Issue 016 DECEMBER 2014
Welcome
t o ‘ I N T H E C L U b ’ , t he O F F I C I A L T U E S D A Y C L U B I N T E R A C T I V E M A G a z ine - B R O U G H T TO Y O U I N C O N J U N C T I O N w i t h T H E P E R F E C T P O P C O - O P and o ur friends
It’s the end of (another) year and here I am again, writing (another) end of year...thing. Only seems like five seconds since I wrote the last one. Doesn’t time fly. Speaking of time flying, we’ve done 22 gigs this year. I’ve just looked back over our past efforts and was surprised to see that we supported B-Movie way back in March! Doesn’t seem that long ago. However, I’ll refrain from being my usual flippant self and be serious for a change.
I think that anyone who’s been in a band for longer than a few weeks will understand that there comes a point when things just click. I think that happened for this band this year - alot of things seem to have dropped into place nicely. Also, outside of our inward looking band circles (as sometimes, it’s hard to see things from the outside in while concentrating on what effect to put where in a song, who’s giving Jordan/J-Rod a lift into London as he’s a big girl and scared of driving in London, who’s late sending their bits to Andy/AVDB for this mag, what time Terry/Telski has to be home, etc etc), there’s been alot of love for what we do and for that we say a heartfelt thank you to all the people who came along to see us support Toyah the other week, all the people who come to our shows when it’s cold and wet and Eastenders has a good story on the go/warm and sunny and we’re playing in darkened back room somewhere, all the promoters/venue owners/festival organisers who have stuck their hands in their pockets when they knew they weren’t expected to, Matt Turvey for being his usual mental self and trying to convert all and sundry to the church of the TC and our lovely Denise for being super fantastic. We thank you all. Finally, it goes without saying that the music industry is tougher and more stratified than it’s ever been these days, so our mission for 2015 is simply to entertain you and hopefully add a few more mp3s to your collection. I sincerely hope that I can write this piece at the end of next year and say ‘yeah, 2015 was a good year too.’ Merry Christmas
J-Rod. Guitarist Stage Left, and typo.
M A G (NIFICENT)
7 - D ecem b e r ( Y U L E T I D E S P E C I A L ! ) . . . Wha t The Tuesday C lu b are s t ic k ing in t heir eardrums ! Andreas Vanderbraindrain: Devo - Think Fast http://youtu.be/QnIyldKLoMo The Minx: V.D King - More Cowbell www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEIx4KnAtHU Wasabi Penis: Rachel Stamp - Dead Girl http://youtu.be/hAuyrNu5JBI J-Rod: Snakehips - Days With You youtube.com/watch?v=kA2BSluxql8 Rogerio Marauder: The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR9x7_refwY? The Beautiful Wolf: Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel http://youtu.be/-TAlS7J9Ofk Tittybar Telski: Steelers Wheel - Stuck in the middle with you http://youtu.be/DohRa9lsx0Q Thanks to: Design @8ecreative, Tiggy Pop. Editor: Reggie Mental. Photography: Neil Stephenson, Jord, AVBD, The Eye, Sarah Martin Words: Denise Parsons, The Minx, Faye Don’tlikeitupum, Stuart Pidboy, Don Tellumpike, Don T. Panic, Sister Dolly, AVBD, Beautiful Wolf, J-Rodz
Role of honour 2014, thanks for all your support!
Contents Cover star: The Tuesday Club
Magnificent 7
2-3
What’s going on in our musical world
Our Year in Pictures
4-7
Some fab memories of 2014
Christmas Shopping with the TCs! 8 All your stocking filler ideas!
Da Minx’s Christmas Crackers
9
The Chanteuse Speaks!
Who’s In the Club
10-11
Alex Mckay’s Christmas video classics!
(Club) Foot tappers
12-13
AVBD, J-Rod and The Beautiful Wolf trawl their record collections. Plus this months ‘lost artist’ is Clive Pig and the Hopeful Chinamen
Roger
14-16
The tangent randomings of an aging punk!
The Parson’s Knows Denise, gives us all the news from Trestle Arts base, St.Albans and it’s environs.
