To celebrate his 50th birthday and his dads 80th, Ivan hired the Abbey Tavern in Kentish Town for the afternoon and had a private party with TJ Johnson and his Band playing a couple of live sets. A gathering of old friends, a generous free bar and some fabulous food meant that the band had to struggle a little with the chatter but the coped admirably.
They were on fine form and it was no great suprise when Ivan mussled in on the act with his harmonica in hand
Roy has worked in the film business for many years being involved with the animated weirdness at the end of 2001 A Space Odyssey and the cool Cresta bear and there was a lot of movie insiders in attendance. All his boys have followed in the movie tradition in one way or another. Ivan has done a few short films, my favourite being A whispered name – very apt with the imminent world cup. The main actor from Seemless was there and Dig and I were sl star-struck.
It was great to see the old Finchley mob in such fine form – Some folks I hadn’t seen for at least 15 years. Here’s to the 60th/90th Do – I can’t wait!
Youd expect a place called Coldharbour to be near the sea, but confusingly, its in the heart of the Surrey countryside down a lot of narrow country lanes that at this time of the year run through gorgeous bluebell woods with distant views of rolling hills. Unfortunately, this rural loveliness was lost on us as we started to panic about not finding the pub in time to hear the fabulous voice of Paul Heaton, playing his most southerly gig on his perilous Pedals and Pumps tour (hes had several run-ins with drivers and got knocked off on his way to our gig by the landlord of the previous pub, who was cycling with him).
This show could have run for several more hours and wed all have been very happy. His intelligent lyrics, punchy in the more rocky numbers and soothing and sensuous in the ballads hit home much more live than they do on recordings, and hes a great front man dancing and running around the stage, which was adventurous given the small barn we were crammed into at the back of the pub. A combination of new songs, older solo stuff and loudly-welcomed Housemartins numbers made for a night that, at £15 a head, was the best-value gig Ive been to in a long time. With an encore that included a great piece of political writing, performed with total conviction, only the need to get back and pay the babysitter stopped me from staying to buy the man a pint and talk about saddle sores and a Tory party in government.
Its gigs like this that remind you why you love live music in the first place. The proximity to the band, the vibrations through the floor and the connection with the music were fantastic at this gig and Paul, whos cycling between each pub on this 3 week tour had more energy than anyone averaging 60 miles a day should reasonably expect to conjure up. Support band Gus Devlin and The Resistance was a soulful-folky-country start to the evening and with Gus joining Paul on the cyclethon, itll be interesting to see how theyre both sounding at the last gig in Chorlton in a couple of weeks time.
I was introduced to LCD Soundsystem by Jez at a QUIMS meeting. They’ve obviously got a sense of humour and don’t take themselves too seriously (“and for those of you who still think were from England…..were not..no” – from We are north American scum”). So Jez John F and myself met in the Victoria and commercial for a couple of decent pints before going to the Academy to see them.
First up were Yachts who I’d previously heard on Marc Riley. They were smartly dressed and served up some 80’s style camp indie-disco. We reconned they were brother and sister. The lead singer looked like Gareth Southgate doing a David Byrne impression. 10/10 for enthusiasm.
I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people at the gig – I didn’t realise LCD Soundsystem were so big. James Murphy isn’t a likely pop star- slightly portly with a baggy white T-shirt on – but he and his 6 band mates certainly know how to get a crowd going – they should be a mega-band but get the feeling they’re happy staying under the radar.
They impressed from the off, with driving beats, synths and bass line – “It’s like watching Cabaret Voltaire in the 80s” said Jez. Everyone on stage took a turn at everything with some songs having 3 on drums and others 2 bass guitars. During the heavy hard hitting bits of some songs, they gathered around the drummer, as if egging each other on. They reminded me of all the best bits of so many other bands I love: ‘The Fall’ (with Murphy messing around with everyones amps and using the microphone like a walkie-talkie) ‘Talking Heads’ (for the quirky beats and lyrics) ‘New Order’ (for the peerless synth pop and cow-bells).
