Big Plans For Everybody

Can we have our ball back please...?

2012-02-05T18:44:00.000Z

Well, you're probably aware that a bunch of file sharing sites are currently 'frozen'... this means that, for the foreseeable future, BPFE is a graveyard of dead links.

Bah humbug.

I'm not going to go into my opinion of the situation, suffice to say that I'm obviously not a fan. But we have to deal with it. Until I come up with an alternative (or until 'The Man' finds another distraction) I'm afraid, I'm a bit stuck. If the situation becomes permanent, then I guess I'll just have to, ulp, just write about stuff and not hide behind the ultra-cool tunes.

Keep checking in BPFErs - you never know your luck.

Love, light and peace,

Rushbo

Best Of The Year at BPFE

2011-12-20T00:31:00.004Z

It’s been a funny ol’ year for listening to stuff at BPFE. Thanks to the discovery of a number of exciting blogs, I’m afraid my consumption of brand new music has taken a back seat to rediscovering some classics and some obscurities. I’ve loved every minute, but I’d be hard pushed to come up with a list of 10 albums that have blown me away. Instead, here are three:

Matthew Sweet: ‘Modern Art’

I have no idea why this wasn’t praised to the skies on its release. It’s a superb album with some of Sweets best melodies and some great ensemble playing. Expectations are always high when MS releases an album and for many people, he’s still in the shadow of ‘Girlfriend’ which (IMHO) is insane. There are some great songs on here and it’s nowhere near as ‘Avant-garde’ as I’d been led to believe. Lots of scrumptious, tight, Pop Rock gems, as well as Mr Sweet stretching himself out a little. If you bought this, listened to it once and then tossed it in the ‘trade’ pile, dig it out and try again. It ain’t his most immediate work, but it’s up there with his best.

'Oh Oldendaze!' from 'Modern Art'

Captain Wilberforce: ‘Ghost Written Confessions’

One day, Simon Bristoll will be a huge star and you can say ‘I told you so’ to anyone who will listen. This is his third full length album and has that ‘third album feel’ too – you know – a little bit different to the previous two, possibly reaching for something else, a la ‘Big Star Third’ or ‘Fables of the Reconstruction’. It’s not as PowerPop as his last, frankly awesome release ‘Everyone Loves a Villain’, but the songs are marvellous – lot’s of detail, always interesting lyrics and memorable tunes. I’ve waxed lyrical before, and I probably will again, but this guy is probably the best Pop Rock writer you’ve never heard of. PLEASE buy it and make him rich.

'The Day Your Mouth Stood Still' from 'Ghost Written Confessions'

Three Minute Tease: ‘Three Minute Tease’

Anton Barbeau with the rhythm section from The Soft Boys. You cannot imagine how excited I was when I heard about this. Too good to be true? No. It’s better than that. Finally, a supergroup that doesn’t suck. I’m not sure if this has a physical release yet, but trust me, it’s breathtaking. Well, of course it is – it’s Anton Barbeau with the rhythm section from The Soft Boys...

'Love Is Onion' Live from 'Three Minute Tease'

Pre Christmas Greetings!

2011-12-19T17:51:00.001Z

Hey boysangurls, remember me?

Well, my good lady wife is on an epic Christmas shopping trip and the kids are engrossed in Phineas and Ferb (or something…it’s disturbingly quiet downstairs apart from the occasional whirr of the power sander and what sounds like our cat screaming. I can also smell burning. All is normal, right?) This gives me an hour or two to make up for a huge amount of lost time, answer an email or twelve, review a couple of ace gigs and post some delicious, long overdue recordings. Strap yerself in kids….

First off, thanks to Peter for asking after my gig. Yep, it went really well, we rocked in a distinguished, fortysomething way, people danced and money was raised for a damn good charity. My voice was pretty much shot by the time we got to the final song of the set – a raucous and rowdy version of Wizzard’s ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’, but I had just enough croak to yell some BVs on our encore of ‘I Fought The Law’. Thanks to everyone who showed.

Enough self indulgence…enjoy some ultratasty gems from Bebop Deluxe, Let’s Active, Game Theory and anything else I have lying around. Cheers!

Grant Hart: The Glee Club, Nottingham 4th December 2011

2011-12-19T17:13:00.002Z

My sides…my aching sides... Grant Hart, writer of some of the most gut wrenching songs in modern music (‘2541’, ‘The Main’, ‘Diane’) performing in front of a six feet tall, three dimensional model of the word ‘Glee’. That’s an irony worthy of Alanis Morissette.

Grant is a mercurial performer…as excited as I was when I saw a short UK tour announced (well ‘announced’ is the wrong word – maybe ‘apologetically released to a couple of Internet sites by accident’ would be more accurate), my glee (that word again!) was somewhat tempered by some recent YouTube footage of a rather unwell Mr Hart wrestling with his back catalogue. Well, as we all know, camcorders and ‘phone cameras are not the most flattering of recording devices and I am delighted to reveal that Mr Hart is looking pretty darn good. As I mentioned in my last post, Grant has had quite a life and to get through all the experiences that he has had and still be able to stand upright and string a sentence or two together is quite an achievement.

This was the first time I had seen him perform solo and I wasn’t disappointed. He started well and just got better. His Guitar playing may never get him shortlisted for Dream Theater, but he accompanies his voice with aplomb. But the voice…oh my days. Possibly not quite as throat shredding as the ‘glory days’ in Husker Du, but still capable of raising the hairs on the back of your neck. ‘Admiral of the Sea’ and (of course) ‘2541’ were real highlights, showcasing what an expressive vocalist he (still) is. Not even a misbehaving Guitar during the latter part of the set (expertly fixed by the support act) could dampen the enthusiasm of a small but partisan crowd. What Hart lacks in audience repartee, he more than makes up for in intensity and he has that in spades. This was a really great show, with some Husker Du gems played alongside quality material from his most recent ‘Hot Wax’ album. I even managed to score a cheap copy of the beautifully titled ‘Oeuvrevue’ CD from the merch stand.

I may be in a minority of one, but I really have no interest in a Husker Du reunion. For a start, given the bad blood between all three if the recent Bob Mould autobiography is to be believed it ain’t exactly top of anyone’s New Years Resolutions list. Instead, I’d prefer Grant Hart to get some kudos for three decades of brilliant tunes.

'Shoot Your way To Freedom' - Nova Mob

Stewart Lee: Leicester Square Theatre, November 19th 2011

2011-12-19T17:06:00.001Z

The very fact that Stewart Lee is a massive fan of The Rain Parade and namechecks The Long Ryders in his latest book should endear him to you. Other things in his favour are that he’s a Brummie, is a snappy dresser and is almost supernaturally funny.

I saw him play one of a long series of shows at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, which for him, must be like some form of comedic ‘Groundhog Day’ – turn up to the same venue day after day, be funny (twice on Saturdays) and repeat forever. How he keeps it fresh, I don’t know, but he does.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, he’s one of those comics who don’t tell jokes…you know, the modern ones. For this show, he’s made a virtue of the fact that he’s had no profound experiences to write about and has had to look at the trivia and minutiae of everyday life to inspire him. He manages to avoid the usual pitfalls that other comics in a similar position fall into and finds humour in the most unlikely places – primarily in the vast, out of town shopping complexes boasting names like ‘Carpet Remnant World’. Lee creates an alternate universe where animated bits of Axminster live alongside inhabitants of ‘PC World’ and ‘World of Leather’…except he makes it really funny.

I know I’m biased, for all the reasons outlined in my opening paragraph, but this may be his funniest show to date. My only reservation is the fact that he is becoming almost obsessed with negative reactions to his show and indeed, him personally. As funny as it is (and possibly cathartic and empowering for him) to lampoon the critical drubbing he’s had to endure, pretty soon it may turn into a cliché. Stewart Lee is a brilliant and unique talent and I would hate to see him be perceived as just a ‘loveable loser’ and his work become overlooked.

Any road up – he’s bloody great and on tour in 2012. You should go and see him. I laughed a lot and you will too.

Stewart Lee muses on 'Top Gear'

Record Producers Update

2011-12-19T17:00:00.000Z

This may not seem like a big deal to you, but it’s MASSIVE for me…

I am indebted to the wonderful Isaac Bonnell for tracking down the Record Producers episode featuring Nile Rodgers. I heard it when it was first broadcast and it blew my mind, primarily for the segment featuring the Rhythm section recording of ‘Le Freak’. Tony Thompson! Nile Rodgers! And the pure unmitigated Bass genius of the Godlike Bernard Edwards. I could have happily listened to that on a loop for a week. (It was also welcome as I really thought at one stage that I had dreamed the whole thing…) So of course, I had to share it with you, gentle reader. Also included is the recently broadcast Pink Floyd episode (fabulous!) and one I missed out from my first posting – Mick Jones. That’s Mick Jones from The Clash and not from Spooky Tooth/Foreigner…although I’m sure he has some stories to tell…

Over three hours of anorak-y goodness.

The Geek shall inherit the Earth.

Record Producers: Nile Rodgers, Pink Floyd, Mick Jones

Game Theory: Stanford University, CA, May 16th 1987

2011-12-19T16:54:00.000Z

It’s an exciting time to be a Scott Miller fan….over at the LN/GT Facebook page, there are some superb clips of a recent live performance he did to plug the second printing of his excellent book ‘Music: What Happened?’ (Waddaya mean you haven’t got it? Hang your head in shame!) There are even whispers of some more activity…

Please Santa, all I want for Christmas this year (apart from a Fender 1994 Precision Bass special – the ‘Cowpoke’ model, please) is the promise of a new Scott Miller album. He must be poised for a solo record, right?

Anyhoo, this recording comes all the way from 1987 and is a nice, clean soundboard. There are the usual ‘get the right level’ shenanigans during the first track (including a few bars where a rather ‘experimental’ vocal effect was used on Mr Miller’s voice). It’s great…but you knew that, didn’t you?

I can only assume this is another tape from the amazing archives of Robert Toren. So thank you, Robert. If it isn’t – thanks anyway!

Game Theory: Stanford University, CA, May 16th 1987

Game Theory - Stanford 1987

01 Not Because You Can

02 One More for St Michael

03 Little Ivory

04 We Love You Carol and Alison

05 Here It Is Tomorrow

06 I've Tried Subtlety

07 Dripping With Looks

08 Slip Away

09 Nothing New

10 The Real Sheila

11 Shark Pretty

12 Like a Girl Jesus

Let’s Active: ‘Live On a School Night’ The Ritz NYC, October 18, 1988

2011-12-19T16:47:00.001Z

One of my favourite LA boots…

A stellar track listing, a more than decent audience recording and a few tasty covers make this the perfect Christmas gift for any Mitchaficionado. Pink Floyd and Moby Grape covers rub up against songs from the ‘Every Dog…’ album and beyond.

Essential.

(And, as ever, many thanks to the original uploader whose name I cruelly deleted from the info file. Sorry man!)

Let’s Active: ‘Live On A School Night’ The Ritz NYC, October 18, 1988

Let’s Active: ‘Live On a School Night’ The Ritz NYC, October 18,

01 Night Train

02 Fell

03 Sweepstakes Winner

04 In Little Ways

05 Horizon

06 Writing the Book of Last Pages

07 Orpheus in Hades Lounge

08 Bad Machinery

09 Flaming (Pink Floyd cover)

10 Mr Fool

11 Every Dog Has His Day

12 I Feel Funny

13 Room With a View

14 Too Bad

15 Hey Grandma (Moby Grape Cover)

16 I Can’t Reach You (Who Cover)

17 Every Word Means No

18 Back in Black (ACDC Cover)

Be Bop Deluxe Philadelphia Cathedral 06 07 76

2011-12-19T16:42:00.001Z

Another lovely recording from Mr Nelson and his chums. A pretty typical set list and a decent recording. A little murky, but generally very listenable. Judging by the radio station blurb at the start of the tape, it’s from the Philadelphia Cathedral, recorded for a station called ‘Philadelphia Live’.

Don’t forget to ask Santa for 'The Practice of Everyday Life' - the awesome 8CD Nelson/Red Noise/Bebop retrospective.

Be Bop Deluxe Philadelphia 03 12 1976

Be Bop Deluxe Philadelphia Cathedral 06 07 76

01 Radio Intro

02 Fair Exchange

03 Stage Whispers

04 Life In The Air Age

05 Crying To the Sky

06 Ships in the Night

07 Sister Seagull

08 Maid In Heaven

09 Blazing Apostles

10 No Trains to Heaven

Shameless Self Promotion

2011-11-30T21:28:00.003Z

Wassup Homies...?

That's how the kids speak, don't they? It's been a little while since we spoke- family life, gigs, work, blah-de-blah-de-blah... Anyhoo, just a quickie to plug a gig my band are doing in Birmingham (well nearly...) The mighty ANORAKULA would like to invite you, (yes, even YOU...) to the delightful Bear Tavern, Bearwood Rd, Bearwood on Friday December 9th for an evening of pre-Christmas frivolity. Waddaya mean you've never heard of Birmingham's finest purveyors of top quality popular music from the repertoire of such artists as Wilco, The Move, the Dandy Warhols, REM, Beatles, Who etc etc? Where have you been? We'll be ably supported by the Celtic pop of Colin Hall's Gypsy Blood (Colin was a mainstay of the early incarnation of Dexy's Midnight Runners, dontchaknow...) and the delightful Esther Turner - the acoustic Avril Lavigne it's OK to like. The fun starts at 8.30 and may finish late, so warn the babysitter. Bring your dancing shoes. It's £3 in advance and £4 on the door, with all the proceeds going to Acorn Children's Charity - a cause very dear to the hearts of all those here at Big Plans. Earlybirds get a free Samosa. Does it get any better than that?

