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Good Vibrations. Issue 4 Welcome to another spell binding issue of good vibrations.............. In this edition we chronicle a day in the life of Bodywork Piercing 2 at Grand Central, in comic strip form. If hats are what you’re after then head to HATZ B 4 U AASK where we interview the wonderful Tony at his shop in Grand Central. We also interview the band Rumjig; with their ultra-special Bugsy Malone charity fundraiser at The Casa on Hope Street on Fri 12th June and them trotting around quirky festivals in the summer, they’re certainly a band to telegram home about! We preview what’s going on at the next Good Vibrations club night on Thursday 21st May with an action packed up line up including local rockabilly band favorites, Blue Demon, bluesy, jazzy duet Robert John and Rosie (Rosie being the keyboard player from Cradle of Filth) and Liverpool ghouls of frighteningly scary rock, Apple Cannon. We also see who’s like burning hot coals on the local music scene, with reviews of Israeli band, The Apples at Mu and Good Vibrations and Windmill supporting Fairtrade at The White Room on Smithdown Road.
Tony at HATZ B 4 U AASK
MU at Magnet
James Wilson – Editor and advertising manager Thanks to all these people for their phenomenal efforts on this edition of the magazine. Well done and pat on your camel hump back. An extra special mention to Sarah, who has wonderfully filled the breach of designer for the magazine, so a big ode of gratitude to you.
Design of front page Michael Prest Design, co-editor and photographer Jenny McKevitt Design of magazine Sarah Coates Journalists Rowena Mbanu, Simon Keat, Julia Gordon and Anushka Tanna Proof reader Simon Keat Photographers Stephen Atherton (Mu at Magnet) and Claire Freeman Windmill (Fairtrade/White Room gig)
The wonderful staff at Bodywork piercing 2 CONTRIBUTORS ........................... Thanks to all the advertisers for deciding to advertise and also to all the people who have attended my club night thus far. There is no club night without you. Also, thanks for Michael Prest for his eccentric design work on the posters and Keith Thompson for his sound equipment and expertise on the night. Want to get in touch with the magazine and be in the know about the club night? Then get paddling down the following communication streams: CONTACT DETAILS ........................... Mobile: 07507844511 Email: goodvibrations4@googlemail.com Website: www.goodvibesbrand.com MySpace: www.myspace.com/goodvibrations4 Facebook: add my name as Good Vibrations for details of nights and magazine!
By Julia Gordon
This month I was asked to interview and explore a wee grotto called HATZ B 4 U ASSK in the basement heart of Quiggins. It’s owned and mostly manned by a lively, huge smiled (see pictures), helpful, fellow hippy, rasta called Tony. Before I even knew the precise location of his establishment, I could hear the warm hyper rumblings of a very, very bubbly Tony. Walking into this cove of accessories galore you are instantly submerged by the funkiest, trendiest hatz, belts, bags, over-the-knee socks, buckles, necklaces, ear-muffs, sweat-bands, sunglasses, blinged caps, tartan trilbys, slouchies of every pattern, colour and size, aviators, ties and more. It’s all extremely reasonably priced with the average hat costing £8-10. Next time you’re in Quiggins, go down and feast your eyes upon some treats and purchase yourself something of true individuality for your head down to ya feet. Plus you’ll have the pleasure of sweet banter with the happening Tony. marshal arts chi, so instead of Mad Hatters’ tea we can make it Mad Hatters Chi Party. That’s what I wear, you know, when I’m being gimmicky, like for Halloween and all that. I’ve got a massive top hat! Also, if you look up there (points to a metal knights helmet), I put that helmet on sometimes.
Do you make your own hatz? Yep, I make some of my own. For example, these two you won’t find anywhere else in the market as I have had them especially made. (Pulls out a huge black knitted slouch hat, rimmed with rasta colours and big enough to embrace the largest and longest dreads). The second one is a turquoise and brown striped beanie with a cap peak coming off it with the same stripes. Another that I’ve made is an oversized Nepali hat also for the dreaded fit.
Marilyn Monroe: She’s sophisticated; I’d see her with one of those with the pull over net. Yeah, because she’s sophisticated even though she isn’t…
Here is a list of celebrities. With your expertise and hatting knowledge I would like to hear your view on what they should be wearing.
Do you sell those? No, but I get them when the girls ask me for them. I go and get some from my supplier rather than have them in all the time.
