Lou’s rasp but the songs are more a cross of a dark version of JONATHAN RICHMAN’s nursery rhymes (in particular “She’s Wielding Silent Weapons For All Her Quiet Wars”) & LEONARD COHEN ‘Let it go Joes...”

The first few songs are virtually silence occasionally punctuated by sound. The sound being Joanne Schornikow’s sparse tremolo keyboards, an occasional strum of the guitar & quiet impassioned vocals. The question is will the drummer play at all? Although his gently bobbing beeny hat does present a rather cool “Jazz club...Nice” opportunity, with that in mind he was given the signature “...& Aldgate East on Drums”

There is a song that Joanne sings with virtually only accompaniment from her keyboard & the occasional background... It does sound a bit like “Something Inside So Strong” which normally would cause me to start contemplating my navel but somehow it didn’t sound cod... Things pick up a pace, almost into soul-boy country. I know I enjoyed as 50 minutes literally just disappeared.

I think the planned analogue recording is planned for FENCE records in the country... Keep an eye out.

THE SHIVERS The South Street Arts Centre, Reading 12th April 2010

mp3: “(Give Me All Your) Kisses”

Buy! Buy!

THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR The Concert Hall, Reading 25th April 2010

2010-06-02T20:42:00.009Z

This was effectively the first night of the latest WHALE WATCHING TOUR as the Barbican night had to be cancelled thanks to the Eyjafjallajökull ash cloud, which resulted in the assemble being partially in the US, Iceland & Switzerland…

The Whale Watching Tour is a showcase for Valgeir Sigurðsson’s Icelandic BEDROOM COMMUNITY label… Tonight it was Valgeir Sigurðsson, Nico Muhly, Ben Frost & Sam Amidon accompanied by a string trio & trombone.. That was my first surprise as I was new to THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR, my expectation was they would do 30-40 minute sets but no, they all came on together & all contributed to each others music from Nico’s modern(e) Les Six(esque) jittery compositions, Vageir’s cinematic dreamscapes, Ben Frost’s at times harsh booming electronic to Sam Amidon’s traditional(?) folk songs…

In fact it’s Sam’s songs that sound so striking as previously I had only seen the “one man & his guitar/banjo” version of his songs… But with Nico’s string arrangements & trombone, the songs take on a whole new life, almost LAMBCHOP like. Although Sam has a slight crackle in his voice, his roucoulementry tones, are not the major fault line of Kurt Wagner’s bullfrog croak. However, Sam does have the power of dance & at one point puts his guitar down & performs what I can only describe as watching a stop motion animation of Spiderman climbing a less than secure rope ladder.. The night was filled with what madam calls “Pretty Music”… The strings & trombone were fantastic punctuated by some heavy electronic, one of favourite parts of the evening was Borgar Magnason making the most convincing whale song with his double bass..

So another night where I had no expectations but finished the evening being thoroughly entertained.

mp3 "THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR The Concert Hall, Reading 25th April 2010 - Sam Amidon - Saro"

Buy!

THEATRE OF HATE John Peel Session 1st December 1980

2010-06-01T21:36:00.008Z

I was just discussing with Madam about that recent BBC production.. “Boy George.. My Part In His Downfall.”

“Who was this Kirk Brandon chap then?” I explained that he was the lead singer of a little post punk beat combo called THEATRE OF HATE whom I’d seen play a number of times in the early eighties. I explained that during one such gig I had a bit of a mishap.

It was 9th April 1981 & THEATRE OF HATE was supporting CLASSIX NOUVEAUX on their “2002 Revue” (sic) tour. The lights had gone down, stage pitch black, with the movement of indistinguishable shapes trolling around. Me & friends were at the back of the hall discussing if we liked NAKED LUNCH or not.. In the main is was not but that was more to do with the fact that they played an extended set as EYELESS IN GAZA were not able to appear (I never did find out why, but it was a disappointment) . Out of the pitch blackness of the stage came this long blast of sax… “Blimus.. They’re on!!” I ran towards the front with some others, just to get there as the lights burst on like sheet lightning.. They played for about 35 minutes, of which I spent jumping up & down, in a manner that my knees can only dream about these days, mainly engaging in cheap (accidental, honest) frottage bouncing on the back of a young lady whose aqua net laden bleach blonde bouffant had literally reduced me to tears.. As they finished their set, I went to bar to meet up with my friends, separated in the melee at the front, only to be greeted with “Yeuuch what have you done?” The combination of adrenalin & hairspray chemicals had not allowed to me to realise that my once white DELTA 5 “Mind Your Own Business” T-shirt was now RED ARROW crimson.. What had happened was, whilst I was merrily jumping up & down with my forearms on the shoulders of the lacquered young lady in front of me, I had neglected to notice that the “UK DECAY” in studs on the top of her leather jacket where actually quite sharp!! In fact like razor blades, which had shredded my forearms.. In fact for some weeks I told people I was a “real Goth”.. “Look! Regard my self abuse!!” as I rolled up my sleeves. In fact I still can see the blood stains on my copy of “Original Sin/Legion”

