With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

Mallrats EP Launch – The Crescent, York – 8th July 2016 July 8, 2016

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:06 pm
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I had looked forward to another Northern Radar gig for some time. Simon Pattinson has never let me down with his gigs or recommendations and I have known him a few years now. But rather than keep you in suspense let me just say that once again Simon came up trumps. He has a great knack for finding and promoting great bands. When he makes it big, just remember where you read it first!

So first up tonight were the fabulously named Eugene Gorgeous. This is the first opportunity that I have had to see this spectacular band. Imagine, if you will, the Velvet Underground meeting the Jesus and Mary Chain at a dive bar in Twin Peaks. Well if you can picture that in your mind that is Eugene Gorgeous. Whilst the singer appeared to be fuelled by milk. The guitarist was something special too with and incredible talent for feedback and sustain he can make that guitar squeal!

Are you looking for a Nirvana for the 21st Century? Yes? How about a band with some dub licks straight out of the Clash and a pinch of the Strokes? Is that your bag baby? Well in that case Mice On Mars are right up your street. On top of all their other talents they have a drummer that plays like a reincarnated Keith Moon.

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Next up were Maven Fiction, a band that I have seen in many guises before. If you like any of the following genres then you really ought to love this band; pop, funk, electronica and punk. If you also like great songs and great melodies then you really need to check them out. In my opinion it is an absolute tragedy that Maven Fiction are not bigger than the likes of Coldplay. Can we at least get them on the Apollo Festival stage next year in York Stuart Kelly?

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Finally it was the turn of the magnificent Mallrats who were headlining a gig to promote their rather excellent new EP. You can’t really ignore a band whose sixth and seventh gigs (I’m reliably informed) were at the Reading and Leeds Festivals? Frankly you can’t can you? This is a phenomenally talented young band who I hope will achieve great success. This is the third time that I have seen them and they have got better every time. I also had the opportunity to meet the drummers Dad and what a thoroughly nice bloke he is! This was another great gig from Northern Radar and it was, as usual 100% perfect. Apart from the ringing in my ears. But actually that is my fault as I stood far to close to the speaker stack for Maven Fiction’s set!

 

 

 

“Life is a pop of the cherry when you’re a boy” July 6, 2016

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 9:56 pm
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In 1862 the writer George Eliot was the first person to use the term pop music. She (yes George was a woman) wrote “there is too much pop for the thorough enjoyment of chamber music“. So to recognise that staggering piece of trivia and to celebrate some classic pop please enjoy these songs and feel free to suggest your own contributions.

 

“If there’s a cloud above, if it should rain we’ll let it”

Filed under: Obituary — justwilliam1959 @ 9:45 pm
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It doesn’t seem to have been widely reported, well I certainly missed it anyway. But Jamaican ska singer Lord Tanamo died in Canada in April this year. He had suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008 which left him unable to speak. The former Joseph Abraham Gordon was 81 when he passed away.

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His classic “I’m In The Mood For Ska” finally became a UK hit in 1990 when it reached number 58 following its use as the soundtrack to a Paxo stuffing advert. The song was a ska update of a song that became a standard, “I’m In The Mood For Love”. ng had a hit with it in 1935. Another top Tanamo cut was his reggae cover of Tony Joe White‘s “Rainy Night In Georgia” which went to number one in the Jamaican charts in 1970.

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RIP Lord Tanamo

 

Apollo Festival – York – Saturday 25th June 2016 June 30, 2016

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:54 pm
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I wonder how long it will be before folk start referring to the last weekend in June as Apollo weekend and not Glasto weekend. Well many people in York already do, and rightly so this relatively new festival is still very vibrant, friendly and fun even in its fourth year. I have now been three times and I enjoyed each visit immensely. If you like good music and a good day out for the family in Yorkshire then look no further than York’s Apollo Festival.

