Happy New Year

And for my final blog of 2012 I wanted to post something appropriate. Donovan's 'New Year Resolution' fits the bill if you can get past the rather cacky sentimentality. It's a bit too limp-wristed to feature on my first 2013 compilation but the lyrics are good enough for me... 

 

Do what you've never done before

See what you've never seen

Feel what you've never felt before

Go where you've never been

Sing what you've never sung before

Say what you've never said

Bear what you've never bourne before

Hear what you've never heard.

 

Happy New Year everyone. Here's to 2013 and the greatest of expectations... 

The end of the year album 2012

Rather disgracefully it's been three months since my last blog. Music remains - it's just that I've been absent. Sorry about that - normal service (and better) will resume in 2013. And, here, to make a few amends, is the track list for my just completed 'End of the year album 2012'

1. New Fast Automatic Daffodils - These foolish things
2. Black Country Communion - Cry Freedom
3. Holly Golightly - Christmas tree on fire
4. The Zombies - She's not there
5. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Get your pants off
6. Lyres - Not looking back
7. Heartless Bastards - Got to have rock n roll
8. Five Horse Johnson - The job
9. Led Zepagain - The Rover
10. Deus - Girls keep drinking
11. Grinderman - Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man
12. A lion named roar - Desert Wind
13. The pains of being pure at heart - Jeremy
14. Cowboy Mouth - Blues at bay
15. Sponge - Wax ecstatic (to sell Angelina)
16. Steve Earle - Conspiracy Theory
17. Dirty Guv'nahs - We'll be the light
18. Southern Culture on the skids - It's the music that makes me
19. Bronze Radio Return - Lo-fi
20. Led Zepagain - Trampled Underfoot

MOK - SHAKEDOWN

 

Thanks to the online votes and support at Brighton's Coalition last night, Mok are now playing mainstage at Shakedown festival, Stanmer Park, Brighton on Saturday 6 October. The likes of Dizzee Rascal and Professor Green are headlining. R-E-S-U-L-T!

 

Rachel Sermanni - Latest Music Bar, Brighton - 23.09.12

Although not quite as small as a good friend of mine led me to believe, Brighton's Lastest Music Bar is, nonetheless, quite intimate. And for quiet gigs like tonights, you sort of felt obliged to whisper your orders to the barman for fear of disturbing people. Promoting her debut album 'Under Mountains' Rachel Sermanni was her eclectic self, admirably supported by Jade Hopcroft and Jacko Hooper (watch out for those names). More of the same please.

 

Smoke Fairies - Haunt - Brighton - 20.09.12

We last saw the Smoke Fairies back in 2010 at what was then The Jam. That was an altogether different gig to last night at Brighton's Haunt for the fourth leg of their 18-venue 'Blood Speaks' autumn tour. This was a loud, boisterous, in your face rock n roll, albeit one laced with an echo of unassuming timidity. 'Blood Speaks' live is even better than 'Blood Speaks' recorded - that that's saying something! Eighty minutes of brilliance topped off with an encore concluding Abba cover totally in keeping with the haunting melodies we've come to expect from Jessica and Katherine.

[Set list]

 

Luddite Blues

At the time of writing, it's the last day of my summer holiday and the sun has abandoned me. Squally showers, cooling wind and a return to work in the morning. Enough to make anyone feel slightly melancholy. The blues though have always had the reverse effect on me. So here are three crackers I've picked from some of my favourite pick-me-up tracks.

 

Starting off with Love Sculpture's 'Blues Helping' from 1968. Formed in 1966, the split in 1970 launched frontman Dave Edmunds' solo career.

 

Next we have probably one of my all-time favourite tracks - Hot Tuna's cover of the classic 'Hesitation Blues' from their self-titled 1970 album. There've been many versions since, but this is their best.

 

 

 

And last, but by no means least, Mountain's 'Last of the sunshine days' from their 1974 album 'Avalange'. Enjoy.

 



Stop Simon Cowell

Mok - for Shakedown Festival

Mok's 'Hey' made the Argus download of the week this week - check this out for the detail - http://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/download/. But what's more is that they've been chosen as one of the top 20 bands to play at Brighton's Shakedown festival. We now need to get them into the top 5. So get on your Soundcloud and make 'Hey' a favourite. You know it makes sense.