The other things about that gig that really stick in my mind are; Even by May 1981 it felt like the arse end of New Romanticism, but I was actually quite impressed by a couple turning up to the Guildford Civic Hall in full “Romo” gear on… Horseback! & CLASSIX NOUVEAUX finished the set with “The Robot’s Dance” where Sal Solo removed his cape to reveal underneath a flesh tone body stocking, which really did make him look like a 6” 2” cock.. & with no concern for light sensitive epilepsy sufferers, in strobes did perform the robot’s dance….

So here is THEATRE OF HATE’s first John Peel Session

mp3: "THEATRE OF HATE John Peel Session 1st December 1980"

1963
It's My Own Invention
Rebel Without A Brain
The Wake

Buy! Buy!

TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE John Peel Session 17th August 1983

2010-05-09T22:10:00.008Z

Last summer, whilst on a long weekend break in the Isle of Wight, me & Madam drove past TRIXIE’S/LOBBY LUD’s Shanklin headquarters…. “Look! Look! Trixieland!!” Madam’s only reaction was the Mr Spock eyebrow of curiosity. I explained in a world a long time ago a friend of mine went out with Mel & she was in a fabuous beat combo called TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE & this was where the magic happened! I fumbled for some discs of old PEEL sessions in the back of the car. I found this.. “Hey, that is actually quite pleasant, compared to the usual shite you play!” ….. Back at the end of 1983 I met Mel a couple of times & admitted that I had the TRIXIE’S singles & like her a MARINE GIRLS fan.. I know at that time post MARINE GIRLS, pre GRAB GRAB THE HADDOCK she was jamming some bits & pieces with Jane Fox.. I think Mel may have been a college in Portsmouth or something while Jane was doing her Art course in Brighton.
I don’t remember the “T” word being mentioned at the time. MARINE GIRLS & TRIXIE’S were always referred to as “quintessentially English pop” (in my world) … Formed in a bedroom in Shanklin, Isle Of Wight. TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE was the brain child of Mel & Mark Litten… Originally called POCKET MONEY, I think that the moniker changed to TRIXIE’S after a song Mel did on her own. I don’t think that they ever managed to play a gig.. I suspect that PEEL sessions were the closest they got to playing live.. I do remember Mel being very shy & struggled with the idea of playing live, & an aversion to the rock industry conveyor, (playing gigs, not selling the hard sticky stuff in the Blackgang Chine gift shop) …
I always thought that a compilation CD may (should) get released someday. I know (more than a) few years ago a compilation album was released, although I have never physically seen it, & have been told that it changes hands on ebay for small mortgages… Shame
I read somewhere that Mel & Mark live on different continents these days.. Which may well be a euphemism for Portsmouth vs Shanklin.. But I will always thank them for TRIXIES… This is the second PEEL session..

mp3: “TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE John Peel Session 17th August 1983”

Pickin' The Blues (Trixie Stylee) / Norman & Narcissus
One Nation Under A Brolly
That's The End Of That
In Timbuktu
White Horses

BASEMENT 5 John Peel Session 21st April 1980

2010-04-24T22:45:00.008Z

I remember BASEMENT 5 always being referred to as the “black PUBLIC IMAGE Ltd” …. on occasion, in response, I used to refer to PIL as the “white BASEMENT 5”. I always thought it unfair. I loved both bands but I think they had very different agendas. BASEMENT 5 was more a reflection of growing up black in the late 1970’s, & all the fun & frolics that involved… I think Mr Lydon had a much more personal agenda.