Anyway this year I was a bit of a lazy stage hopper in that I only visited one other stage apart from the Main Stage. I arrived at about 11.15 along with my beautiful wife Catherine a.k.a. Catwoman our good friend Caron and our amazing Odd Daughter Amelia. The first act we saw was the Ainsty’s Got Talent winner B Boy Swirl, aged just nine years old he is just three years older than Amelia. He proved himself to be a talented whirlwind of beatbox noise and break dance frenzy. What a brilliant start to the day.

Next up on the Main Stage was someone with a vocal talent that could easily compare and compete with Adele. The magnificent and truly soulful Kymberley Kennedy. Definitely check this lady out, she has a gorgeous voice. After that it was a quick dash to the Rick Witter Premier Stage for me to catch the final part of a stunning set from those magnificent scamps, the Mallrats. Just like the last time I saw them they were awesome!

I made my way back to the Main Stage for the second half of the Jackobins set. These scousers owe a debt to Brit Pop, but only a small one. Their talent goes much deeper than that. Ace mod covers band the outstanding 5:15’s were up next. What a party band these boys are, covers of the Jam, solo Weller, the Specials, the Yardbirds and so much more. They were followed by Chris Helme the former front man of the Seahorses. He is clearly a very talented and very chilled kind of bloke. But I’m afraid his music just doesn’t do it for me. But to each their own right?

I was disappointed that I had to miss the Supermodels this year. But I did have good reason,  I had earlier bumped into the fabulous Rachel Brown of Northern Exposure who has recommended the Velcro Teddy Bears for ages. So clearly I was not going to miss them. Rachel and her fella Ash were also in the audience in the Rick Witter Premier Stage for the Velcro Teddy Bears Apollo début. So what were this highly rated Sheffield four piece band like? The were bloody stupendous. They rocked the place hard. If you love Led Zep, the softer side of Sabbath and hard but soulful rock then you will become a fan of the Velcro Teddy Bears. An incredibly tight band with a vocalist who could probably make any song his own. Their songs have the hallmarks of future classics. For me they were the band of the day. Thank you Rachel! I was also pleased to see my mate Kevin Forth in attendance too.

Dave McCabe and the Ramifications were next to entertain us from the Main Stage. Dave in case you wondered is a former Zuton. The band was excellent from start to finish in my opinion although I really would have liked to have seen them close with “Valerie” but Dave was having none of that.

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Dodgy were the penultimate Main Stage band and it is fair to say that they were far more than just “Good Enough”. A stonking version of “Staying Out For The Summer” even managed to keep the rain at bay for a while. Sadly the rain really kicked in after Cast’s arrival, what a “Fine Time” for a downpour? So I must apologise to the marvellous Cast as we left about halfway through their set as we were soaked. But they are clearly still a great festival band. I saw them back in the 90s and if anything they have got even better.

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So once again I have had the pleasure of attending another wonderful Apollo festival. This is one small wacky step for Dad dancing but one giant leap for festival kind. If you’re not already thinking about getting your tickets for next year, well frankly you’re not well!

Public Service Announcement – None of the pictures or videos were taken or filmed by me. I ‘borrowed’ them all from t’interweb.

 

“If I go there will be trouble and if I stay it will be double” June 5, 2016

Filed under: Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 8:26 am
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Obviously most of you are aware that there is a referendum looming for us folk in the UK. It is a vote on whether we as a country should stay a part of the European Union or whether we should leave and go it alone. Personally I fundamentally disagree with the need for a referendum; if an elected government can’t make big decisions then why are they there? Give the people a referendum on all big decisions from keeping Trident to MPs pay. That would be much fairer and a true reflection of what people want. But no; we are lumbered with making a massive decision on a subject that no one really knows the answer to Just listen to all the drivel spouted by both the Brexit (incidentally I despise that invented word) and Remain camps. If anyone truly understands this decision and all its implications then I have never heard of them. Do I understand it? Of course not, although in some sleepless moments I might think that I do. But I am enjoying the spectacle of the Tory party tearing itself apart over it. Anyway I thought I would put a helpful list together of the reasons to vote Remain and the reasons to vote Brexit on June 23rd. I hope that you like it and feel free to add to it and share your opinion. I have also added a referendum poll if you wish to cast a vote here. Oh and obviously there is some (in)appropriate music too. Feel free to suggest your own referendum stay or leave songs.