So, to recap, It's on Friday, December 9th at the Bear in Bearwood. The music will be ace (especially the Bass playing...), you'll get free Indian food and the admission fee goes to a great cause. My advice to you is simple- be there or be the object of derision and ridicule for the rest of your life. No pressure.

Local Heroes Part II: People's Republic of Mercia St Peters Church, Northampton, November 6th 2011

2011-11-14T16:53:00.002Z

So it’s Sunday, so it’s time to go to church, right? Not a very popular option for aging hipsters, but tonight it was slightly different…Rather than listen to a dusty clergyman, we got to hear some home grown Rhythm and Blues…

I was asked by the lovely gentlemen of Birmingham based Boogie merchants The People’s Republic of Mercia (that’s PRoM for short) to review a gig in Nottingham - at St Peters Church, no less. It involved at least one free beer and possibly a diet-breaking Pizza so of course, I was in. Now, I assumed that the venue would be a deconsecrated church, possibly made over by a low budget Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen to resemble a postmodern concert space. I was wrong. This was a real life, fully working House of God. The soundman waited patiently for Evensong to finish before wheeling in the PA. This was not going to be a typical gig….

The mighty PRoM were supporting the legendary Dr Feelgood…an inspired pairing. To make life even more interesting, it seemed that the good Doctor had struck some sponsorship deal with a Motorbike dealership and at both ends of the aisle, stood a couple of enormous Hells Angels approved hogs. In Church. Whoda thunk it?

More Tea, Vicar...?

So fortified by the aforementioned Beer and Pizza, off we went. For the uninitiated, PRoM are a longstanding Birmingham Band who have spent the last few years, schlepping up and down the motorways of the UK, bringing their own brand of righteous R and B to the masses. Ironically, they’ve done many of those gigs supporting Canvey Island Wunderkind (and former Feelgood founder) Wilko Johnson. Ain’t life weird?

So, the tunes…PRoM are plugging their most recent EP – ‘Stir Crazy’, the title track of which set us off in fine style – all taught rhythms and incisive, Telecaster driven Rock and Roll. At times, the band displayed a nice, Stonesy swagger, topped off not by Jagger’s vaguely annoying mid Atlantic twang, but Nick “Aston” Hall’s slightly more down to Earth lyrics about train travel, serial fiancées and beach holidays – all aided and abetted by Rich Martins blueswailing harmonica. Strangely enough, he performed in the pulpit giving him the appearance of a debauched Vicar…

PRoM manage to combine the most unlikely (and deeply unhip) influences to make a satisfying whole. Who else covers Edgar Broughton and The Groundhogs in 2011? In a church, too? And before you write them off as a bunch of seventies throwbacks, I’ve also scribbled down the words ‘The Replacements’ in my notebook. Quite close to ‘Rave-Up’ and ‘Yardbirds’. Get the picture? Oh yeah, I’ve just noticed ‘Wah Wah freakout’ scrawled next to that, too…

The Feelgood crowd gave them a more than generous reception and I guarantee a few of them will be checking out the band at a later date. That’s the effect they have on an audience. PRoM are grafters, in the old fashioned sense of the word. Not for them the Artic Monkeys style viral marketing approach or the over the top hype of (include name of your least favourite flash-in-the-pan media whores here). They’re taking it to the streets, maaahn. Just like good, old fashioned bands used to do. You need to see them live. A great, sweaty night is guaranteed for all.

(To give you a bit of a taste of the band, for your delight and delectation, here’s the title track of their current EP ‘Stir Crazy’. Watch out for ‘Coast’, due before Christmas 2011).

PRoM Website

Lets Active: Viceroy Park, Charlotte January 23rd 1982 (Wee Three)

2011-10-26T15:06:00.000+01:00

So from the last LA show, to a really early one...

Here's a little cracker. It's an ace soundboard from all the way from 1982. This show finds our hero in the three piece 'all girl' line-up, supporting some local band called R.E.M. Whatever happened to them?

This recording crops up on the net from time to time as 'Wee Three'. There's also the original mixes of 'Afoot' tacked on the end for good measure. Lovely stuff. It's great to see lots of love for Mitch on the Interweb...it almost restores my faith in human nature.

Lets Active: Viceroy Park, Charlotte January 23rd 1982 (Wee Three)

01 Single file
02 I'm sorry
03 Safety in numbers
04 Counting down
05 Out of sight out of mind
06 Prying eyes
07 Dirty reasons
08 We do the what if
09 Untitled
10 Make up with me
11 Law of averages

Afoot original mixes
12 Room with a view
13 Make up with me
14 Co Star
15 Counting down
16 Leader of men
17 In between

Game Theory: First Avenue, Minneapolis, 19th October 1986

2011-10-26T14:37:00.003+01:00

Blimey. This is 25 years old.

Here's the latest Game Theory live recording - all the way from Prince's very own First Avenue in Minneapolis. As you've got this far, you know what to expect...12 tracks of wonderment including the rare as hens teeth 'If and when it falls apart'. It's a lovely (if a little quiet) soundboard, which I'm assuming is from the archive of (Photo) Robert Toren. As most of the pictures and recordings I'm posting here which involve Scott M are his work, I believe a 'thank you' is very much in order...

Thank you, Robert.

I'm also delighted to learn that Scott is playing a gig to celebrate the release the release of the expanded edition of his superb book 'Music: What happened?' Unfortunately for me it's at The Starry Plough in Berkeley CA on Dec 4th. Rest assured dear reader, that if any of my internal organs were still in good condition, they would be sold on Ebay for the airfare. Sigh... I demand a full review moments after the gig is over, ya hear?

...on the plus side, I am going to see Grant Hart in Nottingham on that date, so I couldn't go anyway, so there.

Enjoy the live GT - there's still a few more shows to come - and a few Loud family gigs too.

Game Theory: First Avenue, Minneapolis, 19th October 1986

Rayon Drive

The only lesson learned

Like a girl Jesus

Waltz the halls away

Girl with a guitar

Look away

Where you going northern

Shark pretty

I've tried subtlety

Friend of the family

If and when it falls apart

Lets Active: Pterodactyl Club, Raleigh, NC, February 14th 1990

2011-10-15T23:16:00.000+01:00

Time for some more live Ledz....here's a great show from the latterday LA lineup. My favourite version, in case you're interested. It's a great audience recording (or a third/forth gen soundboard) - give the treble a tweak and it sounds fantastic. A great setlist and an equally great ensemble performance. The choice of songs is pretty heavy on the 'Big Plans/Every Dog' era stuff and so rocks a little harder than previous. Throw a few tasty Who/Hendrix/Beatles covers into the mix and you've got yourself an essential download.

(Lets Active, Live in 1989)

You need this. Really. You need this.

Lets Active Pterodactyl Club Raleigh NC 14 02 90

01 In little ways
02 Fell
03 Sweepstake winner
04 Get Free
05 Horizon
06 Still dark out
07 Too bad
08 Every dog has his day
09 Ms So and So
10 Bad machinery
11 Reflecting pool
12 Prey
13 All roads lead to Hell
14 Spanish castle magic
15 Ornamental
16 Badger
17 Orpheus in Hades Lounge
18 Rain
19 I cant reach you
20 Every word means no

Game Theory: Ziggys, Winston Salem 10 12 1985

2011-10-15T22:51:00.001+01:00

Here's another superb live recording of everyone's favourite Californian polymath, Scott Miller fronting the 1985 version of Game Theory. This is notable for a number of reasons, featuring as it does a version of 'Gloria' - in honour of the (then) recent weather front which hit the States just before the gig. You also get 'Linus and Lucy', 'Make any vows' and a romp through Roxy Music's 'Remake remodel'. You've gotta have it. Quality is ...pretty decent. It's a soundboard recording, but I don't think it's first gen - maybe third or forth generation, but very listenable. What am I saying - it's goshdarn essential!

More to come Millerfans...

Game Theory: Ziggys, Winston Salem 10 12 1985

01 Gloria
02 Ive tried subtlety
03 Shark Pretty
04 Curse of the frontierland
05 Nevermind
06 Linus and Lucy
07 24 Waltz the halls away
08 Rayon Drive
09 Where you going northern
10 Make any vows
11 Here it is tomorrow
12 Real nighttime
13 Remake remodel

Great Outdoors: Making Allowances For The Jargon

2011-10-15T16:27:00.003+01:00

Coming from Birmingham, you learn to take the knocks. We’re always going to be in the shadow of London, Manchester, Liverpool…you know…’famous’ places. And Brummies have ‘that accent’…the one that TV producers and Advertising executives always use when they want to imply that a character is an idiot. If you want to befriend a native of Birmingham instantly, simply do a cartoon version of ‘that accent’. We love that. Hearing someone casually belittle millions of people with a mouthful of tangled vowels and catch phrases learned from ultra lowbrow TV programmes is a source of pure joy to us Midlanders. We have more miles of canal in Birmingham than there are in Venice don’t you know?…that’s where we hide the bodies of the people who try and do ‘that accent’.

This snobbery even creeps into Music. I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve been told something along the lines of: ‘Your band’s great…it’s a shame you’re from Birmingham’. Why? I’ve seen dozens of great bands come and go, making barely a ripple in the shark infested waters of the Music Business, primarily because of an accident of geography. Bah humbug. We did have a (kind of) renaissance in the 80s with ‘The Stourbridge Sound’. (Stourbridge is about 12 miles from Birmingham - a small but crucial distance). We gifted the world with The Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. You’re welcome. Recently we’ve given you Jamelia (now, less a performer and more a talking head on game shows..) and The Editors. Annoyingly, that's the tip of the tip of the iceberg. High profile we ain’t. But we should be.

If it sounds like I’m bitter and cynical it’s because I am. Indulge me, please.

'Making Allowances For The Jargon' LP

One band that fell down the cracks that was particularly close to my heart was The Great Outdoors. Just as I was getting into alternative music (particularly the ‘Paisley Underground’) along they came. And they were from Birmingham, which meant I could see them live anytime I fancied. That plan was somewhat scuppered by their ‘revolving door’ policy to band members…in fact, one local wag insisted that the band’s full name was ‘The Great Outdoors Seek Bass Player’. Ha bloody ha. Only frontman/songwriter Martin Silvers lasted the course, helming the band through a short lived golden era (national ‘Radio One’ airplay thanks to Janice Long and …ulp…Mike Read), a split and a brief reformation. This album – ‘Making Allowances For The Jargon’ was as close as they got to The Big Time, which, in reality, wasn’t very close. It’s a solid debut album with a very big tip of the hat to IRS era REM and a nice Byrdsy jangle throughout.

('World At My Shoes')

Two singles were pulled from the album: the first being a bit of an undiscovered classic – ‘World At My Shoes’ got the airplay and a bunch of positive reviews, but the band couldn’t quite capitalize on it. This may have been to do with the fluctuating lineup. In fact one of the members listed on the sleeve of the album doesn’t actually play on it. He did look damn cool. Hell, they all did. ‘…Jargon’ has long been deleted, but a retrospective featuring demos and some unreleased stuff -‘Not Quite Cinderella’- emerged in 1994 and is still available through Amazon -just hit the link. A third album – ‘Water Cakes’ was recorded in 1997, but never officially released.

'Bird In The Hand' 45

There’s some great stuff on the record – occasionally the playing is a little stiff, but the tunes carry the performances through. For one, shining moment, it looked as if we had a contender here, but it wasn’t to be. At least one track on here, the aforementioned ‘World…’ is definitely worthy of reappraisal. This rip is from my vinyl copies of the album and singles – the album stuff is decent sound quality, but the singles…well anyone familiar with UK Indie pressings from the 80’s will know what I mean when I say they have a certain ‘crunchy’ quality… It shouldn’t deter from your listening pleasure.

I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity, gentle reader. Give it a whirl – it’ll cost you nada and it may enhance the quality of your life.

(Trainspotters may also like to know that it’s a Pat Collier production).

Great Outdoors: Making Allowances For The Jargon

01 World at my shoes

02 Laughing stops

03 Bird in the hand

04 Heaven sent

05 Glass houses

06 Newspapers

07 What did you expect

08 Buried in America

09 Acid rain

10 Guitar is drunk

11 Some things

12 All I could do

13 Great romance

Bert Jansch

2011-10-05T17:57:00.000+01:00

Without Bert Jansch...

No Jimmy Page

No Paul Simon

No Johnny Marr

A towering talent and an innovator.

He'll be missed

Bill Nelson: Live At Leeds (and Be Bop Deluxe, London October 02 1976)

2011-10-02T21:08:00.004+01:00

So, yesterday I pointed the faithful Rushbomobile north, scooped up two trusty travelling companions (including the lovely Song of Songs) and headed to Leeds for this years (not quite) Nelsonica. The drive was made pleasurable by the sparkling conversation, the soundtrack of ‘The Love That Whirls’ and the freakishly warm, sunny October weather. Let’s have a round of applause for global warming! (I’M JOKING! I’M JOKING!) Not even some shenanigans on the M6 could dampen our spirits.

This year, breaking from tradition, the event was a slightly pared down affair. It was for one day only with an early start and an early finish, meaning people didn’t have to fork out for an overnight stay. A nice touch, Mr N. The event had the charmingly Nelsonic title of ‘The Art School Ascended On Vapours Of Roses’. I can only assume that Bill went to a very ‘select’ Art school as mine ascended on vapours of dodgy roll-ups and unwashed graphic design students…Anyhoo, after a pleasant perusal of the memorabilia on display (and resisting the overwhelming urges to nick the gorgeous pre 'Axe Victim' posters and run off), we shuffled into the viewing room. And very nice it was too…all the Be Bop OGWT appearances, some rarely seen promo vids and then…The Red Noise OGWT appearances!!! Oh my days, how happy was I? It was magical to see Bill in the loverlee (and incredibly hot!) grey jacket which I had so lovingly fingered (easy now…!) in the exhibition moments earlier. Why isn’t that stuff on YouTube? Why? A quick listen to Bills new CD (sounds lush BTW) and we were ready for the first of two performances.