Certainly BASEMENT 5 were one of the loudest bands I had ever encountered, with Leo Ezee-Kill’s base lines ensuring that any food eaten before the gig would take twice as long to digest … Absolutely thumping! I have to admit that they really got into my psyche via the jukebox of my local greasy spoon. It would endlessly whack out the latest NWOBHM abominations, which I loathed… I could never work out how the longhairs had so much available change to load the jukebox… Anyway.. Somehow, someone had loaded “Silicon Chip” on to the jukie… Obviously I felt it my duty to annoy the longhairs!!
I loved the Martin Hannett produced “1965-80” album but the real deal for me was when Mr Hannett really got fiddly diddly with the mini LP release “In Dub” which as the title might suggest was a dub version of 1965-1980 highlights… I remember being driven by my friend Dilip across the hogs back from Guildford in thick fog… Scary is not the word for it. I can only describe as someone spraying your windscreen with shaving foam & saying off you go!! As we where crawling across the hogs back in what appeared to be the inside of a giant Tupperware box, I said “Hey Dil, Ravenscroft is about to start” I switched the tape off & put PEEL on.. He started the show with BASEMENT 5’s “Paranoia Claustrophobia Dub”… If ever a track summed up a place & moment in real time … The chainsaw guitar ricochet of PCD crackling over the FM, that night was it!

Here is their only PEEL session… I had forgotten how much more skin up la, ska it is compared to their live performance as I remember... Mind you there was a lot of it about

mp3: “BASEMENT 5 John Peel Session 21st April 1980"

1. Last White Christmas
2. No Ball Games
3. Immigration
4. Silicon Chip

Buy! Buy!

EFTERKLANG The Concert Hall, Reading 2nd November 2009

2010-04-22T21:14:00.006Z

It seemed a strange to have EFTERKLANG play on a wet & windy Monday night in Reading after the weekend that saw them play the Barbican, a performance with the BRITTEN SINFONIA of their “Parades” album. So close to the Barbican gig, so close to London & a distinct lack of promotion, why? Frankly, I didn’t care & was glad just to see them as the last two times I had tried to see them they had cancelled last minute.. However, the result was an only partially filled Reading Concert Hall….

EFTERKLANG wander on unconcerned to a callithumpian version of “Swarming” relishing the huge sound that the high ceiling Concert Hall affords. In fact for the most part Casper (Clausen) appeared transfixed by the green catweazle fingers that flickered over the 120 year old Father Willis Organ that acted as a back-drop for the band… They wanted to use it but apparently the tuning was a bit like Renaldo “It plays well with itself, just not with other people!”…

We are treated to all odd arpeggios & strange noises flung into the ether of the space of the concert hall.. The violin & horn just sounding spectacular with the vocal harmonics, the material was mainly new.. Well new to my ears anyway. An hour literally flew by. One particular highlight for me, was an introduction to a song, half of the got on their knees & started bouncing around hitting the stage not unlike the apes at the start of Kubrik’s “2001, A Space Odyssey”… In fact if they had thrown the drumsticks up in the air & they hadn’t come down it would have really made my evening. There last song was the most intriguing as it started with the most fantastic odd vocal harmonies (I really appreciated the fact none of them stuck a finger in their ears) which lead to one of the longest silent pauses I have heard for sometime, which no doubt if on radio would have caused a commercial to feel the “daed” air.. I heard Madam whisper “Are they done?” … A big intake of breath & they are back. This cultivated into some crowd participation in a good old clap along which demonstrated the natural rhythm of the Reading audience in as much it took a good 30 seconds for it stop sounding like random tennis balls being thrown at old shed to something that resembled regular beat.

All in all a really good night.. One of those time, place, sound, venue, small audience, unexpectedly coming together. EFTERKLANG are touring the UK now.

EFTERKLANG The Concert Hall, Reading 2nd November 2009

mp3: "Swarming"

Buy!

SECTION 25 John Peel Session 13th January 1981

2010-03-09T00:33:00.004Z

“There’s plenty of sadness already today…..” It’s true with the sad passing of SPARKLEHORSE’s singer/songwriter Mark Linkous, more so in the way he choose to make redundant his mortal coil.. Only today did I read of another sad passing, that of SECTION 25 frontman Larry Cassidy.

I’m remember them constantly having the label of JOY DIVISION copycats, which I thought unfair.. Personally, I thought if anything, with their space & experimentation, the accusation would have been more accurate if levoed against the early offerings of A CERTAIN RATIO..

