As much as I love Liverpool (and oh, I love it so) it's sometimes good to get away from it for a while. One of the downsides of living in a great place, as opposed to visiting it occasionally, is that all the good stuff (bars, coffeeshops, bookstores, crack dens, blah blah blah) gets lumped in with the shiteness of everyday life. A change was most certainly needed for a weekend and it came in the form of a trip down to London where I had a few social events planned.
First up was Viki's annual birthday party. A more sedate affair than usual, but enjoyable nonetheless. Viki's mate Chris's top secret recipe punch went down a treat as always and the party's music was better than normal thanks to Louise now living with Viki - this ensured that along with the usual party shizzle we enjoyed fine tunes from the likes of MSP, GnR and Led Zep. Storming!
I had nothing planned for Saturday daytime until a text arrived from Hanna. Now graduated, my good buddy has a job at the British Film Institute and had free tickets to a screening of Blood Simple. Hanna went on to inform me that this was the Coen Brothers first film. Now those that know me will know of my total ignorance of the film world but I did know that some of the Coen's early stuff was supposed to be pretty dark - this fact, combined with a free ticket, half-price coffee and a chance to admire Hanna's new workplace sealed it. Off I went.
Oh, the film? You want to hear about it? Well it WAS dark. 'Film Noir' is, I believe, the term that, er, people who know about films use. I really enjoyed it. It was more like a series of set pieces than a film...........as if the Coens were fannying about with themes and methods in practice mode. It went pretty slow in places but some of the dialogue was classic. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I watch it again? No, not that kind of film. Do I think YOU should watch it? Yes. Is it out on DVD? Fucking hell, do I look like Amazon.com???
After saying my goodbyes, it was off to the other side of London to meet Pete. His former bandmate Noemi's group, The Coolness, were playing at a Halloween-themed rock night and we were on the guestlist. Yeah, guestlist. Get me. Anyway it turns out it wasn't the Coolness at all - it was three of said band billed as The Cruelness. Because it was Halloween see? Brilliant.
They were pretty fine n'all. Not the kind of shizz that you'd put on repeat play but absolutely top-notch to have a gin-fuelled dance to. The young ladies who came on and did a strip towards the end were quite nice too. Ahem. This was followed by more gin and unashamed dancing to a selection of rock classics including (but not limited to) KISS, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne. God, I'm so ironically post-modern. Or something.
And so, my dear readers, to Sunday - the pinnacle of the weekend. Along with my dear friend John, I headed off to the Shepherds Bush Empire to see the Classic Legends of Rock Tour. Now you're talking! First up was Tony McPhee leading the latest of many incarnations of the Groundhogs. I've always had a lot of respect for McPhee after my old man related a story to me - the Groundhogs were playing in a pub venue near my home town back in the mid-eighties. No more than 20 people attended said gig, my dad being one of them. After a stormer of a show the old man walked up to McPhee to convey his appreciation but added at the end 'but I'm surprised you didn't cancel, given the low turnout'. McPhee's response? 'Mate, even if only one person had paid in, this band would have still played". Pure class.
And they were absolutely superb. All three of them looked like they'd been dragged out of the local old folks home backwards through a hedge but the music? Sublime. Without a guitarist of McPhee's formidable skill it would have been pedestrian blues but he lifted the whole thing into another realm with grinding, coarse chord changes and flashes of psychedelia. I couldn't help thinking that I'd have appreciated them even more in a dingy club rather than in the vastness of the Empire but nevertheless they managed to win over a crowd probably more familiar with the acts to folllow.
Next up were Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, the main reason for my attendance at this event. First a bit of backstory - Martin Turner was a founder member of Wishbone Ash, the principal songwriter on the band's best-known album, and stayed with the band until 1980 when he left due to musical differences or some other such crap. Ash then soldiered on with different lineups until, in 1987, the original band reformed. People came and went until, in 1991 Turner received a telephone call from fellow original member Andy Powell, informing him that his services were no longer required. Powell continues to lead Wishbone Ash to this day, being the only original member that never left. Turner, feeling rather hard done by decided, in 2004, to form his own version of the band and take it on the road. This has resulted in the two camps (and their attendant sets of fans) slagging each other off, threatening legal action blah blah blah.
So what's Gary's take on it, I hear you cry? Well I went to see Turner's band a couple of years back but I wasn't overly impressed. However, this was mainly due to the fact that they were playing an absolute rat-hole in Birkenhead and the PA was as weak as Fosters lager. While I decided to reserve judgement on this 'new' Wishbone Ash, I didn't think Mr Powell's outfit had anything to fear. Then bad news started leaking from the Martin Turner camp. First off, one of the guitarists left, to be replaced by someone from Showaddywaddy. Don't read that again, it DID say Showaddywaddy. Secondly (and unforgivably) they made the ghastly decision to rerecord the classic 'Argus' album. Now I can understand why MT wanted to do this. The man is a perfectionist and Argus, while being an absolutely superb record, does have production flaws. But people love it for what it is. They've loved it for over 35 years flaws and all, so why not let it rest? While I'm sure this new version is played and produced brilliantly, I shan't be buying a copy.