Oh, and if you're reading this before 7pm today - get yourself down to Sticky Mike's Frog Bar in Middle Street, Brighton. Mok are headlining at 9.30. Four of your pounds will get you in to hear first hand the best unsigned band in Brighton.

R.I.P. Jon Lord

Jon Lord (1941 to 2012) R.I.P.

Mok - Hey

Ok - this is an out and out plug and I'm proud of it. My daughter Gracey is the joint lead singer in Brighton's Mok. And 'Hey' is their first single. Here's the YouTube. You can download the song from itunes or listen to it on Spotify and a piffling seventy-nine of your pence will get you the best single you'll have heard this year. So get downloading. You know it makes sense!

Ministry (with Co-conspirators)

Even though it's been out since 2008, 'Cover up' by Minstry and Co-Conspirators is a covers album worthy of every record collection. Fourteen subliminal tracks including 'Bang a gong (Get it on)', 'Radar Love, 'Black Betty, 'Mississippi Queen', 'Just got paid', 'Lay lady lay', 'Roadhouse blues' and three versions of 'What a wonderful world', one of which I'll leave you with to enjoy.

Hat Fitz & Cara

A more unlikely duo you are never likely to meet. Robert Fitzpatrick - a spade-is-a-spade Aussie, and Cara Robinson, soulful percussionist from Ireland. But theirs is a match made perfect for this foot-stomper; something of a sample from more of the same on their latest album 'Wiley Ways' - out now on RBS.

The Gypsy Switch

Great Eastern - Brighton - 24 May 2012

First time I heard The Gypsy Switch was a couple of summers back when they were busking in Brighton's Pavilion Gardens. I was pretty taken with their gutsy blues rock style and promptly downloaded a few tracks.  Hadn't heard much from them since until I spotted the Great Eastern gig on the Brighton Noise site. They've had a bit of a line-up change but they certainly haven't lost their edge. Perfect sound for a perfect early summer balmy evening. Find out more and have a listen here http://www.thejipseswich.com/. Seems there's an EP on the way soon. 

R.I.P Robin Gibb

Robin Hugh Gibb C.B.E

22 December 1949 to 20 May 2012

Rest in peace

Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson

Kick start your week with some Power!

Nuff said!

MoK - Prince Albert - 18 May 2012

From the state of our study, I can testify to the amount of work MoK did in preparation for their first single and video release - 'Hey' at the Prince Albert, Brighton, Friday 18 May 2012. Admirably supported by 'Clear as Mud' and 'The Alex Bay Band', MoK started as they meant to go on - with a big screeen showing of the 'Hey' video.  Playing to the packed upstairs venue, they then blistered their way through what, in my mind could well be their best set yet. Rock on MoK - let's get this video viral!

(You can see the video here)

Brother Ali (NOT)

Cancelled. Gutted. Nuff said

Camille - Barbican, London - 27.4.12

It was to be the fourth time we've had the unique pleasure of seeing Ms Camille Dalmais live, this time at London's Barbican centre. The only UK (and therefore not surprisingly sold out) date on this (extended) part of the European 'Ilo Veyou' tour she did absolutely nothing to disappoint. In fact, I'd go so far to as to say that this was the best of the four outings! Having front row seats helped as did the the rather good support in the form of the diminutive Mina Tindall (one to watch out for there). Robin came within a hair's breadth - one person - of being dragged onto the stage for the waltz part of 'La France' and stage performance was as eclectic (bonkers) as always - the pic above is a good example as she always has a bit of a lie down for 'Wet Boy'. I even managed to get a copy of 'Le Sac des Filles' (her first album) on the Merc. stand. Roll on the next UK gig Ms Dalmais. We'll be there!

UFO - Concorde II, Brighton - 3.4.12

It'd been a while since I'd been to something 'lard' with proper guitar solos and ringing ears. So an evening at Brighton's Concorde II with the likes of Dirty Shoes, Heavy Metal Kids and UFO led by the ubiquitous Phil Mogg was never going to disappoint. And it didn't!

We got there slightly too late for Dirty Shoes - a pint or three of Dark Star seemed somehow more inviting. But the Heavy Metal Kids (for 'kids' read 'old people') set provided an excellent prelude to the two hours to follow (replete with Justin McConville proving that he can still give himself a good ass-kicking).