Pat Butcher from Eastenders: She should be wearing a kind of baker boy hat I think. When I think of Pat Butcher I think of The Days of Pearly Spencer, you know all those little pearls and buttons to make a nice, full kind of hat.
So people can order stuff off you? Yeah all the time, I’ve got loads of orders. I can pretty much get whatever people want.
When you are out and about do you check people’s hats out? Always, always. I just look at peoples styles and the colour and especially I look to see if they are wearing mine. I’ve been doing this 3 years now, so you know, I see them a lot.
If you could be a hat, whose would you be and what type of hat would you be? It would have to be a top hat wouldn’t it, so I could belong to the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. I have another expanse of expression that goes Mad Hatter’s Chi Party, you know as in
Is that when you started? I started off standing in the street in Birkenhead about four and half years ago, then I progressed to the Heritage Market on a Sunday, and then from the stall in the market, I got this shop. I left the Heritage last November and moved over to the new shop on Bold Street.
Jamie Oliver: Probably gonna wear one of these slouch beanies and probably a stripy one (brown, white, green) because he’s quite a flamboyant, out going guy; something with character.
Gordon Brown: Gordon Brown should just wear a sack over his head! Amy Winehouse: Wow, she’s nice her isn’t she… I think she could do with one of those top hat things; the little tiny ones that can sit just on the side.
Do you sell top hats here? I do, I even sell Sombreros... Just in case you’re off to Mexico. If the shop had a favourite drink what would it be? Guinness; a good sturdy pint of Guinness.
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Yeah you can even make one up if you want…. (Without hesitation) Ok, well I think I’d like to have one of those little cuddly gremlin things, but before it was a gremlin. I’d call her Princess I guess and it would just look cute, sing and dance and just generally entertain. I’ve heard you’ve opened a new shop - What you selling there? I decided to open a new branch, to catch people on Bold Street. The idea is to catch 80% the same and 20% different, so come down and have a look.
Quiggins, Grand Central Hall, Basement Level, Renshaw Street, Opposite Rapid Hardware. Petticoat Lane Arcade, 100 Bold Street, In front of FACT, The boho end of bold street… Opening times: Mon-Sat 11.30am-5.30pm, Petticoat Lane Shop is also open Sundays 12-4pm. Tel: (0151) 717 1778 or 07876523716 Email: hatzb4uassk@gmail.com Website: www.hatzb4uassk.co.uk
Competition Time! Win a glorious free Hat at Hatz b4 You Assk. please...
Drum roll
How many Hatz b4 u Assk shops are the in Liverpool, one or two? All you have to do is email the right answer to this question to goodvibrations4@googlemail.com and clearly state your name.
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Ok, so last but silly question. If you could have a little thing or person that could hang out with you in your shop what would you have, what would it be called and what would it do? Little thing! Little thing! What?! So I could have any little thing from anywhere? Out to of the universe?
So where is the new shop? It’s at Petticott Lane Arcade, 100 Bold Street in front of the FACT. Drop by any time between 11:305:30pm Mon-Sat and Sun 12pm4pm. Nice one Tony. Thanks a lot and I wish you all the best with your growing hat empire!
Where’s Tony?
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Photo’s taken by Jennifer Mckevitt
Good Vibrations and Windmill supporting Fairtrade...........
Week At The White Room Review by Anushka Tanna The 23rd February–8th March marked this years ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’. Highlights included a series of regional debates on trade, climate change, shopping and examining how Fairtrade is part of the solution, with reference to helping marginalised farmers and workers. The White Room on Smithdown Road got involved by hosting an evening of fun-filled frolics and Fairtrade treats. The coffee shop has an eclectic cliental, many of whom can often be seen surfing the web whilst sampling the many Fairtrade delights that The White Room has to offer. With its relaxed atmosphere, sofas to sprawl out on and friendly staff at your service, it proved to be an excellent choice for Fridays event. The night kick started with Si Keat DJing and as people slowly started to pile in, they were captivated by the beautiful sounds coming from the corner of the room. Almost hidden away and lost in his own musical genius, Stan the Man added to the tranquil surroundings with his soft, melodic harp compositions. Stan, who can often be spotted playing in the Green Fish Café in town, has a wonderful knack of weaving melodies into the subconscious, leaving people feeling like they’re floating in the air… Or maybe that’s just me? When my feet touched the ground again, they were able to start moving around and funking about to the sound of Jules ‘Kalika’ Gordon; leading lady of (the soon to be reformed) Rumjig. She livened up the crowd with a few of her own numbers, Summer Blue, Sick Parody and Reasons n Rhyme, before sneaking in a couple of amazing covers by Nina Simone and The Cat Empire.
