Update #3

NOS Alive festival in Lisbon, Portugal which four of us are going to in July is announcing more acts.  Most of them I haven’t heard of, which might be because they are local acts.  Of interest:

·         The Chemical Brothers

·         Thom Yorke

·         Smashing Pumpkins

I saw The Chemical Brothers supporting Oasis in 1996 at Knebworth but that was outside in the daytime which is probably not the best setting for them.  I would sooner see Radiohead than their singer playing his 2^nd rate Autechre retreads but might be better than I expect.  Ruth really likes Smashing Pumpkins and they have got some good tunes though I find them a bit pretentious. Billy Corgan did tour with New Order and called them our Beatles so I am warming to him.

Very sad that Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks died last week.  Great band and What Do I Get? Is one of my favourite songs and the soundtrack for most of my relationships.

Ears still haven’t recovered from David Holmes last weekend.

Also been told off by Ruth for discussing personal things in the Blog.  I'm a bit torn about this but will respect her wishes as the wrath of Ruthie is something to behold.  Will get admonished for that comment now.

Contentious Number 4: David Holmes

David Holmes - Todmorden 08/12/2018

David Holmes - Photo by Woulfie

David Holmes is an artist and there is skill involved in DJing, despite what the reactionists  say, so this gig is included.  I've been a fan of David Holmes for over 20 years and whilst a lot of people I've spoken with didn't know who he is, a lot of them will certainly have heard his music.  He has written the soundtracks for numerous Hollywood movies, including the Ocean's Eleven franchise, created an admirable canon of his own work, produced artists such as Noel Gallagher and Primal Scream, as well as remixing U2 (can forgive him for that), Saint Etienne, and Ice Cube et al.  This is the first time I've seen him DJ though.  My personal favourites are his own tracks My Mate Paul and 69 Police and the remix of Skullcrusher by Dawn of The Replicants he did with Tim Goldsworthy.

I love Todmorden as it is such a quirky, creative and diverse place.  It is such a release from my sometimes stressful job that I am buying a flat here and will hopefully have moved in by March.  Ruth is keeping her flat in South Manchester so we will have one foot in (West) Yorkshire and one in Lancashire (Greater Manchester really but that doesn't have the same historical anchor).  For future nights out in Tod we will have my new flat, but for the gig we stayed at a BnB.  Had a lovely pre-gig Thai meal at Three Wise Monkeys which also has a great bar with a jazz band/duo playing.  Talking of quirkiness the barman was dressed as Where's Wally? and as he had to keep popping upstairs to get the card reader everyone ended up playing the game.  Great meal though!

I have never been to a venue that has such a diverse crowd before: the age range was from teenagers to people in their sixties and whilst most people were dancing away, the regulars were in there playing pool and chatting over a pint of bitter.  It was so loud though that it was difficult to even order a drink and my ears are still ringing.  The Golden Lion is a big pub that attracts great artists.  Irvine Welsh is DJing soon and Andrew Weatherall and Daddy G from Massive Attack played in recent weeks.  Not sure how they get this calibre of artists but it might be the amazing atmosphere and the money probably helps too.

David Holmes - Photo by Woulfie

David Holmes was great and he played an eclectic set thats only themes were being great tunes and funky as hell.  The place was rocking and we staggered out at just after 2 in the morning.  He didn't play vinyl which is a shame but I did benefit as at the end of his set he gave out copies of the CDs he has been using and I managed to get one from him, I reckon he was impressed by my Dub Soldier T-Shirt which incidentally has a golden lion on it.  Looking forward to more great nights in the Golden Lion if my ears recover.

David Holmes God's Waiting Room Mix June 2018 on MixCloud

First Ever Concert

My first ever concert was a turgid affair that only remains in the memory bank due to it being the first, and how crap it was. It was September 1988 and there was a girl I fancied who I knew liked Siouxsie and The Banshees so I bought tickets with the intention of coaxing her into a date. I didn't end up on the date with her but it is lost in the annals of time if she declined or I just didn't muster the courage to ask her. Anyway, I ended up going with my mate Pooley and neither of us were fans.

I was on crutches after snapping my femur which happened when I jumped out of a second floor window  whilst sleepwalking on an adventure holiday in the Herz Mountains near the old East German border (honestly).  In those days the Manchester Apollo, where the gig was taking place, didn't have a standing area.  As I was on crutches this was a personal relief but it made for a terrible atmosphere. The Banshees barely elicited a round of applause and the bassist gesticulated the wanker' sign at the audience for our lack of enthusiasm. It takes two to tango. When Pooley and I walked out of the venue there was a woman crouched down urinating, which would probably work on some level as a metaphor if I could be bothered to think about it.

Update #2 and Festivals 2019

Two festivals booked for 2019: Rockaway Beach in January which is taking place at Butlins in Bognor Regis.  The second is NOS Festival in Lisbon, Portugal in July and I know which one I’m looking forward to more.  I think it bears repeating, Butlins in Bognor Regis in January!!!  The line up isn’t amazing either with only a few acts I want to see. 

·         Echo & The Bunnymen

·         Barry Adamson

·         Goat Girl

·         The Orielles

·         Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble

·         Menace Beach

Terry Hall is taking to the decks.  There seems to be a modern fixation with anyone having a go at DJing which must be a bit perplexing for people who do it for a living.  I have pretty low expectations for this festival but that can sometimes mean having a great time, or just the shit time you were expecting.  The Lisbon festival hasn’t announced many bands yet with only The Cure, Bon Iver and Smashing Pumpkins that I have heard of.  Strangely enough, Ruth decided to opt out of Bognor Regis in January but seemed a bit keener on Lisbon in July.  For Rockaway Beach I'm going with Steve, Frank, Jules and Russian Jay.  This is a different Jay than the one who came to A Certain Ratio.  I've only met Russian Jay once and he apparently gained his moniker due to his preference for Russian ladies.  Such is the pleasure he derives from the Baltic beauties he actually goes there frequently. 

Steve, Jules, Ruth and myself are going to Lisbon. Frank is, funnily enough, in Portugal at the same time but is going to a motorcycle festival before riding to Africa.

I have booked tickets for Ruth and I to see Neneh Cherry at the Manchester Albert Hall in February and can’t wait for that one as never seen her live.