Performance one was Mr N accompanied by his trusty Revox (or 21^st century equivalent) and Theo Travis on sax and flutes for a number or two. We’ve all seen these kind of things haven’t we? Pants aren’t they? Well, not this one. Bill manages to bring some freshness to the format and his amazing musicianship helps too. Decent visuals as well. As ever, he rolled out his massive collection of ‘Guitar pornography’…grown men gasped with amazement as a never ending parade of highly desirable musical instruments were flaunted and played for our amusement.

(Thanks to andygeorge from the Bill Nelson Forum for the pic)

A quick comfort break, and then – part two. Bill was joined by Theo Travis and Dave Sturt for some semi-improvised performances under the name ‘Orchestra Futura’. Can three people be an orchestra? Are there any EC guidelines on this? Unsurprisingly it was excellent, showcasing the strengths of all concerned, although Mr Sturts Basswork could have been slightly higher in the mix, but I am biased.

And then it was over. Nothing left to do but pick up my purchase (a rather lovely piece of Bill Nelson original art – one of my travelling companions received a hefty dig in the ribs for suggesting that it was ‘a nice investment for when ‘e pegs it’. Judging by Saturday night, the bugger will outlive us all…) and head out back to the Hotel via a rather nice Algerian meal. Now that’s what I call a top Saturday night.

Thanks to everyone who made it happen.

Nelson fans may wish to get themselves a second job to pay for an avalanche of goodies heading their way. Out tomorrow (Oct 3^rd) is ‘Futurist Manifesto’ – a five CD Be Bop retrospective bristling with remasters and rarities. It’s available for the comedy price of £15.99 here - Coming in November is another hefty release – this time it’s eight (count ‘em) CDs of lovely Nelsony goodness called (deep breath) ‘The Practice of Everyday Life’ That one comes in at a sensible £45.99 from here

And he’s got two new CDs out soon as well – ‘Signals from Realms Of Light’ and ‘Model Village’. Nurse! The screens!

This seems an appropriate juncture to post the next instalment in the ongoing ‘Be Bop Deluxe Archive’ thing that’s been happening at BPFE -It’s a splendid radio broadcast (from something called K-Hour) and is pretty decent quality too. 17 tracks and not a duffer amongst ‘em. And it was recorded exactly 35 years ago today. How timely.

Oh, yeah – rumours abound of a BN tour next year…

Be Bop Deluxe, London October 02 1976

Be Bop Deluxe, London October 02 1976
Life in the air age
Orphans of Babylon
Sister seagull
Maid in Heaven
Bring back the spark
Kiss of light
Fair exchange
Twilight capers
Modern music
Dancing in the moonlight
Honeymoon on Mars
Lost in the neon world
Dance of the Uncle Sam humanoids
Modern music (reprise)
Forbidden lovers
Terminal street
Blazing apostles

Game Theory: Berkeley Square, Berkeley CA, Oct 2 1986

2011-10-02T16:30:00.002+01:00

Here's the second of my handful of GT live shows. This one is a rather lovely show from Berkley Square in late '86. It's a decent soundboard recording with a killer track listing. 'Kung Fu Fighting' anyone?

This was snatched from Dimeadozen a million years ago and sadly I haven't got the info on who first recorded or upped it, but my heartfelt thanks go to them.

Oh yeah, feel free to crack upen YOUR archives if you've got any interesting GT/LF stuff....

Berkeley Square, Berkeley CA, Oct 2 1986

Carrie Anne

Rayon Drive

Waltz the halls away

Girl with a guitar

Look away

Where you going northern

Shark pretty

I've tried subtlety

Friend of the family

Kung Fu fighting

Curse of the frontierland

The Record Producers

2011-10-02T16:12:00.001+01:00

As a very belated response to a number of comments, here are all the BBC Radio 2 “The Record Producers” I have. I’ve bundled them in to groups of four or five and the listings will appear magically when you hit the ‘Track Listings’ button.

If anyone has any recordings that I’m missing, can you please let me know? I’m particularly looking for one on Nile Rodgers that I’m sure I heard a few years back – it doesn’t appear on the listings, but I’m positive I heard it. Am I dreaming?

These are fantastic, trainspottery broadcasts with loads of great insight and back-stories. The 10CC one is particularly excellent, but an honourable mention must go to the Roy Wood episode.

Top stuff

BBC micro site for 'The Record Producers'

Record Producers 1
Record Producers 2
Record Producers 3
Record Producers 4

(Ahww Nertz! I’ve just found the excellent Mick Jones episode…I’ll up that later….)

ONE

10CC

Bernard Butler

Brian Wilson

Motown

Chinn/Chapman

TWO

Reggae Special

Roy Wood

Sir George Martin

Smokey Robinson

THREE

Stephen Street

Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Bee Gees

Tom Dowd

FOUR

Chris Thomas

Lieber and Stoller

Mickie Most

Todd Rundgren

Alternate Learning EP

2011-09-28T21:44:00.002+01:00

…Mr Scott Miller, kindly avert your gaze…

When was the last time you looked at your secondary school (that’s High School to our American chums) photographs? They make you wince, don’t they? The hair…The trousers…The meaningful expression you’re desperately trying to carry off... To you, it’s deeply embarrassing - to other people it’s cute…charming even. A hint of promise lurking behind the posturing. Welcome to the debut release by Alternate Learning.

The packaging looks absolutely sumptuous. Sadly, I’ve never seen one in the flesh, but some kind soul has uploaded a beautiful photograph on the ever-wonderful Game Theory/Loud Family Facebook page. It looks like a low budget ‘Armed Forces’ with loads of fascinating flapdoodles and stuff. And the music..? well, there’s four tunes here ranging from a neat little power-popper (‘When She’s Alone’) herky jerky Noo Wave (‘Green Card’) a smidge of Punk Rock (‘What’s The Matter?’) and, erm…’Gumbys In A Coma’. Was it really 1979? An album – ‘Painted Windows’ – emerged two years later which you can find here and the rest of the story you know.

Like most artists, SM looks back on his (really) early past with some disdain, but there’s really nothing to be ashamed of here. In fact, ‘When She’s Alone’ could have been on any Game Theory/Loud Family release right up to the millennium. Possibly without the slightly over ambitious drum break, tho…

The bottom line is, you’re a Scott Miller completist aren’t you? You haven’t got this, have you? Therefore, you’ll download it and, you know what – it ain’t half bad.

Now stop looking at your yearbook photograph and hit the button.

(I’m indebted to my old sparring partner Oxy for miraculously pulling this out of the air…gawdblessya!)

Alternate Learning EP

Green Card

What's The Matter?

Gumby's In A Coma

When She's Alone

Take a picture here, take a souvenir

2011-09-21T20:37:00.001+01:00

It was a Tuesday morning. Sometime in April, I think. I'd just joined a band - a band who worshipped at the altar of another, not quite famous band. In an attempt to keep up and show a bit of willingness, I'd purchased one of the not quite famous bands records...just for research purposes and to see if there were any Basslines I could steal. I picked the cheapest one, not wishing to throw money away on a dud. I played it once and it sounded alright...a bit low key and sadly lacking in the shredding Guitar solos that I loved so much. The cover was a bit murky too... some sort of bridge thing covered in weeds and pictures of four freshly scrubbed college students. "Don't these jerks know anything about packaging?" I thought as I looked longingly at David Lee Roth arching backwards on the rear cover of the first Van Halen album. I played it again. It sounded...better. What was the singer going on about? Nice Bass lines...good harmonies too. I put the headphones down and went to sleep. The next morning - Tuesday morning - I awoke and before breakfast, before brushing my teeth, before getting dressed I had to do one thing -play that record again. I've played it no less than once a fortnight since April 1986. I'm playing it now and it still sounds like nothing else.

'Murmur' changed my life. How fucking Hollywood is that? But it did - at a stroke, the REO Speedwagon and Sammy Hagar records scattered around my bedroom looked vaguely ridiculous. I couldn't bear to look at them after a while and those 'Pre REM' LPs that didn't get binned were placed on a high shelf...REM was all I needed now. I sought out everything by them- every record they mentioned in inteviews, every record that sounded like them, every record by bands which came from where they came from. It was all so vital and thrilling and new... like drinking spring water after a lifetime of no-brand diet Cola.

They could do no wrong. They said they'd never mime in videos and they didn't (until MUCH later). They said Big Star were great and they were. Their live shows were chaotic, passionate and ever-changing. When they played 'Radio Free Europe' at the Hammersmith Odeon on September 12th 1987, I leaped out of my chair so hard I cut my shin.

Mike Mills became my hero. I ripped off his playing so much, I considered sending him a royalty cheque.

REM were my gateway into a new world and a new way of thinking...from music to dress sense to politics to Greenpeace to almost everything.

And now, they've split. I'm happy and sad at the same time. Happy that they aren't grinding on making patchy records that sound like other people, but sad that they aren't -well - a presence, I guess. A fixed point of reference. I'd have liked to have seen them once more, knowing it was the last time I was over going to hear some of those songs that altered the course of my life. The last time I saw them at some cattleshed sized venue in the UK, I was so bored I could barely concentrate...until I heard an echo of the music that made me wake up - just for a moment.

They've won countless awards and sold equally countless records. That doesn't matter. My story is not unique...I've met so many people in bands who started playing when they heard 'Murmur' or 'Reckoning' or any of those dazzling 80s albums. They inspired people. Me included. I'll miss them.

I'll miss them like I miss being 5 years old.

A Love Letter to Scott Miller

2011-09-18T22:54:00.001+01:00

Scott Miller is one of the finest writers of Popular Music the USA has ever produced. That should be beyond question. In a body of work which stretches back to 1981 he has consistently produced music of outstanding quality and invention. It’s a body of work to rival any major artist. Sadly, the vast majority of it has gone unsung with a huge part of it currently being unavailable. Sad, sad, sad.

He wrote to me once. Really. I sent an email to the ‘Ask Scott’ section of the Loud Family website – for the uninitiated, the concept was simple – you ask SM a question and you got an answer, which could be more than you bargained for. Often, straightforward questions about lyrics were answered by lengthy and learned treatises on Joyce and Pynchon. It was all essential stuff. My question was banal by comparison…as I was off to California with my new wife on our honeymoon, I just wanted to know if he knew any cool places to go and see, being a West Coast native. I received no reply at first, which I shrugged off; after all, if someone asks you a question about some of the greatest authors of the twentieth century and at the same time, someone asks you where to go for decent indie CDs, which one are you going to answer first? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Well, after a few months, some unsolicited mail popped into my inbox from the Great Man himself, apologising for the lateness of the reply, saying that my initial post had slipped down a crack in his ISP. He wished me well, said hi to my wife and also broke the news to me that Will Glenn of the Rain Parade had passed away. I replied, thanked him profusely, congratulated him on a great album (Attractive Nuisance) and promptly deleted his previous email and erased his address. Why? The thought of having a hotline to his personal PC was too much to bear – the temptation to fire off some unsolicited fawning would have been too great. Trust me, its better this way.

Mitch Easter once said that all Scott Millers tunes have ‘overtures’, and I can see what he means. From the lovely arpeggiated ripple that opens ‘24’ to the cut ‘n’ paste samplefest that makes up the intro to ‘He do the police in different voices’, you can never tell what the rest of the song is going to be like after listening to the first 8 or 16 bars. Chord progressions twist and turn and fold back on themselves while the lyrics are both fascinating and unfathomable simultaneously. The scope is always cinematic, belying the fact that the records were often made with little or no budget. The attention to detail is incredible. It’s as if Brian Wilson had turned his attention from The Beach Boys and started working with Utopia.

Aimee Mann is a huge fan. Quite right too.

He made the College Rock ‘White Album’ with the majestic, sprawling ‘Lolita Nation’. He then followed it up with the Alt Rock 'Abbey Rd' in ‘Two Steps From The Middle Ages’. And at the peak of his game, he walked away and started again with a new band, which turned out to be even better than the one before. Seriously, what is not to love about that? Oh yeah, he also managed to make a live album which wasn’t just some contract filling, holding pattern, easy money, no brainer, “What shall we do while the Guitarist is in rehab?”, waste of Polyvinyl Chloride that most of the genre are. ‘From Ritual To Romance’ works as a great intro to The Loud Family, a tip of the hat to some cool influences and a great ensemble performance. If there was any justice, it would have sold more copies than ‘Frampton Comes Alive’.

Scott’s last release was five years ago. It was great. Sadly, the lure of the day job has meant he’s turned away from Music and now supports his family doing something really clever with computers (I think…) And being a family man with a (less than stellar) musical past behind him, I can empathise and applaud the accuracy of his priorities. The selfish part of me still wishes he’d grab that Telecaster, fire up that solid state amp and bang out an albums worth of little symphonies for the kids.

Jeez, don’t I drone on? Here’s the point of all this scree…some Game Theory live recordings. My plan is to upload these over a month or two, in the same way as I did the Rain Parade/Be Bop Deluxe stuff. My thanks, as ever, go to the original uploaders of all this stuff and I hope I’m not treading on anyone’s toes by posting it here. This one is the earliest recording I have – October 1984 – and is from the delightfully named Fat Fonzies in Sacramento. It’s a decent audience recording…and check out the track listing – rarities abound.