18-22
badour, London Thurs Mar 6 - The Trou d Helene Greenwood With Damn Vandals an - Electrowerkz, London t or pp Su E VI MO BSat Mar 15 St. Albans Wed Mar 19 - The Boot rts Radio Weds April 2 - West He ess Vintage, London Sat April 5 - Paper Dr unch Party) (New Glamour Single La ans - The 88 Support lb .A St , rn Ho e Th 11 Sat April Inn, Harpenden Tues April 15 - Amble e Arts Base, St.Albans Sat April 26 - Trestl th Festival, Watford Sun Jun 8 - Papermou lwyn Garden City We , om Ro n ee Gr e Th Sat Jun 7 Festival, Dublin m oo Bl u Yo 4 /1 13 ne Fri/Sat Ju St. Albans Wed Jun 18 - The Boot Boy, St.Albans Sat July 12 - Farmers ot Weds Sept 24 - The Bo ia Festival 2014, Sat Sept 27 - Cornucop H BIG COUNTRY) Burton Constable (WIT s Vintage, London Sat Oct 18 - Paper Dres le Launch Party) (My Consciousness Sing d Eights, London Thurs Oct 23 - Aces an (Scant Regard support) d Lion, St.Albans Sun Oct 26 - Lower Re y, St.Albans Sat Nov 1 - Farmers Bo ) (ADAM ANT CONVENTION on nd Lo b, Li tAn 8 Sat Nov n 02 (TOYAH support) Sat Nov 22 - Islingto ts, St.Albans Sat Nov 29 - Trestle Ar
facebook.com/thisisthetuesdayclub @thetuesdayclub1 AVBD - @Vnderbraindrain The Minx - @TCTheMinx R. Marauder - @YTDS Dave Worm - @Roddamiser J-Rod - @JRod_TC www.youtube.com/thisisthetuesdayclub thisisthetuesdayclub.co.uk info@thisisthetuesdayclub.co.uk pinterest.com/thetuesdayclub thetuesdayclub.tmstor.es
g n i g g i g m fro k a e r b a g and in k P a E t t e r x ’ e e n W the d r o c e r e all u o y while w e e s ur, so o t be e r h e t v e e w g o n h a r ar will e W p . e e 15 k l o i s r p ’ A b in e Clu h t n I ‘ g xx x continuin ! n a J n d i ‘um peele
The Tuesday Club
thanks to Sarah Martin, @8ecreative, Anna Wakeling and The Eye for their fab photos
2014 in pictures!
thanks to Maria Rosamojo for her great pics of the 02 Islington
!! s! i s a m st ri h C r o f t n a w U O Y ALL for, p po t ec rf Pe ’s Cd d an ’s p3 There’s vinyl, m
fate, ol ho sc g, n i d ed w y, ar rs ve i n an birthday, ! ay el d ’t n Do ! as m st ri ay Ch , d ot bo s car e u T t nex
- The , CD l y n i See you V ite h W Album oad! l n w o d and MP3 Including all the hits! LIVE FAVES!!
Dolly Dynamite Ain’t Got No Class Money Means Nothing Nanananana She Splayed My Teeth New Regime (Slow Swing) Replication and Montage All You Do Is Wow New Glamour
Wish My Slate Was Cleaner
Vinyl As a Manifesto
Brand A e r Singl u o live m a + l g G n o s w Ne f the o n Availo . i e s r e m v i t new re your o f with e b , D C d l O d e fave enhanc oad! d l l o n G w o d n o able nd MP3 a o e d i v special
My Consciousness EP + Harsh Tales of Ancient News an d Something Major. Available on Silver and MP3 download! EP 1 of a set of 4!
