FamilyCover

This meeting was held at Jez’s house and was invigilated by Si East who joined us from the Ilkley branch to make sure we were doing these meetings to the appropriate standard….he brought along a picture interlude guessing which classic works of art end up on which album covers…..happy to say none of us got the Rod Stewart or Chris Rea ones! We almost had a full turn out but Roger got held up so missed out on the lovely cheesey muffin bites – recipe at the end……

 

Beatnik Daddy – Barbara Evans (Jez)

Jocko Homo – Devo (Si E)

On coming from a broken home – Gil Scott Heron (Bob)

Yachts – A Man Called Adam  (John F)

Brother Sister – Soft Hearted Scientists (Si)

Shack Up – ACR (John M)

Me & Matthew – Martin Stephenson (Jez)

Autumn Sweater – Yo La Tengo (Si E)

Dad Muscles – Mik Artistik (Bob)

Family Friend – Vaccines (John M)

Disconnecty – Grandaddy (Si)

It’s getting better everyday – Mamas and Papas (John F)

Grandma Shirley + Papa – Adam Green (Jez)

Pink Orange Red – Cocteau Twins (Si E)

Mr Brown – Gregory Isaacs (Bob)

Teenage dad on his estate – Morrissey (John M)

Mother Matherin – Stokie (Si)

I See My Mother – Polica (Si)

If you want me to stay – Sly and the family stone (John F)

Fathers Day – Frank Turner (Jez)

All the wine – The National (Si E)

Three is the magic number – Bob Dorough (Bob)

Child Psychology – Black Box Recorder (John M)

Naming the royal baby – Spitting image (Si)

Combat Baby – Metric (SI)

Orlock – Anna Meredith (John F)

Kids – MGMT (Jez)

One man guy – Rufus Wainwright (Si E)

I luv Your Mum – 7-10 splits (Bob)

It’s Grandad – Stokie (Si)

Brother – The Organ (Si)

Listen to the music – The Doobie Brothers (John F)

Big Brother – Joyriders oakenfold remix (Jez)

The Lions Roar – First Aid Kit (Si E)

Daddy drinks (cause you’re bad) – Mammoths melting out of the ice!?! (Bob)

Father and Son – Loudon Wainwright III (Si)

Sisters – Rosemary and Betty Clooney (John F)

Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone (Jez)

And you’ve got to have this on the list haven’t you!

 

And for those Cheesey Muffin delights – see here

 

Bob the Chiropodist

 

 

Laura J

Great start to 2014 gigging with the multi-layered Laura J Martin. I was thinking of only seeing bands/artists this year who I’ve not seen before……but when there’s artists as good as Laura playing for only £3.50……it’d be daft not to go!

On this tour she’s backed by another multi-instrumentalist Adam Stearns who also opened tonights show with some mellow piano tunes including one about the archetypal sad clown that had a tune reminiscent of the death march. Martin got his 7″ with great art and a badge too!

Maggie8

I missed Maggie8 when they supported the Wave Pictures last year but glad I caught them this time round. Driving bass and a brace of great tunes – they also liked to change instruments with each other……

Laura J2

Laura did a load of new stuff from her new LP Dazzle Days with the usual loops of flute and (?) mandolin. A real talent you get the feeling she could play anything and get a tune out of it. All her songs come with a story and she did ‘Tom’ after I asked for it as an encore. Took Marisa and met up with Slaedge, Ana Luisa, Martin and Tony – a top night!

 

Bob the Chiropodist

 

WoodenShjips

The Wooden Shjips rolled into town with their own style of fuzzed up west coast boogie with added late night TV static visuals. They played variations of the same tune for over an hour….but what a tune! Erik “Ripley” Johnson’s guitar weaves in and out and then glides over the top of Dusty Jermiers pulsating bass lines which mash with Omar Ahsanuddin’s uncannily chirpy drum beats. Synth player Nash Whalen looked a little bored at times but then, he only had to play 3 notes……

Wooden3

Echoes of Hawkwind and the Ozrics with some pop sensibility thrown in for good measure – would love to see these guys in a sweaty tent at a festival….the tunes just got your head bobbing as they snaked along…..made me think of this tune by Snapper (thanks for reminding me Gerry!). Bought their new LP which was in a beautiful gatefold sleeve in a slip case and on Pink Vinyl…….wow!

That beard in silhouette....

That beard in silhouette….

Bob the Chiropodist

 

Ben4 A wonderfully intimate night at the Brudenell with Ben Watt, ably accompanied by Bernard Butler. 12 new songs and a few oldies from his pre ‘Everything But The Girl’ days, lots of humourous banter and even the odd tear…….what a night!

