Crystal Days

Moving

2010-10-28T23:13:00.004+01:00

After numerous years of action, inaction, deletion and reactivation here on blogger I have decided to move my blogging over to Wordpress.

By way of song to play me out I thought that this tune by Supergrass would be appropriate.

Summer Music

2010-09-03T19:13:00.028+01:00

I have had a busy summer in terms of checking out some new albums; I probably overdid it too, as I still have a few albums from my initial splurge at Amazon, HMV and Fopp, to get through. Teenage Fanclub, The Cribs and the Rolling Stones to name but three will all have to wait, it will probably take me into the autumn to get through the rest. Here are those that I did manage to check out.

The Coral - Butterfly House (Deltasonic)

This album should be the soundtrack to a long hot summer; instead it was released just as the clement weather turned into a prolonged period of rain.

The Coral’s fifth, and the first after their singles collection is an album that wears its influences on the sleeve; Uncut magazine described it as ‘sounding more than ever like the Bunnymen transported to Love-era LA.’ I can certainly see where there are going with that statement and if I was not a long-term fan of the band (and the ones mentioned by Uncut) this review would have probably had me scurrying for their new album.

Mid-to-late-60s music has certainly been the accompanying soundtrack to the recording sessions, given the harmonies that can be heard in a number of the songs. The harmonies on ‘Two Faces’ are the most noticeable and give-off that summer of love vibe.
‘More than a Lover’ the album opener is a bold and strong statement of intent, with its lyricism displaying mystical qualities that are on the right side of pretentious.

It is hard to pick out favourites, as it is probably the band’s most consistent collection of songs and this augers well for the future, after fears that the last album may have been a full stop, that said, ‘Butterfly House’ and ‘1000 Years’ are the standout tracks. Given the consistency of the music the only thing the album lacks are the real blockbusters that their first two albums provided.

There is a bonus disc on the extended version of the album that highlights the band’s capacity to experiment is still there, something that may be missing from the proper album.

Overall this is a great album and given the fact that band are still so young, there is more to come from the Heswall band in the future.

Cherry Ghost – Beneath this Burning Shoreline (Heavenly)

Beneath this Burning Shoreline is the second album from Simon Aldred’s outfit, on some levels, it is a more ambitious album than their eponymous debut, it doesn’t stray too far from that template.

Their sound is wonderfully epic, with a twist of the melancholic, and has certain similarities with other northern bands such as Doves, Elbow, and I am Kloot – which is no bad thing.

Tours with the Coral and Doves of late have seen these new songs performed live and have been well received. The more epic moments from the album have been effortlessly recreated live too.

‘We Sleep On Stones’ was the first single and the opener for the album, it is the standout track, but not by much. You are constantly surprised by the quality with each passing tune, the two interludes included, are a must, to enable you to catch breath before the next song comes along.

‘The Night They Buried Sadie Clay’ sounds like a 5-minute kitchen sink drama set to music. In fact most of the lyricism of the album is very character-led and in that northern tradition of songwriters that evoke their surroundings.

The album is strangely subdued in tone towards the end, with ‘Diamond in the Grind’ and ‘Strays on the Ice Pond’, bringing the mood to a more reflective tempo.
This is one of the great albums of the year and surprisingly overlooked for a Mercury nomination too. I look forward to seeing them live in October.

I Am Kloot – Sky at Night (Shepherd Moon)

This is a beautifully understated album and contains some of the greatest moments that the band has committed to record. For me their debut contains their greatest songs (‘86 TVs’ and ‘For You’) but ‘Sky at Night’ is probably their most consistent set.

Like their debut, Craig Potter & Guy Garvey from Elbow produced the album and their presence is all over this. The addition of strings and harmonies, a hallmark of their band, are on display throughout and only add to the usually solid songwriting.

The one thing that has stayed true to the formula are Johnny Bramwell’s lyrics, each song has a line that catches your ear and stops you in your tracks…‘you’re the guy on the bus/who’s not quite one of us’ is one diamond amongst the myriad killer lines.
‘To the Brink’, is typical I Am Kloot, with the earthiness of the lyrics to the fore, ably backed with a haunting string melody, I could see Richard Hawley kicking himself that he had not written this song earlier.

‘Proof’ is a welcome return for a song that was wasted as an earlier single’s b-side and is polished and presented as new here. ‘Radiation’ is the album’s epic song and slowly builds to a rousing finale.

Though the template has been adapted slightly the changes have not been to the detriment of all that is made I Am Kloot good in the past.

This is an album that will satisfy long-term fans and those that have decided to investigate for the first time. Sky at Night is deserving of the accolades that will come its way.

Sleeper – Greatest Hits (Indolent/Epic)

I picked up this compilation fairly cheap on Amazon, on the back of having read Louise Wener memoirs about her time as the songwriter and front person of Sleeper. On the back of that I realised that I only had the one Sleeper album, ‘Smart’, an album that contained all their recognisable hits. For some reason I had left it there and didn’t stick around to buy their subsequent albums.

There are a number of decent tunes on this collection, ‘Inbetweener’ ‘Nice Guy Eddie’ ‘What Do I Do Now?’ and ‘Delicious’ are the album’s stronger moments but on the whole the music has not fared too well over time and this compilation highlights what Wener says in her book that they shone brightly for a short time then faded away.

The Climbers – The Good Ship (Willkommen)

The Climbers is a Brighton-based collective and signed to one of the up and coming labels in the UK. I discovered them when I bought The Leisure Society’s album - which features one of the great songs of 2009. ‘Last of the Melting Snow’.

The Climbers include two members of that band and they are the vehicle for Nick Hemming’s songs. Christian Silva records the songs of Christian Hardy and the Climbers perform the songs of Tim West. The Climbers are ostensibly the afore mentioned three members but with an extended cast of members that augments the band’s sound and that is something that would explain the eclectic nature of ‘The Good Ship’.

‘Bookshop Folk’ is an up and at ‘em stomper that leads in to the more plaintive ‘Anything’. The title track ‘Good Ship’ has that barroom piano vibe. In fact the majority of the album invokes images of the sea, not just with the album cover but the jaunty sea-shantyesque tunes that complete the album.

‘Uncommon’ is another epic song, and probably the stand out track and has a touch of Campbell and Lanegan about it.

There is obviously a great deal of talent within the band and I look forward to future releases by the band and those on Wilkommen Records.

Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (Kitchenware/Sony)

It was good to hear this album again; I had not picked it up in a few years, though I noticed that I did not have a CD of the album. That was remedied over the summer when I purchased the Deluxe Version (a remastered version that was released in 2007). I love Paddy McAloon as a songwriter, and this bunch of songs is deemed to be his finest.

‘Faron Young’ opens the album and it is still a great song and probably one of their finest moments. ‘When Love Breaks Down’ is still one of the saddest songs put to record and is not too far behind in the best song stakes.
The collection includes a bonus disc of acoustic versions of the album. In fact the only new version I didn’t like at first, was ‘When Love Breaks Down’, to me the new version sounded twee, but overtime I grew to like it. My initial reaction probably stemmed from the belief the original could not be bettered.

Songs that may have passed me by when I originally bought this album have become favourites in their new guises. ‘Appetite’ sounds great in its acoustic state. The new version of ‘Faron Young’ almost betters the original, with the deeper tones of McAloon’s voice today taking the song in a direction not envisaged when it was first written.

Speaking of the genius that is Paddy McAloon, best wishes to him after a period of bad health and here is hoping that he opens the vaults on the numerous albums that have been written and recorded, but not yet released.

The National – High Violet (4AD)

A band that has been around for a while but it is only with this release that I have checked out any of their material. The bands previous album The Boxer was the one that thrust them onto the conscious of the record buying public in the UK, High Violet is likely to be the one that will catapult them into the high-end of the numerous end-of-the-year polls.

It’s a subtle album that demands attention; it is certainly not one to be played in the background. Matt Berninger’s baritone is what catches the ear first and then the lyricism that dwells in darker places of the soul. Titles like ‘Sorrow’ and ‘Terrible Love’ gives the game away with regards to what to expect from the overall tone of the album

The opening songs contain lyrics of love gone wrong and complement the textured complex tone of the album. The highlight for me is ‘Afraid of Everyone’ a sad lament in keeping with sombre mood of the album
Another great album and one that has got me interested in checking out the band’s back catalogue.

The Villagers – Becoming a Jackal (Domino)

One of those bands that occasionally Later with Jools Holland brings to your attention. The Villagers is the vehicle for songwriter Conor O’Brien’s music and this album has been shortlisted for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize. The lyrical matter is quite dark at times, but it is also poetic as it deals with life’s twists and turns – it is melancholic, but not in a mournful way.

The arrangements are simple and the title track ‘Becoming a Jackal’ features a performance of voice and guitar highlighting the truest essence of the material. This is the highlight for me and made this album an essential purchase. On ‘Pieces’ sees O’Brien howling at the moon as the track reaches its climax, which on first listen was slightly disconcerting, but it certainly captures a mood.

This is a thoroughly engaging album and like the High Violet it is not an easy one to get in to, but it is worth persevering with though.

John Grant – Queen of Denmark (Bella Union)

I had seen a review and interview with Grant in Mojo and Uncut earlier in the year and this was put on the wish list for future reference. I noticed that he was playing the Static Gallery in August and decided to pop along. I went to that gig without hearing much of his stiff before that; the gig sent me scurrying to get a copy of this album. This is probably the best album that I have heard this year and truly amazing set from someone whose career had seemingly hid the skids.

The album has a sheen to it that on first listen you could think that it was in that AOR tradition, but on closer inspection the lyrics paint a different picture. The highlights of the album are many and its difficult to suggest favourites ‘TC and Honeybear’ is one that I would plump for, the opening track of this stunning collection is a slow building song but its climax is well worth the ride.

The great tunes keep on coming ‘Marz’ recalls a childhood sweetshop and a time when life was simpler. For Grant, times have been tough and it is pleasing to see that the accolades that are coming his way are coming as a result of this album.

The album veers between lush orchestrations to solo songs with just piano balladry to the fore - as an artist Grant is comfortable in either form. ‘Queen of Denmark’ is the perfect closer to the album.

I was lucky to pick up the two-disc version with four bonus tracks ‘Fireflies’ is the pick of these songs and one that was omitted from the main album after a breakdown in communications with the record label. He remarked at the gig I went to see that he thought the label were underwhelmed by it, when in fact they thought it was brilliant. Hence the need for a bonus disc.

This is a truly endearing, at times sad, but overall uplifting album and one that I’m glad that I finally got around to buying.

Human League – Dare (Virgin)

An album purchase, inspired by reading the Louise Wener’s book and this is an album that contains a number of their greatest hits. Dare is ‘the’ Human League with ‘Open Your Heart’, ‘Don’t You Want Me Baby’ and ‘Love Action (I Believe in Love)’. Love Action is probably the band’s greatest moment mainly because of the self-referencing lyric ‘Hey this is Phil talking’ a line that always cracks me up. Bizarrely there is also a cover version of Roy Budd’s ‘Get Carter’ theme tune on this album too.

This is one of the great albums of the 80s (if that’s not damning it with faint praise) and every time I hear the Human League it always reminds of one the greatest gigs I have ever seen.

Tunng - …And Then We Saw Land (Full Time Hobby)

They were a band I had been meaning to check out for a while and had downloaded a number of remix tracks from RCDLB which I liked and made me want to explore further
Tunng are an experimental folk band or folktronica as they have also been dubbed.

‘…And Then We Saw Land’ is their fourth album.‘ that has seen them grow steadily in size. ‘Don’t Look Down or Back’ was the lead out track and is probably one of the few tracks that can be construed as traditional. Over the course of the course of the album sees the folk palette mixed with a number of electronic shades.

‘Hustle’ is a jaunty opener and sets the scene for a folk and beats combination that follows.

They are folk at heart and the experimental edge never gets in the way of the songwriting and it is certainly an interesting album that has me interested in discovering the rest of their catalogue.

Broken Bells – Broken Bells (Sony)

Broken Bells is Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and James Mercer from The Shins. I had been looking forward to hearing this album since I downloaded a free copy of lead single ‘The High Road’.

The results of this collaboration are that is sounds like a Shins album, no bad thing. The stand out track is without doubt the aforementioned track, but the ‘beats and Beach Boys’ influences throughout lend a very summer feel, non-more so on ‘Citizen’, which is probably the other stand out.

Overall a great summer album and was well worth more than the £3 I paid for it in a HMV sale.

Neville Skelly – Child of the Morning EP (Setanta)

I picked this up when I went to see the Coral, for whom Skelly was the opening act. Despite the help from the Coral producing this album and the sharing of a surname, he is in fact no relation to that band.

The album is delightfully understated with Skelly’s deep and mellifluous vocal to the fore. He was a quiet character in-between the songs, hiding behind his shades. When the first chords of the songs chimed he came alive. The simple vocal and guitar formula of the live setting is replicated to an extent on the album, with only the inclusion of drums and the occasional other instrument that differentiates from the live setting. The vibe is definitely stripped back and it works well.

Child of the Morning is the title track from this 5 track EP, a taster of hopefully a longer album in the near future, has that Sinatra vibe about it. Though thankfully, not in the way that Robbie Williams popularised. The first four songs all have that laid-back lounge lizard feel, with the closer Poet and the Dreamer the more upbeat of the collection.

It is certainly music for a late night ambient moods, he’s certainly worth checking out in the future.

Spokes – People Like You (Counter Records)

Electtronica/Dance is the listing on iTunes, but to me this is more in that post-rock vain. They do quite loud and quiet in equal measure, they are a more melodic Mogwai. It was ‘End Credits/Loveletter’ that caught my ear on a Clash Music Liverpool compilation. The album is generally instrumental and when lyrics appear they are used sparingly. Opener ‘Young People, All Together’ waits for 4 minutes before a vocal kicks in.

For an EP that is almost forty minutes in length you get value for money with 6 lengthy tracks. It has some weaker tunes but generally it is a good taster of their forthcoming album that is due for release in the autumn.

August

2010-09-02T12:55:00.000+01:00

August for me is without doubt the best month of the year - as it is usually the one where I take the bulk of my holidays. This year was no different, though was very much a staycation, as I had a boiler and new sofa to purchase. The joys home ownership!

Another thing that was no different this year was the weather. For the five years I have been able to take August off, the weather has been dreadful. As I write this, the weather has taken a turn for the better…typical!

The weather has been good for writing, which I have been doing with regularity. The aim is to send more and more stuff out, instead of hording it in folders and on my computer. I have also been tinkering with a website, this will be a portfolio, which is something that I have been meaning to do for a while. That can be found here, I will eventually move this blog over there, all in good time.

I was also planning to set up another blog site but that idea (which I will keep on the backburner for now) was taken over by another idea I had for a football blog. I quite enjoy watching football and if I’m not at Everton then I like to find myself watching non-league football. This is known as Groundhopping, not something I have done that extensively but over the years I have visited a few weird and wonderful grounds.

Speaking of football, the new season is upon us and so far I have seen Everton twice, first for the unique friendly versus their Chilean namesakes, which was an interesting game and good to see Everton winning 2-0...well they could not lose. It was a significant game for me also had a first in nearly thirty years (gulp…thirty years) of going to the game that I had managed to catch one of the toffees thrown by the Toffee Lady. The second game was the first league clash against Wolves, which I haven’t put finger to keyboard to write about, given that it was typically a last-game-on-Match-of-the-Day-type-game. Roll on November, when Everton normally start getting their act together.

After months spent with my head in books researching for new modules and programmes that I will be involved in at work next term it is nice to spend my summer reading books that may not be work related. The range of books may not have been be too heavy or too frothy; I certainly did not envisage reading Joyce’s Ulysses this year, which I did not.

One omission from the reading list that I notice, is that I have not read much fiction of late, I’m not too sure why that is. I have read a few short collections of flash fiction, which I quite liked, one is produced by the University of Chester called Flash. I have bought subscribed to this for a while now and it gets better with each issue. The other publications I managed to check out were Square which I managed to get through a couple of back issues that I had been accumulating. Square is a Welsh based publication with a healthy Stone Roses obsession. As well as Square, I picked up another small-scale flash fiction publications Nutshell. I may not pick up some of these publications again, but its good to see different styles of writing are out there, without having to spend too much time reading them. What I like about Flash Fiction is the ability to dip in and out of publications.

The other books I read included Joe Moran’s On Roads, Luke Haines Bad Vibes and Louise Wener’s which I have blogged about elsewhere on this blog.

Music wise I went to see John Grant and my thoughts on that gig can be found here. Also I have listened to a few albums over the last few weeks, the pick of which is very much the John Grant album Queen of Denmark. My thoughts can be found on that and the others that I listened to can be found here.

In-between my car being on blocks (three trips to the garage of late) this summer has taught me that a new car is needed I tried to get away for a few trips Buxton and Morecombe were the height of my travels which is a might frustrating.

So its back to work and typically the next month will disappear in the blink of an eye…soon it will be a new term and then…I wont say it but you know what.

John Grant & The Big House

2010-08-20T22:22:00.003+01:00

Thursday 19th August 2010, Live at the Static Gallery Liverpool

Set list: You Don't Have to (Pretend to Care), Drug, Sigourney Weaver, When Dreams Go to Die, Marz, It's Easier, Out of Space, Silver Platter Club, Queen of Denmark, Child I Never Was, Paint the Moon, TC and Honeybear, Caramel, Fireflies, Chickenbones.

On a night that only summer in England can offer, the Static Gallery offered refuge from the rain, with a night of music that drew its influences from across the pond and sunnier climes.

Liverpool’s The Big House featuring Candie Payne and Paul Molloy, the ex-Zutons guitarist were the opening act. Playing only their second gig, they seemed a little nervous and slightly unnerved by the subdued nature of the audience; though quiet, they were appreciative of their performance.

As a band they are very much work in progress but there is a potential in their tunes, the highlights so far are ‘Pebble Lane’ and ‘Counting Thunder’, songs that have an Americana feel to them. In fact there is something of Cash and Carter about the pair the way they interact on stage.

The one element that probably needs work is the vocal duties; at times Payne is slightly sidelined, It’s like having a Rolls Royce and only using it for trips to the shops. Though Molloy has a great voice, the band work best when Payne is using her vocal range as the set closer is testimony to.

The quiet audience was a different beast for headliner John Grant, back in Liverpool for a second gig in as many months; it was certainly not a case of familiarity breeding contempt.

Touring the brilliant ‘Queen of Denmark’ album that on tonight’s evidence has been taken to the hearts of all in attendance. He introduced each song to rapturous applause that suggested the audience were not just familiar with his latest offering but the older songs from his Czars days too.

Microphone trouble put paid to the slow building opening song ‘You Don't Have to (Pretend to Care)’. That was to be the only misstep of the night, throughout Grant delivered each song with passion and genuinely touched by the reaction that he received from the crowd. The end of tour fatigue he talked about was certainly not evident here.

There were many highlights ‘When Dreams Go to Die’ is a minor chord wonder about thinking a lover could make him happy. His between song banter was endearing after the aforementioned song he suggested the London Underground as that place 'where dreams go to die'.

The majority of his songs are of a similar reflective nature and written with a 70s American soft rock focus, that in the hands of other artists could come across as bland and anodyne. For Grant the subject matter and the lyrical content steers it safely away from that direction.

He avoided the ‘false encore’ and offered the audience the chance to select the closing numbers. Calls for ‘Chickenbones’ were turned down; saying his accompanying guitarist and him did not have an arrangement for that song. Undeterred the audience willed him to do it acapela, which he did, aided by the percussive handclaps of the audience. This almost raised the roof of the venue.

It would be greedy to expect him back in Liverpool as soon as he returned here tonight but when he does return he has set the bar high with this performance.

Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in its Downfall

2010-08-19T15:00:00.003+01:00

Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in its Downfall (Windmill)by Luke Haines

As time creeps on, the period of the 1990s is increasingly being seen through sepia-tinted glasses - stand by for the 20th Anniversary celebrations in the next few years. For now, we have a number of books that encapsulate that period written by those at the heart of the madness. Bad Vibes is Luke Haines take on the period, and he is perfectly positioned to offer a viewpoint on the time, as the lead singer of The Auteurs, as a band who were feted along with Suede to be one of the bands of the 1990s.

This represents another retrospective account of the 1990s music scene - I have avoided the word Britpop for reasons that become apparent when you read this book, with all the characters that you would expect to see from this time are mentioned with varying degrees of venom.

Suede, the band that emerged at the same time as Haines’s band, occasionally get barbed comments, though deep down you can almost sense a begrudging admiration for the band. They even get an acknowledgement at the end of the book.

This cannot be said for a number of his other bands of the time Blur, Oasis, Elastica, Verve, Pulp Sleeper and Echobelly all get the sharp end of his pen in equal measure, and for the second successive book I have read about this period, there is a particularly vituperative attack on the Boo Radleys. The biggest band of the generation Oasis, he describes them as a ‘crap new comedy band…[who are] wowing them in the aisles, and they [the fans] swarm on them like flies on shit.’

Even Britpop flag bearer Chris Evans comes under attack having participated in the pilot of TFI Friday, Haines describes Evans as 'a shallow bullying man-child, a jumped-up kissogram-turned-light-entertainment-colossus.’ Even fans of the other bands get a dose of Haines’ venom; he describes Placebo’s fans as ‘screaming ingrates’.
It is not just his peers from the ‘Britpop’ generation provoke Haines’ ire. The The, the 80s band, led by Matt Johnson are portrayed as ‘humourless’. On one early support tour with the band, the Auteurs are demoted to opening at 7.30 just as the doors open, in favour of the ‘unfunny’ comedian Tommy Cockles. This provokes a stand up row and an attack on Johnson’s guitars, which sees the Auteurs subsequently kicked off the tour.

There are the usual tales of bad luck and poor record companies, as well as brushes with cults in Japan and fans who take his songs about terrorism as a call to arms. As is the case of many a rock journal there are tales of excess, the drug busts in Europe. The way that future bust were to be overcome was by posting the drugs onto venues and hotels while in France. This came with the realisation that they had now moved on from a potential possession rap to that of trafficking – albeit to themselves

The tone is angry throughout, but it is not a bitter account. In fact there are some real laugh out loud moments.Whether you have been a fan of the numerous bands that Haines has been associated with down the years, it doesn’t matter this is a brilliant evocation of that period and serves as a handy companion for those ‘wasn’t it great’ journals that have arrived recently and makes this book an indispensable account of the British 90s music scene.

Different for Girls: My True-life Adventures in Pop (Ebury Press)

2010-08-19T10:23:00.005+01:00

Different for Girls: My True-life Adventures in Pop (Ebury Press)by Louise Wener

Different for Girls is a book in two parts; first we get the accounts of the awkward teenager growing up in a typically suburban setting that would be chronicled later in her songwriting. There are moments of poignancy through the early chapters, as she discusses the death of her father.

The second part will be recognisable to all who followed music in the 1990s and her days of relative success with Sleeper, which she likens to a ‘one night stand, albeit a great one’.

The reminiscences about music throughout her teenage years seem the more heartfelt, than her days in the public eye. The tales of taping of Top of the Pops on primitive recording devices and putting together tapes of favourite hits are things that most obsessive music fans can identify with.

Throughout the book Wener comes across as likeable figure and not the sassy loudmouthed front women caricature that the music press portrayed her as throughout the 1990s. The book recalls a time pre-Spice Girls and the laughable claims of Girl Power and the title alludes to her brushes with the music press, Wener was pilloried by the music press for acting up to a caricature, the passages though show her to be a likeable character and not one that press portrayed her as. She pours scorn that bands like the Manic Street Preachers that could wish AIDS on Michael Stipe and would not get the same vitriol that she faced from the press.

The book is lightweight in tone and is easily readable. Possibly the one criticism that could be levelled at the book is that it skirts over a number of points like dodgy deals and record company machinations. She also does not dwell too long on the relationships that she had with the guitarist and drummer of the band, who both had to cope wit there own issues of being dismissed as being ‘Sleeperblokes’ by the press.

Though it is worth reading for an insight from one of the leading players about the other leading bands at the time. The glamour of being serenaded by Michael Stipe in front 70,000 people, tucking into Blur’s cheese rider, having Elvis Costello covering one of their songs through to the not so glamorous days of touring Europe with the Boo Radleys.

There is not a sense of bitterness about her pop years and the general feeling that you get from reading the book is an acceptance of the band’s limitations and it was good while it lasted. There are no rock star clichés of going of the rails at the end either, instead you see the seamless switch that she has made with her literary career, where her eye for the 3 minute kitchen drama can now be fully explored.
Overall it is an interesting account from someone at the heart of the action and would be of interest to anyone who had a passing interest in bands from that era.

Invacar

2010-08-16T14:53:00.001+01:00

The first Match of the Day 2 of the day of the series recently ran a feature on, things that you don’t see at the match these days. One of the items that caught my eye was cars parked at the pitch-side, which used to be a feature but has died out over the years.

One club that highlights the changing face of football has been Chelsea and its ground Stamford Bridge. The 80s saw Chelsea ply its trade in the top two divisions with a ramshackle ground. Before the days of Chelsea Village and their Russian oligarch, the Shed and the disused greyhounds’ track that surrounded the pitch highlighted a club in decline and a throwback to a different era. With its relatively new incongruous 3 tiered stand, standing out alongside its terraced counterparts. The ground of the 80s was typical of many a top-flight ground of the time - it had potential, a euphemism that estate agents tend to overuse.