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Reasons to vote Remain

Reasons to vote Brexit
1 Brexit is a shit word concoction which shows no imagination 1 We might do better in the Eurovision contest as an outsider
2 Boris Johnson will be upset 2 David Cameron will lose his job
3 Michael Gove will be upset 3 David Cameron will be upset
4 Nigel Farage will be angry and upset 4 Gideon will lose his job
5 It will annoy the Biffers of Britain First and their ilk immensely 5 Gideon will be upset
6 Donald Trump won’t like it 6 UKIP will have no reason to exist
7 To stop Boris Johnson succeeding in his reality TV interview for the Prime Minister’s job 7 Millions of UK ex pats will be returned to the UK from Europe. (Incidentally why aren’t they called immigrants?)
8 To cling on to a very thin chance to ditch the unelected House of Lords 8 To lose all the lovely foreign folk that clean for us, work in our essential services, pick our food and serve our food. You know those people that do the jobs no native of this country wants to do
9 To cling on to a slim chance of seeing the end of the monarchy in the UK 9 Daily Mail readers will be happy
10 Scotland will remain a part of the UK 10 Scotland will leave the UK
11 More austerity 11 More austerity
12 To maintain a Tory government 12 To maintain a Tory government
13 The England football team will still be shit 13 The England football team will still be shit
14 This whole bloody farce of a referendum will finally be over 14 This whole bloody farce of a referendum will finally be over

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“Should I pursue a path so twisted?”

Filed under: Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 7:24 am
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"Patti with Bolex-1, 1969"

Last night I dreamt that I met with Patti Smith before one of her gigs. Which is strange as up to now I have sadly never seen her play live, although I would love to. She was stood behind the Merch stand when I came into the dream. But she wasn’t selling badges, posters, stickers and t-shirts, she was making and selling a wide range of sandwiches. She was also offering advice about how to make the perfect sandwich, regretfully I am unable to recall that advice from my dream memory.

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Incidentally I had a magnificent egg mayo sandwich. As often happens in dreams Patti asked me a totally unrelated question. “Are you married?” she said. I replied “Yes I am, to my beautiful second wife Catherine a.k.a Catwoman“. “I see” said Patti, “So you have an ex-wife?”. I responded with “Yes and I have two ex kids too”.

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It was at this point that I woke up. No drugs were consumed in the making of this dream and just a small amount of alcohol. I am really not sure what this dream says about me. As for ex kids, well my children have chosen to be estranged from me, so ex kids is as good a description as any! Finally this does give me a chance to share some classic Patti Smith tunes.

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Adam Ant – Kings Of The Wild Frontier Tour – Barbican York – Tuesday 31st May 2016 June 1, 2016

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 8:17 pm
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I must confess that this is only the second time that I have seen Adam Ant play live. The first time was back in the late 70s, probably 1978 in London. I remember thinking of this relatively new band, Adam and the Ants, that they were ok and had a good name. I certainly never expected the Ants Invasion that followed a few years later. Nor would I have predicted that I would be watching Mr Ant play a gig in my adopted home city of York all these years later. More of the headline show in a moment.

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But first let me say what a stonkingly brilliant support act there was last night. It was a young band called the UK Feds who hail from somewhere near Birmingham I believe. They play superbly crafted power pop punk songs with the gravitas and style of great bands like the Ruts, the Members, the Clash and early Manic Street Preachers. The UK Feds are a political band, but in a good way. Personally anyone who states that they believe that this country is run by a bunch of pricks is alright with me. They have some excellent songs, many of which are included on their exclusive tour CD which I bought for a mere £10 and which has been my commute to and from work soundtrack all day. “Pissed Up World” and “London” are my current favourites. The Feds also played a deft, tight and brilliant cover of Prince’s “Sign Of The Times”. If you are going to see any of the Adam Ant shows on this tour then make sure you turn up in time to see the UK Feds. They have the potential to go a long way. I for one would definitely pay to see them again. Well done lads!

