Tuesday, March 04, 2008

’Good to Eat For The Rest Of Your Life!’
Current mood: awake
Category: Life
Well it's now March, miserable February has been and gone and Spring has arrived, at least it's March and that sounds like Spring in my book with The Cheltenham Festival just around the corner (for all my musical buddies, it's horseracing - but the best horseracing festival in the world, over four days culminating in the Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeplechase this year featuring the much vaunted clash between reigning champion Kauto Star and young pretender Denman)

March started with the 'Good Wrecking Tonight' gig in Reading, it was an excellent night too with Hollywood Suicide, Rock-It Dogs, Hangmen and The Long Tall Texans, all bands we great. I was foolish enough to jump into the pit for the Texans, buoyed up with strong lager and bravado, the big blokes already in there soon battered that out of me, but I stuck it out, and now I'm paying with bruises, but hey a good wreck gets it all out of your system but maybe my system is a little fragile for all that, albeit good natured, violence!

Getting up at 7am to drive home in order to miss the Reading Marathon the next morning was character building to say the least, but hey ho. The next Psychobilly jaunt will be the Bedlam Breakout on the 29th in Northampton. I will be arriving late and am working the next day so best behaviour and pit avoidance is assured. I hope.

Before that I'm going to see The Sonics on Good Friday, I'm really looking forward to that gig, I never thought I'd see those 60s Trash/Garage legends live, a landmark occasion for me even though I'm normally not too keen on revivals, but hey this is The Sonics we're talking about here.

The beginning of April is Grand National weekend, but this year I'm off to The Satanic Stomp in Germany. Big Cheese are sending me to cover it, I'm travelling with some of the bands on a bus via the ferry (just like old times) and Hellcat are putting the money up for the hotel - bands include HorrorPops, Nekromantix, Tiger Army and Frenzy, that's going to be a cracker. My review is going to be included in a 10 page Psychobilly special planned for the June issue of Big Cheese.

I have one other plan for the year, I'm going to learn to surf, don't laugh, it's not a mid-life crisis honest, I love Croyde Bay and the beach in general, it's just up the road and I gt odd days off and like to keep fit, so my first two days available off in April I'm having four lessons over two days with more to follow. Hopefully learning in the cold April and May water I'll not be too rubbish when there are more people on the beach to laugh at me in the summer.

Right, that's it for now, if you got this far, thanks.

All the best

Si.

Oh yes, the title, that Long Tall Texans favourite, 'Bloody' the line 'I present myself at your bloody well door, like a box of chocolates...' What the next bit was has bugged me for years, the silly thing is I have known the band for years but haven't done the obvious thing, ask them. So on Saturday I did, the answer... 'Good to eat for the rest of your life' Aaaaaah now it all makes sense...
 

15 January

Beat the January blues - what a year to look forward to
What a miserable start to 2008, I should have had four days at the races this week but looking out of the window and at the weather forecast the chances of that look slim. All this rain is reminding me of last summer!

It would be easy to get all miserable and down in the dumps with everything, shame to say I was going down that road, then I had a word with myself. What a great year to look forward to. Firstly I'm lucky enough to really enjoy what I get paid for, going to the races, so that's not a bad reason to smile, then there's my other love, music, and there's loads happening.

OK January and February aren't all that, but then March and spring arrives heralded a gig on the first in Reading featuring The Long Tall Texans, The Hangmen, Rock-It Dogs and Hollywood Suicide, so that's music booting in spring. Two weeks later it's the Cheltenham Festival, the roar that kicks off the best four days National Hunt racing in the racing calendar on the Tuesday gets the hairs standing up on the back of your neck and they pretty much stay stood until the concluding County Hurdle on Friday afternoon. Racing super-fix taken care of, it's a thrill of the audio-visual variety the following Friday, The Sonics, 60s Garage Fuzz band of legend are playing in London, I've loved them ever since I heard 'Psycho' back in the 80's, they always said they'd never re-form but I'm so glad they've had a change of heart. That is going to be one special gig. Get your tickets before they sell out.

The following weekend it's Bedlam Breakout in Northampton with The Frantic Flintstones, Coffin Nails, and Long Tall Texans amongst other. The following week, the first in April it's the Grand National, now I'm torn because it clashes with The Satanic Stomp in Germany, two days of Psychobilly madness, this year has a very 'Hellcat' feel to it with Tiger Army, Nekromantix and HorrorPops playing, I have a feeling the Stomp might just win.

May is the busiest month of the year for me with the racing and as long as the weather holds it's a joy, loads of decent flat racing as well as lovely summer jumping at Newton Abbot and Exeter as well as trips further a field to Stratford and Worcester.

Then we have flaming June, Royal Ascot being the racing highlight, five days of glorious racing surrounded by the most biggest collection of beautiful women you're ever likely to see, though it has to be said the drunkest at times too. Less than a week later, it's Calella, the sun-soaked Psychobilly bash in Spain, it's at a different venue this year, just up the beach but it's going to rock. Great times last year, all the bands hanging out by at the beach bar by day and rockin at night. Then we're only half way through 2008, with an even better second half to come, add to all that summer days on the beach at Croyde and nights under canvas..... what the heck is there to be depressed about?

All this rain is just a prelude to the best year ever. Viva la Rock!!
 

4th January

Interview with Scotty and Andy (Bass and Drums) of The Living End. Part published in Big Cheese Magazine

The Living End are legends back home in Australia, household names with record sales to prove it and a live act that is second to none. I have been lucky enough to witness the live Living End phenomenon in Australia where they are greeted with rapid appreciation and in the US on the Warped Tour when they could transform a handful or so of the curious watching as they came on into a heaving mass surrounding circle pits of epic proportions all in the space of half an hour. They were noticed by people in high places from their very start, Green Day were so impressed on hearing The Living End’s demo they gave them the support slot on a national Australian tour and they never looked back. The Green Day connection continued when Billie Joe’s Adeline label released their latest album ‘State of Emergency’ in the USA last summer, a move followed by Deck Cheese here in the UK, the guys are stoked and they are coming over to prove to the UK just why you should be taking notice and told us why…

BC: Deck Cheese are releasing State of Emergency over here in the UK, how do you feel about that?

Scotty: It seems a long time ago we recorded it but we still love getting up there and playing it, still get a buzz out of that, that’s what makes it all worth while, you can’t put a price on that.

Andy: It’s just like a belated birthday but different. It seems a long time ago we recorded it but I still enjoy playing the songs, it was a pretty good album for us back here, we toured it for a long time, it’s not a chore at all, we’re pretty happy to be coming back to your neck of the woods.

BC: When State of Emergency came out in Australia it went straight to number one of the album charts, were you surprised by the success of the album?

Scotty: Not really, we did get a bit of an idea that it was going to go good, it took us ages to record that album so we had a bit of time where we didn’t do any gigs while we were recording it and mixing it spending a lot of time sitting around. When we did start doing a few gigs just before the album came out it was surprising how many people came out and saw us, we felt we’d lost momentum but were pleased to see a young crew coming out, I don’t how they picked up on us because the album wasn’t even out but it was great to see. Judging by those first few crowds we thought the album might go well, but we didn’t expect it to go straight to number one because that’s massive for us.

