In the Club 045 December 2021

20 YEARS OLD 10 YEARS GONE.... THIS WAS THE END BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS... OR WAS IT?

‘IN THE CLUB’, IS THE OFFICIAL TUESDAY CLUB INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE - BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PERFECT POP CO-OP

Dear Tuesday Clubbers and Pop Pickers!

Welcome to our no longer Socially distanced but still cautious of a crowd Issue (No.45) of In the Club Magazine...MAN it’s been a long time coming... We’re all getting a bit sick of saying 18 months ago blah... but it’s true... Almost... It’s been 15 since issue 44.

There’s two reasons for such a gap... 1) Is obvious... There’s been bugger all to write about! 2) Is less so, but worth knowing, unfortunately ISSUU who allow us to post the mag on their platform have since we last wrote changed their Ts and Cs and are now only allowing 2 FREE postings/hostings a year. Which saddens us greatly (and we hope you guys too), but leaves us in a situation where we just have to just go with the ‘literal flow’... As we don’t get any funding and are not about to ask you loyal listeners for a subscription it means for the time being at least until a take over from news international... We will be restricted to a Christmas and a Summer version of your favourite online muzak fix!?!

We hope this will be ok with you, if it isn’t, then unsubscribe I guess, but at the end of the day there’s (hopeful plenty enough to click on, watch, listen to and buy to keep you from such a drastic knee jerk reaction?

In the meantime please keeping listening to the Andreas & The Wolf Radio show, please pre-order the vinyl, keep sharing the mag and social posts and sending the love to all of your locked down bands and artists in anyway you can, cos we need you and miss you! And breathe... INTRO over... So what’s the news we hear you ask!

Well let’s imagine the world had stopped until August Bank Holiday 2021 and then we can pick up from there... So 30th August 2021 The Tuesday Club make very long awaited return to the scene of many a memorable (or hazy night) - St Albans Lower Red Lion in Fishpool Street, where landlord David had lifted the gloom by announcing a beer and live music ‘fest’ in his own back yard. On arrival I have to say I was mildly shocked at the amount of people crammed into the garden... So I stood slightly aloof with my opening two pint salvo, until I was spotted by a couple of the TC massive and invited into the danger zone!

There’s a lot been said by big/ real/famous bands about how emotional it is stepping out for your first gig in X months, but I have to say as I addressed the swaying masses (was that me or them, I hear you ask!...

Both I’d say)... a lump came to the throat and tear to the eye, it was bloody marvelous to be gigging again, made all the more fab by the ecstatic reaction of the assemblage! To all of you we bow in homage, it was a GREAT day. For those who missed it, you can see a bit more from a visual perspective later in the mag thanks mainly to the magnificent talents of Brad Wigglesworth... 18 months with nowt and then two in four days! Our 2nd was our a return to London for the first time since our 2019 XMAS support to She Made Me Do it and saw us this time back at the scene of one of the first gigs we ever did back

in November 2011, Electrowerkz in Islington. This time our London support was the legendary Sigue Sigue Sputnik, who despite being a good four or five original members down put on a totally engaging set and added another great notch to our ever growing list of the fab and the famous!

Finally on the live front... On Sunday 17th of October. I even managed a solo spot for the first time since the halcyon days of Alcudia 1988. At the request of the legend that is Bill Johnson host of the Blue Angel Acoustic Cafe (every Sunday at The Horn, St Albans), I strung together a 30 minute ‘career’ spanner, which included songs by The TCs, The Scratch and new as yet unannounced project Narcotic Hearts (whoops there I said it!) Big thanks to all who came to show their support, an enjoyable if a little surreal afternoon was had by all... And I didn’t even so much as kneel down! ;-) if takes another 35 years for a solo spot, I’m not sure I’ll still be around so thanks to all for baring witness to my potential solo finale!

Moving on... Gigs aren’t the only exciting things however. The (Perfect Pop Co-Op) label side of our operation has also finally shaken itself from hibernation too and we are immensely delighted that first with the Tuesday Club and then with new signings, FACTION STRUCTURE and THE SCRATCH (remember them!) We can promise new musical releases too! The TCs bring out a digital and limited edition 2 track single REDEMPTION SONG on the night of their next gig... A 2nd support to 90s indie heroes My Life Story on 9th December... and 2022 will be kicking of with a debut single, followed by an album by FACTION STRUCTURE featuring FIXX bass god Dan K Brown and introducing future starlet Tiggy Pop sometime around Spring. Extra BIG thanks to Dolly & Troy who have bigged up FS on many occassions on their Barrel House Radio Show. There are also tentative plans for a tie in with the delayed launch of The Andreas and The Wolf Album - Fountain of Truth so keep your eyes peeled for party news around the autumn area... Also 2022 sees the 20 year anniversary of The Scratch’s debut single I Relax to Spiral Scratch

We know a lot of you subscribers were fans of the band back in the day, so we are planning a whole schedule of re-issues on Perfect Pop including all 4 studio albums, for those unfamiliar with The Scratch, read on... More details of all of these releases will be all over our social media over the coming months, so make sure you’re following us! Finally, it being December we take a minute (or a thought of every day since) to remember our mate Terry ‘Super’ Cockell who has now been missing in action for 7 long years. As you know Terry was a star of not only The Tuesday Club, but also The Scratch and featured on the last album Great Adventure and on the latest TCs release Redemption Song. Love you and miss you always Supes.

So all that’s left for me to do is thank you for your patience, please DON’T UNSUBSCRIBE. Tell your mates to sign up instead!!! And we hope to see you all down the front or at least at the side at the Horn on 9th December!

Be safe and hopefully see you live again by the next mag!

©bradwigglesworth as ever the man in the front row. Blue Angel Acoustic Cafe Sunday 17th October.

DATE

THE TUESDAY CLUB, THE HORN ST ALBANS

MY LIFE STORY SUPPORT

THURS 9 DEC 2021

THE TUESDAY CLUB, 02 Islington Academy

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL SUPPORT - rescheduled

SUN 1 MAY 2022

THE TUESDAY CLUB, FLETCHERS FARM FEST

Middlesbrough

SAT 18 July 2022

THE TUESDAY CLUB, FARMERS BOY ST ALBANS ‘HALLOWEEN

2022’ FRI 28 October 2022

Is the forthcoming and debut album by FACTION STRUCTURE. Featuring eight deeply set tales of 21st Century boredom, hope & anxiety. Time tweened from the dance floor of a 20th Century school disco that he was too shy at the time to attend and proficient only in the spontaneity of your DJ GAND?

An album helped into being most gratefully by a cast of superstar collabs.

And so, a mere eighteen months on... The Tuesday Club returned to live performance and in the proverbial style of buses, not once, but twice. The pics here taken by the mighty Brad Wigglesworth attest to a day of catharsis and a lot of fun/relief and even mist of eye... (And not necessarily due to gravel burn!) The Scene of many a memorable TC night, not least our ‘Art is Magic’ Launch party way back in 2018. The Lower Red Lion played host to a day of music ranging from Jazz, Acoustica and even show tunes, to a dust and lager soaked finale by your favourite local anti heroes. Despite a touch of cold feet earlier in proceedings from Landlord and all round top geezer David who had been heard saying he wasn’t entirely sure inviting The TCs to Garden Party was a great idea, being how smoothly things had gone... was soon becalmed of his wise decision as the pent up full throttle spectacle unfolded to a rapturous throng of merrily sozzled regulars...

LOWER RED LION ST ALBANS 30 AUGUST 2021

The second of the TC ‘2 nighter’ was 4 days later at London’s Electrowerkz in support of 80s shock sensations Sigue Sigue Sputnik... Not quite at their peak it’s fair to say but the evening certainly proved to be worth the effort as they turned in humorous uber camp renditions of the hits to a an appreciative crowd... who the TCs actually managed to do some selling to themselves too! Big thanks to Frank for keeping the Faith and sticking us on the ever changing bill in a night we went from 2nd on to opening act to main support in a kind of COVID test and trace do si do!

All Lower Red picks ©bradwigglesworth

twitter: @bradwiggs

instagram: @bradwiggs

facebook: brad.wigglesworth

Others by I.Phone!

We still have a very limited number of tickets in hand, so please let us know asap if you want one!

OR you can buy online from The Horn...

