Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse....................

 

On Friday, a local paper gave us a centre spead - colour pictures, the works - on what the next "big thing" was going to be -BANDEOKE!! And what is this new sensation? It's like (no I don't) kareoke, but instead of "singing" along to a backing track, the "singer" has a band backing them. I think I'd rather rub Marmite in my eyes - and they've made it a lot easier now with the new squeezy bottle. They must have already heard of bandeoke.

 

Still, look on the bright side. A few mates go along to this, have a few drinks, watch people make complete berks of themselves, and have a great night out. They then go along the next week, and seem to remember it being a lot more entertaining the last time. They then go again and end up argueing over who's stupid idea it was to go and watch bandeoke in the first place! But.......then they realise that they've been out three times, have missed their favourite reality TV show and soaps and found out that the world hasn't come to an end. They might even think that they've enjoyed this live music lark and and quite fancy going to see somebody do it properly. And Bingo - no, don't even think about going there - we've got 'em :-).

 

Like I said last week, there are some brilliant bands around now. The future's bright. The future's not frigging bandeoke.

 

And our immediate future? On Thusday we have the brilliant Magenta, mainly booked because they are flying out to Portugal the next day from Stansted airport and thought they'd squeeze us in first. On Friday with have our Status Quo tribute band Counterfeit Quo - why not bring a blow up guitar to play along with? - and then on Saturday we have a band that are (and I don't use this word lightly) legends - The Pirates. This band has been there, done that and their T Shirts are brilliant. Without The Pirates you wouldn't have Dr Feelgood, so come and watch Mick Green and see why Wilko Johnson picked up the guitar in the first place. 

 

 

Thurs. 27th    MAGENTA

 

When Rob Reed released “Revolutions” in 2001 under the banner “Magenta” little did he realise that he had started something that would take on a life of its own…. “Revolutions” was originally created as a studio-only project.  Built around four long pieces of music, with lyrics based on the concept of Faith by his brother Steve, Rob played most of the instruments himself, with guest appearances from Andy Edwards, Martin Shellard and Chris Fry on lead guitar, later to become a permanent band member.  The masterstroke was bringing in Christina on lead vocals, who had previously played with Rob in the band Trippa, as well as appearing on several recordings by Robs’ Progressive Rock project Cyan.  The album, which took its musical inspiration from many of Robs heroes such as Yes, Genesis and Marillion, was released to wide acclaim This gave Rob a problem.  The success of “Revolutions” led to public demand for live shows, something that Rob had not envisaged.  However, gathering a live band around himself and Christina, he soon realised that with some deft arranging, the album could be played in concert with considerable success. This they proved in their first live shows, including the prestigious Mexican festival Baja Prog in 2003, where they were the only UK band to be invited that year.  The Band followed this up by playing throughout the UK and Europe in 2003, including an appearance at the Progeny festival at the Astoria in London later that year, alongside Pallas, IQ and Mostly Autumn. In March 2004, the band released their second album “Seven”, a single CD this time, with lyrics again by Steve Reed, giving an unusual slant on the seven deadly sins.  Once again, the album was an instant success, winning the “Best Album” award from Poland’s “Metal Hammer” magazine.  “Gluttony” had already become a live favourite, and several other pieces from the album joined the live set, including the infectious “Pride”. The band also released its first single, “Broken”, featuring the complete live band and lyrics by Christina.  More prestigious concerts followed, including a first headlining appearance at the Classic Rock Society in Rotherham, UK.

The end of 2004 saw the momentum continuing to build, with the release of a double live album “Another Time, Another Place” – winner of best live album by the Hungarian Progressive Rock Society - and another single “I’m Alive”, which quickly became another concert favourite.  As well as playing with IQ at the Classic Rock Society Awards at the end of the year, Christina won best vocalist and the band best live gig at the ceremony itself. Press interest in the band continued to increase with several items in Classic Rock magazine during the year, and the band made another appearance at Progeny, this time with Fish and Carl Palmer. 2005 was another great year for the band.  The recording of the bands first live DVD quickly followed a headline appearance at the Rosfest festival in Philadelphia, USA.  At both concerts, the band premiered songs from the forthcoming album “Home” and more live concerts followed throughout the year, with the band playing “Seven” in its entirety in London and Rotherham in October, as well as further tracks from “Home”. The bands reputation continued to increase as an entertaining, dynamic live act, with fans travelling to UK gigs from as far away as Italy, Russia, Hungary, Peru, USA, Canada and New Zealand. The year finished with the triumphant release of the DVD and the prize for Best Band at the Classic Rock Society end of year awards ceremony. With the long awaited third studio album “Home” due for release in 2006, the future looks bright indeed for Magenta - the colour of Progressive Rock.

 

£8 Advance / £10 Door  http://www.magenta-web.com

For tickets go to - http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=detail&event=169753

Fri. 28th        COUNTERFEIT QUO + Soliss 

How many times do you hear "STATUS QUO? Great band, but I think the 70s were the best"?

Well if you have the same thoughts then perhaps you'd better check out a Counterfeit Quo gig. Not only do you get the great QUO songs of the 70's, but the whole, totally live rock and roll show, at a volume not heard since The Rainbow Theatre 1972.