Someone Great and Losing my Edge were my favourites – the former for its synth pulse and heart breaking lyrics and the latter because its hilarious. Absolutely Loved them! Go and see them if you can – you won’t regret it.
I got an email from my mate Spud who I havent seen for 20+ years. Hed seen the site and got in touch. Wierdly, I bumped into him a week later at Morrisons in Swinton (when over in Manchester visiting the folks). A coincidence? Anyway, he suggested a meeting about what you would want played at your funeral and QUIMS took up the challenge. 22nd April saw us convening at John Ms and, as usually happens, the subject bled a little and oozed into different areas. John F brought his choices as an order of service (Opening reflections, the Eulogy, the reading, the committal and closing prayers) so we used this as a loose template for the evening: Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return..
A great night of banter and cheese. Some great things came out of peoples choices. It was agreed that a funeral without a Joy Division choice was like a Birthday Party without a cake. I was shocked to find out that Ceremony is now being used on an Absolute Vodka advert (!). John F had chosen Arethas version of Youll never walk alone as Peel had played it the day after after the Hillsborough tragedy. He was so chocked-up after, that he couldnt speak for crying. Kate Bushs Morning Fog is actually stipulated in Bobs will to be played at his funeral (What if your will’s not opened until after? Jez Ah didnt think of that!). Roger has bought Sad Day at least 4 times in differing formats. John M (hard core indie kid) refused to like AC/DC which spawned the phrase Whats the difference between this and AC/DC for every subsequent track. Jez wanted to play a 15 minute Sigur Ros track that he reconned would be the perfect soundtrack to being burnt on a funeral pyre “It just builds up and up and the flames would rise at the end” – he was vetoed! The subject of webcams in coffins came up and thoughts of a dying atheist made me think of Rowan Atkinsons sketch where hes the Devil introducing people to hell.. Best joke of the night: Whats the difference between Cheryl Cole and an Icelandic volcano? The Volcano is still blowing Ash.We left with Seasons in the sun ringing in our ears as John M and Jez had both brought it along. As John noted. “It seemed to be number one for the whole summer when I was a kid”. By coincidence – 2 days later I heard it again on ‘Pick of the pops’ as it was number one, this week in 1974………for four weeks by the way
When a band are as good live as The Duke and the King were last September, it would be churlish not to make the effort to see them again. The HiFi club was born from the flames of the Underground, when Leeds Town & Country Club was turned into a Disco. In the 90’s there were a lot of painful Thursday mornings to struggle through after attending Move on up – Leeds best night out by a long chalk. Had mark and I reminiscing about those heady days. It was never quite the same at the HiFi – but that’s the kind of thing all old gits say isn’t it!
Was great to see a packed house for this gig: Mark, Lee, John, Steve, Sarah and Rich were all bumped into. Missed the first act but caught most of Danny and the Champions of the world. Tight country style harmonies – worth checking out again.
The Duke & the King were on great form again. The HiFi isn’t the ideal venue for a gig of this intensity – bit too much chatter from the bar at the back that distracted a bit from the quietr numbers – we found ourselves pushing closer to the front to avoid the noise pollution. These guys are ridiculously talented. Swapping drumming and singing duties at will “They’re just showing off now!” quips Mark. “I saw my first plane in the sky today..” (after the recent Icelandic ash episode) “..and I felt like a caveman who’d been put in a time machine”.
There wasn’t a dull moment. Even a cover of Floyds Brain Damage from Dark Side of the Moon to close the night. With Mr Felice all bulging eyes and the eeriest violin playing that you’ve ever heard, had you thinking – he really could be a lunatic! “And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes….,” well, the only minor complaint was a lack of new material (the band hung around after the gig and Steve made sure he told each of them) but I guess they’ll be off home now to sort that out.
Just one thing – If you ever get famous, don’t forget about Leeds.