Andy: You never really know, that was always our intention of course, you can’t count on anything these days, you got to just do the best you can and hope for the best. We were quietly confident we had a good batch of songs and that it was a good album, but that doesn’t mean anything it’s up to the public.

BC: One of the hit singles ‘Wake Up’ has a pretty serious message to it, are you comfortable playing more seriously themed songs?

Scotty: I don’t mind touching on politics and in that song all we are really doing is telling people to be aware. None of our songs have strong enough opinions to be fully left or right wing, they are just stating the obvious trying to get people to be aware and make have their own opinions. I don’t mind getting on our soap box delivering that kind of message, but we’re definitely not a band to preach our opinions.

Andy: If you’ve got something to say you might as well say it, being in a band you have a stage to say things from, that song is just saying ‘Oi, wake up to yourselves’ it’s not telling anyone to do anything apart from to wake up to what’s around you, just be aware of it. At the time the song was written and since then there’s been so many crazy things go on in the world it’s just getting scary, I’m pretty happy to be saying those sorts of things.

BC: You’re coming back to the UK, yeah!

Scotty: I can’t fucking wait! We haven’t been playing lately, the last gigs were in February, we’ve had a fairly large break and it’s far overdue that we get of our arses and do some gigs and I can’t think of a better place to do it than England. The Dropkicks tour was so much fun and I felt we got a pretty good reaction, and it’s a great place to get the ball rolling again and maybe even try out some brand new tunes, it’s all pretty exciting.

Andy: We’re wrapped, the UK is a place that we’ve always wanted to achieve in but it’s been so hard for us in the last few years for many and varied reasons, it’s certainly a country we love coming to, we’d like to have more success over there and are still pretty hungry for it. Any opportunity to come back is a good one for us.

BC: A popular Living End legend is that you got your big break when you were picked to support Green Day on their tour of Australia after you sent them a tape and a T shirt, true or false?

Scotty: That is really really true, we sent them a tape, T shirt and letter. The tape was the first demo we ever did and we ended up getting picked for their Aussie tour all the capital cities in Australia. Billie Joe told us that he and Mike sat through truck loads of tapes, then chose us. That was a pretty bloody start because that was the first time we’d ever done a tour around Australia, we’d done gigs here and there, but it was the first proper tour, we’ve been pretty friggin’ spoilt right from the beginning really.

BC: When you last played here you were support to the Dropkick Murphy’s and Less Than Jake playing a half hour set first on, how does it feel to do that when back home you are household names and headline festivals?

Scotty: We still hope to one day be the headlining band on a tour like that in the UK, that’s a goal of ours. In the meantime it’s good to get up and play in front of someone else’s audience that don’t even know you as well. Rather than get up in front of your own crowd where you can rely on them singing along and knowing all the songs and stuff. You get a bit of a challenge when you know people haven’t heard your tunes before, you have to try hard to impress them on their first listen of it at their first gig. We don’t mind, we like the challenge of winning over someone else’s crowd.

Andy: I think it’s kinda cool, it’s a reality check and a kick in the arse and makes us even more hungry I suppose. You can get complacent, you can get used to playing big shows in front of your own crowds, it’s a challenge for us to go out there every night and win the crowd over. That’s out philosophy if it’s 5 people or 5000 people it doesn’t matter, it’s all about winning people over.

BC: Why should anyone reading this come to see the Living End?

Andy: You have to come see us to understand the band, and we’re guaranteed to kick your arse.

Simon Nott



Interview with Scotty and Andy of The Living End. Part 2
Simon Nott

In the second part of the interview with The Living End on the brink of their long awaited mini tour of the UK and second headline slot on the Punk Rock Stage at Reading and Leeds festivals Scotty and Andy try to explain the secret of their legendary live show that has won over fans the world over.

BC: The Living End are well known for their punishing touring schedules, what are the best and worst bits about being on tour forever?

Scotty: Well it’s pretty clichéd really, but the best part about a gig is just getting up and just playing, when you get a couple of weeks or months under your belt you start to fire a lot better. We need to get our stamina up during the first couple of weeks so we know that we can put every bit of fuel left in our tanks into the gigs without falling over and generally last until the last song, that’s the best part about a long tour, getting your match fitness and getting into the routine of it so you are in your comfort zone. The worst part of it is being away from home and your family and friends, when you’re away it always seems that you are away for twice as long as you actually are, you get home and realise that not much has changed, the grass is always greener, when you are away you wanna be home and when you’re home you wanna be away!

Andy: The best part is, for me at least, that this is my dream come true, when you are playing the drums in your bedroom to your favourite CDs, that thing in the back of your mind is that one day you’ll be able to tour and play every night of the week. We’re so lucky, the good certainly outweighs the bad, missing family and friends, being away from home and living out of a suitcase, it’s pretty easy to put up with that when you get to play, in case we’re very lucky we get to play to great audiences every night of the week, all over the world, so no complaints.

BC: Your live show is renowned for being something special, is it as spontaneous as it appears or do you all sit down and plan it all?

Scotty: There’s a little bit of spontaneity in every show, we’ve stuck to a fairly similar set over the years because we always like to play all the crowd favourites and that sort of stuff most of the time, but we always try to organise bits in the middle of some songs where we can kind of let the train go off of the rails for a while. We kind of know where it’s going to start and where it’s going to finish but whatever happens in between is a bit of a mystery each night, saying that we do tend to form habits in those mysterious bits too. When you are halfway through a tour you learn what works and what doesn’t and what you can get away with improvising too. Sometimes we take the risk of doing something we’ve never done before, sometimes it can go out of the window and be really shit or it can come together and sound really good. That’s what people like to see because that’s what live music is all about.

Andy: It’s totally spontaneous in terms of what happens on the night, we go out the same way every night, then something special will happen and that will kind of kick things off and we’ll go from there, sometimes it takes two or three songs for something to happen, sometimes it happens straight away and sometimes it doesn’t happen at all, we like to keep things a little bit spontaneous in the sense that Chris will play a widdledee diddledee guitar solo that kind of spurs something else on that turns into some adlib jamming that comes from that sound.

BC: Come on Scott, own up, have you ever fallen off of the bass?

Scotty: Not too dramatically, Chris fell of it more dramatically than I have ever done when we were 18 or something, it was one of our first pub gigs, Chris climbs up on it to play a guitar solo (laughs) and slips off and falls on his arse, onto the bass, on top of me and kicked the bridge out of the bass. We had to stop the gig because we ended up in a massive pile on the floor. We thought ‘Oh no, we’re never ever going to get a gig ever again, this is horrible’, not really all that dramatic but was one of our first gigs, but was pretty God damn embarrassing especially as all our mates were there too, na actually it was fuckin’ funny. So I’ll just hang shit on Chris for doing it rather than admitting to doing it myself!

BC: Still on the gig front, but we’re going to have a bit of fun here, if you could name a line-up of bands living or dead who you could play on a bill with, who would they be?

