Helen, Martin and Stephen

Went to a great gig last night in Chelmsford.  It seemed like ages since I had seen Helen and Martin. I didn't know Stephen Foster-Pilkington but he was very funny and put on a good show. He also had a familiarity about him. So I felt like I knew him. His voice sounded a bit Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. He did a thing where he mimed to a recording from his latest album, which you could purchase for a fiver on a memory stick. That answers the problem of artwork! A funnier sight was hard to find as he 'danced' Eddie Tenpole style, leg flaying out to the side, banging the beat.
Helen was next and had her lovely telecaster which she plays so precisely. She sung about four or five tunes, ending with my fave 'Heaven Avenue'.  Martin was called up to accompany on an acoustic. Coincidentally this is about Helen's acid tripping experience. Only the once as she thought it would never be that good second time. A million heroin addicts are screaming. Why didn't I see it like that?
Next was Mr Stephenson. He was on good form considering it was the third gig in three nights. He returned the favour to Helen and he played the Airship song while Helen sang. Stephen had also been called back to accompany Martin with his electric violin for 'Little Red Bottle'.
All in all a rocking night. Always recommend Helen and Martins gigs. Proper feel good factor.

Art and Fencing

Yesterday me and him indoors went to Farm Lane, Fulham to see my cousin Bob's exhibition of Art. It was a mixture of paintings and the surroundings they were shown in. Farm Lane is a lovely little trading estate which is about to be bulldozed. So the exhibition showed the neglect of the building along with some of Bob's paintings. The owner is sure to make a pretty penny from the sale of the land, probably for another shopping centre and cinema complex. It was good to see old Bob, I haven't seen him for a few years and his kids are now 13 and 11. It was quite strange to hear him being called Dad. His boys were very in to it and were making suggestions where he could put things and how they should be laid out. Quite a few turned out for him which was nice. It was all a bit beyond me to be honest, paintings were good 'splash' paintings, but I struggle when people add meanings to these things. Still I've seen a lot worse made a right fuss of, so good on him. You can check it out for yourself on his Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/rmileskingston
At home we are doing our own painting, namely fence panels and shed. All part of fixing up the garden, hopefully in readiness of a new dog. It was so windy though today it was quite annoying after a time. Still nearly done painting. The fence should be done by next weekend, depending on the weather. While painting I had my i-pod on to the tune of Helen and Martin's album Cafe of Tiny Kindnesses, which they should have called the Love album. Inspired by weekends in Barcelona, it is a lovely collection of songs, some with a real spanish feel.
A parcel arrived too; Father's Day pressie for him indoors and card and a birthday card for me! I am 49 on Tuesday, one day before pay day so will be absolutely skint, not even a birthday cake, still at my age cakes go straight to the hips so maybe it's for the best.

Dad

It's also 2 months today my Dad died, so I am feeling a bit sad. Miss the old git.

National Ride to Work Day

It's National Ride to Work Day on Monday Something which I do everyday regardless of the weather; snow being the only exception!
They mean motorbikes not pushbikes. So what if everyone did go and get a CBT and start? It'd be murrder I reckon. Some people are just not made to ride or drive. It's bad enough getting stuck behind someone on a bike who blatantly shouldn't bother. I know we all have to start somewhere but keep out of the DD's (daily drivers) way! What is the point of having a bike and sitting in traffic? Bikes were made to filter down the outside. So if you are going to ride properly, do it, if not please don't bother! Here is the link to the page which also says I should take someone pillion., er don't think so! http://ridetoworkday.co.uk/