My Life Story/Tuesday Club Tickets - The Horn

Perfect pop co -op

Perfectpopop Perfectpopop

Perfectpopop

Perfect pop co -op

Though its members have continued to be creatively busy with their various projects even as Covid took hold, it feels like a lifetime since we stomped around with new incitement from The Tuesday Club for company. But as strains of normality return and bands can begin tearing up stages again, the UK alternative rock’n’rollers are about to uncage a new single as they again begin bending floorboards with their live energy.

Since forming in 2011, the St. Albans, Herts/ North London hailing band has released a trio of albums and a host of EPs and singles which defy convention and predictability. Their sound is a fusion of indie and art pop, punk and rock ‘n’ roll which equally dares you to tag it and then laughs in your face at the attempt. It is devilish, mischievous and constantly proven hell of a lot of fun, revelry cast with instinctive and inventive craft as proven by their eagerly acclaimed last album, the 2018 released Art is Magic. Similarly live they have proven rapscallion and irresistible, sharing stages with the likes of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Dreadzone, Space, Gene Loves Jezebel, My Life Story, Department S, Toyah, B-Movie, Spizz Energy, Scant Regard, Bad Manners, Vangoffey & The Society and so many more over time as well as making attention grabbing performances at numerous festivals.

The Ringmaster’s Review:

Now, as we say, they are back with a two track new single and a support show with My Life Story, which will also play as the release party for new single Redemption Song. The song is one the band originally recorded back in 2014 but was shelved after the untimely death of drummer Terry ‘Super’ Cockell. Always knowing it had to have its moment, The Tuesday Club has returned to it and had it “…spruced up with new vocals and a 21st Century revamp” for a new and fresh adventure.

Featuring the band’s line-up at the time of original recording of vocalists Andreas Vanderbraindrain and The Minx, bassist Beautiful Wolf, keyboardist Rogerio Marauder, guitarists Wasabi and JRod and of course Cockell (a.k.a. Telski) and produced and engineered by Steve Honest, the track entices with feral riffs first and immediately after ear grabbing rhythmic incitement, they almost warrior like in their touch. There is an instant grumble to the song which aligns magnetically with the infectious tones of AVBD and the warm throated caresses of The Minx, guitars and keys adding ear grabbing individuality as the band weaves an inescapable enticement of their uniquely familiar and never predictable sound.

The track is accompanied by Hand Of God, which sees AVBD on vocals and guitar, Rogerio sharing bass and keys, Wasabi and JRod weaving with guitars and The Minx bouncing drum bred out rhythms whilst providing ever potent backing vocals. The track is quite simply a delicious romp, prime Tuesday Club enterprise driven by rhythmic manipulation and pop punk revelry. At times it is akin to a mix of The Tea Set and Spizz Energi, an old school punk/new wave instinct nagging protagonist with a big grin on its mischievous doings.

Redemption Song/Hand of God

The song is superb, an inhibitions freeing incitement which had the body bouncing, voice hollering and the voice of the Tuesday Club devil on the shoulder guiding subsequent antics and as a whole the Redemption Song single is a glorious return of The Tuesday Club and our lustful appetite for their kind of shenanigans. In a time when real fun has been in scarce supply, the minstrels of rascality are back to reset the balance.

Redemption Song is released December 19th digitally and on Ltd Ed CD via https:// thetuesdayclub.bandcamp.com/album/ redemption-song with the Tuesday Club’s show

supporting My Life Story the day before on December 9th. Check out the band’s website/ profiles for ticket details.

Perfect Pop Co Op Radio is back: mixcloud.com/perfectpopcoop hosted by Andreas and the Wolf, just click, follow and enjoy! Lots of exclusives, oldies and rarities and that’s the music not the band!

Andreas and the Wolf have been making radio shows for 9 years. Their show is ‘presented’ in their own inimitable and bungled style, and if you love Indie, indie dance, new wave,

post punk, old school punk, vinyl and discovering new music, this has to be the show for you! This is not just an excuse to plunder their own musical heritage though, oh no, this eclectic show comes interspersed with tracks that have influenced them over the years by established artists and also tracks by fellow ‘DIYers’, underground mavericks and tomorrows indie superstars. You gotta click this link and get yourself subscribed. The show comes out once a month and can be found on the: perfectpopco-op.co.uk and mixcloud.com/perfectpopcoop

Follow us!

@andreasandtwolf instagram.com/andreasandthewolf andreasandthewolf.co.uk

WE’RE BACK IN THE STOODIO!

“An uncomplicated yet richly woven electro pop serenade swift captivation. Guitar & synth embrace their melodic hearts around the inimitable tones of Andreas, sleight but fertile hooks”

RINGMASTER REVIEW

Great BIG thanks to the mighty Pete Ringmaster for this our first review of the forthcoming album. We’ve printed it from his website and also here’s a link via his facebook page...

RINGMASTERREVIEWINTRODUCES.WORDPRESS. COM/2020/03/16/ANDREAS-AND-THE-WOLFFOUNTAIN-OF-TRUTH

for info email: info@perfectpopco-op.co.uk

“It’s got a retro vibe about it, but not in an old school way... kind of a fucked up retro vibe”

PETE JONES (APILBASSGOD)

I love an album with the lyrics, as I like to read along – a bit like having the subtitles on for a US Drama, as I can’t always sort out what they’re actually saying. Not that I’m saying I can’t work out what Faction Structure are singing, as delivery of the vocals is more “talky singy” in parts. I just feel that for an album like this, having the lyrics are a bonus when you’re busy trying to work out the intent of these protest songs. There, I’ve said it, protest songs and I was going to save that for later….

The opening track has already made me sit up and take note - being delivered in a deadpan & off-beat style, reflective of the topic…..with an opening salvo which firmly tells me that this ain’t no “middle-of-theroad” offering. This is going to demand I listen, think, mull over and replay back-to-back.

“So This Is England” with it’s electro’ undertones…….feels a bit “half-speed” which adds to the depressing landscape painted by the lyrics and the overall aura of the soundscape. I am sure this track is getting slower every time I play it, or is it just

me reading more bad news and the angle of this song is all becoming too real for me? We certainly seem to be heading for a “death disco” dancing alongside Michael Gove!

“The Sweetness” with keyboards, effects, rolling drums, psych-pop, sterner singing and it’s all chugging along at a tempo….which is great!

Man this is really rolling now!…………..sweeping key introduction, feels clubby and yet not really “pally clubby”…..if you get what I mean. The deadpan delivery of the vocals juxtapose with the vibes of the music.

Quick, flip it over – for this is a vinyl album I am listening to! Much more rewarding when the lyrics are laid out in front of you on the back and the photo on the front looks like one of those quiz photos of an object snapped from an unfamiliar angle OR up very close and you have to guess the object. BUT actually, I think it’s just art!

“This is a great blend of a punk attitude, off beat and sometimes off set music, retro angst...”

All instruments by GAND? – hang on, I’m just trying to work that one out! It’s the question mark that’s flummoxed me? Anyway, I’ll park that for now…..

“BUYIN’ INTO FANTASY”

by Faction Structure

Side Two opens with a right “stomper” and with the addition of Dan K. Brown on bass (yes, he of The Fixx) – pumping away! Title track…loving this driving beat and “2020 faker” message.

“Delays of Layered Greys” is a crackerI’m really trying hard to put my finger on some of the influences on this track… introduction = early Human League? Liking the singing here (bit more tempo) and the nonchalant guitar which feels deconstructed, but which is always harder to play and fit it in. That’s why we should pass our gaze beyond the lead guitarist and check out what the rhythmn guitarist is up to?

Lovin’ the bubbly bits of keys and effects on “When I Can’t See The Light” with the classic 80’s keyboard sweeps. Are we allowed to say “80’s”……it’s not ageist, promise! Anyway, I agree with Dylan Jones! (ref. his recent series on BBC).

The closing track is called “The Escalator To Nowhere”, which seems very fitting as the closing track on an album with this calibre and style. I’m just trying to imagine being on an escalator to nowhere and if this song would reflect how I might feel about that? This is a long track as the escalator ploughs on to nowhere, through a landscape of turmoil and angst. This really is a fitting epitaph to have on the album!