Formed in Blackpool at the start of the post punk period & named after local psych punk legend FES PARKER’s sectioning for mental illness. SECTION 25 led by Larry’s melancholic vocals would soon release their first Ian Curtis produced 7” debut “Girls Don’t Count” on Factory.. My personal favourite was their debut album “Always Now” which through the Peter Saville’s design incorporating bespoke elaborately folded marble effect Italian inner card, ensured that the album release was considerably delayed but was sold at a loss.. Still as an artefact it is truly astonishing, I remember just constantly staring / folding in & out when I first bought.. “Aye, we nearly did for Factory before they got he Hacienda!” For me it trumped the earlier DURUTTI sandpaper sleeve

Later, they were to develop a more electronic pop sound, but I preferred their earlier works… Maybe a generation away from Mark Linkous, but just as sad. I will raise a glass to Larry, a melancholic singing voice that belied a Mark E Smith in your face attitude if you were deemed to say something stupid..
This is their only PEEL seesion, I would recommend going through the lovingly restored SECTION 25 back catalogue at LTM… Indeed, at the time of his death he was working on an album of SECTION 25 remixes called “Retrofit”… Sad!

mp3: “SECTION 25 John Peel Session 13th January 1981”

Babies In The Bardo
Hit
One True Path

Buy!!

CARMEL Kid Jensen Session 28th July 1983

2010-03-06T23:14:00.004Z

As the great man once said of CARMEL “Definitely one of yours Kid!” … As Kid Jensen announced the night before of this CARMEL’s first radio one session. Indeed it was listening to JENSEN whilst waiting for PEEL to come on, that I first heard the “belt it out voice” of one Carmel McCourt & her group CARMEL.

The single was “Storm” .. In my little world a monotone torch song.. Monotone? I have constantly argued that the “belt it out voice” is great (if you like that type of thing) but is effectively the same note the whole way through.. Yes, in tune. Yes, powerful… But the same note throughout. I think that this session proves my theory, especially on “The Drum Is Everything” that incorporates the “Clapping Sing”… I never got further than “The Storm” single, which still gets a hearing now & then on a wet Sunday morning, my natural time to dig out old singles & play until I get told to “turn thsat bollocks off!”…. I believe that they had significant success in France… Then again I might of just made that up or got the confused with French national rugby team

mp3: “CARMEL Kid Jensen Session 28th July 1983"

Hot Dog
I Thought I Was Going Mad
The Drum Is Everything
Willow Weep For Me

Buy!

WHIRL! The West End Centre, Aldershot 5th March 1988

2010-03-06T08:11:00.007Z

Hailing from Brighton, HURRAH! obsessive WHIRL! Were a kind of “missing link” between the race against rockism & “Creation’s” coriaceous clad tendencies… Frantically strummed guitars, but never out of control, wonderful harmonies but never in control, Messrs Elliot & Stirner wore their love of pop on their sleeves. Further demonstrated by a different cover each time I saw them, which also confirmed our record collections over lapped in several places. This night they had a go at BLUE ORCHIDS “No Looking Back” where Al Stirner’s guitar makes more than a sporting alternative to Una Baines’ original keyboard.

This gig saw the support the mighty WOLFHOUNDS at the infamous “Skinhead Riot” gig which brought proceedings to a shuddering climax… Here in happier moments of the evening are WHIRL! In all their pop glory.

mp3 "WHIRL! The West End Centre, Aldershot 5th March 1988"

From The Heart
Keep Always
No Looking Back
Sarcasm Is The World
Tell Me Why?
Out Of The Blue
Heaven Forbid
Your Heart Is As Big As The Whole Outdoors

JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES Janice Long Session 8th October 1986

2010-01-27T17:36:00.006Z

A few years back whilst wandering around Edinburgh for the festival. In my desperation to avoid the ever increasing thrusting flyer clad hands of bad mimes & period dressed spotties from the Barbette’s school of precocious child acting, I took refuge in Avalanche Records, a shop that genuinely had stuff that I liked. Blimus.. I stuff I actually wanted. Across, the front desk was a face I recognised from indie pop history… I saw in the 7” rack an old JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES single that I hadn’t got.. I took it to the desk. The face the other side said “You have made an old man very very happy!” My reply, “That was my argument, charges were never pressed, everybody’s happy!” … I was none other than Andrew Tully, one time front man of JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES, baggy shorts fashionista, bad joke teller & all round good egg! We reminisced & showed each other, our scares from the mid 80’s indie wars before Madam found me & dragged me kicking & screaming from the record shop (this happens a lot, especially as they are becoming hard to come by) to the show she had booked… The last time I saw them play was supporting THE WOLFHOUNDS in Brighton a quite astonishing 22 years ago.

