Thursday 29 August 2013

DYLAN COVERS #114 Moe Tucker - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight/Noel Redding - She Belongs to Me


Is that Mark Smith or is that our Moe?

 
MOE TUCKER - I'll be Your Baby Tonight (1982)

Have you ever wondered what happens to all the members of famous groups?, they can't just disapear, can they?  They are obviously into the music and mostly, I am sure they stay involved in some form or other.

How about  Moe Tucker of  The Velvet Underground  fame. Moe is best know for being the drummer of that ground breaking Band.  Both Nico and Lou Reed have done excellent Dylan Covers, so here is Moe's turn.

It looks as if Moe has had quite a successful solo career. Here is a fab take on  I'll be your baby tonight.  I think this is great and it is exactlty what I would have expected from Moe. Brilliant. It can be found on her first solo album Playin'Possum (1982). It appears Moe plays all the instrument on the album too. What a gal.! My type of gal!

My second artist is none other than Noel Readding who was part of the Jimi Hendix Experience  and it is a cover of  She Belongs to Me. This can be found on his album  West Cork Tuning (2004) backed by the San Francisco band 3:05AM.  Not a bad effort, but it is no  Watchtower  folks
NOEL REDDING - She Belongs to Me (2004)

I like this idea and may do some more in the future.

HIP HOP CLASSICS - Grandmaster Flash / Run DMC

Hip Hop Classics...we celebrate Hip Hop's 40th birthday, straight outta Surrey Heath......and you don't stop!




Earlier this month saw the 40th anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop, I'm almost as old and grew up with the genre, it's my bread and butter but perhaps now, like Hip Hop, I'm not as fresh, a bit bloated but can still pull it out the bag now and again.

It apparently all began at a block party in the Bronx in 1973 where DJ Kool Herc, accidentally knocked his turntable scratching a record and the rest is history. Hmmm, that was crap, actually it's ...pinpointed back to said block party where a young DJ Kool Herc, inspired by Jamaican Soundsytems, hooked up a makeshift system of his own to play select funky records (mostly parts of the song or the breaks) for his friends and family. Word of his set got out and his skills became in demand and it went on from there....well basically.

Sorry Old Pa despite a valid argument 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' doesn't quite qualify as the first Rap record, in fact I hate to say it but Sir Cliff Richard and the Shadows' 'Apache' was one of the early Hip Hop anthems thanks to the Sugarhill Gang. Apart from certain elements of Hip Hop getting into the charts in the early 80's, like The Rock Steady Crew, Blondie and Malcolm McLaren, it probably wasn't until about 1985 that I first started to really get into it.

Here are the two tracks that started it all off for me:-


Grandmaster Flash - 'The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel' (1981)

Originally released in 1981 but I probably first heard it around 1985 and at 11 years old, it blew my impressionable mind. The splicing and dicing of different songs together, the scratches and making beats using the turntable's crossfader, was amazing. Stars on 45 it was not, it was fresh, exciting and absolutely nothing I had ever heard before. It was the true essence of Hip Hop where block parties would be organised and DJ's like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash would create these backing tracks, like this one, for an assortment of MC's to rap over.



Run Dmc - 'Peter Piper' (1986)

Raising Hell was Run DMC's breakthrough and probably the first ever commercially successful rap album, at 12 years old, anyone who was anyone had to own a copy, if not you were wack! Amongst the plethora of hits, 'It's Tricky', 'You Be Illin' and 'Walk This Way', it was 'Peter Piper' for me with it's bell and beat combo and clever rhyme interplay. In the Oxford English Dictionary the entry for the word 'dope' it says 'see Run DMC's 'Peter Piper'. Well it should.



Run DMC's success opened the door for many other acts and I remember Old Pa, like any good father who wanted to educate his offspring to the arts, buying me the Beastie boys' 'Licensed to Ill'. It was waiting for me before school one morning and I felt 10 ft tall on that bus journey in, I knew I was listening to something special which no one knew about at the time. And don't get me started on Public Enemy, when I discovered them a bit later, it completely cemented my love of Hip Hop. Word!

Yes Yes Y'all..have a listen to our Hip Hop Classics playlist on Spotify or check out some more Hip Hop classics here..



Wednesday 28 August 2013

Beth Orton - Central Reservation

Old Pa's Wednesday Club

...MICHELE FRIENDLY
Here is a pic of  Michele & friend
 
BETH ORTON - Central Reservation - Spiritual Life Remix

What is Michele Friendly?

Well it started quite a long time a go, probably in the eighties. You see I had a big problem with Old Ma.  If we were having a drink at home, she just did not like my choices of music. If  Dylan, Van or Joy Division came on, the evening would go flat or we would end up having an argument about how lousy Dylan's voice is etc etc.

What was the solution? well I came up with the Michele Friendly cassette. I would hand pick songs I thought she would like, she did lean towards disco and dance. The song would only get on the tape if I liked it as well. Essential.

I even made picture covers and took a lot of care to make them look appealing and attractive. I convinced OM that they were her tapes and that she had actually really good taste. I made one up every few months and made it out to be a great event. 

'Lets have a drink and we can listen to one of your fabulous 'Michele Friendly tapes'

Of course I would convince her that she had great taste and I was only putting on tape what she liked. 

A typical tape may have Santana, always a few Reggae, as luckily she likes that, maybe some REM or U2. New Order was acceptable so there certainly was room to manoeuvre. I would also have some of the latest dance music which I would of course have to like. 

The big thing for me was to slip on something really daring and get off with it. I did manage to slip on a Joy Division track The Eternal. She even ask who that was as she liked it. I even managed to get off with a Dylan track Belle Isle. Oh how I loved that.  If only you could have seen how I glowed.