Seriously, does this guy have to die to achieve the recognition he deserves?

...and if anyone has the mythical 'Lolita Nation' demos, can they pleasepleaseplease point them at me...a sizeable donation to the charity of your choice awaits...

(I’m indebted to the lovely Oxy for jogging my memory about a promise I made months ago to post some more Scott Miller stuff. )

Game Theory: Fat Fonzies 5 Oct 84

01 Penny things wont
02 Real nighttime
03 Curse of the frontierland
04 Waltz the halls away
05 24
06 Friend of the family
07 Nine lives to Rigel 5
08 Aliens of our midst
09 I wanna get hit by a car
10 Shark pretty
11 Rayon drive
12 I wanna hold your hand

Big Plans is 100!

2011-09-17T15:36:00.000+01:00

Hey hey! Hang out the streamers and all that Jazz - this is post #100!

Yep, 'Big Plans...' started in early Jan this year and is still going strong. I know some Blogs can knock out 100 posts in a month or two, but the wheels grind slightly slower here at BPFE towers. For me, it's a bit of a milestone for many reasons....

- I'm a great 'starter' - ie I'm full of enthusiasm for a brief moment and then another shiny object catches my eye and I'm off again, so to keep this up for nearly nine months is MASSIVE for me.

- I've corresponded with so many cool people over the year - a big HI! to Don V and the ASH types, Adelle, Ralph D, Sal at Burning Wood...the list goes on. Stout fellows all.

- I've been turned on to a bunch of great music (and a TON of stuff by my fave bands that I didn't know existed). Thank Jeebus for Broadband and MegaUploads reasonable subscription rates.

There are no words to describe how much
I want that Bass...I already have the trousers...

- I've found out that there are at least 10 people who like Hugo Largo. Who knew?

- I've had a (semi) legitimate excuse to write cack about music on a regular basis and have a bunch of people read it and..ulp...enjoy it. Ta everso.

Right, before I get all 'group hug-gy' about this whole thing, lets get to the meat of this post. As a treat for your persistence, here's a mother-lovin' ultra gem of a post. Yep, it's demos, rough mixes and out-takes from Let's Active's magnificent 'Big Plans For Everybody' sessions. It couldn't really be anything else, could it? Decent sound quality, amazing tunes and your chance to play 'spot the difference' with the finished version, which I assume is on heavy rotation on your HiFi, right? It had better be.

('Writing The Book Of Last Pages' from OGWT 1986)

(Side note - I think I pulled this off Dimeadozen back in the day, but I see that the magnificent 'Wilfully Obscure' blog posted this stuff last year, too. Another thing I've learned is that whatever I want to post or write about, WO have done it first, better and with more grammatical accuracy than I could ever hope to do. Damn you!! - only joking, I love you guys...)

You don't need me to tell you that Mitch Easter is God, now, do you?

Thanks for the century Big Planners - you've made a sad old Music geek feel like he has a purpose.

Love, Light and Peace,

Rushbo

x

Let's Active: Big Plans Left Behind

Let's Active: Big Plans left Behind

1 STILL DARK OUT
2 LAST CHANCE TOWN
3 WRITING THE BOOK
4 HORIZON
5 WONT GO WRONG
6 REFLECTING POOL
7 TALKING TO MYSELF
8 I FEEL FUNNY
9 HORIZON2
10 WRITING THE BOOK 2
11PREMONITION
12 REFLECTING POOL 2
13 INVISIBLE HILLS
14 FELL
15 TALKING TO MYSELF
16 WHISPERED NEWS
17 FELL 2
18 WHISPERED NEWS 2
19 PROPOSAL
20 EXPLAIN

Shameless Plug Time...

2011-09-17T13:53:00.001+01:00

By now, all you BPFE-ers will know that I'm a man of impeccable taste and discernment (cough)....a man who knows a good thing when he hears it. He may like dodgy AOR every now and then, but he knows his NEU! and his Todd and all that cool stuff that Mojo readers hold dear. Well, here's something you really should check out...

Regular readers will remember, in 'Rushbo's Guide #1', the story of my first rehearsal. Well, the man responsible for me being there - the lovely Darrall Knight (best Rock and Roll name EVER!) has finally got his act together and has begun to upload some of his many and various uber-cool projects. If you're a fan of bands like The Church, House of Love, Japan, you know, that sort of thing, well you owe it to yourself to check him out.

Here's a handy link: SONG OF SONGS

The first two tunes are from an album called 'Apex Creatures' which really needs to get out to a wider audience as it's superb. Intelligent, lyrical guitar based wonderment. Have I ever steered you wrong, gentle reader...?

Stop reading this immediately and check him out - and tell him Rushbo sent ya!

Rushbo's Guide Part 7: 'The Worst Gig Ever' #2: The Breedon Bar

2011-08-23T17:18:00.002+01:00

This has been moved to the 'RUSHBO'S GUIDE' bit over on the right...

Jerry Leiber and Nick Ashford

2011-08-23T14:58:00.000+01:00

What a sad loss to music...but what a legacy they've both left.

Divine Comedy: 'Everybody Knows (Except You)' EP

2011-08-19T21:07:00.017+01:00

Returning to my theme of a post or two ago, here’s a little quickie to tide you over…

I like it when two cool things combine to make something really cool. Here’s something I found a car boot sale by accident. It’s an EP by the ace Divine Comedy, the lead track of which is ‘Everyone Knows’. So far so good. The bonus tracks are straight out of the lazy mans guide to marketing – slap some live stuff on to pad it out. Except the padding is great and features three tunes – all different and all great. The first (and this is where we came in) is an orchestral version of the American Music club gem ‘Johnny Mathis’ Feet’, the should-have-been massive hit from their ‘Mercury’ album. The next is ‘Your Daddy’s Car’ a lovely Neil Hannon penned gem with the best use of an Oboe in Pop outside of Roxy Music. The last track is ‘Europe by Train’ which sounds like the opening music to some long forgotten Continental documentary series. It’s lovely. I’ll even throw in the lead track, which (strictly speaking) is very much available, but it adds a little context.

(Divine Comedy: 'Everybody Knows (Except You)' )

Consider this a sorbet to clear the palate before the next course, you gourmands….

Divine Comedy: 'Everybody Knows (Except You)' EP

Everybody Knows (Except You)

Johnny Mathis' Feet

Your Daddy's Car

Europe By Train

Be Bop Deluxe: Live in London 06 07 76

2011-08-13T20:27:00.007+01:00

Hey Be Bop Deluxe fan…still with me?

Here’s the latest instalment in the ongoing plunderage of the Rushbo BBD Archive – a tasty radio broadcast (from something called ‘Rock Around The World’). Quality is decent – a little woolly but very listenable. Just five tunes, but ‘Adventures…’ and ‘Blazing Apostles’ bulk it out nicely. By now I’m singing to the choir so no gushing, just the files…..

There looks to be a veritable flurry of activity in Nelson land with a Nelsonica-esque event happening in Leeds on October 1^st and a potential band tour for next year. Woohoo!

Here's a little sample of the live 76 gig...

...there's still more to come!

Be Bop Deluxe: Live in London 06 07 76

London 06 07 76

Intro

Life in the Air Age

Sleep That Burns

Adventues in a Yorkshire Landscape

Sister Seagull

Blazing Apostles

Mark Eitzel: The Hideout Inn, Chicago, USA, December 6th 2002

2011-08-08T12:33:00.007+01:00

Eitzel performing in Chicago, 2002

I’m a bit calmer now I’ve had my American Music Club inspired rant…

This is what I intended to post before I got all righteous. It’s a great live recording from the Hideout Inn, Chicago on December 6^th 2002. It’s a superior audience recording, I think. Check out that setlist kids…AMC gems rub up against tasty morsels from his criminally underrated solo repertoire. When I downloaded this a few years back, I expected it to be a solo gig, but he’s accompanied by a small, sympathetic band. The material does benefit from that, too.

I really love his voice. He ain’t Pavarotti or Celine Dion…his voice can fail, go off pitch or crack mid song. On ‘Western Sky’ from the ‘Songs of Love’ live CD (fortunately still available. Buy it immediately), he chokes back tears whilst singing. In other words, his voice is real. Not pitch perfect or classically trained, but real. A voice which conveys emotions perfectly. I could not give a shit if he misses a note or two, it’s the delivery that matters and when Eitzel sings about being at the end of his tether, or full of longing or regret, you believe him. What’s the alternative? Some hermetically sealed, autotuned, ProTooled, over rehearsed, bland, multi octaved, over-melismatic ‘performance’ where empty words, written without passion, clang against generic, laboratory tested Muzak? Not for me, thanks. I’ll take the middle aged, balding guy with the weird guitar who’s lived every note of his music.

Now I’m all worked up again.

('Jenny' Live in 2007)

Mark Eitzel: The Hideout Inn, Chicago, USA, December 6th 2002

Mark Eitzel: The Hideout Inn, Chicago, USA, December 6th 2002

01 Intro
02 Ladies and gentlemen
03 Last harbour-Jenny
04 Theme song for a documentary on the discovery channel
05 Sleep Intro
06 Sleep
07 Gods eternal love
08 To the sea
09 Apology
10 Patriots heart
11 Evangeline
12 Tuning
13 Jesus hands
14 Home
15 Mission Rock
16 proclaim your joy
17 Ive been a mess
18 Western Sky

American Music Club: 'California' and 'United Kingdom'

2011-08-04T23:27:00.000+01:00

Right. Explain this to me. Why, in the name of all that is holy, are ‘California’ and ‘United Kingdom’ by American Music Club not available on CD? Let me get this straight…I can walk into one of the four Record Shops still open in the UK and buy the entire James Blunt* back catalogue, but two of the finest records of the 80s languish in some kind of vinyl purgatory? You have GOT to be kidding….

Well, here’s the thing. Keen students of BPFE will notice the link to AMCs mainman Mark Eitzel’s blog over on the right hand side of the page. I was delighted to see he was writing and added him to the blogroll without really paying too much attention to the content of his posts. A few days ago I read them.

Bloody hell.

If you thought his lyrics were good (which of course, they are) then his prose is absolutely stellar. He writes about often inconsequential things, but with such an eye for detail and with such eloquence that he draws you in so deeply, you’ll struggle to re-surface. You probably won’t want to either. But the saddest thing is that (as he details in one of his posts) he has to write and record to keep food on the table. Now of course, the vast percentage of writers and musicians have to do that, but none of them are as good as Mark Eitzel. Go on, name three writers that can construct a complete world and fill it full of emotion in three minutes or less, that still HAVE to work to live? You can’t can you?

('Firefly' from 'California')

It’s a dark place that Eitzel inhabits. Love is unrequited, damaging or in the past in most of his work. People mention Bukowski a lot in connection with him – a lazy comparison but still valid. The worldview is similar and the cinematographer’s eye is common to both, but ol’ Chuck couldn’t come up with heartbreaking melodies over beautiful, idiosyncratic music.

Whenever I hear AMC, something weird happens to me…after a while, all I can think about is Eitzel, alone, in a bedsit (above a bar, natch) drunk on really cheap scotch. And my overpowering desire is to take him to a nice, sunlit park and buy him a really big sandwich. I really need to change my therapist….

(A live version of 'Here they Come Down ' from 'United Kingdom')

But back to the music…it comes as no surprise that I am not the first person to fawn over him as he won The Rolling Stone songwriter of the year award for 1991. That is what they call damming by faint praise. I’d really urge you to listen to his music if you haven’t already and buy whatever’s available. It’s pretty much all essential and needs re-issuing. Rykodisc where are you? ‘California’ is an amazing piece of work and ‘

United Kingdom

’ aint too far behind. Satisfaction is guaranteed. I was going to put up an Eitzel solo gig, but when I saw how little AMC stuff was around, I thought I’d better do the decent thing and post this stuff. The ME live show will be up in a week or two, so don’t fret.

I could gush embarrassingly for hours, so I’ll stop now. Suffice to say Mark Eitzel is one of America’s foremost writers of Popular Music and the purse keepers of the Music Industry are doing him a terrible disservice.

(There is a superb Eitzel/AMC book available: Wish the World Away: Mark Eitzel & the American Music Club by Sean Body. It’s highly recommended)

(* I have nothing against James Blunt and have no opinion either way on his music, he was just an easy target. Sorry James...)

California

United Kingdom

California

"Firefly" (2:49)
"Somewhere" (3:01)
"Laughingstock" (4:17)
"Lonely" (2:42)
"Pale Skinny Girl" (3:33)
"Blue and Grey Shirt" (3:33)
"Bad Liquor" (1:57)
"Now You're Defeated" (2:28)
"Jenny" (2:38)
"Western Sky" (3:28)
"Highway 5" (3:49)
"Last Harbor" (4:35)

United Kingdom

"Here They Roll Down" - 4:12
"Dreamers of the Dream" - 2:59
"Never Mind" (Live at the Hotel Utah) - 4:05
"United Kingdom" - 4:20
"Dream Is Gone" - 3:55
"Heaven of Your Hands" - 3:01
"Kathleen" (Live at the Hotel Utah) - 2:20
"The Hula Maiden" (Live at the Hotel Utah) - 4:59
"Animal Pen" - 3:20

Noseflutes: Zib Zob And His Kib Kob

2011-08-02T01:09:00.001+01:00

Well, my erratic posting and esoteric choices mean my stats (every Blogger is obsessed with their stats, right?) are in the dirt, so the gloves are off. I could either come back with my previously unreleased Beatles footage where they jam with Hendrix and Dylan on an embryonic version of ‘Stairway To Heaven’, or I could give you ‘Zib Zob And His Kib Kob’ by The Noseflutes. Right you are then…

Here’s a bit of context as I know you BPFErs love a back-story. Back when I used to work in A Very Big Record Shop, one of my colleagues was a charming guy called Chris Long. He was (and probably still is) six feet plus, skinny as a rake and topped with an alarming head of wiry curls. These curls were often shaped into a mullet for formal occasions. It turned out that, by twilight, he was a member of Birmingham’s foremost Captain Beefheart meets The Fall (with Mark E Smith in a good mood) with a healthy dash of early XTC and a teensy bit of Prog rock styled combo, the Noseflutes. To further endear him to me, he played banjo, violin and ‘keyboard’. The keyboard in question was the kind of thing which is now available in Toys R us for about a fiver. And the icing on the cake was his nomme du guerre: Legs Akimbo. Whattaguy.

