Category Archives: News

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 →

on a few numbers by clarinet and a wonderful slapping double bass (I love that sound) but it was the intricate guitar work that stole the show the fingers on the fret seemed to be picking out a tune of their own whilst holding down the chords as well – superb stuff.

Next up were Elephants On Acid a blast from the (Deep Purple-esqe) past. Theyve got a great bunch of songs, most of which are Bass line driven. The Russian (or German?) lead singer had enough enthusiasm to get people up dancing, I just wish his guitar had been a shade higher in the mix. Songs like Hyde Park Blues let you know theyre locals too. Terrific energy and great fun A great night!

Bob the Chiropodist Continue reading →