Scotty: The Stray Cats, but the early 80’s Stray Cats, not the current Stray Cats, I’d have to add to that an old Aussie band from the 80s called Midnight Oil, they’re favourites of mine, a band that I grew up with, I was only a young teenager back then, I’d love to play with them, and finally Queens of the Stone Age, they are about my favourite live band at the moment, I’ve seen them a few times over the years and they always get me going.

Andy: Bloody Hell, I could go on for hours, Queens Of The Stone Age are always a band that I enjoy seeing, they are one of those bands that inspire the shit out of me, Led Zeppelin, I know The Police are touring now, but I’d like to have played with them back in their day, can I have another? I’d like Madness on the bill too.

The Living End are on tour in the UK now. State of Emergency is out now on Deck Cheese Records.

© Simon Nott
 

20th December

Not really a blog but a collection of my reviews mostly seen in Big Cheese. Thanks to bands, record and PR companies that kept this great stuff pouring through my letterbox and into my appreciative ears in 2007, please keep it up in 2008. Here’s to it… Viva la Rock! Simon 20/12/07

THE FRANTIC FLINTSTONES

‘20^th Anniversary Album’

(Cherry Red)

After ingesting this aural amphetamine with a hash chaser you may wanna call Frank.

4 ½ /5

Twenty tracks spanning the 20 year history of The Frantic Flintstones who remain without a doubt one of the best loved psychobilly bands still to grace a stage. The tracks were chosen by front man Chuck Harvey himself and really do show the huge range in styles FF have dabbled with in their career. Great sleeve notes by Alan Wilson (Chuck’s a loveable rouge for sure) The early stuff is as near to aural amphetamine as you will ever get, you can almost feel those fuckers shaking while they put down this stuff. It doesn’t take long to veer, ‘Frantic’ is a cover of  ‘Madness’ and ‘Blue Christmas’ is filth, ‘Dog Rip’ and ‘Bone Rest’ are the stuff nightmares are made of, ‘Chilled Bones’ ‘Billy Overdose’ and ‘Speed Kills’ aren’t drug abuse warnings they just rock like crazy and it’s not hard to guess why. ‘Enjoy Yourself’ and ‘Drugged Up Junk’ are reggae influenced while ‘Head’s Messed Up’ veers toward psychedelic then a cover of ‘Bankrobber’ works well too. There are plenty of classic FF tracks missing from here, but if you’re new to them, this is where you choose which era is for just you, just remember the FF accept no liability for brain damage. Catch ‘em at The Speedfreaks Ball.

Simon Nott

THE MONSTERS

‘The Worst of Garage Punk’

(Voodoo Rhythm)

20 years of fuzzed out twin drummed No-Fi

3/5

The Monsters are a cult band, revered the world over by Garage Punk Trash fans everywhere. If that’s your bag then there’s more here to keep you happy, to nick a phrase from an old Hazel Adkins album, this is recorded in gravelophonic and is probably best listened to with your head in a bucket, preferably tin. That doesn’t mean it’s not good or even unlistenable you are just warned. This double CD spans The Monsters from the 80s in their rehearsal rooms thru rare singles to recent live recordings made in CBGBs, (see I told you they were hip). The vast majority of this is live and does capture the energy of Beat-Man and his cohorts, it’s wild it’s distorted and it’s bloody exciting, but really unless you are the biggest diehard fan of these mad men you could probably do without a good few of these tracks, trouble is the great stuff is there too and you just have to find it. Interviews from places like Japan make it interesting, so there you go, fucked up and educational. Cool

Simon Nott

VINCE RAY

‘Boneshaker Baby’

(Raucous)

And thee incredible feat of rockabilly voodoo

4/5

The Vince who’s art adorns T shirts, record covers, walls and skin the world over is back to bother your ears. This time he lets loose with full on voodoo rockabilly abandon, this where Vince Ray seems most at home. This platter is really a split release, the first nine tracks Vince is part of a basic trio and is howling the vocals and getting some really nasty, in the rockabilly goodness sense of the word, tunes out of his battered Gretsch, the rhythm section includes Little Man Kurt from the Grit on slappin’ bass who pile drives things along . The material is nothing new but delivered in a style all Vince’s own and just oozes all the good things rockabilly should be about, sex, drugs, booze and fast motors. The last eight of the 17 tracks are out and out rockabilly from Vern Vain & the Blue Vains (with a name like that how can you fail) Vince takes the guitar duties and fuck he can twang it while Vern croons songs about bartenders, poker and hillbilly hellcats, seriously what more could you want?

Simon Nott

TIGER ARMY

‘Music From Regions Beyond’

(Hellcat)

Where was I? Oh yes, that’s a good place to start…

4/5

The Tiger Army line-up has had a shake up since the last album, Nick 13 recruited a powerhouse rhythm section with Jeff Roffredo on Slap Bass and James Meza on drums from The Rezurex. It might have been all change in the line-up but in this album Nick 13 carries on here from where he left off. It’s an atmospheric collection of tunes that meander along the dark hinterland he’s created on a often poetic journey that soon gives the feeling of  déjà vu in the places he’s leading you. The songs veer from the powerful chant driven ‘Hotprowl’ to the extremely infectious and radio friendly ‘Forever Fades Away’, placed side by side in the track list to maybe highlight the contrast, through to the Tex Mex feel (maybe a small Rezurex influence creeping in there) of ‘Hechizo de Amor’. Tiger Army is Nick 13 who has created his own brand from the ashes of what was original loosely labelled ‘American Psychobilly’, though there is no need to genre tag this band they cut the strings long ago to a moniker that would have weighed them down like a millstone, there are little flashes of their origins, notably the slap bass intro on ‘Ghosts Of Memory’, and the intro itself but while the power undoubtedly remains throughout it’s slightly muted.  This is essentially more of the same from Nick 13, except it’s the newer improved version with supercharged if slightly underused engine.

Simon Nott.

BRIGITTE HANDLEY

‘Identity’

(Dark Shadow)

Sleeping with a Vampyre, oh Brigitte I thought you’d never ask….

4/5

I love Brigitte Handley, I’ve never met her or even seen her perform but this mini-album contains all things that are great about rock n roll from the dark side. The attitude and the smouldering looks are nothing without great tunes, the Brigitte Handley trio have it all in the chalice load. ‘Sleeping with a Vampyre’ is a track so full of silky smooth atmosphere pumped along with a rhythm that it’s almost pervy in its perfection it’s nearly impossible to reset the repeat button, but if you can drag yourself away you’ll be glad you did, the other tracks are also excellent, self penned and diverse. Essential Antipodean rockin’ that it would be a crime not to track down.

Simon Nott

CHIP HANNA & THE BERLIN THREE

‘Chip Hanna & The Berlin Three

(People Like You)

Rockin’ and folksy American roots from Ex One Man Army Chip.

