Issue 6
IAN MOORE
Comedy, France and proper Chutney Stress with Ian Moore
...TIL ITS OVERTURES
THE BRITPOP CIVIL WAR
FLY53’s fantastic new tees commemorate 20 years since the 1995 Blur v. Oasis showdown
A PINT WITH DREW HIPSON Kevin Stone chats to the editor of All Mod Icon
Interview with Den Pugsley of top 60s band, The Overtures
DUSTY
Chat with Arabella Rodrigo, co-star in new Dusty Musical
WHO’S NEXT?
Being Pete Townshend with guitarist Dante DiCarlo from Who’s Next
MAMA ROUX Win a signed copy of Mama Roux’s debut EP
PLUS...
The Magic Mod Gola Classics Wrangler Jeans Bass Weejuns Traffic People and more!
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...So the story begins...
Issue 6 In this issue of Up&Atom... We go Britpop crazy with FLY53 who recently revealed their concept Britpop Civil War capsule. We focus on the rivalry between Oasis and Blur in 1995 and the battle to reach the summit of the UK music charts, and we ultimately pose the question... just who was better?! Expect no definitive answer then! Drew Hipson, editor of All Mod Icon, the Paul Weller fanzine, chats to Baracuta’s Kevin Stone in our regular feature, A Pint With... Please Sir, can we have some Moore? Well, of course you can! You can check out the latest on comedian, author and chutney maker, Ian Moore who pops in to talk with Gibson London’s Modernist, Simon Parr. Tales of France, mods and chutney ensue... Oh, and an interesting bit about David Bowie too. It’s not over ‘til it’s Overtures! ..And once you listen to these guys play, you’ll hope the gig never ends! Up&Atom catches up with Den Pugsley, bassist and singer for The Overtures, who guides us through their Bootleg Sixties show. Top tunes and more! So, Who’s Next? Well, that would be Dante of top Who tribute band, Who’s Next... Well, that would be Dante... you get the gist! We could go on all night on that one! Ev’rything’s coming up Dusty in the West End at the moment - we catch up with singer, Arabella Rodrigo, one of the stars of new multi media fusion musical, Dusty about the life of Dusty Springfield. Completing the guest line up, Magic Mod pulls a cracking interview out of the hat and Up&Atom are privileged to feature the fantastic band, Mama Roux! (Plus a chance to win a signed copy of their latest release!) ...And finally! There’s also our regular brand features. This time we take a closer look at Gola Classics, Bass Weejuns, Wrangler and Traffic People. Enjoy the read!
In this issue... Gola Classics
5
A Pint With... Drew Hipson
6
Wrangler Jeans
9
It’s Not Over Til It’s Overtures
10
Bass Weejuns
12
The Britpop Civil War
14
Who’s Next?
18
Ev’rything’s Coming Up Dusty
20
Traffic People
23
Moore Than Meets The Eye
24
Mama Roux
27
The Magic Mod
28
...And In The End
30
Up&Atom is edited by a team of dedicated Mod Kitties
Credits...
Special thanks to... Kevin Stone, Drew Hipson, Den Pugsley & The Overtures, Mark Sheridan & FLY53, Dante DiCarlo, Arabella Rodrigo, Ian Moore, Simon Parr, Tom Powell & Mama Roux, The Magic Mod. Front cover picture © Gary Bonar. Back cover picture - Dante DiCarlo of Who’s Next, wearing Madcap England Townshend Union Jack Blazer. Picture © Sally Newhouse. Images used by permission. Written by Alister Poulton, Lindsey Hagston, Beth White & Courtney Todd. Additional material by Simon Parr & Kevin Stone. All images and text © Atom Retro, Indie Apparel Ltd, 2015 unless otherwise stated. Prices given correct at time of publication. May be subject to change.
Gola Classics arrived at Atom Retro this summer, a British sports brand with bags of 60s and 70s heritage and a favourite in the 90s with the Britpop Indie scene. 2015 is Gola’s 110th anniversary. The brand started life on the 22nd of May, 1905 when it was registered by Joseph Leeson & Sons in the UK. It was then sold to the Botterill family in 1930 and it was this that pushed the brand to the forefront of sports clothing and fashion. In the 1940s, along with a lot of iconic heritage fashion labels, Gola made boots for the armed forces, only returning to large scale production afterwards in 1950. The 1960s was all about football and ‘Gola Meant Goals!’ Sir Alf Ramsey became Gola’s brand ambassador in 1970, following the creation of Gola’s most iconic trainer in 1968 - the Gola Harrier trainer. Gola Harrier trainers were immediately successful, boosting the brand to such a degree that Gola went global in 1972, exporting footwear to over 67 countries. Gola also claims to have coined the term ‘trainer’ with the invention of the Gola Harrier. Prior to 1968, trainers would always be referred to as ‘training shoes’ - Gola started calling the new Harrier style, the Gola Harrier Trainer and the name stuck! A year later, Gola Running Spikes set a new world record. Athlete, David Bedford ran the 10,000 meters in a record breaking 27 minutes and 30.8 seconds, with Gola Running Spikes on his feet. 1975 saw the launch of the iconic Gola ‘Redford’ bag. This classic messenger style shoulder bag created a new trend, which still continues today - the same style bag is available in almost every colour combination your heart desires. The 1970s saw more sports sponsorship from Gola, who sponsored athletes as varied and diverse as shot putter and strongman, Geoff Capes and Peter Shilton, all the way through to Roy of the Rovers, the iconic 1980s comic book football hero. In 1975 Gola supplied training kits for Manchester United, then in 1977 Gola sponsored footballer, Stan Bowles at Queens Park Rangers. Unfortunately, Stan Bowles had also accepted a sponsorship deal from Addidas at the same time, so to avoid breach of contract, he went out on the pitch with one Gola boot and one Addidas boot on! The 1990s Britpop scene created fresh demand for the Gola Harrier. Retro trainers were back in style in a big way and the Harrier was perfect. Available in hundreds of colour combinations and in leather and suede, the Gola collection today also features collaborations with Liberty, a premium Made In England range and of course all the Gola classics you know and love. Find Gola Classics at Atom Retro here: www.atomretro.com/gola_mens and www.atomretro.com/gola_womens
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...So the story begins...
