Monday 18 March 2024

More cowbell

The latest series of Daryl's House (Darryl Hall's fantasy/vanity project where, going back to 2007, he's been curating some of the greatest songs and songwriters in his 'shed') is probably, in my humble opinion, the best yet; or if not the best, certainly the most varied and therefore the most rewarding. Hall's musical chops know no bounds and so scattergun in nature is his thirst for music, it matters not a jot who knocks on his door - he'll welcome any waif or stray carrying an instrument case.

I've chosen three from the clutch of episodes that were broadcast in November and December last year. Glenn Tilbrook (Ep. 85) is a natural for this sort of format. But even he says on camera that unlike the looseness of his regular band Squeeze, slotting into Daryl Hall's crack band of musical heavyweights made him tighten up considerably. Look at the way he glances over at Hall, as much for reassurance, seemingly, as an unspoken "I hope to fuck you're coming in with the second verse."

Glenn Tilbrook & Daryl Hall - Hourglass (2023)


Next up is Howard Jones (Ep. 87). By his own admission he tells us that he started his (electronic) musical journey relying exclusively on drum machines, sequencers and keyboards. Watch in sheer amazement then as the band tear What is Love a new one! This is such a joyous performance. When Jones is giving his post-match interview I don't think he can quite believe what's just happened.

Howard Jones & Daryl Hall - What is Love? (2023)


I know Robert Fripp (Ep. 90) didn't write Heroes. Daryl Hall knows Robert Fripp didn't write Heroes. But it was Fripp's guitar that carried Bowie's 1977 anthem. This is special. Even Robert Fripp knows it was special. You can see he's quite humbled at the end.

Robert Fripp & Daryl Hall - Heroes (2023)


So there you go. I'd heartily recommend you dig out the full episodes and watch them in their entirety. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Let me know what you think.
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Saturday 16 March 2024

We'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Justin Currie has been diagnosed with Parkinsons's disease. He knows it will only get worse and he knows he'll have to stop performing, probably quite soon; calling the prospect of this 'quite grim' is an understatement to end all understatements. It is truly heartbreaking. In an interview Justin recently to the BBC he talks openly of his fears for the future. I can only pass on my love and best wishes to him.

I'm guessing this performance of Nothing Ever Happens was filmed during Lockdown. However, the starkness of the lyrics lend themselves perfectly to the isolation of each musician as they record their part in their own individual silo. 

Del Amitri with the BBC Concert Orchestra - Nothing Ever Happens

Tuesday 12 March 2024

'Ullo John. Gotta New Motor?


A busy few days - just sold my car through a well known (not to say very annoying) internet company and, a handful of hours later, took delivery of a new set of wheels I'd test driven up in (a spookily deserted) Blackpool just a few days earlier.


I mention this purely because I found the above photo the other day - I was recently asked to take part in a guess the baby picture quiz and as you can see I'm quite taken with this motor (tho' still not sure who it belonged to). I have a few of me from around this time posing with/leaning on various period cars. Must've been a boy thing.

Chris Spedding - Jump in My Car (1976)


Sunday 10 March 2024

I Spy

My Twitter account is littered with my photographic obsessions - the beech tree outside my house, the Humber Bridge, phone boxes (in fact all street furniture), roller shutter doors with random cars parked in front of them, the Home Ales building in Nottingham, ornate door knockers, the list goes on. Some of this flotsam and jetsam will eventually find its way onto my blog, some of it doesn't. One of my side hustles is photographing random launderettes and laundromats. I've even enrolled others into send me launderette pictures from where they live or when they tell me they're going on holiday. It's like the old I-Spy books we all had as kids. Riggsby has sent me scores and scores of them from California and the Swede has sent me quite a few from deepest Norfolk and the East End of London - his home and his spiritual home respectively. Thank you, again, both.

And now we have a new kid on the block. My good friend Matthew and his wife Samantha are currently on the high seas cruising around Africa and recently disembarked in Cape Town. Fair play to Matthew, he could, indeed should, have been been soaking up Table Mountain, Cape Point and Robben Island, but instead was tracking down laundromats! Thank you, Matthew. You will be mentioned in despatches.



Saturday 9 March 2024

The effects can last forever


This one had been on the calendar for ages: the Sheffield leg of Dodgy's Free Peace Sweet tour found us bombing up the M1 on a Friday evening to sample some legendary south Yorkshire hospitality. As with a lot of music venues currently (and this one is a real jewel), the Leadmill's future is far from secure. However, a good crowd guaranteed Dodgy a warm reception. When they embarked on the first leg of the FSP tour in 2023 their frontman Nigel Clark said that they'd be playing the album (in full and in its original running order) they recorded 27 years ago when the average age of the band was 27. Phew! And here we are in 2024 with all the songs sounding just as vibrant and passionate as they ever did in back in 1996. (And I should know, having seen them dozens of times over the years). They opened with this. Somewhere in my vaults I have a 12", 12 minute, white label drum and bass remix of this, but today I've gone for a stripped back acoustic version. Enjoy.

Dodgy - In a Room (acoustic) - 1996