4/5

Chip Hanna used to drum for One Man Army, to my ears there was always a hint of rockabilly about that band and now they are defunct Chip has let loose with this cracking rockabilly cum country folk workout. It was recorded in 24 hours in basement and that really shines through in the best possible way. Listening to this is like wandering into a bar hosting an open mike night when some guys get together, they really hit and sparks fly. The musicians in this case could hardly be better picked for the job, Andy, Tex and Valle from German Psychobilly wild men Mad Sin, so this is the sound of all four guys having a no holds barred spontaneous return to their rockin’ roots and don’t they just love it, it’s there for all to hear, fantastic.

Simon Nott

THE HYPERJAX

‘The Bottom Line’

(Raucous)

Play it again Sam

4/5

A cracking new album from The Hyperjax, these guys have always been at their very best when blasting their brand of Punkabilly out live on stage. They go a long way to recreating that live energy here. It seems to have been a bit of a journey from being recorded to release but its well worth the wait. Sam Woods is a talented song writer and his band is more than able to do his lyrics justice. The music itself is urgent in delivery, catchy and bounces along all accentuated by the ‘woah’ backing vocals that are more akin to someone on a rollercoaster and loving it than wanting it to stop, which is just as well, because they are often a cue for one of many hugely impressive ripping guitar solos that just turn things up a notch.

Simon Nott

THE METEORS

‘Hymns for the Hellbound’

(People Like You)

Pure Psychobilly with rockabilly and venom is equal measure.

4 ½ /5

P Paul Fenech has been quoted saying that Pure Psychobilly has to have some rockabilly in it, well this has plenty but it’s still as venomous and dangerous as ever even though the less sinister country cousin of the unhealthiest genre in rock n roll has been given more of a look in. Of course as is often the case in the best films the quiet unassuming fella in the corner often turns out to be the most psychotic of the lot. Simon Linden’s slap bass skills are well to the fore and give a more rockabilly feel as does the inclusion of banjo in the mix. Paul Fenech has really let loose with some finger stinging rockabilly twang drenched solos as well as the darker heavier more ominous riffs which have been a more recent trademark, add to those the nasty lyrics you would expect alongside some wicked humour and you have a classic Meteors album. They always maintain the newest is always the best, this time they could just be right.

Simon Nott

THE NEKROMANTIX

‘Life is a Grave and I Dig It’

(Hellcat)

And the winner for the best titled album of the decade is……

4 ½ /5

The Nekromantix have gone through a line-up change since their last album and this is one that has brought a new dimension to the band from Denmark with the big coffin shaped clickity clickity violin. Troy Russel, newly christened, though I’m not sure that’s the right word, Troy Destroy has been drafted in from the hugely talented Rezurex to take over on guitar from long time axe man Pete 1. Instead of trying to emulate Pete’s distinctive style Troy has added a whole new panache to the Nekromantix sound. The familiar elements that make whoever is backing up Kim Nekroman at the time sound like the Nekromantix, super speed hammer bass, clever lyrics, huge choruses and dark humour are all there but all this is elevated head and shoulders above what has come previously by some guitar playing that is nothing short of jaw dropping.

Simon Nott

VARIOUS ARTISTS

‘Muh to the Muh – A Tribute to the Frantic Flintstones’

(Red Five)

A worldwide tribute to the Tripabilly Whizz Kids, hip hip yeah!

4/5

It is praise indeed that when Red Five put the word out that they were planning to put together a tribute album to veteran drug abusing Psychobilly mad fuckers The Frantic Flintstones there were more bands wanting to contribute than there were slots available. Bands who’s versions of Frantic Flintstone classics did make it on here hail from the World over, Russia, Brazil, Germany and the USA to name but a few. Some have made an effort to record a new take on the song while others try to recreate the FF vibe, which ever way the contributors have chosen to go the result is one hell of a rockin’ album and a real tribute to the band that have become an underground legend. Fittingly the Frantic Flintstones start and finish the album with a reworked version of ‘Champagne For All’ and the particularly unpleasant ‘Strangulation’ which, great cover versions aside, are worth the cost alone.

Simon Nott

VARIOUS ARTISTS

‘Psycho Killers’ 4/5

‘Rockin’ at the Take Two – Vols 1&2 3/5

(Anagram)

A brace of Psychobilly compilations from Anagram.

Psycho Killers is a 25 track comp spanning three decades of Psychobilly and the whole spectrum of styles within the genre from classic stuff from The Meteors, Demented Are Go and The Sharks to new heavy brutality from Neck-Valve. One particularly nasty song is sung by no less than Gaz Day of Morrissey’s band, heaven knows what Mozzer would make of it, so needless to say it’s great! The ‘Rockin’ at the Take Two’ comp features live performances from the great, the good and the not so good of the Psychobilly scene in 1989. These albums were originally released on Link Records and have been long deleted. The performances are hit and miss but if you want to hear what the likes of Demented Are Go sounded like complete with electric fiddler back in the day this is for you and with 30 tracks you can’t really go wrong.

Simon Nott

SPELLBOUND

‘ELEVEN DEADLY SINS’

(Spellbound)

Quite simply the best rockin band in Ireland today.

4 ½ /5

This kicks off with a vocal intro lifted from the 1956 film ‘Rock Rock Rock’ and was originally used to introduce one of the greatest rockabilly cats of the time, Johnny Burnette, the best compliment I can give Spellbound is that had the cat in question not drowned in the 1960s he’d be stomping in appreciation that it had been used in this platter. There is everything a fan of the neo rockabilly/ psycho genre could ask for and more, a bass slapped to with-in an inch of its sorry life, wicked guitar licks and superb vocals. Most of the songs are self penned but also include a couple of covers including a great version of the 1977 Boomtown Rats classic ‘She’s So Modern’. Stand out track is ‘Fool’s Gold’ but the whole album rocks so hard you might lose your fillings. Made in Ireland by Psychos it says on the cover, all hail to that.

Simon Nott

BAMBOULA

‘Guilty Pleasures’

(Kaiser)

Do the voodoo, faster, faster, that’s it.

4 ½ /5

It’s not often you get a band named so well to suit their music. Bamboula play old school Psychobilly, that is high speed slap bass driven rockabilly with more than a hint of good ole Voodoo in their bones and if the word Psychobilly hadn’t been hijacked to encompass a whole host of musical sins, the word Bamboula would fit just nicely. This platter doesn’t really let up as it runs through the whole gamut of sounds that you chuck into the pot to get this sort of music. It has to be said that they wear their influences on their sleeves, anyone with a knowledge of past Psychobilly classics would pick up a hint here or there but they also add their own stamp to what is essentially a 2007 rework of a sound that wouldn’t have been out of place on the 1983 Blood on the Cats compilation, and that I would imagine is praise indeed.

Simon Nott

BANG BANG BAZOOKA

‘Hell Yeah’

(Crazy Love)

Bang bang on that big bad bass.

4/5

The long awaited return of Bang Bang Bazooka doesn’t disappoint, their trademark thumping double bass style really does bounce along like for the want of a better metaphor, a runaway train, but that is the best way to describe this album. This is Neo-Rockabilly like it was supposed to be, rhythmic and relentless punctuated by some serious rockin’ guitar and woven together by the sort of throwaway lyrics that are just the ticket, who wants to be listen to serious shit when you’re bopping like an idiot, there are also a couple of bluesy tracks, for when the boppers have run out of steam, mustn’t forget the roots or train puns. Great Stuff.