A Pint With... Drew Hipson Through his appreciation of Paul Weller, editor of All Mod Icon magazine, Drew Hipson has curated a serialised bible of one man’s genius, shared through the eyes of those in the know. A fantastic journey that all Weller fans will relish, All Mod Icon’s periodical format ensures that you’ll be kept up to date with the latest Paul Weller news as well as delving into the archives for historical nuggets. In his regular ‘A Pint With...’ series, Kevin Stone catches up with Drew, who regales us with tales of youth, travel, music and art... a journey that has resulted in his very own masterpiece, All Mod Icon...
Kevin Stone - Drew, thanks for finding the time to catch up. I believe your Paul Weller journey started in 1978 when you first heard In The City by The Jam? What was it about that song and that band that had such a huge impact on you personally? Drew Hipson - As a teenager I was swept along by the energy of the whole punk thing. I loved the Sex Pistols and The Clash in particular, but the In The City album by The Jam was different. Aside from the adrenalinelike rush of Paul’s Rickenbacker guitar sound, there was a romanticism, integrity and even a vulnerability that could be heard in his voice - I connected with that. The whole album seemed to capture what it felt like to be young - the energy, optimism and idealism. The Jam was an incredible band and the combination of Paul, Bruce and Rick’s distinctive musical style created ‘The Jam sound’. Weller always looked effortlessly cool and his lyrics were the soundtrack to my, and many other people’s lives.
over the world and will be publishing a Saturns Pattern special of All Mod Icon in June. KS - Drew, what is your background? Where are you from and what do you do when you’re not the face of All Mod Icon?
DH - I was born in Glasgow and was a screen printer when I left school, then when I heard The Style Council’s Á Paris EP in August 1983, I sold my drum kit and all of my records and went to France, which turned into a year-long journey across Europe. When I returned to Glasgow, I studied graphic design and was hugely influenced by Neville Brody, the art d i re c t o r o f T h e F a c e m a g a z i n e , w h o revolutionised the use of typography in the eighties. I’m also a musician and artist and have been working on and off on a musical project called Truffaut’s Bible - an album of songs loosely connected by themes in Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, with a slight Gallic feel to some of the music. I am also currently writing my first memoir, called Le Départ, which is about my KS - When did you first publish the All Mod experiences jumping freight trains across Icon magazine, and why? Did you expect France after having been inspired by Á Paris the main focus of the publication (Paul EP. Weller) to be having such a renaissance now, in 2015? KS - How has Paul, and indeed everyone from The Jam, Style Council and today’s DH - I first published the magazine in 2000. I line-up reacted to the magazine? Is there a have written a biography of The Jam, which subtle nod of approval? had been rejected by Omnibus Press as they had already commissioned John Reed to do DH - I have met Paul many times and he has one on Paul’s entire career (My Ever Changing always been brilliant; always interested and Moods). So I wrote some pieces from ideas supportive. I’ve always found him to be an that had been included in the book - the first in absolute gentleman and full of energy, wit and particular was the similarity between the ideals, enthusiasm. One time backstage in Glasgow, politics, writing style and common sense of at the SSEC, I joked that he would get 20% George Orwell and Paul Weller. commission on every mag that he sold. He It is incredible that Paul’s popularity is as grabbed a pile and walked around the dressing strong as ever and that he has created, at this room shouting, “Get yer Weller mag!” (Laughs) stage of his career, one of his finest pieces of Paul and everyone else has commented on the work. I’ve had orders for the new issue from all standard of the writing and the attention to
Image Š Gary Bonar
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...So the story begins...
detail in the design - it is nice for the look, as closely followed by Going My Way from the well as they content, of the mag to be new album. Paul’s voice is absolutely brilliant acknowledged. on this track and I find it deeply moving. Others would be It’s A Very Deep Sea and Wings Of KS - Of course to bring the magazine to life Speed. you need personal dedication and drive but also contributors, photographers, etc. Who KS - Finally Drew, Saturns Pattern is Paul’s has been particularly helpful along the way? 12th solo album. Again, we see Paul broadening his musical palette. What do you DH - Everyone associated with Paul has been think of it and what tracks stand out for brilliant, in particular Steve White and Steve you? Craddock, both inspiring and totally down to earth. Dennis Munday has written various DH - I honestly think that it is his best solo excellent pieces for the mag and has sent album. Aside from the brilliantly complex and personal photographs from his collection. contemporary sound of the record, there is a Paul’s manager, Claire, PR girl, real depth of soul and Polly and minder, spirit on the LP; it Mark have all been is an immensely helpful over t h e
years too. A special mention m u s t also go to M a r k Baxter, an absolute gent and a t r u e modernist, who h a s been brilliant over the past fourteen years and has gotten so many people involved with the mag, most notably, Martin Freeman.