What a blistering set. Combining old and new tunes from their 40+ year back catalogue, Phil Mogg proved that being a pensioner doesn't mean that you can't still belt out the gubbins for whatever time it takes. Backed by the solidily of Paul Raymond and Andy Parker, newcomer Vinnie Moore proved admirably that he definately has what it takes with a 12-minute barnstormer version of 'Rock Bottom'. The familiarity of 'Doctor Doctor' filled the packed house for the second encore as midnight came and went. Curfew didn't seem to mean much for Mr Mogg on his home turf but sadly we had to miss out on the final applauds as our lift home awaited. If you want just a flavour of UFO live you could do no better than 2005's 'Showtime'.'Seven Deadly' - their latest studio album - was released in February. 

Gordon Giltrap

Ropetackle - Shoreham-by-Sea - 09/03/12

As gigs go, this was in many ways a new one on me. Several things. (1), no talking between tracks (in fact, no noise at all). (2), Two bars, no queues and Dark Star on tap. (3) Queues in the gents (4) polite clapping only (5) seats! (6) Interval with ice creams! But despite all that, this was a rare treat. Guitar craftsmanship at its absolute finest. An hour and a half of listening bliss followed by a short walk home and in before the call for last orders. Am I getting past it? I think not. UFO, Camille and Brother Ali still to to come and all before summer. Time for a bit of a lie down I think!

R.I.P. Ronnie Montrose

Ronnie Montrose was born on 29 November 1947 and passed away on 3 March 2012. Another sad loss to the world of guitar. Here he is on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1974 performing Bad Motor Scooter with Sammy Hagar (now with Chickenfoot). Rest in peace Ronnie.

R.I.P. Davy Jones

The best Monkee passes on! R.I.P. Mr Jones

Giles Robson & the Dirty Aces

One album I shall certainly be downloading when my emusic subscription refreshes for March is 'Crooked Heart of Mine' from Giles Robson & the Dirty Aces released last year. But if like me, you'd like a bit more now, the 'Blues Fury' CD on the cover of the April 2012 Classic Rock magazine includes the album version of this track. Enjoy!

Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride

I never had any interest in the London Weekend Television political show 'Weekend World' as a teenager, but the theme tune was amazing. Took me a while, but when I finally found out that it was Mountain's 'Nantucket Sleighride', I promptly went out and brought the album. Check out the bottom right-hand sleevenote with advice about how to play it. 

Ten Years After - Sssh

Been meaning to do this for a while - bit of an off-and-on mini-series on classic vinyl from my own collection. This is the inside sleeve of Ten Years After's gatefold album 'Ssssh' released on Deram in 1969. This was the first TYA album I purchased (second hand admittedly - but mint all the same). Seeing their performance of 'I'm Going Home' in the epic film version of Woodstock clinched it for me, and Alvin Lee's lightning-fast fretwork sold me on the band which would become one of the most inspiring in my formative years of music appreciation. There's a lot of good stuff here - from the opening 'Bad Scene' to the closing 'I woke up this morning'. But the penultimate track on side 2 is my Sssh favourite I think. The Stomp pre-dates 70's stadium rock by several years and yet somehow epitomises what so many bands to follow would take from the classic period of British blues rock to which this timeless album belongs.

Ugly Purple Sweater

Ugly Purple Sweater originated as a partnership between Sam McCormally and Rachel Lord. Hailing from Washington DC, the now 5-piece band describe themselves as 'apocalyptic folk rock' (whatever that means)! Their second album - 'Conventions' - was released on EAR Distro/Coda on 12 November 2011.

Etta James

R.I.P. Jamesetta Hawkins (1938 - 2012)

Six Storeys High

Six Storeys High hail from Edinburgh and, with their debut album planned for later this year a tour spot with McFly would get them up there with the visibiliy they deserve! Log in to your Facebook account, open up the page from this link and hit the 'like' button now.

Mazzy Star

Mazzy Star - Hope Sandoval & David Roback - first got together to play some tunes back in 1989. It's been fifteen years though since any new material surfaced, so the release of 'Lay myself down' in October last year and the promise of a new album sometime after summer 2012 is a good thing. Tour dates are slowly being confirmed and it looks very much as though there are some UK ones.