Simon Nott

More to follow shortly……

27th November

It’s been a real mixture of racing and rock n roll of late. I made the trip up to Hemsby for the 3rd Speedfreak’s Ball a couple of weeks back. That’s a far old drive from Devon I can tell you but well worth it. I have to say it is a near perfect event. Ok if you are a purist in any type of the music on offer there’s never going to be enough of your particular thing but the mix seems to work for most people and certainly for me. I had the honour of writing the welcome note in the timetable, thanks for asking Mick. There were too many highlights to pick from, but as usual it was mainly meeting up with old mates. Of course that resulted in probably drinking a bit too much, but a weekender for me is an opportunity to let my hair down so I did. Mind you I was in good company, when I met Henry and the Bleeders bass player he was wedged into a dustbin, they still managed to play a blinding set to a bunch of people suffering the hangovers from hell on the Sunday lunchtime. I didn’t see Frenzy but heard that they were great even though Steve still did the woooaaahs that I hate, ha ha. I was very happy to find Carew and Theo of Long Tall Texans fame at the bar and Chuck Flintstone in the tattoo parlour getting a rather nifty looking rose inked into his neck. Talking of the Flintstones, they put on a great show, nice to see Thomas back slapping the bass too. Mad Sin were also as awesome live as ever, they are the showmen of Psychobilly for sure. I have to do a bit of trumpet blowing here, they had a huge stall with a lot of stuff advertising the new album ’20 Years in Sin Sin’ – well I wrote the advertising blurb, there’s no mention of me but I did – honest. Another band who kicked serious arse were The Grit, they take no prisoners with their live show, excellent stuff proper rockers make no mistake. Talking of mistakes, I made one, drunk enough to think joining in the wrecking when The Flintstones hit the stage, that was the cue for me to hit the floor on several occasions. True my fellow wreckers picked me up again, and again and again! When will I ever learn. The drive home was painful, fuelled by Red Bull and took nearly seven hours, but worth it.

The following weekend sort of sums up the contrast in my life, The Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham, three days of some excellent racing with plenty of ups and downs. One of the ups was backing the winner of the big race, once again on the recommendation of genius tipster Andrew Mount over at Trend Horses www.trendhorses.co.uk  but was really marred by the death of the favourite Granit Jack who in all honesty looked all over the winner when he came down. Sunday was a nightmare, the weather was atrocious, so bad that most layers legged it well before the concluding bumper was abandoned. I can say I have never been so cold and wet and downright miserable at the races ever. Luckily we did get on Kalca Mome at 3/1, his win was the signal for us to get the hell out of there. Apparently the TV cameras picked up on Joe and I struggling to carry the gear into some sort of shelter before taking it apart. We certainly earned our money that day. I covered the whole weekend for the Racing Post Weekender, it’s always a buzz to be published in there, I remember buying the first issue back in 1983 I think it was.

Last week was quiet, just short trips to Exeter, Wincanton and a longer one to Ascot and nothing musical at all apart from listening to it of course which I do at every opportunity.

I’ve just finished listening to Mike Davies on Radio One, that show just gets better and better. This week included a documentary feature on The Gallows, one of the bands I only discovered early this year, still better late than never. The show is so good that there’s always loads of new stuff like I like every week plus the odd smattering of tunes you never thought you’d hear on Radio One. This week for example he played Demented Are Go’s ‘PVC Chair’. Talking of Demented Are Go, today I’m writing the sleeve notes for a Cherry Red re-issue of their totally warped offering ‘The Day The Earth Spat Blood’, that’s another buzz, writing sleeve notes for albums I bought years back. I’m going to be at my overblown best for that little beauty if I’m going to do the twisted songs contained within justice.

Before I go, and assuming somebody actually reads this, I’ve heard some great bands recently. Some very new, some not so new but here’s three to watch. I just had the privilege of hearing the new album by The Scourge Of River City, it will be out early next year on Cherry Bomb Recordings and is impressive. Not only is it impressive but also original. What they have come up with has the potential to launch those guys and the label right out there. I’m not going to describe it and give anyone false preconceptions but just say it’s my tip for 2008 glory. www.myspace.com/thescourgeofrivercity Another band I’ve been excited about are The Valentine Villains, www.myspace.com/thevalentinevillains they are from Bristol and are fronted by the lovely Lula. They play Psychobilly/Punk and have a style of their own while not really doing anything new but what they do is with panache. They are on the latest Cherry Red DVD ‘Psychobilly/Rockabilly Mayhem, if like me you’ve not seen them live you will want to check that out then you’ll (like me) be itching to catch them live. Just last night I heard a track by an Exeter band called The Computers, www.myspace.com/thecomputersfromexeter Punk and a whole load of other stuff going on there. I want to hear more.

Right, I’m off to write these sleeve notes.

Si
 

2nd November

Well...... a good start to many a rockin’ track so good enough for a blog that is long overdue. What has happened since all the excitement of Reading etc? For anyone that’s hoping to hear stories of rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the punk and rock scene there’s none of that I’m afraid. I have been doing my column and reviews for Big Cheese but have been a little redundant in that respect. Tales of the Turf take the limelight if you can call it that this time. We had a lot of excitement at Cheltenham two Saturdays ago. We had a crack at the massive Scoop 6 roll-over, when I say ’we’, the syndicate headed by my mate and one of the best judges of horse racing form in the country, Andrew Mount. www.trendhorses.co.uk There we plenty of people prepared to chip in, stakes ranging from a tenner to plenty more than that gave Andrew a fair crack of the whip. To cut a long story short, our six horses kicked off with Miss Lucifer winning at 20/1 though Andrew's Trend Horses clients, myself included were on in the morning at 33/1. Her victory knocked out many of the tickets that made up the £1.6m (yes that's MILLION ) pot, the next four winners followed so going into the last 35 runner race we had five tickets still running, at the furlong pole one of our horses was in front and he got us the lot. Sadly it was not to be, we were run out of it but did finish third, fourth and fifth, the winner, Legspinner was the only selection of another syndicate who copped the pot. Sadly for them they didn't select the winner of the bonus race the following week so there is still a cool £1M up for grabs so we are going to have another crack at it. As our horse looked be sitting pretty two old I told the boss that he could well be short of a worker for the best part of January as I'd be in Australia. Luckily he was in it too so didn't seem to mind but Exeter in horizontal hail looks more likely, but you can never write off Mr Mount so I've sent my passport off for renewal just in case.
Other turf news, I managed to get a stable visit with Philip Hobbs that appeared in the latest Racing Ahead. I was made very welcome and gave me a good a buzz watching those top class National Hunt horses galloping up the, well, gallops.
Also still in the rich vein of turf talk, I have been taken on as a freelancer for Turf TV, behind the scenes and not in front of camera I'm sure any of you who have seen me in the flesh are happy to learn. That won't really kick off until New Year and that will depend on how often they need me but it's an extra string to my bow.
Music has not been forgotten, as if. The trouble is juggling everything about around the racing work which pays and the music which is pretty much for pleasure. There's a real bit of juggling going on next week. Saturday afternoon I'll be at Wincanton races, then it will be a quick dash to the car and off to Great Yarmouth for The Speedfreak's Ball, hopefully in time to see Mad Sin and definitely The Frantic Flintstones (should be anyway, they are on Sunday!) I was very pleased when organiser of the Ball and very good egg Mick Geary asked me to write an intro in the program, which of course I did. It will be nice to have a bit of a Psychobilly Weekend, even if it will only be a day and a couple of nights, still I'm not getting any younger. I've been asked to do some sleeve notes for a re-issue of The Deltas 'Tougher Than Tough' on Anagram, I'm always well pleased to get them to do. I'd forgotten how good that album was.
Funny the Internet age isn't it? On-line mates are real mates even though you've never met face to face. This weekend one of them became a face to face mate. I was invited to Roscrea County Tipperary, Ireland to Sean O'Sullivan and Tracie Lynn's wedding. I didn't know a soul there but was embraced by all it nearly brought a lump to my throat, talk about an Irish welcome. I met some lovely people and had a great, if maybe just a little too Guinness fuelled, time. Thanks everyone. I'm now preparing myself for some very embarrassing video clips and photos of this old bopping machine.... 'till next time. x
 