I made my live debut supporting the ‘Flutes. My terrified three piece JangleJingle combo made curious bedfellows with the Avant-Pop overlords in all their glory. We got away with it (just), but I was totally smitten by the headliners. They were often lumped in with a load of ‘quirky’ British bands who stretched student humour to breaking points – weedy songs badly played, making a virtue out of their incompetence but with no original ideas to counterbalance the cack-handed strummage. The Noseflutes could play. Occasionally, a Disco beat would pop its head over the parapet, then you’d hear twelve bars of Yes, then the frontman would whip out a sax and we’d get ‘Sportsnight With Ornette Coleman’ for a minute or two. They were brill. And people used to dance to them…really.

John Peel loved ‘em and they did four fantastic sessions for him. To celebrate the fact that they were on national radio, they would adopt bizarre pseudonyms for these appearances and it was worth staying up just to hear the lovely rounded tones of the late JP announce the names of: Sven Vortex, The Hog, Peter Heater, Shrobengo Tullonge His Levitating Masterfullness, Vic Pelthrust and Ralph Dangerfish among others. (Side note – Chris once adopted the name of a colleague of ours who was in hospital when a session was broadcast. John Peel dutifully announced the band line-up, our bed-ridden colleague screamed, thus waking the entire ward and bringing several alarmed nurses to her bedside. True story).

They made three great albums, but ‘Zib Zob…’ is the great-er. Sadly none are available which is a fugging disgrace, so I feel I need to bring this to your attention as a public service. The band have semi-reformed and are recording/gigging under the names The Crimplene Explosion and The Clicking Stick. Lovely. Here’s a link to Legs Akimbo’s MySpace Site here. Great tunes abound.

So, you came to this Blog looking for Tommy Keene demos and left with The Noseflutes. That my friend, is a damn good deal.

('No Plans' from 'ZZOHKK')

('Mellow Throated' - not from 'Zib Zob...' but the only promo video they ever made!)

NOSEFLUTES: Zib Zob and his Kib Kob

Noseflutes Website

Noseflutes Facebook (yeah-really!)

The 101 Worst Album Titles In History

Wikipedia

Noseflutes: Zib Zob And His Kib Kob

Needle to the Sackcloth

Yellow

Charms

Spitball on My Kisser

On the Same Level as Too Much

Fruitfly

Puffing Collapse

Pump Ass

Eminent (You Call Me That)

No Plans

Thug Thug Thug

Treated Older

Paradise Smells Wonderful to Me

Families Disappear

Who needs to think when your feet just go...?

2011-08-01T23:45:00.000+01:00

Blogs are pretty self indulgent at the best of times aren’t they? ‘Everybody listen to me while I talk about my favourite things…you’ve probably not heard of them because I am so cool and you are just a subterranean worm with no musical knowledge whatsoever and one day I’ll write for Rolling Stone…and maybe get a date for the prom’…or something.

Anyhoo, I’ve deviated so far from my initial aim of providing interesting Alt Rock, PowerPop and Paisley Underground stuff, this post should shock no-one, but I really want to share something with you…or should I say ‘Y’all’ in honour of Chris Frantz? Award yourself a pat on the back if you got the song from the lyric atop this post. Yep it’s ‘Genius Of Love’ by the frankly marvellous, oh-my-God-are-they-still-going?-tastic Tom Tom Club. They are still gigging and I saw them in Birmingham last Tuesday night. They were stunning. Great playing, cool songs, great rapport with the audience and loads of cheesy grins. In spite of the fact that there was between 150-200 people present at a venue that can hold 5 times that amount (people of Birmingham, where the hell were you???) the band really seemed to enjoy playing and were genuinely grateful for the reaction they received from the small but uber-partisan crowd. And their DJ was called Kid Ginseng, who I was convinced was being announced as Kid JENSEN. That made me laugh quite a lot. (Foreign readers may wish to refer to Wikipedia for clarification…)

There were lots of really great moments, including when the still lovely Tina Weymouth’s bass amp died – rather than get involved a stroppy superstar sulk, the band had a quick question and answer session with the crowd where they showed impressive local knowledge. I like that in a band. Everyone left feeling uplifted and smiling. Now, I don’t want to badmouth a band, especially one whose records I really love, but the opposite was true of a Fleet Foxes show I attended recently. The playing was great and the harmonies stellar, but there was no interaction or engagement with the audience and they all to a man looked as if they’d rather be anywhere but on stage. I appreciate their music may not lend itself to a Styx-esque stage performance, but jeez guys, make a goshdarn effort!

Well anyway, just to remind you how great they are, here’s a fairly recent clip of TTC performing ‘Genius Of Love’ on Jimmy Fallon's show. Yes, yes y’all!

New 'Rushbo's Guide'

2011-07-13T23:25:00.001+01:00

Well chums, I finally went and did it. I finally got around to writing a NEW Rushbo's Guide. If you have a peep to the right hand side of the blog, you'll see it, along with it's five predecessors. They were straight reprints from a newsletter I used to edit for one of my old bands, but this one is brand, spanking new. And long. Very long. So aficionados of the guide (Hi Ralph! Hi Oxy! Hi Adelle!), I advise you to settle down with a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, while you read about ...'The Worst Gig Ever'....

Levitation: Meanwhile Gardens, Version 1

2011-07-11T19:16:00.000+01:00

Just when you’ve recovered from the devastating fact that there are no more Rain Parade live recordings in the BPFE vault, I hate to break this to you – this is the last of the Levitation rarities….

We’re going out on a high tho’ as this is excellent stuff. It’s their second album ‘Meanwhile Gardens’…not the ‘only available in Australia’ version with Steve Ludwin on vocals but the first draft with errant frontman Terry Bickers still at the helm. Potential and promise oozes from every chord, but it was never to be and they languish in the ‘90s also-rans’ file. Bloody heartbreaking.

This post comprises nine album tracks with three other tracks recorded at The Barn. They’re all great. If you listen closely, you can hear echoes of Radiohead and Muse, but tempered with a modern psychedelic feel that gives them a unique sound. What a loss they are to music. Terry Bickers where are you when we need you?

For more information:

http://www.anyware.co.uk/levitation/

http://www.snowblood-apple.com/LevitDSCardiacs.html

I’m indebted to The Spiritualized Forum – in particular Spunder for sharing files and a wealth of information.

And here's the album:

Levitation: Meanwhile Gardens Version 1

01 Bodiless

02 Greymouth

03 Food For Powder

04 Gardens Overflowing

05 King Of Mice

06 Going Faster

07 Magnifying Glass

08 Twice

09 Burroughs

10 Heavy Roller (Barn Sessions Track)

11 Unknown (Barn Sessions Track)

12 All at Sea (Barn Sessions Track)

What a lovely midsummer nap...

2011-07-10T21:15:00.000+01:00

Well, I’m back after a brief hiatus…is it me or does that sound rude?

Highlights of the last month include a week in Holland on a tour with my school’s band. Are there any more chilling words than, ‘Right-O, we’ve got a few hours to kill in Amsterdam’ when you’re in charge of teenagers? Fortunately, I only had a handful of enquiries as to why those ladies were sitting in the windows with just bikinis on. We also had a concert stopped as we were too loud. Rock and Roll eh? The tune which forced the Dutch authorities to sweep in and pull the plug was ‘Eye Level’ – the theme from ‘Van Der Valk’. Not exactly Pantera….

Got lots of catching up to, so check out the smorgasbord of wonderfulness which stretches out below…

Shameless self promotion....

2011-07-10T21:08:00.001+01:00

Remember I told you about the frankly awesome 365 Bands in 365 Days Blogsite by the incredibly tenacious Adelle The Great? You do, don't you? Well if you don't, hang your head in shame and rectify that egregious oversight by checking it out immediately. Then pay special attention to the June 30th entry. That deathless prose! That Oscar Wildesque insight! Those dodgy mixed metaphors! Yep, it's yours truly going well over the top about The Blue Nile. Why? You may ask. Well, every month, Adelle graciously allows a guest contributor to blot her otherwise unblemished copybook by writing about a band or artist... and last month was my turn. So, to read a load of scree about Scotland’s premier DreamPop ultra-reclusives, just click here

And while you're there, read the lot. I guarantee you'll find something to interest you. My (metaphorical) doors were blown off (metaphorically) by the electric eels. There's something on that blog that's waiting to do the same to you.

And tell her Rushbo sent ya!

Rain Parade: Atlanta Georgia 1985

2011-07-10T20:50:00.001+01:00

It’s with a heavy heart that I present to you, the last of The Rain Parade live recordings in the BPFE archive. I’ve said everything I can think of to say about RP, so if you’ve read this far, you’ll know just what an incredible band they were and I am so peeved that I couldn’t get to see Matt Piucci at a recent London date. Bah! Anyway, here it is my friends - my final live recording – Atlanta

Georgia

1985. Details are scant to say the least. It’s a good audience recording and features a couple of rare gems – ‘I think I’m lost’ and ‘Remember I’m dead’ – the former is an absolute goshdarn stormer.

The whole gig has a nicely 'unhinged' feel to it and someone definitely bought a new effect pedal as a couple of the tunes are flanged to infinity. Si-Co-Delik!

So farewell then to The Rain Parade. We must cling to this music like a parachute.

Rain Parade: Live in Atlanta 1985

01 No easy way down/This can't be today

02 Don't feel bad/Shoot down the railroad man

03 Blue

04 Depending on you/Go West

05 Mystic green

06 Remember I'm dead

07 You are my friend

08 Think I'm lost

Smiths: Fighting Cocks 06 03 1983

2011-07-10T20:21:00.000+01:00

Morrissey is a bit like Marmite. (American readers may skip this bit...Antipodean readers may substitute the word ‘Vegemite’ for Marmite), It's a Love/Hate thing. And he is pretty easy to hate, so I'm sympathetic to the haters (check me out - I'm SO down with da kidz). I am, however, a fan. A fan who, up until last Tuesday, had never seen the great man live. I'd tried on a number of occasions, but always been a bit too slow off the mark, so I missed out on seeing The Smiths in venues only slightly larger than my front room. Bum. I finally got to see the solo Moz at The Victoria Hall in Stoke - a lovely, non Rock and Roll venue. Exactly the kind of place you'd expect him to play. He did not disappoint. Solo gems were neatly interspersed with Smiths' classics and a good time was had by all. I really want to say he's a national treasure, but the cliche-ometer would explode if I did...

To honour my audience with His Holiness, The Moz, here's a gem from the best part of thirty (thirty! bloody hell!) years ago. It's the amazing Smiths playing one of their first 'out of Manchester' gigs at The Fighting Cocks in Moseley, Birmingham. Yes, gentle reader, the venue is as small as it sounds...It’s not incredibly HiFi I’m afraid - Johnny Marr is a bit quiet, but it's a lovely soundboard recording from a band on the cusp of going supernova. And it's recorded in Birmingham too, which I like a lot. Look at that tracklisting - pre-first-album-tastic!

This often crops up on the net as part of a boot called 'Reel Around The Fountain', sometimes bundled with some other rarities...this is just the Fighting Cocks stuff.

Sometimes I think it would be great to see Morrissey and Marr back together...sometimes I think they've probably said all they're ever going to say and it's good that they've drawn a line under their collaborations. While you're pondering that, grab some gladioli and mom’s best blouse, shape what’s left of your hair into a quiff, nip down to the charity shop and buy those old 501s back and dance like a loon to the sound of The Smiths.

Smiths: Fighting Cocks 06 03 1983

01. You've Got Everything Now

02. Handsome Devil

03. Accept Yourself

04. What Difference Does It Make

05. Reel Around The Fountain

06. Wonderful Woman

07. These Things Take Time

08. I Don't Owe You Anything

09. Hand In Glove

Captain Wilberforce

2011-07-10T19:54:00.001+01:00

Simon Bristoll has been quietly cranking out classic pop tunes under the flag of Captain Wilberforce for seven years. Starting off with the low key ‘Dreams of Educated Fleas’ EP, he graduated to ‘Mindfilming’ his first, frankly stunning, full length release. ‘Everybody Loves A Villain’ followed in 2009 and blew every other PowerPop release of that year right out of the water. And after a long wait, he’s just gifted us ‘Ghost Written Confessions’. You don’t have to be a genius to release that this too, is a great album.

The fact that you’re sitting there scratching your head and saying ‘Who or what is a Captain Wilberforce’ makes me a little sad, so this is your chance to atone for not knowing…. ‘Ghost Written Confessions’ is probably going to be THE album of 2011, unless something truly exceptional comes along, so get in quick for all those RockSnob bragging points. Mr Bristoll combines the pop smarts of Brendan Benson, a heavy dash of Jason Falkner with a smidge of Utopia at their poppiest. Now doesn’t that sound yummy? On this album, he’s added a darker colour or two to the palette and has broadened out the sound somewhat. It’s also the first where he’s used a band – previous releases have featured him doing a ‘Todd R + Drummer’ thing. It’s a great piece of work. You can get it here:

http://captainwilberforce.wordpress.com/

And here’s a little sample – the lovely (and very Todd-esque) ‘Get Hurt’. Try it…you’ll bloody love it.