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It was then time for the main attraction Adam Ant and his band played the whole of the classic 1980 album ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier‘. From album and show opener “Dog Eat Dog” everyone stood up and pretty much most of us never sat down for the rest of the night. Yes even at our advanced ages! As well as the first song the other singles “Ant Music” and “Kings Of The Wild Frontier” went down a storm. But for me some of the other tracks were enhanced in a live environment. Notably “Los Rancheros”, “Making History” and “Jolly Roger”. The latter two being among my favourite Adam Ant songs. Adam waited until after an amazing run through of the whole album before speaking to the audience, very much his audience. This is a man who is totally at home on stage and who totally understands his audience. If there is such a thing then Adam Ant is a true showman.

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His stage antics are not those of a 61-year-old man. I hope I can move as well as him when I am his age in three and a half years! Although I doubt that I would look as good in leather trousers. The second half of the show was made up of a great mix of big hits, B-sides and obscurities. When you hear just the big hits you realise what a great talent the former Stuart Goddard is. He played “Stand And Deliver”, “Desperate But Not Serious”, “Prince Charming”, “Vive Le Rock” and “Goody Two Shoes” and I would have left satisfied with just that and the entire album from the first half. But on top of that we got “Car Trouble” and “Never Trust A Man With Egg On His Face” from the early days and classic B-Sides “Physical” and “Press Darlings”. The crowd sang along to every song even if they (including me) couldn’t remember all the words. Adam Ant turned “Prince Charming” into a proper crowd sing along even allowing us a short a capella moment. I must also mention his incredible band including the expected two drummers providing that loud Burundi style beat.

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One of the encore songs was a surprising but rather good cover of the T Rex number one “Get It On”. Let me end with a message to Adam Ant; thank you for a truly excellent show which ranks among the best gigs I have seen and I’m sorry it took so long to see you again. My good wife Catwoman also loved the show and that is high praise indeed and obviously I mean that in a very, very good way. There are still a few UK dates left on this tour and if you’re not already booked then I suggest you get hold of a ticket by any means necessary, well as long as no one gets hurt. Also selling your Granny might not be a good idea as she might want to come to the show with you! Adam Ant a legend among Ants and Men. Enjoy a few videos courtesy of YouTube, starting with some recent live recordings and followed by some classic Ant videos. (Pictures were all taken using my bashed up Nokia phone.

 

“And if you knew how much I loved you, baby nothing could go wrong with you” May 2, 2016

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 1:33 pm
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brian and ronnie

I read some time ago that one of Brian Wilson’s (him off of the Beach Boys) favourite songs was “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes. But what I didn’t know until now was that Brian wrote the Beach Boys classic “Don’t Worry Baby” for the voice of the Ronettes; Ronnie Spector.

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However due to contracts, legal issues and possibly the strong-arm influence of her then husband Phil Spector Ronnie was unable to record it. She often sings it in her live shows nowadays though. Please enjoy those songs below and also a quirky cover of “Don’t Worry Baby” by Byron Ferrari (a.k.a. Bryan Ferry. Thank you to the 1970s NME for that Ferry spoof name).

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Photo of Phil SPECTOR...UNITED STATES - JANUARY 01: GOLD STAR STUDIOS Photo of Phil SPECTOR, w/Ronnie Bennett of the Ronettes (Photo by Ray Avery/Redferns)

 

“Electric word life, it means forever and that’s a mighty long time” April 21, 2016

Filed under: Obituary — justwilliam1959 @ 11:01 pm
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We are not even out of April and the music world has already lost a slew of legends and now Prince Rogers Nelson a.k.a. Prince has sadly joined that list. He was found dead in his home aged just 57. What brings it home so hard for me is that he was just a few months older than I am.

