On April 24th 1961 Bob Dylan made his first officially released recording, he earned $50 for playing harmonica on the title track of Harry Belafonte’s LP, ‘The Midnight Special’. Bob made his debut recording five months previously on a record by folk singer Carolyn Hester, but this wasn’t released until after the Harry Belafonte album.
In 1968, also on 24th April, the Beatles’ new Apple record label turned down an opportunity to sign David Bowie, who had just left Deram Records. Bowie’s manager at the time, Kenneth Pitt submitted a demo tape, only to receive a letter from the company’s A&R chief, Peter Asher, stating that “Apple Records is not interested in signing David Bowie. The reason is that we don’t feel he’s what we’re looking for at the moment.” I wonder how Bowie’s career might have gone had he signed to Apple?
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Check out my interview with one of the UK’s finest solo artists. The award-winning Pope of Passionate Folk-Punk music, Joe Solo. As well as being a singer and performer he is a writer, an activist, a poet, a broadcaster, and (in his own words) a rabble-rousing Socialist big mouth! Look out for a review of his current album ‘Sledgehammer Songs’ coming to these pages soon. We could have talked for hours, so I hope to have Joe Solo the Interview Part 2 in the future too!
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This is the 23rd song in the Play It Again Mayhem series, which began in 2020. Check out the previous entries along with this new one in the Play It Again Mayhem Spotify Playlist click here to take a listen! So far, 15 of the 23 songs are from the 1970s. But this one was originally released in 1997, and following it being used to soundtrack a Rolling Rock beer advert it went to number 3 in the UK chart in 1999. It is by Canadian rock and hip hop collective Bran Van 3000 and is called “Drinking In L.A.” This is a perfect summer song in my opinion, what do you think?
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I reviewed “Finally See Me” the stunning new single from Delilah Bon last week. Click here to check out what I thought of it. Yesterday Delilah launched the video to accompany the track and it is very special indeed! Delilah plays her devilish, demonic, bad-ass bitch persona perfectly with controlled anger and confidence. She lays waste to those who bullied her at school and once again gives hope to anyone who has ever been bullied, held back and put down by education or the system in general. This really is a clarion call for all those who might be afraid to be a bit different, or at least lack the confidence to be so. Delilah has got your back and we have got hers, right Bon Bons?
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“Cinderhaze” the new track from ambient genius Stumbleine is a taster for his new studio album, his 8th, ‘Deleted Scene’. It is scheduled for release on 14th June via Monotreme Records. The song bathes you in a gorgeous mix of sound and sonic swirls that swim around your head before taking up residence in your mind. It is emotional, reflecting all sides of the spectrum from happy to sad and back again and again. The vocals and bass synth riff are as close to perfect as it is possible to get. One of the most beautiful tracks I have heard this year so far!
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The new single from Everything After Midnight opens like a more upbeat Cocteau Twins track and then at around 40 seconds in it expands its musical scope into something so much bigger. The guitar chops are as funky as fuck and Steph’s voice is ethereal and soars heavenward with immaculate ease. The band have spoken about the song and said that it “is about the bittersweet feeling of sharing intimacy one last time before parting. The lyrics “dial and comply, recite the cliché, if this is goodbye then that is okay” encapsulates the clichés of break ups, post break up sex, relief, sadness, love, and acceptance.” This tune is a sign of a band being more complete with each release and each gig! Click here to stream “Little Hints” on Spotify.
I am looking forward to hearing “Little Hints” live at the Crescent in York tomorrow, Friday,
April 19th 🙂
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It is official, I have now seen Avalanche Party more than any other act. Frank Turner is a close second with David Bowie just behind him! I haven’t been to gigs at Oporto very often, the last one was an acoustic set from the Murder Capital back in 2022. But before I tell you about the mighty Avalanche Party I need to fill you in about the two support bands that played in this intimate, sweaty Leeds venue on Friday. First up was another band with party in their name, Freeparty. They play souped-up, dark indie pop with a smattering of punky overtones that reminded me at times (no pun intended) of the Undertones. Some of their songs were like shoegaze on speed and I do mean that in a good way. The song that they closed with was epic. Almost Pink Floydish with a pinch of Libertines added to spice it up. This bunch is very good!