But enough of that - the gig. The band, including Showaddywaddy-dude, strode on to raptorous applause and proceeded to play the majority of the Argus album . Two words describe my reaction - blown away. MT, looking like the thinking man's Keith Richards, is the epitome of coolness, his Gibson Thunderbird bass looking like an extension of his body singing his lungs out with a throaty edge borne out of nigh-on 40 years of smoking. And he loved it. He loved the crowd, he loved his band and his love of the songs he was singing was very much in evidence.
He'd picked the right band as well. Rob Hewins played drums like a demon and sang like an angel. Ray Hatfield, who'd impressed me at the Birkenhead show, was on fire. And Showaddywaddy-dude? Well I have an apology to make to this gentleman. His name is Danny Willson and, in my humble opinion, he is the finest guitarist I have EVER seen playing Wishbone Ash music onstage. After the Argus 'featurette' the band flew into Phoenix, Living Proof and Jailbait, this last number featuring a spoons solo from Mr Hatfield. In true rock and roll fashion, he tossed one of the spoons into the crowd. Guess who caught it? Yep, yours truly. I'm such a groupie. The band left and I realised that despite my ongoing respect for Andy Powell's band who continue to record and perform brilliant music, no-one plays the old stuff like Martin Turner does.
And so onto the last band of the night, the mighty Focus. No such arguing over band names for this mob. Original guitarist Jan Akkerman has forged a lucrative career noodling away at guitar festivals worldwide, leaving drummer Pierre van der Linden and the legendary Thijs Van Leer to lead Focus into the 21st century. After MTWA had raised the roof in such amazing fashion I wasn't confident that Focus could top that off, but once again I was proved wrong. Van Leer and Van der Linden are joined in the current line-up by Niels van der Steenhoven on guitar and Bobby Jacobs on bass, both of whom are clever signings. A clever mix of classics, including Eruption, Focus II and Sylvia was played, mixed with one song from their latest album and topped off by the mighty Hocus Pocus. While Van Leer is obviously the main focus (haha! geddit?) of the group, his bandmates also shine, particularly Van der Steenhoven, who proved himself to be an adept Akkerman copyist as well as throwing his own style into the mix. A total triumph and a fitting end to a superb night. John and I strode out into the night two very happy bunnies indeed.
First up was Viki's annual birthday party. A more sedate affair than usual, but enjoyable nonetheless. Viki's mate Chris's top secret recipe punch went down a treat as always and the party's music was better than normal thanks to Louise now living with Viki - this ensured that along with the usual party shizzle we enjoyed fine tunes from the likes of MSP, GnR and Led Zep. Storming!
I had nothing planned for Saturday daytime until a text arrived from Hanna. Now graduated, my good buddy has a job at the British Film Institute and had free tickets to a screening of Blood Simple. Hanna went on to inform me that this was the Coen Brothers first film. Now those that know me will know of my total ignorance of the film world but I did know that some of the Coen's early stuff was supposed to be pretty dark - this fact, combined with a free ticket, half-price coffee and a chance to admire Hanna's new workplace sealed it. Off I went.
Oh, the film? You want to hear about it? Well it WAS dark. 'Film Noir' is, I believe, the term that, er, people who know about films use. I really enjoyed it. It was more like a series of set pieces than a film...........as if the Coens were fannying about with themes and methods in practice mode. It went pretty slow in places but some of the dialogue was classic. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I watch it again? No, not that kind of film. Do I think YOU should watch it? Yes. Is it out on DVD? Fucking hell, do I look like Amazon.com???
After saying my goodbyes, it was off to the other side of London to meet Pete. His former bandmate Noemi's group, The Coolness, were playing at a Halloween-themed rock night and we were on the guestlist. Yeah, guestlist. Get me. Anyway it turns out it wasn't the Coolness at all - it was three of said band billed as The Cruelness. Because it was Halloween see? Brilliant.
They were pretty fine n'all. Not the kind of shizz that you'd put on repeat play but absolutely top-notch to have a gin-fuelled dance to. The young ladies who came on and did a strip towards the end were quite nice too. Ahem. This was followed by more gin and unashamed dancing to a selection of rock classics including (but not limited to) KISS, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne. God, I'm so ironically post-modern. Or something.