What set the Bridge aside from the rest of the topflight was the sandy track that separated supporters from the pitch. Another distinct aspect was that it doubled up as a car park, with the attendant cars giving their owners an advantage of a pitch-side seat to the action. One car was prominent on the touchline at the Bridge and other grounds around the country was the Thundersley Invcar.

Wigan Athletic’s old ground Springfield Park had something of Stamford Bridge about, but on a much smaller scale. The Latics fanzine Mudhutsmedia had a feature glowingly recalling the old Springfield Park and the Covington End where the cars would be parked on the half-circle behind the goal. They reminisced about their non-league days and players such as Billy Sutherland, a Scottish left-back and his habit of bringing the Invacars into play. His wayward shots would bring hoots of laughter and derision when on the many occasions that his shots would cannon off the pitch-side Invacars

One supporter remembers these wayward shots fondly: “It was better than a goal. I can honestly remember one day one of the cars shaking for what seemed like an eternity.”

Even at the tightly packed ground that is Goodison Park I’m sure I can remember seeing footage of an Everton game in the 70s with one being tucked away in the corner of the ground between the Bullens Road and Park End stands.

The name itself was something from a far-flung era – Invacar is a contraction of invalid and car that in these PC times would have been dismissed at the outset.

In March 2003, it became illegal to drive an Invacar on British roads, though they probably died out not so much to do with road safely more to do with the fact that the name of them.

The veteran vehicle could not stand up to modern day safety standards. During the 1960's and 70's the Invacar with its modern fibreglass shell, ice blue colouring and belt drive were produced in the tens of thousands. There were still around 200 Invacars in Britain prior to the 2003 recall and scrapping program.

So in an era of corporate facilites being the alternative to being sat on the terraces spare a though to the Invacar and their alternative views of the game.

Around the Grounds

2010-08-04T01:00:00.000+01:00

I have decided to set up a football related blog for the forthcoming season. That can be found here.

The reason was mainly that I have become a bit lazy over the last few years and not really been attending football matches as much as I used to. Recently though I have had thoughts of returning to covering football matches as I did a number of years ago. I enjoyed my time covering non-league and lower league clubs. Mainly as these grounds always had character and were worth closer inspection.

The journey will cover clubs from A to Z and I had the idea came for this blog when I was sat at Moss Lane the home of Altrincham, so obviously A for Altrincham and is the beginning of the journey.

July

2010-08-01T10:02:00.004+01:00

This is always the month in work where the frenetic pace of the year begins to slow down. Another good things about this month is that there is no marking to do either.

Away from work, most of my weekends this month have been spent helping people move house (my girlfriend, as well as a colleague from work). Note to self: put all thoughts of moving house out of mind…it’s far too stressful.

The World Cup finished this month and overall I have to say I was not really that impressed. There was the occasional flash of brilliance, but there were few classic games that will spring to mind in the future. The Final itself was won by Spain, who thankfully overcame Netherland’s more aggressive style of play.

Another aspect of the World Cup that has been a disappointment has been the coverage, especially the level of punditry. They have constantly showed a lack of research, which even a cursory glance at Wikipedia could have overcome. Another thing that annoyed me was the lack of respect for referees from smaller nations…the typical ‘what would they know’ mentality was constant. Invariably they would be the better performers.

The other bugbear of mine was the incessant chatter about Forlan's re-emergence. He had two bad seasons at Man United, since then he has been constantly doing well in Spain, first with Villarreal and then Athletico Madrid. Yet the myopic coverage of the commentators constantly talks as though his career is tainted in some way The coverage of the Tour de France, which started this month, only served to highlight the inadequacies of the football commentators and pundits. As ever ITV’s coverage was superb.

It has been a month of weddings, not mine, but that of two friends. They were nice occasions and I was glad to be a part of them. I have attended three weddings this year, thankfully I have no outstanding invites...otherwise I would be bankrupt.

In music, I went to see the Coral and Cherry Ghost at the Lowry, both bands were on top form. They both are touring in support of new albums, they are pretty good an well worth checking out. Other albums I have bought this month include the National’s album ‘High Violet’, which has been getting good reviews from the music press. I also listened to Nouvelle Vague's ‘Late Night Tales’, and the Mumford & Sons album, which is all over the place at the moment. It is pretty good and can see why they have emerged as a big band in the last few years. No doubt they are going down a storm at the various festivals this year.

I also dug out my XTC albums as it had been a long time since I had given them a spin. Like Prefab Sprout the month before you forget what brilliant work that they produced. In Andy Partridge they have a genius, whose talents are not really appreciated as fully as they should.

By the end of the month the football season returned, well in pre-season form. I foolishly ventured out to watch a pre season friendly at Altrincham, despite the weather looking like a grey day in November. Being at this game inspired me to set up a football blog, which can be found here.

The Coral

2010-07-19T12:51:00.005+01:00

Live at the Lowry Salford, Saturday 17th July 2010

Set list: More Than a Lover, Roving Jewel, Walking in the Winter, Jacqueline, In the Rain, Simon Diamond, Two Faces, Green Is the Colour, 1000 Years, Spanish Main / Who's Gonna Find Me, Pass It On, Butterfly House, Falling All Around You, She's Coming Around, Wildfire, Calendars and Clocks, Goodbye, Dreaming of You, North Parade.

After a time out of the spotlight and with a well-received new album to promote the Coral return to the live arena in the plush surroundings of the Lowry, not necessarily the typical venue for the band but with a more sedate sound this may be a newfound natural habitat.
Added to the many plaudits that band have received for their new album, tonight they can add the testimonial of Mancunian royalty Mani to that ever expanding list, who introduced the band and heralded ‘Butterfly House’ as the best since the his old band the Stone Roses’ eponymous debut.

Tonight that new album formed the basis of the set ‘More Than a Lover’, ‘Roving Jewel’ and ‘Walking in the Winter’ three new songs that opened the set. These new songs were appreciated by the audience with some restraint in the comfortable seats, it was when songs form the band’s back catalogue were rolled out that the trouble started for the security guards tonight. A number of fans were ushered to sit down when ‘Jacqueline’ and ‘In the Rain’ were played, then the venue’s no standing, no moving to front policy was thrown asunder when ‘Spanish Main / Who's Gonna Find Me’ was rolled out amongst the equally-well received recent singles ‘1000 Years’ and ‘Butterfly House’.

A number of fans took to the stage and prompted lead-singer James Skelly to mouth an unambiguous message to a stage invader , which left him in no doubt as to what he wanted him to do. Skelly commented that he was possibly the politest invader he had ever encountered.

With the rockier numbers the band upped the volume a little louder when encoring ‘Dreaming of You’ and album closer ‘North Parade’ this saw the front of the stage almost submerged with diehards.

The thing that strikes you about tonight’s performance is that the new and older material sits well together and that the Greatest Hits collection that came out a couple of years ago can now be seen as a point in time, as opposed to a full stop in the career of the band.

Their live credentials have never been in question but the new album highlights with the omissions from the set list tonight that the band has an impressively expanding back catalogue. On tonight’s evidence, and that of the new album, the band goes from strength to strength.

Writing

2010-07-18T09:46:00.002+01:00

I read a number of writing blogs and subscribe to Writers' News. So I'm well versed in the mantra that to be a writer you have to write every day. That it is a given, but the problem tends to be when it comes to describing yourself as a writer. As yet I have not been published for my creative works - despite numerous resolutions that I will start sending this work off, that still sits on a hard drive or when I’m feeling really proactive in a folder.

Most of the advice tends to be the obvious, but the one about writing everyday alas that has not been possible of late given my commitments in work and somehow I’m no further down the road to achieving my goals.

This year I didn't bother writing down my resolutions for the year - though somewhere at the back of my mind I have a number of unwritten goals that I would like to achieve.

If I had resolution it would have been to send out more of my writing, which I have not really done – though I did send out a final draft of play that I had written. This was rejected though I’m not despondent about this, as I know why it was not suitable. This will give me pointers for the next one that I write.
So the summer months, where I will hopefully get a long break from work. I hope to devote a bit of time to a number of writing projects as well as getting this blog sorted, as it has been somewhat neglected of late.

June

2010-07-01T14:03:00.001+01:00

Like April and May, this month was spent with the less than edifying task of wading through a mountain of marking. I managed to get to the bottom of that pile towards the end of the month and not before time. The weather was also rather kind to me too – it was constantly raining while I attended this stack of work.

June was also the start of the World Cup, with the constant drone of vuvuzelas and pundits alike, being the constant talking point so far. That along with the inevitable England capitulation; in all their games they just didn’t get going at all and they finally went out to a vibrant Germany side. Roll on the Premiership a nation was heard to utter in unison. The World Cup so far has not got going hopefully, now that England are out it will do. The only positives you could really draw after England’s displays was that at least John Terry would not be getting a knighthood for winning the World Cup.

Given that work is easing up slightly, I picked up my guitar for the first time in months and somwhow picked up a shoulder injury that nearly forced me out of a football match. I have no idea how that happened as I was only sitting with an acoustic guitar gently strumming - I was hardly throwing rock shapes with a Gibson Les Paul.

Musically, I have dragged myself away from the marking to check out The Maccabees, ‘Wall of Arms’ album. It was one of those 2 for £10 punts in HMV. I had seen them on a recent NME front cover, which these days see me preceding with some trepidation of a band’s output. I had not heard much of their stuff before to be honest, though I did get a download of ‘Can You Give’, which was given a brass band makeover with support from the Dodworth Colliery Band. I have to say that ‘Wall of Arms’ is a great album, one that I had missed last year when it came it out.

The version of the album I have has the original 11 tracks plus 4 additions, which includes a version of Roy Orbison’s ‘I Drove All Night’. This laid back tune quietly plays out the album. It is a great album from start to finish with the eponymous song ‘Wall of Arms’, ‘No Kind Words’ and the Roots Manuva inspired makeover ‘Empty Vessells’ are all particular favourites.

The thoughts of the World Cup had me running back to songs from summers of old hence the appearance of Primal Scream, China Crisis, New Order and Prefab Sprout on the month’s soundtrack. I don’t know what it is about World Cups, but my mind always strays to Italia 1990, that in my mind is perceived to be a great tournament, though something the statistics do not back up. I even downloaded Nessun Dorma a song which takes me back twenty years to that World Cup.

Not much in the way of gigs this month but I was blessed with great weather when I visited the Africa Oye festival in Sefton Park. I always try and attend this festival but in the years that I have been coming the weather has let them down. Thankfully this year, the weather was more in keeping with what an African Festival should be I met up with a few colleagues from work which added to the event. Overall I had great time. There was a brilliant atmosphere, with great food and music.

April/May

2010-05-30T23:59:00.004+01:00

A busier time of late than March and one that brought a much-needed break. I was glad to have a few days off at the start of the month to draw breath. The Easter holidays were pretty good, well apart from the fact that my boiler gave up the ghost. No doubt it had been slightly overworked given the winter we have just had. So far the quotes for a new one have done nothing but bring about a wince and a high pitched shriek from myself!

So away from home-based disasters, I went along to a gig at my favourite venue the Citadel to see Radio 2 DJ Mark Radcliffe's band the Big Figures. They have been playing in his local for a number of years and have this year ventured out on tour. They play a number of Dr Feelgood tunes and early classics. I’m sure there may have been one or two of their own songs in the set too. a band that before now had passed me by. It is quite timely given that Oil City Confidential the documentary about the band was released - it has even made it on to BBC4. I enjoyed the gig and Radcliffe is a fine front man. His humour and talent shine through. I’m looking forward to when he gets the Family Mahone back together for his now legendary Christmas gigs.

As a result of the gig I have checked out ‘Oil City Confidential’ the movie and the accompanying soundtrack. It includes a number of their songs plus a couple from Johnny Kid and the Pirates (a band that influenced the nascent Feelgood). There are some great tunes on the album (live and recorded). You can see why a number of punk bands have cited them as an influence.

Another album that I had been looking forward to being released finally materialised this month. Pavement is the American band who inspired Blur’s conversion from the Britpop style to a more American sound, have released a 23 track compilation album called ‘Quarantine the Past’. I was a late convert to the band and was looking to hearing something that encapsulated their whole career. I’m not sure this is it, the die-hard fan will probably say that there is a lot of stuff missing. ‘Stereo’ remains a favourite of mine, as well as ‘Spit on a Stranger’ that was covered by the folk singer Kathryn Williams to good effect on her ‘Relations ‘album. Its a good introduction to the band and is well worth checking out. Listening to it has got me inspired in checking out the other bits of back catalogue that have been remastered to coincide with this Greatest Hits and reformation of the band.

It was a good month for album releases, the Amazon wish list was served with a number of new additions. One that was instantly purchased was the new Paul Weller album ‘Wake Up The Nation’. Given my devotion of all things Weller, it was always an album that I would be purchasing. A number of publications have given it favourable reviews and compared it well with his previous release ‘22 Dreams’, which was quite eclectic in the number of styles on display over the course of the album. ‘Wake Up The Nation’ is a more stripped down approach and weighs in at less than 45 minutes long, but covers a similar range of styles. One song ‘Trees’ is like a mini-symphony at less then 5 minutes long. The title track rails at the Facebook-age and is quite an impassioned track. I have to say that the album has been seldom of my player since HMV sent it out to me two days before its release (thank you). To these ears I think it is possibly his best solo album and certainly not far off the Jam’s best album Sound Effects. It’s that good. Not bad for an artist who has passed the milestone of his 50th birthday and he is still going strong, where other contemporaries are churning pale imitations of their best work. I look forward to hearing these tunes performed live later on in the year.

The Arctic Monkeys album, I have to say it washes over me in some ways and the reviews that I had read about lacking a little lustre of the first two albums ring true. Lyrically it is still top notch, just lacking in tunes. There are probably two tracks that stand out, with first song ‘My Propeller’ being my favourite, as well as ‘Pretty Visitors’.

Another new band for me is Wild Beasts, who hail from the Lake District. Like the Arctic Monkeys, ‘Two Dancers’ is an album that was released last year, I have seen them mentioned in passing and have heard a few tunes on a number of Uncut free cds. I’m glad I bought the album, it is one of the best new albums I have heard in a long time. It’s very 80s in places and with a bit of Bunnymen thrown in too, which is no bad thing. The highlights for me is the opener ‘Fun Powder Plot’, reminds me of something that for now I’m sure what, and ‘Two Dancers (II)’. I look forward to checking out their previous album in due course.

The last day of the month a rare term time day off and off to Poland where a friend of Silvi was due to be married. We flew by Wizzair and thankfully the flight was less stressful than my previous flight with Ryanair in January. The weekend was busy to say the least we flew into Katowice and then had to get a bus from their to Krakow and then on to Tarnow, where the wedding was taking place on the Saturday. Sunday was spent Krakow were a short trip around the city was only possible.

It was good to finally see Krakow and would like to visit there again in future though with a longer time to sightsee and with less travelling. As is usually the case when flying for me these days, there was a delay to the flight of 5 hours. Which meant a 7 hour stay at Katowice Airport, a place not noted for its abundance of resources. Sadly it was Silvis birthday, so we had to spend the day celebrating it at an airport. When we finally made it back in the evening we only really had time for tea in a pub with my parents who had come to pick us up from the airport.

After that bit of excitement, May can be summed up by one activity. Marking, marking and more marking. Never mind, it will soon be the summer!

Scriptfrenzy 2010

2010-04-01T20:20:00.004+01:00

Today is the first day of Scriptfrenzy a month long writing contest, one that I signed up to take part in last year. It is similar to Nanowrimo and all those other do-something-creative-in-a-month competitions that internet has helped popularise.
Last year, I signed up at the very last minute (as chronicled here) and enjoyed every moment of the experience. This year, I have another idea for a script that I was looking forward to getting stuck into but unfortunately I won't be at the starting line with all the other writers. The main reason I guess is that I have surveyed the month ahead and that from a work point of view (work of the paid kind) I just won’t have the time to give the attention that it deserves. Marking season will soon be upon me!

From a writing point of view I also feel like I have a number of half-finished ideas that I need to get out of the way first before I undertake another project such as this. Last summer, I started a novel, which at this moment stands half completed. I also lined up at the start of Nanowrimo in November - unfortunately work got in the way again so I’m left with another half finished novel. Added to this is the small matter of the last year’s script, which is still at the first draft stage and has been filed away and has not been read since its completion.

This last week while I have been off work I have been surveying a number of pieces of work that I had written for other workshops of late and some other bits that that I had forgotten I had written. So I think for now I should really be concentrating on clearing the decks and start getting some of my already completed/soon to be completed work out there.

That is why with great reluctance that I won't be lining up with other ScreenFrenzy participants. I wish them every success in what is an interesting, frustrating and ultimately enjoyable experience.

March

2010-03-31T00:10:00.002+01:00

The year seems to be slipping away fairly quickly already, somehow it’s April tomorrow. On some level this month has been something of a write-off. Work has just got in the way of everything really and the month has been an exercise in bobbing along.

I suppose one highlight this month was catching up with a few mates for a birthday in Liverpool, I realised that it had been nearly two years since I had caught up with them. That’s just too long but that seems to be the case these days with too many of my friends.

Only one visit to the cinema this month after an almost prolific month last time and that was to see Crazy Heart, which has Jeff Bridges & Maggie Gyllenhaal in the main roles. The story is a well-travelled path, but it's worth a watch. The music is good too, if you like Americana that does not stray into that clichéd Rhinestone Cowboy sound.

I think I only watched one DVD and that was Cloverfield, which frankly annoyed the hell out of me. Instead of wanting the main cast members to survive, I was glad when they were killed off one-by-one. I liked the concept; just the actual execution of the film was not that great.

On the music front I checked a couple of albums that I had been meaning to check out for a few years. Wolfmother, was one album that I managed to listen to they are an Australian band that obviously own a few Led Zeppelin albums. It is fairly rocky stuff - but not too bad.

Another band that wear their influences on their sleeves is the Gaslight Anthem. Their album ‘59 Sound’ is a couple of years old and I have been meaning to check them out having read about them a fair bit in Uncut. The New Jersey band not only shares a state with Bruce Springsteen but also a sound - they have even shared a stage in the last few years. This is a great album if you like that impassioned American rock sound; ‘Great Expectations’ is the stand out track. They have a new album in the offing, which I hope to check out when it is released.

I also took the time to limp down memory lane with a blast through the Wonder Stuff, doing ‘Hup’ live. The release is an updated version to celebrate 21 years since it came out. It’s a DVD and cvd package of recent gig in Birmingham and the songs sound great after all these years. It was interesting to hear on the album that the lead singer Miles Hunt considers it to be his favourite Wonder Stuff album, something that I fully agree with. Though ‘Never Loved Elvis’ is a contender for my favourite too as it contains ‘Here Comes Everyone’ and was the album that really got me into the band.

That’s a bout it for March, hopefully next month can be a little more productive than the one that’s just gone.

A Quiet Pint in the Everyman

2010-03-28T13:17:00.005+01:00

After my recent road to Damascus like conversion to real ale, in the middle of a week off from work, I picked up my copy of Around the Pubs in 80 days. I suppose if I was to start a drinking odyssey around Liverpool it would be difficult to know where to begin such a journey

For me, I suppose that journey would begin in the Everyman Bistro. If I were a permanent inhabitant of Liverpool city centre this would be my local. It is not typically a real-ale pub but on some levels adheres to the ethos of what a real-ale pub should be. I should hate this place on account of the low beams of the ceiling; this is on account of it being in the depths of the Everyman Theatre. I can’t help but feel a little self-conscious when the place is full.

Thankfully I have popped in on a quiet Thursday afternoon, it is just me, and a couple of members of staff. I have my usual a quick bottle of Cain's lager before I’m due to meet my friend later on. With French music station on in the background and a beer in my hand it is quite relaxing. It's quite good to have a pub to yourself to contemplate the world. The music is good too and has that French lounge-core feel. On second thoughts it sounds Spanish.

Sadly they are going to renovate this place soon - hopefully the new building will retain some of this place’s character. Though hopefully with a better ceiling space for the non-vertically challenged, like myself.

February

2010-02-28T00:09:00.004Z

The second one of these monthly round ups - I have not got bored of doing them as yet…though give it time. I always regard February as the true start to the year. January feels like a shutdown and nothing much really happens. Due to varying factors, this has certainly been the case in 2010. It’s been yet another month that has been blighted with snow.

Well as things start up again the he first weekend of the month saw the first gig of the year. I managed to get to see Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls of the Wonder Stuff, doing one of their acoustic sets at the Liverpool Philharmonic’s intimate Rosewald Suite. The gig was a well-travelled path for the audience but Hunt was in good form both with his songs and ever engaging reflections that Hunt dwells upon in-between the songs. I have lost count at the amount of times I have seen him play in his numerous guises down the years and look forward to future gigs.

Music wise it has been a slack month really, nothing new has really caught my ear. I have not listened to anything interesting apart from catching up with a couple of the free Uncut cds from the last few editions. Uncut magazine and its accompanying cds are normally good at throwing up new bands to check out.

One album that I have been listening to of late has been the Florence and the Machine album, I know that the album had been getting a bit of a mention in the papers with Florence becoming something of a ubiquitous figure, something that’s not always good. I have to say the album is good and lives up to the hype and yes she does have a touch of the Kate Bush about her - which is no bad thing. The songs which have appeared on adverts bear up to closer scrutiny but I have to say my favourite song on the album is Drumming Song. I picked up a free remix from RCD RBL, a decent website that offers daily free legit downloads.

With the bad weather returning, trips to the cinema have been the order of the day. Despite putting it off and thinking it could not live up to the hype I finally got around to watching Avatar. Though the plot is fairly flimsy, apparently a carbon copy of Pocahontas, watching it in the cinema in all its 3D glory was certainly something that made the film for me. The clips of future features in 3D looked good too. This month I also went to see Invictus and An Education, though not as visually as enticing as Avatar, they are highly recommended films based on true stories.

I suppose the main highlight of the month, in an ever so geeky way was finally getting hold of an iPhone. After a period of limbo with Vodafone, my contract finally ran out. As someone who had previously taken the easy option of upgrading to the latest Sony Erricson model. Thankfully Apple's exclusivity deal with 02 had ended and I could stick with more reliable Vodafone network.

So what is so good about the iPhone? Well, it's a camera, which has a reasonable spec - better camera phones do exist. The phone is pretty good with some nice features too; the chance to browse emails is also good too. It also enables you to play music too. It feels like the future - well it did until the day of its arrival Apple launched its much heralded tablet computer, which looks good though the iPad I’m afraid that’s for another year.

The iPhone has a head start over other devices given its iTunes store, which offers a number of free and paid for applications. The interests that I have reflect the choices of applications that I planned to download. First up was the Everton app and the Echo and the Bunnymen app.

When you first pick up the box that the iPhone comes in, it is hard not to be overcome by a feeling of ‘is that it?’ Given the economy of space that Apple use with its packaging - all the elements - cables, headphones and instructions. It is bundled together pretty well Once you open up and load your iPhone then these disappointments dissipate.

The one gripe that is common in the reviews that I have read previously is that the battery life is not that great and if you use it constantly then you are lucky to get more than a day out of the device. This I have found so true. That aside, I have to say I like my new toy and have enjoyed the month familiarising myself with its many features.

24 Hours in the City

2010-02-08T14:47:00.002Z

Today’s events could have been anywhere. Our mission to encapsulate the plan of the day was shrouded in a fog of grey cloud that meant it virtually impossible to see the skyline and the coast of the morning light.

It was a long day that encompassed all that Liverpool has to offer football, commerce, music and family are things that all can relate to. Given the nature of Sky and their demands as a broadcaster all points on the day were set up, lunchtime with the family watching the game reflecting on yet another derby defeat for Everton.
Then shopping in the afternoon at the wonderful Liverpool 1, the novelty has not worn off for me yet about this place. Numerous coffees consumed, and for the first time for me Sushi, though of the vegetarian kind.

In the evening still in the heartbeat of the city, a quick drink at the Everyman and then it was off to see Miles Hunt doing his stuff , not in the main auditorium but in the Rosewald Suite of the Philharmonic hall. He gets better every time I see him.

Tentatively heading for our mode our transport with thoughts of returning home after the day’s events, at a time when thoughts should be turning to bed, I still find time to pop in briefly for my cousin’s 30th birthday. Finally an hour and half into the new day, I make it into bed. It was a long day but an enjoyable one all the same.

The events took place on Saturday 6th February 2010

January

2010-01-31T23:42:00.006Z

Man alive this month has been bleak, it has constantly been snowing and that has made the briefest of journeys difficult. The newspapers have been speculating that this is the onset of the apocalypse! I was even snowed in at some point for three days and that resulted in having to work from home – which is not easy when you have lectures scheduled. I tried to set off for a 9.00am lecture - an hour later having trundled less than a mile, I turned and headed for home. So the best plan for this month was stay indoors and enjoy the warmth of a glowing fire and some cultural treats.

Of the highlights of the month, the main highlight was something that began in the last days of 2009 and went through until 2nd January. It was a different start to a new year for me. Normally I like to spend that unnamed period between Boxing Day doing as little as possible. This year that changed as I spent the period in Slovakia. I stayed in a place called Kosice in the east of the country with my gf and her sister and was made to feel thoroughly welcome.