Overall this is modern, punky, protest music – about “buyin’ into fantasy”, about “standing on the cliff edge” whilst on an “escalator to nowhere” and savouring that “sweet smell of defeat”. I need to sit down with GAND? and learn more about the drive behind this collection of off-beat and sardonic thoughts. I’m left with a feeling that each song wasn’t really written but was doodled and each one was “put together” in the moment, with some randomness – of course, I know that’s probably not true…….as the oft repeat choruses and casual complexity illustrate, which for me form the bedrock of these songs. It’s that nonchalant (there’s that word again) feel to the whole intent.

This is a great blend of a punk attitude, off

beat and sometimes off set music, retro angst..…..with sweeping keyboards in bursts and a deadpan (I know, I have already used that descriptor too!) delivery. The whole collection of songs feel like they are really trying to tell me something, something that is stark & slightly frightening!

If I was to offer some “constructive feedback” (oh OK, criticism then) I was waiting to hear a different tenure (is that even a word to describe singing) – a bit like I used to wish and wait for Phil Oakey to move a key or two up.

“SIDE Two opens with a right “stomper” and with the addition of Dan K. Brown on bass (yes, he of The Fixx) –pumping away!”

Of many words which can be applied to our encounters with record label/radio show/magazine/ creative collaboration Perfect Pop Co-Op, surprising and predictable stand tall. The first is a perpetual experience as year by year projects and releases through them have ignited the imagination and courted the passions like few others with varying but constant success. It may vary from encounter to encounter and will for each listener but the people behind it all seem to tap into the instinctive wants we certainly have here. The second of the two adjectives arises because of the first, a relentless challenging and sparking of that same imagination we now simply expect. The newest release from them is no exception, Buyin’ Into Fantasy a record which caught assumptions unaware took them to fresh and stimulating acceptance searching places yet all the while left us greedily devouring all within its vinyl brought walls.

The release is the debut full-length from Faction Structure and the first in a quintet of albums from the newest member of the Perfect Pop Co-Op family. Its creator is GAND?, a protagonist of sound and invention as familiar as he is unique. A solo project seeing its creator on all instruments and creation though bassist Dan K Brown from the FIXX and guitarist ‘Kid’ Jordan guest on the album which has been co-produced by Steve Honest with GAND?, Buyin’ Into Fantasy is an experimental adventure borne of a world in turbulence amid apathetic subservience which in some ways is almost selfperpetuated by the deceit carrying up risings seemingly against it. It is a protagonist bred in apocalyptic anxiety and discontent, one born even before the covid pandemic came along to highlight all its grievance and observations.

How to describe the project’s sound? Old wave disco-rock has been used but truly it is a boldly individual amalgam of flavours past, present and newly imagined. It is art pop, post punk, experimental punk, avant-new wave…the list could continue but what emerges is a character of invention and breath of sound purely Faction Structure.

Side A of the record opens with I Spy A Sign, a track sauntering in from the distance with a belligerently wiry guitar groove. As quickly the words and tones GAND? provoke further temptation, thoughts and ears incited by the slow swing of his vocal reflection. With a great gnarly bassline, flames of brass and a pop nurtured catchiness which invades every aspect of its creative and emotional dissonance, the song effortlessly had body and imagination on board, a seventies glam rock hue adding to the warped tapestry of sound.

So This is England follows, its entrance even more unhurried almost ponderous with a rhythmic stroll just as leaden. Yet it too is inherently infectious, its weighty thought and sway swiftly under the skin as a web of sounds and flavours conspire in its emerging incalculable landscape. Ears found a great John Otway-esque essence to the song as vocals joined the resignation fuelled fanfare of the song while The Sweetness straight after provokes hints of bands such as Blancemange and Dalek I Love You within its rousing romp yet equally has Residents like darkness and menace to ignite the demons and creative animation of the track further.

From one major favourite moment to another as next up Anxieties Faction Structure springs its disco seeded enterprise into a post punk, cinematic soundtrack honed landscape of doubt and unease. Squirts of brass like electronics caught the imagination with Essential Logic like invention yet as in all tracks any reference we give merely gives a hint to the bodies of sound shaping each song. With its great esurient nagging and moments of graceful warmth not forgetting the webs of irregular temptation, side one is brought to one compelling close.

The Faction Structure moniker comes from a David Bowie interview for Mojo Magazine in 2002 about his hugely influential Diamond Dogs LP, a quote reflecting an apocalyptic breath within the world at the time which remains so apt in a time that Buyin’ Into Fantasy now explores and there is a definite Bowie essence to the album’s title track.

The Side B opener is another drawing on that seventies glam rock inspiration, its aberrant funk swing and infestation of rhythm hungry eighties alt-pop quickly proving addictive. At times it plays like a mix of Swell Maps warping Heaven 17, again the multi-varied and uniquely adventurous incitement of the album being escalated.

Delays of Layered Greys provide a dystopian disco for ears and body to unite with but one courted by industrial dark shadows and emotional paranoia bred of post punk heart and cynicism. In many ways it bears low key provocation yet is mercilessly infectious, like Joy Division infused with early Human League aberration while the superb When I Can’t See The Light expresses its psychosis like Fad Gadget caught in the erosive pleasure of The Mekons, its virulent orchestration and intimate irritancy proving increasingly irresistible.

The Escalator To Nowhere concludes the release, it a slow moving almost predacious provoking of thought and attention. It’s bent out of shape dynamics and matching rapacious inclinations cast a web of thick enticement around the imagination, a masterful lure echoed in its breath of escape though there is no eluding the shadows which also lurk.

It is a compelling end to a record which gripped ears and imagination like no other this year. Though not pandemic inspired it does echo the aspects of darkness and dispute all have felt but primarily it is an echo of the world before and around it through knowing intimacy. More so it is an adventure of sound and enterprise which got under the skin in no time and left us greedy for the pleasure sparked and despite all the hints we gave in artist comparisons it is truly one unique and especial exploration.

Buyin’ Into Fantasy is planned for an early 2022 release with its first single expected later this year. Keep up to date with Faction Structure @…

@FactionStructu1

@factionstructure1

factionstructure.co.uk

perfectpopco-op.co.uk

Pete RingMaster 09/11/2021

Copyright RingMaster Review

ringmasterreviewintroduces.wordpress.com/ faction-structure-buyin-into-fantasy

In the club

For this months ‘In the Club’ we are excited to Welome Francis ‘Franny’ Griffiths of Indie heroes Space... thanks to Wikipedia for this blurb... hope it’s true!

Franny is a keyboardist, producer and remixer, who is best known for being a member of the band, Space. He also plays guitar, melodica and piano. His main influences are Kraftwerk, hip-hop, Can, various electro bands and Crass.

The strange noises produced by Griffiths’ piano (contrary to rumours, he does not use a Theremin) are one of the trademarks of Space’s sound. Unlike his other bandmates, Griffiths has never performed lead vocals on a Space track, with one exception – “I Am Unlike A Lifeform You’ve Ever Met”, a B-side on the “Avenging Angels” single. However, on the first two Space albums, Spiders and Tin Planet, as well as the B-sides of various singles, he has contributed instrumental tracks, as well as remixes under the moniker Franny Aspirin.

1. We’re sitting in the cyber pub doing this interview and it’s our round. What would you like to drink? Blue Ghost Shot. Can’t go wrong with a cocktail you set on fire :)

2. What was the last thing you hear or watched that was so good you had to tell someone about it? Sweet Home. South Korean apocalyptic horror series. Before Squid Games. I still prefer Sweet Home.

FRANNY - SPACE

3. What does Punk Rock mean to you? For me its not about the music or the style, it’s more of an attitude

4. Who was the first artist you paid to see? The Stranglers I think. I was much younger than my friends who could go the pub and watch gigs. I got a friend to buy my ticket, luckily I knew the security on the door. Still one of my favourite gigs. Little did I know then that I would be playing the Royal Court, Liverpool back then.

5. Who is the most influential person in your life? I’m sure most say their father but in my case it’s true. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Always wanted me to follow my dream.

6. Which song do you wish you had written? Oh My!! That’s an hard one. “Turn The Heater On” New Order. I obsessed over that song when I was a teenager.

7. What would you older self tell your 16 year old self?

Stop bunking into clubs, you’re going to get caught and beat up. I got beat up many times ;)

8. Is the internet a help or hindrance to a) new acts. b) established acts?

I’ve absolutely no idea. I don’t pay much attention to the workings of music nowadays. Don’t think I ever did. I just wanted to create.

