Catch up

OK it’s been a bit quiet but here’s a quick catch up. Saturday I watched the second programme in the 7 Ages of Rock series on BBC2 and it was another corker, featuring artists such as: Lou Reed, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Roxy Music. Absolutely brilliant, even my Dad enjoyed it (and he likes military bands!)

Sunday was F1 and we rather enjoyed the race from Monaco, even though it was a bit of a procession. Well done to Lewis Hamilton again. I’m sure it won’t be long before he gets a win under his belt. And Kubica did really well too.

Bank Holiday Monday I’m afraid I vegged out and spent the afternoon playing Oblivion on the PC with middle daughter. Back to work after that, so there won’t be very much else happening until the weekend.

Scream Arena screams back

I have been contacted by Andy Paul, he of Scream Arena fame. Andy was kind enough to point out that his hair is not a perm, but in fact the natural way his hair curls when dried following a shower, apologies to Andy for that. I’m only jealous because I have no hair of my own! He also let me know that the gig at Certificate 18 was only the 4th that Scream Arena had ever played, which surprised me as I did think that they sounded very tight. Despite the fact that I was generally pretty neutral about the gig, I should point out that a large proportion of the audience really enjoyed it.

Andy also mentioned that lead guiarist Chris trained at GIT (the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, now Musicians Institute ) and has jammed with the guys from Toto and Stevie Wonder. Pretty awesome credentials if you ask me!

7 Ages of Rock

Saturday was the Cup Final at Wembley, but what a dull event that turned out to be. However, the evening was graced with the opening programme in the new BBC series “7 Ages of Rock” and what a cracking programme it was too. Two of my daughters watched with me and we had some nibbles to keep us going; puris, samosas, popadums, mint yoghurt dip and onion salad. Lovely!

Basically, it charted the progress of music from 1963-1970 through the career of Jimi Hendrix, with references to John Mayall's Bluebreakers, Cream, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Who and Bob Dylan. An excellent start to, what looks like, a fascinating and informative series. Well done Aunty Beeb!

Sunday I had to answer a plea for more beer and ended up the Old White Swan again (not the Roman Bath because we don’t do funk.) There was a band playing, we never found out their name although they might have been called The Beatniks. They did some of their own music, notably “Behind the Lights”, but mostly played covers from such diverse artists as; Pulp, Shed Seven, Fleetwood Mac, The Kaiser Chiefs, The Coral, Scissor Sisters, Boy George, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. The vocals were too ambitous but the guitar work (both lead and bass) were excellent, and the keyboards and drums were OK. I’ve have to keep an eye open for them again.

A Whole Lotta Blog

Friday night and I’m not watching Hazzard County. Shame on me! But I do have a good excuse, I’m at Fibbers enjoying a two hour show by Led Zeppelin tribute band Whole Lotta Led. Now I’ve seen these boys before and they are the next best thing, trust me. At the beginning the crowd is a bit thin, crusties in the middle and working backwards, younger Zep fans up front, pressed against the stage barrier. As the evening progresses, the pressure builds from the back and we are all gently squeezed forwards as the late-comers cramming in. It would be tedious for me to detail every Zep song that they covered, basically it was a “best of”. It can’t be as good as the original, but the boys put in a fantastic effort; Lee Addison’s vocals soaring, Nick Ferris delivering a truly virtuoso guitar performance, Geoff Hunt incredible on bass, and Graham Twist who served up a ten minute drum solo to die for. Utterly awesome.

Minutes to Midnight

Another night on the town and feeling decidedly ragged. Not me though! Wednesday finds me gate-crashing Certificate18 for a mid-week feast for the ears. The occasion? Roy has recommended listening to Uniting The Elements.

I arrive half way through the set of Arctic Fury, heavy metal muthas, which I don’t mind at all since I’m currently going through a bit of a metal phase. More like mental! Although not technically the most accomplished of musicians, vocals were a bit wobbly, the guitar solos a bit rubbish, and their timing was not exactly spot on. Despite everything, their songs were good and they put up a fine performance. Arctic Fury are: Nick Montegriffo (Vocals), Alex Mullings and Rick Blomfield (Guitars), Liam 'Yom' Hardy (Drums), and Gaz Percival (Bass.)