An adrenaline charged set sees the band crash their way through Quo's best known hits including Caroline, Down Down, Whatever You Want and Rocking All Over The World whilst still paying tribute to glorious earlier albums like Ma Kellys', Dog of Two Head, Piledriver, Hello, 'Quo' etc.

Any temptation to 'lighten up' has been firmly resisted. What you get is Heads Down, No-Nonsense Boogie played on the familiar beaten up green and white Telecasters by the denim clad true likenesses of the original Quo members with wall to wall Marshall amps, buckets of sweat and more hair than you can shake a stick at.

Originally named Piledriver, Counterfeit Quo formed in Essex in early 1995 by four hardened Quo fans who quickly set out to recreate the dynamic, energetic live Quo performances of old. The bands reputation spread quickly and they have now toured every nook and cranny of the U.K., ventured into Europe and featured on local and national BBC Radio.

Over the years the band have had the pleasure of working with original Quo drummer John Coghlan, either as part of his own band, John Coghlan's Quo, or with John appearing as a special guest on Counterfeit Quo gigs.

They have also been given the seal of approval from no less than Quo's very own Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt.
http://www.counterfeitquo.com  http://www.myspace.com/soliss  £6

Sat. 29th         THE PIRATES + The Nightflies

A short history . . . . . . . . . .

The Pirates story really begins back in the mid 1950's with a skiffle band known as Bats Heath and The Vampires featuring a certain Frederick Heath on vocals and guitar. In time and through various line-ups as The Five Nutters and The Fred Heath Band this formed the nucleus of what was to become Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. The new name was reputedly given to them by a sound engineer during a recording test at Abbey Road Studios in 1959.  They recorded "Please don't touch / Growl" with Frederick Heath (aka Johnny Kidd ) on vocals, Alan Caddy and Tony Doherty on guitars and Ken McKay and Don Toy sharing the drumming.

In early 1960 Brian Gregg took over on bass, Clem Cattini occupied the drum stool and Alan Caddy became the solo lead guitar in this new trio - although it's now known that Joe Moretti was actually drafted in to play lead guitar for the recording of their most famous number "Shakin all over". Just 18 months later (Aug 1961) all three, Caddy , Gregg and Cattini jumped ship, left Johnny Kidd and after a couple of changes went on to become The Tornados.

January 1962 saw another new line up with Johnny Spence (bass), Frank Farley (drums) and Johnny Patto (lead guitar). But by March 1962 Johnny Patto had left on the grounds of ill-health and Spence and Farley recruited a long time friend from their schooldays Mick Green. This trio was the partnership who were still working together under the Pirates banner 43years later until Frank Farley's enforced retirement in 2005.

Back in the 60's they played with Johnny Kidd at all the popular venues including The Cavern (Liverpool), The Oasis (Manchester), The Star Club (Hamburg) and on the Liverpool Riverboat Shuffle they were supported by the then little known Beatles. They went on to record a number of tracks including "A shot of Rhythm and Blues", "I can tell", "Some other guy", "I'll never get over you", "Hungry for love", "Ecstasy", "My Babe", "casting my spell", "Always and Forever", "Dr Feelgood".  They recruited organist Vic Cooper and the hits just kept coming - "Please don't touch", "Jealous Girl", "shop around", "I know", "Where are you" and more.

In August 1964 after two and a half years with the band Mick Green moved on to back Billie J Kramer as part of  The Dakotas and his spot behind Johnny Kidd was filled in turn by Stuart Taylor, John Weider, Barry Hammett and John Morshead. They released some more vinyl including "whole lotta woman", "your cheatin heart", "the birds and the bees", "can't turn you loose" and an attempt to capture the old magic with "Shaking all over '65".

1966 again saw Johnny Kidd without his support band when Vic Cooper left,  Frank Farley went to join his old mate Mick Green in The Dakotas and Johnny Spence took his bass guitar over to Julian Covey and the Machine. However, Spence and Farley legally retained the rights to the name of "The Pirates". As John explains "Maybe I can lay all the infighting to rest as I was one of JK's closest friends and just of interest his best man at his wedding to Jean. JK always employed musicians as session men rather than part of the whole group - that was the way things were done in those days. "The Pirates" as an entity on their own came about when we recorded "my babe" and "casting my spell", this was holy endorsed by JK. The thinking behind it was that JK's management at the time were building up to him going out as a solo artist"

When Johnny Kidd put together another new line up they were to be billed as "The New Pirates" and included Nick Simper, Roger Truth and Ray Soaper. But it was all very short lived as on Friday 7th October 1966 Johnny Kidd was killed in a car crash just outside of Bury (Lancashire).

The memory of Johnny Kidd and his many Pirates goes on with the definitive line up of Mick Green with Johnny Spence (still co-owner of the title) still touring the UK and abroad but sadly Frank Farley is unable to play now and retired in 2005. In 2006 Green and Spence released an album of brand new recordings and even some new numbers recently penned by the two of them. The album's called "Skullduggery" and is available on the Prism label.

£10 Advance / £12 Door    http://www.thepirates.co.uk http://www.thenightflies.com

For tickets go to - http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=detail&event=170396

See ya, and remember

 

KEEP MUSIC LIVE

 

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