BUY THEM ALL HERE...
www.thetcshop.com
and
DAMinx It’s not always easy to know who you are talking to at Tuesday Club gig. Looking for the cowbell
ComparetheMinki.com ... Don’t get minxed up! This is Minx’ Christmas list. Feel free to buy for Minx (minions should try kepp secret Minx gift) Do not need to buy for minion as being Minx minion is present all year round. Firstly now J-Rod
Minx also quite like hat and jacket of this lady, though will not wear with no top as get nipple chill. And all girl want jewellery so this should be enough diamond bling thing. Of course, Minx always want shoes, though is winter, so for practical purpose am thinking of
has stolen Minx tank bike, Minx need another. Kettenkrad NSU, Type HK101, 1945 milweb.net/webvert/68453 Secondly, to match diamond encrust Uzi, would like diamond encrust revolver. Need new Minx furry Russian hat. Is not cold in UK but still need for when go to summer house in Transylvania for winter. (quite like jacket too, so feel free go mad) Minx also need new watch – quite like this Mars watch which contain small piece of meteorite. Of course, also contain diamonds. http://daily-dealss.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/ meteoris-by-louis-moinet-astronomical.html
boots, so any of following (or all if ‘feeling flush’ so says builder minion) will suffice …And of course, last but not least Minx be no pantomime villain, Minx is princess and shall go to ball, so shall need dress. This will be perfect. благодарю Вас очень много приспешников счастливого Рождества! видеть Вас в счастливого нового года
In the club(ish) with
Alex McKay
Hello there! Alex McKay here. When I’m not busy causing havoc in the Radio Verulam studios (on Monday nights at 10pm til Midnight and soon to be Fridays 8pm til 10...), I love nothing more than sinking into my couch and watching films. I especially love doing that at Christmas time. With that in mind, here are the 5 films that it wouldn’t be Christmas for me without them.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
There are many different versions of the Charles Dickens classic, and there will be many more to come. For me, Brian Henson’s take on the tale (the first Muppet film after Jim Henson’s passing, no less) is the definitive article. As told through the narration of The Great Gonzo and Rizzo The Rat, the film offers up memorable songs, more great jokes than you can keep count of, and a show stealing turn from Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. What sets this apart for me is, while it pays respect to the original book, it never once takes itself too seriously. This film had a lot to prove, so they pulled out all of the stops and classic characters (Animal’s cameo, a family full of Miss Piggies, Benson Honeydew and Beaker collecting for charity) and made a film full of nods, winks and self references. But most importantly, it’s damn funny. Rizzo and Gonzo’s interludes alone have me howling with laughter, but then you add in Scrooge’s employees and Miss Piggy as Bob Cratchet’s take-no-nonsense long suffering wife, you have a comedy that stands the test of
e t i r u o v a F My ! s e i v o M Christmas
time. And I defy anyone to watch this and not get emotional at Robin The Frog as Tiny Tim.
Favourite Moment: Statler & Waldorf as the ghosts of Marley & Marley. That song is catchy as hell. Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas
The Snowman is an all time British institution at Christmas. Two years ago it’s sequel Snowman And The Snowdog once again warm our hearts and had us weeping into our hot drinks. There is denying they are two of THE films to watch at Christmas. But they’re not my favourite. No, my favourite of Raymond Briggs’ three animated Christmas specials is the overlooked middle child of the trilogy, Father Christmas. Set on Christmas Eve as he’s getting ready for the big night, the jolly man in red himself turns and addresses the audience directly. And it turns out he’s not so jolly after all. No, it turns out poor old Saint Nick has spent every day of this year desperately trying to relax. He’s tried everywhere. From getting an upset stomach in the countryside, to being ridiculed for being an English buffoon in a classy French restaurant, to hitting the jackpot at Vegas, it turns out the lovable, laughing and happy man we assume Santa to be is really just like the rest of us Brits: Stressed, grumpy and always moaning. It’s a fun and distinctly British take on the man who defines the holiday. And who plays the man himself? Mel Smith. Perfect casting.
Favourite Moment: The French restaurant scene. That and the adorable pets.
Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave
In all honestly it was very hard to choose just one Wallace & Gromit. If I find the time I watch all of them (yes, that includes Were-Rabbit and Loaf And Death). But my personal favourite is this one. More action packed than A Grand Day Out, more child-friendly than The Wrong Trousers (that penguin, quite frankly, TERRIFIED me as a child), A Close Shave is a fun and heart warming half hour full of everything we love about W&G: cracking inventions (porridge gun!), a villain’s crazy scheme, and several shots of Gromit rolling his eyes at Wallace’s dim decisions. Wallace’s love interest Wendolene adds a lot of chuckles at his expense, and there’s just something so wonderfully sinister about the big bad, Preston. Also, it gave us Shaun The Sheep. That makes it the best Wallace & Gromit film by default.
Favourite Moment: Gromit piloting a bike sidecar that turns into a plane. Eat your heart out, Snoopy! It’s A Wonderful Life
This film endures for a reason: It is the ultimate feel good film. Telling the life story of George Bailey (James Stewart) and his falling in love and settling down with his childhood sweetheart (Donna Reed), the film reaches a pivotal moment when George wanders aloud something many of us in our lowest moments have wondered: After suffering a long downward spiral from money woes and sheer bad luck, George takes off into the night and thinks to himself that so many people in his life would probably be better off if he was dead, or better still if he’d never been born. And with that the film really takes off. Angel Second Class Clarence steps in and shows George how different people’s lives would be without him, in a bid to show George that every kind gesture big and small has impact, and also to prove he is worthy of graduating to earning his Angel’s wings.
charisma and infectious child-like enthusiasm for everything has ensured this film has stood the test of time. Donna Reed’s scenes serve as the true heart of the story, and I maintain that Mr. Potter is one of the greatest antagonists in film history. I recommend this as a double bill with another James Stewart classic, Harvey.
Favourite Moment: George running through the street yelling “MERRY CHRISTMAS” at every person (and building) he passes. Die Hard
In many ways, this is the ultimate action film. Team of bad guys holding hostages? Check. Lone hero with his back against the wall? Check. Explosions? Check. But often overlooked is the fact that this film takes place at Christmas Eve. Therefore its safe to say that this is the most action packed Christmas film ever made. While Alan Rickman takes great pleasure in hamming it up as bad guy Hans, Bruce Willis runs around shooting henchman and dirtying his white vest. Which suddenly turns green halfway through the film. The reason I love this film so much isn’t so much the action (which is awesome), nor the performances from the cast, but it’s the script. This film is packed full of brilliant one liners and quips from beginning to end, mainly from Willis, but comic relief character Argyle gets plenty of great moments, as does Rickman delivering several sarcastic remarks with a dry smirk. It’s an instantly quotable, hilarious and all guns blazing blockbuster that serves as a perfect antidote to the cheesy clichés we are always bombarded with every December. Willis says it best. Welcome to the party, pal.
Favourite Moment: The final line, delivered by limo driver Argyle. A brilliant way to close the film.
Honorary Mentions: Home Alone & Home Incredibly, when this film was first released it was Alone 2, Scrooged, The Gruffalo, Groundhog an absolute flop, but the film’s rich tapestry of Day, Love Actually, Jingle All The Way intertwining lives anchored by James Stewart’s
Hear Alex here every Monday... radioverulam.com/?q=users/alex-mckay
B U L C Foot tappers
‘COS the Platters still matter.. .