1st September

It's been a while since I've done one of these, mainly because it's been a busy old time. Firstly, The Living End have been over here, my favourite band in case anyone didn't know. After spending a week on the bus with them last year as well as sharing a beer or two I like to think of them of pals these days but you'd have to ask them. Anyway, being self employed and the master of my own destiny, unless of course you take in to account indifferent rides by certain jockeys, I have to juggle racing with pleasure. With that in mind the only club gig of TLE I could attend without missing work was the one in Manchester. Having never been there I decided that was the plan, go up on the train on the Monday, back in time for Newton Abbot on Tuesday and Wednesday. Racing business done I'd be back up to London on Thursday morning to sit on the planned Radio One session for Mike Davies (Radio One's premier Punk DJ, listen on-line). That done it was then off to Reading Festival.

Well that was the plan. All started well, I made it up to Manchester on a very nice Virgin Train where I even managed to do some research on a few horses with form trends for my mate Andrew Mount. When I arrived I waited at the station for the lovely Yvonne who had travelled all the way from Germany.

Once in the hotel I decided to try and track down the venue and the band. The venue was soon found, as was the tour bus. The bus was the shock, it didn't really look as if it was one hired by international rock stars, rather it was draped in laundry. Drummer Andy came out and informed me that Qantas had lost all of the band's luggage so were having to wash their stuff and dry it by hanging their boxers on the wing mirrors of the bus.

Scotty (bass) and Jim (sound-man) returned shortly after and we all had a bit of a catch-up. Bad news was to follow, Chris Cheney (best guitarist in the world - probably) had picked up an eye infection, he hoped to be able to play after spending the afternoon being treated in hospital but was in a lot of pain and resting his eyes in the bus. I left the guys to it and went back to the hotel.

Yvonne and I returned to the venue and sat in the pub opposite and watched more and more people arrive. Half way through some grub something weird happened, everyone left. I scampered across the road, still chewing on some pie or other only to find the gig had been cancelled. Gutted we both wandered over to the bus where Scotty and Andy, who were both totally despondent too explained that Chris's eyes had gotten worse and had rendered him virtually blind as well as causing him a lot of pain.

There were people who had traveled a long way, including a girl from Holland, another of Switzerland as well as people from far and wide and of course my pink haired mate Yvonne from Germany. Everyone was cheesed off, but it was obvious that things couldn't be helped. We stood around by the bus as the crew packed up the gear Andy and Scotty came out and gave us beer, gentlemen. The night wasn't a total loss, band (minus Chris) and crew all disembarked to the pub for a couple of pints with a few of us before setting off to London on the tour bus.

I had to catch the train back to Devon at 9.30am so got up early and was just munching on breakfast when I got the message, Newton Abbot was off. Which of course meant that I could now attend the London gig at Camden's Electric Ballroom, if, of course, Chris was well enough. I had no choice but to head back to Devon with back to London the plan if the gig was given the green light. Four and a half hours later I was back at Tiverton Parkway, only to get the call, Chris was well enough, the gig was on. Off at one side of the platform and almost straight back on the other.

By the time I got to Paddington I'd had just about enough of trains, but all in a good cause. By the time I got to Camden there was already a healthy crowd gathered outside The Ballroom, with Yvonne right at the front, she really is number one fan. I decided to wander up to the Elephant's Head and see if anyone was there. As I strode up towards the Rockabilly hangout I felt a tap on my shoulder and was delighted to see that it was Scotty, who had sprinted in a pair of brand new creepers (try that) to catch me, and press person extraordinaire Emma. They were off to eat and invited me to join them which of course I did, I now know a great place to eat in Camden, but can't spell it!

Anyway, this is waffle waffle, the gig, well I've seen The Living End a lot of times and each time I probably say it, but at Camden's Electric Ballroom on Tuesday 21st of August they were the best I've ever seen them. Fantastic performance by world class showmen that left everyone that was there in awe. At least the ones I talked to, over a 1000 people which if they weren't before were fans after.

The gig was great but that's when the fun began, for the second time in a week I was lucky enough to have a few after show beers with the band (once again minus Chris) this time at Bar Monsta.

All was going well until for various reasons the two persons who shall remain nameless, that had put offered to put me up, left. All was fine until it was time for me to bid farewell to band and crew, and it dawned on me, I was suddenly all on my own in Camden Town at 3am. Even worse, my phone battery had died so had no way of contacting my many mates that live in the evil city. The plan was to get the night bus and head to Paddington Station where I would search for a comfy bench to call bed for the night. The problem was, there are a huge number of lowlife that wander Camden at night and I don't mind saying it's a bit hair-raising. I like to think I'm pretty fit and could give an attacking drug addict a run for his money but when they come out of the shadows from all sides like something from a Zombie film hands outstretched asking for money you feel a little outnumbered.

The zombies stood between me and the bus so I decided to hail a taxi, in fact several, the trouble was they didn't want to stop. Stopping seemed to be the last thing on their mind as the sped past me and my shambling stalkers 'for hire' lights still shining brightly.

This was getting a bit serious, so there was nothing for it, hang around with a load of Underground workers up at Camden Station, and that's what I did, just sort of hung around until light. It still didn't stop the stalkers coming up asking for money. One was even quite polite " Hi mate, my mum always told me honesty is the best policy, I'm a drug addict and I need money for some scag, £2 would go toward it, but a fiver would be better"

By the time I was safely on my seat on the train back to green and lovely Devon I was knackered and very happy to be there. I don't know if you've ever heard 'Collar Up In Camden Town' by The Hitchers, but I hummed it a lot that night.

Newton Abbot was on and I was back in my 'other' life taking bets on horses in sunny Devon.