It's all a case of doing what you have to do, but at the same time making the best of what is available.

I progressed from cassettes to Cd's, always with carefully prepared covers. I still do MP3 play lists which I know will be compatible with OM.

Anything for a quiet life. That's me!  

I chose Beth Orton remix of Central Reservation as it was typical of the type of song I would put on. I knew she would like it and I certainly did.  

If I ever formed a group (unlikely) Michele Friendly would be high on the list as a potential name.

'You know what Old Ma? you have got really great taste, even if I say so it myself!'

Here is the album version. It is just a bloody good song no matter how you hear it. The Ben Watt re-mix is not to shabby either.

 
BETH ORTON - Central Reservation (1999) 

P.S. Good Job Old Ma does not read my Posts!

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Cass McCombs - Morning Star

TUESDAY BLUES

Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!

What's it like to shit in space? 

Cass McCombs - Morning Star (2013)

In 2011, Cass McCombs released two fantastic albums, Wits End and Humor Risk and he's now back with a 22-track LP, Big Wheel And Others, which will be out in October on Domino Records.
The elusive singer/songwriter, who is currently touring, has always created music of humour, insight and mystery.  Morning Star, is no different with its hazy, Californian feel (congos?) and lyrics that ask that age old question "What's it like to shit in Space?" (I must email the crew of the ISS).

If that wasn't perfect enough the video features old skateboarding footage.  Result!


If you are a fan of Men with Beards, like the gentle stroking of a six-string, or just a miserable bugger, Please subscribe to our Spotify playlist and read more Tuesday Blues here!

Sunday 25 August 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 25/08/2013 - White Lies, Pond, Night Beds, Tired Pony, Pearl Jam

Five tracks that were as good as a £1500 feast at Nando's....


Shell Hunter:-
White Lies - 'There Goes Our Love Again (Night Engine Remix)' (2013)


I know I've been flying the neon flag of Night Engine recently but I don't put my seal of approval on just anyone. I was passed this remix of White Lies' recent single There Goes Our Love Again and I love its more somber, slowed down take of the original. It really is a plethora of my favourite 80s synth snippets, from the Ultravox 'Vienna' intro beat through to the Depeche Mode echoey vocals. If you listen hard enough once the beat kicks in, there's a bit of Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall' guitar riff in there and (am I mad?!) a bit of MJ's Thriller too! Throw in a some hand claps for good measure and I'm sold! The MP3 is available to buy on iTunes or Amazon now and is featured on White Lies' There Goes Our Love Again Remixes album released on 23rd August.

Flycasual:-
Pond - 'O Dharma' (2013)



You can't beat a bit of psychadelica. It makes me feel care free, like I'm prancing around in a field of barley, in my underpants, with only the blue flashing lights of the 'feds' in the distance killing my buzz, man. This is one such song, a stunning track by the Aussie five piece (including two members of Tame Impala) which is taken from their fifth album, Hobo Rocket. I love how it feels like it's in two parts, starting off at a slow dreamy pace before the drums kick in, igniting it off somewhere up into the stratosphere. It'll have you getting undressed in no time.

Check out Pond's bits on the Modular Recordings website here...

SFW:-
Night Beds - Ramona (2013)


Night Beds is Winston Yellen, a 24 year-old from Colorado Springs and have unveiled a new video for "Ramona" which features on his 2013 debut release, Country Sleep. The song was written in a colonial style home on the outskirts of Nashville that was once owned by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The tune’s tale of unrequited love and courtship suggests those walls recall the
moment Johnny brazenly told June upon first meeting, “You and I are going to get married someday.”

The album was released by the label Dead Oceans Records, which is the home to Bill Fay, Phosphorescent and Tallest Man on Earth, which might just get your attention!

Old Pa's Corner :-
Tired Pony - All Things All at Once (2013)

 
I was a big fan of  Tired Pony's  first album  The Place We Ran From (2010). This is track from their second album  The Ghost of the Mountain (2013)  and seems to have a much bigger production, but who's complaining. This track is an instantly accessible song and the lead singer's voice sounds spot on.
It is apparently liked by none other than  Harry  himself and there is talk, he and the Boys may record it. So enjoy it while you can, before it becomes a 1D tune and is instantly number one in the charts. (do they still have charts?).

London Scouser:-
Pearl Jam - 'Mind Your Manners' (2013)


Finally, a new track from one of my favourite bands. Eddie and the guys are back with a great song that reminds me of 'Spin The Black Circle' and could quite easily have come from 'Vitalogy' their 3rd and possibly one of their best albums IMO. This is from their upcoming album 'Lightning Bolt' which is released in October....... I can't blinking wait !!!

Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist




Saturday 24 August 2013

FRONT ROW CENTRE - LATITUDE 2013 SPECIAL - DAY 3

Welcome back to the last round up of highlights from Latitude Festival 2013 from Day 3. I'll be back next year to immerse myself in another music filled weekend!

Latitude Festival Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk on July 21st 2013
Hooray! The sun was back and it meant business! Sunday was what all Sundays should be, lounging around listening to some chilled out songs in the park whilst flicking through our festival bible at what bands to see next. After my daily baby wipe bath (God bless baby wipes) I was still black from all the dust but by now I had become one with the dirt. The line up was good but it wasn't such a struggle to choose who to see and when. We had more free time to look around the site and what it has to offer. If you wanted to have a break from the music there was comedy, spoken word, literature and poetry reading, live cooking classes and for the people with kiddies there was a petting farm, fun fair and massive climbing area in the woods. We took a walk out towards the stage in the woods and there were groups of people having impromptu jamming sessions amongst the trees! So much to see and do with so little time. As with all good things, it must come to an end so it was time to start packing everything in readiness for a hopefully quick exit in the morning. I was not looking forward to getting up at silly o'clock to fight the crowds and a five hour journey home but I was determined to enjoy it to the last minute.