9. What four things would you put in a time capsule? Pictures of my family. My favourite LP. My Season Ticket. My old battered passport, stamped from back to front. My first cassette demo I did with Space.

10. If you had a time machine and could go back to any year in music, what would it be and why? 1983. Me and my friends loved music and clubbing passionately back then. March 83 Blue Monday was released. I wasn’t one for dancing but when this came on in the Harrington there was nothing stopping me.

11. If you could be any character in a film, what film and who would it be?

Steve Austin, a man barely alive. I absolutely loved The Six Million Dollar Man when I was a kid. Nothing’s changed. I can run in slow motion just like him now I’m older.

12. You are now In The Club, but which club do you actually wish it was?

Harrington Club, Liverpool, where I could be myself. And not worry about a thing.

13. Who’d be in your 4 piece fantasy band. Guitar, Bass, Drums and Vocals? (Although you don’t have to restrict it to a 4 piece, or those instruments)

Guitar, Roy Harper. Bass, Jean Jacques Burnel. Keys, Mick MacNeil. Vocals, Fad Gadget. Drums, Stewart Copeland.

14. What question haven’t we asked you that you wish we had?

What are you having for tea?

Where’s the best place to find your musical endeavours on the internet?

facebook: facebook.com/franny.griffiths

twitter: @FrannyGriffiths

insta: @frannygriffiths

Top Man Franny big thanks and can’t wait to see you and the guys again soon, hopefuly on the same bill ;-)

Main pics by Mark J Allen81 photography facebook.com/Mark.J.Allen81

© Stephen Manuel 2018

© Stephen Manuel 2018

The Fabulists are an alt rock act, formed in London in 2005. Their first album, Where Silence Should Be, was released on Zube Records. This was followed by Dog Violets, a collection of

dreamy, atmospheric, piano-based songs, and Cardiophonica, the band's third album, is released on 26th July 2021 with first single, Full Fathom Five, out on 12th July.

The Fabulists are:

Shaun Milton Vocals and synthesisers

Adam Wilson Vocals, keyboards and guitar

The Tracks

Valentine | Full Fathom Five | Rosebud

Hospital Hill | Union Hall Concrete Road

| Patriarch Ponds | A History of Violence

A Freedom of Ghosts | Incognitoville

with

Ruth Goller – bass

Tom Turner – keyboards, synthesisers

Eric Young – drums and percussion

Matt Reynolds – guitars

Daisy Coole – saxophones

The Album Cardiophonica, was released on Monday 26th July.

Cardiophonica, builds on the success of the band’s earlier work but draws on a wider palette of sounds, adding vocal harmonies, and experimenting with a variety of guitar sounds, vintage and modular electronica. The songs themselves, the music, the sonics, evoke memory of place, of love, hauntings, of dreams, fleeting encounters, of the unexpected, of absence. There

is a halcyon, almost hallucinatory, often romantic slant to many of the songs; others present a more noirish filmic quality: torch songs, lamentations, murder-revenge ballads, lonely-road songs that chime with the works of Scott Walker, Portishead, Roxy Music and Dennis Wilson. Cardiophonica is journey; a profound, affecting exploration of the elusive nature of love, of loss, of life. The CD will be available from the Zube Records website, with streaming and downloads from all major platforms

Full Fathom Five - video single release

Contact Details:

e: thefabulistslondon@gmail.com

w: zuberecords.com/the-fabulists

Instagram: @the.fabulists

Twitter: @FabulistsThe

Facebook: The.Fabulists.Band

The Fabulists - Cardiophonica - Album Release © 2021

She Made Me Do It’s new 6 track EP Otherworldly is out now.

From the dark, dense and heavy post-punk pounding of Never Sleep to the electronically kinetic pop of Otherworldly via the bouncy riff-laden Confessional Day.

She Made Me Do It are Shaheena Dax (Rachel Stamp) - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards and Will Crewdson (Rachel Stamp, Adam Ant band) Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards. They are joined live by Joe Holweger (Adam Ant Band) on drums.

The Otherworldly E.P. was produced by Will Crewdson and mixed by John Mitchell.

on

Will Crewdson presents Scant Regard, a solo one-man whirlwind of pure unadulterated guitar driven energy. Also known for his guitar work with Adam Ant, The Selecter, Johnette Napolitano, Rachel Stamp and Flesh for Lulu, Will rams home all his experience into this mind-bending apocalyptic amalgamation of epic soundtrack proportions. He deftly merges the early electronic pioneering flavours of Fad Gadget, Cabaret Voltaire and Nitzer Ebb with the classic twanging guitar sounds of Duane Eddy and Link Wray, adding to this a smattering of post punk energy and attitude to wrap it all up in a blood stained bow.

The envelope can be pushed in many directions.

The seventh Scant Regard album shows Will Crewdson pushing himself into new territories. Within his blueprint of surf guitar-driven electronic rock’n’roll he branches out further into hard industrial funk directions with experimental techno flourishes throughout. From the brutal ‘Listen to the Brand’ to his frenetic cover of Depeche Mode’s classic ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ there’s never a dull moment. Scantify yourself completely with this incredible beat-laden sci-fi tinged journey.

Full

surf guitar intertwined with fat electro beats to elegantly mash your psyched up frontal lobe.

'Creatures in the Basement' is FEVER CREATURE'S first release, On JAM UK.

Creatures in the Basement comes at you as a frenetic commotion. The claustrophobic soundtrack to a, heat of the night, bad dream. Scorching - seductive - demented. A frantic, heart-beat skipping, short, sharp, shock to the senses. Once listened to, catch your breath and play it again…

Petra Gilbert – Drums and ‘sometimes’ voice Roger Payne – Guitars and voice Produced and mixed by Pete Jones, plus added Bass guitar

facebook.com/Fevercreature

'Sultry, lush romanticism with spiky edges'

Petra & Roger are FEVER CREATURE… Here to make noise and mischief…

Over the summer of 2020, when the implications of the pandemic restrictions were setting in hard, members of Harpenden based band, Hubcap Moon, Petra Gilbert and Roger Payne, feeling the frustrations of not being able to play live, discussed the possibility of embarking on a new venture to alleviate their shared disappointment.

After many conversations, exchanging thoughts and ideas as to the sort of musical monster they wanted to create, they arrived at a definite identity and an intriguing concept of how they wanted to sound.

The outcome has come as much a surprise to them as it has to the few who know them and have heard the early results. Retro Rock n Roll influences with a punk attitude. Sultry, lush romanticism with spiky edges.

In fact, the defining factor came when Petra and Roger posed themselves the question, what sort of music would David Lynch commission to play in the Bang Bang Bar?

From the very start and the early sketch recordings, their unique universe began to form. All that was needed was a name appropriate to compliment the sultry, atmospheric shapes and sounds starting to emerge…

J.A.M. UK PUMP UP THE...

His remixes, own releases and of course PIL and Dept S work has been a near constant on the Andreas & The Wolf Radio show over the last 2 years, so we thought it about time we caught up with all round top (if pessimistic) bloke Pete Jones and his ever growing portfolio of collaborations.

Former Public Image Limited bass player and producer, Pete Jones, owner of JAM UK records answers a few questions.

When did JAM UK come into fruition and why did you start your own label?

I set up JAM UK around 2008. The label name is actually “Jabberjab Art & Media UK”, JAM for short. The idea was it was going to be an umbrella company for all sorts of artistic endeavours; music and poetry alongside other different art mediums as well as any associated digital or mixed media, either current or as yet to be invented. A lot of the ideas I had never came to be, so it ended up as a music label to facilitate selected musical releases.

Who is on the label?

Primarily, it’s for my own musical projects; it started with a collaboration with a French guitarist Fred Suard called The Creepy Dolls, Pete and Charlie was another collaboration. I went on to release stuff for Department S while I played for them and continued with my own stuff under Pete Jones and Joyless Jones. I have also released tracks for Fever Creature, Southdown Laundry Club and Rogue Sector who are local bands, my daughter under the name Kintsuku and a Scottish band by the name of The Jimmy Tarbuck Experience. I have released a few remixes too, from Department S, Fever Creature and Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons.

What are the latest releases?

In October 2021 I released EP’s for Fever Creature called Behind Closed doors and Something To Live For by The JTE. Albums by both artists are due for release soon. The Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons remix was also out at the same time. My last release was a digital and limited CD called The Ballad of Bunky Wimp

What’s the label ethos?

