Category Archives: Gigs & Reviews

ila) and after that just on his own. I remember seeing him in London one time when he said that Gail (his wife) was coming over to join him on tour. We saw him a week or so later and I shouted Wheres Gail? and she hadnt come and the set went down hill into melancholia. The shows on his own were always prone to do that. The CDs started having less of the stuff I liked and after one that had Spanish versions of his songs, he just fell off my radar.

So when a pal emailed earlier this year to say he was playing at the Brudenell (Thanks Justine!) I got Lee and I tickets and phoned McD who said Hes playing Manchester the night before youve got to come over it wont be the same without you so what was I going to do The new CD was obtained which hasnt left the kitchen player since. You tube was trawled for his latest performances..anticipation was rising..after 21 years.we were going to see Jojo again!

The Deaf Institute is a wonderful place for a gig worth a visit to see the wallpaper alone. As we got to the entrance to the bar, after the first flight of stairs, we were debating whether to have a jar or go up the next flight to where the gig was, when Jojo himself walks up the stairs I instinctively patted him on the back Hiya Jonathan! Thanks for coming and Mike introduced himself Hey Mike, its been a long time!. Just then someone in a wheelchair came out of the bar wanting to get past us and up to the gig.so Jojo helps carry him up the stairs. The guys a saint and a star!

At the top of the stairs we bump into Mike Colley who I havent seen for over 12 years and reminiscences start of when we saw Jojo at the Mean Fiddler in the 80s. Ill always be grateful to him for introducing me to the first Violent Femmes LP.

Jonathan played a great set of mainly new (to me) songs that had me wondering why on earth Id not seen him for 20 years hes back on form, as his new CD will testify.

His drummer Tommy Larkin kept the show moving along with his versatile drumming that included sometimes using his hands. My favourite was You can have a cell phone, not me! which included a monologue about but what if youre late for a gig? Well, then Im late.

After a couple of encores Tommy left but Jonathan was persuaded to do just one more and called for his drummer to come back..which took a while.hed changed clothes and was wearing a scarfe! They did Its better to love than to be loved and when Jojo said thats all, Tommy mouthed Really?! and off they went.

Everyone came out smiling. McD bumped into a pal whod been given a ticket cos his mate couldnt go and hadnt known what to expect I thought hed be good but I wasnt expecting him to be THAT good!

Bob the Chiropodist

Tracklist here

More pics here Continue reading →

7’s second ‘New whistle test’ evening had only ‘The:Foot:Clan‘ performing, as the other band pulled out due to flu. With a name like that, you’d expect a Podiatrist to love this band……but it wasn’t really my cup of tea. Fronted … Continue reading →

tilled by The Gang of Four and Stump. I wonder how popular they were in their hayday and what prompted them to start over again? I have their 1986 In the good old country way LP which got a dusting off today & has some great guitar licks on it. Roberts Lloyd vocals seemed a bit too quirky for quirkys sake for me and with his penchant for waving his arse at the audience, I doubt Ill be rushing out to see them again.

When The Fall took to the stage I was delighted to see the same band as last time (and the time before possibly a record!). Our pigeon chested hero gets a little more eccentric with time, as Digger put it Going to Fall gigs over the years is like watching someone slowly disintergrate.

Loads of new stuff and a few old gems thrown in my favourite being Pat Trip Dispenser when they were joined by the Nightingales drummer. I loved it when the Fall had 2 drummers, and when the Weddoes did, and Adam and the ants, and Beachbuggy, and the Glitter band you cant go wrong with 2 drummers can you.

On their 4th encore (yes, thats right.4th) they started playing white lightening but the management turned all their gear off. MES tried shouting for a while with just the drums but then gave up. I managed to get a bit of it on film. Cant wait for next years.

Thanks to John for the freebie and Tony for the snaps Continue reading →

gles and CDs one with an in-built shadow puppet show made me wish wed caught them.

Joan came on in a red leopard cat suit with drummer Timo in a long leopard coat and they started with a piano ballard. He then took on bass duties whilst what I thought was a drum machine was being played. Im not a fan of drum machines and it seemed such a shame as Timos drumming was superb! They did stuff from a covers LP (everything from Britney to Iggy) theyve just released, which were my least favourite tunes of the night (bar one!). Joan explained that it wasnt a drum machine but a 4-Track on real analogue cassettes on which Timo played all the drums, percussion and bass, which made things better.

Joan has hilarious banter between songs which endeared her to the crowd no end, that and the fact that she has a voice to die for! The show picked up steam and I was loving it by the end. This is our last song A big sad Ohhhhh from the crowd Oh you know how this works! cue laughter and they did a song from the new Sonic Youth album that was FANTASTIC! Ive not felt compelled to buy a Sonics LP for some time but I will now. A couple of slow ballads for an encore and she was gone. She looked like she had a good night we certainly did!

And the kids love the climbing frame.

Bob the Chiropodist Continue reading →

The Duke And The King is a new project from Simone Felice (of The Felice Brothers). Not another Americana band of ernest balladeers I hear you cry.well, yeah, they are.and bloody good at it too. I was unfamiliar with their … Continue reading →