Dear Club fans, welcome to AVBD and The Beautiful Wolf’s monthly round up of the new, the old, the signed, the unsigned and the inspirational, from our very own musical old curiosity shop, where we pick and podcast 10( ish) tracks that turn us on... with a little help from J-Rod! Here’s a selection of the featured tracks, but you’ll have to listen to find out more :-)
did get manufactured a worth a small fortune with collectors. It wasn’t until 1982, when the could imagine... ‘My Consciousness’ Get yours then T.Rex fanclub released it, (also in picture disc), that here thetcshop.com it finally saw the light of day! It has been a yule tide, nay Arthur Lowe - The Christmas Day staple for AVBD Unfortunates A classic ever since. cassette only track by the fabulous Unfortunates, who we youtu.be/IOpNUK1EHYA were lucky enough to gig with twice last Cristina - Things Fall year. The Apart (A lead track Christmas is about the Classic) Not new addition only is the to our front long lost 80s cover... Can jem Siouxsie you spot him? Sioux of the Banshees favourite Christmas youtu.be/-n6RuWO1auw song, it’s also our very own Steve Severin’s (The Beautiful T.Rex - Christmas Bop Wolf) too! “They killed a tree of A cult classic for T.Rex fans, 97 years and smothered it in this track was never released in Marc Bolan’s lifetime, having lights and silver tears” Ho Ho NO!... Merry Christmas... been pressed, but shelved at the last minute in Christmas youtu.be/xObshE1D-OM 1975. The original copies that This month’s featured track from The Tuesday Club, is - the best stocking filler you
The Dash - I’m cancelling Christmas Continuing with the Humbug! Next up we have the newly reconfigured The Dash who featured in article form last month, with a sorry tale of booze and melancholy... Not like an AVBD live performance? There’s no video for this song , so here’s them appearing in an advert for Impulse... Sorry, but we couldn’t help it! Maybe buy yourself some for Christmas? youtu.be/HXM_AUKc2nY The Horrors - Mirrors Image Taken from the bands (2nd) 2009 album Primary Colours,. We promise we didn’t set out to make this a miserable playlist, but we’re failing aren’t we! At least this track is more psychedelic
SPECIAL REQUEST SPOT! T S I T
R A T LOS
of the month!
Clive Pig & The Hopeful Chinamen - 1979-1981 than sad! Showed there humorous side by appearing in the Mighty Boosh once too... that’s a Christmassy thing to do isn’t it? ... A Christmassy side?
This months lost artist is the legendary (certainly in the St.Albans area) Mr.Clive Pig, a staple of our old Recharged Radio Shows especially with his classic - Happy Birthday Sweet 16.
youtu.be/0EOPIi4Q3lM We hope you enjoy this months podcast, don’t forget you can subscribe to them and listen again at: mixcloud.com/ thisisTheTuesdayClub We hope you all have a fab Christmas and we’ll see you all for an even more fabber 2015!
To find out more about these and other tracks on our show download your FREE podcast...
click
here
Whitehouse brigade from passing it ‘fit for broadcast’. Pop stardom would maybe have spoiled him anyway. Backed by the Hopeful Chinamen: Nick Haeffner (guitar), Gary Hawkins (drums) and originally John Walpole (bass) and Pete Ridley (guitar), the group played a handful of live gigs, most notoriously the Waldo’s Package gig on 10th August 1979, where they played to a packed Civic Hall (Alban Arena). Clive was to play bass guitar with Nick and Gary on subsequent recordings and an album was issued entitled ‘Sailor With A Telescope’ on cassette only (TS 013). Clive also recorded solo for the Waldo’s label: the ‘Benjamin Beat’ EP (BS 010), as well as with session musicians on the single ‘The Whale Zoo’ (NRIC 020).
The talented Mr Pig combined his wonderful lyrical genius with some super-catchy tunes to create an impressive catalogue of over 100 recordings, many of which were issued on vinyl and cassette during his spell on the Waldo’s Records label. The first of these, ‘Happy Birthday Sweet 16’, (CS 004) almost became a hit when it was put on the Capitol Radio playlist in 1979. London’s Pinnacle Records licensed the track but the lyrics prevented the BBC’s
Thanks once again to the excellent satellitestalbans.co.uk website for this info
The tangent randomings
of an aging grumpy punk …