And so, my dear readers, to Sunday - the pinnacle of the weekend. Along with my dear friend John, I headed off to the Shepherds Bush Empire to see the Classic Legends of Rock Tour. Now you're talking! First up was Tony McPhee leading the latest of many incarnations of the Groundhogs. I've always had a lot of respect for McPhee after my old man related a story to me - the Groundhogs were playing in a pub venue near my home town back in the mid-eighties. No more than 20 people attended said gig, my dad being one of them. After a stormer of a show the old man walked up to McPhee to convey his appreciation but added at the end 'but I'm surprised you didn't cancel, given the low turnout'. McPhee's response? 'Mate, even if only one person had paid in, this band would have still played". Pure class.
And they were absolutely superb. All three of them looked like they'd been dragged out of the local old folks home backwards through a hedge but the music? Sublime. Without a guitarist of McPhee's formidable skill it would have been pedestrian blues but he lifted the whole thing into another realm with grinding, coarse chord changes and flashes of psychedelia. I couldn't help thinking that I'd have appreciated them even more in a dingy club rather than in the vastness of the Empire but nevertheless they managed to win over a crowd probably more familiar with the acts to folllow.
Next up were Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, the main reason for my attendance at this event. First a bit of backstory - Martin Turner was a founder member of Wishbone Ash, the principal songwriter on the band's best-known album, and stayed with the band until 1980 when he left due to musical differences or some other such crap. Ash then soldiered on with different lineups until, in 1987, the original band reformed. People came and went until, in 1991 Turner received a telephone call from fellow original member Andy Powell, informing him that his services were no longer required. Powell continues to lead Wishbone Ash to this day, being the only original member that never left. Turner, feeling rather hard done by decided, in 2004, to form his own version of the band and take it on the road. This has resulted in the two camps (and their attendant sets of fans) slagging each other off, threatening legal action blah blah blah.
So what's Gary's take on it, I hear you cry? Well I went to see Turner's band a couple of years back but I wasn't overly impressed. However, this was mainly due to the fact that they were playing an absolute rat-hole in Birkenhead and the PA was as weak as Fosters lager. While I decided to reserve judgement on this 'new' Wishbone Ash, I didn't think Mr Powell's outfit had anything to fear. Then bad news started leaking from the Martin Turner camp. First off, one of the guitarists left, to be replaced by someone from Showaddywaddy. Don't read that again, it DID say Showaddywaddy. Secondly (and unforgivably) they made the ghastly decision to rerecord the classic 'Argus' album. Now I can understand why MT wanted to do this. The man is a perfectionist and Argus, while being an absolutely superb record, does have production flaws. But people love it for what it is. They've loved it for over 35 years flaws and all, so why not let it rest? While I'm sure this new version is played and produced brilliantly, I shan't be buying a copy.
But enough of that - the gig. The band, including Showaddywaddy-dude, strode on to raptorous applause and proceeded to play the majority of the Argus album . Two words describe my reaction - blown away. MT, looking like the thinking man's Keith Richards, is the epitome of coolness, his Gibson Thunderbird bass looking like an extension of his body singing his lungs out with a throaty edge borne out of nigh-on 40 years of smoking. And he loved it. He loved the crowd, he loved his band and his love of the songs he was singing was very much in evidence.
He'd picked the right band as well. Rob Hewins played drums like a demon and sang like an angel. Ray Hatfield, who'd impressed me at the Birkenhead show, was on fire. And Showaddywaddy-dude? Well I have an apology to make to this gentleman. His name is Danny Willson and, in my humble opinion, he is the finest guitarist I have EVER seen playing Wishbone Ash music onstage. After the Argus 'featurette' the band flew into Phoenix, Living Proof and Jailbait, this last number featuring a spoons solo from Mr Hatfield. In true rock and roll fashion, he tossed one of the spoons into the crowd. Guess who caught it? Yep, yours truly. I'm such a groupie. The band left and I realised that despite my ongoing respect for Andy Powell's band who continue to record and perform brilliant music, no-one plays the old stuff like Martin Turner does.
And so onto the last band of the night, the mighty Focus. No such arguing over band names for this mob. Original guitarist Jan Akkerman has forged a lucrative career noodling away at guitar festivals worldwide, leaving drummer Pierre van der Linden and the legendary Thijs Van Leer to lead Focus into the 21st century. After MTWA had raised the roof in such amazing fashion I wasn't confident that Focus could top that off, but once again I was proved wrong. Van Leer and Van der Linden are joined in the current line-up by Niels van der Steenhoven on guitar and Bobby Jacobs on bass, both of whom are clever signings. A clever mix of classics, including Eruption, Focus II and Sylvia was played, mixed with one song from their latest album and topped off by the mighty Hocus Pocus. While Van Leer is obviously the main focus (haha! geddit?) of the group, his bandmates also shine, particularly Van der Steenhoven, who proved himself to be an adept Akkerman copyist as well as throwing his own style into the mix. A total triumph and a fitting end to a superb night. John and I strode out into the night two very happy bunnies indeed.
productiondiva:
sounds like a class weekend. glad to hear you been keeping well lovely. 