I don’t have one, other than I’ll do what I want, when I want.

Are you looking to sign any new bands?

Not really, but if anyone wants to send me their latest demo for consideration by all means get in touch. Send it on a cassette wrapped in a £50 note.

Any advice for aspiring label owners?

Be prepared to lose money and getting headaches from bashing your head against a wall repeatedly. Digital releases are pretty straight forward but physical releases can lose you shed-loads. Releasing stuff is easy, selling it is the difficult bit so unless you are endlessly playing live up and down the country and have a reasonable fan base, you won’t shift much. If it’s a vanity project then fair enough, stick all the unsold records in the garage.

What’s next?

I don’t have a release schedule stretching out two years hence! Who knows, possibly more of my old tunes and the odd release for selected artists who I have a connection with. Or I might just retire, see how it goes.

Thanks Pete, much appreciated £100 in used fivers is on it’s way from PPCO HQ!!!

against a

Pete ‘Joyless’ Jones, tells it like it is kids... It’s all true, we know!

joylessjones.co.uk

"Be prepared to lose money and getting headaches from bashing your head

wall repeatedly!"

TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2021

It took some doing but we’ve finally managed to pin Dave and Eddie down to the task of choosing their TOP 5 albums of 2021. All of these can be bought or ordered from Empire Records so we thought it a perfect opportunity to let the experts help you choose your Christmas presents this year!!!

DAVE’s TOP 5:

1. Little Simz - Sometimes

I Might Be Introvert

2. Idles - Crawler

3. Royal Blood - Typhoons

4. Tigercub - As Blue

As Indigo

5. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Sticky

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Eddie’s TOP 5:

1. Tenderlonious - Still Flute

Amazing mix of jazz and electronica as always from the flautist. This one has a nice, sparse, 80/90s house vibe in places, with lots of funky percussion breakdowns.

2. Water From Your EyesStructure

One minute it folk the next it’s crunchy krautrock electronic sounds... You never know where it’s gonna go and I love it for this reason.

3. Halsey - If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

The Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross (NIN) production on this really makes its special. Huge mix of styles, lots very Halsey-esque, but with a definite underlying dread and anger. Every track is different.

4. Squid - Bright Green Field

Not much to say except: bonkers. Gong-like in places, very big post punk vibe too. Heartfelt sounds.

5. Various - Fabric Presents: Overmono

Just one of those mixes that flows really well. Played it a lot over the summer, definitely got a lot of warm weather tracks on there. A well curated selection!

Obviously we won’t be linking anywhere else about these releases, if you want to know more go and see the chaps in person or getting intouch via these details!

Weekdays 11.00am - 5.30pm

Saturdays 10.00 - 5.30pm

Sundays 12.00pm - 4.00pm

and if you can’t get in for whatever reason contact the chaps here!

21 Heritage Close, St Albans, AL3 4EB

sales@empirestalbans.com

Tel: 01727 860890

empirestalbans.com

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THE SCRATCH 20 YEARS

2002 2022 to

SCRATCH YEARS

2022

Perfect Pop Co-Op celebrate 20 years of St Albans band The Scratch next year with plans for re-issuing their 4 studio albums with bonus tracks, a singles As and Bs album, a live album and a demos album... It’s been 12 years since the band, played their last gig... a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then... but we thought it the ‘PERFECT’ time for a reintroduction...

The Scratch a brief intro...

Where do I start... I guess it starts with my previous band Mamajamas, who by 1999 were into their 6th year of existence... it starts here, ‘cos this is where I first met John Viney (The Beautiful Wolf) at a mutual friends party. Grim, could possibly have been there too but I remember John and possibly a brief chat about music... but nothing more...

Fast forward to the Summer of 2000, when I moved to Crouch End in North London and was once again thrust into John’s company via the same friend and probably for a similar birthday type reason. This time we bonded. A pub crawl around Soho had begun with a well organised group, but gradually as the pub count increased it became a deal more of a rag tail affair... with us the very rag of the tail! Not just because of the alcohol however, we were by now completely engrossed like two star crossed lovers in a conversation about Punk Rock and the general state of new music in this the new millennium!.

We definitely had lots in common. It

was 99.9% most likely at the time, (as we parted staggering at the end of the evening), that I would have given John a flyer for the next Mamajamas gig, which would probably have been either at The Barfly in Camden OR bizarrely The Widemouth Bay Surf club or Manor Pub in Bude, Cornwall... (Yes... random!)... John said he’d come (to the Barfly) and he did and with him I’m pretty darn sure also came Grim... so this went on a few times until before I knew it was Johns’ near neighbour.

Obviously back in the year 2000 email, mobile phones and all that jazz were some way off being common, so we made a weekly arrangement to meet up and further discuss the state of the bizzo in the pub opposite the YMCA, where we had just enlisted on a circuit training course! We diligently did this for a few weeks with the promise of a post workout pint or three spurring us on. Music was always top of the agenda.

John obviously new what I was up too with the ‘Jamas, but I was curious as to why he wasn’t ‘active’ musically having quit acid house mavericks Jump some ten years previously. I asked if he’d be up for maybe doing some kind of collaboration just to keep his hand

in, which he seemed amenable too and suggested we get Grim involved. Neither had worked together since the heady days of acid house, but both fancied giving it a try.

We had no plan. I was coming at it from a Grunge band and they were a beats and samples duo, way out of my pay grade on the tech front... but this could be an interesting style clash we thought so why not...

We all currently liked a new and relatively unknown band called The Strokes (touted as a new Ramones at the time)... I guess they were both from New York?

So we decided to arrange a session. Grim had all of his music gear set up in a loft space in Highbury, so that seemed like a perfect place to start...

Both John and Grim had little sections of song ideas started which they taped for me to have a listen too and a think about in terms of lyrics and I had a couple of potential newies for Mamajamas which by a slowly evolving twist of fate would now be the basis of my contribution to our new project... currently a project with no name.. but that’s a whole other story!!!

by Andy Scratch.

VIDEO

DISCOGRAPHY

I Relax to Sprial Scratch/Trigger Finger - 7” double A - side

Released: 10.11.02

Ponyland Records

DIY - Album - CD /Digital ALBUM

Released 01.12.03

Ponyland Records

X-RAY Eyes/Brainstorm - 10” Single Released 04.02.04

Ponyland Records

Brainstorm Remixes - CD EP Released 17.01.05

Ponyland Records

Undercover - CD EP Released 30.06.05

Ponyland Records

Logical Mind Remix - CD EP Released 05.12.05

Ponyland Records

Night Bus or Milk Train - CD /Digital ALBUM Released 26.07.06

Ponyland Records

Numbers/Texture to the Flava - CD /Digital Single Released 06.12.07

Ponyland Records

Night Bus or Milk Train - CD /Digital ALBUM

Re-Released 03.12.07

Ponyland Records

Critical Mass/Dear Maniac - CD /Digital Single Released 28.04.08

Ponyland Records

Girls’ World/Sweet Surprise - CD /Digital Single Released 28.07.08

Ponyland Records

Against the Grain/Cool in an Uncool Way -CD /Digital Single Released 07.01.09

Ponyland Records

You Want the World/Independant Unrepentant /Teen Idol - Digital EP Released 29.06.09

Ponyland Records

Destroyed by the Look of Love/Flicker /Not your friend (live demo) - Digital EP Released 25.09.09

Ponyland Records

vWhatever Happened to Friday Night - CD/Digital Album Released 12.10.09

Ponyland Records

Teen Idol (Radio Edit) - Digital Single Released 25.10.09

Ponyland Records

X-RAY Eyes/Brainstorm - 10” Single

Re-Released 25.03.10

Ponyland Records

X-RAY Eyes/Brainstorm/Brainstorm Kidda Mix - Digital EP

Released 25.03.10

Ponyland Records

I Relax to Spiral Scratch/Trigger Finger - 7”

Re-Released 05.07.10

Ponyland Records

DIY Remaster - Album - CD Released 10.10.10

Ponyland Records

Homely Crackle/Narcotic Hearts - 7” Single Released 16.04.11

Ponyland Records

Wag Potential - CD single Released 14.11.11

Ponyland Records

Great Adventure - CD/ Digital Album Released 12.05.12

Ponyland Records

“I love The Scratch me. Not only have they got ace punk inspired tunes, they’ve got a great spirit. They’ll go all the way, you watch.”