Next, it was the turn of Bansley’s Everglades to take to the stage. This music is drone-driven, slow, moody 21st-century stoner blues. Musically Everglades were in perfect form. The moment where the frontman kneeled in front of the bass player was a very Bowie Ronson moment, although they didn’t go for the full-on guitar fellatio money shot. This band has some hugely talented musicians. I want to give a thunderous shout to the guitarist and co-vocalist whose playing was stupendous and made me think of Earl Slick!
Finally, it was time for Avalanche Party, this was the 15th time that I had seen them live. Let’s face it, there ain’t no party like an Avalanche party, right? Their blend of psychedelia, garage, punk, glam, indie and so much more is unparalleled among their peers. I believe that they are the finest British band of their generation and that they will continue to get better with each gig and every release. This was yet another classic Avalanche Party set. The new stuff sounds incredible and bodes well for the sophomore album which will hit the streets later this year. The band was on fire tonight and generated more heat than the core of a star, so around 100 billion degrees Celsius! If a band can thrill the crowd so much in a tiny venue like Oporto, then they can probably do the same for arena or academy crowds too. Let’s hope that they get the opportunity to do that! Kane’s drumming was louder than and more powerful than the big-bang and Joe’s bass might have registered on the Richter scale. Glen’s work on the keys tonight was magical as was Jared’s guitar riffs and fills. But high praise goes to a frontman who performs like he was made for the job, Jordan. His thousand-yard stare oozes that perfect rock god attitude and style and his voice and axe playing was sublime. There were many highlights in this set. The two biggest for me were “Solid Gold” and a magical, magnificent “Rebel Forever”. This band deserves to be huge, let’s make it so! There are a few more gigs on this tour, get along to one of them if you can.
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On 14th April 1994, Kurt Cobain was cremated at the Bleitz Funeral Home, in Seattle. The death certificate listed Cobain’s occupation as Poet/Musician and his type of business as Punk Rock.
On that same date in 1980 Gary Numan issued ‘The Touring Principle’, which was apparently the first long-form rock video to be made commercially available in the UK.
In 1970, also on April 14th, Creedence Clearwater Revival played their first UK shows. Nothing low key though, just two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Back in 1967 on 14th April David Bowie released one of his best-loved (maybe not) singles, “The Laughing Gnome”!
On 14th April the Illinois Crime Commission (BOO, HISS!!!) issued a list of ‘drug-oriented records’ which included “White Rabbit'” by Jefferson Airplane, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” by Procol Harum, and The Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” Apparently David Bowie’s “The Laughing Gnome” was not included!
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Carol Hodge’s new single has a magnificent heavy and dark feel with some incredible and relentless guitar riffs that are impossible to ignore and I believe made by Dave Draper. I love the way she uses the organ sound briefly at times during the song. Her voice oozes passion, and anger in equal amounts. Is there some sarcasm in there too? I was reminded of Toyah, Siousxe, and Amy Lee (Evanescence) Carol has a fine canon of songs and this sits up there with some of her best, I bloody love it! The video was filmed and edited by Rob Heilig and made on location at Nathans Cottages, Huddersfield. It is delightfully dark and disturbing. This is the first single from Carol’s next album, ‘EffortLess InSecurity’ which is planned for September 2024.
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From the fly buzzing sound that introduces this song to the weird horror vibe of the music to the deeply personal and inspirational lyrics, “Finally See Me” is Delilah Bon at her best. The song deals with Delilah/ Lauren being bullied at school and appears to be a paen of her triumphing over those who bullied her by becoming the incredibly talented artist that she now is. She passionately stands up for the bullied, the misfits, and the outcasts and she deserves huge respect for that. With this latest release, another precursor to her forthcoming album things bode incredibly well for the continued rise of Delilah Bon. Musically she is starting to cipher as well, if not better than, Eminem. Meanwhile, this track has a feel of Jonathan Davis, Korn frontman about it. In my opinion, Delilah Bon is now one of the most talented and passionate musical artists on the planet.
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