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I never managed to see Prince play live, although I had wanted to for some time. He was a prolific artist and his canon of work is phenomenal. He may have been at his creative and earnings peak in the 80s, but he continued to record and tour. As well as being a talented singer and songwriter he was also an incredibly gifted guitar player. Possibly one of the finest axe wielders of his generation. His passing takes away one more true music superstar and a true genius. My thoughts go to his friends and family and his thousands of fans across the globe. I have selected some of my favourite Prince tracks below to help you mourn the demise of another superstar.

RIP Prince. That’s what it sounds like when doves cry!

 

Colour Me Wednesday – Fulford Arms, York – Sunday 3rd April 2016 April 13, 2016

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:55 pm
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Clearly I have been a bit tardy in writing and posting this review. However that is by no means a reflection of the quality on show that night. All in all it was a tremendous gig with some support that was often different, challenging and thought-provoking (in a good way) and very talented. All of this was capped by a stunning and magnificent set from the mighty Colour Me Wednesday. But more of them later. Before I begin the review I would like to say a massive thank you to Henry Raby who was the main man and organiser behind this excellent evening of entertainment.

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First up was a duo of angry poets Jaz Millar and Luca Fallon, well to be more reasonable poets who gave wonderful voice to their anger in their cyphers and rhymes. I particularly enjoyed the piece on why feminists are angry and the poem about punk and how it was failing to live up to its original ethos and credentials.

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Junk were the first band to take the stage. How the bloody hell can two people make so much incredible noise? Let me tell you Junk would enhance any stage that they took to. Festival organisers if you’re reading this stop farting around get off your backside and book this wonderful band.

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Almost like a classy restaurants use of the mouse bouche we were treated to an ear resting moment as another poet took the stage. Hannah Davies is her name and she presents her wonderful poetry with passion and aplomb. The poem about how small boys keep so much crap in their pockets not only took me way, way back to my childhood but also made it abundantly clear how much wonderful mother love Hannah has for her son. Hannah you need to have you work published in book form!

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What the hell is a Milk Crime? It sounds rather Orwellian doesn’t it? But that would be moloko. Anyway Milk Crimes are an excellent punk band who certainly appear to live by their punk ways and they also know their punk roots and history, which was well evidenced by their excellent Buzzcocks cover. I would definitely pay to see Milk Crimes again.

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Finally it is the turn, all the way from south of Watford (Uxbridge to be precise) of the stunning, punky, poetic, smart, lyrical and with political and world views that many people could learn from, Ladies, Gentlemen, Humans, Aliens and anyone else I bring you COLOUR ME WEDNESDAY! Any band that despises the Tories as much as I do is definitely more than fine in my book (or indeed my blog). They played a short set which showcased some tracks from their new EP and some classic songs from their increasing repertoire. As usual there was some great between song banter covering everything from the type of herbal tea that Jen drinks to the desperate need for both a poo and a wee that lead to the Colour Me Wednesday Mobile (a.k.a the van) having to stop at Yorkshire’s equivalent of the town in the film ‘Deliverance’ en-route to the gig. They closed the show with a storming run through of my favourite Colour Me Wednesday song, “Purge Your Inner Tory”. Just to finish things off for the evening I was able to listen to the incredibly well put together four track EP in the car on the way home. DIY is in this band’s blood as every copy of the EP has been lovingly hand packaged by the band and their team at DoveTown. If you haven’t seen or heard Colour Me Wednesday yet then I suggest you get out from under the rock you’ve been living under and acquaint yourself with them. I will be at three festivals this year; Apollo (York), Latitude and Leeds, will someone please book this band for one of those!

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And finally here is one of those pesky public service announcements. None of the pictures or videos in this post were taken or filmed by me. They were all obtained via Google and YouTubew