Happy Birthday Paul

2011-06-18T11:19:00.000+01:00

If this was the only song he'd ever written, he'd still belong in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

One of the greatest love songs of the last century. Apparently, McCartney was too self conscious to call it 'Baby, I'm Amazed', but I like the enigma of the title he went for. My favourite Macca song from my favourite Macca album. Wouldn't it be great if he had just one of these left in him?

Paul has made a few bad choices in his life. Linda was not one of them.

Happy Birthday.

Bill Nelson: "Night Creatures" from the "Legends" DVD

2011-06-11T17:38:00.002+01:00

Well, it finally came yesterday and after all the hoohah about dodgy performances, bad mixes and lord knows what else, the Rushbo opinion is that it looks and sounds fantastic.

Apparently, Mr Nelson had to dig into his own pocket to mix the audio, but it was money well spent as it sounds superb. There are some really lovely performances too. Fortunately, there are no close ups of yours truly as I'd managed to find a bit of room just off by stage right, and jigged about in that arrhythmical, forty-something manner so popular with ageing concert-goers. No one needs to see that. No one. You can argue all day long about the track listing (and knowing Nelson fans, they probably will...) but it's a pretty decent representation of his career. Suffice to say, it's essential.

It seems to be doing pretty brisk business too, so maybe Mr N might make some hard earned and long awaited cash from this. We can only hope. So to whet your appetite, here's my favourite tune from that night - 'Night Creatures'. Ah, 1974...now where did I put my eyeliner...?

(This is a low res clip from the DVD...no cheeky downloading, go and buy one!)

Grant Hart: Ecce Homo

2011-06-09T23:06:00.000+01:00

We British love the Underdog. While our American cousins hold success as the ultimate prize, we Brits love the idea of a ‘tryer’. Grant Hart is a tryer. And a succeeder.

He’s always been in the shadow of his Husker Du bandmate Bob Mould, primarily for the crime of not making records that sound like HD. His albums are always fascinating – grab bags full of different styles, moods and textures. Literary references rub up against feral Rock and Roll all topped off by his trademark voice. Oh man, that voice… His live shows are incredible with Grant dipping back into his enviable back catalogue and trotting out new classics with ease. His short lived band project ‘Nova Mob’ were an electrifying exercise in minimal, aggressive Alt Rock. I’ll be posting a live recording or two from them as the weeks progress. Meanwhile, enjoy this – the inexplicably deleted solo live CD ‘Ecce Homo’.

This is just Hart and an acoustic guitar…and 14 magical songs. It’s great to hear them in this format as you can actually ‘hear’ them – stripped of the raging guitars and drums, the tunes take on a new life – simple but beautiful. He’s a ‘strummer’ so if you’re looking for Nick Drake style fluid arrpegiation, look elsewhere. But if you want passion and energy, here ya go.

What a life he has had – a lot of it informs his writing, including the superb ‘2541’. That has to be one of the saddest songs ever written. The line ‘And it will probably not be the last time I have to be out by the first’ gets me every time. It’s featured here along with its original ‘B’ side ‘Come Come’.

The fact that Grant isn’t a major star makes me sad, but I guess his ‘cult’ status means he can stay under the radar and continue to make idiosyncratic music exactly to his specifications. That is, when he’s not creating 2D art or fixing up his beloved Studebaker.

(In a fit of egomania, I’ve posted some posters I was asked to design for a couple of his shows in the US. These weren’t the ones that eventually got used as they were a bit too ‘off topic’, but I prefer them to the finished product. Oh the tortured artist…)

(Actually, the Studebaker design got used as Grant really liked the car...)

Grant Hart: Ecce Homo (1995)

Ballad Number 19

2541
Evergreen Memorial Drive
Come Come
Pink Turns to Blue
She Floated Away
The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill
Admiral of the Sea
Back Somewhere
Last Days of Pompeii
Old Empire
Never Talking to You Again
Please Don't Ask
The Main

Like Punk never happened...

2011-06-06T21:44:00.001+01:00

Ok, it’s like this.

When I was 17, it was a very good year (© F. A. Sinatra). It was a very good year for AOR. In fact, the only thing I have in common with Kurt Cobain is the fact that our favourite album of 1980 was ‘Departure’ by Journey. Goddamn that guy, he was always ripping me off…. Yeah I was a teenage AOR nerd. I loved it all, from the big (REO, Loverboy) to the small (Coney Hatch, Kim Mitchell). I paid a lot of money for US import LPs by bands no-one outside of Tinygulch Arkansas had ever heard of. And I loved them all. Don’t get sniffy with me Mr RockSnob, I wore my animal print, cap sleeve T Shirt with pride and Je ne regrette rien. And then along came The Smiths and, in particular, REM and my little world went topsy turvy. Occasionally, in an unguarded moment, I would confess to my former sins and accept the howls of derision from my learned muso mates. It used to hurt. It doesn’t anymore.

Tons of albums by leather-trousered, pointy guitar toting Rock’n’Rollers were sold to pay the rent in my darker days. Some I don’t miss. Some I bought again, on CD, when no one was looking.

When I saw that lineup at the top of the page boys and girls, there was no way I could not go. The 17 year old Rushbo that lingers within just would not let me walk away. So I went.

The result - Here are two words I haven’t uttered since 1983: ‘STYX RULE!’

This is STYX - don't pretend you don't recognise them...
(one of these men is wearing off-white cuban heels)

Say what you like about this genre of music (and I am braced for the brickbats in the comments section…in fact, I’ve started you off), last night at the LG Arena, I was E.N.T.E.R.T.A.I.N.E.D. The best performances were tight, concise, beautifully played and full of energy. Men of a certain age (some with suspiciously luxurious hair) racing around a huge stage and working a crowd up from polite to uproarious in about 35 minutes. Contrast this with the last time I saw REM at the same venue a few years back when it was all I co do to stop myself from playing solitaire on my ‘phone. Yeah, it was cheesy, but the Styx demographic DEMANDS cheese. And bombast. And audience participation. And loads of other stuff that readers of Mojo Magazine would find offensive. I grinned like an idiot throughout a mini ‘greatest hits’ set with NO filler, NO extraneous noodly crap and NO pretentions whatsoever. Pantomime? Hell yeah…but who doesn’t love Pantomime?

(Foreigner were decent when they played the songs without pulling them out into Black Crowesy workouts. ‘Cold As Ice’ was fab. Journey played great, but were WAY TOO LOUD. And I say that not as a 47 year old geezer, but a bloke who has been to about 1000 concerts. They were still ace, tho…)

At the risk of repeating myself (!), there are two sorts of music: Music you like and Music you don’t like. ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ are way too subjective. To illustrate my point, here’s a true story:

A guy comes into my record shop and pre-orders a CD. Not a new one – a cheap re-issue. He’s super-excited. On the day of its release, he’s outside the store when I arrive, almost hyperventilating with excitement. I open up and dutifully trudge to the back of the store (slightly peeved that this guy has delayed my morning coffee by 10 minutes) to retrieve his disc. He rips off the cellophane. His hands are trembling. And then he bursts into tears. Unselfconsciously, a grown man is so happy to purchase this music that he is weeping in front of a sales assistant. Being an Englishman, I have NO CLUE what to do in this situation, so I go to the other end of the counter and avoid eye contact while he gets it out of his system. Eventually (10-15 minutes later) he is composed enough to pay me and leave.

The music that reduced him to tears was...

‘The Very Best of a Flock of Seagulls’.

…A Flock of Seagulls. Jeez.

I have sold thousands of releases by ‘Good’ artists - everyone from Nick Drake to Radiohead, from Bach to Coltrane, but the only person who ever wept for joy on purchasing a recording was the guy who bought ‘The Very Best of a Flock of Seagulls’. I dare you to tell him he's wrong.

So what’s my point? Guilty pleasures are OK? Don’t be ashamed of liking what you like, whatever it is? Sometimes, cheeseburgers taste nicer than Pate De Foie Gras? I don’t know. But I know one thing:

‘STYX RULE!’

(For Pete Lutwyche...'I love you man!')

Levitation: Reading University 26 02 92

2011-06-04T12:48:00.000+01:00

Levitation were a great live band and here's the proof. This is a dub of a limited edition FanClub cassette - only 800 were made, fact fans. There's a nice, everso slightly unhinged vibe to the whole performance, which I like a lot. And the drumming....oh the drumming. Stand up and take a bow, David Francolini.

Great Rock Entrances of the 90's Part 1. I only got to see the band once, supporting All About Eve* at a dreadful venue called the Aston Villa Leisure Centre - basically, an enormous galvanised bucket with a burger stand. Levitation (minus maestro Terry Bickers) took the stage and started plugging away in that swirly, nouveau-psychedelic manner of theirs. After about a minute of this, Terry B comes HURTLING from stage left, Guitar in hand, heading for the mic. His progress was hindered slightly by an unidentified obstacle on the stage, which he either hit, or swerved around (it was hard to tell, he was moving so fast...seriously). This caused the errant Guitarslinger to make a wide arc around the stage, his body at a 45 degree angle, still moving at light speed. Amazingly, he was able to bring himself to a halt in front of his mic at exactly the right moment for him to start singing. He didn't miss a beat and made out like the whole thing was intended. Terry Bickers: Mr Showbiz.

(* Long time readers will remember that I saw those other BPFE faves Kinky Machine scaring the life out of All About Eve fans. Just when they'd recovered enough to apply some fresh eyeliner and read a bit more Gormenghast, along come another bunch of ruffians. And I didn't stalk AAA, by the way, although I did have a bit of a crush on Julianne Regan)

Levitation: Reading University 26 02 92

Twice
Firefly
World Around

Hangnail
Resist
Attached
Pieces Of Mary
Evergreen
Nadine
Paid In Kind

Not Lame is (almost) back: "Power Pop Prime"

2011-06-04T06:15:00.005+01:00

Power Pop fans will of course be aware of the splendid work that Bruce Brodeen did for the popularisation of Power Pop for over 15 years. Everyone must have bought a CD from the mighty Not Lame, or snagged a copy of the 'Shake Some Action' book. Well, he's embarking on quite a project - Power Pop Prime. From the info he's released so far, it seems to be an 8 volume (!!) set of directories listing notable Not Lame friendly releases from 1995-2010. He's even throwing in a cheeky surprise or two. You can't knock the man's enthusiasm and this sounds like an incredibly expansive undertaking. No wonder we're having to wait for 'Pop Geek Heaven'!

The link is below:

Power Pop Prime information

Kinky Machine: 1st Album, Bent, EP Tracks

2011-06-02T23:12:00.001+01:00

Funny old business, this Pop lark. You can be in the right place, have all the tunes, have a commercial look and still not make a crust. All you can do is watch a whole slew of non-entities shoot up the greasy pole, while you skulk in the doldrums with just a support slot with Sleeper at JBs in Dudley to keep you from going back to Pizza delivery. Ladeez and genlemen, welcome to Cultsville – population: Kinky Machine.

Formed in London in 1991, Kinky Machine seemed to be doing everything right. Fronted by future Rialto (nearly) star Louis Eliot, they signed to indie label Lemon and released the frankly awesome ‘Going Out With God’ which manages to sound as good as its title. They gigged like crazy gigging things and ended up on Oxygen – a boutique label under the not inconsiderable wing of MCA. More top drawer releases followed – ‘Shockaholic’, ‘10 Second Bionic Man’ (is this the only Pop single written about the perils of premature ejaculation?) and two albums stuffed full of the good stuff. All around them, lots of bands seemed to be ploughing the same Glammy-Kinksy-UKcentric furrow, but not as well. The difference was that these pale photocopies of the originals were drinking champagne with Alex James whilst the Kinkys were drinking warm Carling from someone else’s backstage rider. I have to point out to you kids that it was Britpop time and for every one worthy band there were ten Menswears just waiting to be on the cover of the NME.

'Swivelhead'

In spite of being head and shoulders above their contemporaries, the Mott-The-Hoople stylings of KM failed to set the charts alight. They kept on gigging and I saw them by accident in ‘93 - supporting a clearly terrified All About Eve in Birmingham. As much as I loved everyone’s favourite Goth-Folksters. the Kinkys tore them to pieces like a playful mixture of the Buzzcocks and Hanoi Rocks. Oxygen let them go in 1994 and a year later they released their sole release on East West – the beautiful ‘London Crawling’. In spite of it being the best song Eliot wrote for the band, it sold poorly and Eliot and Guitarist Johnny Bull went off to form the slightly more successful (but not quite as good IMHO) Rialto. Kinky Machine remain a footnote in the last great movement in UK Pop.

'London Crawling'

I don’t know what’s not to like about KM. Maybe it’s a bit ‘London’, a bit too sneery…I’m clutching at straws here. These tunes are diamond hard Pop classics – and the band – oh my. Johnny Bull is a genius guitarist, the rhythm section was tough but supple and Eliot was a great frontman and superlative songwriter. They must have been sleeping with the wrong people.

As far as I know this is everything they ever recorded. The 90s was a boom time for multiple formats, so if something sneaked through on a coloured vinyl 12”, cassette single or limited edition wax cylinder, it ain’t here. This is all the stuff from the CD singles and both their albums. Almost every cut radiates class, whistleable tunes, great words and big fun tunes.

'Lounge Dummy' Live

Now, explain to me again why this band weren’t massive?