Scream Arena were a bit weird. Heavy metal, as before, but the lead singer (Andy Paul) had an enormous ‘80s poodle perm and that bass player (Nick Daniel) had long blond hair that kept covering up his face like some kind of veil. On the other hand, the lead guitarist (Chris White) looked like he had just been dragged in from a building site; normal looking bloke, normal hair, normal clothes, just a normal-Norman. Other band members were: ‘Zep’ on drums, and Simon Gillott on rhythm guitar. Technically they were very good and they had obviously rehearsed until the cows came home, but the songs weren’t quite right and they never really pulled it off.

Finally, Uniting The Elements. This was a 3 piece heavy outfit fronted by a feisty red-haired vixen. There was Sarah on drums, more manic than Animal from the Muppets. Ola the classic, stocky, bald, tattooed guitarist with a bank of FX pedals that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a Star Trek set. And Dawn, the scrawny red-head looking a like Shirley Manson (Garbage) or Siouxsie Sioux. If you can imagine a white Tina Turner fronting a metal band, that’s what it was like. Hailing from Germany, they delivered an explosive blend of contemporary rock tinged with Punk and tenacity. The drum was frenetic, the guitar soloing superb, and Dawn had such stage presence, she was mesmerising. Well recommended.

Grump of the night. Hmm, haven’t got one.

This week I ‘ave mostly bin listening to ... Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park. What an absolutely top album. Yes, there’s still some tracks that are very shouty and with swearing. That’s OK, I quite like a bit of shouty/sweary. But there are also some more melodic, thoughtful tracks. Ballads?!? Mike Shinoda's rapping on Hands Held High is fantastic. And I don’t like rap!

Tuesday's Gone

How exciting, a weekday outing to Fibbers, so who having have we got playing on this fine Tuesday evening?

The first band on were local boys AKP (Auto Kinetic Playback) a four piece rock band comprising: Alex King on Vocals and guitars, Andy Curry on Vocals and Synth, Leo Derevonko on Bass, and Dan Whiting on Drums. Apparently, Alex builds his own guitars which he calls “Alexandercasters” and Andy draws comics (and also plays in Dust Bowl Central). They operate out of The White Rooms rehearsal facility as run by Dan. Enough of the background already, were they any good? Yes, they blooming well were. The fact that they were handing out free CD singles and badges in no way influences me to recommend that you get down and listen to this band. They were excellent.

Next act on was Officer Kicks, a four piece from New Cross and Greenwich (London that is). The band consists of Jamie (Jay) Scallion on Vocals, Jamie Fisher on Guitar, Micky Skill on Bass, and Keith Wickham on Drums. I wasn’t overly impressed, their music sounded liked bits of other people’s songs chopped up and re-packaged. The vocals were pretty good, Jay sounded a bit like Liam Gallagher and I wouldn’t have been surprised if they hadn’t started out as an Oasis covers band. Not that that’s a bad thing. Overall, I wouldn’t pay money to see them headline.

And finally, Nine Black Alps (as in the Sylvia Plath poem), with Sam Forrest on Vocals/Guitar, James Galley on Drums, and David Jones and Martin Cohen swapping about on Bass and Guitar. The band hails from Manchester although Sam comes from York where he played bass in local bands. Hot gossip – allegedly Sam is the current squeeze of Hayley Hutchison singer/songwriter of York. Blah, blah, what about the gig? NBA kicked off with three tracks back-to-back from their Everything Is album that really got the crowd roaring. We were treated to tracks from their Glitter Gulch EP as well, equally as good as their album material. The whole act was so energetic it must have doubled York’s carbon footprint, absolutely brilliant.

Grump of the night, well, two grumps. First, there was no time for an encore, which left many in the crowd a bit disappointed. Second, was the drunken herbert and his girlfriend who stood in front of me (always the tall, or drunk, or tall and drunk ones are in front of me.) At one point I had to place a restraining hand on his shoulder and alert him to the fact that he was in danger of crushing some young ladies. Pillock!