Having flown in on Monday evening the week was something of a whirlwind but I have to say enjoyable. I only arrived in Kosice after – two flights from Manchester to Bratislava, then Bratislava to Kosice. The next two days were spent exploring the city and even included my first ever game of squash…which I managed to survive. New Year’s Eve was spent in a club called Wig Wam – which was interesting to see how a different culture celebrated New Year - no different as it turned out.

The final day was spent in Bratislava (where we were due to fly home from), this required an early start to catch the 5.30am train. Bratislava is very nice and is obviously geared towards the tourist trade with the number of quirky and different statues it has littered around the streets - which I took the opportunity to snap and pose in front of. The flight home was my first encounter with Ryanair and everything that I had heard about them is true - cheap without ever troubling the cheerful side of that cliché.

Added to the fun of the flight was the rapid decent due to turbulence…twice. This was conveniently ignored by the pilot, given it happened more than once was a little disconcerting to say the least. When we eventually landed the relief turned to hilarity when the announcement congratulated everyone for being of ‘90% of the flights that landed’…thankfully this was not an admittance of their poor flying abilities mainly the announcement had cut out before it could add the ‘on time’ which was of importance to that mention. A day of rest was called for after all that, alas that was not the case as it was my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary celebrations the next day. This was good and it was good to catch up with family so soon after Christmas.

So the cultural highlights of the month, given that I was a little skint after Christmas it was mainly catching up with the stuff that had been piling up. The pick of the albums that I have been listening to was the Eels, who are now in the veteran stage of their career and now have enough tunes to release a greatest hits collection (not that not having enough hits usually deters other bands). The collection is not the cheeriest but seemed to be fitting giving the weather so far this year.

The other albums listened to this month was the Leisure Society’s, The Sleeper an album I had been meaning to listen to for a few years after hearing their excellent single Last of the Melting Snow on the Mark Radcliffe show. The album was quite cheap on Amazon and contained a bonus disc of equally interesting material. Apart from the afore mentioned song A Matter of Time was my favourite other track.

Another album that I had on constantly this month was the Swell Season’s new album – another bargain considering the package contained an a disc of new tracks, a live cd and DVD. The Swell Season is Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, stars of the 2007 film Once, a favourite of mine, who their song Falling Slowly won an Oscar in 2008 for the Best Original Song…something of a left field success. The album is a follow on from the soundtrack and continues the line of upbeat melancholia.

My only venture to the cinema this month was when I was in Slovakia at the start of the year, thankfully I dodged a Jennifer Anniston movie (my gf and her sister decided to watch that) instead I watched Sherlock Holmes. I liked the look of the trailers but on the whole I think the movie came across as smug and feeling too wrapped up in itself - the film also ends quite abruptly with a sequel obviously in the offing.

The pile of dvds is finally dwindling, I finally got around to watching the Inbetweeners DVD that my brother bought me for Christmas, I had already seen both series but it was well worth watching again. I also watched American Splendor and Finding Eric which I had purchased before Christmas.

Not much new on the old gogglebox apart from the new series of Curb your Enthusiasm which is showing on More4, and was especially entertaining as it reunited the cast of Seinfeld and thankfully did not trash the memory of the series. I also made a start on wading through the earlier series, which are still good after all these years.

That’s it for now; hopefully I can keep this going next month. Here’s to spring which can’t come soon enough.

Bob Dylan

2009-05-04T15:22:00.008+01:00

Friday 1st May 2009 (Liverpool Echo Arena)

Set List: Watching The River Flow, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, Things Have Changed, Boots Of Spanish Leather, The Levee's Gonna Break, Sugar Baby, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, Po' Boy, It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Just Like A Woman, Highway 61 Revisited, Something, Thunder On The Mountain, Like A Rolling Stone, All Along The Watchtower, Spirit On The Water and Blowin' In The Wind.

Liverpool’s impressive new waterside arena has seen numerous big names come through its doors in the last year. It would take a convincing argument to say that there has been anyone more stellar than Bob Dylan taking to its stage.

As a veteran attendee of numerous gigs down the years, the folk troubadour’s name was the one that had escaped the list of bands and musicians that I had seen; this gig gladly rectified that glaring omission.

Despite this being my maiden Dylan gig, I was well versed in what to expect from his set list; as a prelude to the gig I spent the afternoon listening to a few of his older hits. The expectation that I would hear these songs in the form that I was familiar never crossed my mind.

In some instances you were unsure of a particular song until you heard snippets of familiar lyrical couplets, It’s Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) again was one song that differed to the original version so much, that I only realised what song it was when he sang, ‘He not busy being born, Is busy dying’; Even that was difficult to discern beneath Dylan’s rasping vocals.

When arguing with those who don’t appreciate the nature of his vocal abilities would probably have had a field day tonight. In truth the voice has never been a thing of greatness and given its limitations, it has mainly been a vehicle for his poetry and lyricism. Though that said there is something heartening in hearing the lived-in croak of his voice.

The song arrangements of today have no doubt been changed to enable the songs to work with aging Dylan vocal range, like a Rolling Stone is another example of song that on records lifts from the opening bars and swirls away into the stratosphere; today’s version is a lot more restrained but it still gets the crowd going.

Probably the only arrangement that sounded familiar all night was All Along the Watchtower and that was only because the impressively assembled band had opted to perform Jimi Hendrix’s version of the Dylan penned song.

Dylan barely spoke throughout the evening but this wasn’t to be construed as a display of surliness or contempt on his part. It was merely the consummate professionalism of the artists that got on with the job in hand as he rattled through 17 songs in just under two hours.

Any perceived aloofness could be countered with his gesture of playing to the crowd with a cover of the Beatles’ Something - no doubt in tribute to his friend George Harrison. As you can imagine that was well received by the Liverpool audience.

Unconventionally the gig stated early and saw the crowd depart into the balmy Liverpool night at a time when most gigs would usually be starting. Though most would have enjoyed what had gone before, hopefully I can make it to a second Dylan gig sometime soon.

Fade out

2009-04-30T23:54:00.003+01:00

Previous blog posts this month have mentioned the Scriptwriting challenge that I had somehow found myself signed up to. Having toyed with similar challenges in the past, I have always managed to talk myself out of taking part in them at the last moment. So I set myself the task of 100 pages in 30 days - not really expecting to succeed.

God knows how I got here but I crossed the finish line with 10 days to spare. How did I do it? Well there was certainly no daily work ethic it was mainly a case of 10 page splurges here and there. The last few days probably saw me write 30 pages just so I could complete and put the thing to bed. Not that I was getting fed up with, just that I needed to concentrate on other more prosaic things…such as work!

I have not really had time to stop and think what I have taken part in, as back in March with only a weekend to gather my thoughts I set out on this journey. It has been an interesting and rewarding period that has know seen the completion of my first full-length script; which I plan to edit and redraft. I will do this along with the script from the scriptwriting course that I have recently completed. When I’m happy with both, I will look towards sending them off to see if they can be performed.

Another good aspect of the month was meeting a vibrant community of writers in the Liverpool area. We have met at various points in the month to encourage and support each other. The plans are to continue meeting up and getting involved in other projects. One is the Nanowrimo In Novemeber which I’m seriously contemplating taking part in. For or now it’s a period of non-scriptwriting….though I’m sure I said that at the end of the last one.

Get in!!!!

2009-04-19T19:56:00.000+01:00

After 14 years in the cup wilderness Everton are in the FA Cup Final, following their win over Manchester United today.

Woo and indeed hoo!

Record Store Day

2009-04-18T17:26:00.016+01:00

When it comes to shopping the tactic is usually in and out with a minimum of fuss; this is different when it comes to book stores and in particular record shops. The tendency usually is to linger as long as I possibly can, until I have parted with some cash.

This thrill is something of a dying art as local record stores disappear from our high streets - as the Internet and in particular stores like Amazon take away the serendipitous thrill of browsing through racks of compact discs and vinyl. There has been many a time where I have browsed the stock and muttered to myself ‘I can get that cheaper online’. The quick dispatch and relative cheapness has changed browsing habits with wish lists and suggestions based on previous purchases. Which is never good after you have bought your mum something at Christmas – ‘you’ve bought Mama Mia, you will probably like Michael Ball‘. I don’t think so!

There has many a documentary recently lamenting the loss of the humble record store, there has even been a book written by Graham Jones called Last Shop Standing: Whatever Happened to Record Shops? – Which details the decline of the humble record store (Incidentally it is on my Amazon wish list waiting to be purchased). There is awareness that these are the last days of the record store – something that has been taken for granted for many a year.

There are many a store like this that I have visited down the years sadly too numerous to list here particular favourites such as Penny Lane Records Bold Street and one downstairs by Waterloo station, Crosby – whose name escapes me, that are no more. It says it all when even big firms such as Our Price, Musiczone and Zavvi can’t continue to trade.

That is why today has been designated as International Record Store Day, with countless numbers of stores around the world lining up events to entice those who had not frequented their local record store in a while. Rarely a week goes by without me visiting a record store, in fact I’m still wading through some of the treats picked up having visited my favourite haunts in Manchester of Vinyl Exchange, Piccadilly & Fopp in Manchester last week. My own personal contribution to the day was a visit and the purchase of a couple of cds at St Helens' only remaining independent record store Kaleidoscope Records. Sadly it never appears to be busy whenever I go there but it does have a good reputation as it is often featured in MOJO magazine. It has a good selection of vinyl and compact discs, as well as a selection of releases by local bands.

As I contemplate the replacement of my HIFI (as it increasingly shows wear and tear), the one thing that stops me in my tracks is the fact that new players seldom come with turntables. This is not a Luddite complaining about the changing world, I have embraced the download culture, but I still long to hold music in physical format, with its lyric sheet and cover art. Days like this highlight that these types of store are still there and serving the public.

Happy Record Store Day.

Scriptfrenzy

2009-04-13T21:10:00.004+01:00

Thirteen days in and I'm still on course to complete the 100 pages target by the end of the month. I must admit I have had a few slack days when the Scriptfrenzy has seemed more of a whimper, but when I have manged to get on with the job in hand I have made some good progress.

Today I have reached something of milestone in that I'm half way there, tonight I passed the 50 page barrier. Only 50 pages and 17 days to go.

Fade in slowly

2009-04-01T00:08:00.001+01:00

And we're off. Just as I'm about to wind down in work for a well deserved Easter break, I have taken on the task of writing 100 pages of script in the next 30 days. Tonight sees the first meeting (write/fade in) of the writers I met on Friday, it should be good. The ideas are flowing and hopefully I will be able to get them on page later today.

The 30 days start now.

The play that I'm about to write

2009-03-29T20:48:00.009+01:00

So there was I, having just completed the scriptwriting course and wondering what the next writing challenge I should undertake. With a few ideas knocking around (that I planned to turn into something over the summer) I was expecting April and my planned week off work next week to be a leisurely time doing a few bits here and there. Well that was the plan until Friday night.

One event that had caught my eye was an email that I received a few weeks earlier but in everything else that has been going on of late I had neglected. As per usual I was spending a leisurely Friday clearing out my emails and decided to take a closer look of the one that I had received from Scriptfrenzy. I had signed up for their email list a few months back but for some reason I had mistaken it for another contest - one that insisted on a payment of $50.

Having looked at Scriptfrenzy’s website I thought that this would an ideal way of getting another script written so soon after my first. I planned to sign up the next day once I had had a well earned nights sleep. Well that’s what I hoped; unfortunately my sleep was disturbed by the antics of my increasingly annoying neighbours. Instead of staring at the ceiling waiting for time to tick by until the soundtrack of crap techno abated, I put on my iPod and explored the website further. On closer inspection I decided to commit myself to the task of writing 100 pages of script over the course of the month of April.

The concept is similar to other writing contests such as NANOWRIMO, which I had previously toyed with doing, but November is always a busy month for me so I haven’t managed to take part in that. That said, April is also a busy month for me, what with the marking that comes with the end of term, but on the plus side teaching is winding down, oh and it’s also the Easter holidays. So there is some free time that could be put to good use…well that’s the hope anyway.

On further inspection of the website I realised that there are a number of communities of writers who had signed up for April’s writing challenge. One was my hometown of Liverpool, which has been chosen as a regional hub for this event - Liverpool for these American sponsored events, is normally geographically lumped in with Manchester. I spotted a post on the forum that the Liverpool writers would be meeting that day in the Everyman Bistro and would gratefully be welcoming new members to meet up. Coincidentally, I was planning to be in the Everyman at later that night, to catch up with a mate from University who I hadn’t seen since he moved back down south. So with no great changes to my plans I decided to meet up with the writers' a couple of hours before I planned to meet my mate.

I was glad that I did, as the other writers seem to be a good bunch. They all knew each from other writing contests and recounted tales of their struggles to successfully complete the other writing contests. Instead of feeling intimidated by the challenge, the steely resolve of the group convinced me I was doing the right thing. It was a shame to be drawn away for my other plans (though that was enjoyable in its own right). There are other meetings planned, there is a ‘fade-in’ event on Wednesday that I hope to attend.

Here’s to April and the task of completing 100 pages of script!

Red Riding

2009-03-22T19:24:00.006Z

There is seldom anything of interest on the television these days, let alone anything that could have been previously classified as 'event tv'. What with the range of channels available and the endless rafts of cuts in the industry this type of show is seemingly at a premium.

So when something as striking as Red Riding comes along, it deserves more than a cursory glance. The trilogy is based on a series of four books (that I have not read as yet) 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983 by author David Peace, the author of the Damned United (a book that I have read and soon to be released as a movie).

I finally finished watching the trilogy over the weekend and like many of the reviews I had seen; I was baffled, bemused and beguiled by all three episodes. It was a good watch in the context of it being a scheduled network programme - but I think it is something that may need to be watched again when it is released on dvd in the next few months. It will also be worth watching again without the blaring comparethemarket.com adverts that tried to ruin the proceedings.

On the whole despite it being intriguing and challenging it is good to see this type of programme being produced. Well done Channel 4.

All good things come to an end

2009-03-19T23:49:00.006Z

Last night was the last session of the scriptwriting course that I started last September, after twenty weeks that has now sadly finished.

Having never written a script before, I have to say that it has been a worthwhile and rewarding process. It was also a good opportunity to meet a number of interesting and talented writers. We have exchanged emails and hopefully we can get together to see how we are all progressing - hopefully one of us go on to make something of our efforts on the course.

I hope to complete my play in the next few weeks and see where I can get with that.

Sunny Manchester!

2009-03-15T11:52:00.011Z

This week sees the last session of the scriptwriting course that I have been attending since October. With only a few minor alterations to see to and I will have completed the assignment. Here's to sending it off and seeing where it gets me.

With this in mind, I have been looking for other similar creative writing courses. I had previously been recommended one by a friend in Manchester calledPaper Planes. Other things had always got in the way of attending and this week was looking to follow a similar pattern. I woke up Saturday morning after a fitful sleepless night I was contemplating not going. Given that it was a lovely springlike day thankfully I overcame this feeling and got in the car and drove to Manchester.

It was a enjoyable and productive experience, I have a few ideas that can be polished into something more substantial in time. It was also good to meet other writers, as well as catch with a couple of people I had met on a similar course last year. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month, in the Fuel Cafebar, Withington - a venue in the heart of the student district of Manchester. I think I might be making this a regular event in my diary.

The play that I wrote

2009-03-04T23:55:00.007Z

Having had the good fortune to work as a journalist, the discipline of writing is something that I am used to. Even now that I have moved from being a full-time practitioner to being a teacher I still enjoy the idea of writing (well more the completion of the task than actually sitting down to do it). The want to write is still there and to satisfy this desire the occasional freelance gig as a football reporter and the aborted attempts at blogging have had to suffice.

As the first post in my born again blog alluded to the last few years have been slightly frustrating in a creative sense as they have been taken up with having to complete a post-graduate qualification for my job – something that was a contractual obligation. This thankfully has now been completed and I can concentrate on the extra-curricular activities that I enjoy away from my job.

So since October, I have been attending a night school class at the University of Liverpool, the course has been for the Writing for the Stage and Radio course. Time has flown by and that sadly that has two more weeks to run after this week.

This course is organised by the Workers Education Association who have a long standing and good reputation for the many courses they run. I have previous experience of their courses, as I completed a songwriting course in 1997, which was fulfilling and enjoyable. So I had a good feeling that this course would also be of a similar standard, which has been the case.

I had never written a play before, but I have an interest in the theatre so this prompted me to sign up for it. I also thought the course would be a easier way of getting something completed (note when I say easier, I don’t mean easy). I, like many a journalist have a novel awaiting completion on my hard drive - the resolution for 2009 says that will be completed by the end of the year…hmmm we’ll see! But I thought a play should be manageable, which given that I'm on my way to completing the course I think is the case.

The assignment set was to write a 30 minute play for the stage, a draft had to be completed by the end of January on which feedback was given from the course tutors. This was great for a novice like myself and gave me a few pointers as to what I had to do to transform the first draft, which though it's a complete play, is in no shape completed.

Tonight saw the next stage in the assignment to have 5 minutes performed by a group of local actors. Previously in the sessions, the class had performed each other's works but tonight was great as we got to have our work professionally read. This was again a first for me, seeing my words performed before an audience. My intial embarassment subsided and I quite enjoyed the delivery of the performance. It also gave me a few pointers as to what I should change.

It was certainly a highlight in a course that has already delivered so many. Given the inspirational nature of the course I already have a few ideas for my next play - here's to finishing this one first.

Blog 2.0

2009-03-01T21:33:00.002Z

So where was I? Having decided to set up a blog a few years ago, I then decided to take said blog down and join the ranks of the numerous ex-bloggers out there. Mainly because I was busy with extracurricular stuff in work (which I won’t bore anyone with, but that is now behind me).

Then feeling decidedly guilty (given that I talk about blogging in the course of my teaching), I have decided I should have some sort of blog presence. So the New Year resolution was to start blogging again. Being not one to rush things here we are some two months later - a post (well of sorts)!

So why have I started now? Given that I set out to write something else at my computer today (which I will explain in due course), it is obvious that the reason to do so this will be for the usual reasons of procrastination – to avoid doing the job at hand. I must admit I quite missed the inane jottings that tended to be posted here and part of me wishes I had kept it up given that last year would have been a good year to have a blog - especially with the events of Liverpool's City of Culture.

In due course, I will add more posts and try to add the old stuff that I had taken down.

Been a long time

2008-02-06T16:41:00.000Z

It has been a while and it seems like every time that I post it is always by way of an apology for having not posted of late, though having been badgered by Chris I felt like I needed to break my duck for the year. Belated happy new year and all that!!

To be honest February should really be the first month of the year, well in my case at least it should be. January just felt like it never got going. What with being skint, in the post-Christmas belt tightening period, that seemingly hits everyone.

The first month was also spent getting over the flu that had laid me up over the Christmas period. The last month was also a time of groundhog Friday/Saturday, with three consecutive weekends given over to taking my car to the garage, first for an MOT, then to clear up a mystery fault. Thankfully it is now sorted but I still have a creeping fear that something is up with the car.

It’s been a long time away for something reason I have been suffering from a writers block – even emails have been hard work of late. The Facebook novelty has even passed and I can’t be bothered posting to that.

There has been so much going on in my life in the last few months (some good and some not so). There has been much to reflect upon, yet so little time to do so. Hopefully that will change in time. Work is still relentless…but I won’t bore you with the details. I’ll just say the period of marking is upon us…joy!!!

I aim to be back here sometime soon…though I wouldn’t hold your breath!

Evidently Chickentown

2007-09-09T16:49:00.001+01:00

The final series of the Sopranos is ticking along nicely and the episode just finished, has set it up for the remaining final episodes. Given my dependency on the internet I’m surprised I have not had the final plot spoiled – despite it being shown in the summer in the US. I will no doubt blog about the final episode in the fullness of time.

What was great about the episode tonight, not just the plot; was the tune they used for the closing credits, it was by Manchester poet John Cooper Clarke, a wonderful surprise, that I nearly missed in my rush to get to bed.

After a quick trawl of the internet (and avoiding spoilers) I have found this video of the tune ‘Evidently Chicken Town’ – the video is quite evocative as it recalls a journey that I was more than familiar with from my time working in Manchester, the packed train departing a wet and windy Oxford Street station. A journey that usually had my nose pressed up against the window or with someone’s armpit draped across my face.

Errr, happy days!!

Happy Birthday Liverpool

2007-08-28T20:42:00.001+01:00

Happy Birthday to my home town - 800 years young today. Today's Liverpool Echo does a good job of encapsulating what it is about the city and what it is like to be from there. Especially evocative is this comment piece.
Proud of a city that has never stood still (Aug 28 2007 Liverpool Echo)

HAPPY 800th birthday, Liverpool! Which means happy birthday to each and every person who is proud to call themselves a Scouser – or proud to live in or around such a remarkable place.

The greeting is not just to those in our midst on this momentous day, but also for those joining us in their thoughts across oceans and continents in tribute to the most global and well-travelled of British communities: one which needs no passport to gain recognition anywhere on earth.

A lot can happen over eight centuries – and it has. Enough to provide a tale of two cities enjoying and enduring both the best and worst of times.

Between 1807 and 1907 Liverpool – per capita of population – was the most influential business centre in the world: the oft-acknowleged second city of the British Empire (with all its imperialistic excesses).

The port handled more than 50% of UK overseas trade. The procession of merchant princes, tireless entrepreneurs, inventors, adventurers, discoverers and innovators who lived, worked or played here, provided the most impressive list of “firsts” ever conjured in a single location.

When the ECHO presented the Capital of Culture judges with a supplement containing a mere 100 reasons why Liverpool should take the 2008 European title on behalf of the nation, chairman Sir Jeremy Isaacs now famously noted: “And, yes, you are the only place that could instantly produce another hundred.”

The more cause and effect there is to life, the more chaos, then the more energy is produced.

We are the city that has never stood still – even during the darkest days of war, or, even later, when a heady cocktail of changing trade practices and political turmoil conspired, during the three decades from 1960 to 1990, to produce the most meteoric plunge imaginable in economic fortunes.

Not even the heyday of The Beatles could fend off the oncoming cloud of record unemployment and industrial unrest.

It was Harold Wilson, MP for Huyton, who won four general elections as Labour leader during those often chaotic years, who said that the greatest qualification for any prime minister was a sense of history.

So it must be in assessing Liverpool’s roller-coaster ride down the centuries.

And the biggest lesson to be learned – whether fighting off invaders, plague or pestilence, or doing battle with zero-economics, bad housing, high unemployment or unjust criticism – is that Liverpudlians always, always fought back.

More to the point, they fought back and won.

And our greatest asset in all of this? The people.

We are chancers: Witness Meccano inventor Frank Hornby, one-time butcher’s assistant, becoming millionaire inventor and businessman.

We are rebels: Witness Robert Morris, son of a tobacco merchant, born in Dale Street, who financed the American civil war, personally giving George Washington a £10,000 loan.

We are comedians: Not for nothing did Ken Dodd break the world non-stop joke- telling record.

And what, as examples, do those three things together tell the world at large?

That we are no-nonsense go-getters who have got where we are today aided by the humour of survival.

The steady river – the greatest single force in the fortunes and lives of Liverpudlians ever since the days when monks founded ye first ferry across ye Mersey – is a physical and inspirational metaphor for Liverpudlian fortitude.

Its tides have been the pulse of Liverpool life; its waters, first clear, then muddied, and now restored, demonstrate like nothing else the cycle of the city’s transition, and its rightful claim to once more be the trans-Atlantic gateway to Britain.

For more than four centuries – half of the time since the original township charter was granted – Liverpool was the place of departure for those seeking a new life in the New World.

Now it is also a city of arrival, a multicultural place of destination.

If our great architecture, including the world’s finest neo-classical civic hall and largest Anglican cathedral, helps form the stage on which we live our lives, it is Liverpudlians themselves who continue to drive the plot.

That has always been the case, as with the pioneering canal, rail and shipping links which were the catalysts to our internationalism and cultural expansion.

In all this, adversity has often been transformed to advantage. Although the docks of old (the first lock-regulated enclosed sea docks in the world), have long emptied of their fleets of many-masted cargo ships, the present freeport containerisation at the Seaforth terminal actually handles more freight than ever before.

There are other positive trends in light industrial and service industries, and a new celebration of the city’s green assets – its parks and gardens and waterfront facilities.

The population decline has been reversed.

Regeneration has provided a renaissance for once-blighted places.

The future generally looks brighter, but, as ever, life is never going to be easy. It wasn't designed to be that way.

Liverpool, now at the epicentre of the second-biggest economic region of the UK, needs to continue to rekindle all those skills which brought about its original prominence.

There is a need to remember and learn from the mistakes as well as the triumphs of the past.

But our 800th birthday should be enjoyed purely in its own right.

A time of thanks, a time to remember our forebears, and a time to ponder and prepare an enduring legacy for our children.

The ECHO remains proud to be at the heart of Liverpool life.

Which is why we sign off our editorial on this most special of days with heartfelt good wishes to all our readers, their families and friends, wherever they may be.

It's been a while...

2007-08-26T20:52:00.000+01:00

I have not been sat behind this computer screen to compose a blog for a good few months, to be honest, I just haven’t had the inclination to write. So here goes, by way of a catch up.