Her Majesty Live

Here's a little vidayo from yesterday

Her Majesty

No. not Lizzie, don't worry I haven't gone all royalist. It's my friend Laura's band. They had their first gig last night at the Crash Festival at Nambucca in the Holloway Road. I was looking forward to seeing Laura perform as she split from her last band last year and for a while was in limbo. But as she is really committed to her music it didn't take too long for her to meet like minded souls. It's an all girl group which to some can be daunting, there are still dinosaurs out there who think that all girls can't do it, you must have a bloke in there to give cohesion. Well not here. It's the usual set up, guitar, bass, singer, drummer and also a keyboard player, which having known LeRox for long I was surprised at, but it works well. Apparently Rosie was classically trained on the old joanna so she does know her sharps from her flats. I think most of the girls have been in bands before, so they all know the game. Gemma Clarke who has a mass of blonde hair and is reminiscent of Animal from the Muppets when she gets going has played with Pete Docherty previously, but don't let that put you off. She bashes the skins like billy-o, always with a huge smile on her face. Mercedes the guitarist had an issue with a foot pedal which delayed action for a bit, but soon got cracking with some funky riffs. The bass player, sorry I don't know her name yet was like most bass players, just standing out of the way of Laura, but that's not a bad thing with Laura she does like to move about a bit, and will make her own space! But bass was driving and a bit up and down not just plink, plink. (can you tell I'm not a musician?) The constant was the keyboards, running behind keeping it all together. Bloody marvellous. I wish them the best of luck, They have been in the studio recently so some sort of release is imminent. I'll keep you posted. There wasn't a no photographs rule so here are some pictures. Unfortunately I couldn't get them all in, hence 3 pictures. Gawd bless Her Majesty long may you reign.

Joan Armatrading

I went to see Joan at the Stables Milton Keynes with me Julie and my friend Hotpot.
What a fantastic gig. The venue is superb, apparently designed by Cleo and John Dankworth, so the acoustics were brilliant. It's set in countryside and some people were having a picnic in the grounds. We decided there wasn't a bad seat in the house. It is reasonably small, around 200 seats so perfect for me as I don't like big places.
Joan was fabulous, I'd never seen her live only on the telly at Glasto and other programmes. I was really moved during the whole performance, It was so moving to see the songs I had been singing for years performed less than 30 feet away. She started with Show some Emotion, mixed it up with a few songs from her new album Starlight, she did all the classics.. Me Myself I, I Love it When you Call me Names, All the way from America,
Love and Affection, where the drummer got up and played a beautiful Sax solo. Bloody marvellous, I thought I was the only one with a tear in my eye, turns out me Julie and Hotpot were equally affected. She finished off with Drop the Pilot, Willow (after being persuaded by the audience to play it) and another track from Starlight.
I shouted for Rosie but was told by her 'Don't you start',  Turned out she was signing CDs and whatever you  wanted (within reason) in the foyer afterwards. I asked why no Rosie and it just wasn't in the set list for this tour, so I guess I'll have to go again next tour. I highly recommend anyone thinking twice about going, to go, This tour appears to be smaller venues which is better in my view. I was pleasantly surprised that she was speaking to the audience, some artists just chat shit let's be honest, but she was very entertaining, she didn't have much choice at one point when she strummed her guitar and she thought it was out of tune, so promptly took it off stage to her guitar tech girly to sort out, proclaiming 'I obviously don't know how to tune a guitar'.
She admitted she had been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award the previous night in Uttoxeter, not for guitar tuning then Joan. Well deserved that is too. As she said it is a bit worrying, do people think you're getting near death, so better give her an award while we can. So good one Joanie, what a lovely lady, see you next year unless it's the O2 or Wembers. I would have posted a picture but there is a no photographs policy at the venue, which I think it pants, I was thinking of flouting it but didn't want to get thrown out!

Oh Fuck!

I have just realised it's been more than a year since I have been here.. outrageous. This will have something to do with the fact that 2011 was shit. Daisy Dog had to be put to sleep in April after we discovered she had cancer. I wasn't happy with the Vet and the way they dealt with it but that's life, and death I s'pose.
It has really taken ages to get used to not having her about. Not that you ever get over the death of a friend.

So I thought 2012 would be better. How wrong I was. My dear old Dad passed away in April, confirming that I hate April and Death is horrible, at any age.
The only consolation as my granddaughter tells me about April is that is also her birthday, she was ten this year so that was the proverbial silver lining.
It was lovely to spend time with her the day after Dad's funeral, reminding you that life does indeed go on..she is a joy.
So hopefully we will be off camping and going to festies this year. It can only get better surely!

On a brighter note I went to see my friend Helen Reddington (aka McCookerybook) the author of the Lost Women of Rock amongst other things. She was doing a talk about the book at David's Book Shop in Letchworth. It was very interesting as she has interviewed lots of women for the book with some interesting stories. You must buy the book to find out. It is now available in a more affordable soft back edition and well worth the dosh.
David's shop is fascinating, he also sells second hand vinyl. Yes vinyl. They have a little coffee shop too and for Helen's night there were free home made cookies...mmmmm. I must pop back there in the day time to have a good nose around, I recommend you do the same.