incredible piece of w o r k . Going My Way is breathtaking and I love the musical shift, which jumps from a piano ballad to a sort of Serge Gainsbourg swing - genius. These City Streets is an epic tune - a real love song about London, and White Sky is a great big thundering interstellar blues workout. KS - What are your top five all-time tracks Paul’s modernist spirit, soul and integrity are and why? incandescent and continue to inspire me. DH - I’ve always loved Be My Baby by The Ronettes, from first hearing it in the intro to Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets, the sound and For more info on All Mod Icon and to join the emotion of that track is incredible. The Paris mailing list, email allmodicon@hotmal.com Match for me is hands down one of the greatest songs Paul has ever written and Drew Hipson was chatting to Kevin Stone. indeed one of my favourite songs of all time,
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One of the most famous names in denim, Wrangler, is now at Atom Retro. CC Hudson, 20 years old and Tennessee born, left home in 1897 to pursue his fortune in the emerging American textile industry. He found himself in Greensboro, North Carolina, sewing buttons onto overalls for 25 cents a day, but by 1904 the factory had closed. Purchasing some of the sewing machines left over, Hudson opened the Hudson Overall company. Legend has it that some railway workers who purchased overalls from Hudson gave him a bell. As with everything else in the factory, the bell was soon covered with a blue sheen of denim dust, giving the company a new name - Blue Bell. In 1943 Blue Bell purchased the Casey Jones WorkClothes company, and along with it, the rights to the rarely used brand, Wrangler. In 1946, Blue Bell hired a Polish tailor, Bernard Lichtenstein, nicknamed ‘Rodeo Ben’, with the aim to design and perfect a pair of jeans for rodeo use. Working closely with rodeo cowboys, Wrangler Jeans were born. After designing and testing 13 pairs of prototype jeans, Blue Bell introduces the Wrangler 11MWZ to American customers. The new Wrangler jean featured several innovations aimed particularly at cowboys - felled outseams and inseams, rear pockets positioned for comfort in the saddle, ‘no scratch’ rivet pocket reinforcements, a zip fly and use of a strong tack in the crotch instead of a metal rivet. A promotional campaign was launched featuring Wrangler 11MWZ test riders and rodeo legends Freckles Brown, Bill Linderman and Jim Shoulders. Jim Shoulders, known as the Babe Ruth of rodeo carried on his endorsement of Wrangler right up until his death in 2007, making it one of the longest ever sponsor and product endorsement partnership in history. Wrangler captured the imagination of the American public, and the rest of the world shortly after. An authentic Western Denim brand, Wrangler rose to success throughout the world and by 1996 one in five pairs of jeans sold in the USA was a Wrangler. Find Wrangler at www.atomretro.com/ wrangler
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...So the story begins...
It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s
Overtures
It’s not often you get to write a prelude to an Overture. It’s actually rather a unique concept... which is also a perfect way to describe The Overtures and their Bootleg Sixties Show. An incredible sight and sound interpretation of classic tunes from the 1960s, performed by a band whom effortlessly capture the very essence of the era. Guaranteed to blow your mind with their energetic live performances and immaculate sound. Up&Atom caught up with singer, bassist and founder member, Den Pugsley who was gracious enough to answer some of our questions. Up&Atom - How did you first get into music? Den Pugsley - Like most of us in The Overtures, we started out in original bands. I was in The Jetz and The Pencils, ‘Power Pop’ bands of the late 70s and early 80s. Drummer Steve was in a band called Hard Rain and keyboardist Chris was in The Truth, who reached the lower regions of the charts in the early 80s. U&A - How did The Overtures come together? DP - We all had a common love of 60s music so whenever we weren’t playing our own music, we’d bundle our gear into our local pub and play our favourite Beatles/Kinks/ Who songs. At that point there was certainly no ‘master plan’ to form a sixties tribute band and try to
make a living from it. (I don’t think the term ‘tribute band’ was invented back then!) But it just snowballed from there. We started getting asked to do more and more gigs until we figured we’d better come up with a proper name. I thought ‘The Overtures’ sounded like it could have perhaps been a 60s band! (Ironic, when I think people back then thought we were going to play some Mozart or Bach!) U&A - Can you give us the low down on the ‘Bootleg Sixties Show’? How did you come up with the concept? DP - The Bootleg Sixties Show is the theatre version of our regular Overtures show. We’d always wanted to present a different kind of show in theatres, away from
...Don’t ever be stand aside, Don’t ever be denied... www.AtomRetro.com 11 the usual ‘dance/party’ show that we’d been used to performing down the years. Many of our favourite 60s songs are not necessarily the ones we’d pull out at a ‘dance gig’ so the theatre show gives us the opportunity to branch out a little. We also use three video screens, depicting the events, people and fashions of the time so hopefully it’s a real nostalgic 60s experience for those that remember the times but also entertaining (and maybe even educational!) for those too young! U&A - How many songs are in your repertoire? How do you decide which ones to perform? DP - The last list we made had around 400 songs on it. O b v i o u s l y, there are those which we call the ‘A-List’ songs, which are often featured in our set. Hit singles a n d classics f r o m the 60s t h a t y o u k n o w a r e going to g e t everyone involved,
Furnish’s civil partnership in 2005. He’s an incredibly encouraging and inspiring man, absolutely passionate about music. He made sure all his wedding guests got involved - the dance floor looked like Madame Tussauds had come to life! Other real special ones for us have been Elvis Costello’s wedding to Diana Krall and then in 2011, Paul McCartney’s after show party at the O2. Paul came backstage to shake our hands. Being a massive Beatles fan, I’m sad enough to have every record (and bootleg) the guy ever made and he’s 99% of the reason I play bass in a 60s band. I couldn’t possibly try to put into words how much of a thrill that evening was for me.
U&A W e ’ v e h e a r d rumours of a side project called ‘ T h e Beatniks’. W h a t ’s t h a t about?
DP - The Beatniks are a duo - a spinoff from the m a i n band t h a t features myself on bass/vocals regardless and Jamie on acoustic of age. However, guitar/vocals. It’s still mainly 60s we do like to pull out stuff and we enjoy the different and the more obscure songs now and then perhaps more intimate vibe playing as a duo from our ‘B-List’! Lesser know hits of the era, B-sides and stuff that probably no other bands brings. in their right mind would think of playing. U&A - Are there any gigs from your career which really stand out? DP - We’ve been very lucky over the years to have been asked to perform for some of our great musical heroes, which is always a particularly special privilege for us. We’ve played for Sir Elton John many times, but we were particularly honoured that he asked us to provide the entertainment at his and David
U&A - What’s your favourite song to perform? DP - Wow, that’s a hard one! Changes every week really. My current favourite is perhaps Lovin’ Spoonful’s Summer In The City. Great chord changes and little ‘funny bits’ in the middle that keep us on our toes. Always nice to play it in the summer too!