Junip - 'Always'
I knew a couple of tracks from Junip and Jose Gonzalez and apart from Line Of Fire which will be in my Top 5 tracks of 2013, they hadn't quite hit me yet. I still insisted we see them on the strength of that one song but I was so impressed, they blew me away. It was the right setting and the perfect mood music for siting on the grass in my hat, sunnies and dusty flip flops. I could not get enough of the constant hum and gentle strumming. They had funky little instruments that made shaking sounds and I couldn't take my eyes off them. Real winners like Always, In Every Direction and of course Line Of Fire were stunning. New favourite band of the year for me.


Dan Croll - 'Compliment Your Soul'
He was my one to watch last year so I absolutely had to see him live. We grabbed a spot in front of The Lake Stage and Dan Croll's complete set got me in such a good mood. There seems to be an almost African jolliness to some of his songs and the band just looked like they were really at ease and enjoying themselves. He played one of my favourite tracks of last year, From Nowhere plus more recent singles In/Out and Compliment Your Soul which I couldn't stop singing for the rest of the day! It really just reaffirmed why I love his sound and he is sure to be a success if he keeps going the way he is.

Grizzly Bear - 'Yet Again'
To be honest I didn't know these guys from Adam but whilst flicking through the programme earlier, I read that they are supported by high profile fans such as Fleet Foxes, Jay - Z and Radiohead. Well if its good enough for them, I want a piece of that! I always wondered who my music heroes listened to. I thoroughly enjoyed their gig, they had the right balance of rocky drums and ambient sound. Stand out tracks were from their album released last year Shields: Sleeping Ute, Yet Again and Gun Shy. Well worth checking out the album, a genuinely good listen.


Have a listen to my Best of of Latitude Spotify playlist and relive more great moments!

Thursday 22 August 2013

DYLAN COVERS #113 Joni Mitchell - Mr Tambourine Man/Baby Blue/Girl from the North Country


Big Yellow Taxi please!

JONI MICHELL - It's All Over Now Baby Blue (demo)

Here are three delicious covers by Joni Mitchell, the first is a demo version of It's all over now Baby Blue and can be found on the Complete Geffen Recordings Box Set (2003). It was recorded as part of the Night Ride Home (1991) Sessions.

Joni and James Taylor

In the second cover by Joni, she is joined by James Taylor, it was recorded  on the 16th Oct 1970 at a Benefit concert for Greenpeace. The Concert was organised by Joni and Phil Ochs and James Taylor was a surprise guest. I believe there is a CD around of the concert.

JONI MICHELL with James Taylor - Mr Tambourine Man (1970)

The third is taken from a duet with the great Johnny Cash where Joni joines Mr Cash on a rendition of Girl from the North Country. It is from the Johnny Cash Show. 
 
JONI MITCHELL with Johnny Cash - Girl from the North Country

Rachid Taha / Gatanga Boys

World Music Corner

Here are a couple of gems from a couple of albums I've been listening to recently

What are you talking about Rachid, what bloody tape?

 
 


Rachid Taha - 'Algerian Tango' feat Mick Jones (2013)

First up is Algeria's king of Punk Rai, Rachid Taha and 'Algerian Tango', taken from his latest album, Zoom and with non other than The Clash legend, Mick Jones on chorus duty, delivering some great lines over a sinister dub track.

 

Rachid Taha is a big fan of The Clash and sites them as a big influence, it's also widely rumoured that Rachid was perhaps the inspiration behind the classic 'Rock the Casbah'. In 1981 after a Clash concert in Paris, Rachid gave band members a demo of his music (he was in a punk band at the time, singing predominately in Arabic) with Strummer and co promising to give it a whirl. Rachid never heard back from them thinking that was that but a few years later 'Rock the Casbah' was released, tenuous perhaps but spooky. Of course Rachid Taha recorded the sensational cover, 'Rock El Casbah' and has performed with Mick Jones notably at the Stop the War concert in 2005.


Gatanga Boys - 'Keep Change Kairitu' (1977)

Second up to bat is a veritable foot tapper, Kenya's Gatanga Boys with the funky 'Keep Change Kairitu', which I heard on Soundway Records', Kenya Special and it just hit the mark. These cats hail out of the central Kenyan town of Gatanga, funnily enough and the song is apparently about a local tradition where the tea and coffee farmers congregate at the local pubs on a big harvest. They'd have wads of cash and would show off splashing it about recklessly, buying drinks and ting. The 'keep change' bit refers to the big tips left to the honeys (Kairitus, meaning young girls) serving the men drinks. 'Buy one for yourself love', thousands of miles apart but we are all not so different eh?

I saw her first,

Soundway Records

 

Have a listen/subscribe to TuneDr's World Music Corner Spotify playlist below or have a look at some other WMC posts here..

 

 

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Echo and the Bunnymen - Thorn of Crowns

Old Pa's Wednesday Club

...Sandy Lyle - The Open

 
ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN - Thorn of Crowns (1984) 

I always thought Sandy Lyle had the talent to win one of Golf's majors and he was a Scots man to.

I was visiting my parents in Inverness during the Open in 1985, The day before it started I went out with my father to his bowling club for our lunch time drink. I always looked forward to this as it was a joy to listen to the banter between my father and his senior mates. They had me in stitches.

This time my Father went to the Bookies before going to his club. I don't usually bet on horses but I decided to have a flutter on Sandy to win the Open, the odds were 14 to 1 so I put a tenner on Sandy to win.

Andy was doing quite well, he was in contention and when the last round came he was right up there. I said that if Sandy wins I will share the spoils with everybody who was in the room at that moment.