Clint Boon – XFM

X-Ray Eyes/Brainstorm (Ponyland 10”) by England’s The Scratch is one of the most pocket-picking white guy post-punk dub dance whatsis slabs since The Pop Group’s “She Is Beyond Good And Evil”. And, yeah, it lacks some of that record’s massiveness. but the sputzy way these clowns pile grooves together on “X-Ray Eyes”, then tangle them with Beefhearty guitar slides, and strange post-glam vocals, is pretty goddamn snappy.

The Scratch - Live Review

The St Albans four piece dig deep into the Buzzcocks/ T.Rex canyon of furious guitar pop. It’s a rich seam and one that’s paying them dividends. They have the same kind of historic vocals, witty lyrics and tearaway guitars that made their two prime influences two of the best pop bands this country has ever produced. This sliver of guitar gold dominated their sound and their set is stuffed full of great tunes. It can only be a matter of time before someone takes some notice of this hard working band.

John

Robb at Night and Day, Manchester

©Karin Albinsson

A year in the life of Dislocated Flowers 2021

New Dislocated Flowers E.P; ‘Broken Hummingbird Repair Garage’ released 11/11/2021

Part 1 – Bleeding Soul Angels

Part 2 – Acid Red

Available on Bandcamp: https://dislocatedflowers.bandcamp.com/

Archive DiY cassette recordings from TVO 1994 released as TVO2 - Grimy, raw, messy, degraded oxides and a look back in time to the pre-Internet digital freedom days. When the A&R gatekeepers ruled the world of releases and everything depended on demo tapes and fingers crossed moments for the unsigned lottery of ‘does your face fit are you a radio-friendly-unit-shifter that will be marketed in our next fashion-designingproduct genre?’… ahhh

Control is on heat and pumping with profound malicious joy at the ever increasing restrictions placed on humanity by Pharma-Tech-GreedCorporation PLC… as ever enabled by compliant, mendacious, weak, grabbing politicians with no moral compass or empathy.

Mob vitriol as no debate comfortably off thought police create mass ignorance in the ever devolving race to purity of offence and who claims it. Mass delusion and stupidity on a scale never dreamed of by power freak junkies and chaos everywhere. Oh what times we live in…

Currently mixing and mastering the last instalment of the Twenty One Cut-Up Trilogy

This year is madder than last year, next year will be madder still…

Soft Harm Patch Pilgrims, today’s reading is from the book of Loveless Neo-Puritanism. Chapter 23; Letters to the Numb

“Afraid of being alone and forgotten, driven mad by Control and afraid always. Pharma Dope Control multiple jab addiction process is the eugenics fast breeder. What you are is not what you are. Control coughs the virus to swallow heat babel inducement. Negative destructive hateful people syndrome enabler through virtue vice as decreed normal influencer speaks.

Bioweapon gene counters AWOL renegade counter terror multiplier ongoing history story. Move without murmur every day Pharma Control Dope nod out virus mode. Under a flag of convenience in come the grinning eyeless killers dancing fast moving slowly to their aims. No test or research protocol supplemental requirement for ever increasing profit explosion, expulsion, explosion.

The individual is a mob mindless driven desperate to be liked but feared.

Guide the young and desperately needy easily led believers of man to end reason and agreement. Speak truth, friend, and you are cancelled out rubbed away pitchfork mobbed and burnt alive and whole sale, buy my book.

Attempt to step out of the Control Mind principal drip fed since birth. Thought Police and Predatory Creeps authority mob rule ain’t it grand kid...”

Soft Harm Patch – to be released December 2021

SKULL & FORK

Endless Idiot is a one-man post-punk project from Stefan, the frontman of UK punk band Who Killed Nancy Johnson? Skull And Fork, the project’s second full length, follows hot on the heels of debut album, Sisyphus, released in February. Skull And Fork draws on similar inspirations, taking motifs and ideas from punk, post-punk, new wave and minimalism. There’s a waltz, a pop song, a banger, some oddities, some anger, a song called Love that isn’t, one instrumental, and bastard versions of two songs originally written for a rhythm and blues band.The

Waking Up (again) With Kevee

Cheers to In The Club for inviting me to do an update since last time pre COVID!

Well the solo stuff went ok...

Dropped the album Wake Up With Kevee beginning of last summer in the height of lockdown so never got to gig it really. It was a mix of songs from back in the 80’s, new songs and some reworking on Skomads tracks. I just wanted to put all those songs out there. It really wasn’t genre specific from reggae, ska punk to rock, indie and even a psychobilly track! Andy from Terminal Twist helped out on some bass and Frisco added drums to a lot of tracks. Dave Doll produced it at Farm Factory and added a few bits of guitar, backing vocals even a synth! My daughter featured on a couple of tracks and made us sound quite professional.

I though I’d love to do this live. I put out a single recorded in the bedroom under Determinated and it went down well so I formed the band. Andy jumped on board and we recorded a mini album ‘Cusp of Revolution’ and have gigged it including The 100 Club and Dublin Castle thanks to The Pocket Gods and Nub. Joules has joined us on bass as Andy can’t commit really living 2 hours away but we’re always up for four of us being involved. On the side I started painting a lot. I’ve dabbled

So onto Determinated, I was sitting at home for 3-4 weeks listening to a lot of Ramones, early Motörhead even a bit of Discharge and GBH. Next thing I wrote four songs in a day, just punk, rocknroll

Another couple followed and with Frisco in mind

before on single, album covers but seemed to be spending more time on it. I had a piece displayed in The Summer Scapes exhibition in St Albans which has spurred me on. It looks like another exhibition is going to use a piece next year. My paintings go with a song and lyrics and I’ve been dreaming of putting on a show where you can wander round basically listening to the art as well as, reading the art and looking at it. I’m hoping it’s going to happen early 2022. The exhibition using the piece next year asked for the lyrics and sound files (which they loved) so it should be happening on a smaller scale at least.

The website will hopefully be up soon, to promote everything. Determinated will soon be back in the studio doing a couple of tracks, it’s sounding really tight.

My solo stuff had been put on hold but a new single is on its way. ‘Coming Up Empty’ a story of struggling, things never quite working out as you had planned but lucky for me I’ve got Sandra and we always pull through. So it’s a love song really and means a lot to me. Covid has made us all have a think about what is important in life. Time, stands out to me and free movement. Just get your ideas out there while you can, if they do well it’s a bonus. Thanks again guys, hopefully catch up on the road, we’re usually easy to find at the bar.

Cheers

Kevee

Photo credit Grae

"Coming Up Empty' is a story of struggling, things never quite working out as you had planned..."

BIG M’s MIGHTY PROBE

In the fist of a new regular feature, local music fan and King of the single, double AND triple entendre Big M! goes in deep, asking people involved in the independent music scene for their views and opinions on what’s happening out there.

In this first probing he goes into depth with Mac MacLaren, St Albans musician and owner of the ‘Lemonrock’ gig guide about his unique gig guide, the music scene in St Albans generally and his experiences within it as well as where he see’s the future of Live Music.

BIG M! PROBES MAC.

It’s a cold November afternoon when I visit Mac Maclaren’s office, he offers me a well needed cup of tea and he sits down for his late lunch of cheese on toast, we settle down and start to talk…

BigM!: So Mac, the first I wanna ask is, for the uninitiated and unaware can you tell us what Lemonrock is?

Mac: Lemonrock is an online, local gig guide, which is an App on your phone or tablet etc, and it tells you what live music is on in the town where you live, without you having to do much at all, you just download the app, which automatically knows where you are, and then any time you are interested on going out to see a band, then you look on Lemonrock and it tells you what is on in your local area.

Big M!: OK, so you said it’s ‘local’ but it’s also national too really? It’s got quite a wide geographical coverage.

Mac: It was born in St Albans, because I lived here! And I started going out to a load of gigs, and I felt there was a need for something on line, ‘cos this was a long time ago, going back to 2000 and it grew gradually over the next few years to Harpenden, London Colney, and Luton and then some band from Harpenden had a gig in Surrey , which my database couldn’t handle, so I expanded it and then within the next couple of years to lots of different counties and then I had some very good luck in 2005 when a gig guide in Devon, run by really enthusiastic people like me, which for whatever reason stopped listing gigs, so I approached the guys who ran it and offered them my help,

which they reluctantly declined but offered me their database , so I inherited a data base of 500 gigs for Exeter & Plymouth!