12. www.AtomRetro.com U&A - And while you’re at it, what are your all-time top five tunes? DP - Cripes, it’s not getting any easier! Okay, my current top 5 - this week anyway - would be: Beach Boys - God Only Knows Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever Love - Alone Again Or Kinks - Waterloo Sunset Rolling Stones - Jumpin’ Jack Flash U&A - As well as the music, The Overtures always look the part with 60s inspired stagewear. Are you a fan of 1960s fashion? DP - Definitely. I’ve always loved the look. It’s funny when I see photos of myself in my old 80s band. Surrounded by a musical climate of Spandau and Duran, I was looking like a 60s refugee even then! I think the 60s had (has) so much style and vibrancy and it doesn’t surprise me that younger generations are forever inspired by those clothes, hairstyles and make-up. U&A - What plans have you got for the rest of 2015 and beyond? DP - The Overtures ‘Bootleg Sixties Theatre Show’ begins a UK tour on July 17th and we will tour Holland for a third time in early 2016. We also perform once again at International Beatle Week in Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre in August. We feel very fortunate that people’s love for 60s music seems to ensure that The Overtures keep on going! It’s been 25 years since our first ‘Overtures’ gig, back in our local pub in 1990 and we still love what we do. Perhaps also because we pretty much cover the whole spectrum of 60s music it enables us to keep things fresh. If we do get tired of performing a particular song, it can be rested and no one will mind, whereas I guess if we were a Beatles band we’d have to play Twist and Shout and Hey Jude regardless! 1960s music will always be special to us. We love those artists and we love those songs. It’s crucial for us that we endeavour to play them with as much excitement, feeling and authenticity as they deserve.
Catch up with The Overtures at www.theovertures.com Check out the latest tour dates for The Bootleg Sixties Show at www.thebootlegsixties.com Images © The Overtures
Bass Weejuns, famous for Penny Loafers and tassel loafer shoes, has a history which stretches back for over 75 years. Bass Weejuns began life in Maine, USA with George Henry Bass founding the company, GH Bass in 1876. In 1936 Bass decided to put a stylish twist on a Norwegian farm shoe, designed for ‘loafing in the field’ and dubbed it the ‘Weejun’. This was the worlds first penny loafer and the birth of the Bass Weejun. Today Bass Weejuns are still made in the same way as they were in the 1930s. Bench crafted and hand stitched to create that essential classic heritage loafer look. The Bass Weejun was the footwear of choice in the forties and fifties, when the Ivy League look came to the forefront, worn by many icons from John F Kennedy through to James Dean. In the sixties, when the mod look came to the UK, Bass Weejun loafers were chosen due to their Ivy League heritage. The clean cut Americana look appealed to mods and fashion followers alike. Bass Weejuns, the original Penny Loafer is available from Atom Retro in both men’s and women’s styles. Find ‘em here: Mens - www.atomretro.com/bass_weejuns Womens www.atomretro.com/bass_weejuns_womens
Bass Weejuns Classic Loafers from Bass Weejuns:
The Larson The Bass Weejun Larson is the loafer that launched them all. A classic Penny Loafer with penny apron, beef roll moccasin upper and leather upper and sole. Always available in classic colours black, wine and tan in mens and black and wine in
womens sizes. There is also a new heeled version this season, the Chic Simone loafer oers a dressier style in black and white with a chunky block heel (Pictured below).
The Larkin The Bass Weejun Larkin Loafer is a simple, clean cut tassel loafer, with single apron tassel and moccasin style upper. Leather uppers and leather soles and always in stock in Black, Wine and Tan, there are also seasonal styles in suede and suede velour available in Larkin as well.
The Layton The true Bass Weejun Mod Tassel Loafer with kilted fringe and tassel b o w t o t h e f ro n t . Moccasin leather upper and leather sole. Available in Black, Wine and Tan as well as seasonal styles in suede, pull up leathers and more colours.
To celebrate 20 years since the biggest event in British history the Britpop Civil War T-Shirt collection from FLY53 re-ignites the animosity surrounding two titans of British music culture, Oasis and Blur. Events culminated on the 14th August, 1995 as the bands went head to head in the charts with same week releases of Blur’s Country House and Oasis’ Roll With It. Blur won this battle in the end, outselling Oasis by approximately 58,000 copies... but that was just the beginning... this is the decider! Seconds out, Round 2! You’ve go to ask yourself, will the South prevail, or will the North rise again? Country House by Blur made number one in the charts that fateful week, but it’s a testament to the enduring images of these two great bands and indeed to the long lasting legacy of the Britpop era, that there is still a simmering of resentment amongst some fans. Thus, we bring to you, the Britpop Civil War! Choose your side and wear your T-Shirt with pride! This will bring the curtain down on the decades old fighting and tell us just who are the true kings of the Britpop era! The premise is simple. The first TShirt to hit zero quantity stock is the winner and those that prevail will assume the mantle of Britpop Gods! We will be giving regular updates via our sales tracker to keep you informed of the results. (And on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/atomretro Ignore the fact that Blur’s Damon Albarn later commented that both songs were sh*t, this is war! Dig out the Britpop anthems and rally the troops!
You can’t sit on the fence - choose your Britpop heroes Go to www.atomretro.com/britpop join the debate, tell us who you think are the Britpop Kings - and win one of these great tees!