Bloody 'ell, he just went and did it. There were 10 people there, including myself, so it was £15 each. I bought some booze to celebrate and you know what?  I lost money after I paid everyone and bought the booze.

Oh Well! it was worth it. My sister and brother in law got a new fence, the kids got something they wanted. My father got an good bottle of Malt and of course Sandy won the Claret Jug. A good day all round.

Why Thorn of Crowns?. Well I bought the Album Ocean Rain in a second hand shop that morning and I loved the track. It always reminded me of Captain Beefheart
     

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - Wine We Drink

Tuesday Blues

Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!


Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - Wine We Drink


I recently discovered this beautiful track by Drew Holcomb and The Neighbours, which features on their 2013 album, Good Light.  It's a love song sung by Holcomb and his bandmate wife Ellie which exposes their openness, vulnerability and living with the mundane, "dirty dishes in the kitchen sink".  With its tender lyrics and soft fingerpicking it reminds me of Damien Rice / Lisa Hannigan, which is a good thing!

If you are a fan of Men with Beards, like the gentle stroking of a six-string, or just a miserable bugger, Subscribe to our Spotify playlist and read more Tuesday Blues here!

Monday 19 August 2013

COVER NERD! meets DYLAN COVERS - Transvison Vamp - 'Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window'

This week I've decided to encroach on Old Pa's territory and share with you a cover of a Bob Dylan classic. Do you have a favourite cover you want to share, Dylan or otherwise.
If so click here and let us read all about it and share with the world.

Apparently there were other band members too....
Transvision Vamp - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window (1991)

Wendy James...... Phwooooaaarrr !!!! Just thought I'd get that out of the way. Back in the late 80's early 90's I was heavily into my music, however I also was heavily into female pop stars being plastered the walls of my bedroom. In amongst the Madonna and Kylie posters I'd taken from Smash Hits my pride of place had been a 24 by 18 inches (although as an 18 year old lad, my perception of size may have been exaggerated) poster of Transvision Vamp's singer, Wendy James. The poster was, is and always will be stored in a corner of my mind..... It made my Mum tut every time she came into my room, but I bloody loved it.
Don't look now Mum
I bought everything they released and I even bought a record store promo of their 3rd album, 'Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble' which their label MCA deemed not worthy of a UK release. It did get released in the US and Australia though. That's the album that this song featured on. At the time I didn't know who Old Pa was and therefore hadn't been introduced to the ways of the Dylan. I loved the song and only recently realised that it was a cover, shame on me I know.

After the band split up, Wendy released a solo album called 'Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears', all the songs were wtitten by Elvis Costello, I liked it but sadly the British public didn't and she was dropped by MCA. She surfaced earlier this century fronting a band called Racine (no me neither to be honest) they had two albums out, which I recently listened to on Spotify and they will take a few more plays. In 2010, Wendy resurfaced with a second solo project, but this time all her own work called 'I Came Here To Blow Minds' and as you can see, she still has the trademark platinum blonde hair. In 2012 she released her version of 'It's Alright Ma'

NERD ALERT - At the height of the band's fame, I remember Wendy had a bet with the then editor of the Bizarre column in The Sun, Piers Morgan. She bet him that she would win an Oscar before the end of the century....... She didn't and he has since gone on to world domination.

To take a peak at my other Cover Nerd! posts, click here and for Dylan Covers, click here

Sadly this cover isn't yet on Spotify, but you can listen and subscribe to my Cover Nerd! playlist below


As a bonus, please find a version of the track by Bob Dylan himself





Sunday 18 August 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 18/08/13 Laura Veirs, The Establishment, The Vaccines, Grant Hart, OutFit

This weeks top scorers are...




London Scouser:-
The Establishment - 'Jennifer Jones' (2013)

Oh what a glorious weekend.... I don't mean the weather obviously, no I mean the football season (Premier version) is back and I for one can't wait for the inevitable disappointment that I've learned to live with in recent years as a Liverpool supporter. But what has that got to do with music I hear you ask ???? Well tenuous of tenuous links here we come.

I heard this the other day and it immediately sent me back to the 80's (which is when Liverpool were the bee's knees) as it sounds like it should be in a John Hughes type film, Pretty In Pink or The Breakfast Club. It might not set the world on fire, but I like it and I hope you do too.

This band who have been around for a few years are managed by none other than Dion Dublin, ex footballer and famous for something to do with time spent in the shower !!!! The video has cameo's by three other ex footie players.... Can you name them ??? Answers on a postcard to the usual address.


Shell Hunter:-
The Vaccines - 'Melody Calling' (2013)


I kept hearing this song and wondered who it was. I never would have guess it was the latest offering from The Vaccines! It is a smooth summer groove, with less vigour than previous singles. Less vigour isn't a bad thing, sometimes you need a song like this to massage your mind when its overworked. The single was first aired back in June with a great quote from Mr Music, Zane Lowe himself saying this was "the hottest record in the World". A bold statement indeed! It was released last week and the good news for Vaccines fans is, it's set to be part of a 3rd album which the boys will get their heads down on early next year!

Flycasual:-
OutFit - 'Want What's Best' (2013)



I've been enjoying OutFit's debut album, Performance, this week. It's a real synth pop treat with full of spooky atmospheric nuances, which I love, all in the mould of Hot Chip, Django Django, Depeche Mode and Johnny Hates Jazz. Ok not quite as catastrophic as JHJ but there are elements of other 80's bands in there that I can't quite pin point, maybe even Tears for Fears. Either way it's all good and certainly makes for an interesting and worthwhile listen fo sho'. The Liverpool band's current single is 'House on Fire' but the highlight for me is 'Want What's Best', it just makes me think of wearing a shiny suit and looking forlornly out of a rainy window......No, really I'm ok!