I was glad to get to bed that night (the planned trip back to London was off. The Living End, great credit to them, did the unthinkable and cancelled the Radio One session to reschedule the Manchester gig) I thought how lucky I am to live in Devon and felt for that polite junkie. I'm sure when his mum gave him that advice she never wished such an existence for him. What a life for him too, yep sometimes you don't know how lucky you are when the worst thing that happens all day is your horse getting chinned on the line.

All the best.

PS: Anagram/Cherry Red have just re-issued the two classic Demented Are Go albums 'In Sickness and in Health' and 'Kicked Out Of Hell' I've written the sleeve notes. I'm quite pleased with them but they are just my opinions of the albums and not historical fact as I had no input from members of the band. Feedback welcomed (don't leave them where kids can read though as they are written in a way that compliments the style of the album ;-))

Previously

What's it all about eh? In April I got sunburned on Croyde Bay and haven't really had the chance to go back since. There have been 8 Worcester race meetings in a row rained off, though rained off is a little misleading, the place is underwater. I've lost more work through the weather than I have the last two winters. At least the floods that have put 1000's of people in the UK out of home haven't affected Tiverton, but thoughts go out to those whose lives, at least in the short term, have been ruined. Chances of my place flooding are slim being first floor, the bigger worry is paying for it while the racecourses are only fit for swimming. Anyway, not to worry it will all be a memory when when the powers that be announce a hosepipe band after two and a half continuous days of sunshine in the second week of August.

On the music front it's all about looking forward to stuff and back at others while we tread water, excuse the poor taste pun, waiting for Reading. The Living End will be playing Mike Davies's Lock-Up stage along with a host of other great bands including The Grit and The Dwarves, if I manage to squeeze into that tent I doubt I'll leave. The latest Big Cheese is out and what a cracker it is, a free CD, loads of Punk features and my little interviews, well worth checking out. Plug Plug.

Talking of plugs, Racing Ahead is out too, I've interviewed Nick Williams, genius of George Nympton, in there. Doubt if many of you get Big Cheese and Racing Ahead but there should be something to interest most tastes between the two!

I've taken delivery of a handful of books, The Un-Signed Guide, The Business of Music and The Billboard Guide to Music Publicity, I'm just starting to gen up on it all with a view to doing some promotional work in the future. Watch this space, now I'm off to watch the weather forecast to see if I'll be gracing the (sodden) turf any time soon. Feel free to comment.

17th July

Well a great time was had by all in Calella, what a fantastic festival, great weather, great people, great bands and best of all an atmosphere that can't be beat, everyone happy and having fun without all the macho bullshit that dominates some festivals of the ilk. Bands of the weekend? Well that's difficult because none of them were bad. The most surprising band performance for me was Frenzy, they were terrific, Steve Whitehouse didn't stop smiling the whole way through it and did the gamut of Frenzy old favourites that had what is reported to be the biggest crowd of the weekend going ballistic. The one thing that spoilt it a bit was all those bloody wooaahs and maybe one too many solo (gotta bring you down to earth just a bit Steve) but it pisses me off no end when Green Day do that too, so you're in good company Mr Whitehouse. Mad Sin put in a theatrical show as is their trademark these days, great stuff, I dunno how Koefte manages to party all week then still put on a great show, or maybe it's because of. The Meteors, well what can you say, Paul Fenech looks like he's more deranged than ever which only makes for a wilder and more unhinged performance that I loved, as it seems did almost everyone else. Zombie Ghost Train were also great on the first night. My personal favourites were The Fireballs, ok not the original line-up but Eddie and Joey plus two great guys on guitar to make up for Matt not being there (praise indeed eh Matt?) Levi Dexter is a guy I've been hoping to see since I bought 'Get So Excited' when I was a nipper, I finally managed it and he was great, I want to be as young as him when I'm 50, The Caravans were superb backing him up, as you would expect. The Termites were also excellent and the addition of Jonny Fiddles brought a new edge to them, can't wait for their new stuff to come out, Teo performing minus chest hair was a nice touch too, his playing not the hair bit, though he is a brave man! A magic week that I won't miss again if I can help it, top company too, you all know who you are. Well, I'm back and need to get some racing under my belt, after all I am a Gentleman of the Turf as well as an international playboy! Oh one thing that spoilt Calella just a little, I was in a top floor room with a balcony, and I hate heights, I kept dreaming I was going to jump off it in my sleep, hence not much sleep! Ha ha what a wally. The Living End are coming next month and to whet the appetite I did an interview with Scotty and Andy which will be in the next Big Cheese, as long as my interview with Nick 13, issue out soon. The business of racing started again at Chepstow on Friday night, well what can I say about the place? I hate betting there on a Friday night, the course appear to want to fill the place with drunks and then make it hard for them to not get even drunker as the night goes on. We are told not to take bets from drunks, what are you supposed to do when the vast majority are? To make things worse, two races had late non runners resulting in 'rule 4' deductions, just what you don't need, trying to explain to a drunken aggressive lunkhead that you are going to deduct 5p in the pound from his winnings, hardly the racecourse's fault but the state of their customers is, nowhere else compares to it in that respect. One guy working with us declared he had to use the gents, we were horrified, but not as horrified as he was by the time he returned, no that's right, he'd never been to Chepstow on a Friday evening meeting before! Salisbury on Saturday night and Stratford on Sunday were a pleasure, even though it messes no end with your social life all these evenings at weekends. Newton Abbot was packed, and it was Monday, which reminds me, I'd better go and write it up for the Mid-Devon Gazette, it's be so long since I've done a report from my favourite racecourse (due to water logging abandonments) they'll think I've retired. No more racing until Friday now, Worcester is off on Wednesday (dead fish on the course I'm told!) Croyde Bay would beckon had the weather been nice, but as it's raining as I type, it's writing mode until the sun comes out, which is probably more productive, but less fun! Bye for now.

2nd July 2007

Since I last wrote my blog, Royal Ascot has come and gone, the wheels came off of the punting gravy train in what can only be described as ' a character building' week as far that goes. Let's just say that everything that could go wrong pretty much did, on the plus side, the betting account is still open when the white flag looked soon to be waved. On my return from Berkshire I had to quickly scribble down my account of the week for the Racing Post Weekender, published the following Wednesday.

On Sunday, Andrew Mount and I went to visit Nick Williams's yard where we were shown around with a group of owners. We did go for a brisk walk up the new partially finished 6f gallop, where I learned that my old mate 'Armaloft' Alex does not stay the trip, at least uphill. Mounty didn't fare so bad but was still blowing, I seemed super fit in comparison, which pleased me no end and made up for both of them being able to afford a horse whereas I'm not quite so minted. I have written that visit up since for the next Westcountry Wire column in Racing Ahead.

Rain stopped play, or should I say work, when Monday's meeting at Chepstow was waterlogged. A similar fate befell Newton Abbot on Tuesday so we set off to Newbury instead, followed by Salisbury on Wednesday but since then racing for us has been a washout but I had time to cover both meetings in the forthcoming 'Tales from the betting ring' also for Racing Ahead.