“Is it my imagination, or have I finally found something worth living for?” If you’re feeling ‘Supersonic’, and perhaps a little nostalgic, then this ‘Supersmile’ T-Shirt by FLY53 is just the ticket for you. ‘Supersmile’ is a cool play on the Oasis Definitely Maybe album sleeve with skeletal beings replacing the Mancunian icons, like a tribute from the other side. True to FLY53 form there’s various idiosyncrasies and perculiarities to keep the mind entertained, an Oasis of oddities if you like. ‘Supersmile’ is a classic retro short sleeve, crew neck T-Shirt with FLY53 sign off and sublime hand drawn style graphic print inspired by the familiar 1990s album cover for Oasis’s debut album, Definitely Maybe. Find it at www.atomretro.com/fly53
Oasis have a huge legacy. They showed that a group of working class lads could pick up some instruments and become famous. They directly inspired some of Britain’s biggest bands; Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines. And influenced many more. Oasis songs are more relevant to me. While Blur were busy tackling city bankers, Oasis were releasing Roll With It. To me, they were more feel-good and let you escape from the real world. Liam Gallagher’s voice is/was better than Damon Albarn’s. I loved the raw, raspy tone and while Coxon was arguably a better guitarist, Noel is a far superior singer. Oasis were more anthemic. Blur might have written better songs musically, but pretty much every Oasis song is a sing-a-long stadium filler. And Noel made a bigger, more iconic guitar sound than Coxon.
It’s true that post 2000, it feels like saying you’re an Oasis fan should be preceded by an apology. Despite this, for five brilliant years in the 90s, Oasis and its members, five scruffy working class lads from Northern England, became the biggest band in the world. In the time spanning those first two exceptionally good albums, they represented every young working class person in the country that wanted to believe, giving them a sense that anything was possible, while also giving them anthems to live their lives to. Regardless of what came next, the cliched fashion and haircuts, Little James, Dad Rock culture - those beautiful early years will never be forgotten.
In the whole 90s Blur v. Oasis battle, Blur always stood out musically and lyrically as the more dynamic of the two bands. Blur began as the cheeky Cockney (Mockney) lad band but soon developed into a more serious and intelligent outfit. At the start of the 21st century, gone were the days of Parklife and Girls and Boys as we entered a new Blur with the formidable and expressive songwriting talents of frontman Damon Albarn, who had begun to incorporate unusual and experimental rhythms with his love of world music and flirting with mild electronica, with the albums 13 and Think Tank. Over the 18 or so years that Oasis existed, nothing really ever changed musically. Noel Gallagher seemed settled in his formulaic songwriting style and big choruses for the festival heads to drunkenly sing along to, can in hand, but never seemed to be capable of pushing the boat out and trying new things. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but of the two, Albarn seemed to have more of a vision. Even when Gallagher tried more experimental producers, their efforts still ended up sounding like Oasis/Gallagher songs with half inched chord progressions from The Beatles and other sixties bands. To me, Oasis spoke more to a gang mentality who could sing arm in arm, not too dissimilar to that of a football crowd, whereas Blur (who also has their big anthems) could tackle more challenging musical paths at the same time.
“It’s got nothing to do with Vorsprung Durch Technic y’know. A n d it’s not about you joggers who go round and round and round...” It’s a battle ‘To The End’, an event that started five years before the ‘End Of A Century’. If you want to reminisce over stonking Britpop 1990s summer scenes, then bag this ‘Barklife’ T-Shirt by FLY53. ‘Barklife’ is a cool play on the Parklife album sleeve, a homage to the great British pastime of greyhound racing. True to FLY53 form, the tee replaces the more affable looking dogs on the original sleeve with vicious sinew-y hell hounds, eyes like Zuul the Gatekeeper, teeth like an American Werewolf in London! The FLY53 signature sign-off cleverly replicates the Blur Parklife record sleeve font. Find it at www.atomretro.com/fly53
Blur or Oasis? Chosen your side? Go to www.atomretro.com/britpop join the debate, tell us who you think are the Britpop Kings - and win one of these great tees!
Image Š Sally Newhouse
...Don’t ever be stand aside, Don’t ever be denied... www.AtomRetro.com 19
Wh ’s Next... ?
Leading tribute act, Who’s Next capture the essence of one of Britain’s finest ever bands. Augmenting the aggression, panache and style of The Who, witness a whirlwind of sound and an amazing live show with Who’s Next. Up&Atom catch up with guitarist Dante, who has more than a slight resemblance to Mr Pete Townshend himself... He can also jump as high and he’s got the windmill licked too. Up&Atom - How did Who’s Next come together? Dante DiCarlo - I’d been in another Who tribute a few years back which was born from different members just recording Who covers on Youtube and getting to know each others videos. That band played at the 2010 Who convention where I met Who’s Next, who had been going since 2003 with various different members. I ended up covering on guitar for a few Who’s Next gigs when their regular guitarist couldn’t make it and after he left the band in 2013, I was asked to join full time.
DD - Though I love a lot of obscure Who songs, my favourite is still probably Baba O’Reilly because it’s so anthemic and uplifting. It’s also at the top of my list of songs to play [live] though I also really love playing Young Man Blues and Amazing Journey/Sparks. I tend to like the songs you can jam on a bit and improvise. U&A - What’s coming up for Who’s Next?
DD - We’re always gigging so we have a lot coming up which you can check out on our website. We’re playing (or we’ve just played, depending on when this is published!) the One U&A - You’ve obviously got to be a very Big Who Day event in Shepherd’s Bush, talented guitarist to expertly master the riffs, London which was very kindly sponsored by but you’ve also got the Madcap England, and we moves nailed down too. Is have some festival dates this something you’ve coming up, as well as a had to work at a lot? few exciting things next year - watch this space! DD - Yes, it did evolve over time. The windmills took a U&A - We are sure the bit of time to get right and success of Who’s Next then I’ve increased the means that a lot of your speed as well. You can cut spare time is taken up, your fingers and split nails but are you involved with doing it but I just have to any other bands or not worry about it and I projects? actually don’t hurt myself much these days! Before DD - No other bands at the I’d cut my thumb open at moment, but I write my every gig! own music and I’m in the Jumping around, at first, middle of recording a CD. Image © Laurence Pierce left me very out of breath as I wasn’t in great You can find me on Youtube under Dante shape! But I’ve got fitter now, though I wish I DiCarlo and I have a Facebook page for my was a bit more supple! music, which I will be updating when I get some more tracks done. There are some workU&A - You do have an uncanny resemblance in-progress demos up there at the moment. to Pete Townshend. Is that how you got into That can be found by searching for Dante this line of work, or is it a coincidence? DiCarlo - The Bloodthirsty Balladeer. DD - I’m skinny and I’ve got a big nose like Pete, ha ha, but it wasn’t until I became a big Who fan that I had people saying I reminded them a bit of him, so I guess it was just luck really. But no doubt, the way I move on stage has been influenced by watching The Who a lot. U&A - What’s your favourite Who track?