It's a great video too, it takes something to spray acrylic paint on your face everyday!


Check out OutFit on Double Denim Records.

SFW:-
Laura Veirs - "Sun Song" (2013)


Checkout the summer-esq "Sun Song" which is the opening track on her forthcoming album "Warp and Weft". It features notable guests Jim James, Neko Case, k.d. lang and members of the Decemberists and is due for release on the 20th August.

She's touring the UK in November, check out the dates through her label, Bella Union.  It's now time to dip my toes in the sea.

Old Pa's Corner :-
Grant Hart - Morningstar(2013)


This is a track from Grant Harts's album The Argument (2013). Grant was once with the alternate Rock Band  Husker Du  and has been pursuing a mainly solo career since the late nineties.

This is a nice haunting track and has been a favourite of mine over the past few weeks.

Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist




Saturday 17 August 2013

FRONT ROW CENTRE - LATITUDE 2013 SPECIAL - DAY 2

Welcome back to the Latitude Festival 2013 Special - Day 2!

Latitude Festival Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk on July 20th 2013

Talk about chalk and cheese with the weather! I woke up on Saturday morning and it was grey and drizzly. Having checked the weather frequently on the run up to the festival, it clearly stated sunny all weekend! Well, needless to say I had not packed for this eventuality apart from the hoody incase it was cool in the evening. So that was me for the day: shorts, flip flops and a hoody. I was bloody freezing and damp but it still didn't take away from the great music that was on. It was a relief that we still had a few sunny spells especially whilst seeing the bands featured here. It was the first day I really noticed people milling around in fancy dress with my particular favourites being a bloke dressed as Alice In Wonderland and several blokes in full ball gowns. Other amusing sights were a guy with a stuffed budgie clipped to his shirt and a man with a massive fried egg T-shirt and bunny mask.


Night Engine - 'Seventeen'

If there is one new band you check out this year, make it Night Engine. My good friend Dominic who plays keyboard for the band, made my visit to Latitude possible so they were up there with my 'must see' bands. Perched along the barriers right at the front of The Lake Stage, I was swallowed up with Night Engine's energy. They got the crowd dancing to funky hits Seventeen, Treat Me Like A Baby and my personal favourite (featured previously on totw), I'll Make It Worth Your While. My friend mused that it was difficult to behold all the facial expressions but in my opinion, its what sets lead singer Phil asides from the rest! Well worth watching these guys if you get a chance, they really give it their all. If it was possible for steam to rise up off the stage from drummer Lee and bassist Eddy during their last track then they warranted it!



Hot Chip - 'Ready For The Floor'

One of my all time favourite dance groups really put on a fabulous show. I was sat in a field on a portable chair shivering under a gloomy sky but as soon as they knocked out big numbers like One Life Stand, Boy From School and this great rendition of Ready For The Floor I was rocking around in my chair and heating up nicely. I was especially impressed when they played Over And Over as despite the fact I was towards the back of the stage, the volume from the crowd singing along felt like I was bang smack in the middle of the mosh pit! I was also surprised to hear that their female (and might I add, highly skilled!) drummer was also playing The Obelisk Stage the previous night, headlining with Bloc Party!



Alt-J - 'Breezeblocks'

A hard decision had to be made: A historic 3-D Kraftwerk show or Alt-J? For me it wasn't that tough as I know far more of Alt-J and they were such a mega part of my listening pleasure last year. On our way to the BBC6 tent, we heard Kraftwerk kick off with Robots which sounded pretty good. As it was now dark out, it was much colder so it was a relief to seek refuge amongst the warmth of a packed tent. The sound was so crisp and the band tight so credit to BBC6 for that. It was really like being part of a community in that tent, the crowd all knew every word of every song and sang in perfect timing. Tessellate and Something Good came surprisingly early on but Alt-J kept me waiting for Breezeblocks and it didn't disappoint.
Enjoying these reviews? Come back next week for the last instalment with Day 3 or listen to my best of Latitude Spotify playlist!

Thursday 15 August 2013

DYLAN COVERS #112 Hazel Dickens/Seldom Scene - Only a Hobo


Howdy! Hazel

 
HAZEL DICKENS - Only a Hobo(1986)

When I heard this track by Bluegrass whizzo Hazel Dickens it just blew me away and I could not stop playing it. It is just pure bliss. Her accent is so good. It is taken from Hazel's album  It's Hard to Tell the Singer From the Song (1986).

Listening to the track inspired me to find some more Bluegrass Dylan covers and it was not long before I found this other little gem by Jonathan Edwards and The Seldom Scene, it is from their self titled album from 1988.

Sorry! I can't hang around I am off to find some more Bluegrass covers. Watch this space.

Howdy! Boys

 
JONATHAN EDWARDS AND THE SELDOM SCENE - Only a Hobo (1988)


Pokey LaFarge - 'Central Time' / 'Devil Ain't Lazy'

Recollection Collection......musical memories recalled with affection!



Pokey LaFarge, Musical Memories,



Pokey LaFarge - 'Central Time' (2013)


A couple of weeks ago I spent a weekend away, with family, in a gorgeous cottage in the Shropshire countryside. Warm, blue skies, local cider and rolling hills, the UK in the summertime you can't beat it. That is of course unless you're in Hounslow West. It was a period cottage probably used as a farmhouse and relatively untouched since it was built in the 1920's therefore the grounds were huge, with a tree house and plenty of nooks and crannies, a Famous Five adventure playground. Inside there were old pictures of the residents, antique furniture throughout, busy carpets and furry wallpaper, at first I wasn't so sure but it's unusual nostalgic charm won me over, it reminded me of visiting my grans houses when I was younger, musty smell included.

