#3 Derek & Clive

Hangover Sunday

My insides are rotting. Our Huddersfield gig was boozey. It was very fun though. You can find photos of the piece here. It was the first time we've played a gig where I could play guitar better than I could talk / stand-up. Charles and I went to the Camel Club in Huddersfield where they played the same music that the clubs played in Hudds ten years ago. Good to know that some things don't change, no matter how bad they are.

Time to watch loads of Sopranos and eat Swordfish steak.

Current mood: Ann Berretta - 'Three Chord Revolution'

#2 Warren Zevon

Playing the punk rock for the people

We played our first gig in Leeds for a while on Saturday. It was pretty good and I managed to have a few beers which is always great. Carl went mad whilst we were waiting for a taxi so nothing out of the ordinary to report. I kind of feel like there aren't many bands doing what we are doing in Leeds which isn't so much a good thing. I don't think we've got a ticket to the 'cool' crowd. That said, people will catch on eventually, they always do. Leeds seems big on metal and grunge (not from the first time around) at the moment which is quite funny. Other than that, people love American bands, not local bands, but that is England for you. I predict loads more punk rock / Springsteen influenced bands cropping up soon, watch this space. If only we didn't sound like Green Day and Rancid!!

Our last gig of the year is this Friday (19/12) in Huddersfield, at the Parish. Come down.


Pet sounds

We are recording our first full-length album in January which I'm really excited about. Boss Tuneage Records will be releasing it on CD/download in and around April 2009. We're doing the recording over in Liverpool with Robert Whiteley, an anglo-german with serious recording skills, and I think it will turn out pretty good. We are hoping to have a couple of guests on the record too.

About ten months ago, we recorded a 7" single for Rat Patrol Records. Unfortunately, Chris who runs the label has been in and out of hospital with back problems (everyone is getting old) but hopefully this should be out around the same time as the album.


Invisible airwaves crackle with light

Lately I have been listening to;

Mule - s/t (Quarterstick)
Offshore Radio - Demo
The Lords - Everyone Is People (Gringo)
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living With The Living (Touch & Go)

#1 Shane Macgowan

I went to see the Pogues this week. I've been asking myself 'was it just an excuse to get really pissed or did I actually want to see them?' I've not decided yet. All I do know is there was one man in the venue that was more tanked than me and that was Shane-O.

The fact that Shane is still bopping is surely testament to the fact that booze must not be that bad for you. He was a bit rude though, like a disgruntled tramp that had too many people not give him their change. The rest of the Pogues were quite clean-cut, like a bunch of Dads at a Steel Eye Span gig, thus making Shane look even more yellow and pissed than he actually was / is.

The audience were revelling in Macgowan's drunken ways, as were my companion and I. It's not often folk get revered for being drunk, and certainly not often paid to perform drunkenly. It's usually musicians I suppose when it ever happens. Or darts players. Regardless, there must
have been 2000 people at that gig, all paying thirty quid to see a drunk man stagger about and sing (a bit). I bet 300 people would have been there had it been a Pogues tour with no Shane.

Conclusion; booze = pulling power.