Named after Elvis Presley’s still born twin.. The JESSIES as me & friends affectionately called them cut the rug of jangly guitar pop of the mid 1980’s. Releasing a number of rather good little indie releases that still sound good (to my ears anyway) today.. Here sees their only (to my knowledge) radio session for the BEEB, although members also involved themselves with THE FIZZBOMBS & ROTE KAPELLE…

mp3 "JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES Janice Long Session 8th October 1986"

Hank Williams Is Dead
Laughing, Smiling & Falling Again
Leave You Behind
Up On The Big Wheel

CAMERA OBSCURA John Peel Session 22nd January 2004

2010-01-25T19:47:00.005Z

As it's Burns night, it gives me cause again to state how much I miss old misery guts... This is CAMERA OBSCURA's "Burns Night Special" at "Peel Acres" from 2004... Where the great man asked them to put some Burns' work to music.. With excellent results.. So lets all raise a glass to the Ploughman's Poet, Bard of Ayrshire & all round shagger.. Robert Burns & to old misery guts himself...

mp3: "CAMERA OBSCURA John Peel Session 22nd January 2004"

A Fond Kiss
Cock Up Your Beaver
Love My Jean
O, That I Were Where Helen Lies
Red Red Rose

Buy! Buy!

WAH! HEAT John Peel Session 19th May 1980

2009-11-29T12:36:00.003Z

I had to go to Liverpool a little while back & in preparation for the journey, I dug out a load of WAH! BUNNYMEN & TEARDROP stuff. Of the (Crucial) three, WAH! were the last off the taxi rank.. In my retrospective world, of the respect of the first PEEL offers of the three above, this is the most impressive.

On my drive I was thinking of those early (for me) WAH! gigs.. It’s funny in the modern world of weirdy beardies being common place, I remember being quite concerned the fact that Wylie sported a beard & …. A leather jacket. A combination at the time which I thought would end in tears. A typical Wylie contradiction… As I have said previously, I’ve always bracketed him the section “A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he’s pissed”.. I have always been attracted by the likes of Wylie. I love the near delusional love of his home town, which resulted in his daughter being named Mersey, just think he had came from down the road, he could no doubt have a brood called; Irk, Goyt, Irwell, & Bollin, which does sound like a potential Bolton back four. Yes, maybe a character potentially difficult to live but the soup from which greatness is created. As his website modestly proclaims “Part time rocker, full time legend”.. You bloody bet!!

mp3: "WAH! HEAT John Peel Session 19th May 1980"

Don't Step On The Cracks
Other Boys
Seven Minutes To Midnight
Somesay

Buy!

THE BOBBY McGEES The Latest Music Bar, Brighton 28th October 2009

2009-11-05T18:10:00.007Z

I have had the opportunity to see THE BOBBY McGEES before have always managed to miss them, mainly because they have always played outside, frankly creating a barrier between me & a veggie burger with my name it. Almost dismissed as Twee for the sake of it, tonight was the first time I had stood & listened to them.

Tonight it is just Jimmy & Eleanor facing each other with their ukes. Eleanor in glasses & bold colours, a cracked Helen McCookery tone to a voice, Jimmy with his splendid beard, Captain Birdseye hat & a tone to his voice that of the… Krankies. In fact I asked a young lady next to me .. “If I said Fandabidozi to you would it mean anything?” “Is that American slang?” … “Close” I said “It was actually a Scottish ice lolly that help bring to an end the Glasgow ice cream wars!” .. I wasn’t questioned, the young lady was probably in her late 20’s… I am VERY old!!

In fact I think Jimmy had missed out on some stage craft as with his long beard (& I do wish I had the patience to grow one like that) & shaven head, he looked like the Mr Magnetic Face I used to play with in the early 70’s.. I am sure when he trims that beard there are cuttings.. With those cuttings between songs he could move them around his head like Mr Magnetic Face’s iron filing hirsuteness.