Inevitably, warped by years of horror films, I thought "it must be haunted". I fully expected to find a ghostly presence staring back at me from one of the bedroom windows as I explored the grounds or an unwanted figure in the family portrait as we flicked through the pictures on the camera. And what was in that locked cellar? Thankfully I will never know, safe in the knowledge that I didn't open a portal 'to the other side' and inadvertently summon Beelzebub's minions to inconvenience my father in law's birthday. "Bloody hell" I thought, think more Enid Blyton not the Evil Dead.

Where do I plug in my IPod?


With the silence and the lack of reception on my mobile, it really felt like I could have been sometime in the 1940's. It was like going back in time, without the need of a Delorean, gazing out the window, I fully expected a Spitfire to flypast the house, then possibly a diplodocus. But apart from a pristine 1982 ET colouring book I was especially impressed by a magnificent piece of furniture that I guess dated back to the late 50's/60's, a radio record player. The record player didn't work, perhaps thankfully, as on the deck was Oklahoma which my wife loves and i'm pretty certain would have given us a horrendous rendition, probably enough to summon aforementioned minions (there was a best of Ken Dodd too, I don't think I'd be writing this now if that got played). But the radio still worked, which was brilliantly nostalgic, I could just imagine the sounds of something just like Pokey LaFarge emanating from the speakers.



Pokey LaFarge - 'Devil Ain't Lazy' (2013)

Despite going for almost a decade, he's only been a recent discovery for me and I'm quite partial to a bit of American Roots/Swing anyway. I suppose I could listen to any number of bands that were around during the era but St Louis' Pokey LaFarge are refreshing and full of Southern Charm with immaculate musicianship.

Both songs are taken from his, fourth and self titled album released earlier this month on Jack White's label, Third Man Records. As Pokey says himself, "It's not retro music. It's American music that never died."



Have a listen to some of my favourite tracks on my Spotify playlist below or click here to read some more posts.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Ali Campbell - Nothing ever Changes

Old Pa's Wednesday Club

...UB40 V DA PINO
Where's my onions?

 
ALI CAMPBELL - Nothing Ever Changes (2007)

Torrievieja is on the map, UB40 were coming to town, this was a big deal for here, we don't get many live events. It was not the original band but Ali Campbell backed by musicians, but I suppose he was the main man. Hey! it was better than nothing.

I wanted to go, but when I found out it would cost 100 euros for both of us, without drinks, I thought twice. We just had a lot of work done including a large palm tree removed and re-tiling. Money's too tight to mention. (Valentine Brothers)


On the Sunday before the concert we were discussing the event and trying to convince ourselves to go. It was the usual conversation,  'it's only money, you can't take it with you'  'there are no pockets in a shroud'.

S
suddenly the electrics tripped out.  It was my fault of course, its my fault for everything, if there is an earth quake in San Salvador, I get the blame. (water of a platypus's back).

Anything to do with DIY and I am completely hopeless, but I did isolate it to a certain area, but I could not go any further. It was so hot and humid here, it would have been impossible to go through the night without fans or air conditioning. To cut a long story short (Spandau Ballet) I phoned an electrician and he luckily came out on that Sunday night. He detected the fault in 30 secs. I needed a new Boiler (The Boiler). It cost me 70 euros for his visit and the Boiler cost 250 euros.

That decided it, no UB320.

On the day of the Concert we decided to go to a location close to the venue by the sea and sit in a restaurant, have a few beers and maybe a meal, but at least we could get some atmosphere (Joy Division) and hear the music.

That Bar Restaurant we chose unfortunately had their own entertainment, a Shirley Bassey tribute, so we left and got as close as we could to the venue and found another Bar about 100 metres away. We settled there and waited for Ali and the Boys to come on. He was an hour and a half late (I want my money back) and the sound was poor from where we were. I found out later the beer was 8 euros a pint inside the venue, I was paying 2 euros. God knows how much a red red wine (Neil Diamond) would have cost.

That was it!

It was Pino night. If we were quick, we could get back to Da Pino's Restaurant and get his special Thursday 'Menu Del Dai' which was Schnitzel (the best in the World) and you could have any topping you want. For me it was lashings of fried carmalised onions. Bring it on home (Sam Cooke)

Bloody Ali 'bollocks' Campbell . Who needs it when you got Da Pino's Schnitzel.

The track by Ali is actually pretty good.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Gregory Alan Isakov - Living Proof

Tuesday Blues

Do you like Singer/Songwriters, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!


Gregory Alan Isakov - Living Proof (2013)


Where have I been?  I've only just 'discovered' Gregory Alan Isakov and feel that I should lined up and beaten with a stick and slapped with a fish. (A little harsh).  Born in South Africa, he emigrated to the United States as a child and and now resides in Colorado.

Living Proof features on his 5th album, The Weatherman, which was released in July and was recorded mostly in solitude outside the mountain town of Nederland, Colorado.

Dare I say it has leapfrogged itself in my top 10 albums of the year, well, I just did!

If you are a fan of Men with Beards, like the gentle stroking of a six-string, or just a miserable bugger, Please subscribe to our Spotify playlist and read more Tuesday Blues here!

Monday 12 August 2013

GIVE ME A GUITAR!!! - The Wildhearts - 'Caffeine Bomb' / 'I Wanna Go Where The People Go'

The Wildhearts - 'Caffeine Bomb' (1994)


They say that every decision you make in life has a consequence however great or small. Some you regret, some you remember with absolute fondness.
This is one of the latter....
In the 90's I had a steady job working for a high street bank and spent my money on CD's and videos. My local video rental store in Feltham was a place called Terminal Five Video. I got on really well with the owners and one day I asked if they had any part time jobs. I fancied getting to watch films cheaper or even for free and thought why not. They were just in the process of opening a new store in Bedfont and I had the privilege of being the first person to work in the new store. It was whilst working there that I got meet a guy called Darren (I've forgotten his last name I'm sad to say) and he introduced me to a number of things that to this day I still like. He was a metal-head..... I absolutely wasn't and he introduced me to many great bands amongst then were Alice In Chains who to this day remain my fave band of the grunge scene. He got me into Marvel Comics in an obscenely big way (ps if you wanna buy my collection please let me know.... Seriously) There was also the WWF wrestling which I've managed to wean myself off of.