After nearly five weeks off work – typical really I haven’t really been bothered or had the time to update this here blog and suddenly I back at work with seemingly less time on my hands than before - I’m suddenly compelled to wax lyrical. Having lay awake in bed until after 3 am on Wednesday morning, it was back to work later that day and back into the routine.

To say the summer weather has been something of a disappointment is an understatement – though as someone who has probably spent most of my holiday indoors - I can’t say that I didn’t really worry that the weather was so poor.

The always ever-present list of jobs to do and things that I hoped to accomplish went out the window in the first couple of weeks. The joining of a gym and the purchase of a new bike has not happened.

Part of the planning was that the time was to be spent doing a number of routine DIY jobs that I had been planning to get around to over the last few months. This I hoped would only take a couple of weeks – leaving me with plenty of time to get on with the fore mentioned stuff.

No such luck I’m afraid, one job led to another and before I knew it – I’m back at work contemplating a long, long term and the next break, that will be at Christmas.

The plan with the DIY was to tile the kitchen floor and change the decor, as well as this I was planning to change the bathroom suite and fit an extractor fan in the bathroom. What I hadn’t planned was the fact that I had to get the floor leveled, the electrics rewired and the fact that the water stopcock hadn’t been set up properly – thus adding delays and further cost to my plans.

Also, just to stop me twiddling my thumbs, I decided to paint my bedroom too. I think I’m probably depicting this as some sort of heroic solo effort here – thankfully I had the help of my Mum and Dad to call on to help me with many of the jobs.

I do feel as though I’m imposing on them at times, but bizarrely they are always on at me, asking when I’m decorating, as they want something to do – there is never really a time when they aren’t tackling something like this at their own home. So this is probably like another extended project for them. So I’m back at work and the job is still unfinished. Thankfully they are on hand to help finish the job for me, all for the price of an endless supply of HobNobs, coffee and the occasional takeaway.

I did manage to leave the house for a reasonable amount of time; one of the highlights of the summer was going to London to catch up with friends Barry and Ann. I went down for a long weekend and had a great time. I was treated to a visit to a great pub not far from where they lived, as well as a visit to the numerous great sites that London has to offer. As well some great restaurants and bars too.

I managed to see a number of things while I was down there, there main thing I wanted to see was the Gormley exhibition at the Hayward - which was good. I also had the chance to visit the Tate for the first time – generally the weekend was spent drinking and eating too much - that’s normally a recipe for a good time in my books.

Speaking of the Tate, I went to the Liverpool version to see the Peter Blake exhibition, which was a little disappointing to say the least. For someone who was synonymous with the Beatles, this period of his career was strangely overlooked – especially considering that the exhibition was in Liverpool too.

I normally attend the Beatles festival every summer, this year I have decided to not bother (it is actually taking place this weekend) though I did managed to indulge in a bit Beatles related nostalgia last weekend when I gave a friend of mine from Stoke a tour of the Beatles Story and all the other haunts around the city.

A dream possibly came true for me over the summer, my obsession with all things Echo and the Bunnymen has been chronicled here and this obsession was satiated when St Helens third Eclectica festival had the Bunnymen as the headline act.

There was a double bonus was that John Power was also on the bill too. Both acts were on fine form – I missed the first bits of his set as I arrived late as I attended the first Everton game of the season – which wasn’t that great, though thankfully we won.

One down spot over the summer was the death of my neighbour Jim. He was in his late 70s and had been ill for some time. He had been fading for a while and the neighbours and I had rallied around to look after him – I even at one point had to get up and call an ambulance at 3 in the morning after he had a fall and I could here him calling through the walls.

He was a nice man but a bit of a stubborn bugger. He didn’t really have family that come to help him and he also refused to go in a home. This would have been better for him, as his quality of life would have been better for the last few months. Having lived in the same house for his 79 years he finally got his final wish, he said to me a few months before he died that: “There’s no bloody way I’m going in a home, they will have to carry me out in a box.” Which sadly what they did.

Another sad event this summer was the passing of Anthony H Wilson - a great man. Without his vision, mine and many others record collections would be devoid of the great bands he signed and nurtured. He was often regarded as someone who hated Liverpool, it was probably the case it was had a blinkered view of Manchester at the expense of all other places. It was telling that Liverpool bands who had met him came out with equally glowing tributes as those of the bands from Manchester. Ian McCulloch did so at the Eclectica festival.

I have also listened to a fair bit of music over the summer - catching up with old stuff that I seldom listen to and buying far too many Cds. I would have bought more if I didn’t have the afore mentioned DIY to worry about. Those that I listened to so far, I have enjoyed the Editors, The White Stripes, Feist, and The Coral – which is probably one of the best things released this year.

I managed to get through a good number of books over the summer mainly books that have gathered dust on the bottom shelf of my bookcase. I finally got around to finishing Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, which is great read, but it will make more sense when the other volumes are published. Volume one jumps from the early part of his career to 1967 - then on to a pint later on in his career.

Apart from the trials and tribulations listed it’s been a reasonably good summer – onwards and upwards to Christmas. I may even blog at some point before then.

Hope I dry, before I get home

2007-06-25T07:48:00.004+01:00

You buy your ticket in February, you look forward to hazy sunshine, quaffing cold beer in the sunshine and listening to your favourite bands.

Yesterday, some of those things came true. Having seen the Somme-like conditions from Glastonbury on the TV on the Friday night, I smugly thought than god Knowsley Hall wouldn't be as bad.

On Saturday, I attended day one of the inaugural Knowsley Hall festival - which is conveniently only 30 minutes from my home. The main attraction was certainly to see the Who again, 12 months after I last saw them. Also on the bill were personal favourites of mine the Coral, Pete Wylie and Shack.

Pete Wylie was in good form, as usual he treated the crowd to his stunning wit and repartee - as well as a number of bonafide classics, Story of the Blues and Better Scream still sound pretty good today. Next up was Shack, a band that I normally think are fantastic but last time I saw them I was less than enamoured.

This time though they didn't disappoint - despite being handicapped by a clearly inebriated front-man. I thought I would have a couple of pints of what Mick Head had obviously indulged in. Alas there was a seemingly never ending queue, (see picture below)that saw us wait for just under an hour to be served. This put paid to thoughts of catching up yer-man in getting pissed - eventually I managed to get two lukewarm pints of lager, that would have to suffice. I think the festival was obviously sponsored by the temperance society, given the level of service.

While I was in the queue for food and drink, the Thrills and The View came and went - they sounded OK, I don't mind the Thrills, but I could certainly could have done without the View - not my cup of tea at all, derivative shouty bollocks!

The final two acts, were the two I had set out to see when I bought my tickets back in February. The Coral were in good form and after a break to recharge the batteries, they are back with a soon to be released album, from which a number of tunes were given an airing.

One of which In The Rain - brought about the first spots of rain, that thankfully didn't last too long. The rain that is, as the song itself was pretty good.

It is amazing that a band so young have so many recognisable hits that the crowd were familiar with - a greatest hits in the future would be a worthwhile release.

It was too good to ask for I suppose given the weather of late, as the final band the Who took to the stage, the heavens finally opened. The Who played a set reminiscent of the last time I saw them, with only a couple of the songs in the middle changed. It was good to hear the classic songs live again, with my particular favourite Won't Get Fooled Again sounding brilliant as ever. Given the worsening conditions I decided to leave during the final songs of the encore of songs from Tommy.

It was a brilliant festival and certainly one I'll look to attending next year Apart from the lack of bar facilities and the rain, I can't complain, a good day was had by all.

The Blair years

2007-05-12T10:32:00.001+01:00

Ten years and eight days after he became prime minister, Tony Blair has finally confirmed, what most of us expected, that he will step down in the summer.

In a week when David Cameron branded his government as the "living dead", he has put an end to uncertainty and has finally seen fit to move on.

It was never meant to end this way, back in 1997 when he became the youngest prime minister since Lord Liverpool, he and the UK was seemingly on the crest of a wave.

The mood was fairly positive in the initial stages when he was swept into Downing Street on a tide of optimism to the tune of "Things can only get better".

He was elected with the promise to restore trust in politics and politicians, as well as transform the ailing services of the country.

I have posted previously about my feelings towards Blair - mainly on account of his failings. But it would be wrong not to highlight some of his successes - which there have been some.

On the plus side you can highlight the national minimum wage, as well as constitutional reform such as devolution in Scotland and Wales and progress in the Northern Ireland peace process amongst the plus points. He has made some headway with the NHS, but not enough to satisfy a number of doubters.

On a personal level, he is the only the Labour prime minister to have won three successive general elections and to have served more than one full consecutive term.

The continuation of the Conservatives spending plans and a continuation of a number of PFI initiatives have certainly not been well received. Though the biggest mistake was to be seen as being too cosy with George Bush in the aftermath of 11 September. Though he seemed to revel in the statesmanlike attention he was receiving, yet failed to understand the reaction he was getting at home.

The military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan - split public opinion and divided his own party - he suffered notable rebellions from the backbenches and within the cabinet. By trying to become a world figure, he increasingly appeared vain and arrogant and out of touch with the domestic issues.

The final months in office have been overshadowed by a police investigation into the alleged sale of honours. Though this is not an isolated instance of sleaze - this unfortunately has been prevalent throughout his time

Blair's valedictory speech today alluded to mistakes but typically he skirted around them and milked the applause for its worth. History will probably view him favourably in the fullness of time.

Sadly things did get better, then they went back to as they where.

When did life start getting so serious?

2007-04-14T07:34:00.001+01:00

I have spent the last few weeks pouring over numerous financial documents, having numerous conversations with people trying to sell me their “best” deals – I’m jaded by the whole process and at this point I can just about summon the energy to do anything else.

The re-mortgage should be finalised next week…hopefully. On top of that I have had to contend with changing my electric/gas providers as the “budget deal” I had with my current supplier Scottish Power has just run out - they haven’t dropped their prices recently… and they have said they won't be either in the future.

There must be some central database with my details showing that my deal was up – this week has seen three energy companies knocking at more doors trying to sell the same old cobblers products.

Lucky for me I have the Internet and I can do the price comparisons – the older residents of my street are not so lucky and they may be taken in by these sharks.

I took great delight in taking the wind out the guy from NPower’s sails when I rendered his spiel obsolete, by having the facts I’d garnered form the Internet to hand – which I quoted back to him.

While I’m on the subject why do they always start with the same line of “I’m not trying to sell you anything,” when they knock at your door, when the end of a successful conversation on their part involves taking away my bank details to process and plunder.

I have also had to change my home insurance, take out a new mortgage/income protection policies - added to this I now have a critical insurance policy that I have just taken out.

With pay day well over a week away the Clark coffers are certainly a little threadbare to say the least – though if I was to cark it tomorrow – my estate would garner untold riches according to small print in the critical illness policy.

The same small print also says I wouldn’t covered in the event of suicide in the first twelve months – which is fine as I have no intentions of topping myself.

But in twelve months time, if a pile of my clothes turn up on a beach near here – don’t worry, I’ll have claimed my untold riches and buggered off somewhere hot!

Magnetic Wonder The Apples In Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder (Yep Roc/Simian)

2007-04-02T11:08:00.000+01:00

It is rare that a band can produce an album that is retro focused, but still tinged with a dash of innovation. The latest release from the Apples In Stereo is that rarefied album. This is not so much a release - it’s more a work of art.

Multimedia releases such as this may dazzle when they are unleashed from the cellophane packaging but when played often they can disappoint. Repeated plays of New Magnetic Wonder confirm that this is style and substance in equal measure.

This is the band’s fifth official full-length release and the first on Elijah Wood’s Simian Records label and given the wealth of content on this album, it is no surprise that it’s the first release in five years. The tardiness can be forgiven, considering the quality on display here.

In the days when downloads are in the ascendancy and physical formats in terminal decline, it is a joy to know that something as lovingly put together as this exists – it is certainly something worth taking the trouble to go out and purchase.

There are twenty-four tracks across the album - some with traditional verse-chorus song structures as well as examples of the newly devised musical scale the Non-Pythagorean composition number 18.

The genesis of which is lovingly detailed on the enhanced section of the album. Robert Schneider is certainly the living embodiment of a genius in rock - proven by his pushing of the boundaries here.

The songs are what matter and they are certainly up to standard with the dazzling array of extras.

The opener Can You Feel It? - is a real call-to-arms which explores many of the musical ideas replicated across the album. Even the heckling of the audience at a gig in London get a look-in and are duly credited on the sleeve notes – “anger due to Apples’ overly loud guitars”.
The summery nature of Energy is replicated throughout and it is a hallmark of the retro styling throughout – with lashings of sumptuous Beatles and Beach Boys harmonies.

The vocoder is put to use on Same Old Drag. This song suggests a love of ELO, which is ok these days, now they have been fully rehabilitated as a guilty pleasure. At times this has something of the French band Air about it too – which is no bad thing either.

For me the pick of the album are the tunes 7 Stars and Radiation. The epic 7 Stars sits neatly in the middle of the album – most bands with a paucity of material would build up to a tune like this and make it the focal point of the album.

Radiation is the last of the traditionally structured songs and it has to be on top of its game considering what comes next. Four songs from home the epic Beautiful Machine Parts 1-2 & Beautiful Machine Parts 3-4 are a truly majestic end to the album and are songs that evoke thoughts of the Lilly’s at their finest.

If this is not enough and this leaves you wanting more? After 24 tracks (16 full tunes and 8 incidental pieces) - you can take the trouble to go online to download two extra tracks The Apples In Stereo Theme and Atom Bomb. These are slightly throwaway tracks but are still worth checking out.

The list of credits is endless and that isn’t surprising given the truly expansive nature of the release, neither too is the dedication to Syd Barrett who would no doubt have been blown away by some of the ideas at work here, had it been released when he was carving out soundscapes and pushing back musical barriers.

Here’s to seeing what direction turn next time out, but for now don’t download this, go out and buy it, as this is truly has something for everyone.

Time flies

2007-03-28T07:22:00.002+01:00

Today is a notable day for me, as it is the tenth anniversary of me leaving the job that I had worked at virtually since I'd left school. It was only supposed to be a stop-gap, before I moved on to the next job - six years later I was still there.

This great leap into the unknown felt like the first day of the rest of life. After much soul searching, I finally decided to plot an alternative career path - doing something that I really wanted to do

I had worked for Customs and Excise for nearly six years at the time of departure – one of those years was spent with metaphorical cigar-in-mouth - given the fact that I had put in my application for voluntary redundancy in the January of 1996 – 27th March 1997 was the last day that I could leave under this arrangement.

I had two options I could have followed. Having dabbled a bit in freelance journalism – it was my intention to go to University to study and then get a job in the profession.

Option two, was to follow my passion in music and study at LIPA in studio technology. I choose option one and with hindsight it is certainly the one that I'm hapy with.

The summer after my departure was probably one of the best, as I lived off my redundancy package - living a bohemian lifestyle as it were - well as much a bohemian lifestyle can be, living at your parents.

I undertook a short lived acting course, as well as a number of the more fruitful songwriting courses, that culminated in my first 'solo' live performance at The Picket in Liverpool. Basically I dossed about before going to Liverpool John Moores University in September to study Politics with Sociology.

On reflection, I can't believe how much I have crammed into the last ten years - I have lived in a foreign country (Finland) completed my Degree, MA, a teaching qualification and other varying qualifications, I have worked in the profession that I wanted to when I was at school (but I had dismissed the chances as being not for me). I have worked as a journalist and weirdly I'm now teaching the subject. My private life has been a little hectic too - falling in and out of love on numerous occasions - many times the unrequited type too. I have even moved away from Liverpool after a short stay in Stoke I'm now living in St Helens.

Here's to the next ten years, having crammed so much in the last ten, I would settle for something a little less hectic.

There are places I remember

2007-03-19T06:45:00.005Z

Today was my first trip to Goodison in 2007 and given the fact that my Nan died on the Thursday - the pilgrimage was all the more poignant.

My Nan was 91, and had been in poor health for the last year, though there is a shock when someone passes away - it was certainly something that had been expected.

For the last few years my Nan had lived in a home in Crosby, as the onset of Alzheimer’s had made it increasingly difficult for her to live on her own. Before that she had lived on Goodison Road and in the surrounding areas most of her life - the house was a stone throw from Everton Football Club.

Saturdays would invariably be spent at either of my two Nans and in the days that I couldn’t attend the game on my own I used to go to soak up the action outside the ground and would occasionally buy a programme.

It would then be back to my Nan’s – gorge myself on the piles of cakes and sweets provided and listen to the game taking place down the road, unfold of the radio.

St Luke’s Church, which is tucked away in the corner of the ground, is a place that is something that I hold dear. Not only is it a place where the rampant commerciality of attending a modern day football match is kept at bay – I think you can get a mug of coffee and a scone and still get change out of a quid. You can also enjoy the prematch atmosphere amongst fans that span the decades and no doubt have some interesting tales to tell.

It is also the church, which my Nan attended on a Sunday, and where she will visit for the final time on Thursday. It is also the place that my parents married back in January 1970 – FA Cup third round Saturday. Apparently we were drawn away that day…and lost!!!

So with the talk of a move to a new stadium in Kirkby for Everton, it will be something I will look upon with deep sadness and regret as Walton and Goodison Road hold a special place in my heart and not just because of a team that play in blue.

Sup up your beer and collect your fags

2007-02-20T07:49:00.004Z

There has been a spate of bands recently getting back together some for the right reasons and some to boost the pension funds for one last hurrah. It was pleasing to see that Crowded House have reformed, though this is one reunion that is tinged with sadness. As the original drummer Paul Hester will not be around, having committed suicide in 2005.

The news to today that The Jam are getting back together is something of a shock, given that Paul Weller had previously said that his kids would have to be destitute before he considered it.

The news is all the more baffling given that Weller in fact will not be joining the band for the ‘reunion’ - it will be bassist Bruce Foxton, Rick Buckler and AN Others instead. Worryingly they have a 20-date tour and album ready to roll.

This has got to be the most ill conceived idea that I have ever heard in my life. As the years have rolled on, the dignity of the other two has lapsed year-by-year, from the whingeing biography Our Story, through to Rick Buckler joining The Gift – a Jam tribute band!

The Jam is Paul Weller, and though Buckler and Foxton have some claim to the legacy of The Jam – this would in effect be pissing all over that legacy.

I don’t think I’ll be buying a ticket or the CD – I wait eagerly as to what Weller’s response will be.

TV Hell

2007-01-18T07:43:00.001Z

I know it is a cliché to moan about TV, though I think I will do so here. Last night followed the usual pattern, as most workday nights tend to follow.

I usually come home from work and throw something into the oven that’s easy to cook and usually barely edible – as most of my cooking tends to be.

At no point in the night did I decide to put the TV on. This was mainly due to the paucity of anything worth watching to be fair.

Instead I spent the time listening to music, reading and going on the Internet. I seldom watch TV these days – unless there is something on specifically that I would like.

I wouldn’t miss it if I was to get rid of my TV, but that would mean I wouldn’t be able to watch my DVDs – a mainstay of my week.

This could turn into an anti-licence-fee rant but I feel that BBCi and the Radio are worthy of the licence-fee alone. One of the good things about my TV abstinence is that thankfully I have missed Nonentity Big Brother – though it is something that I would avoid anyway.

Apart from the usual washed-up has-beens and nonentities, this series has thrown up a fair bit of controversy over the racist bullying of the Indian Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. Though I have not watched the programme – I have seen the alleged clips of racism on the news today. It is hard to describe the people in question as card carrying Nazis – I just think it may be the fact that are swimming in a shallow gene pool.

What do they expect? It is lowest common denominator TV, starring people from the lowest-of-the-low. Jade Goody is a vacuous, excuse for a human being anyway, but rolling out the rest of the family is a nadir, not just in the history of Big Brother, but TV. They are scum and pond life.

The rest are a f*cking waste of time and should be horsewhipped – not just for the racism but for the fact that they are a bunch of tossers. Rant over!!

We Are All Doomed

2007-01-17T10:57:00.000Z

Apparently the Doomsday Clock now stands at 11:55 having been pushed forward by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (the organisation that devised the timepiece) as a result of the current concern over the threat of global warming.

The clock, which was set up in 1947 once reached two minutes to midnight in 1953 at a time when the United States and Soviet Union were involved in nuclear testing.

The clock has been moved backwards and forwards on 18 occasions in its 60-year history and reflects the prevailing political climate of the time.

This is the nearest that the clock has got to midnight for a number of years and the reasons this time are not just as a result of unstable political factors, but also for environmental reasons.

I guess I better clear out my shed and convert it into a panic room/shed to ward off the impending cataclysmic meltdown.

Shame really, as I was looking forward to a busy February.

It was 50 years ago today

2007-01-16T20:16:00.002Z

The most famous club in Liverpool’s history (other than Everton) turned 50 today.The Cavern a club made famous with an association with The Beatles, celebrated an anniversary with a series of events.

It is a club that I have a fondness for and not just because of the links with The Beatles, but it was also a place that I spent some of my formative drinking years.

I remember the first time as an underage 15-year-old setting foot down those winding stairs to the dank atmosphere of The Cavern below – this could have been a disappointment to some – but not for me it was magical.

I can even remember what I drank in those days, it would without doubt have been Cider. (That must be the right of passage, as most underage drinkers start on that before ascending or should that be descending to drinking Lager).

At the time I didn’t realise that it was not the original club, but a carbon copy in roughly the same location on Matthew Street. In a typically short-sighted Liverpool City Council decision it was demolished in the 70s to make way for a ventilation shaft for the underground railway system – that ultimately wasn’t required.

It is a club that I suppose I started a relationship with one of my first girlfriends. It was a place that I lapsed from being a vegetarian after almost twelve months of abstinence. After a particularly inebriated night, the waft of the smell of onions from the botulism-burger van on the Matthew Street was too much of a temptation to overcome.

It was also a place where I ruined a pair of white jeans (I think they were just about fashionable at the time) when I decided to take James’ song Sit Down literally and park my arse on the floor amongst the dregs and slops – and no doubt other detritus that accounted for a night out in the Cavern.

I have taken numerous foreign visitors there who have not failed to fall for the charms of the old place.

Happy birthday and here’s to another 50 years in existence and hopefully I can fulfil one of my long held dreams and actually play a gig there.

A bunch of fives

2006-12-31T05:07:00.001Z

As is the way at this time of year there are numerous retrospectives and round-ups of everything that happened in the previous twelve months.

This year is no different and having looked through the numerous lists I have decided to have a go at compiling my own.

I must admit I have lost touch with the NME of late - I no longer purchase it religiously every Wednesday like I used to, but I still takr the time to pick up the Christmas edition to check out the end of year round up.

The fact that I own 2 albums from this years NME top 50 indicates that I’m either getting too old or I’m losing touch – as I said I seldom buy the esteemed journal these days and the quality of the Christmas Edition is evidence that I’m not missing much – but that’s for a future blog.

I fare a little better with the Uncut(the magazine of choice these days) poll. I own 3 albums from their end of year list. Again in the Observer’s arts blog I only manage to accumulate 3 of the 50 albums – note to self – must do better next year. In their poll-of-polls I have 2 out of the ten.

I have probably bought a reasonable deal of albums this year – probably not as many as in previous years. I think I have probably bought a number of older records that I have I could have included such as the Editors and Jose Gonzalez but as they weren’t released this year I have omitted them.

Here are my lists as follows:

Favourite Albums 2006

1. Kelley Stoltz – Below The Branches
2. Roddy Frame – Western Skies
3. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
4. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers
5. Mansun – Legacy (Best of)

Favourite Singles 2006

1. Kelley Stoltz – The Sun Comes Through
2. Howling Bells – Setting Sun
3. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
4. Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright – Set the Fire To The Third Bar
5. Kasabian – Empire
6. Amy Winehouse – Rehab

Favourite Gigs

1. The Who - Liverpool Summer Pops (July)
2. Roddy Frame - Liverpool University (April)
3. The Zutons - Liverpool University (December)
4. The Raconteurs - Liverpool Carling Academy (March)
5. New Order (Liverpool Summer Pops (July)

Zuton Fever

2006-12-11T21:19:00.002Z

That was just what the doctor ordered, after a weekend that can be best described as ordinary, last night rounded the weekend off nicely - watching Liverpool's finest The Zutons.

They were playing the third of a four night residency at Liverpool University, Academy, Mountford Hall or whatever it's called these days.

It's been a few years since i'd see them, but they have developed into a tight little band. From the opener of 'What Don't You Give Me Your Love' to the final 'Zuton Fever' they were on top form and their energy levels belied the busy year (and week)that they'd had.

It is amazing the songs that pass you by, but when you hear some live they take on a different perspective. 'Valerie' is one such song that passed me by this summer when I heard it on the radio - but tonight I grasped what it was all about. As did the numerous others surrounding me.

Here's to the next gig and album. On this form, I can't wait.

All you need is cash!

2006-12-07T07:13:00.001Z

With Christmas approaching the current raft of available musical product to purchase and I use the term ‘product’ with great significance.

November and the run up to Christmas seems to be a time of year that bands issue albums that have no real reason other than to fulfil a contractual obligation or it is about time that they got around to releasing a greatest hits.

U2 and Oasis fall into the category of the contractual obligation and this fact has prevented me from purchasing the said albums…as yet. I must be living a parallel world as somehow Girls Aloud have enough material to justify the release of a greatest hits!!!