So, there I am, mid Sunday evening, cosy on the sofa, wine glass (always half full), engrossed in a particularly unpleasant chapter of Peter Ackroyd’s Biography of London…. The one expounding on the way various and different ways London has dealt with the proliferation of filth, excrement, effluvia, rubbish, sewage, waste produce etc., down all the centuries, from early Roman systems to Sir Joseph William Bazalgette massive and revolutionary sewage network, in the mid-1800s… whilst still keeping half an eye on the unfolding events of the X Factor Reeeesults – (As Dermot would have it pronounced). The obvious, almost naïve analogy between my reading matter and the ridiculous pantomime, playing out on my TV screen, not lost on me as I happened ‘pon a quote from Samuel Pepys’s memoires, “Seething Lane”: “…going down into my cellar to look… I stepped into a great heap of turds, by which I found that Mr. Turner’s house of office (his next door neighbour’s latrine) is full and comes into my cellar, which do trouble me…” Glancing up at the TV, my brains did an instant update of the quote to read something like: “Looking up at my television, I stepped into a great heap of turds… by which I found Simon Cowell’s house of production is full and comes into my living room, which do trouble me…” Then I thought: OK. Why do it trouble me? What is it about this overblown, overstated, over-lit talent show that gets under my skin like a rash of shingles? There’s no question that eventually, through the tiresome
elimination process, it discovers some really good singers; but then that’s the idea and the inevitable outcome. And, I can understand how it makes entertaining TV, as the faux drama and contestant “stories” are manipulated into shape and delivered to us hapless viewers as reality. I do, however, draw the line at the despicable exploitation of those unfortunate, early round contestants, paraded before the cameras, to be ridiculed, as entertainment… It’s not entertainment! It’s Sick! And Simon Cowell should be admonished for his part in allowing that to happen… But apart from that…. Why? Why does it get right up my, and many others, noses, like the fragrance emanating from a passing garbage truck, in high summer? My first sense is one of frustration… Frustration at the deluded contestants, many of which are not stupid people, who truly believe that the X Factor is the be all and end all, ultimate, singular, one and only opportunity knocks chance to become a successful, popular artist, in the known universe. Then I sense anger… Anger at the fearsome weight of power consequently gifted to Cowell and his company, Syco, because of this misguided belief. Cowell relies on this desperation to feed his vampiric machine, in order to have everything and everyone, all in place, at his command, so the entire freak show can be manipulated from beginning to end, without fear of mutiny and, of course, to guarantee that the only real winner is Simon. Apart from the nutters who protest at the panel, in the early auditions, the only person to ever call Simon out and shut him down – and was right - was Will Young, way back in the Pop Idol days. Since then NO ONE has dared criticise the judges or mentors for fear of the consequences… There are rumours about the scrotum clenching conditions of an X Factor contract, (check online for some good exposes) but the artists are obliged, by fear of worse than de-ath, to remain silent! I do know that one fifth of any X Factor winner’s earnings, return to Cowell as his cut… I then feel exasperation... And I really don’t know how to express such levels of exasperation at this one, quite significant and crucial detail about the X Factor. These hopefuls and desperados, who believe that this show is their only chance to a future life on earth and to ever breathe oxygen again, are being judged and mentored by a panel made up of a Spice Girl, a member of Girl’s Aloud, that bloke who thinks Jedward is a good idea and the dark prince himself. I can’t expand further on this theme of exasperation due to a loss of mental capacity, brought on by extreme exasperation… OK, I will add; and I guess this is for those reading who sings or plays in a band themselves; if you think any of the X Factor judges are the right people to decide and dictate an artist’s creative future, I challenge you to invite any one of them down to your next rehearsal, listen to their advice and do exactly what they tell you! Any takers? I fucking thought not! So as the Sunday evening’s lite entertainment shimmied on in the background, and I continued to read more descriptions of depravation of the overwhelming stench from rivulets of “Dong and vurine” running beneath the food traders stalls of medieval London, of the lads collecting “pure” (dog shit), from the streets, for the leather tanning industry (now that’s recycling!) - I was again distracted by an irksome sound coming from the TV. Unlike the familiar, middle of the road, ballady, pop classic fare, proffered up by your usual X Factor performing chimp, this was an altogether slicker sound. Glossy… So polished and refined a turd in fact, it was a feint veneer of virtual nothingness. The closest thing to an aural non-event I think I’ve experienced since listening to a couple of Sade album tracks. I know I’m an aging punk of grumpy nature and my finger is no longer on the pulse of contemporary pop music, that I once loved so much, so, in my ignorance, I asked my wife which competitor this was, as I didn’t recall