Find info and gig dates for Who’s Next at: www.premierwhotribute.com and www.facebook.com/premierwhotribute Find info on Dante’s music at: www.facebook.com/pages/Dan-DiCarlo-TheBloodthirsty-Balladeer/140916579308519 and www.youtube.com/user/MrModDog
Ev’rything’s Coming Up...
One of the latest sixties inspired musicals to hit the West End is Dusty, telling the story of sixties singer and icon, Dusty Springfield through the eyes of Dusty’s friend, Nancy Jones. Featuring experimental and innovative 3D effects, the audience can experience a virtual ‘Dusty’ performing her greatest songs with live music and backing vocals. We caught up with singer, Arabella Rodrigo who plays folk singer, Norma Tanega in the show... Up&Atom - Tell us about the show, Dusty? Arabella Rodrigo - The Dusty Show is a celebration of the iconic singer, Dusty Springfield. Dusty’s story is told through the eyes of her best friend, Nancy, who takes us on the journey of Dusty’s life from the start of her career to the height of the hit single, Son Of A Preacher Man. U&A - The show is described as a ‘multi media fusion musical’. What is that? AR - The show really is a 3D spectacle! Dusty’s original vocal tracks are combined with live backing vocals, live band and dancers, along with a 3D image of Dusty, as if she is on stage with us. There are also pieces of footage from original Dusty Springfield performances that are married with live performances from the cast and the band. U&A - Are you a Dusty Springfield fan yourself? AR - I was always a big fan of Dusty Spingfield; her voice is inspirational! After learning a bit more about her and what she has done for women in the industry and for integrated racial audiences, I have a new found respect for her that goes beyond her music. I was brought up on sixties music as my parents grew up in that era and love the music of the time. U&A - You play sixties folk singer, Norma Tanega in the show, who had a romantic relationship with Dusty. Did you know about her and her music before you joined the show?
AR - Norma is a great character to play. She is headstrong, feisty and completely in love with Dusty. In the show I sing a love duet with Dusty Springfield, All I See Is You. In real life, I believe she wrote some lyrics for Dusty and also attended recording sessions with her. Their relationship was intense but had to be kept very quiet due to the times they were living in. I’d never heard any of Norma Tanega’s music before I took this job, but that’s one of the great things about what I do! I get to discover new music all the time. U&A - How long have you been a professional singer? What made you want to pursue a career in music? AR - I’ve been a professional singer for around ten years. I have alway sung. I started at school in the choir and gradually started to get solos in concerts. When I was about 13, the music department was taken over by an American lady, Bette Grayfow and she changed my life direction. I started singing lessons and entering competitions and performed whenever I could. She was the one who told me I could be a professional and do a degree in singing. Thanks to her, I trained in singing at the London College of Music and then musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. I graduated in 2006 and have been working in the industry ever since. U&A - What’s your favourite type of music to sing? What else do you enjoy doing? AR - My favourite songs to sing are big, passionate ballads. I love singing Whitney Houston songs. Not many songs get written
The Madcap England ‘Lazy Daisy’ Dress is one of the dresses worn by the singers in Dusty. Find it at www.atomretro.com/16073
like that anymore; songs that you can throw your heart and soul into. Music takes over my life! When I am not performing, I am practicing the p i a n o , fl u t e o r more singing. I’m really getting into jazz at the moment. Other than that, I’m a passionate reader and eater! Sounds dull, but my life can get very hectic with work, c o n s t a n t l y performing and travelling, so sometimes I just like to curl up on the sofa and relax. U&A - In 2010 you went to be a singing entertainer in China. What was that like? AR - Working at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. In my first week, I got to perform in the Cotai Arena to an audience of around 15,000, that’s a buzz I will never forget. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. The rest of my time there was spent working as a gondolier singing opera to tourists as I rowed the indoor canals in my very own gondola, or singing with the Bluenote Band in one of the many bars around the casino. It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked, but it was totally worth it! U&A - There seems to be a trend for 50s
and 60s themed m u s i c a l s currently with Jersey Boys, Sunny Afternoon, Let It Be and Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (to name a few!) all proving popular - and now Dusty too. Do you think this is set to continue? AR - This trend has been around for a while now with shows like Dreamboats and Petticoats and now Sinatra too. I think that music from this era is a representation of the changes that were happening all over. Society was changing dramatically and music went with this. The era saw the birth of rock and roll; music inspired by rhythm and blues. Rock and roll took an African American sound and produced it for the masses. Integration was happening socially and this caused music genres to merge. It was certainly an exciting time for music and I think that’s why fifties and sixties music is still so popular. All the shows that are around are a celebration of this.
Arabella Rodrigo, photo by Garry Lake
U&A - You recently sent us a snap of you and your co-stars wearing the Madcap England ‘Lazy Daisy’ Dress which you all look fab wearing! Are you a fan of sixties fashion? AR - That dress is my favourite costume in the show. It’s a pleasure to dress up every day. I do love sixties fashion. My go to look is a mini dress and boots, and I also love big bold prints and bright colours. It’s the make-up that has taken the most getting used to. I go for a very natural look usually, so the big smokey eyes and false lashes were a shock at first! Dusty is currently at The Charring Cross Theatre, London Find info and book tickets at: www.thedustyshow.com Find more about Arabella at: www.arabellarodrigo.com & follow her on Twitter @ArabellaRodrigo
Quirky, retro and vintage inspired, Traffic People arrived at Atom Retro in 2014 and is already proving to be one of our top womenswear brands. Traffic People was established in East London, on the stalls of Camden and Portobello Road markets in 2002, with a view to provide womenswear for style-aware young women, who are on the look out for new trends and fashions but with a retro and vintage ethos. Inspired by the opulence and humour of 1920s and 1930s fashion, Traffic People designs are edgy, fresh and elegant, with a touch of luxury and glamour conscientiously added to each garment. Traffic People’s eclectic range of clothing encompasses everything you need from cocktail dresses and maxis through to jumpsuits, playsuits and cute little jackets. Traffic People’s original 1930s styling is now also complemented with nods to classic fashion from later decades, 1950s wiggle dresses and swing skirts, cutes 60s Mod shift dresses and 70s disco glamour. Find Traffic People at: www.atomretro.com/traffic_people
24. www.AtomRetro.com
...So the story begins...