Saturday night’s alright for... listening to music

Out again and on Saturday we visited Fibbers to watch Cohesion. There were two support acts and when we arrived the first act, Lights, were already on-stage. It actually turned out to be Ben Leftwich (he of The Nicoles) who is using the name as a basis for new set of fellow muscians that he hopes to bring onboard. There was a thin line of his followers at the front of the stage, then us, and behind us a crowd of the loudest chattering idots in creation. How rude not to at least lend your ears to the artist while he performs! Anyway, Ben came down and chatted to us after finishing his set. I particularly enjoyed his last song which he told me he had written just two days before. He hopes to be in the recording studio soon.

The next act were The Station Club formed from the ashes of Sixty6 and Kryah. Mike Wilson (ex-Sixty6) on vocals and lead guitar, twins Tom and James Martin (ex-Kryah) playing bass and keyboards respectively, and finally, Adam Swales on drums. Slight echoes of The Killers I thought. Their best track seemed to be Brand New Day (I think that’s what it was called.)

The final performance was from Cohesion, Paul James on vocals/lead guitar, Matt Goodbody on Bass, and Richie Clark on drums. A high-energy, foot-stamping fusion of indie, rock and blues. Excellent stuff.

Grump of the night? People talking loudly whilst Ben was performing, and no Landlord or Black Sheep to drink. I had to make do with Worthington!

Was the evening over yet? No it wasn’t. Off we stomped to the Roman Bath where, rumour had it, a six piece soft rock band was playing. Now I don’t know if Hazzard’s rock god Richard is stalking us, or the other way around, but there he was leaning on the bar again. Hello Richard! The band were Breathing Space and the female vocalist was not only absolutely superb (at singing) but also... faintly familiar. And, there was something Mostly Autumn going on as well. She did an absolutely belter of a song called “Belief” which was dedicated to her parents. It was a little later, when I saw her mum and dad that I realised that we had stumbled upon Olivia Ruth Sparneen (backing vocalist with MA) and, on keyboards, Iain Jennings (ex-MA). We often see Olivia and her parents at The Old White Swan watching Hazzard County and I well remember watching her in the Talent For Africa shows put on at Tadcaster Grammar School (I was there to watch my own daughters, honest guv.)What a small world. Anyway, I understand that Olivia is performing with Chris Johnson (he of Hazzards and Mostly Autumn) at the City Screen in York on Monday 28 May, the last gig of York Music Live weekend.

Hot gossip, well, it was to me. Heather Findlay, of Mostly Autumn, is currently engaged to Fish (Derek William Dick who left Marillion in 1899.)

Mine's a pint, Aye

Friday night and a change from the usual. The gang had decided that we should check out The Stanleys at Certificate 18. Roy was already there when I arrived and Andy came in close on my heels. The first support band, Casual something, were already played and pretty good they were as well. In the audience I spotted Richard and the second drummer from Hazzard County, the reason for their presence was shortly to be revealed!

The second band was Naked Flame, fronted by a small girl in cargo hot pants (I’m sure there’s a proper word for them) who was a bit too screechy for my ears. The big surprise was that Richard was playing lead guitar and he really let rip. Fantastic.

The headline act was The Stanleys, a bunch of scouse cheeky chappies. Oh, and Hazzards other drummer was drumming for them! Anyway, not so bothered myself, for me the first band was the best. I had decided on wearing an old 3 Colours Red t-shirt for the evening and, in a bizarre coincidence, 3CR tracks were played in the intervals between each band. I was able to give a rousing rendition of “Beautiful Day” to Roy and Andy, but I’m not sure that they heard it very well! The grump of the evening, well it was smoky of course, which I always hate (can’t wait for 1 July.) But the thing that made me tut (it doesn’t take much) was the number of people in the audience who thought they looked amusing in the ultra-violet light exposing their yellow-looking teeth and green-looking lager in faux-Dracula poses.