The Wildhearts - 'I Wanna Go Where The People Go' (1995)


The other band which I have to thank him for was The Wildhearts. They were loud, brash and looked like they needed a good wash..... But I liked them, so much so that I bought their albums Fishing For Luckies and also Earth vs The Wildhearts. Their next album was imaginatively titled Phuq (they got away with it too... I bought it in Woolies !!) They had some great song titles, like 'If Life Is Like A Love Bank, I Want An Overdraft', 'Greetings From Shitsville' and my favourite 'My Baby Is A Headfuck' !!!
The tracks I've chosen both have videos from Top Of The Pops and I remember seeing Caffeine Bomb and chuckling to myself when they got away with the lyrics 'Baby can't you see I'm shitting brown water' it was when they used to go out live and I'm sure that the people in charge probably couldn't understand a word that they were singing.
Very child friendly !!
The lead singer, Ginger has had a relatively unsuccessful solo career and been involved in a few side projects. Most notably for me a band called Clam Abuse who did a great cover of 'I Think I Love You'
This may not be to everybody's taste but I don't mind and its all down to the decision to work in Terminal Five Video. Thanks Theo & Anja for the job and thanks Darren for the music.

Check out our other Give me a Guitar Posts? (click here)


Sunday 11 August 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 11/08/13 - Drenge, Sea Wolf, Bob Dylan, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobious Pip

Four tracks that made us want to high five a stranger......



London Scouser:-
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobious Pip - 'Stunner' (2013)

Ok so I featured a track by Scroobius Pip a few weeks back..... Rules ??? There ain't no rules when it comes to decent music. This is the first new release from the Essex boys in 3 years and its from their eagerly awaited (by me fo sho) 3rd album 'Repent, Replenish, Repeat' which is out later this year. Its got a grimy,dark sound to it and I loved it on first hearing. The lyrics "The world don't revolve around you but it probably should, ain't saying you're perfect but you're really, really good" are brilliant. And if I was the romantic type I'd dedicate then to a certain Ms Hunter.  


Old Pa's Corner:-
Bob Dylan - Pretty Saro(2013)

 
Do you recognise that voice?, yes it is Bob Dylan himself singing a track from his new Official Bootleg Series, Vol 10. Another Self Portrait.

The first Self Portrait from 1970 is the first and only Dylan album I never bought on its release. It was a few year later I bought it and found it to be pretty good in parts and would have been a good single album. I have grown to love some of the country and Western influenced tracks.

This new album from the 1969-1972 period is usually recognised as Dylan's  barren  period and would seem a strange choice of material to release. I don't think so! what I have heard so far is fabulous, there are many stripped down outtakes from New Morning which sound even better than the original album.

Can't wait until the full album released at the end of the month. This tastster is brilliant, who says Bob can't sing. I bet I could get this one passed Old Ma's ears and she hates Bob's voice. 

'If I was a poet and could write a fine hand'


SFW:-
Sea Wolf - Old Friend (2013)
You must checkout the latest release by Alex Brown Church's, Sea Wolf.  Old Friend's simple drum machine beat, fingerpicking acoustic guitar and vocal melody is very hypnotising.  The video features the frontman "traipsing all over southern California" as the "song is partially about reconciling with the past while looking toward the future and was inspired by my return to living in California full-time".  Perfect listening under the stars. 

Flycasual:-
Drenge - 'Backwaters' (2013)




Last week on the Smiths Appreciation Society we had Merchandise who sounded more Smiths than the Smiths. This week we have Drenge who sound like the Smiths if they were hairier and wore more leather. Well at least I think so, there are shades of Morrissey's melodic tones in there. I've only recently come across the Sheffield brothers and Frankly, Mr Shankly, I like what I've heard so far (sorry). Drenge, who incidentally are not particularly hirsute, release their self titled album later this month and if you like this check out their forthcoming single 'Face Like a Skull'.
Peruse Drenge's website here.



Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist




Thursday 8 August 2013

DYLAN COVERS #111 Martin Simpson/Richard Meyer/Joan Baez - North Country Blues


'That number eleven was closin' 

 
RICHARD MEYER - North Country Blues

North Country Blues from  The Times they are a Changin'  album is not covered very often, but it should be. It is a dark bleak tale of Steel Mills being closed down and how it affects the folks of the area. It could apply to Coal Mines, or in fact any mill or mine across the world. The song is probably more relevant today than it has ever been.

The first take is by  Richard Meyer  the late American Folk Singer who passed away in 2012. Richard has a superb voice as you will enjoy from this rendition. There is a version by Richard on A Tribute to Bob, Vol.2 - The Times They Are A Changin'. 

The second one is from Joan Baez's silky tones and is from her double album of Dylan Covers,  Any Day Now.

Finally is a live take from Martin Simpson the British Folk singer. Martin does a great studio version on his latest album Vagrant Stanzas (2013). There is a deluxe version of the album which also contains Blind Willie Mctell, super stuff!.


 
JOAN BAEZ - North Country Blues (1968)

 
MARTIN SIMPSON - North Country Blues

TUNEDR'S PLAYLISTS - BBQ Hip Hop Vol.1


BBQ Hip Hop, the perfect accompaniment to put some sizzle on yo double B Q-izzle.