seeing them in any previous shows. My wife gave me one of those – “you really are an aging punk of grumpy nature, with a profound ignorance of contemporary pop music” – looks and informed me it wasn’t one of the contestants, but a pop sensation by the name of Sam Smith… So I watched - and listened - and found myself, asking out loud - “Yes, but what is he for?” You see, I do know we live in a world of Tinie Tempah, Rizzle Kicks, Plan B, even Ed Sheeran, (bless ‘im), let alone the glorious Lady GaGa, and many more vibrant, creative singers and I couldn’t see why our pop kids would be celebrating such bland, innocuous, lifeless, drizzle as this… In response, I picked up my wine glass, to find it empty. It seems I had taken it in one swift draft, as some sort of preventative tincture against the oozing bummy water, seeping from the TV speakers. It then occurred to me there was no mystery afoot…. Sam Smith is an artist of his time. Of our time. Appealing to a generation of young people, who have grown up with no other pop references than the Pop Idol / X Factor expectation of musical adventure and expression… Or rather, the lack of… He is popular because he is what people now believe pop music should be! Look. I’m sure Sam Smith is a lovely guy, who has worked as hard as any other musician / singer, to achieve what he has. He didn’t rely on a TV talent show to get here, so gawd bless him and all who rely on him to pay their wages, but he is a poignant example of where we are at with modern, contemporary pop… And I am talking about pop music here as I know there is an alternative universe of amazing, diverse, awesome music out there, all available in the ether sound cloud of our dreams, so we don’t really have to take any notice of any of this – BUT! We really are adrift in a collective experience era of the “new boring” - (I love that phrase). Family TV friendly artists, boy bands (aren’t there enough already?), solo singers of a safe, middle of the road, tame nature populate our pop music now, more than I can ever remember. There was always middle of the road pap in pop but there was always an Elvis, A Beatles, a Rolling Stones, a Bowie, a Roxy Music, a Bolan, a fop and a New Romatic dandy or a Sheffield synth outfit, some goth monster somewhere, a Blur, Oasis or Pulp to balance it all out! But now! The safe and tame are a safe bet in an industry terrified and decimated
by the democratisation of the www. That’s another story completely, if someone wants to run with that one? Simon Cowell openly admits he doesn’t like rock music and nor does the established music industry – anymore. When was the last time a UK major signed a guitar rock band? That’s not a rhetorical question. If anyone knows, I’d love to know. Biffy Clyro? Block Party? I dunno? We live in a time of pop where it was also proudly announced, on last weekend’s X Factor, that their very own Cheryl (Cole) Fernandez-Versini has become the first female pop artist to have 5 consecutive number one hits! Herself a product of Pop Idol and judge on X Factor - This is how desperate pop has become and I believe Saturday / Sunday night TV talent shows are a massive contributing X Factor to this phenomenon. I really do think Pop music has never been so fucking lame and so - not diverse. Even as an aging punk of grumpy
nature, it do trouble me… So the Reeeesults were announced and the wrong girl got sent home and the crowd bayed like they’d all been force fed a gallon of sloe Gin on entering the arena, and I thought to myself, what an utter parade of excrement and then, I remembered the other well-known connection regards TV reality shows and Shit... Sir Peter Lytton Bazalgette, owner of TV production company Endemol, and great-great-grandson of aforementioned Sir Joseph B. was, of course, responsible for importing that strangest of strange programmes from The Netherlands, “Big Brother”. One man dedicated to the cleaning up of filth and sewage from society (inadvertently curing London of Cholera in the process), yet his descendant… Oh, don’t get me started…
The
s n o s r a P Knows
By Denise Parsons – Music Promoter – ‘The Live Music Project’ Trestle Arts Base, St.Albans
THIS MONTH’S TOP BANDS, ARTISTS and EVENTS! Ho Ho Ho… yes it’s that time of year again. Deck the halls & whack on my Elvis Christmas album -on vinyl off course! Well it’s a busy old time of year and for me especially as my new radio show is very truly up and running! Have you been listening?? Well don’t forget coz I really do need your support. Radio Verulam www.radioverulam.com 92.6FM Thursday nights at 7pm. And if you miss it live you can always listen again or follow me on
Soundcloud soundcloud.com/denise-parsons-1
where I will be posting a recording of the show as well as live recordings from The Live Music Project. So with Christmas commeth lots of local music happenings as well so here’s some dates for your diary for this month rather than just bands to see… Wishing you all a very Merry, Happy & Bright Christmas and hope Santa leaves some Vinyl in your stocking! And a very special thank you to all my gorgeous volunteers at The Live Music Project – I truly couldn’t do it without you! Here’s to another year of supporting local music.
