Issue 021 JUNE 2015
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
Recently, I went to a Steam Fair. Was a lovely warm day, all the traction engines were out (I love a good traction engine) and much merry was being made (amongst the screaming kids, city types who were ‘so, there cos we saw it on, you know, in terms of, Facebook*?’ and lots of men in boiler suits). Anyway, all was well until my other half and I wandered past the beer tent and what should we find? A covers band. This editorial isn’t going to be me having a pop at bands that play covers - in fact, if it hadn’t been for the excellent Martin Wakeling being in a very good covers band (The 88), I doubt he’d have learnt our songs so well or so quickly. Nice one, Martin. My main gripe here is: “Why do most covers bands have to look and sound the same degree of a...bit awful?” I’ve hung around with enough covers/function bands to glean that many of them don’t take much pleasure in their art. I think this is because, ultimately, you’re playing someone else’s song. Over the years, a couple of covers have dropped into our band’s set list and we’ve enjoyed doing our version of one of them. When it was suggested we cover Xerox Machine (Adam Ant) for Ant Lib, Mr Worm and I were quick to decide that we should make it our mission to put our own stamp on it. We did - and it became fun; unlike our cover of Top Of The Pops, which a certain then member of the band would get his knickers in a twist if it wasn’t a slavish imitation of the original. How dull. Also, I find that those cover bands who play such things as local Steam Fairs, all seem to be of a certain age (usually 40+) and have a certain check-list they seem to adhere to... -
Amps by Marshall, all far too large for the size gig they’re playing (Check) Les Paul Copies (Check) Overly Elaborate Multi-FX pedals (Check) Too many f*****g cymbals. All of which are used in pointless fills. Frequently. (Check)
...and all of which is utilised badly...and you can usually find a gear brand name t-shirt or two being worn, along with faded blue jeans. OK, by now, you’re thinking how sniffy I’m being about this but here’s my point - all of these guys probably really wanted to be in a band at one point in their youth and be proficient at whatever they were playing (and maybe write their own songs), so when did settling for doing this sort of thing become acceptable? Why doesn’t anyone point out to them that ‘Teenage Kicks’ sounds pretty damn embarrassing sung by someone over the age of 45, especially when played far too loud and with a stupid amount of distortion? Come on, covers bands!! Think about what you’re doing here!! If you’re in it for function band money, that’s cool. In fact, good for you - keeps landlords in the idea of sticking their hands in their pocket to have their punters entertained. But, for heaven’s sake, take some professional pride in what you do? Either make it interesting and do something worthwhile with your material, or, do it properly, play well...and take the cash. Don’t try and do it for your own personal ends - you might as well just sit at home with your mates playing, instead of giving people in bands who do take pride in what they do a bad name before they’ve even begun. J-Rod. Angry Guitarist Stage Left, and typo. *Just so you know; if you speak like that, you’re not welcome at a Tuesday Club gig. EVER. In fact, stop reading this and go back to brown-nosing on Linked In.
M A G (NIFICENT)
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7 ( i s h ) 6 + 1 - J u ne E D I T I O N ) Wha t The Tuesday C lu b are s t icking in t heir eardrums !
Andreas Vanderbraindrain: Jesus Jones - Info Freako youtu.be/3HtjMGBzBnU The Minx: Offspring - Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) #morecowbell youtube.com/watch?v=nzY2Qcu5i2A? Wasabi Penis: Killing Joke - Love like blood youtu.be/TnpwuRlXbhk J-Rod: The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing youtube.com/watch?v=PavjZt3n0Rw The Beautiful Wolf: The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - Equestrian Statue youtu.be/s0j86o4HLb4 Rogerio Marauder: Black Grape - Kelly’s Heroes youtube.com/watch?v=yHvcSjGpIuY&sns=em Thanks to: Design @8ecreative, Tiggy Pop. Editor: Reggie Mental. Photography: Neil Stephenson, Jord, AVBD, The Eye, Sarah Martin, Dylan Schwarz Words: Denise Parsons, The Minx, Faye Don’tlikeitupum, Stuart Pidboy, Don Tellumpike, Don T. Panic, Sister Dolly, AVBD, Beautiful Wolf, J-Rodz, Grae J Wall, Roger The Ranter.
Upcoming gigs!
Contents
See Page 4 for full tour list!
Cover star:
The Tuesday Club
Magnificent 6+1
2-3
Forbidden Kiss EP Tour!