Hawkwind, Snow and Punctures

Went to see Hawkwind last night at Bedford Corn Exchange. I must have a word, I only knew one song! All that back catalogue and they do the most obscure stuff, as for the new tunes...well...boring about sums it up! The song Sentinel had shades of 'Year of the Cat'...ugh! I couldn't even be bothered to take any pictures!!
I'm sure Mr Dibs (bass) is a lovely bloke, but he just doesn't fit in. And they had two bass players, what's that all about? Richard the drummer was on good form and for once I could hear what he was playing. Poor sod wasn't on a riser though so although he was singing you couldn't see him!
The dancers were good fun though, two young girly's on stilts with masks and fancy costumes, very effective, although given the age of the band, I kept thinking whose daughters are they?
I haven't been able to get to any gigs before that as I had a puncture on a bald tyre and no money to get new ones. Now I have got money and the bikes in the shop the bleeding tyres haven't arrived!
Bloody snow too.....supposed to be going to see the grandaughter tomorrow but think it will be too risky, even if the tyres do come!
I haven't even been able to get to the Perseverance, one of my favourite haunts for quirky entertainment and some excellent musicians!

Daisy Dog is home

Hurrah...DD is home and getting better...she is on a diet of boiled chicken and fish and antibiotics. Nuff sed!

Daisy Dog update

Daisy Dog is ALIVE!
The Vets phoned to ask if I wanted to visit. I thought she was a gonner!
Turns out she had a really bad bout of gastro enteritis, she has had lots of fluid and antibiotics and will be OK. They said we can go tomorrow for a visit and take some treats. When I left she had eaten some fish and was barking like billy-o. Good girl.

Daisy Dog

Daisy is at the Vets..she's not a well dog.
She's had a lump on her leg for sometime but it ruptured this week. She kept licking it so we put the 'idiot' collar on..you know the lampshade thing to stop her. She seemed fine this morning although she had been sick. It got to the point where she couldn't drink, kept looking at her water bowl and walking away. So fortunately we had a hire car for the last 2 weeks to go camping, I whipped her down the vets and they've kept her in. They say she could have septicaemia caused by the open wound. Poor little dog..I left her at the Vets and cried. Everything is crossed now to hope she hangs on through the night.

Rosie 'You got credit?' Lawrence

Every time Laura's friend Rosie met someone she knew at Rhythms. Her first question was have you got credit? It tickled me. In my day, or 'back in the day' as my hot dog loving friend from last blog said, all you had to worry about was if you had 2p for the phone and the phone box didn't smell too bad of piss and there were no puddles.

Stevenage is a clitoris

Hugh Cornwell played last night at Rhythms of the World in Hitchin. absolutely brilliant! It was 50/50 Stranglers and new stuff. Fucking great to hear Peaches, Duchess, Golden Brown, Hanging Around, Grip, Down in the Sewer oh go on then and Walk on By. At the time they released  WOB I thought 'WTF' but it was still good.
He did a few songs off his free download album Hooverdam and a version of the White Room. The highlight for me was Always the Sun, like a fecking eejut I forgot my camera so only managed a couple of snippets of video from my phone, It was excellent the audience singing at the top of their voice, nearly bought a tear to me eye. The girly on bass was grinning like a cheshire cat at the reception they got and deserved. Very tight band, good sound and top quality atmos! I'll pop the photos in when I get a chance.
Surprisingly bumped in to a couple of people I knew, Elena, the girl from the bakers and me Julie from the sweet shop in Sun Street. Had an interesting chat with 2 lads behind me in the queue for a hotdog. They were taking the piss, quoting me the Aviva advert about dropping acid and festivals back in the day. How ironic? I hadn't had any acid at all!! One of them redeemed himself by telling me he had a Suzuki SV650, so we were biker pals from then.
It was much more packed than last year, but I think I went Sunday last year. The toilets stank and when I was watching Hugh the smell was starting to waft over! Can't be arsed to go back today, Glen Matlock is the highlight today, not for me he ain't!
It's no wonder they don't hold it in the town anymore though. People are fucking animals. Buy food, sit down, eat food, get up walk away. Leave plates, knives and forks and leftovers on the ground!! What's that all about. Clean up you dirty basts!
Laters potatoes
Oh to explain the title Hughy replaced clitoris with Stevenage in Peaches...

