Author Archives: Bob the Chiropodist

Songs about working in a Cinema and the sins of love had us impressed. On my own was my favourite.
Our seats were on the front row of the first tier, bang in the middle. When Richard Hawley came on, it was as if he was playing for us. The sound was awesome – he has a fantastic band who obviously enjoyed playing together. Hawley is a great front man who likes to interact with the crowd. After initially chastising us for not being as good a crowd as Belfast he crooned through the cream of his solo back catalogue. Introducing Hotel Room as a song about addiction and I should know gave the song a whole new twist for me. Pre-gig my favourite song was Born under a bad sign (What are you like, youve had a right life! being one of the best opening lines ever) but the twangy guitar on Dark Road stayed with me for days after. An encore of him and Pal Colin on Harmonica topped by the crazed inprov during The Ocean sent us all home on a high. Best gig Ive been to in a long while! Continue reading →

ce.com/sexpatels They did 2 sets, interspersed with a mad set from Captain HotKnives – a man who hates slugs and whos tale of murdering his psychiatrist and stealing his car to get out of Bradford is far too believable http://www.myspace.com/captainhotknives. The guy selling Sex Patels CDs said they have a support slot with the Blockheads in the offing, so a version of Hit me with your rhythm stick was bound to happen! There was a free samosa with each CD too what a bargain and what a great night.
Bob Continue reading →

her Dave that I was quite proud of myself for this Proud of yourself! Id be proud if Id influenced a kid to play the piano or read Shakespeare but to buy pop music!

My daughter Marisa is now 10 (soon to be 11) and has become the lucky receiver of my old faithful iMac DV desktop computer. I darent hook her up to the net but she does use it to write stories on and listen to music. Make me a list of what you want on it I say and from the top of her head the list (below on the left) comes in Kaiser Chiefs, Dido, Pink, Killers, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Bic Runga, Cardigans and the Smiths. We then go on a car journey and I give her the iPod Have a listen on shuffle and see if theres anything there you want and the list on the right gets written.. Stone Roses, White Stripes, Gorillaz, Young Marble Giants, Happy Mondays.. Im glad to say that Im so proud!

Bob

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Chatting at the bar of a Podiatry conference with Ian, we got onto the topic of favourite bands and both waxed lyrical about ‘Teenage Fanclub’. “You should write me a Personal History” I said “I will” he said – and (eventually) he did…. Continue reading →

credited with inventing Punk rock, even before the summer of love had happened and while John Lydon was still at primary school. Originally the band were called The Torquays and played in an early 60s surf style. How they metamorphosed to their unique garage meets punk on a bad hair day day, I suppose well never know. Their chaotic, frequently violent, beer soaked gigs in Germanys Bierkellers were seem to have a strong resemblance to some of reports of gigs from early Punk bands from 76 and 77. The really bizarre thing about this band is that despite all members being US citizens and ex-servicemen they only ever played live in Germany.

Visually, the Monks were rather alarming too, there tondeuse hair cuts cutting bald patches on to the crowns of their heads were never likely to catch on (which is rather a shame as my hair has a natural tendency to assume that style these days!). Dressed in black with short hair, they were an obvious contrast to the look of their era. Then there is the sound……..

From what I gather, they were dissatisfied with the limitation of the thrash sound that could be attained from the electric guitar, so they used an electric banjo instead. When mixed with the occasional piece of feedback (before The Velvet Underground and before The Jesus and Mary Chain had started school), the effect is… well……..unusual and way ahead of its time. This is mixed with a lot of fuzz effect guitar, so much so that guitarist and vocalist Gary Buerger, is said to have worn out sixteen fuzz pedals in the Monks two year life span. The vocal style is definitely not Punk, more of a prototype Bon Scott, but works well. The drums are just that…there are hardly any cymbals. Instead, a meaty steady rhythm is the backdrop for this unique band.

Judge for yourself if the lyrics are Punk. With song titles such as I hate you , Shut up and Drunken Maria, I think that they easily qualify. Though in my opinion, Higgledy Pigglydy is the best song that they recorded. This song is now covered by the The Fall.

Later in their brief career, they went completely off the wall with their single Cuckoo, and attempted pop success with the B side And went down to the sea.

Sadly, not all of the band members are with us today but they have reformed to play a few one off gigs. True to form, their first gig in 30 odd years on this side of the herring pond was bizarrely in Benidorm! Trust my luck to miss their only ever London gig through moving to Yorkshire. Ah well, theres always the grainy footage on You Tube……..

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