Kinky Machine: Kinky Machine

Kinky Machine: Bent

Kinky Machine: EP Tracks

KINKY MACHINE

1. Shockaholic 2:57

2. Candy Deceit 3:54

3. Monkey on a String 3:33

4. Glitter Bullets 3:44

5. Going out with God 2:53

6. Supernatural Giver 3:29

7. Bring on the Clones 3:00

8. Clever? 2:55

9. Sister Magpie 4:17

10. Swivelhead 3:14

11. Blue Polythene 3:44

BENT

1. 10 Second Bionic Man

2. Gooseberry Fool

3. Dolly Mixture Kid

4. Cut It Down

5. Nosebleed

6. Lounge Dummy

7. Pissing In The Snow

8. Alsatians

9. Wet Cigarettes

10. Christopher

11. Chemical Lullaby

12. Last Song

EP TRACKS

1 Crooked

2 Counting Down To Zero

3 Timebomb

4 President Yes-Man

5 Going Out With God (Live)

6 Swivelhead (Live)

7 Supernatural Giver (Extended Mix)

8 Mondays Child

9 Crooked

10 Supernatural Giver (Demo)

11 Charlotte Rampling

12 Crashing The Ambulance

13 Little Boys Blue

14 Queen Of The Slums

15 London Crawling

16 Waiting For The Weekend

17 Love Like Semtex

18 Hello Hello I'm Back Again

19 Candy Deceit (Live)

20 Yes Man (Live)

21 Supernatural Giver (Live)

Silver Sun: Xanadu

2011-06-02T00:57:00.000+01:00

I'm sorry hipsters, but I just CANNOT resist posting this.

I love Rush in a very real and a very actual way. The years I spent apart from them (denying my dubious Metal/Pop/Prog past whilst hanging out with the cool kids and listening to Elvis Costello) I see as my 'wasted years' and I am truly, truly sorry. There are maybe three songs in the entire history of recorded music which are better than 'Closer To The Heart'...maybe four...or possibly two. I saw them at my local EnormoDome a few days back and they were, in a word, In-fugging-credible. And very self deprecating and self aware. That cannot be said of many bands, especially in whatever genre Rush inhabit these days.

But back to this...it's a wonderful thing when two worlds meet. This recording is a wonderful thing. In one world we have the young and lovely SilverSun, bristling with Beach Boys harmonies and PowerPop smarts...in the other world - Rush. Prog Rock princelings, wearing their Kimonos with pride. These disparate worlds shake hands, hug in a manly but affectionate way and 'Xanadu' is born - 11 minutes of literary influenced Prog Rock fuzzed up, coated in some delicious harmonies, squeezed into just under four fun filled minutes and chucked out as a bonus track on a CD single where the lead track was a Johhny Mathis cover. As our American cousins might say...'Go Figure?'

My hat is off to everyone concerned with this tune. A PowerPop tribute to Rush would be a fine, fine thing. can you imagine The Posies covering 'Spirit of Radio'? Teenage Fanclub covering 'Fly By Night'? ...I'm giddy with excitement.

Seriously, this is a great example of how to approach a cover - a genuine enthusiasm for the song, a little reverence and a lot of fun.

Sorry I'm late...

2011-05-31T00:32:00.007+01:00

…but the dog ate my homework.

I was going to title this post “Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated”, but:

a. It’s a misquote

b. Every blogger who doesn’t post for a day or two starts up again with a post that reads “Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

So I shan’t. Suffice to say the merry month of May was less than merry. And I’m not even sure it was a whole month. It’s been insanely busy here at Rushbo Towers, with just about time enough for the occasional glance at a blog or two between going to see Pop concerts (The Mighty Rush!!) external and internal verification (as much fun as it sounds), squeezing coursework out of schoolchildren (ditto), attending a Guitar recital featuring the 9 year old Rushbo Jr (gig of the year by a country mile) and the job interview from Hell. I’m better now. It’s half term, I’m still ploughing through small childrens’ coursework, but I have a cool beer to my side and a PIL ticket for tomorrow in my pocket, so all is well. I’m catching up with everyone, so the usual suspects can expect something ‘witty’ in their inboxes soon. Thanks to everyone who expressed concern at my absence – I wish the truth was more interesting that it is….

To make up, here's a bumper crop of lovliness and a new 'Rushbo's Guide' too. My gift to you for your patience.

Right…teabreak over – back on your heads.

Rushbo.

Levitation: Demos 1989-1991

2011-05-31T00:32:00.000+01:00

As promised about 100 years ago, here's some more aural yumminess from everyone's favourite IndiePopProg rockers, Levitation.

Following on from the non album tracks I posted a while ago, here are some demos that were circulated as a limited edition fan club release back in the day. The tunes are from 1989-1991 and feature some stuff that made it on to their superb debut album, their EPs and a tune or two that slipped down the cracks. There's some fascinating stuff on here that you should hear. Here's the bumf from the original cassette:

“This is a selection of 8 Track recordings made between 1989-1991 and mixed especially for this limited edition of 800 cassettes.

‘Nadine’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Rosemary Jones’ were subsequently recorded in Oct 90 and appeared on the ‘Coppella’ EP as the first official Levitation release on Ultimate

The completed version of ‘Firefly’ first appeared on the ‘Ever After’ EP recorded in May 1991. A further version of ‘Smile’ and definitive versions of ‘Arcs of Light and Dew’, ‘World Around’, ‘Embedded’ and ‘Coterie’ can be heard on Levitations first album ‘Need For Not’ released by Rough Trade in May ’92. The instrumental ‘Jay’ can only be found on the Rough Trade single ‘World Around’ released prior to ‘Need for Not’

‘Origins’, ‘Mantra’ and ‘Day by Day’ appear for the first time on this cassette

Levitation are:

Terry Bickers: Vocals, Guitar

David Francolini: Drums

Christian Hayes: Guitar

Laurence O’Keefe: Bass , Vocals

Robert White: Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals”

I’ve already mentioned how ace this band really were. One of the great ‘lost’ bands of the 90’s. My advice to you, boys and girls is - download, turn your Phasers and Chorus Pedals up to ‘EnormoFlange’ and wallow in the (almost) contemporary Psychedelia of Levitation.

(Thanks again to the good people of the Spiritualized message board for pointing me in the right direction...)

Levitation: Demos 1989-1991

Levitation: Demos 1989-1991

Mantra

Nadine

Firefly

Arcs of Light and Dew

Smile

Origins

Jay

Rosemary Jones

Day by day

World Around

Embedded

Coterie

Be Bop Deluxe: Riviera Theatre Chicago 21 04 1976

2011-05-31T00:31:00.004+01:00

Here’s Be Bop Deluxe at arguably the peak of their powers – on tour on the back of the ‘Sunburst Finish’ album, bristling with confidence and kicking ass and taking names. No surprises on the setlist, but what a great selection and a nifty unreleased jam led by the Godlike genius of Mr Nelson to keep the faithful happy... Whattaguy.

‘…but what’s the sound quality like?’ A good question, well put, stout yeoman. It’s pretty good. It’s a good soundboard or radio broadcast, I think, but as this is a generation or two down the line, it’s a wee bit ‘splashy’…someone got a bit trigger happy with the recording level at one stage, I’ll wager. That said, it’s more than listenable and you should have it in your collection. New (ish) boy, Andy Clark is on fine form, turning ‘Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape’ into a masterclass in 70’s keyboard stylings…and dig that MiniMoog on ‘Maid In Heaven’. Yummy. The date is a wee bit vague (I've seen it listed differently in two or three places) so don't treat is as gospel. But who cares about the date? ...oh, you ....sorry.

Apparently, the ‘Legends’ DVD is available and getting nods of approval from the cognoscenti. I haven’t received my copy yet – promised as part of the gig package (do I trust the kindness of strangers, or do I just pony up like the hoi polloi?). When it arrives, I’ll let y’all know what it’s like.

On another Nelson related note, I was lucky enough to attend a show he did as part of the Sensoria festival in Sheffield earlier this month. This was Mr N, his expansive Geetar collection, his home movies and his trusty Revox (or 21^st century equivalent). And very nice it was too. No news of any other shows, but I’d recommend this set highly if he was to play near you.

Also available at a sensible price is the excellent ‘Music In Dreamland’ – a neat biography of BBD/Nelson by Paul Sutton Reeves. It’s out again and you should have a copy. It’s a nice balance between trainspottery academia and human interest stories. Great pictures too…BBD were a ‘unique’ band visually, that’s fer sure.

There’s another seven (count ‘em) shows to go…excited? You should be!

Be Bop Deluxe: Riviera Theatre Chicago 21 04 1976

Be Bop Deluxe: Riviera Theatre Chicago 21 04 1976

Fair Exchange

Stage Whispers

life In The Air Age

Sister Seagull

Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

maid In Heaven

Ships In The Night

Blues

Blazing Apostles

Rain Parade: London, Riverside Studios, 19 05 1985

2011-05-31T00:31:00.003+01:00

More Rain Parade. I'm spoiling you.

Last gig of the tour and far from weary, this is a great soundboard recording. I'm not sure how much more of me gushing about how stunning RP were you can take, so I'll keep it short and sweet. This is an essential download. So there.

...completeists, check out the Neil Young cover that finishes the set....

Rain Parade: London, Riverside Studios, 19 05 1985

You are my friend

This can't be today

Blue

Prisoners

Broken horse

Kaleidoscope

Saturday's asylum

Dont feel bad

What shes done to your mind

No easy way down

Night shade

When you dance

John Martyn: Bologna, Italy, 18 05 1977

2011-05-31T00:31:00.001+01:00

Yeah yeah, I know...'This isn't Post Punk or PowerPop' you're saying (whilst sneering, probably), but it is a collection of good tunes, without a doubt.

John Martyn. What can I say? A man who was capable of drinking Keith Moon under the table and matching his hellraising antics busted TV for busted TV, but also capable of writing the most gossamer fine music and heartbreakingly emotional lyrics. A man who still got off his butt and played live even when he was wracked with a life-threatening illness. He had his leg amputated. He carried on. In an era when 'Rock Stars' (note the ironic quote marks and capital letters, there) cancel entire tours because their favourite Tee Shirt is still in the wash, he was the real deal. And this recording proves that in spades...and clubs...and hearts...and the other lot.

Here's Mr Martyn recorded at the Antoniano Theatre in Bologna (sounds posh, eh readers?). It's a solo gig with John alternating between folky acoustic Guitar tunes and mindbending echoplex freakouts. You love it already, don't you? Lot's of nice banter (I could be wrong, but some strong liquor or similar may have been imbibed by the artist) and plenty of references to the intense heat. In spite of that, it's an incredible performance and a superb setlist. 'Spencer The Rover' is a standout. Tears of joy are compulsory.

I was lucky enough to see him a couple of times in the 80s - the second gig was one of the most bizarre concert experiences I have ever had. It was at the late, lamented Ronnie Scott's Club in Birmingham - sadly it's now a Pole dancing joint - one of about seven in a square mile in the town centre. What that says about my beloved city, I don't really wanna think about. Anyhoo, John was in high demand, as when I arrived I was amazed to find that the only seats left were actually at a table on the stage. Yep, ON the stage. I was close enough to hear the Bassists thoughts. Thankfully, the monitor mix was great (as I was behind the PA) and the performance was fantastic, if slightly intimidating.

He was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours list of 2009. Not good enough. This man should have been crowned the King of Scotland. Lairy, contrary, mercurial and brilliant. We should be grateful to have been in his orbit.

John Martyn: Bologna, Italy, 18 05 1977

1.One Day Without You
2.Certain Surprise
3.I Couldn't Love You More
4.Big Muff
5.Jellyroll Baker
6.Guitar Solo
7.Over the Hill
8.Spencer the Rover
9.Outside In
10.One World
11.May You Never
12.Singin' The Rain
13.I'd Rather Be the Devil

Evan Johansen: Nothing Hurts Now

2011-05-08T23:09:00.001+01:00

Sometimes you find beauty in unexpected places. Please listen to this.

Evan Johansen/Magnet - 'Nothing Hurts Now' from the album 'Quiet and Still'

Be Bop Deluxe: Ford Auditorium, Detroit, 09 03 76

2011-05-08T01:01:00.007+01:00

It’s March 1976 and BeBop are touring the states on the back of ‘Sunburst Finish’. Here they are in Detroit, captured on an excellent audience recording. Apart from a fair bit of tuning, this is another fine performance, including the rather rare ‘No Trains To Heaven’.

Sorry fact fans, but I have no other info about the gig…just enjoy the tunes. There’s more to come!

Be Bop Deluxe: Ford Auditorium, Detroit, 09 03 76

Fair Exchange

Stage Whispers

Life In The Air Age

Sister Seagull

Maid In Heaven

Ships In The Night

Blazing Apostles

(Band Introductions)

No Trains To Heaven

Monkees: Budokan Hall, Japan, October 4th 1968

2011-05-04T02:45:00.000+01:00

Now what right minded, free thinking individual doesn't like The Monkees? What started off as a pretty cynical exercise in creating an American Beatles circa 'Help!' turned into a cultural phenomenon. And a pretty hot live act, too. We all know the story don't we?..and all the apocryphal stuff (Charlie Manson, Stephen Stills' teeth blah blah blah) but the music gets forgotten sometimes, which is a shame. Regardless of who played on the records, they’re still great and they’ve lasted the test of time remarkably well. Whether or not they’re worth seeing in 2011, I’m not sure - maybe someone can enlighten me on that one.