I had another writing task on Friday, but it was one that I relished, interviewing, sadly only on the phone, Scotty and Andy, bass and drums respectively, of The Living End. I had the pleasure of touring with those guys this forthcoming week last year on The Vans Warped Tour. I also hooked up with them after the Exeter gig where they were 'supporting' Less Than Jake and the Dropkick Murphys late last year. It was great to talk to them again. The interview will being going into the next issue of Big Cheese to help promote the forthcoming release of 'State of Emergency' on Deck Cheese Records, here in the UK. For those who don't know, that album went straight into the Australian album charts at number 1 and is something special and I really hope it does as well as it deserves to over here.

I have spent this morning reviewing CDs for Big Cheese, some of it good, some of it not so good but I always enjoy hearing new stuff. Today I discovered a band called The Hentchmen, great stuff, sort of 60s garage inspired mayhem.

The reviews finished, my varied writing tasks for the week have been completed and it's time for some fun in the sun. Tomorrow morning, 3rd, I'm off to Calella in Spain for their annual Psychobilly festival, I've never been before and I'm looking forward to it. Great bands including The Meteors, Mad Sin and The Fireballs are playing, plus loads more.

They tell me that it is something called 'sunny' in Spain, I'm looking forward to finding out what that is, I suppose that at least means the rain will be warm.

19th June. From Demented Are Go to Royal Ascot.

It's been really busy on the racing front with hardly any time off for letting the old hair down with weekend and evening racing the norm at the moment playing havoc with any ideas like that. At least I love my job and one of the best weeks of the year is upon us, Royal Ascot. On one hand it is fantastic to see top class racing and the colour and pomp of the whole event but on the other it's hard work. Plenty of business but mainly with punters who have little or no idea how to have a bet or know that £2 each-way is £4, once you get going it's non-stop all afternoon and by the last race you are glad it's over, but there are plenty of laughs to be had if you put your mind to it. Hopefully I'll be backing a few winners but if I do it will not be down to any skill on my part, I'll be following my pal Andy's selections, as I type he's no doubt got his head buried in Raceform sorting out a bet or too. www.trendhorses.co.uk  I will be writing the weeks racing up for next Wednesday's Racing Post Weekender, my brief is only 1400 words so it's going to be a challenge in itself to cover a week of top class racing and make it entertaining in around 50 words a race but I'm sure I'll manage it. Before heading off to Ascot I've been writing up some sleeve notes for the forthcoming repackaging of the two classic Demented Are Go albums, 'In Sickness And In Health' and 'Kicked Out Of Hell'. I was hoping to get hold of some band members to help me out but they seem to have gone into hiding. As my deadline was today I've opted for a description and influence approach and I'm quite happy with what I've come up with, but have had a sleepless night or two stressing about it. I never thought when I bought those albums in that little  long gone record shop by the bus depot in Exeter back in the 1980s that I'd be one day writing sleeve notes for them, I'm very pleased to have been able to do so and hope I've done them justice. If my mum's reading this, don't rush out and by either album neither will be up your street and if listened to will probably give you sleepless nights too, for all the wrong reasons! As mentioned at the start of this little blog there's been not fun of late, apart from that had at work, but that is all to change, I'm treating myself to some time away, Spain to be exact, the Calella Psychobilly Festival to be more exact. I've never been before but will be writing a review for Big Cheese and generally having fun with friends old and new for six glorious days in the sun and nights seeing bands like The Meteors, Mad Sin, Frenzy, Zombie Ghost Train and the band I'm really looking forward to see for the first time, Australian Psychobilly legends The Fireballs, yeah can't wait. The contrast from Royal Ascot will be a big one, don't you just love contrasts? I do. 'Till next time.

01 June

It's been three months since I updated this but as I've not really been plugging the pages I don't suppose too many people noticed. Anyway, that's all going to change now as I get proactive on the site hopefully adding a new feather to my bow in the near future. Racing Ahead is just out, it contains my Bill Turner stable visit and Tales from the Betting Ring, which even though I say so myself, is funny! There has hardly been a let up with racing work, which is just as well, but every Friday, Saturday and Sunday sort of messes with your social life. That's the excuse for not getting to many gigs but there's plenty to look forward to. I'm up to the 'Evil' city of London on Monday to catch up with my newly married mate Eugene, El Prez of Big Cheese Magazine on Monday then Tuesday we are off to a Hardcore Punk album launch on a boat, sounds like fun eh? Especially when the band is Gallows, not for the faint hearted but that's the way I like it. Mike Davies, Radio One Punk Rock Show luminary is spinning the wax too so it should be a great night.It's Royal Ascot this month and I'll be there all week with the Jack Bevan firm and also writing it up for The Racing Post Weekender. Later on in July I'm hoping to go to the Calella Psychobilly Festival in Spain, mainly because The Fireballs are going to be playing. For those who don't know, The Fireballs are Melbourne's original Psychobilly trio, and were the band a young Living End most aspired to support. Talking of The Living End, they are coming back to these shores in August, I'm not sure how many shows I will be able to make but can't wait anyway, especially as they are also going to be playing Reading, but that's way away, Reading always sort of signals the end of the summer to me so I don't want to be thinking about that too much yet. I've already had my first sunburn of the summer c/o Croyde Bay and I hope I'll be able to get up there plenty more times this year. Anyway, that's it for now, if anyone is reading, thanks!

01 March 2007

Here we go then, I went to bed last night and it was February, winter and pouring with rain, pretty much how it's been since I moved into the new flat, apart from it's been December and January too but you know what I mean. I awoke this morning and it was March, and as far as I’m concerned that's spring, nature seemed to agree as the sun was pouring in.
Good day for a Spring Offensive to begin then, and the start of that is this blog, to whom it may concern, probably just me but it's good writing practice, but more of that later. First and foremost, every week needs a soundtrack and this week is going to be 'Tees Valley Deadbeats' by The Hitchers on Crazy Love records. I got this to review for Big Cheese and it's been in my car ever since, and I'm still not bored with it so will remain in there until next week when it will be usurped by another platter yet to be chosen. This album manages to sound bright, cheerful and bounce along in a chirpy but rockin' manner while most of the lyrics are not too cheerful at all, genius. If you don't know this band I suggest you check them out, I've given the album a 5/5 in the next Big Cheese, yes it's that good.
On the work front, there is plenty of it, 25 days traveling the turf out of a possible 31. Of course that includes the Cheltenham Festival, what a meeting, it's always hard graft, as far as taking bets and dealing with the public can be, no what am I saying, that IS hard graft, but in an atmosphere that can't be beaten. I'm also writing a piece on action from the betting ring too, hopefully a two pager this year, for the Racing Post Weekender so am looking forward to that, also good exposure too.
For fear of boring you all, anyone, who knows, it's off to Taunton in a couple of hours. Before I shoot off to Orchard Portman, where hopefully they will at last believe I do write in the local paper and have not hatched an elaborate plot to get in free under false pretences.
March resolutions to follow, optimism is abound today, it must be the sunshine.
One of them is write every day, starting the book I promised to write last year would be a start but the juices ARE flowing, I'm just waiting for the time to be right!
Until then, Taunton Races here I come...