While doing my weekly shop at Tescos – I had the usual urge to make an impulse purchase of a CD – as I hadn’t bought one for a while. Given the limited range on offer, the purchase was always going to be The Beatles - Love album.

This is a curious album, and it is one that after repeated plays makes wonder what is the real point of its existence. I had heard a few snippets here and there on the radio and I was intrigued to hear the album in full.

I was expecting a radical presentation and reappraisal of a selection of Beatles songbook. What I found instead was a number of curious alternative versions which sound great given the remastering that has taken place, but ultimately make you long to hear the originals and their imperfections.

The concept behind the album is that the music forms the backdrop to the Cirque du Soleil's ‘Love’ show in Vegas. The show has been given the seal of approval by those with significant influence in the Beatles affairs and is currently winning rave review for the performances.

The album is given some credence given that it has been produced and remixed by Sir George Martin and his son Giles. This is part of the part of the problem for me, the Martin’s are probably a little too precious with the recordings and the fact that they had carte blanche to be a little more radical could have seen them go a little further.

Some of the mixes are quite innovative especially the splicing of Hey Bulldog with Lady Madonna – but again they don't really go far enough.

It has been branded as the first official bootleg of the Beatles – a mash-up, but for me this album is a little too safe. I was hoping that it would be more in keeping with the Danger Mouse bootleg that appeared a few years back. That took liberties with the Beatles and JayZ tunes and went under the name of the Grey album.

To me the Love album, good though it is (you can’t go to far wrong when putting together a selection of Beatles tunes, in what ever form) this is nothing more than a soundtrack album and one that is nothing more than a pointless exercise in trying eek out a little more cash from a back catalogue that has so far not been too badly exploited.

This album and the release of Let It Be Naked hopefully are the last drops that can be wrung out the Beatles back catalogue.

Yeah, I know!!!

2006-12-05T07:26:00.001Z

Last night, for the second time in a year I went to see Little Britain at the Liverpool Empire on one of the last dates of a seemingly never-ending tour.

I was quite ambivalent about watching it again. I think the show is quite funny, but I must admit I was becoming a little tired of the characters last year when I went to see it. This was evidenced with the last series, when some of the old favourites had seemingly ran their course.

A year on from my first visit and after a period of not watching the show I went to see the live show again. The main reason I went was to take my girlfriend Nicky who had never seen the show - the tickets were part of a birthday present she had been waiting to receive since June.

The show is virtually the same one that they have been touring for a year, but there is the addition of one or two moments of spontaneity to the mix – to freshen-up the heavily scripted show.

I managed to make it in on time for this performance – last year I missed the first twenty minutes last time - due to a mix-up with my tickets. That probably was one of the reasons for my less than glowing appraisal of the show last year.

The old favourite characters are all rolled out - Bubbles, Lou and Andy, Marjaorie Dawes and are well received by an audience expectant to see such characters.

The highlight of the show for me was the cameo appearance of one of the non-entities from the boy band Eton Road.
Before the show, to the right of where we were sat, there was a slight frisson in the air and the sporadic flash of a mobile camera. It suddenly become apparent that the X-Factor 'stars' Eton Road were in the audience.

One of the sketches involved Des Kaye, played by Walliams, who is seemingly a disgraced children’s television presenter, who is now plying his trade doing summer season at a summer camp.

The sketch involved getting two members of the audience to help him ‘hide the sausage’. One is an older person who Kaye/Walliams ignores and the other is a boyish individual - whom is basically molested in front of the audience.

Unfortunately for Eton Road, David – I think that was his name (my appreciation for boybands is on par with my appreciation of gnawing my own limbs off) was brought on stage and subjected to this humiliation.

After escaping without having his pants removed, Walliams then proceeded to chase David around the auditorium before announcing, 'I didn’t like you I preferred the black haired one instead' – cue all four member of Eton Road running for their lives through the rows and aisles of the Empire.

The sketch dissolved into farce with Walliams’ wig falling off and with the assorted members of Eton Road subjected to untold humiliation. It was funny and embarrassing in equal measure.

You have to give credit to Walliams and Lucas for the energy and the quick fire nature of the set changes. The characters who I'd grown a little tired of I did enjoy, but hopefully they can be consigned to history. The two transvestites are the main offenders for me. It has been an unbelieveably long tour for them and it will be interesting to see what there next project will be.

It was a good night and in the end I was glad I went - despite my earlier apprehension.

Charidee

2006-11-18T07:09:00.002Z

Tonight is Children in Need night; while I agree with everything that the charity is trying to do I don’t think I will be sitting down to watch a number of non-celebrities getting up to wacky things all in the name of charity.

Most of these self-serving celebrities - coincidentally will probably have biographies out, reality shows to win, and greatest hits in shops before Christmas.

While I’m still being slightly cynical I received a phone call from Oxfam today trying to get me to sign up to give them a regular contribution. I had previously signed a petition with regards to the ‘Make Poverty History’ and ‘I’m In’ campaigns - so I was obviously ripe for the picking.

Obviously a calculated call on their part, knowing that their finances would be hit today, with the focus on Children in Need. A pleasant enough operative spoke me to, but I could hear the buzz in the background, the hum of other operatives trying divert funds Oxfam’s way. It wasn’t the hard sell – but it was slightly crass all the same.

I occasionally give to charity and if my finances were better than they currently are, I would be more than willing to do so on a more regular basis. What I would rather do is, do it on my own volition and not be brow beaten to it on the doorstep or over the phone.

Eclectica Festival St Helens

2006-11-14T04:44:00.001Z

The is possibly the first instance that this phrase has been uttered but thank god I live in St Helens!

It's not often that you get the luxury of being a five minutes walk away from a Music Festival.The local council should be applauded for putting on the second Eclectica festival - performed in front of the town hall. Pity about the weather and the turn out though.

On the bill were local bands The Loungs and Tin Tin Lady as well as established artists such as Ian McNabb, The Oysterband and Michael Franti and Spearhead.

The main attraction for me was Ian McNabb - who was on splendid form playing his own material and a couple of cover versions - including a Bob Dylanesque take on the Grease hit - Your The One That I want.

It's the second time I have seen him this year and he just gets better and better. Here's to the gigs in October, when he takes the Icicle Works back out on the road.

The other bands were ok, but the McNabb eclipsed them all.

Some modern art is rubbish

2006-11-13T07:30:00.001Z

I took the chance recently to have a peek into one of the most enigmatic buildings in Liverpool. I had heard so much about the building and I had looked forward to the opportunity to see what was the fuss all about. St Luke's Church, known colloquially as the Bombed out Church has been a fascinating piece of the Liverpool landscape, but one that has been looking for a modern role to play.

The walls of the church remain intact, but after a bombing raid during World War II the roof and the insides have remained derelict ever since.

It has recently been utilised as part of the biennial - an event that uses many of the buildings in Liverpool as works of art. I'm not a great aficionado of modern art, Another Place on Crosby beach (which has thankfully be granted a temporary stay of execution by the way)is probably of the few pieces of modern art that have not left me cold.

The installation in the Bombed Out Church is one that has left me feeling bemused.

It is by the artist Matej Andraz Vogrincic and his entry on the Biennial website talks about 'turning the most ordinary objects into visual poetry, and the most ordinary or neglected places into magical.'

I have to say the objects were a distraction to the discarded tramp juice cans and the amazing structure left unused, but loved over the years. Green upturned boats...WTF!

I wouldn't have crossed the road if hadn't have been for the chance to view the Bombed Out Church at close quarters.

Keeping it Peel

2006-10-12T22:42:00.001+01:00

I thought I would break my blog-block today given the fact that it is Peel Day.

It is hard to believe that it is two years since Peely died.

It is probably a JFK moment for me. I’ll always remember where I was when I heard he’d died

It was in the first semester teaching Multimedia Journalism at the same establishment I’m at now. I remember having the BBC website up on the overhead board talking about web design.

The main headline was about Mark Thatcher’s coup attempt. I was about to let the class go for a break just as the site updated itself with the news of Peel’s death.

Gutted was an understatement. I managed to hold myself together for the rest of the session, just about.

I took myself home to listen to the endless tributes in the hope of making sense of dreadful news and in the hope that it wasn’t true. Sadly it is true. I might be overstating this but music hasn’t been same since.

Rest in Peace Peely.

National Poetry Day

2006-10-06T07:25:00.001+01:00

Seeing as today is National Poetry Day I was planning to include my favourite poem, IF by Rudyard Kipling.

Having listened to the Mark Radcliffe show on Radio 2 tonight, I came across the following poet who was a guest on the show.

Further to this I checked out his website and it describes him as 'Slade fan and Evertonian' - so he can't be bad!!!

I have decided to use Paul Cookson's ode to Noddy Holder instead.

Touched by the Band of Nod

People seem to find it strange
Some may find it odd
But even after all these years
I still believe in Nod

I'm still that kid from school
Standing in the quad
Twenty five years on and more
I still singalonga Nod

I never really followed
Elton, Marc or Rod
I didn't wow 'bout Bowie
But the voice and power of Nod

The howl of Little Richard
The smile of Kenneth Dodd *
Showman, entertainer
The presence of Lord Nod

My ambition was to follow
In the path he trod
Instead of singing songs I've made
I'm writing poems about Slade
there's Jimmy, Don and there's Dave
Not forgetting Nod

Too young to be a punk
Too old to be a mod
I was just a glam rock kid
Touched by the band of Nod

(c) Paul Cookson

Shanks for the memories

2006-10-03T04:35:00.001+01:00

Bill Shankly is the man who kick-started the "50 years of tradition you can't buy" that Liverpool fans are always screeching about on radio phone-ins and, with today marking the 25th anniversary of his death, it's no surprise to hear that there was a run on black ribbon across Merseyside today - or that opportunistic scallies are now making a killing in the lucrative bootleg black-armband market.

A commemorative ceremony is being staged at Anfield today for Shankly, who famously led Liverpool to three League titles, two FA Cups and the Uefa Cup. But the Fiver would like to do its own small bit to mark the anniversary of the passing of the man loved so much by Liverpool Football Club that they ejected him from the training ground shortly after his retirement and asked him not to come back, leaving him harbouring no end of resentment and bitterness.

Of course these weren't the only traits the Scot shared with your average Scouser. Shankly was also renowned for his famous "wit" - having peddled a mediocre line in observations that were only marginally less bland than the kind spouted today by Alan Shearer. Most often misquoted is that one about football being more important than life or death, but the Fiver's favourite came when Shanks was asked what he thought about the team on the other side of Stanley Park. "There are only two teams in Liverpool," he harrumphed. "Liverpool and Liverpool reserves." No doubt he changed his tune when Liverpool showed him the door, forcing him to live out his dotage helping Everton's youth team.

I could have been a contender

2006-09-25T07:22:00.001+01:00

Recently I had the time to pick up my guitar, which is an all too rare occurence these days. When I do so it’s an equally pleasurable and frustrating experience.

I didn’t really start playing the guitar until my early twenties and the ambition was always to play in a band. My early entrance into rock n roll was made with the purchase of a bass guitar for £50 from a mate at work. After this abortive keyboard lessons came and went, before I graduated to the six-string guitar.

One of the main reasons for eventually going to University was partly to get a qualification, but to be honest I thought it would afford me the time to get a band together. The aim was to do a Coldplay who all met at University, and make my millions!!!!

Sadly this wasn’t the case, during my time at University, I was in a number of bands with a few mates, but these bands never made it out of the cold dank rehearsal room we performed at just down the way from our University building.

The main reason for the lack of success was usually the lack of drummer, the lack of songs or the usual cliché of musical differences.

I’m probably overstating this grandly, but after these abortive attempts I decided to go solo. This was certainly the easier option for me to continue my musical endeavours. The problem of a drummer and musical differences were alleviated in an instance.

When I say career. I should state my total career earnings for performing are; £5, a glass of Glenfiddich and all the Caffreys I could drink - when I regularly played at the Wednesday Songwriters’ night at Shenanigans, Bootle

Armed with a number of my own compositions and a couple of covers, I regularly performed in and around Liverpool.

Since 2002, my guitar has been a glorious ornament and has been picked up fleetingly to bash out a riff or two that I can barely remember from years gone by. Every year my list of things to do always includes the bit that says get back into my music and start gigging again.

This summer, I probably came as close as I have done since 2002. During my period off work and when I returned from my holidays, I revisited some of the songs that I had written and previously recorded onto my trusty four-track cassette recorder.

These recordings are ramshackle to say the least – though they do contain some reasonable lyrics that have something redeemable in them, some of the performances though leave a lot to be desired.

Now years later I have a computer with a basic music recording facility, I revisited these songs thinking that technology would help transform these snatches of music into something that I could be proud of. So far, not so good. I think only a handful of these songs are worthy of a wider audience.

It looks like it will be back to the drawing board and I will have to get writing a few more compositions, before I make my great comeback.

Watch this space – though I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Jellyfish – Best (Virgin/Charisma)

2006-09-15T11:04:00.001+01:00

The release of Best sees a belated overview of one of those bands whose flame flickered but whose initial spark went out almost as soon as it was ignited.

Jellyfish are a band that warrants a modicum of attention today. 2003 saw the release of a 4 cd box set, followed by this compilation - an abridged version of that particular box set. They set out making their name in an age when their sound was at odds with the prevailing musical culture of the time.
In their lifetime Jellyfish released two albums Spilt Milk and Bellybutton and the band were hampered by line-up changes with each release. The musicians that made up Jellyfish have all remained in the industry in some form but have tellingly never reconvened as Jellyfish at any point down the years. Though principal songwriters Roger Manning and Jason Faulkner have been involved in a number of projects together down the years.

The cliché of musical differences is apt for this band as a third album was aborted as the line-up finally capitulated. The US band certainly mistimed their career, coming to the fore after Baggy and before Britpop. It was quite possibly a case of wrong place, at the wrong time for the band. As their Paul McCartney Wings style may have found an audience in the retro obsessed days of Britpop.

The stand out tracks from this release are The King is Half Undressed a song which was on heavy rotation on MTV in the early 90s, as was the near UK hit The Ghost At Number One – which came close to denting the Top 40.

These tunes certainly are the pick of the album, as well as Ignorance is Bliss but I have to say time has not been too kind and the sum total of this album merges into one continuous loop, with the standout tracks few and far between. There is evidence of quirkiness in some of the songs Ignorence Is Bliss is a good example of how it could have been, but more often than not they have a tendency to resort to a bland MOR style - more akin to third rate Supertramp copyists.

It could be argued that it is the ultimate album for the download age, the afore mentioned songs are the only ones you really need to own.

Best is evidence of band with numerous ideas, but with no coherent vision in which to present them.

Another Place

2006-09-12T22:00:00.001+01:00

The Crosby coastline is not the most obvious place you would expect to see works of art.

It’s a coastline that is functional at best. To the south of Burbo Bank you have the docks of Seaforth, to the north you have Formby coastline. It’s a coast that is lapped by the Irish Sea and its reputation was previously based on its polluted state, instead of any cultural or artistic interest.

For the last year Another Place, the work of Antony Gormley – famous for his Angel of the North statue has taken pride of place on the shore.

They are due to remain there until November - where they will be transported to the Hamptons, New York.

Given the imminent 2008 City of Culture celebrations there have been calls for the Iron Men to remain for the duration of these celebrations.

I have been a regular visitor to Burbo Bank over the last few months and have been fascinated by their appeal.

I used to live a mile up the coast and I don’t think I had visited the coast more than once during my 12 years in Hightown. Over the last few months I have been there on a number of occasions.

What is surprising is the fact that locals have met these calls saying that the time has come for them to go. They say that the popularity of the beach with the Iron Men, is ruining the fun for anglers and water sports enthusiasts.

I can’t believe the petty mindedness of some people. These figures should be celebrated and be made more of a feature for this part of the coast. For Christ sake we live on an island – isn’t there enough room to fish or surf.

Hopefully they will stay, but if not catch them while you can.Failing that check out my selection of pictures on Flicker.

Time to go Tony

2006-09-12T07:36:00.002+01:00

Is there a less than edifying sight, than seeing someone in a position of power or responsibility clearly not taking the hint that it is time to depart - oblivious to fact that they have lost the trust of those close and more importantly to those that they serve.

For the past few months the rumblings of dissent and a timetable for his removal/resignation have been a convenient distraction for Tony Blair, from the business of government both domestically and abroad.

It is clear now that Tony Blair has outstayed his welcome as PM. The arrogance and the gall of the man is hard to take. He’s a PM who is clearly hanging on for some last year lap of honour/dishonour (depending on what you opinions might be). He has even lined up heavyweight interviews with Chris Evans and Lorraine Kelly – to pronounce his achievements!

He talks about his legacy and how he’ll be remembered. There is a desire to be remembered in the pantheon of great Prime Ministers but his minimal successes at home have been discredited by the cosying up to a despotic American leader, whose policies, in tackling the War on Terror have brought on the increase in terrorist atrocities all over the world.

Blair knows he’ll be remembered as BLIAR - the man who took this country into a war on the back of a Neo-Con agenda on the spurious claims of WMD. Claims based on the spin that has been prevalent throughout his administration and the spin that ultimately led to the death of David Kelly, the unwitting victim, in the government trying to win the hearts and minds of the public with a discredited agenda.

Given that his departure will take place sometime in the future, what makes last week so bad is the that fact that the battle to be Prime Minister or leader of the party won’t be an ideological battle but a battle of the careerists who make up the modern day Labour Party. They have no clear idea of how to shape the future.

At least Blair had a vision – a watered down version of Thatcherism. All we’ll get in the future is a watered down Blairism or Gordon Brown’s own brand, which at least has some foundation in the ethos of the Labour movement.

Last week, the Party was ‘rocked’ by the resignation of eight junior ministers, but the other careerists have clung on to see what they will get out of it when the Blarites and Brownites lock horns at a later date.

It is clearly time to go or else David Cameron – Blair-lite waits in the background. A politician with as much substance as Casper The Ghost and whose whole idea is aping the early days of Blair – he’ll probably be getting the Spice Girls to reform so he can ride on the crest of Cool Britannia II.

It’s time to go Tony…and take that numptie Prescott with you too.

In Defence of Maghull

2006-09-06T03:53:00.001+01:00

From the age of 3 and for the next sixteen years of my life, I lived in a town called Maghull, a small town north of Liverpool – fairly nondescript in the grand scheme of things, but it was home.

Many of the affirming moments of my life have taken place in Maghull. So it is a place I look back on with fond memories. You could say the demographics tend to be lower Middle Class and on the whole it’s a relatively pleasant place to live.

That is why it was a shock to find Maghull an entry in the book Crap Towns.

This is a book that lists 50 of the worst places to live in the UK. Here is the actual entry.
Crap Town 37

Population - 50000, Unemployment - 6% Famous People - 0

This dormitory town seven miles outside Liverpool is a mean-spirited, characterless and deluded suburb, which fancies itself as a cut above the rest of Merseyside. Queuing up outside B&Q on a Sunday morning is the closest it gets to culture.

Contains Ashworth, that institution full of psychos which is always in the news. Every Monday, they start the sirens, which wail mournfully at the start of another week in Maghull. (Matthew De Abaitua)

I have to say this is fairly harsh assessment and factually inaccurate assessment of Maghull. The B&Q is actually in Aintree and Frank Hornby, the Inventor is actually from Maghull.

Ok, its quiet, but its certainly doesn’t deserve to be listed with a number of other crap towns that are listed. I could name you five towns in the Liverpool area alone, that should be in book ahead of Maghull.

The wrong has been righted, as it were. In the follow up book, Maghull is not listed as a crap town.

I don't live there and haven't for nearly fourteen years now (god is it that long) I seldom go back these days - though I do drive through it occasionally.

Would I go back to live there? Probably not. I have done my time there. There are other parts of the world that I like to live.

That said, it’s certainly not a crap town.

Crap Towns is quite mean spirited and funny...well worth a read I’d say!!!

Incidentally Hull is Crap Town number one in the copy I have. I have never been there so I can’t pass comment.

It’s a Living Thing

2006-09-02T20:20:00.001+01:00

Possibly the main realisation that time is creeping on is the fact that I now own a copy of ELO;s Greatest Hits. A band that was recently voted as a guilty pleasure – though they may never have been a credible band, they do have some virtue.

My younger self would have had recriminations about announcing that particular fact. In all likelihood my younger self would have consulted that arbiter of style - the NME and deemed the purchase un-cool for my collection and bought something they’d recommended, like Menswear.

Over the years I have put together a fairly substantial record collection of varying styles and genres, which by and large - I probably enjoyed at some point and there has been some raeson why they have come into my possession.

While I was off work recently, I have been sorting out the clutter that is my life and I have been having a clearance of stuff that I have accumulated over the years. There is still a lot of rubbish gathering dust in my house, but it’s a start.

The main theme I have noticed is the amount of records that have been put in the pile for removal; are bands that I have bought on the recommendation of the NME.

I used to be an avid reader and trusted their opinions by and large (Another realisation that I’m getting old is that I have now graduated onto reading Uncut - instead of the NME).

The records I have put to one side for removal all have the recurring theme of being the ‘next big thing’. That’s why I own records by Gay Dad, Tiger, Ultrasound and Andrew WK. All records I’d bought on the recommendation of the NME.

The process of chucking them out also gave me the chance to listen some the tunes again. I have to say fairly few survived the cull. A number were posted on ebay with mixed results saleswise.

I'm still stuck with a good number of the records and plan b which will see me deposit the majority of them at the local charity shop.

I'll still consult nme.com or buy the NME, but in this multimedia media age I hope I will be a little more selective - to avoid a similar cull next year.

The Mathew Street Festival

2006-08-31T07:53:00.001+01:00

An all too rare trip into Liverpool city centre these days for me. I have not worked in the city centre for over three years now. Apart from the odd gig or pint,I never make it back into Liverpool as much as I would like. The excuse this weekend was for the annual August Bank Holiday Mathew Street Festival at the Pier Head.

I hadn’t attended the festival in a number of years with it having previously been a staple of the Clark calendar. It has certainly evolved into something more akin to a proper festival these days – instead of the usual cornucopia of Beatles cover-bands.

Don’t get me wrong I love the Beatles, but usually after a weekend in Mathew Street. I normally go into Beatles cold turkey in September - as I’m usually Beatled-out.

It was good to see the weather didn’t spoil the proceedings either - it was a glorious day to be on the waterfront.

What was also great was the fact that walking from Lime Street station to the venue, the amount of different foreign accents that I heard. It’s great that Liverpool can attract these visitors and augers well for the 2008 City of Culture celebrations. It made me proud to be a Scouser, albeit one exiled in St Helens. There were hardly any of the usual knobheads out in force that usually mar any occasion in Liverpool…which was a bonus.

I was primarily there to see The Wonder Stuff who were on top form as they usually are these days. The band weren't helped though by the sound which was a little muddy from my point mid-way back - the mix was a little too much lead guitar and the drums - with not much of anything else.

The set was the tried and trusted festival set and the hit Size of a Cow made it back into the set after a long absence. Size of a Cow is something of a millstone being as it is the bands biggest hit (Dizzy apart), the problem is that it’s not a true representation of the bands other material.

Front man Miles Hunt was strangely subdued today - hardly any between song banter, which is normally a feature of the proceedings - this may have been something to do with the previous night's excesses at a gig in Cumbria and the un-rock n roll Sunday afternoon start.

There performance may have even convinced a mate - a nonbeliever of The Wonder Stuff's talent that they are in fact pretty good. Though at some considerable cost to me - I'll have to stand through a James Morrison gig in the near future!!!

The other bands I managed to see included The Lightening Seeds and Shack, both local favourites. I had seen The Lightening Seeds the other week in Blackburn at another festival – but I wasn’t too impressed that day. I have to say they were much better here today and they played all the usual songs that you would come to expect and saved the obvious Three Lions to last. Ian Broudie even updated the lyrics to 40 years of hurt.

The last band I saw was Shack. They are a band that I love and I have most of their stuff that they have released down the years. I have even seen them live a few times too and they have usually been on the money.

They were a shambles today - they even had to be warned about the in between song profanities that didn’t go down too well with the family crowd. As beautiful and poetic as they are on record, they were the polar opposite today.

I slopped off before the end of the set to soak up some of the atmosphere amongst the tourist and locals alike in Mathew Street. It was good to be back at the Mathew Street festival and here’s to next year and my return to being a festival regular.

Statesmanlike

2006-08-11T07:57:00.002+01:00

The dictionary definition of statesmanlike is as follows:

1. A man who is a leader in national or international affairs.
2. A male political leader regarded as a disinterested promoter of the public good.
3. A man who is a respected leader in a given field: "a mature statesman of American letters" Toby Thompson.

Tally the second definition with Bush’s performance today after the heightened state of panic with the grounding of planes in the UK.

I’ll be sleeping safely knowing this numptie and our own version Prescott will have their fingers on the pulse tonight.

And where’s Phoney Tony? He’s off to Cliff Richard’s Caribbean holiday home.

Oh happy days!

The Wonder Stuff - Arts in the Park 2006: Witton Country Park, Blackburn

2006-07-24T07:51:00.001+01:00

Set List: On the Ropes, Here Comes Everyone, Caught in my Shadow, Golden Green, Its Yer Money, Blah Di Blah, Comic Tragedy, A Wish Away, Mission Drive, Circle Square, The Sun Goes Down on Manor Road, Don’t let me Down, Unbearable, Ten trenches Deep.