BigM!: You know I’ve been down to Cornwall and Devon quite a lot and I have seen Lemonrock advertised at various pubs and venues and some of the bands I’ve seen down there work with Lemonrock too.

Mac: Bands love Lemonrock: it saves them from having to get their own website and keeping it updated, which, even if you do get your own website it’s gonna cost you 5 or ten quid a month, and you have to update it, which is more difficult than it should be, but Lemonrock makes all of that easy.

BigM!: And you’ve actually preempted a question I was gonna ask later: You moved to St Albans in?

Mac: 1990.

Big M!: OK 1990: so you started hitting the music scene around St Albans?

Mac: Yeah, I used to mainly go to acoustic gigs in the early 1990’s, there were a few of them around, so people like the legendary Bill Johnson and Grae J Wall were running these open mic nights and maybe slightly more organised gigs with named bands, so I got to know the local bands in St Albans in the 90’s and it was actually through that I became interested in recording, this was obviously way before Lemonrock, and I started writing songs again having stopped really. So the music scene in St Albans gave me the impetus to get back into song writing.

BigM!: I wanna get back to that, but the next thing I wanted to ask was, so from 1990 to now, what changes have you seen, for better or for worse, on the gig/live music scene?

Mac: It’s still pretty vibrant. And that’s not bad when you consider that’s a whole generation. We still got the Horn which is doing a mixture of covers and originals. One thing I would say I’ve noticed is there are many more covers bands around now.

BigM!: Why do you think that is?

Mac: I’m really not sure. There are so many good original singer/ songwriters around, I think the mobile phone has had a lot to do with the way that people behave generally-before we had mobile phones an audience would have a much better attention span-they were going to a gig and seeing a new band and now… I think…people are less patient.

LEMONROCK LIVE MUSIC

LEMONROCK LIVE MUSIC Mac

BigM!: Do you also think that before if you wanted to see a new, up and coming band the only way you could really see them was by going to them at a gig? Whereas now, with all the available online platforms, like Soundcloud for example, if you wanna check out a new band you can do it from the comfort of your home on your phone?

Mac: It’s never the same though, even a well produced gig on line is nothing like….

BigM!: No, I meant like demo’s: bands can now have bandcamp pages where they can put their demo’s or even finished tracks on line…

Mac: Well Lemonrock has helped with that, we enable bands to upload their tracks onto their Lemonrock page, so people can get an idea, at least what they sound like before committing to going to see them at a gig.

BigM!: And how many bands currently use Lemonrock?

Mac: There is a lot of churn, we have some bands that have been on Lemonrock for fifteen years other’s for only a few months. So overall we’ve probably had 25,000 bands come and go! At the moment it’s currently about 5,000.

Big M!: If I was in a band, and I signed up for Lemonrock, what do I get out of it as a band? I can advertise my gigs, but how dos that work? How do you inform the subscribers?

Mac: Well, your page on Lemonrock is very easily discovered, because we’ve written search engine software that makes it a breeze, so once you’ve written your page, google will pick it up, but you can also share it to your favourite social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, just with a click of a button you can add that Lemonrock content to your social media. We also send out emails to music fans-we send out THOUSANDS of emails every week to people in an area, but you can also follow a band on Lemonrock and if your a fan of that band, even if they are not in your local area we will send you emails about their gigs So as soon as your gig gets posted, it gets emailed out to thousands of fans.

BigM!: So if I was in a band, and I had a gig coming up, if I was on Lemonrock, that gig would be notified to thousands of Lemonrock subscribers?

Mac: Thats right. We would notify people usually within a 20 mile radius of your gig and that can be thousands of people, especially if that gig was in a place like St Albans where there is literally thousands of Lemonrock subscribers.

BigM!: And venues can subscribe too? Is that correct?

Mac: Yes. Although bands form the majority of our membership, you can

to Lemonrock?

Mac: Not really, because, although they are both massive sites they are ‘jack of all trades’. Both of them. And they haven’t got

join Lemonrock as a venue and post your venues gigs and that can work really well if the bands don’t have a Lemonrock page, the venue can add the gigs and in doing so that creates simple skeleton pages for then band that they are adding gigs for. So, it’s kinda organic in that way: bands can do they same thing-they can create a venue page that a venue can then claim and the venues can create band pages that the bands can then claim! It’s a ready made solution for marketing your band.

Big M!: I’ve obviously done my research and had a look at Lemonrock and I think one of the things I like about it is that appears to be unique in the fact there is no advertising on it. What was the decision behind that?

Mac: Advertising, in my opinion cheapens any website. And usually you don’t have any control over the advertising content, which makes it even worse, so….

Big M!: So you’ve got an ethical stance as well then?

Mac: I don’t know it it’s ethics, it’s more to do with ease of use and relevance….

Big M!: Yeah-it’s people not being distracted I guess.

Mac: Yes, that’s right. So we charge a small fee-a membership fee, which is currently £42 per year, which is £3.50 per month and that means we don’t have to put advertising on the site which means the site is dedicated to live music and gigs.

Big M!: So it’s like the ‘Ronseal’ of gig guides! It does exactly what is says on the tin!

Mac: It’s an unfussy gig guide, ad free, and attempts to make it as accurate as possible, where all the dates, times etc are thoroughly checked. I don’t think there is any other gig guide that puts as much work into the presentation and into the data quality that Lemonrock does.

Big M!: You mentioned Facebook, Instagram: have they presented challenges

round to organising their data in the way Lemonrock’s data is organised. So, if for example, you live in Hitchin you can easily find, automatically and easily find your local gigs, whereas no such thing exists on Facebook. (To my knowledge!)

Big M!: I think if a band has a page on Facebook, they can send you a message they have a gig coming up, but I could be living in Scotland, the band night be based in London and doing a gig in Scunthorpe! Which is no fucking good or relevant at all to me!

Mac: One of the strengths of Lemonrock is it’s location awareness. So we wouldn’t do that! We would send you details of gigs in Scunthorpe if you lived in Scotland. (Unless of course, you were following a band who happened to be playing far away. It’s very flexible).

Big M!: I also understand that if you are a band subscribing to Lemonrock you can use it to advertise your gigs but you can also do a mail shot to people following you informing them of upcoming gigs or events?

“One thing I would say I’ve noticed is there are many more covers bands around now.” Mac.

Mac: You’d do that through your social media channels, you’d post your information onto Lemonrock as a blog. So all bands and venues can write blogs and you would then share the blog. So there is an extra step involved, but it still means Lemonrock is there as the platform for your band when you share it on your social media site. It links into your social media page so people will see not just your blog, but listen to your music, see your photographs and most importantly see when you are gigging.

Big M!: Yeah-I like that: You can upload your demos to Lemonrock, which is all part of the service if you are a band isn’ it?

Mac: Yeah! Most bands these days make their own recordings and Lemonrock accepts MP3’s which are very small files so, you can upload maybe 15, 20 songs to your Lemonrock page and it won’t take up much space. So everybody gets a fair chance at promoting they’re selves.

Big M!: So I wanna move things on a bit, so apart from the Pandemic, which is the obvious one, what challenges have you faced in the ever increasing digital world we live in. Has that been a help or a hinderance for Lemonrock?

Mac: I’m constantly amazed the internet actually exists and I think it is an amazing invention and tool. I think that without internet, live music might well have had a rather more ill fated existence over the last 10 or 20 years.

Big M!: What makes you say that?

Mac: TV.

Big M!: T.V. ???!

Mac: Has got very slick and people like to stay in and watch it instead of going out.

Big M!: I guess a lot of venues have closed down too… I mean music venues have closed down over the last couple of decades, that

can’t have helped.

Mac: There is the constant problem of venues competing with supermarkets because of the licensing laws, and that impacts on the feasibility of live gigs to take place, because the venue has to pay the band…

Big M!: And quite rightly so! In my opinion, bands ABSOLUTELY should be paid!

Mac: Absolutely. I totally agree.