Ben3

I last saw Ben Watt as part of ‘Everything But The Girl’ at the Hacienda 29 years ago. I first heard them when my mate Mike played me their ‘Night and Day‘ single…..he’d heard it on John Peel and bought it the next day. If Mike had something in those days I didn’t bother buying it as we were always in each others houses……but I bought this one….it was a bit special.

I then got the 99p Cherry Red sampler ‘Pillows and Prayers‘ and realised he and Tracy had done other stuff, so tracked down releases by ‘Marine Girls’ and Bens solo records. Bens always had beautiful guitar parts and been a story teller in song which I love. EBTG took off with the wonderful ‘Eden‘ and his solo stuff was quietly forgotten.

A mega career later (featuring stellar world-wide success and near death) he’s back to his quiet thoughtful best with a brace of new songs inspired after writing a book about his parents in the post war years.

Ben2

Tonight the Brudenell has tables and chairs out and the feeling is quite like an old Jazz club. It was 15 mins into the gig when I realised my cheeks were hurting because I was smiling so much. Ben charms the small but intimate crowd with the stories behind the new songs.  He’s been writing songs using new tunings for his guitar, as it aided creativity, which is why he had 8 different ones with him “Joni Mitchell used 54 different tunings in her career so I’ve got a way to go yet”.

With Ben tonight was Bernard Butler (who’s been producing the new ‘Teleman’ LP). His understated accompaniment was just right with many of the notes he hit causing looks of ecstasy on Bens Face. I particularly liked his slide guitar. One song ‘Matthew Arnold Field’ about his spreading his dads ashes in the woods made Lee cry and me remember I still have to do the same with my dads ashes….but it wasn’t all doom and gloom with a Spring song about ‘throwing the windows open and letting the bird song tumble in’…..

Ben played a few of his old solo songs (North Marine Drive is a street in Brid!) and to be honest, he could have played that one guitar in that one distinctive style all night for me…….He’s not one for looking back though “I’d rather play 12 new songs to 200 people than tour an old record to thousands. When bands do that, those gigs always have a feeling of a school reunion, great for the first few minutes then ‘What am I doing here!’ “.

So, 30 years after purchasing my first Ben Watt record, I’m now rather giddy with exciting about getting the new LP when it comes out……there aren’t many artists you can say that about are there.

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The recent 6Music session is here

Bob the Chiropodist

Cake

A meeting was held at Bobs with Drugs as the theme. Unfortunately Roger and John M couldn’t make it which meant more cheese and tunes for the rest of us. Some obvious choices (Lou Reed RIP) and a new Leeds band to check out (Melt yourself down). A top night!

Drugs of choice on the night: Heineken, Kronenbourg, Peroni or London Pride Beer, Doritos and cheese dip, pigs in blankets, a selection of olives, Stilton, white stilton with cranberries and Danish blue cheese with multiseed thins and a box of Roses……this could get addictive!

 

Drug Time – Babybird (Bob)

Projects – Wu Tang Clan (John)

Hassan I Sabbah – Hawkwind (Jez)

The Drug Train – The Cramps (Simon)

Old Fashioned Morphine – Jolie Holland (Bob)

I don’t need no Doctor – Ray Charles  (john)

Friends of Mine – Adam Green (Jez)

Crack Rock – Frank Ocean (Simon)

Out of my mind on dope and speed – Julian Cope (Bob)

Kingdom of kush – melt yourself down (john)

The Kids – Eminem (Jez)

Lithium – Little Roy (Simon)

Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in – Kenny Rogers & the first edition (Bob)

DLZ – Tv on the Radio (John)

Don’t Bogart Me – The Fraternity of Man (Jez)

Remorse Code – Richard Hawley (Simon)

Sugar Town – Nancy Sinatra (Bob)

Raga Bhairay – charanjit singh (john)

Caught by the Fuzz – Supergrass (Jez)

Cigarette Smoker Fiona – Arctic Monkeys (Simon)

I’m Waiting for my man – Velvets (all)

Walk on the wild side – Lou Reed (Bob)

Pink Dust – Squrl (john)

H-Eyes – Ruts (Jez)

Snowblind – Black Sabbath (Simon)

LSD made a wreck of me – Rudi Protrudi (Bob)

Egyptian Tomb – Mighty Baby (John)

Feel Good Hit of the Summer – Queens of the Stone Age (Jez)

Signed D.C. – Love (Simon)

International Herb – Culture (Bob)

Bananas and Blow – Ween (john)

What A Waster – The Libertines (Jez)

Mojo Pin – Jeff Buckley (Simon)

You’re my drug – The Dukes of Stratosphear (Bob)

P.S.  We all like to party right! absolutely – but Drugs can be bad for your reputation

Bob the Chiropodist – November 2013