Second on the bill at Blackburn Council’s annual festival, amongst such luminaries as Dario G, Liz Mclarlnon and headliners The Lightening Seeds, The Wonder Stuff could have been forgiven for taking it easy and going through the motions.

The smattering of Stuffies amongst the crowd they need not have worried as they were on stomping form - though they may not have made it on stage if the previous act Mike Sanchez had is own way. He reluctantly left the stage after non-so subtle hints from the event organisers. Thankfully he took the hint - there’s only so much fucking boogie-woogie you can take.

The Wonder Stuff’s set drew upon the bands tried and tested crowd favourites and sounded as good as ever. It was also good to see a fiddle player back in band; this meant that Golden Green and the closer Ten Trenches are back in the set. Erica Nockalls is a distinctive and talented addition to the band and is encouraging as the bands full repertoire can be explored again.

They even threw in a couple of songs from the new album Blah Di Blah and the ode to many a drunken night between Miles and bassist Mark McCarthy, The Sun Goes Down on Manor Road. Miles promptly reminded all and sundry, that the band had been busy releasing a couple albums of late.

Front man Miles Hunt, soon to celebrate his fortieth birthday, was in fine form and being the old showman that he is dedicated one of the songs to an infant in the audience on the shoulders of his father.

The final three of Don’t let me Down, Unbearable and Ten trenches Deep had my less sprightly self harking back to my younger days of the Indie discos.

They certainly stole the show with their performance, the headliners who followed only had the one song that the tattooed numb-nuts in the crowd wanted to hear, but the Lightening Seeds had long bored the arse of me before I could witness the spectacle of Three Lions and a couple of hundred Texans.

We might have had a few more tunes, if the previous act had not overrun. But The Wonder Stuff’s performance was more than satisfactory and wanting anything else would have been greedy. Here’s to seeing them next at the Mathew Street Festival.

International SWAP (Songwriters and Performers) Festival 2006

2006-07-18T07:29:00.001+01:00

Manchester prides itself on being a vibrant modern European city. Culturally it can lay claim to this ideal - the only problem is that at times it needs a Center Parc style dome put over the top of it.

Today there were certainly no gripes about the weather - it was perfect for a day of music and the setting was almost perfect too.

It’s the second year that the SWAP festival has taken place and on a stage in front of the URBIS centre in Cathedral Gardens a host of performers delighted the slowly reddening audience.

The line-up included eclectic talents from around the country, as well as up and coming homegrown performers, such as the Paper Wives, Manchester’s Aidan Smith, Noellie McDonnell, M Craft, a quirky three-piece called The Research, Alterkicks, as well as the Internet-hyped number one artist Sandi Thom.

I must admit I can’t see what the fuss is all about. To these ears she sounds like a poor woman’s KT Tunstall. You got the usual quick one, the slow one and the one that is a bit of feminist’s anthem. I didn’t stick around for the hit I Wish I Was a punk Rocker - as refreshment was calling me.

The Cherry Ghost were squeezed in between Thom and the local acts that most of the crowd had come to see. Liam Frost & The Slowdown Family and Iam Kloot.

Liam Frost and his band have been picking up a lot of radio play lately for their Mourners of St Paul's single and they even landed a recent support slot with Elbow at their recent Somerset House gig. Liam is quite and engaging presence and his band has the tunes to match too.

The final act of the day was perennial local favourites I Am Kloot, who came on just as the sun was dipping behind the glass structure of the URBIS.

Their set drew upon a number of their standards such as Storm Warning, Dark Star, Your Favourite Sky and 86 TVs. Kloot’s music is the perfect remedy to day spent standing up being burnt to a crisp. Relaxed but with something of an edge to it.

The summery tunes give lie to the lyrics of a love gone wrong as front man John Bramwell testified that some of the set might not be appropriate given the weather.

Elbow front man Guy Garvey joined in on vocals for To You, as well as this appearance the usual three piece was augmented with a pedal guitarist and keyboards for three new tunes Fingerprints, Only Role in Town and Someone Like You. These sounded pretty good and whetted the appetite for the next album due soon.

Iam Kloot’s set was a fitting end to a perfect day. Here’s to next year’s event and more of the un-Manchester like weather.

Simple Minds - Live at the Liverpool Summer Pops

2006-07-12T07:16:00.001+01:00

Two years on from the last triumphant outing at the Summer Pops, Simple Minds came back to the city that is now becoming something of a second home for the band.

Front man Jim Kerr hasn’t learnt his lesson of two years ago. His energy levels may not as great as they where back in the 80s, but his willingness to cover every inch of the stage is still apparent.

Thankfully the stages are a lot smaller these days; otherwise the attendant St Johns ambulance would have been required. “I’m getting too old for this,” Kerr mused as he took a well-earned breather between songs.

Kerr was back home in one of his favourite cities and he is usually afforded the welcome of one of its favourite sons. He ingratiated himself further with the locals by calling the city the home of music and football, though he added playfully that Celtic were better. No doubt a nod to Kerr’s own idol Kenny Dalglish, who was sitting in the front row.

The band had a recently released album to promote and a number of the new tunes were played at the opening tonight. They don’t stray to far from the tried and tested Simple Minds template. Home was the stand out track from Black and White 050505.

It was the classics that the fans had wanted to see and hear and the band didn’t let them down. A ten-minute version of Ghostdancing, mutated into Van Morrison’s Gloria. With Kerr goading the crowd into a call and response of the G-L-O-R-I-A.

The anthemic hits Waterfront, Don’t You Forget About Me, Sanctify Yourself, and Belfast Child written for a vaster arena than this, all sounded perfect in this reduced setting.

The highlight of the night was the encore with the brilliant New Gold Dream putting the talents of the band to good effect. Guitarist Charlie Burchill is often overlooked in the proceedings as goes about his business in the usual manner. Kerr did his best to drag Burchill into the Spotlight at any given opportunity.

The set went over the 11.00pm curfew time but they still managed to include one final classic. They ended with Alive and Kicking and on this evidence the band certainly are.

Lets hope it won't be another two years before we wait for return gig.

The Who - Live at the Liverpool Summer Pops

2006-07-08T03:26:00.001+01:00

It had certainly been a long time coming for The Who and their fans. The last time they stepped out in Liverpool was October 1971, at the Liverpool University. Tonight’s performance certainly made up for lost time.

Liverpool’s Summer Pops has put on some great acts down the years and bar a Paul McCartney gig or The Rolling Stones coming to town; this years main act The Who will certainly take some beating for the promoters to top next year.

The touts were out in force – charging £80 a ticket as the queues stretched up the dock road in anticipation of tonight’s gig.

The band haven’t released a record for nigh on twenty-four years, but Townshend and Daltrey have been busying themselves in the run up to this tour, with a new album due for release in September.

The new tunes sounded pretty good - the pick of which was the homage to the 50s Real Good Looking Boy - in which Townshend indulged in a trip down memory lane for his frequent trips across the Irish Sea to visit his extended family in Ireland.

The new tunes were kept to a minimum and they had the good sense to roll out the classics that the partisan crowd had come to expect.

There was something for everyone tonight the Mod classics of Quadraphenia were rolled out. Townshend proclaimed it a work of genius - no one in the big top would argue with tonight.

Townshend’s guitar playing tonight bordered on genius tonight too – with him belying the fact that years of guitar playing has rendered him partially deaf.

My Generation was given an airing, given the age of the band and that famous line surprised me. It is a song that was a trademark of the late and lamented bassist John Entwistle. Though bassist Pino Palladino played it with aplomb - it does not seem the same without the extraordinary presence of the Ox.

They have been through a lot together Daltrey and Townshend, many highs and lows, but on tonight’s evidence there is genuine warmth between the two. The two hours long show in the heat took it out of the two front men. Though the quality of the set never waned throughout and their verve and vigour certainly belied the 60 plus age of the two rock veterans.

Tonight’s gig will live long in the memory and all the classics were played such as: Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Reilly, The Seeker, Behind Blue Eyes, Love Reign O'er Me, Pinball Wizard, and Substitute.

Luckily for some it would be only 24 hours for the wait for the next Liverpool for the second of two nights - Suddenly £80 a ticket is looking awfully cheap.

New Order - Live at the Liverpool Summer Pops

2006-07-07T20:41:00.001+01:00

Saturday 8th July 2006

Set List: Love Will Tear Us Apart, Crystal, Regret, Twenty Four Hours, Krafty, Working Overtime, Transmission, Your Silent Face, Waiting For The Sirens' Call, Turn, Bizarre Love Triangle, True Faith, Temptation, The Perfect Kiss, Blue Monday, Ceremony, Shadowplay

They have always been something of a wilfully perverse band but late in the day they are finally playing the game that other careerist bands would take as read.

The addition to the set-list these days sees the inclusion of Joy Division classics. Which given their own body of work, must give them something of a headache in putting together a typical night’s gig.

Typically of the band they open up with the brilliant Love Will Tear Us Apart, a song most bands would save for the encore. In truth though there was probably no better opener for tonight.

There haven’t been many gigs in Liverpool by the band of late, despite professing a love for the city. The inclusion of the seemingly lost to the live arena Joy Division classics evokes the days of the late seventies and the now defunct Eric’s club. The club in which Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Steven Morris as well as many other luminary figures cut their teeth.

You couldn’t get a better opening set of songs at a New Order gig than what they opened with tonight. The afore mentioned Love Will Tear Us Apart as well as Crystal, Regret and Transmission set the scene for what followed.

There was something for in all in the set from all points of the bands career. They didn't just trot out a greatest hits set as a number of songs from the recent albums Get Ready and Waiting For The Sirens' Call all worked well with the older material.

Bernard Sumner even apologised for the rockier nature of the opening numbers from the set and promised more of the dancier numbers from the later in the proceedings.

Bassist Peter Hook was in typically belligerent mood all night as he had a running row with an overly aggressive bouncer at the front of the arena. He prowled the stage with his low-slung bass in his usual manner – he even confessed to playing Bizarre Love Triangle out of tune, but I think the crowd forgave (or weren’t ready to argue). Apart from that blip he was in fine form.

Even Bernard was in reasonably good form, granted he may not have the best of voices but it does a reasonable job and thankfully he kept the yelps and whistles down to a minimum, he even remembered the lyrics to a majority of tunes – which was a bonus.

The set closed with Perfect Kiss mutating into Blue Monday, which prompted everyone in the capacity crowd to jump out of their seats.

There was a richly deserved encore and yet another Joy Division tune on this occasion Shadowplay was given an airing. Though the bands return was delayed for a few moments. Instead of waiting for the sirens’ to call, it was more a call of nature that delayed proceedings with second guitarist Phil Cunningham lost in transit and his plight relayed to the 4000 people in the arena by Sumner – obviously nothing is sacred in this band.

It may not have been a festival, but the settings gave it that feel. New Order are certainly the perfect band for a Saturday night in a big-top, hopefully they will be back in Liverpool sometime in the near future.

England Expects

2006-07-04T05:31:00.001+01:00

After all the hype, after all the adverts, after all the flags - the so-called golden generation, touched down in England yesterday - minus the World Cup.

The Rooney sending-off, and the penalty shoot defeat should not overshadow the fact that this side with all the talent at its disposal should not be back contemplating what might have been. The simple fact is that they have underachieved; they certainly were not hard done to, or unlucky.

At this World Cup, this side has seldom played with the skill and verve required for a team to compete at this level. Instead they played well below that level, one that belied their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites to win the competition. Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole aside, the players in the squad have done little to enhance their reputations in Germany.

Tiredness was trotted out as a reason for underperforming at the last few tournaments but this can be discounted on this occasion as the Premiership fixtures where rejiged at the behest of the England Coach Eriksson for the latest mission impossible, but seemingly with little effect.

This brings us to the coach Sven. Here is a man who was installed as the country’s first foreign coach, who was charged with the job of bringing something of the continental to the England side.

Bizarrely Eriksson, leaves with best competitive statistics of any England manager, though the feeling is that as of yesterday, we are no further on from the debacle that was the Kevin Keagan era of international management.

There has been something of Stalinist rewrite of history with yesterday’s papers highlighting the times he has been lucky. The Greece qualifier – with Beckham’s heroic performance trotted out as one example of his lucky streak. This is something I don’t subscribe to, as most managers have some luck down the years.

What has baffled is his lack of tactical know-how; his lack of a clear vision and seemingly the fact he didn’t seem to know what he was doing. He had the air of the Civil Servant underling promoted above his ability, but thought he could muddle through. Muddle through is what he did.

He has seemingly shackled the creative force that is England’s midfield and replaced it with a group of players playing beneath themselves and with fear. Steven Gerrard is a rampant force in a Liverpool shirt – but the timid version in the England shirt is a shadow of the Steven Gerrard that plays for Liverpool.

David Beckham must have something over Sven – maybe some photographs with Sven in uncompromising situations. This would explain the repeated selection of Beckham, despite him not justifying his shirt in the last twelve months. These days he is lacking pace and this is more apparent when Aaron Lennon replaces him on the right flank.

The selection of only four strikers for this World Cup was highlighted as a monumental disaster from the outset and was made more and more apparent over time as two of those players were carrying injuries, one was an untried youngster and the other was Peter Crouch.

The lack of a plan b and his use of substitutions have also highlighted Sven’s weaknesses further. For someone with a string of affairs to his name – he is something of a passionless creature, that certainly wouldn’t inspire in the heat of battle.

Three quarterfinal exits is not a good return, for a £4million a year salary. Goodbye and good riddance. And you’d think I gave a toss about the England side after writing all that.

Roll on the Premiership!!

I'm Lovin' It

2006-06-22T18:47:00.002+01:00

Somewhere in London, New York, Washington or wherever the marketing types of McDonald’s hangout. There are moves a foot within this shadowy select band plotting the next PR campaign in the company’s continued domination of the fast-food market.

Meanwhile, in a small outpost, which is Walton, Liverpool the inmates have seemingly taken over the asylum. At a McDonald’s restaurant in the shadow of Walton Prison – (this fact may, or may not be significant) it is reassuring to know that all that the marketing types are plotting, is slowly being undone by a select band. Not your Morgan Spurlock – Super Size Me type – but by what can only be termed as herberts, and herberts of the highest order at that. A few months back I managed to witness their work in the flesh.

Fast food it says on the sign as you approach the tell tale golden arches, a symbol that has come to represent everything that has come to represent the crassness of Mikey D’s.

It’s approaching 11.00 on a Wednesday night. Having spent an enjoyable night at the playhouse in Liverpool and catching up with a friend who was gigging in a local pub. Feeling a little peckish and instead of my preferred option of a bag of chips, the decision is taken by the girlfriend to stop off at McDonald’s. Admittedly this is a decision that doesn’t exactly require me to be dragged kicking and screaming into the establishment, as I’m starving.

The gaff was obviously in the process of shutting down for the night and seemingly it now had been over run by an ASBO convention. It turns out that this is what passes for staff here at McDonald’s.

A herbert at the counter took our money. He was dressed in his finest shiny St Johns Market shell-suit, with no hint of a gold star in sight. The ‘have a nice day y’all’ attitude was replaced by a grunt. Eventually he dragged his knuckles over to the window to take my cash. I wasn’t too bothered if he pocketed the cash – just as long as some food turned up.

Joy upon joys, we had the choice of either a McChicken Premiere or a McChicken Premiere – which we would have to wait for while the fat bird behind the counter continued chatting to her boyfriend Wayne or whatever he was called. Finally our food arrived in its brown bag and was promptly handed over like it was a bag of radioactive dog-turd.

The food was, as you would expect. I probably would have received more nourishment from the polystyrene carton it was served in. All in all it was an experience that I certainly won't be repeating in the near future.

With the continual bombardment of McDonald’s during the World Cup, it is pleasing to see that a select band of herberts are trying to bring the organisation down from within.

So when you hear about the decline of the McDonald’s empire, it wont be activists like Morgan Spurlock or the author of Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser, but this select band of herberts.

Keep up the not so good work!!

An end of an era

2006-06-21T03:37:00.003+01:00

On the day they announced Jim'll Fix It will be coming back, well sort of, with Vic Reeves presenting it.

The BBC will be axing the long running Top of The Pops next month.

I would like to say I was a devotee of the programme, one who had stayed loyal until the end, but I would have to count the number of times I have watched it in the last year on one finger. The occasion that I did watch it, I felt myself turning into my dad with each group’s appearance. 'What's this crap' would be my usual utterance.

In these days of MP3s, Ipods, downloads and CDs it is hard to believe I spent many a programme with my tape recorder - remember them - pressed against the portable television - probably a black and white one at that and taping the latest tunes of the day. I wish I still had these tapes, but these have long been binned. Sadly it’s only the memories that remain of these shows. I seem to remember getting into the Bunnymen by taping The Cutter after an appearance.

Classic moments such as the barbed Peel comments about bands he obviously didn't rate, Nirvana purposely fucking-up Smells Like Teen Spirit and Dexy's playing Jackie Wilson Says - with the Dart player Jocky Wilson's picture being used as a backdrop.

Smash Hits has gone, so too now has Top of The Pops in 2006. Another piece of my childhood disappears. Ah well!!

Roddy Frame

2006-05-26T22:52:00.000+01:00

Friday 26th May 2006, Liverpool Academy 2

Set list: The Sea is Wide, Small World, Black Lucia, Stray, Rock Gods, Western Skies, How Men Are, The Birth of the True, Down the Dip, Hymn to Grace, Reason for Living, Bigger Brighter Better, Somewhere in my Heart, Oblivious, The Boy Wonders, We Could send letters, The Bugle Sounds Again, Over You.

Roddy Frame is another of those musicians who has undeservingly dropped off the cultural radar but is an artiste that is producing work comparable to his halcyon days.
With a new album ‘Western Skies’ to promote Frame, was back in Liverpool one of his favourite stomping grounds just one of many dates on a fairly comprehensive UK tour.

It is probably the last time for a while that the audience could probably see Roddy in this intimate acoustic setting, recent interviews have indicted that he is looking to put together a new touring band.

‘Surf’ and the latest record are records that are suited to being played in this style given the stripped down nature of the recordings. There is a healthy dose of older material played tonight as well and it is interesting to hear the older Aztec Camera material given a new lease of life in this format.

Roddy Frame stepped out to a rapturous applause, which showed no sign of abating all night. His beaming smile and his opening chat with the crowd indicated that he was up for tonight’s performance. He was playing to a partisan crowd who were up for old and new tunes in equal measure.
They even cheered the opening chord – which prompted Frame to tease the audience with a couple of bars from a Bob Dylan tune. ‘You are cheering and you don’t even know what is yet,’ he joked.

He didn’t disappoint with the choice of songs played tonight. The second song tonight was ‘Small World’ a song non-partisans would be familiar with as it is the tune for BBC’s Early Doors.

The newer stuff from ‘Western Skies’ was well received, especially ‘Rock God’ which began with Frame talking about his own heroes and Edwyn Collins who had recently visited. Frame informed the audience that he was on the mend and in good form after his brain haemorrhage last year.

The crowd were in as equally good voice as the turn they had come to see. ‘Oblivious’ ‘The Boy Wonders’ and ‘How Men Are’ were all sung with as equal aplomb by the audience as they were by the guy who had crafted them.

He finished with a number of classics from ‘Hard Land, Hard Rain’ – with ‘Down the Dip’ mutating into Dylan’s ‘It’s Alright, Ma’ with an extended section that saw Frame’s silhouette projected onto the backdrop in true rock god pose.

Tonight was something else and if he can be this good in this acoustic setting, one can only imagine how good he would be with a band behind him.

Ian McNabb

2006-04-21T11:39:00.000+01:00

Live at the Southport Arts Centre, Friday 21st April 2006

A Friday night sojourn up the Mersey coast for Ian McNabb as his brief spring acoustic tour calls into the Southport Arts Centre – a suitable night to visit the seaside town on the year’s first spring like day.

What the venue lacked in dynamics tonight’s two-part set more than made up for the lack of rock and roll credentials of the setting. The Arts Centre is a pleasant enough venue – but probably one more suited to academic lectures and the odd amateur dramatics event.

It was a good turn out tonight for Ian. The audience was made up of the usual partisan diehards out in force, all hollering for songs from all points in McNabb’s career. McNabb more than encouraged this participatory heckling.

He seemed a little subdued at the start of the proceedings, but the longer the gig went on he came into his own. Some inspired song selection and a smattering of witty anecdotes made the first part fly by. My favourite tale was the £500 Rickenbacker guitar which is now worth £4,000 – which his Mum implores him to sell because as s says:' Your always complaining your fucking skint.’

The first set had some sort of a set list – with the second half left open to the wishes of the crowd.

One of the many highlights of the night for me was certainly ‘Fire Inside My Soul’. The evenings closer ‘Love Is A Wonderful Colour’ sounded great with the accompaniment of the audience – a tune that more than whetted the appetite for The Icicle Works forthcoming anniversary gigs in October.

The second half saw Ian getting a little bit frustrated by the lack of atmosphere in the venue. He gently goaded a majority of the crowd from their seats to fill the vast space between the seats and the stage. The crowd in turn were treated to a rock-n-roll medley, with one of the crowd who had left his seats treating the crowd to a stunning display of dad dancing.

Another great McNabb gig. As you would come to expect no one gig is like the other, hence the anticipation for McNabb’s forthcoming gigs later on in the year.

The Raconteurs

2006-03-22T23:10:00.001Z

Liverpool Carling Academy, Monday 20th March 2006

Set List: Level, Intimate Secretary, Hands, Steady as She Goes, Together, This House Is Not A Motel, Store Bought Bones, Call It A Day, Yellow Sun, Broken Boy Soldier, 5 On The 5, Blue Veins, Headin’ For The Texas Border.

Tonight had the feeling of one those seminal gigs that everyone in attendance will talk about in years to come.

This is no newly fated NME hope. This is something different. Not many new bands receive the kind of rapturous applause that they did on their entrance to the Academy’s stage. No other band that have yet to release an album would see their new material applauded like old favourites. In fact most new bands would normally expect a passive crowd with arms folded in the come on entertain us stance.

Well no other band contains both Jack White and Brendan Benson – two old friends from Detroit all the way over in Liverpool for the debut for their new musical venture.

The word side-project is a word that often provokes dread. It’s a term that usually provokes fear of something woeful and self-indulgent. But that is certainly not the case with the Raconteurs.

Augmented by Patrick Keeler on drums and ‘little’ Jack Lawrence from The Greenhornes on bass - as well as Dean Fertita. It is these extra hands on deck that allows Jack White the luxury of being able to cut loose musically. In the White Stripes the onus is on White to carry the sound – tonight he can revel in fact that he has a band to help him out.

‘Level’ is a swirling psychedelic beast that opens the proceedings to the second biggest cheer of the night. The first biggest comes three songs in when White removes his leather jacket.

They aired the yet to be released new album ‘Broken Boy Soldier’ in full with the addition of new song ‘5 on the 5’ as well as a couple of covers the highlight of which was Love’s ‘A House Is Not A Motel’ – a song dedicated especially to Liverpool by Jack White - seemingly pleased that his band had chosen the city for his first live venture.

The limited release single ‘Steady as She Goes’ went down well with the capacity crowd at the Carling Academy as well as its b-side ‘Store Bought Bones’. Were again treated like old favourites.

They played for over an hour with a set of songs that are certainly in keeping with the influences of the illustrious front two. The sound has been described in some quarters as Cat Stevens meets Led Zeppelin. Benson’s pop sensibilities certainly compliment the bluesier guitar work of White.
They finish with the Flamin Groovies cover and they certainly know how to leave their crowd wanting for more.

Roll on the release of the album in May – which from tonight’s expectant audience is almost an eternity away.

Echo and the Bunnymen - More Songs To Learn and Sing(Korova)

2006-02-05T21:23:00.002Z

Track List CD: The Cutter, The Back Of Love, The Killing Moon, Seven Seas, Never Stop, Rescue, I Want To Be There (When You Come), Don't Let It Get You Down, Promise, Silver, People Are Strange, Do It Clean, The Game, Rust, Lips Like Sugar, Nothing Lasts Forever, Bring On The Dancing Horses, Hang On To A Dream, It's Alright, Stormy Weather

Track List DVD: The Cutter, The Killing Moon, Seven Seas, Bring On The Dancing Horses, Game, Lips Like Sugar, Nothing Lasts Forever, Rust

With the release of this record it gives a respected cult band another chance to gain the attention that a number of these songs deserve. Backed by a decent promotional campaign, this compilation is a timely reminder of the bands near legendary status.

The title of this record suggests that this collection picks up where the 80s compilation, Songs To Learn and Sing left off. This in fact is a more encompassing collection of their hits than that particular album. It is also more comprehensive than the 1997 retrospective Bedbugs and Ballyhoo, an album released to cash in on the Bunnymen comeback, after a near decade hiatus.

Released on the recently reactivated Korova label - More Songs, covers all points of the band’s Warner Brothers career and includes bonus tracks from their last three releases.

The band is still a going concern and these days and consists of guitarist Will Sergeant and the redoubtable singer Ian McCulloch. Sadly drummer Pete De Freitas is no longer with us, he died in a motorbike accident towards the first phase of the bands career. Original bassist Les Pattinson, has now retired and working in a boat yard in Lancashire.

The early classics make up the bulk of this compilation, with The Cutter opening up the proceedings for this twenty-track reflection of the great and the good of a long and winding career.