Moore Than Meets The Eye... Ian Moore is a comedian, author, chutney maker and well-dressed mod. Ian has performed his stand up routine throughout the world, and is well known for his regular appearances on BBC 5Live’s Fighting Talk and BT Sports The Footballs On. He has also penned the hugely successful books, A La Mod: My So-Called Tranquil Family Life in Rural France and C’est Modnifique!: Adventures of an English Grump in Rural France. Up&Atom regular, Gibson London’s Simon Parr caught up with Ian for a good old chat...
U&A - How did you first get into comedy?
Bowie. Let’s hope he doesn’t play anything from the Tin Machine period...’ I thought Ian Moore - I was a corporate script writer nobody had heard, but my days there were and it was one of the dullest jobs - If you’ve numbered! ever seen any safety or training videos and stuff like that. I just wanted to write comedy. I went with a friend to see a comedy show and U&A - Do you have any live comedy gigs in thought, with typical macho bravado, I could the pipeline? do better! This friend rang up two weeks later and she said, ‘Why don’t you put your money IM - I do anything from three to half a dozen where your mouth is? I’ve booked you a gig. live gigs a week, mainly in the UK, but also all You’ve got a month to write some material over the world. I’ve worked in the US, and then you do your first gig!’ Canada, Australia, all over the Middle East and Europe. I look very British because of the U&A - You were voted the best dressed mod look and that travels well. I remember comedian. Is this true? playing a burlesque night in Boston, Massachusetts and it was very rowdy, as you IM - That’s what everyone says! I [was voted] can imagine. I walked on in a very sharp suit best dressed comedian which is a lovely and tie and very calmly asked them to thing, but also that kind of puts pressure on quieten down a bit and they did! There’s me. If you turn up and you’ve worn the same something about the combinations in the thing all weekend, which never happens, but mod look that gives off an air of authenticity. if it did, they’d be going, ‘You haven’t Either that, or they just thought, ‘What the changed your clothes for two shows in a f*ck is that?!’ row!’ So now I’ve go a sort of reputation to keep up! U&A - Why did you move to France? U&A - What happened during the ‘David Bowie’ incident when you were the warm up comic for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross?
IM - Because we could! I do a joke on stage that one of the reasons we moved to France was that it was the closest place to London that I could afford to buy a house, and that’s not far off the actual truth! We just wanted IM - Being a TV warm up needs highly skilled more for our money and we got it there. The performers who have an abundance of pace of life is good, they seem to have their patience. I have no patience at all! I was priorities right. asked to stand between 500 Bowie fans and the great man himself as he tuned up, and U&A - What’s it like living in France? ‘tell jokes’ to warm the crowd up. I was like a ghost in the room, totally ignored by IM - Well. there aren’t many of us mods for everyone! It was like I wasn’t there at all and I starters. I live in a very rural backwater, so it’s was dying pathetically on my arse! In a vain just me. It’s like mod missionary work really! I attempt to get any attention at all, I quipped, don’t compromise though so the locals see ‘So obviously you’re all here to see Mr me as a bit of an English eccentric and I’m
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...So the story begins...
known as ‘Mister So Briteesh’! The union jack is a very popular fashion symbol over here and anything ‘British’ is seen as very cool, so they think I’m quite cutting edge! They haven’t yet realised that I always dress like this. Not everyone is a fan though. We had a French Brittany Spaniel who was so anti-mod that every time he saw my parka (ideal fruit picking coat), he tried to urinate on it.
U&A - How did you get into the mod scene?
Ian Moore - Chutney came about through necessity firstly. An orchard came with the place we bought in France and there’s just too much fruit to get through. Apples, cherries, plums, pears, figs, peaches, walnuts, quince and medlar. But also, and this really is the rub, I don’t like fresh fruit, it’s anti-mod! All those unpredictable juices flying off all over the place and staining your clothes! So I boil all the goodness out of the fruit and put it in jars. It’s safer that way.
U&A - You have a fairly eclectic working schedule. Aside from the books, stand up and of course, chutney, can you tell us about your work in the field of sports?
IM - I was a mod as a kid. I was just too young and missed the mod revival. I had mates who had older brothers, so it was kind of in the air a little bit. And then (and I’m not trying to make it into some kind of religion or anything!) but when my first son was born, I just didn’t cope with life very well and I went back to being a mod. I needed rules and parameters and some kind of identity. Some people turn to religion, I turned to sharp suits and brogues. U&A - Do you own a scooter?
IM - No, I don’t own a scooter for the very simple reason that mechanically, I’m an idiot. I can’t even work a toaster without it Up&Atom - We hear you make your own breaking down on me, so I would be chutney? What’s the story behind that?! hopeless with a scooter!