On to the recording…it’s 1968 and our four loveable moptops (US Division) are inevitably playing the Budokan in Japan. They’re also being filmed for a TV special. Sadly, the video seems to have vanished which is a goddamn tragedy, but the audio is still intact – complete with the enthusiastic interjections of a couple of Japanese presenters. It won’t impair your enjoyment, Monkeefans. The recording quality is pretty decent for such an aged show – it’s a bit crunchy in parts, but generally it’s fine and dandy. Check out the sample video below.

(Last Train To Clarksville)

What is special about this recording is that it sees the band as a ‘real band’. That means that they play (almost) everything themselves. Apparently Davy Jones was taught to play the Bass from scratch, which shows real character. He does a bang up job, playing when Peter Tork switches to Organ, Guitar etc. They sound like a garage band. This is a good thing. They’re helped out by their support act (The Floral) on three tracks, but other than that, it’s Monkees all the way. Smart.

Contextually, this was almost the last throw of the dice for the band. Tork was to leave the band a few months after this gig and the band was still licking it’s wounds after the kicking that ‘Head’ got. We all love it now don’t we? The key word in that last sentence is the word ‘now’. So the guys we’re pretty fired up and deliver a great, broad show including all the hits, some solo spots and a tasty rarity or two. I could have lived without ‘Peter Percival Pattersons Pet Pig Porky’ (and the accompanying mains hum), but hey, watchyagonnado? It was the 60’s after all.

This is a great show and a fascinating curio from a different world.

Monkees: Budokan Hall, Japan, October 4th 1968

The Monkees: Live In Japan.

Recorded Live at Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan - October 4, 1968.

01. Last Train To Clarksville
02. I Wanna Be Free
03. DW Washburn
04. Daydream Believer
05. Cuddly Toy
06. Salesman
07. It's Nice To Be With You
08. Mary, Mary
09. Cindy, Cindy
10. Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky
11. Johnny B Goode
12. Gonna Build A Mountain
13. I Got A Woman
14. I'm A Believer
15. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

Micky Dolenz: Drums, Vocals
Davy Jones: Percussion, Bass, Vocals
Michael Nesmith: Guitar, Vocals
Peter Tork: Bass, Organ, Banjo, Vocals .
Tracks 11-13 Feature Musical Backing By The Floral (Opening Act That Night)

L!bido: Non Album Tracks

2011-05-03T02:01:00.014+01:00

Norway. Famous for Death Metal, Pickled Herring, Ibsen, Greig and Aha. And lots of other stuff too, I’m sure. What it’s not famous for is PowerPop. But what have we here…?

I know very little biographical detail about this band, other than they featured Even Johansen who is a big man on the Norwegian Music circuit nowadays, but this is from 1997 when he was the leading light in this short lived but sterling band.

My introduction to the band was when a record company rep thrust an EP into my hand saying ‘Play this….it sounds exactly like the Posies’. So I played it. ‘Exactly’…is a little way off, but that combination of melodic vocals, great songwriting and feral guitars was close enough to pique my interest. As far as I know, they released four EPs and an album – the beautifully named ‘Killing Some Dead Time’. Interested parties can pick them up for pennies (literately) on the InterWeb. I was pleased to see that the aforementioned album is still available via Amazon for download, so I ain’t gonna post that here. Instead, here are the non-album tracks from the EPs. They’re a mixed bunch (including a surprisingly tender version of ‘Annie’s Song’ – yeah, that one). Quality veers from really great (‘Hurry Slowly’) to the out and out weird (a version of ‘Blow’ that sounds like it was recorded at 16rpm…), but let’s face it, it ain’t gonna cost ya nothin’ to try it out, is it…?

(Blow', from the album 'Killing Some Dead Time')

This is posted as a bit of an hors d'oeuvre….the album is really where it’s at and features some blistering Pop-Rock stuff in that lovely mid 90’s, just post-Grunge style we’ve (well, maybe just me then…) come to know and love. Highly recommended for fans of early TFC, Posies, Replacements…you know –that lot.

Give ‘em a chance. It’ll be another bullet in yer Smug, RockSnob arsenal.

Oh, by the way, Googlesearching for the bands name is quite an eye-opener…..

Oh and by the way again - to avoid spam (of the most unsavoury nature...) I've replaced the the 'i' in the bands name with an '!'

Non Album Tracks

Amazon Link

HERE'S the album at 'I Hate The 90s'

Non Album Tracks

Time Of The Month

Choking

Annies Song

Hurry Slowly

Ashamed And Afraid (demo)

Television Divine II

Blow (version)

Stackridge!

2011-05-02T22:40:00.000+01:00

A quick, multi purpose post...

First and foremost, I need to bring your attention to the mighty Stackridge. Veterans of a million gigs, the first band ever (that's EVER!) to play the Glastonbury Festival and purveyors of fine Pop for many, many years. They were The Korgis for a bit as well - you know, 'Everyones Got To Learn Sometime'...yeah - them. I have to say that their seventies output is pretty amazing, but the stuff that I'm enjoying at the moment is their most recent material. Crazy eh...how many bands are writing better stuff now than 'back in the day'? Anyhoo, here's my faverave tune, the frankly amazing 'Something about the Beatles'

Now how great is that?

So go here to get the lowdown on the band and then go here to buy tons of stuff.

Secondly (here comes the shameless plug, you may need to avert your gaze, briefly) my Beat Combo, 'The Valuable Fools' are supporting 'em this Thursday (5th) in the throbbing heart of Rock 'n' Roll...Bilston. Yeah, I'll be rattling the traps (quite badly) and singing (acceptably), tunes from our two and a half albums. Come along and laugh and point at a man who should have jacked it all in years ago. I'm really selling this gig aren't I? Stackridge are ace live, I kid you not. We're quite good too...really.

And third and lastly, a big welcome to my Uncle Martin who finally found my blog and suggested I post some Stackridge. So here it is.

It's bloody hell week at work, so there are a couple of things scheduled and that's yer lot until this time next week. Miss me, won't you...?

Levitation: EP Tracks

2011-05-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

"You can be progressive without being pompous. It sounds like a cliché but I don't care - we are a progressive band and we're in the here and now." - Terry Bickers interviewed by Steve Sutherland Melody Maker April 27, 1991.

As a long time, die-hard, card carrying, 100%, gold plated, 10 year guaranteed Church uber-fan, I had a bit of a problem with The House Of Love. Like a lot of my peers, I believed that HOL mainman Guy Chadwick should be tortured slowly until he revealed (preferably on live TV, satellite broadcast to the entire world) that he nicked all his ideas from Steve Kilbey. Well, I’ve mellowed considerably since then and turned into quite a fan of the HOL, especially the much maligned ‘Fontana’ album. And the star of that album is Mr Terry Bickers…the leading light of Levitation.

After an ‘acrimonious departure’ (ha!...I love that expression – it covers a multitude of sins) from The House Of Love, Our Terry formed Levitation. During his time in HOL, Terry had established a reputation as being a bit of an ‘eccentric’ and was lampooned in the Music comics. A bit of a shame really, as he’s quite a talent and all that ‘Mad Tezza’ stuff diverted attention from his obvious skill as a geetar slinger par excellence. Levitation showed ‘em all how stupid and facile they were. Mr B assembled a world beating band and released some outstanding music, starting with the ‘Coppelia’ EP. Not only does he excel as a Guitarist, his voice isn’t bad either. The EP features four neatly controlled pieces of Indie-Pop-Prog. I was excited. Another two EPs and an album followed, all of which hinted (and occasionally shouted) at greatness.

('Even When Your Eyes Are Open'

their first release on Chrysalis)

Levitation combined the coolest of influences...a bit of Krautrock, a little Psychedelia, a dash of indie-schmindie, a healthy helping of Prog and some of that Post-Punk, 60's inspired stuff that we all know and love.

They toured (often supporting the most unlikely of bands…The Fall, anyone?) and got signed to A Major Label. Guess what happened next…? Yep, After playing a bad-tempered fifty-minute set at Tufnell Park Dome in north London on May 14, 1993, where the band were co-headlining with Eat, Terry threw his toys out of the pram and announced his intentions to leave. Among his onstage comments and announcements were "No corporation is going to stop us, gas is our business, cars are our business, the music business is our business.." (paraphrasing Killing Joke's track Age Of Greed); "This is the last time you'll see me for a bit"; and (most infamously) "Levitation are a lost cause as far as I can tell. We've completely lost it haven't we? Haven't we?" That put a bit of a damper on the proceedings and Mr B made a sharp exit from the band he’d formed. Years later, he admitted to being incredibly hasty in his proclamation. The band soldered on without him, finishing off the album they were working on at the time – ‘Meanwhile Gardens’. Sadly, without the ‘star’, the band folded, leaving behind some unfulfilled promise and a whole bunch of great tunes. I guess you really can’t catch lightning in a bottle…

For your delectation and education, this is the first of four Levitation posts. As the album is still available for official download, I'm concentrating on the rarer material. This first post rounds up all the non-album EP tracks and some other bits and pieces. The subsequent three will be the original version of ‘Meanwhile Gardens’ with Bickers on vocals (his contributions were wiped and replaced with those of new frontman Steve Ludwin when the album was finally released in Australia only), demos for the highly recommended 'Need For Not' album and a storming live set from Reading University in Feb '92. I suggest you grab 'em all.

But first of all, let’s bask in the short lived but solar brilliance of Levitation…

Levitation: Non album tracks

(a MASSIVE thank you to the good people of the Spiritualized forum for putting some stuff up for D/L and pointing me in the right direction

Levitation Non Album Tracks:

Even when your eyes are open
Nadine
Purgatory
Attached
Evergreen
Bedlam
Mantra
Paid in kind
Rosemary Jones
Firefly
Cutwater
It's time
Paid in kind (live)
Smile (live)
Rosemary Jones (live)

Bill Nelson Live: Some Pictures from the 'Legends' DVD filming 26 03 11

2011-04-30T00:43:00.000+01:00

Here's a little slideshow of the 'Legends' gig from March. The pictures come courtesy of The Metropolis Group. Lots of gorgeous guitars and some nice close-ups of Bill's jacket (Armani, donchaknow...)

It seems that the experience was less than satisfying for Mr Nelson as his diary entry of April 24th will testify. He is an absolute perfectionist and his 'OK' is everyone else's 'YAAAYYY!!!'. From where I was standing (stage right, fact fans) it was a fantastic show. The DVD is still due out at the end of May. Watch this space...

Bill Nelson Live: Some Pictures from the 'Legends' DVD filming 26 03 11

James Iha: Let It Come Down UPDATED-extra tracks added

2011-04-29T23:16:00.002+01:00

Does the roguishly handsome devil in the picture look familiar? Yep, it’s that bloke from the Smashing Pumpkins who wasn’t Billy Corgan, or the ace Drummer, or one of the girly Bassists….It’s James Iha. Now what’s a ruff, tuff loud ‘n’ nasty geetarslinger like Mr I doing in a jingly-jangly, early bedtime, Blue Nile loving blog like this? Let me explain…

Around the time of ‘Gish’ and ‘Siamese Dream’, I was a bit of a Pumpkins fan. ‘Cherub Rock’ and ‘Today’ are two of the best singles from that period and get played whenever I wanna ‘Rock Out’, in that polite, forty something way which is so popular here at BPFE Towers. But then it all got a bit…overblown. Double albums, I can take…but when ‘Melon Collie…’ was released, I got a little restless. This, coupled with the fact that Billy C started to resemble the Mekon made me feel that the honeymoon was over. It was time for the Pumpkins and I to start seeing other people. But then, along came ‘Let It Come Down’. It arrived in my record shop with no hoo-hah at all. I put it on, expecting to be flung across the room with the full-on ferocity of 100 Marshalled-up Flying Vs, but what I got was…positively pastoral. Yep, while Mr C’s intense and brooding back was turned, lil’ Jimmy recorded a rather lovely, singer songwritery album that sounds perfect in this pleasant Spring evening. (Sorry, that came out a bit ‘Women’s Weekly’, didn’t it?)

('Be Strong Now')

It’s a low-key, acoustic based gem of a record with some nice, understated playing and a collection of great songs. Admittedly, it’s a little…’sappy’ in parts, but aren’t we all? James isn’t the greatest singer in the world, but he has a charming voice and the melodies work really well against the diligent strumming of the band. Don’t go looking for stray Pumpkins, as apart from one harmony vocal from D’Arcy, there are none to be found. But what is here is a great, ‘lost’ record. Given the popularity of the SPs, I was amazed to find that this is no longer in print, so as a public service, here it is.

(Part one of 7 little promo snippets for the album

- the rest are on YouTube)

You may have a pretty fixed idea of what this is gonna sound like, given the electrified DRAAANNNGGGG of Mr Iha’s day job, but this is something else again. The single ‘Be Strong Now’ was the most Pumpkinny thing on the album and that’s not really very Pumpkinny at all.

After all, it’s a Rushbo recommendation…what more prompting do you need to click on the link?

Thanks to Mick, I've been able to add three non album tunes to the end of the album. They were originally from the 'Be Strong Now' EP - cheers Mick! I've also included the bonus tracks as a separate file if you've already snagged the album.

James Iha: Let it come down + bonus tracks

Bonus tracks only

James Iha: Let It Come Down
1. Be Strong Now
2. Sound Of Love
3. Beauty
4. See The Sun
5. Country Girl
6. Jealousy
7. Lover, Lover
8. Silver String
9. Winter
10. One And Two
11. No One's Gonna Hurt You

12 My Advice
13 Take Care
14 Falling

Gram Parsons: $1000 Wedding

2011-04-29T01:01:00.001+01:00

Everyone should have a beautiful, spiritual wedding day. It doesn't need to cost as much as 100 hospitals.

This is the most beautiful song you'll hear today.