It is taken as read that the Mac-free Bunnymen (or the Bogusman as Mac branded them) songs are not included here, but it does include a couple of interesting selections alongside the obvious classics such as the Cutter, Seven Seas and the Killing Moon.

Included is the rare curio Hang On To A Dream, the Tim Hardin classic that popped up on the Internet-only release Avalanche and is given a full release here for the first time.

The comeback hit Nothing Lasts Forever still sounds as fresh as it did when it was released in 1997. It doesn’t stray far from the formula of the early classics such as the Killing Moon and Ocean Rain; a song surprisingly omitted from this collection.

The cigarette soaked croon of a mature Mac gives the song that classic status that would have seen Sinatra clamour to record such a finally crafted tune - if he was still around today.

One thing that is interesting to note is how the lyrics become less ambiguous as their career progresses. The lyrics become less Buffalo and Bison / Bison and Buffalo, and start to explore more personal themes as Stormy Weather from Siberia highlights - a song which chronicles a love gone wrong.

They may be something of a diehard’s choice these days, but the quality of the songs particularly on the last album show that it’s likely that the Bunnymen will be around for a few more years.

This album would be the perfect introduction for someone who has seen their name linked in reviews with the latest crop of bands that have been influenced by the Bunnymen’s sound.

This is a well thought out compilation and it is released, not just to cash in on the back of the inclusion of a song on a soundtrack or a reformation, but it pays tribute to the enduring qualities of the Bunnymen as a band.

If you catch it early this compilation includes a DVD of a number of the bands promos over time released on DVD for the first time.
Posted by Paul at 11:17 PM 0 comments Links to this post

They wouldn't let it lie

2006-01-29T10:16:00.000Z

In what is seemingly going beyond parody the new year sees yet another Diana related front page from The Di-ly Express. 46 times a Diana related story appeared on the front page of the Daily Express in the last year alone - almost 10 years after her death.

The Express is a comic at the best of times and it isn't helped the proprietor of the Express Richard Desmond is a close personal friend of Mohammed al Fayed.

The ranting of al Fayed and his 'fuggin' conspiracy theory that the Duke of Edinburgh and a missing Fiat Uno are all part of some sinister plot to bump off The People Princess are endlessly lampooned in Private Eye.

Classic Daily Express spoof front covers have included recently DUKE BLAMED FOR HAMMOND CRASH SHOCK and the LIVITNENKO MURDER: SHOCK NEW THEORY - which included the quality quote from top Kremlinologist Professor Fayed, "He was murdered by the fuggin' Duke of Edinburgh, who put a white Fiat Uno in his fuggin' sushi."

It is now really beyond parody, but no doubt Monday we will see another Diana front page exclusive in the Express.

2005-12-19T11:16:00.001Z

Coldplay
Manchester Evening News Arena, Monday 19th December 2005

It has been something of a roller coaster year for Coldplay. The bands third album was finally released in the summer after numerous delays – mainly due to apparent artistic tensions attendant in the recording sessions. Fractious moments in the studio – that nearly resulted in X&Y not being released.

There was also the added pressure the news that their record company EMI had posted a loss in profits as a result of the delayed release. When the record was finally released in some quarters the album was received with muted criticism from a number of critics. The fact that the band had become so big – was seemingly the main reason they had become more of a target.

You can certainly see why in the live arena that the band seemingly thrives away from the minutiae and resultant pressures of being one of the World’s biggest bands.

For all the criticism of the new album, Coldplay do cut the mustard on the stage and tonight’s triumphal gig was no exception. Be it headlining a festival or on a tour in their own right. Three albums in Coldplay have become the band that people will go to see without having purchased the new material. Mainly in the hope they will play the old stuff and the single they have heard on the radio. You could say they have reached U2-like status

This was something of a homecoming night in the vast space that is the MEN. For Coldplay it was a return to the city which they were first discovered at the In The City event - for tonight’s support act, Richard Ashcroft it was a return to his spiritual home of the north west.

Back in the saddle after a layoff to recuperate from the critical mauling his previous album received. He played a smattering of new songs from the soon to be released ‘Keys to the World’. Which sound on first hearing is a step in the right direction – but still weighed down by platitudinous lyrics that to some ears seems mystical, but more often than not sounds trite. The day was saved though as the newer stuff began to plod on - with a selection of his greatest hits from his Verve days.

‘Square One’ started the proceedings again as it had at the summer gig at the Reebok Stadium – this was given a greater sense of occasion given the indoor setting with the clock backdrop showing a countdown to the bands introduction. In fact there were very few surprises and amendments to the set but what was apparent was the verve and vigour of the band despite being nearly the eightieth date of the tour.

The energy of front man Martin was there to see as he raced from the stage to the back row of the first tier of seating during ‘In my Place’. He managed to make it back in time for the next number and was even forgiven for fluffing the lines to ‘Fix You’ on his return.

Next year will see more touring and a number of festival dates. When a new album will surface is difficult to tell. But given the lofty status of the band and the material that they can now omit. The wait for new material could be a long one.

Echo and the Bunnymen

2005-12-17T11:27:00.001Z

Liverpool Carling Academy, Saturday 17th December 2005

Set list: Going Up, Show of Strength, Stormy Weather, Bring on the Dancing Horses, Seven Seas, The Disease, Scissors in the Sand, All That Jazz, The Back of Love, The Killing Moon, In the Margins, Never Stop, Villiers Terrace, Of a Life, Rescue, The Cutter, Nothing Lasts Forever
Lips Like Sugar, Ocean Rain

It’s Christmas, time for the now traditional seasonal Bunnymen hometown gig. This year sees a second night added.

It has been a good year for Bunnymen fans – it was the year, which saw the release of ‘Siberia’ – an album that has been described as a return to form and one that certainly evokes memories of the past.

It may well have something to do with the fact that Hugh Jones who’d previously produced ‘Heaven Up Here’, back on production duties. The talk of a classic Bunnymen album is probably not that wide of the mark.

Numerous reviews have alluded to a return to form – though this is seemingly always the case with new Bunnymen releases. It certainly has its fair share of magical moments that will keep the diehards happy. It is an album that has been described by Ian McCulloch as coming in from the cold hence the title ‘Siberia’. It’s a position that normally fires the band to record their best work especially when they are written off. It’s an album that sees the main protagonists on top form.

The so-called return to form is also a good recipe for the live dates and tonight sees the Mac and Will certainly on top of their game. There is certainly no feeling of going through motions after last night’s home gig.

The set list has a familiar ring to it. Though it may be a tried a tested format it is invigorated by the inclusion of ‘Going Up’ to start the proceedings. There is also the inclusion of a number of new songs from ‘Siberia’ that are not out of place amongst the list of classic Bunnymen tunes.

The two singles ‘Stormy Weather’ and ‘In the Margins’ plus ‘Scissors in the Sand’ are given an airing tonight. They are well received by the fans and certainly compliment the rest of the bands twenty-five year plus material.

Now with a collection of records going back over a quarter of a century there is always going to be the odd song omitted from the set list that disappoint the diehard. One song I was glad to see omitted was ‘Over Wall’ – my recently sprained ankle certainly would not have lasted another 8 minutes longer tonight – normally I would feel short-changed by its omission.

It was another cracking live experience to keep the home crowds happy for another year. Though on tonight’s form I think it would be advisable for the band to book a third night next year.

Half Man Half Biscuit

2005-10-13T11:33:00.001+01:00

Thursday 13th October 2005, Live at the Liverpool Carling Academy

Set List: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train), Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus, CORGI Registered Friends, Running Order Squabble Fest, If I Had Possession Over Pancake Day, Restless Legs, Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off, For What Is Chatteris, Monmore Hare's Running, Them's the Vagaries, 99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd, - Hallelujah/Vatican Broadside, C.A.M.R.A. Man, Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo, P.R.S. Yearbook, Quick The Drawbridge, Paintball's Coming Home, Tending the wrong Grave for 23 Years , All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit , Them’s The Vagaries , Letters Sent , The Len Ganley Stance , Footprints, Look Dad No Tunes , I Think We're Alone Now , We Built this City on a Trad. Arr. Tune, Everything's A.O.R., Twenty-Four Hour Garage People, A Country Practice. Encores: Venus in Flares, Joy Division Oven Gloves, The Trumpton Riots.

Has it really been seven years since the four lads that shook the Wirral ventured through the Birkenhead tunnel to perform in Liverpool?

The band would baulk at the use of the word career to describe what they do. They would no doubt be as shocked by that statistic as would they by the fact that they are now in the third decade of their existence as a functioning band.

Tonight was certainly a good night to reflect on what had gone before given that tonight was the culmination of day of celebration for the life of the late great John Peel who passed away last year.

Today up and down the country events were taking place to celebrate the life of the DJ that had enjoyed the music of Half Man Half Biscuit and had afforded the band numerous Peel sessions. In attendance tonight was Peel’s wife Sheila and family.

Tonight’s set covered all points of the bands career as well as including a number from the latest album ‘Achtung Bono’. Highlight were my personal favourites from the new album ‘Shit Arm, Bad Tattoo’ and ‘We Built this City on a Trad. Arr. Tune’.

The set also included the now traditional cover version – to some bands the selection would seem slightly ironic but for Half Man Half Biscuit there covers are always played in all seriousness. Tonight’s chosen tune was 80s pop starlet Tiffany’s hit – I Think We’re Alone Now’ – And to think I thought the fact they did Status Quo’s Caroline all them years back was strange.

All the ‘Twenty-Four Hour Garage People’ and ‘99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd’ were wheeled out and sung word-for-word by the majority of the audience.

‘All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit’ was greeted with cheers especially by those resplendent in afore mentioned football kit. The band finished with ‘The Trumpton Riots’ and it is hard to feel disappointed by any song omissions from the set list. It certainly felt like a greatest hits set tonight

Here’s to the next Liverpool gig let’s hope we don’t have another seven years before we wait to see them cross the Mersey.

Kathryn Williams

2005-08-14T11:51:00.000+01:00

The Eclectica festival St Helens, Victoria Square
Sunday 14th August 2005

She was perhaps the biggest name on the bill and kicked off the day’s proceedings at the un-rock and roll time of 1.00pm – like myself she had to be somewhere else later that day.

This was something of an un-rock and roll event, given that it was the first Eclectica festival organised by St Helens Council on a stage in front of the town hall. The council should be applauded for hosting such an event – though they were let down by the inclement British weather.

The weather was typically English grey with a threat of rain, though the line-up was atypically English and represented music from various nations.

As well as Kathryn Williams others on the bill who took part included Baka Beyond, a European and African band. Samuel Oyediji, a Nigerian artist, The Coal Porters, a five-piece country rock band and headliners Dreadzone fresh from their recent appearance at the Glastonbury Festival

Kathryn Williams born and raised in Liverpool, but now a resident in Newcastle gave a stunning performance with her band made up of an additional cellist and guitarist who helped beef up the sound.

She played a half hour set covering all points of her career. From the Mercury Music Prize nominated album ‘Dog Leap Stairs’ through to the latest album ‘Over Fly Over’.

‘Hallelujah’ the Leonard Cohen song popularised by Jeff Buckley was well received by the crowd who were more familiar of that particular song than others from her set.

Kathryn Williams is not just a performer – she is quite an engaging presence and in-between song banter is worth turning up for alone.

A good start to today’s proceedings – hopefully the weather and the turn out will improve. Sadly I have to be elsewhere.

Bamber Bridge (0) 2 Dundee United (2) 4 (Friendly)

2005-07-29T23:44:00.000+01:00

Bamber Bridge made a game of it today in a keenly fought encounter with Scottish Premier League side Dundee United.

It was Brigs illustrious opponents that enjoyed the best of the first-half exchanges’.

On 23 minutes Brig’s Andy Reid brought down the lively Lee Miller on the edge of the box. Barry Robson curled the free kick around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Jim McIntyre made it two-nil when the ball rebounded to him unmarked and from 15 yards out he made sure.

Brig were more of a threat in the second period following a procession of changes at half time. One of these changes Dave Campbell’s knock down 54 minutes into the game found Greg Brickell, who unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards past United’s Derek Stillie.

Eleven minutes later, Campbell levelled the score, as he slid in unmarked to steer home Lee Pryers cross from the left, following good work from the fullback.

United were rewarded with a third goal after 71 minutes. Lee Miller curled a free kick around the wall into the back of the net, almost identical to Robson’s effort in the first half.

United made certain of victory when from five yards substitute Derek Robertson converted James Grady’s cross.

Att: 265

Coldplay

2005-07-05T11:19:00.000+01:00

Coldplay
Live at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, Tuesday 5th July 2005

Set List ‘Square One’ ‘Politik’ ‘Yellow’ ‘God Put A Smile Upon Your Face’ ‘Speed Of Sound’ ‘Low’ ‘Warning Sign’ ‘Everything’s Not Lost’ ‘White Shadows’ ‘The Scientist’ ‘Till Kingdom Come’ ‘Don’t Panic’ ‘Clocks’ ‘Talk’ ‘What If’
‘In My Place’ ‘Fix You’ played again for a video shoot ‘Fix You’.

You buy your tickets for these events in the hope that it will be a balmy summer night, which will add to the spectacle that is an outdoor summer gig, but what greets you as you drive to the stadium is rain that makes visibility through the car windscreen something of a lottery. Luckily the rain relents as soon as the car pulls up to the car park at the Reebok Stadium.

Coldplay touring the country after the recent release of the rapturously received third album ‘X&Y’ tonight is the second of two gigs held at Bolton Wanderers ground.

They are ably supported by local lads Doves, fresh from supporting Oasis and U2 on their recent stadium gigs they have certainly justified their elevation to the big league and with performances like tonight, it certainly wont be long before they are packing these places out in their own right. The set was a brisk run through the highlights of their three-album career to date and ‘There Goes The Fear’ was a fitting climax to a well-received set by the audience arriving for the main turn.

Fresh from Live 8 at the weekend it was back to the day job for singer Chris Martin and his band; the lobbying is put to one-side, he has an album to promote. Though judging by the charts it seems that he is preaching to the converted.

The new album is a lot more an expansive sound that its predecessors and prior to tonight ‘X&Y’ had left me feeling a little disappointed, but in the live arena, some of these songs seem to have an added dimension when belted out into the back of the arena, even when they slow things down with an intimate acoustic set with ‘Don’t Panic’ and the song written for Johnny Cash ‘Til Kingdom Come’ these more subtler songs work in the vast expanses of a football stadium.

With the bands elevated status it is now apparent that Coldplay now have their own resident guitar hero in Will Champion and on the new tunes such as ‘White Shadows’ and ‘Talk’ his skills are pushed to the limit to great effect.

Coldplay certainly have what it takes to be a stadium band and if U2’s star begins to wain then, it is likely that Coldplay can fill the void, but for the punter I’m still left a little cold by the stadium experience, but it was a good gig and one that justified the price of the ticket.

Paul Weller

2005-02-15T19:45:00.001Z

Liverpool Royal Court Theatre, Tuesday 15th February 2005

The second of two nights in Liverpool and two nights that have been appended to the rescheduled winter tour of 2004, cancelled due to tonsillitis.

You would not have thought he’d been struggling with his vocals last year as Weller rattled through tunes from his vast collection of the last 25 years.

Drummer Steve White was welcomed back into the fold after a non-appearance last night, due to cited personal reasons. Despite the drummer’s kit making an appearance, the drummer was a no show, much to the annoyance of the reviewer in tonight’s Liverpool Echo. Last night the set was semi-acoustic, with Weller berating the audience to see him if they wanted their money back after the show.

Tonight, Weller was on top form and despite notable omissions from the set list the night included tunes that appealed to the cross section that is Paul Weller’s audience. Five Style Council tunes were played and they all sounded great with the addition of the backing musicians adding brass accompaniment.

Weller even included a trio of new songs amongst the crowd favourites, ‘Golden Sands’ was the pick of these tunes. The writing block that Weller has talked about now seemingly behind him and the respite of the ‘Studio 150’ release, should see an imminent bunch of new tunes in the offing.

The only possible disappointment of the night was the omission of now traditional encore finisher ‘Town Called Malice’, in favour of an impromptu rendition of ‘Heatwave’ which the band pulled off despite Weller’s reservations Weller thought he would make a mess off. A tune that The Jam used to play and one that was a welcome addition to the current set list.

A brilliant gig, by an artist that just gets better and better, the album buying public may have decided to take or leave the newer records, but the scramble for tickets for tonight proves that as a live entity Weller is second to none.

Echo and the Bunnymen

2004-12-17T11:30:00.001Z

Friday 17th December 2004
Liverpool Carling Academy

Set List: Going Up, With a Hip, Rescue, Seven Seas, Dancing Horses, Buried Alive, Crocodiles, Back Of Love, The Killing Moon, Never Stop, Zimbo, Villiers Terrace, Show Of Strength, Lips Like Sugar, The Cutter, Nothing Lasts Forever, Loose, Joe, Over The Wall, Ocean Rain.

In what looks like becoming a regular occurrence the Bunnymen took to the stage for this pre-Christmas show, with no album to promote Ian and Will rattled through a set of classics and old favourites; that kept the audience, who had braved Liverpool’s traditional Christmas party night suitably rewarded.

Ably supported by actor John Simms’s band Magic Alex, who share The Bunnymen’s, Velvet Underground fixation highlighted by including a version of the Velvet’s ‘Here comes The Man’ in their set.

The Bunnymen started off with tunes from the first two albums ‘Crocodiles’ and ‘Heaven Up Here’ ‘Going Up’ and With a Hip - a departure from their usual opener ‘Rescue’.

Mac was his usual self as a front man engaging in a bit of banter with the crowd; it must have been Christmas as he even had something positive to say regarding Liverpool’s recent derby defeat by Everton.

The set list covered the usual territory with songs from various points of their collection.

The encore saw the usual standards, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, ‘Over The Wall’, ‘Ocean Rain’. All delivered impeccably and in good voice from Mac. These tunes were interspersed ‘Loose’ the Stooges cover last played under the guise of Electrafixion.

They even had time to include a new song ‘Joe’ which augers well for the new album due next summer. Without doubt a top gig it had every element that a great Bunnymen gig should have. The band is certainly maturing into the great British band that they had always promised to become, but had always managed to find a way in shooting themselves in the foot.

The Finn Brothers

2004-10-29T23:08:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 26th October 2004, Liverpool Empire Theatre

Not the best of days to perform a gig in Liverpool, What with the passing of John Peel, but New Zealand’s finest certainly are what’s required to lift the mood of any crowd

Supported by Minnie Driver, the Hollywood Actress seemed to be visibly nervous during her 30 minute set. The music was pleasant enough in an inoffensive way - musical wallpaper. It was listenable but it didn’t make you want to rush out and buy the album.

The brothers Neil and Tim Finn took to the stage and before the rest of the band joined them they played a couple of new tunes from their latest album ‘Everyone is Here’.

The new album is a quality collection of songs from the Finn’s; from the latest single ‘Won’t Give In’ which has all the Finn trademarks – a cracking melody and an unexpected twist in the tune towards the end. ‘Edible Flowers’ is also a potential classic and was performed tonight immaculately.

All points of the duos careers were also visited, Split Enz classics such as ‘I Got You’ ‘Six Months in a Leaky Boat and Crowded House hits such as ‘Weather with You’ and ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ were played much to the delight of the crowd.

The surprise of the night came when Manchester’s finest Johnny Marr took the stage, accompanied by good-natured boos – because of his Mancunian heritage, to join his friend Neil Finn for a rendition of The Smiths ‘There is a Light That Never Goes Out’.

As this was the day that Peel died, Neil Finn had remarked about the passing, whilst doing so a member of the audience called out to Marr to play The Undertones ‘Teenage Kicks’, Marr duly obliged with an impromptu rendition that almost brought the house down, it was rough and ready in a style that Peel would have admired. Marr admitted afterwards he’d played it in the wrong key and this gave him problems when it came to singing the song.

Neil Finn gigs are never really a passive experience for the audience and more often than not he will make his way into the crowd or beckon them forward. Tonight he incurred the Roth of the Liverpool Empire security when he did so.

A great night of music after what could be argued as the worst day for music what with Peel’s passing.

The Wonder Stuff

2004-10-08T23:16:00.000+01:00

Liverpool Academy 2, Wednesday 6th October 2004

The Wonderstuff ride again the staple of that indie disco are back as a full-time touring outfit with an album to promote, the bristling ‘Escape from Rubbish Island’.

Shorn of drummer Martin Gilks and Martin ‘Fiddly’ Bell the band are now down to two of the original line up - main-man and mouthpiece Mile Hunt and guitarist Malcolm Treece. They are augmented by Miles’ compadre in the Miles Hunt Club drummer Andreas Karu and bassist Mark McCarthy, whom Miles has described as the first serious contender for the sadly late and lamented Bass-thing’s role.

No keyboards or fiddle player for this tour, so that meant a return to the tunes of the ‘Eight Legged Groove Machine’ and ‘Hup’ era.

The hardcore of fans who came out for this trip on a cold October Wednesday were probably not too fussed at the omissions of songs such as ‘Dizzy’ and ‘Size of Cow’ these were the hardcore, the fans were rewarded to a smattering of rarely heard classics and forgotten b-sides to warm the souls on this autumn evening.

Miles’ was his usual crowd baiting best and any rumours of his mellowing were dispelled with a couple of diatribes at the current state of popular music…bands such as Coldplay were in Miles’ line of vision.

The new material complimented the older ‘Hup’ era material with tunes such as ‘Don’t Let Me Down, Gently’ sung with as much gusto by the thirty-something audience as it was by the band themselves. It is fair to say the crowd were suitably rewarded with a set of sing-along classics that harked back to days when the hair was longer and the t-shirts were a little less figure hugging.

The NME may not want to know these days but as long as they are producing tunes such as ‘Bile Chant’ and the audience are coming to the gigs. The Wonderstuff will be a welcome addition to a bill near you.

Love with Arthur Lee

2004-09-07T23:00:00.001+01:00

Liverpool Summer Pops, Wednesday 7th July 2004

One of the expected highlights of this years somewhat disappointing Summer Pops line up, last year promised and delivered us artists of the calibre of Paul Weller, James Brown and Burt Bacarach, this year has delivered the likes of Donny Osmond, Busted and Lulu.

A bit of a dream double header on paper; a quality band of today alongside a great band of yesteryear, sadly the crowd in the half-full arena did not seem to share the enthusiasm of the bands on tonight. The Zutons limbered up with a set comprising of their latest album ‘Who Killed The Zutons’ sadly the apathy of the crowd was apparent during their set as Dave McCabe The Zutons singer implored the audience to at least look interested. They seem to get better and better with each performance and they are certainly a band to see when they are performing in front of their own partisan audience.

Tonight and previous tours have been billed as the Forever Changes tour but Arthur Lee is keen to stress that he has more to offer than a justifiably classic album written and recorded almost thirty five years ago.

Unlike previous tours the band launched into a classic from Forever Changes straight away; ‘A House Is Not a Motel’, which certainly highlights the talents of Baby Lemonade, the new band performing under the guise of the Love brand.

‘Alone Again Or’ was again a highlight of the set as it always is and saw the arrival of the string quartet not for the last time tonight.

Arthur Lee was in prickly mood tonight and was slightly unhappy with the crowds’ demands for songs only from Forever Changes. He stressed hat he was in the process of writing some new material. He was trying to push some of his newer stuff, especially the catchy ‘All I Want Is You’ which is quite a entertaining tune but played in the company of his back catalogue it is obvious that the better stuff was written back in the 60’s.

Lee finally relented and played more tunes form the Forever Changes and other songs from that era. Lee’s mood wasn’t helped by the calls to halt is set at 10.30, the curfew time. This meant that a couple of songs had to be discarded before they finished with ‘She Comes In Colours’.

It was a bit of disappointing night a far cry from their previous gig in Liverpool, last year. No doubt the poor crowd didn’t help the atmosphere or Lee’s not so cheery demeanour.

Simple Minds

2004-07-29T22:58:00.001+01:00

Liverpool Summer Pops, Saturday 24th July 2004

Back at the Summer Pops after last years triumphant performance under the big top at the Kings Dock. The bands heyday may have seen them play football stadiums, but this venue seems to be made for Jim Kerr as he uses ever inch of the stage to get the crowd up and ready for the gig.

He need not have bothered, no doubt the capacity crowd had been tipped off from last years performance and were up on their feet from the off, as the band launched into a set that was predominately their greatest hits.

At times it felt like being at the Nuremberg rally especially with the crowds collection of hands waving in the air. Kerr worked the crowd and his stage moves defy a man into his mid forties. He promised at the start that they would destroy the place and it was very nearly mission accomplished.

There were numerous highlights tonight ‘New Gold Dream; sounded fantastic and as fresh as it did when it was first released. There was very much something for everyone in the set tonight. No doubt the band probably wished they had written some popular slower songs, that would have enabled Kerr to take a well earned mid set breather.

Simple Minds certainly didn’t let the audience down with its choices on the set list and they managed to keep some energy in reserve for the pulsating encore that saw ‘Waterfront’, ‘Somewhere in The Summertime’, ‘Alive & Kicking’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’ leaving the audience in no doubt that they had received value for money.

The rousing reception from the audience and Kerr’s reciprocal appreciation of the crowd left the audience looking forward to next year and on this form they may actually bring down the big top.