I’m a lover of the ukulele. They always remind of Viv Stanshall, & I always like being reminded of Viv Stanshall. They are the perfect foil for THE BOBBY McGEES songs of love, unrequited love, or in one case, unrequited, unrequited love. At one point Jimmy announces “This is called L.O.V.E. LOVE”… I thought .. Nah! They daren’t. Didn’t they know the problems that Uncle Edwyn had? It wasn’t. It was an exercise in (Bearsuitesque) shouted questions & answers whilst Jimmy engaged in indiepop semaphore.. At one point as the song speeded up I thought he may achieve flight..

“I got ney friends.. Not one..” Not quite true, but if they played more than 25 minutes the fun & enjoyment natured in those 25 minutes may have returned Jimmy to dancing to THE SMITHS on his own…. FUN!

Buy!

LUNG LEG John Peel Session 29th January 1995

2009-10-25T19:11:00.007Z

On the anniversary of PEEL’s sad passing, my mind wanders how much he come into the psyche of my youth.. Inevitably the conversation at school or the 6th form bus started with “Gee PEEL is shite at the moment” or “PEEL’s really great at the moment” .. I can’t think that anyone else would ever be given a second chance. “Hey Dickskin is really shite at the moment” “Yeah and??!!”
When I think of him, I think of all the bands & people his show introduced me to & all the music I’m petty sure I would never even considered without his loving introduction. One of which was LUNG LEG, a screamy-shouty, stop-start all girl band from Glasgow. They always seemed to get “bagged” with the RIOT GRRRL moniker, but I could see no hint of scissor ear-rings, more homage to the bands I loved some 15 years previously. I could hear snippets of KLEENEX, RAINCOATS, (my beloved) MODETTES, LUDUS & even THE CHEFS.. In fact the guitar line on “Small Screen Queen” sounds very much like THE CHEFS “Boasting” .. I was completely hooked within seconds of RAVENSCROFT’s airing.. This is their first PEEL session. I think young people would say “Loves it!”

mp3: "LUNG LEG John Peel Session 29th January 1995"

Blah Blah Blah
Edith Massey
King Fu
Lung Leg
Palmolive
Small Screen Queen

Buy! See!

30th August 1939 to 25th October 2004

2009-10-25T17:13:00.004Z

I can't believe that there are kids out there now that have gone through their whole secondary school education without the help of old misery guts... I miss the old bugger!

THE CHEFS John Peel Session 11th May 1981

2009-09-28T17:43:00.013Z

It’s funny how my day at work didn’t do anything to disprove the theory that life is just a series of endless relentless grinding disappointments..& that I had actually achieved the anti Midas touch (the status not the song tabular) when by chance someone on myface reminded me of THE CHEFS. I can honestly say that I think it hard to feel crap & not feel better for hearing a CHEFS song.

Helen McCookerybook once described THE CHEFS as the worst punk band in Brighton… But with the best songs. There is a nice little insight to the early CHEFS in this interview. I think three minute sets should be considered more, certainly shorter sets. I was first drawn to them via the old Brighton VAULTAGE compilations of the late 70’s… The one that included THE CHEFS also included (the mighty) GOLINSKI BROTHERS single "Bloody" (Phew wow!) but more so when I heard “Boasting” for the first time, which includes the line “I have a pair of pointed crepes, a 10" WHIRLWIND record that I think is great..." Which I could relate to directly as frankly I did (don’t let anybody tell you they were split toed Cuban heels.. No Siree!!) & it was (still is)... They just made me smile, sometimes laugh out loud. Ladies & gentlemen THE CHEFS.. (Possibly) the worst punk band in Brighton, with the best songs .. & the voice of Doris Day.

mp3: "THE CHEFS John Peel Session 11th May 1981"

I'll Go Too
Love Is Such A Splendid Thing
Northbound Train
One Fine Day
Springtime Reggae

Buy!

BEARDS South Street Arts Centre, Reading 6th August 2009

2009-09-22T14:54:00.014Z

I had not heard of BEARDS up until this point. A three piece from Leeds, the two lasses swap drums, keyboards & bass throughout & the lad guitarist is displaying a “flying V” & three quarter length trousers, which under normal circumstances would require him to have a flame tattoo just above his ankle. He had decided to flout tradition.