IM - I love my sport and with so much of it about there’s been a growth in ‘comedy’ sports programmes, ones that cover sport but don’t take it too seriously. Fighting Talk has been an institution on BBC 5Live for years now and is a lot of fun to take part in. More recently, The Football’s On on BT Sport U&A - What’s your favourite food to go has become very popular, very quickly and with chutney? We’re after some ideas! we’re hoping that will continue in the next Plus, is your chutney available to buy? season, especially as BT have the rights to the Champions League. The IM - Always cheese for advantage of comedy me. A classic cheese programming about football b o a rd , a m i x t u re o f in particular is that you can French and English spout off about the game, cheeses, a baguette, a as everybody does, and if bottle of wine... evening you get it completely wrong light meal, bliss! Also as, again, everybody does though, I sometimes stir you can just say you were some chutney into a joking! I managed not to roast gravy or smear it wear the same outfit in any over a baked ham. I of the programmes I did last don’t really sell it, I tend season, but if they increase to give it away as my appearances next year, posting it is too difficult. that may be a difficult thing Having said that, though, to achieve! I have a large corporate client who needed 210 jars last Christmas..! Catch up with Ian Moore Proper chutney stress! and check out his comedy tour dates at www.ianmoore.info
Picture a dimly lit and misty scene, the atmosphere haunted by echoing wailing sounds and silence interrupted by dark subtle jazz vibes that linger on, all the while a continuous sleazy groove barely holds the moment together - like an anxious heartbeat in the dead of the night. Welcome to the haunt of Mama Roux, ladies and gentlemen, we advise you to proceed with caution. Mama Roux are an outfit that continue to defy traditions of music and make it extremely hard for their listeners to pigeonhole them to a certain ‘sound’ or ‘style’. They are a band with a ‘nocompromise’ attitude that continually march to their own drumbeat and remain outspoken in their deep meaningful lyrics that tell dark tales of timeless fables. The group have recently released their debut EP on 12” vinyl - a record that takes the listener on a musical experience; creeping through the voodoo ridden bayous of New Orleans and then instantly teleported all the way to a tension ridden speakeasy backroom during the New York prohibition. To coincide with the release of the Mama Roux EP, Atom Retro are giving you the chance to win a signed copy of Mama Roux’s first edition vinyl record to add to your collection, plus 3 x £20 Atom Retro voucher runner up prizes. To enter the competition, simply tweet @mamarouxband describing the sound of Mama Roux in one sentence, after listening to their track, The Storm, which can be found at www.mamaroux.net/storm Competition deadline is 6th September 2015, and 5 lucky winners and 3 runner ups will be chosen by the band, based upon your answers! See www.mamaroux.net for more info.
The Magic Mod He’ll Put A Spell On You!
He’s got plenty of tricks up his sleeve and is sure to leave you wondering just how he did it, but a magician never reveals his secrets! The Magic Mod is a master of card tricks and he holds all the aces when it comes to getting a reaction from his audience. We conjured up a few questions and through an amazing feat of wizardry transported them over (via email) to the Magic Mod, who kindly answered them for us. Up&Atom: How did you first become U&A: What’s the best reaction you’ve ever interested in magic? had to a magic trick? Magic Mod: At the age of six, I received a Paul Daniels magic set from my parents and it really did change my life! I was practicing nearly twenty-four seven, trying to perfect each trick and when I did, I would perform a show for my family and friends. I also used to charge them! The first trick I believe I learnt, was the Cups and Balls. It is still one of my favourite tricks and also one of the oldest tricks about.
MM: I’ve had people spit their drinks out, drop their drinks - I’ve also nearly had someone pass out! But the best reaction I have ever had was from Steve Craddock. He invited me back stage to show him my magic. His reaction was priceless and at one point he nearly fell off his chair! U&A: Are there any people you’ve performed magic for who really stick in your memory? MM: I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a lot of big names in the music and TV industry, but ones that really stand out are the footballers who have played for the team I’ve supported from a young age, Fulham Football Club. I have built a really good relationship with a lot of them and even work my magic of the golf course with a lot of them! U&A: How long does it take to master a new trick? MM: I have been lucky enough to pick up tricks quite quickly. I think it’s because I’m always thinking about what I can do with household objects and anything else that is around me. Some slight of hand takes a bit longer and can be very frustrating if I can’t do it straight away! I have ruined a few decks of cards in the past! U&A: You have a unique angle on performing magic. How much do you have to think about what you say or do during performances or is a lot of it spontaneous? MM: I don’t like the whole idea of having a script in magic. I feel the mood of the crowd around and and base my performance on that.
I’m always having a laugh and a joke, which is good because if they don’t remember the magic they will definitely remember the humour, ha ha! U&A: Do you devise your own tricks? MM: I have come up with a lot of ideas for tricks and I do make up and change effects of tricks. I’m a strong believer that you have to make more tricks to be entertained.
I like him so much is because he is so unique and diverse and he really stands out, head and shoulders above the rest. Another magician I admire, is a French magician called David Stone. The tricks he does with coins are unbelievable - you really do need to see it to believe it! U&A: Outside of magic, what else interests you?
U&A: Do you ever reveal how you do any of your tricks or is everything top secret?
MM: Did I mention that I scored at Craven Cottage in front of a few thousand?! Ha ha! I love shopping and I’m MM: I would probably get always in Camden or kicked out of Hogwarts if I Brighton, looking for told people how I do my new bits of clothing, tricks! I never reveal any that’ll make me stand of my tricks because I out when I’m believe that if you’ve performing. My mastered it, and taken so favourite piece of long to learn it, why would clothing is a cravat and you let that all go to waste I often wear one while in a few seconds? performing. I also love a classic parka and style is a massive part of my career. I’ve been called U&A: Which other magicians or illusionists the best dressed magician a few times! do you admire? Music plays a big part in my life and I love everything from Northern Soul to Ska to MM: One magician you would have heard of is Britpop to Indie. A couple of my favourite David Blaine, who is my role model. The reason bands are the Small Faces, The Specials, The Stone Roses and of course, Oasis - and the list goes on! U&A: Have you got any performances or events coming up? MM: This year has been a very busy one for me, doing lots of music after parties, a lot of DJ sets and of course a lot of stuff at Fulham. I have a couple of big gigs coming up soon, at this time I can’t say too much, so keep your eyes peeled - check my website a n d f o l l o w m e o n Tw i t t e r (@taylormod) for info! Catch up with The Magic Mod at
www.themagicmod.com
...And in the end...
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