Paul Weller

2004-06-20T22:48:00.000+01:00

Delamere Forest Park, Sunday 20th June 2004

For someone who has released a song called ‘Wildwood’ it was perhaps inevitable for Paul Weller to take to the stage in the setting of a forest. In the impressive setting that Is Delamere Forest, in one of a series of concerts organised by the Forestry Commission.

With midsummer’s night just around the corner the audience were dressed for the changeable climate that is the English summer. Despite the ominous ever-present black clouds, thankfully the heavens did not open on the exposed crowd.

Weller has admitted a few problems with writers block of late, and perhaps this is the reason the release of a cover versions album is imminent, but as a live performer Weller is still on top of his musical game.

Before the main attraction Liverpool band The Stands ably started the proceedings with a set that stretched out the better songs from their patchy debut album and showed a tight nit band that is far better live then what was produced on record.

Weller came on as the night drew in and launched into ‘Out of the Sinking’ which set the scene for tonight’s performance. He looked up for it tonight and this was shown in the passion and enthusiasm of his performance of the songs he played. Though he nearly lost half of the audience with his ‘Welcome to Scousestock’ declaration.

He managed to get the non-scouse contingent back onside with a few well-chosen oldies from his Jam and Style Council repertoire. ‘In The Crowd’ was superb and is fast becoming a welcome mainstay of his solo set which is no bad thing. ‘Man in the Cornershop’ was also brilliant tonight also.

The now seemingly fixed line up of White, Craddock, Minchella, and Beagan was at times augmented by the adding of a saxophonist which added a new depth to some of the numbers especially ‘Peacocks Suit’.

The set had a bit for everyone; the diehard Jam fan and the Style Councillor would no doubt have no complaints about the set list tonight. It was hard to think what he had left out that he could have played. Predictably he finished the main part of the set with Wildwood before coming back for the encore.

The loudest cheer of the night was reserved for the familiar opening bars of ‘Town Called Malice’ – it was a fantastic rendition of the Jam classic even with Weller forgetting the words halfway through. He didn’t have to worry as the crowd managed to fill in the gaps for him.

Top gig. The crowd loved it, Weller and the band looked liked they loved it. A recipe for a good night and it didn’t rain too.

England expects

2004-06-01T15:10:00.000+01:00

Even the least observant amongst us, will have noticed the steady increase in the amount of flags, bearing the cross of St George, clinging to the windows of the humble family saloon car and white transit van on our streets. And it’s not because England has won a test series again! – Euro 2004 is just around the corner.

This phenomenon has brought varying responses from people saying that it is in poor taste, especially considering the prevalence of the BNP campaigning during the recent European and local elections. The BNP, the so-called human face of the far right, has seemingly taken the flag of St George, as it’s, own. Even the RAC has expressed the opinion that they are dangerous and that they should be banned.

For many though, this overt display of loyalty is a little unpalatable and that it construed as racist. The problem stems from the fact that this flag has been taken by the far right as a symbol of their own and its display draws up all sorts of unpalatable connotations.

I attended my first England football match the other week and for one who is not in the least bit patriotic, I found myself caught up in the emotion of the night and wishing that I had something bearing the cross of St George to show my appreciation of the team – despite a humble draw with Japan.

The game at the magnificent City of Manchester stadium saw women and children, decked out in the red and white colours of England and in certain cases sitting with supporters of Japan. It was certainly a night that I felt proud to be English.

Previously I had been put off attending England matches by the stereotyped Hackett t-shirt wearing, Chelsea FC tattooed, lager lout who thinks he’s doing the nation a service by putting one up Johnny Foreigner.

It’s certainly a time for the average man or women to take pride in the flag of our nation. The Scot’s do, in their all to brief flirtations with major sporting occasions and the Millennium Stadium is a great sight with the Welsh flags billowing to the strains of Men of Harlech. So why cant we as English take pride in our flag?

If the more widespread use of the flag is by the average person in the street the least likely the far right can claim it as there own. I would rather the flag of St George be associated with my knackered old Ford Fiesta than some far- right fascist. The time is now for us all to be proud of our nation, no matter what race or colour that you are.

Supergrass

2004-05-05T23:04:00.001+01:00

Liverpool Academy, Sunday 2nd May 2004

Is it really ten years since Supergrass released their first single? From those bygone days of Britpop. An era where bands were formed, and adorned on the next available magazine cover, that would have them.

Not much of that era, ahem, talent are still in business. Its testimony that Supergrass is 10 is down to fact that they had a modicum of talent that their peers could only dream off.

The current extensive tour of the UK is designed to promote the forthcoming compilation and remind everyone of what Supergrass is about.

The prospect of the band playing all the hits is certainly one to be savoured. There has always been something to engage the casual listener to the albums, but this is often failed to be replicated over a full album.

That is why a Supergrass compilation is certainly a must-have addition to anyone’s collection. Scarily lead singer Gaz Coombes is still the right side of thirty and retains the youthful look of the Britpop era.

The night started well enough with ‘In it For The Money’ and the still brilliant ‘Richard III”. ‘Mary’ sounds great live despite the awful rhyming couplet of Mary and Basis Daily.

The much maligned acoustic bit in the middle of a bands set was given a new twist tonight with an Acoustic Sofa being brought on stage for Gaz and Mikey to reinterpret a few of the old tunes with ‘ Caught By the Fuzz’ being reworked to good effect.

New song ‘Kiss of Life’ was given an airing and may well take a few more listens to get into. Old favourites were wheeled out such as ‘Alright’ and ‘Pumping on Your Stereo’ and still sounded as fresh as the first time you heard them.

The set finished with two of the oldest songs in Supergrasses repertoire ‘Mansize Rooster’ and ‘Sitting Up Straight’ both were delivered with a slickness that was not apparent on the original release.

All in all a good night and here’s to ten more years and the transition from a singles band into one that finally delivers that essential album.

The Zutons

2004-04-30T23:59:00.000+01:00

Liverpool Carling Academy, Thursday 29th April 2004

It was a homecoming night for the latest band hot off Liverpool’s musical production line and tonight’s proceedings certainly showed the fact that Liverpool’s musical legacy is still in fine fettle.

The atmosphere at the Carling academy it almost felt like you had stumbled into someone’s family party. No doubt the various Zuton – aunties and uncles gave the atmosphere that feeling. Prior to the arrival of the latest hometown favourites, Liverpool’s future stars were on display.

First up tonight was the Jones’s fronted by Edgar Jones, veteran of numerous ‘I can’t believe they were never bigger’ Liverpool bands The former Stairs front man’s band has certainly raided the Motown albums for inspiration. They are certainly one’s to watch for the future

The Dead 60’s label mates of the Zutons due to release their first single, displayed a two-tone element that has always been lacking from the Liverpool scene.

It’s good to see Liverpool taking their inspiration these days from a wider source than is usually the case and no doubt the future looks good.

The crowd had been suitably warmed by the exceptional support acts, it was time for the main attraction, buoyed by a top ten album and headlining national tour was certainly out to prove what they had to offer.

Drawing heavily from their debut album the Zutons the band played with a swagger that was pleasing to see. The only thing that averted their concentration was the odd shout from people they knew in the audience.

They kicked into life with ‘Zuton Fever’, which had the Carling Academy crowd bouncing off the walls, of this homely venue. ‘Pressure point’ followed and was a real tour de force as the band belted out the recent single as one at the front of the stage.

The varied nature of the Zutons set meant that there was something for everyone from their mixed bag of musical influences, scallydelic is the term that the NME has dubbed this style of music, but whatever it is it certainly has mass appeal.

The somewhat skewed tribute to a night out in the city of culture, ‘Dirty Dancehall’ was delivered to an appreciative audience who sang back the mocking lyrics.

The encore delivered the crowd favourite ‘You will, You Wont’ and the crowd went home happy having heard the new album near enough track for track.

Tears For Fears

2004-04-29T23:06:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 27th April 2004,Manchester Carling Apollo

Set List: (Famous Last Words intro), Secret World, Call Me Mellow, Who You Are, Sowing the Seeds of Love, Closest Thing to Heaven, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, The Devil, Mad World (new version), Quiet Ones, Size of Sorrow, Snow Hill, Who Killed Tangerine, Break it Down Again, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Pale Shelter, Head Over Heels, Encore: Woman in Chains, Shout.

A gig for those who viewed the eighties and all that came with that decade, not with any sense of irony as is the current vogue, but because it was the formative years of most of tonight’s audience.

The reunited duo of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, childhood friends who succumbed to the age-old cliché of musical differences, seemed relatively at ease with each other and the audience, with a smattering of Little Britain impressions! And the relaying of the score from tonight’s Champions League semi-final.

The set drew heavily from the latest album ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’ and fitting it was that the house PA played ‘Famous Last Words’ the last track from the duos last album together ‘Sowing the Seeds’, an album of similar influences the latest release.

The new album is the traditional game of two halves, for every great track there is one that is at best take it or leave it, though tonight in the live arena, some of the those songs seem to come alive, songs such as ‘The Devil’ which on record didn’t appeal. The stand out tracks from the new album - ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’ and ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’ will no doubt become staples of the set for years to come.

The crowd came alive later in the set when the band rattled through the hits. Curt alluded to the Gary Jules version of the song ‘Mad World’ before they put a new slant on the bands eighties classic.

The subdued audience eventually got what they came for, when they launched into the more familiar closing numbers of Break It Down Again, ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’, ‘Pale Shelter’ and ‘Head Over Heels’, and for encore ‘Woman in Chains’, ‘Shout’.

A good gig but one highlighting the age-old problem for an act returning to the fold. Do they promote the new material or mine that back catalogue that an audience are baying for?

Nora Jones

2004-04-20T22:39:00.002+01:00

Manchester Apollo, Tuesday 20th April 2004

When you see a Man with a jumper draped over his shoulders heading for the front row of a gig, you certainly know that you haven’t purchased tickets for Motorhead.

If you were looking for someone to blame for the current crop of jazz-lite artists currently clogging up the charts, non-entities such as Jamie Callum and Katie Melua Nora Jones is an easy target. Her success has brought a deluge of similarly jazz crossover acts.

Though not my artist of choice – I was very much the plus one equation in the purchase of these tickets, an Evening with Nora Jones is not too arduous a task as I thought it might be.

In the quite expansive arena that is the Manchester Apollo the feel of the show, is that of a bar room band playing in a smoky saloon bar.

Nora Jones cuts a somewhat down to earth presence as she kicks off her shoes to open the proceedings with ’Cold Cold Heart’. The set features many of the tracks from her two successful albums, plus the odd other song thrown in for good effect, including a country version of AC/DC’S ‘Ride on me’.

She was equally at home on her own at the piano or backed by her band and she carried the songs though the night. The pace of the set was good, but perhaps a little too similar throughout. One criticism that people level at her is that live she sounds no different than she does on record. Where as on record it makes perfect background music or something relaxing, live it needs to be a bit more panoramic to catch the attention.

It certainly was a pleasant enough experience, but not one that gets me rushing out to buy the records or witness her next gig.

Super Furry Animals

2004-03-29T23:02:00.000+01:00

Liverpool Royal Court, Saturday 27th March 2004

Expect the unexpected - that is something that you come to take for granted with a Super Furry Animals live set these days. For a band that has made the live experience something different this tour saw the Super Furries with a hard act to follow.

Sadly no Quadraphonic sound, Inflatables, or Tanks this time - upon entering the Royal Court tonight the stage is set up with huge cardboard cut outs of the animals that adorn the latest album ‘Phantom Power’.

The show starts surreally enough with lead singer Gruff wandering on wearing what looks like a cross between Darth Vader’s helmet and a Bikers helmet.

The set covers all points of a career, which has been very productive in the extreme. Some of the songs they played I had forgotten that they had done them, but I was grateful for them for reacquainting me with them. Wonderful tunes were unearthed from the classic debut album ‘Fuzzy Logic’.

Newer songs held up quite well too. ‘Hello Sunshine’ has the potential to be a future summer hit and the recent single ‘Golden Retriever’ was played with gusto, but sadly not in the costumes that accompanied the video.

The bi-lingual band also played songs from the Welsh Language album Mwng– songs such ‘Calimero’ were aired much to the delight of the audience, with no doubt a few punters from across the border singing along.

Visuals were used to good effect when accompanied with the songs, especially on the final song of the night ‘The Man Don’t Give A Fuck’. The screens flashed the slogan “All Governments are Liars and Murderers” while subliminal images of Blair and Bush appear.

The song mutates into a fifteen minute DJ set before the band return in the Golden Retriever costumes to finish off a wonderfully varied and interesting set.

Ryan Adams

2004-01-24T22:54:00.001Z

Liverpool Royal Court Theatre, 22nd January 2004

Set List: Luminol; So Alive; 1974; Note to Self: Don’t Die; Do Miss America; This is it; Love is Hell; Anybody Wanna Take Me Home? Shallow; To be young (is to be sad, is to be high); Please Don’t Let Me Go; I See Monsters; La Cienega just smiled; New York City Cops; Last Nite; Oh My Sweet Carolina; New York, New York; Come Pick Me Up; Sylvia Plath; My Blue Manhattan; Shadowlands.

A gig scheduled on a cold mid-week in that post-Christmas lull that is known as January is certainly not one that will grab the punters off the street. This is though was not any other gig – tonight is Ryan Adams - on a brief sojourn across the country promoting three records.

Well one in truth – Rock n Roll, the proper album. Love is Hell – the record that met with record company horror on completion and has so far been released as two Ep’s on import only.

Ryan Adams is no ordinary artist and this was certainly no ordinary gig. This was shown when Adams appeared as a drummer halfway through support act Jesse Mallin’s set.

Mallin and Adams both contemporaries of the New York music scene and members of the side project The Finger – yet another Adams release in 2003. Jesse Mallin’s set was a perfect introduction to Ryan Adams, which soon followed.

The early part of Ryan Adam’s set drew heavily from the Rock n Roll album and used the full band to full effect. The album seemed to make more sense live, than it does on record. A record that was born of frustration and sombre in tone is a perfect way for Adams to let loose some of the demons within on this tour.

Adams a prolific artist and usually engaging stage presence was in fairly subdued mood for the first part of the proceedings – interaction with the audience was minimal, as he rattled through the best bits of the new album.

He ended the first part of the set with To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high) from Heartbreaker.

After a short break Adams came back refreshed; in many senses of the word accompanied with a guitar. He played a selection of his vast body of work – interspersed with light-hearted versions of The Stroke’s New York City Cops and Last Nite.

The band came back for New York, New York - a song that has added significance in that the video was filmed using The Twin Towers as the backdrop in the week before September 11th.

In his refreshed state, Adams clamoured up on the speaker stack at the right to serenade a poor spectator, unbeknown to Adams, who had been moved when a impressively inebriated punter had projectile vomited all over her in her seat in the stalls.

The band reconvened for Shadowlands with Adams now safely down from the teetering speaker stack was moving perilously close to the front of the Royal Court’s stage. To the audience’s horror Ryan Adams fell into the pit in front of the stage that separates the audience and performers.

An almighty thud followed by Adams heroically completing the lyrics to the song. The band played on waiting for Adams to return. Helped up by the attendant security guards, Adams clutching his arm ran from the stage in obvious discomfort. The band completed the song and then left the stage. Drummer Johnny T shouted from the stage ‘that’ll be the last gig for a while’. It transpires that Ryan Adams has broken his arm and Johnny T’s prophecy is an apt one.

This was certainly a memorable gig - what with the sideshows involving the crowd. (I never had time to mention the fight that went off in the crowd tonight also). Despite Ryan Adams sombre nature, musically the gig was top notch too.

It’s hard to sum tonight’s events really, maybe just to say get well soon Ryan and I’ll certainly be at the front of the queue when the next tour’s tickets go on sale.

Love with Arthur Lee

2004-01-24T08:55:00.002Z

Friday 24th January 2004, Liverpool Academy

The current vogue is for nostalgia tours for bands trying to eek out one last big payday before Butlins and summer season beckons, bands who meant nothing in the first place trading on perceived former glories. You can see it now – summer 2010 - Blue, Busted and Blink 182. Performing on Hear and Now 2010.

This is certainly not the case with Love who are touring an album that was released thirty years ago and still sounding fresher and more interesting than anything that is currently being released. It’s payback time for Arthur Lee whose life can certainly be described to be colourful, to say the least.

Arthur Lee released a couple of years ago after a twelve year stretch in prison, having fallen foul of the three strikes and you are out rule, Lee is certainly is in the mood to make up for lost time.

Though not strictly Love - Arthur Lee’s current incarnation backed ably by the band Baby Lemonade are about fulfilling the legendary status of Arthur Lee.

It could be argued that Liverpool is Lee’s spiritual home and tonight’s audience was certainly a who’s who of the Liverpool music scene – both new and old. It is one of the requirements in this cities musicians apart the obvious albums to own a copy of ‘Forever Changes’.

The band was greeted by a rapturous reception by the audience much to the delight of Lee. The night started off with a storming version of ‘Little Red Book’ and a few other tunes warming up to the main part of the show. Love were soon down by a string quartet for the start of the run through of ‘Forever Changes’ from start to finish.

The familiar tones of ‘Alone Again or’ written by Brian McLean (sadly no longer with us) prompted the crowd to acknowledge their appreciation. They continued to do so at every change of tempo during the song. The band could have gone of there and the ticket price would have been more than covered.

Thankfully they didn’t and the rest of ‘Forever Changes’ was brilliantly played by the musicians on stage and received by the Liverpool crowd. ‘A House is not a motel’ was superbly executed and was given a fresh impetus by the band. Though liberties weren’t taken with the music, the band did add their own stamp on the songs. Even the string quartet seemed to be enjoying the songs as much as the audience.

The later section of the gig saw other Love albums showcased – songs such as ‘signed DC’, ‘My Flash On You’ and ‘She Comes in Colours’. He paid tribute to his friend John Lennon, before playing ‘Everybodies Gotta Live’ which segued into ‘Instant Karma’.

Lee even slipped in a new song ‘My Anthem’ though sounding a little too much like Big Country for comfort; this was well received by the audience. To be fair he could have played a Spice Girls song tonight and the reception would not have been any less ecstatic.

The sad part about tonight’s gig was certainly that it had to end, but not before the promise of a return from Arthur Lee. If that gig is half as good as tonight’s then it will be one that I won’t want to miss. Tonight was nothing short of brilliant and was well worth leaving the house on a cold January night.

Human League

2003-12-05T11:36:00.000Z

Liverpool University, Friday 5th December 2003

For a band associated with all that’s glitzy and at times tacky of the culture that was the 1980’s, tonight’s gig was something else. A cold night in Liverpool at the Liverpool Academy was certainly as far removed from the days of legwarmers and mullets as it ever could be, but an hour in the company of the Human League transported you back to all that was good about the era that style forgot.

Essentially a greatest hits set, with the odd curio thrown in to keep the more ardent fan happy; tonight’s gig showed a band that was still on top of its musical game.

At times Phil Oakey was in danger of losing his voice, but he need not worry as he had the mass ranks of the Liverpool Academy audience to prop him up.

Tonight’s audience were almost as good as the band as a spectacle. The age of the audience was varied from the hardcore that saw them in their heyday, to the younger ones who wanted to do something different on a Friday night.

The make up of the audience was something to behold. When you sit down and analyse the Human Leagues lyrics you do have to say they are not the best. But when you see 40-year-old hairy arsed builders singing along to songs such as ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ it does restore your faith in the human spirit a little.

It was the fourth night of a fifteen-date tour and despite one or two technical difficulties, the band stuck to a tried a tested set list of virtually all the hits.

The stage set was well-designed and afforded Phil Oakey to camp it up from all parts of the stage. Susan and Joanne were perched either side of Oakey when he was front of stage, and at intervals they both disappeared for costume changes throughout the night.

Predictably the last song of the night before the well-deserved encore was ‘Don’t You Want Me Baby’ this was in not the highlight of the set, that was reserved for the final song of the night ‘Together In Electric Dreams’, a song I have never liked was brilliant delivered by the band and sung along by the builders in audience with gusto.

Future plays of this song will conjure up images of tonight’s proceedings. A top gig, if not one of the best I’ve ever seen.

Radiohead

2003-11-22T22:50:00.000Z

Manchester Evening News Arena, Saturday 22nd November 2003

Set List: There There; 2 + 2 = 5, Lucky; Myxomatosis; Where I end You Begin; Backdrifts; fake Plastic Trees; Paranoid Android; Sail To The Moon; I Might Be Wrong; Climbing The Walls; My Iron Lung; Sit Down, Stand Up; Scatterbrain; National Anthem; Exit Music; Idioteque; The Gloaming; Go To Sleep; The Bends; Street Spirit; A Wolf At The Door; Karma Police; Everything In It’s Place.

Back in the big arenas after this tours various warm up shows and the last major tours use of big top circus tents. Radiohead may have found the perfect place to deliver to the music they are now performing; the sparse electronica that can sound a little cold and digitised on record, but in this sort of arena bounces around this vastness of the place.

The energetic Asian Dub Foundation, are the tour band of choice for Radiohead. They are a band with a similar message to deliver though from a slightly different direction. There set is one that goes down well with tonight’s audience.

At 9 o’clock sharp the lights dim and the band emerge to electronic white noise. The band launches into in my opinion the single of the year ‘There There’. On record this is a fantastic 5-minute experience – live it is something else, with Guitarist’s Ed O’Brien and Jonny Greenwood pound away thrashing out tribal rhythms at two drums. Before grabbing the guitars to take the song to a different level altogether.

One song in and you wonder how they follow that? Instead of relying on the sure fire crowd pleasers, Radiohead explore the more avant-garde output of their last three albums. The reaction from the crowd to these songs is fairly good. You get the feeling that majority of the crowd haven’t just come to see if they’ll play ‘Creep’ (which they don’t) but that they’ll give the rest of the bands output a listen.

The set draws heavily from the politicised last album ‘Hail To The Thief’. As well as from the other electronic based ‘Kid A’ and ‘Amnesiac’.

The other albums are not neglected though. ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ is given a great reception at its start as to did songs like ‘My Iron Lung’ and ‘Paranoid Android’ a song that just gets better every time that you hear it.

Front man Thom Yorke doesn’t go much on the between song banter but he has something of magnetic personality about him that keeps the crowd enthralled. He was a bundle of nervous energy as he spins around the stage like a whirring dervish. While the band solidly concentrate on getting the sound across.
It was an astonishing performance from a band very much at the top of their game. Tonight was very much the end of phase one as a band what with the soon to expire record contract. Here’s hoping that the next phase is as exciting and varied as the last.

Paul McCartney

2003-06-01T22:43:00.000+01:00

Liverpool Kings Dock, Sunday 1st June 2003

There is always something special about being on the banks of the River Mersey in the summertime. Especially when an event like this is taking place. The setting sun over the disused docks on the Birkenhead side of the water offers a backdrop that is hard to beat. Even the faint hint of rain is not likely to wash away the atmosphere that had built up in the afternoon preceding the gig.

In front of 35,000 fans from around the world, Macca was coming home – the conclusion of his Back In The World tour.

With no support – who would want that unenviable task. The proceedings started with a dance troop which seemed to go on for an age and just as you beginning to think turn this in, the familiar figure of Paul McCartney appeared on the large screens at the back of the stage, holding that familiar Hofner bass, accompanied by the crashing opening chords of ‘Hello, Goodbye’. Thirteen years on since his last visit, he was indeed back home.

The set list covered all phases of his illustrious 40-year career and was one that owner’s of the Back in The World DVD or CD or visitors to previous concerts would be familiar with, with a few notable additions for the home crowd – ‘Maggie May’ and his first-ever composition ‘I Lost My Little Girl’. With a back catalogue like Paul McCartney’s, the hard part was probably what to leave out.

The classic songs where treated with the respect that they deserve by the fantastic band that McCartney has put together for this our, though with a few embellishments of their own. No more so was this highlighted with the powerhouse drumming of Abe Laboriel during ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ that took a great song to another level.

The set that ran to over three hours had something for everyone and left you not only impressed by the quality of his songwriting, but his stamina too. At 63 years young this was some feat.

The pace at the start of the gig was something else as he rattled through his hits from Wings and The Beatles. As the pace slowed down McCartney turned his thoughts to absent friends. Linda his wife who was up on stage the last time he played here. To John Lennon and George Harrison sadly no longer with us he shared some memories of growing up in Liverpool as well as treating us to a playful tribute to George by playing his classic ‘Something’ on the ukulele.

The band returned and the hits kept on coming. The pyrotechnics on ‘Live and Let Die’ were a particular highlight. This tour contained the most Beatles songs that McCartney has performed live. Some that he had performed live for the first time ever. The time ticked on and the hits kept on coming and the crowd could not have asked for anymore with trusty crowd pleasers such as ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Hey Jude’ being sung with equal gusto to that of the band.

Sadly all good things have to come to end and after a generous encore, in which Paul McCartney clearly emotional at the reception he had received. Summed up his feelings by saying. “To be on the banks of the Mersey with you lot is special. Word’s can’t express how I feel tonight.”

‘Sergeant Pepper/ The End’ closed the night’s proceedings leaving those who witnessed the event traipsing off into the night thoroughly entertained and hoping that McCartney would hold his promise to come back and perform much sooner than the last wait for a hometown gig. On the evidence of tonight’s performance one night wont be enough.