0
For me it was a time-slip. The girls in the band not only looked like a combination of the bands I so adored thirty years ago… Think DELTA 5, MO-DETTES, RAINCOATS.. In many ways they sounded like them. (Last post) post, post punk? There is a lot of angular guitar, bag of spanners drumming, burping bass, yelps, scream & shouts… Everything is short & energetic, with not the remotest consideration of smoothing all those rough edges. One track in particular where the lass who mainly occupies the keyboards just screams along with the guitar line (what she is shouting I have absolutely no idea) is just fantastic.. Her yelping voice actually reminds me of Janine from MAXIMUM JOY at fall screech. Another thing I noticed (which actually accentuates the screaming) is when she sings & plays the keyboards at the same time she has to do so, on tippy-toes. Then out of blue, as if by chance they add a hint of “Chicory Tip” & groove!!! I so longed for the cartilage in my knees to return.. It almost extracted the pointy dance out of me, a concern for all & sundry!!! It is a shame there wasn’t more people to witness them. I not only envied the handsome good looks, youth, fluffy moistness but the fact that they were having so much fun doing what they do. Recommended!!

mp3: "Unknown Track To Me"

Buy!

THE JASS BABIES John Peel Session 19th October 1981

2009-09-14T21:28:00.009Z

The only thing I know about THE JASS BABIES is they came from Liverpool, that vocalist Peter Coyle went on to form THE LOTUS EATERS, the rhythm section, became the rhythm section for HERE'S JOHNNY... & this session. That is it. I don't think they were a going concern for too long, like so many of the Liverpool bands of the time. The vocals were more in the vein of Richard Butler reverberation rather than the more delicate popism of THE LOTUS EATERS that were to come. With the sustained distorted guitar & flanged bass added an almost Gothic tinge their sound that really wasn't the norm of the Liverpool bands of the time.. I particularly like the "Ah Ah Ah... Choo.. Choo" in "Talk In Tongues" ... There is just not the contrived sneezing you used to get, back in the day.

mp3 "THE JASS BABIES John Peel Session 19th October 1981"

"Let Me Soak It Up"
"My Love Makes You Melt"
"Parable"
"Talk In Tongues"

MISTYS BIG ADVENTURE The Joiners Arms Southampton 3rd June 2009

2009-09-06T08:44:00.022Z

I have always liked MISTYS BIG ADVENTURE, mainly on the account that Grandmaster Gareth looks a bit like Steve Wright (the American comedian not the equally comic but not remotely funny UK DJ) & sounds a bit like Julian Cope. Tonight they don’t disappoint. Grandmaster Gareth still looks a little bit like Steve Wright & sounds a bit like Julian Cope. Tonight is no different from other Misty gigs as we are treated to a range of quirky, amusing pop songs ranging from hints of Madness to The Flying Burrito Brothers, interspersed with delicious horn stabs (I am a sucker for horns)… There are new songs (well new to me, but I am behind the world by some months/years)…. It’s not long before EROTIC VOLVO is bouncing around the stage with a smile that looks that he has drunk just a little bit too much Sunny Delight, & as time goes by his blue face melts with the sweat a la Robin Williams in “Bicentennial Man” but in reverse. They come on early & feel obliged to play until 11 O’clock, an hour & 45 minutes Grandmaster Gareth is concerned that they have turned into Ken Dodd & they might have to be dragged off stage or the power might be switched off. There is a reference to a MOR rock band fronted by Ken Dodd called “By Jovi” but the (sadly) small crowd have been treated to a set of simple pop songs, none of which seem to go one much longer than 3 minutes.. It looks great fun to be in MISTYS BIG ADVENTURE…

MISTYS BIG ADVENTURE The Joiners Arms Southampton 3rd June 2009

mp3: "Just Another Day"
mp3: "Mickey Mouse"
mp3: "I See A Cloud"

Buy! Buy!

Happy Birthday 30th August 1939

2009-08-30T06:56:00.002Z

Gee I miss the old bugger...

PRIMAL SCREAM The Clarendon Hotel, Hammersmith 20th October 1985

2009-08-25T17:23:00.013Z

Bobhead Billy, eh? Hula hoops for tambourines, neckerchiefs for cravats, huddles for set lists, eh? The Clarendon Hotel for The Odeon, polo-necks for goal-posts... Endearing memories.. Marvellous!!

mp3: "PRIMAL SCREAM The Clarendon Hotel, Hammersmith 20th October 1985"

I Love You
Subterranean
Aftermath
Imperial
Tomorrow Ends Today
Crystal Crescent