In proper middle aged fashion, I remember having a discussion with a friend about the state of Hip Hop, as you do, and he told me "Man, all you listen to is that BBQ Hip Hop shit!". I loved the description and it was an accusation I could live with as, I've always loved the soulful, laid back kind of Hip Hop, the type you can marinate to along with the chicken breasts.

If you have family round and are worried about your gran choking over a stray profanity as she demolishes a burger? Don't sweat it, instead of dropping your Caesars salad diving for the pause button, just perform a strategic woop or a sly cough and bingo, family crisis averted. You'll be back chillin' and grillin' in no time.





(Click to listen/subscribe)

1) People Under the Stairs - Jamboree Pt.1 (2006) - Stepfather

If BBQ Hip Hop was an official genre, this West Coast crew with their penchant for al fresco dining, would be the undisputed kings.

2) Pharcyde - Runnin' (1994) - Labcabincalifornia

An aural kebab of the premium kind. A Hip Hop classic from another West Coast group synonymous with their laid back flow.

3) Slum Village - 'Forth & Back' (1997) - Fan-Tas-Tic (vol 1)

A track that will have you snoozing into your beans with it's hypnotic soul claps. Continuing where A Tribe Called Quest left off, Detroit's Slum Village give us a seriously laid back jam. It also introduced me to the genius of beat maker, J Dilla too.

4) Q-Tip - 'Things We Do' (1999) - Amplified

A side order of soul food from ATCQ's front man.

5) Souls of Michief - '93' til Infinity' (1993) - 93' til Infinity

Another veritable Hip Hop Classic again hailing from the west coast and still sounds as fresh as ice cold vintage cider.

6) Scritti Politti - 'Tinseltown to the Boogiedown' feat Mos Def & Lee Majors - (1999) - Anomie & Bonhomie

I was going through a tough patch whilst this was out, so for me, it's one of those tracks that's like a hit of oxygen, or a Che strength Cuba Libre complete with umbrella. One of my favourite Hip Hop tracks that also introduced me to Mos Def.

7) The Roots - 'Right On' feat Joanna Newsom (2010) - How I Got Over

Hands down my favourite track from 2010. I'm a Roots fan and this track, with it's brilliant Joanna Newsom sample, reminded me a bit of De La Soul and all what's good about Golden Age Hip Hop.

8) Homeliss Derelix - 'Survivin' the Game' (2005) - Fraudulent the Album

They won't get many accolades for their spelling but they make that up in Hip Hop goodness! Also my favourite track to contain a reference to the Nepalese capital, Katmandu.

9) Talib Kweli - 'The Blast' (2000) - Reflection Eternal

Love, love this track which I first heard in New York, it was the perfect soundtrack then and is also the prefect soundtrack whilst murdering some spicy wings.

10) Pete Rock - 'Step Up' feat InI (2003) - Lost and Found: Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics

Taken from an album later in his career, it showed that Pete Rock (one half of Hip Hop legends Pete Rock and CL Smooth) hadn't lost any of his touch. Perfect for bobbing your head over the briquettes.

11) Cam'Ron - 'Hey Ma' (2002) - Come Home With Me

A bit of a cheese ball Hip Hop tune maybe but if, like me, you're a fan of grilled Halloumi then you'll be swayed by the sentiment and the clever Commodores sample. Boy meets girl, both a bit partial for booze and fags which results in a good time. That is unless he is really talking about his ma!

12) Neneh Cherry - 'Sassy' feat Guru (1992) - Homebrew

Neneh Cherry + Guru = Strawberries and Cream

Bonus
13) Ode To Nujabes (Luv (sic) pt2) - Funky DL



A friend of mine introduced me to this a few years back and I was completely hooked. A bonkers video and an absolutely flawless track by the late Japanese Hip Hop DJ, Nujabes, which would grace any playlist, particularly one while you have a face full of ribs. I was initially reluctant to feature this version as Spotify doesn't have the original with the MC Shing02, however the essence is there and it's a fitting tribute.

Invited to a BBQ starting at four? Give your sausages some swagger and subscribe to TuneDr's BBQ Hip Hop playlist

Wednesday 7 August 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Joy Division - New Dawn Fades

THE DAY I MARRIED YOUR MUM!

'we'll give you everything and more,'

 
JOY DIVISION - New Dawn Fades (1979)

THE DAY I MARRIED YOUR MUM

Your mum was back in Nice
the year was 1974
you were just a couple of months old
I came back from the pub
I phoned
during the call I stumbled out 
'I will marry you, if you want'
(who says romance is dead)

The phone went silent
my friend later phoned to congratulate your mum
she did say yes?
didn't she?

Everything happened very fast after that
a date was set in July, in Nice
I was broke, nowhere to stay
I would shortly be married with a son
oh! well!
we did not have rings
her mother gave us some old gold
 we got it melted down
 enough for 2 chain linked rings
almost romantic

The evening before my friend and a cousin of your mum
took me out for a pub crawl
supposedly a stag night
I lost them
I found them
 they were asleep on the beach
I was sober
 they were drunk

There was no one from my side at the wedding
it took place at the Town Hall
we all sat outside a big door
it was like a bus station
we were summoned
we sat in a room
a large guy wearing a chain came in
it was the Le Maire
we all stood up
we all sat down
he mumbled in French 
I did not understand
we both stood up
your mum said oui!
I was nudged
I  said oui!
 we signed a bit of paper
 were given a medal
 the next thing we were outside on the pavement
It took about a minute and a half
now thats what I call a Wedding
'lets go for a drink'
it was a unanimous decision

The reception was back at your grandma's house
two days later I was in the U.K
alone
I had to find somewhere to stay
for my family
fast
on the wings of a falcon

Hope you like the choice of song, I just could not resist it. Oh! you are naughty Old Pa!.