Not only is Kalika a spangtastic singer/songwriter with a complete dedication and passion for music, she truly enjoys performing and always manages to draw the crowd into her vibe. Stopping occasionally to regain her funk and to banter with her spectators, Kalika has an energy on stage that can only be described as a beautiful rarity. Jules also teamed up with her younger sister, who performed a Lea Gordon original, with Jules doing backing vocals; the combination was sweeter than the Mars Bar Cheesecake I’d devoured moments before the pair performed.
Beautiful Gordon Togetherness Bringing the evening to a close, The Maybes? front man, Nick Ellis begged ‘Please, please, please, let me get what I want’ – just to clarify, he wasn’t being demanding, they’re just lyrics from one of his songs. I’ve seen The Maybes? perform as a band in a number of venues across Liverpool and the great thing about them is they always manage to adapt to their audience. I wouldn’t have initially thought that performing in a coffee shop would be Ellis’ idea of a gig, but he looked like he was having fun and sounded as great and earthy as always. He often gives the impression that his material’s unrehearsed, by nonchalantly grabbing the mic and throwing his tunes out there, potentially raw and messy, but he always makes it work incredibly well. Each of the acts added a unique layer to form the mellow funky ambiance that was created in The White Room. The crowd, who ranged from about 5–70 years old, all looked like they were having a good time so a big thumbs up for being able to generate a night that was suitable for all! For more information about Good Vibrations events, check out: MySpace: www.myspace.com/goodvibrations4 Email: goodvibrations4@googlemail.com Website: www.goodvibesbrand.com
Facebook: Add us where friendly - The group is Good Vibrations
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Windmill is a workers co-operative, established in 1991, providing vegetarian and vegan wholefoods and natural bodycare, as well as an organic vegetable bag delivery service to the Liverpool community. As an ethical social enterprise, Windmill only stock products that are kind to the environment and consider zhuman and animal welfare, with a growing range of Fairtrade goods
Get in touch with the lovely, friendly store at: 337 Smithdown Road (corner of Gainsborough Road) L15 3JJ Bus routes: 86 from town, or 60 between Bootle and Aigburth Opening hours: 9.30-6pm (late opening til 7.30pm on Thursdays) 9.30-5.30pm Saturdays, closed Sundays (it’s our day of rest!)
Tel: 0151 734 1919 Email: sayhello@windmillorganic.co.uk Website: www.windmillorganic.co.uk
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Interview by Anushka Tanna
The Apples and 6ix Toys.......................... This month MU at The Magnet served up at good helping of funk, courtesy of 6ix Toys and Israeli crowd pleasers, The Apples.
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esident DJs including Johnny1Move and Buddha warmed us up nicely for a night of snarling trumpets, heavy bass and melodic sax. First up were 7 piece funk band, 6ix Toys, who have just dropped their cover of The Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’. Based in Liverpool, the band are well known, so received a welcoming response from the crowd. 6ix Toys created the right atmosphere to start the night. Their sound is playful and easy to listen to, but they lacked the extra kick to capture your attention and stop you talking to your mates. I was expecting a raw experimental experience with more improvisation but instead I found a diluted pop version of funk that was fun but washed over one’s senses fairly unnoticed. There were definitely some individuals who stood out but for me, 6ix Toys never really locked as a unit. However they were clearly well loved by everyone else who danced to their hearts content. Then Israeli funk/jazz/hip-hop outfit The Apples graced the stage and injected some much needed excitement. Their sound is very innovative and samples everything from traditional Jewish melodies to 90s dance tracks. The low twangs of the bass and the hoots of the horns were complimented by turntables, creating an irresistible energy that sent strong waves of movement throughout the audience. The night came to a sweaty climax when the band played their notorious cover of ‘Killing In The Name Of’ and there wasn’t a static body left in the house. By Rowena Mbanu
6ix Toys in Full flow
Dj Rasp Rasping it up
Gobbling up the sweet Apples music
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