Book of the week

You know it's Don Letts, mainly because I don't read books very often, this is probably the first book of the year.
It's interesting to read from a black mans point of view about growing up in Brixton in the 60s and 70s. Ha, he reminded of Jean Machine, we used to have one in Romford, and it was so hip, they had cowboy saloon doors! I thought that was great. I remember being confused ("never confused") that what cowboys wore was available for everyone. But I was only about 8 or 9.
I haven't got to the Punk bit yet, so I'll let you know later.

Don Letts

This week I will mainly be reading Don Letts' Culture Clash...as Fluff as on holiday I will be Billy no mates at lunchtime. It's good for a change though not having her rabbitting in me ear.

Frank Sidebottom

It was sad when Frank died, it was good to see so many people turned out for him at his funeral.
RIP Frank...

Floodline

Went to see my mate Matty's band in Letchworth  at the Arena Tavern, never been there before but a cool place. Only small but that's how I like it! The bar stuff were friendly and they have gigs every week, so feel free to check it out.
This was their first gig for a few years, not sure if they're on a comeback eh Matt?
Floodline were good, performing all their own songs, with some nice riffs and funky bass lines.

The singer Ryan reminded me of someone, with his voice, but I can't think who, then decided it doesn't really matter. They had some nice songs. I've uploaded Nowhere to Run on to You Tube.
As Matt used to work with us, all the girls from work came to cheer him on. When I was filming all I could hear was Fluff giving it large behind me, hassling Matt's sister for a job. Matt said he was nervous but it didn't show. I was surprised they gave him a mike, but he didn't abuse it! Next time though someone should say what the songs are called! It was lovely to see him and Vix, his naturally beautiful girlfriend, a true blonde and very smart! It was good to see Matt although he was buzzing about so didn't see him for too long. Also to meet Sarah his sister, when she arrived and they greeted  it was like watching Smiffy and Rudi from Gavin and Stacey, dead funny! But that's Matty Dredd.
It was so hot though as soon as they had finished we went outside again. Mostly to have a fag. So I missed the main band but caught a bit when I went in for a wee. It was the sound bloke in the band, they sounded quite good, but it was too hot to stay. Must try and catch them another time.
Next gig; chaos:baby at the Barfly Tuesday 13 July.........

Sonic Rock Solstice

So, off to Wales, near Builth Wells for the Sonic Rock Solstice. I was a bit apprehensive cos it usually rains in Wales, but read the weather forecast and they said it was gonna be hot hot hot!! So we ditched the wellies and set off. We had hired a tranny van, bunged my Nan's old 2 seater sofa in, rug for the floor, loaded all the camping stuff in and we were off. We had to go and pick up our mate Horse and his girlfriend. So then me and the dog volunteered to sit on the sofa in the back for the journey, rather than try and all squash in the front and be asking for a tug! Well that was an experience, it absolutely pissed down with rain near Wales and it was a bit scary not being able to see what was happening. I could feel the tires aquaplaning! My imagination was working overtime; what if we crashed? I decided in that event to cover the dog on the settee and hang on to the arm and use the settee for cover !!
Fortunately it only lasted about 10 minutes then apparently it was OK, I could see a bit through two little holes near the sliding door, but could see the sun was out!
When we arrived in the late afternoon the sun was still out and it was warm. Perfect camping weather. We camped next to the chill out tent, which was handy. It was run by Sarah and Dipper and helped by Mark.
They provided tea, coffee and grub, I was never sure if money changed hands, it was quite popular. I got talking to Mark on the Saturday and ended up in there, 'chilling' :)/
To be perfectly honest I don't go for the music particularly. It's just such a chilled atmos and there was only about 500 people there. The dog loves it, she wanders about gruffing at people minding their own biz.
It's good to see Nik Turner though, he has a real presence. He popped up, a couple of times, to the chill out tent with his mate who looked like he needed oxygen! (We were on the top of a small hill, but the view was fantastic)
A fab weekend, roll on next year...

cats

I bloody hate cats, the kitten next door has stalked the Robin nesting in the garden and robbed his 2 chicks!
She didn't even have the decency to eat them! Bastard!