It was still reasonably early when we staggered out into the rain, so we made our way down to The Old White Swan to catch the last 5-6 songs by Hazzard County, who were missing front-man, Chris Johnson. They were excellent as usual and at one stage had five, yes count them, that’s five, crazy dancing chicks. I don’t like to talk about crazy dancing blokes because it’s just a bit disturbing.

The Mind's Eye

Somehow, an evening at Fibbers is never complete without a plastic beaker of Landlord, tall people in front of you, and a couple who insist on talking all the way through a gig. Why do they bother? Anyway, in a rare mid-week excursion into the depths of Fibbers, Thursday saw me turning up to watch Ray Wilson and Band. Ray Wilson? Oh yes, he of Stiltskin and Genesis fame (on Calling All Stations). He also wrote the Armin Van Buurens dance tracks “Yet Another Day” and “Gypsy”. I kid you not.

It’s thirteen years since Ray last graced Fibbers stage, an occasion on which he was forced to take a break from singing/playing so as to throw up a dodgy indian meal that he had eaten for tea. As “Inside” was a hit in 1994 (spending 13 weeks in the chart) I wondered how old he was going to look. In fact he looked like the reincarnation of Kurt Cobain and sounded spookily similar on the grunge songs they played. I forgot just how grunge Stiltskin really were/are. Fantastic!

They came on at 9 o’clock and played for a full hour and a half including an encore of five songs. Quite a lot of the numbers came from the Millionairhead album released under the band name of Cut_ which he formed following his time with Genesis: “Jigsaw”, “Sarah”, “Another day”, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, “Gypsy” and “Ghost”. He performed a couple of Genesis tracks: “Follow You, Follow Me” and “Carpetcrawlers”. Of course, they played some Stiltskin, “Sunshine and Butterflies”, “Footsteps”, “Inside” (personally I prefer the Scary cover of this song), and some others. And we were treated to some new tracks from “She”, their latest album: “She”, “Taking Time”, “Constantly Reminded”, “Lemon Yellow Sun “, and others. As part of the encore Lawrie MacMillan came out in drag for their performance of “Fame” an indictment of the Pop Idol culture.

Wilson’s vocals were on top form, Ali Ferguson (lead guitar) was brilliant, Lawrie MacMillan’s bass drove the grunge track relentlessly, and Ashey MacMillan pounded the drums like a demon when required, and soft as you like for the acoustic numbers. All in all a damn fine night out and a talent that worth listening out for.

The Key of Life

Friday I steered clear of the poisonous prawns and stuck to that good old British staple, fish ‘n’ chips, soused in vinegar and liberally sprinkled with rock salt, mm, mm. Later on I strolled into town to watch Hazzard County at the Old White Swan. Sometimes I forget just how good they really are and they were on fire! At one point the bar was graced by the fleeting presence of Chris Helme rushing on his way to be some place else. Needless to say I didn’t fall into bed until 1:30am.

Saturday evening there was a visit to Fibbers where Mr Helme was headlining with The Yards. The support band were The Summits. Now I don’t know much about them except they formed in February this year and the female singer (who has a superb voice) is Jess Penn. Anyway, they were brilliant, sort of Maroon 5 on speed, and the crowd loved them so much they even gave us an encore of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. It’s not often that the support get an encore!

The Yards were much improved with a few covers and songs from both their last album and their forthcoming offering. Some of the new material was a bit Starsailor/Snow Patrol, and I mean that in a good way. It left me very much looking forward to their new album. Somewhere near the back was Rick Witter, possibly there to watch his fellow band mate Stu Fletcher (he plays in the Yards and Rick’s band, The Dukes.)

Webby

Webby awards – so the 11th webby award winners have been announced and what a brilliant line-up. A Lifetime Achievement for David Bowie, Green my Apple at http://www.greenpeace.org/apple, and the awesome personal site of Jonathan Yuen at http://www.jonathanyuen.com.

Social – In the snooker it was good to see Ronnie finally getting the wind beneath his wings and making the quarter-final. No rest for the wicked though as he’s playing again tonight. Peter Ebdon knocked out by Mark Selby, brilliant stuff. At last the competition is coming alive. Oh, and I’ve set up a Facebook entry today.