1.
Hubcap Moon
Friday 5th December Hubcap Moon Xmas madness at The Amble Inn in Harpenden. I’ve written about these guys before &
they’ve played at The Live Music Project where they went down a foot stomping, stick shaking storm so don’t miss this opportunity to see them.
facebook.com/hubcapmoon?fref=ts
2.
Busking Day
Saturday 6th December Busking Day in St Albans town centre right in front of The Clock Tower – an all-day event for World Aids Day (1st December) with a host of local musicians busking for The Crescent our local HIV support charity. crescent.org.uk I ran this event for them last May and we raised a whopping £3000 so I am hoping what with the Christmas spirit an all we can top that this December. So please come along, enjoy the wonderful music, eat a mince pie & donate some money to this hard working & much needed local charity. I could bore you with all the reasons why this charity is so needed in our area but I won’t… I will just ask that you consider donating. I love running this event as it brings together the 3 things I am most passionate about.. Music, Charity & Community! Ok I’m off my soap box!
facebook.com/events/291360054408120/?fref=ts
3.
Broken Boat
Friday 12th December Broken Boat at The Garibaldi – what can I say… I love, love, love this band so go seem them & I am sure you will love them too! Last time they played for The Live Music Project in October they sold more
Cd’s than any other band have ever sold at Trestle!! Think that proves my point!
facebook.com/brokenboat?fref=ts
4.
The Green Room
Saturday 13th December Our friends over at The Green Room in Welwyn Garden City – Debaser night. A whole night of indie/ punk/new wave treats.. Get your dancing shoes on. This fantastic venue also hosts lots of really interesting live music nights and really needs your support. It’s run by a great team of hard working volunteers who put these shows on so please check it out! And off course The Tuesday Club will be playing there again next year!
facebook.com/thegreenroomwgc?fref=ts
5.
Midweek Music
Sunday 14th December Mid Week Music – this Open Mic event is usually at The Boot on a Wednesday night is heading down to the St Albans Xmas market! This will be great & is hosted by Nick Stephenson. So do some shopping & have a listen. Mid Week Music has got to be the best Open Mic night in St Albans at the moment and always has a great diversity of musicians and I do confess that I pick up a lot of my acts for Trestle from there so if you’ve not been along then now is the time to do so...
facebook.com/groups/midweekmusic/?fref=ts
6.
Hope - EP release
Saturday 20th December This day sees the release of the debut EP from Hope. A 15 year old singer songwriter from St Albans. The EP has been recorded by Jack Hobbs at Jacket Studios. Some of you may know this already but Jack is the marvellous & hardworking engineer that volunteers to help me out and runs the sound for all The Live Music Project gigs. This debut EP has been eagerly awaited by all her fans. Hope played for The Live Music Project earlier this year to an audience that was stunned by her performance. So much talent in one so young that I feel sure that she will go far so go grab a copy of her EP and look out for her return to the project next year. Oh and she will be singing live on my radio show on Thursday 18th December! Big whoop!
facebook.com/hoperwmusic?fref=ts facebook.com/jackhobbsmusic?fref=ts
7.
Alex Lily
Sunday 21st December – Alex Lily -Alex & co’s Xmas tape - 40/50s theme Xmas bash at The Farmers Boy with lots of special guests and Xmas cheer!
“A woman’s dress should be like barbed wire – serving its purpose without obstructing the view!” – Sophia Loren Thank you & Goodnight…
Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St.Albans, AL4 OJQ, 01727 850950 e: production@trestle.org.uk, www.trestle.org.uk @trestletheatre
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