Big M!: I’m not gonna mention the pub. But, I was chatting to a St Albans landlord who was looking to revamp and relaunch his boozer and he wanted to put live music on. So I mentioned that I knew you and Denise Parsons who were promoting music in St Albans and I would be more than happy to do the necessary introductions. But he told me he didn’t wanna pay for bands/ gigs. And it just left me thinking ‘what fucking planet is this bloke on’? You know, guitars, amplifiers and drum kits aren’t cheap are they? And he’s just expecting something for nothing!

Mac: It’s such a weird attitude. I wouldn’t go into a pub and ask for a pint of beer for free…

Big M!: Well I would! I wouldn’t expect it, but I’d chance me arm!

Mac: I know you would yeah! But no, why should anybody do anything for free? OK, so maybe if a band proves itself and is a success and does a gig for a lower fee… but there is so much work involved putting on a gig: not least the cost of the instruments and the amplification….

Big M!: And it’s the other things people don’t even realise, you don’t just rock up and play a gig, unless of course you are incredibly

talented like Jimi Hendrix or something, if you are a mere mortal in a band you have to go and pay for rehearsal space, you have to invest before you even get any gigs in return (and hopefully some money).

Mac:

Yes, people don’t realise the costs involved, your’re right. Rehearsal studios do cost money, and don’t forget the time investment toopeople aren’t born able to play and sing, they have to spend hours and hours practising and perfecting their art so it’s presentable to the public! And a lot of people just don’t get that. I would have thought that Landlords would have got that though.

Big M!: Yeah, I think generally Landlords dowe both know there are plenty of pubs in Hertfordshire and St Albans in particular that do put on Live Music and I think the landlords as far as I’m aware are very fair and equitable in what they pay their bands. I would say this particular aforementioned landlord I was referring to is the exception rather than the norm and hasn’t really got realistic expectations.

Mac: I know who you are talking about and I know for sure that pubs that do invest in their live music will succeed generally, because live music creates a welcoming, fun atmosphere for the pub and shows the public that the pub cares about the community.

Big M!: And of course it gives the bands the opportunity to do their thing.

Mac: It’s a great thing be able to play in a band, it’s exciting and if you are doing it right, it will be exciting for the audience as well. Big M!: You’ve made a good point there, and again I’m enjoying this interview ‘cos I’m not leading you, your pre-empting all my questions! You’re a musician yourself, you came to St Albans in 1990 and you started up a band and I believe you recorded and released a few albums didn’t you?

Mac: We did! My band was called ‘MacLaren Wall’. I say ‘was’ - it still exists but we haven’t recorded for a long time, we’re more of a live band now. Yes, they were fun days. We

“It’s an unfussy gig guide, ad free, and attempts to make it as accurate as possible, where all the dates, times etc are thoroughly checked. I don’t think there is any other gig guide that puts as much work into the presentation and into the data quality that Lemonrock does.” Mac.

recorded about 20 songs and released 3 CD’s in the 90’s. I loved it! It was great fun meeting musicians and producers and getting to grips with CD production and art work. I had a whale of a time! I miss those days.

Big M!: Would you go back if possible?

Mac: I have decided I’m a better software engineer than musician! So, however sad that sounds…

Big M!: I can’t argue with you because I’ve heard you, I have actually bought one of your albums…

Mac: Thank you Sir! I wondered who that was…

Big M!: I have bought one of your albums, I think it’s called ‘Such Is Life’?

Mac: ‘A Bit Like Life’

Big M!: Yeah - ‘A Bit Like Life’ that’s the one! And that’s a very good album, but I know nothing about software engineering so I can’t really argue the point on that one. But I think, that’s a very good album and it’s stands up today even though it was made in the mid 90’s.

Mac: You’re very kind! Actually that particular CD was made in 2004, with a producer who put a techno slant on the songs which makes the CD very interesting.

Big M!: I think it’s gotta bit of a Morcheeba, slightly trip-hoppy sort of vibe to it that album.

Mac: Yes, that’s what the producer brought to the table. He’d already worked on remixes for U2 and Springsteen amongst others. So he had some potentially great contacts, but like the other two CD’s we didn’t manage to convince the world that we were the best thing ever!

Big M!: You never now, with this interview there might be a huge rush down to Empire Records, ‘cos they’re still in there. People might rush out and buy them and this time next year you’ll be a millionaire!

Mac: Excellent! Well, thank you for that very comforting projection! It’s been great talking to you!

Big M!: Hang about! I’ve not finished yet! I wanna go back to Lemonrock and ask what you see as the future for Lemonrock, how will it evolve and develop in say the next 5 years?

Mac: I am hoping that Lemonrock will become a household name eventually in all parts of the UK, I would hope as technology advances the app will become even easier to use and will become the first point of call for any band out there-original or covers band Lemonrock will be there to put your gigs on and then get people to come along to those gigs.

Big M!: I like the fact you’ve been on both sides of the fence really. You’re in this position now of editing Lemonrock and providing this service to gig goers and bands, but you’ve also been on the other side where you’ve been in a band so I think it gives you a unique perspective if you like.

Mac: Yeah. Thats really helped me in designing the best site possible, because I can see things from a musicians point of view I’m constantly asking questions when I’m designing the site and as a gigging musician I’m also thinking of how people interact with the site. Is it geared towards musicians? And not just some faceless customers.

Big M!: So for up and coming bands, what advice would you give them? Not including the obvious one — get yourself a Lemonrock membership!

Mac: Well, obviously...

Big M!: Sorry Mac, I don’t like to interrupt but let me just elaborate on this a bit: I don’t think this just applies to musicians I think it’s applicable to a lot of creative people, where they’ve obviously got an untold amount of talent and ability, but I think there is almost an element with a some, not all of them where they feel they don’t really need to work, they just have to sit back and wait for the world to discover their ‘genius’ and when that doesn’t happen they can tend to become a bit jaded and bitter about it. I mean, this probably goes back to you being a musician, I think you’d agree you have to put the yards in don’t you? You don’t just turn up and sell a million records!

Mac: You’re right. You really have to work hard at the promotion side of your band, your songs and your gigs. Because, nobody else is going to do it! Thats the whole idea behind Lemonrock-that it enables you to create your own presence on the web and add as much interesting information as possible. You’d be amazed by the number of bands that don’t write anything about their selves . They get their selves a free Lemonrock trial account, and they add 1 or 2 gigs and they write anything about their selves they don’t even put photographs of their selves on their page! How are they ever going to ‘make it’ if that basic information isn’t there? So as a free trial member you get the ability to add your bio, upload MP3’s post pictures, add links to your social media pages and add gigs! You can do that for 30 days, which is long enough I think to get a flavour of what Lemonrock can do for you as a band.

Big M!: So, for any of our readers who are in bands and for what ever reasons are not Lemonrock members, how can they find out more? What do they need to do?

Mac: Go to lemonrock.com on your mobile or tablet, sign up as a band and within literally seconds you can be uploading photographs and MP3’s of your band and start getting known by your local live music, gig goers.

Big M!: Can we possibly provide bands with your email address if they have any further questions?

Mac: Sure! I’m always more than happy to help people who are starting out and don’t have a web presence or are trying to improve their web presence: editor@lemonrock.com that will cone straight through to me and I will give them my personal help!

Big M!: Thats very kind of you! I think that’s about it from me, but before we finish, is there anything else you’d like to say about Lemonrock or anything else in general?

Mac: I think, if I could I would make Lemonrock free of charge. Facebook, Instagram etc are free. But they are multi billion dollar companies run by thousands of people...

Big M!: And sell advertising.

Mac: And sell advertising! But that’s not what Lemonrock is about. Lemonrock is ad free and because of it’s niche aspect we need to charge a small subscription fee, which is the equivalent of a pint of beer a month! I think even the most hard up bands might be able to afford that.

Big M!: Yeah, I think that’s a very reasonable and interesting analogy really. Put that into perspective, yeah it’s not a lot is it? When you are reaching potentially thousands of gig goers and record buyers.

Mac: Well as I said, it’s niche whereas EVERYTHING is on Facebook and Instagram Lemonrock is just about live music and NOTHING else.

Big M!: That seems the perfect place to end. Thank you for your time Mac it’s been a pleasure!

Mac: Thank you!

Well, that’s it for this first interview, I think you’ll agree folks, Big M! Made a good fist of it. He’s slotted in very well with the rest of the ‘In The Club’ team. Watch out for the next edition where he will be probing, teasing and pumping for information from some other subject from the independent music scene.

visit lemonrock.com and get yourself signed up!