4-5
(Club) Foot tappers
6-7
Who’s In the Club
8-9
What’s going on in our musical world Yes, a new EP... here’s the details!
AVBD, J-Rod and The Beautiful Wolf trawl their record collections. Plus a new feature Songs from The Garden John Robb - Louder than War!
Membranes New Album Featurette! 10-13 Dark Matter/Dark Energy double album
Da Minx’s - Upping the Agony...
A BIG thankyou to Martin and Grant our two tour drummers, we couldn’t do it without you guys! xx
14
The Chanteuse turns to psychiatry!
Starter for 10 - The Return of SMMDI... 15 With Will Crewdson a man in more bands than Rogerio!
50 Shades of Grae
Chapter and verse from St.Albans’ cunningest linguists and friends
The Parson’s Knows
Denise, gives us all the news from Trestle Arts base, St.Albans and it’s environs.
The Tuesday Club Pop up shop! Stuff to buy and stuff to do!
16-17
18-23
24
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
r u o y t a This is wh n o i t c e l l o c concept ! e k i l k o o l should now See next page for where to order yours!
You! Yes, you!
Have you ever had a Forbidden Kiss? And no, we’re not talking about a cheeky one under the mistletoe at Christmas with a girl you fancied when both aged 12, or indeed, a bit later in life, getting caught by your boss ‘kissing’ his wife at his party, then having to leave via the window, resign your position the next day and go ‘travelling’ because ‘you felt the urge to’? We’re talking about the latest EP from The Tuesday Club, who are now 4 (as in the age of the band, not age of members or indeed, combined ages of members. That’s like 307 or thereabouts. Combined ages of members, that is. We’re not The Polyphonic Spree, who recently celebrated their one millionth member, whose prize was an instrument never before seen by the eyes of man). Anyway, Forbidden Kiss. The EP. It’ll be released on Saturday the 27th of June, Anno Domini 2015, at The New Adelphi Club in Hull, as a (serious point here) small thank you to all of our Hull based supporters. Ta for that, like. Before and after that date, the band are playing other gigs. This scribe would bother to list them but assumes you can use your eyeballs and glance to your left, where they’re all listed (thank you very much). Come to one, if you like. It will be a HOOT. Finally (as my coffee is getting cold and the cat is clamouring to be let out) we must address the question of ‘what does it all mean?!’. When polled, the band didn’t know and AVDB wasn’t telling. Pin your own meaning to the song. It’s more fun that way and also, you might not like the original one anyway. So there. Finally, finally (as the cat has now knocked over the coffee as it’s not been let out. The cat that is, not the coffee), this is the first of two EPs the band is releasing this year so if you HATE this one (and, perhaps, feel the need to blog about it in a snotty fashion), there’ll be another along in a minute (well, October) all about Lady Gargar. So there, so there.
ORDER THE EP HERE FROM 27 th JUNE!
www.thetcshop.com
info@thisisthetuesdayclub.co.uk @thetuesdayclub1 www.facebook.com/thisisthetuesdayclub www.youtube.com/thisisthetuesdayclub soundcloud.com/thetuesdayclub
WWW.THISISTHETUESDAYCLUB.CO.UK
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 :-)
Presence This month’s Dear’ and featured can be found track from on their The Tuesday second Club, is album Forbidden ‘Plastic Kiss, our new Letters’ from 1978. EP, which you can pre-order youtu.be/NO94MYyc7SE here at thetcshop.com The KLF - What Time is Love (Live from Trancentral) One the multitude of mixes of this Acid House classic from the Wolf’s raving days and in honour of the fact that Andreas has been reading, and highly recommends the book ‘Chaos, Magic and the Band That Burned a Million Quid’ also worth a read is their book ‘The Manual - how to have a number one hit the easy way - or your money back’. They deleted their entire back catalogue when they quit so it is all currently unavailable. youtu.be/5g5gbgDbPIY Blondie - Detroit442 B-side on the 12 inch of ‘I’m Always Touched By Your
XTC - Life begins at the Hop XTCs fifth single, but the first to feature a bassist, Colin Moulding, composition rather than Andy Partrige. He went on the pen the hits ‘Making Plans for Nigel’ and ‘Generals and Majors’. XTC, who are something of a favorite of the Wolf currently have a re-issue programme putting out remasters on heavy weight vinyl youtu.be/7vq1U8BKsEw Stealing Sheep - This Time Stealing Sheep - a three piece trio from Liverpool. This track is taken from their new album ‘Not Real’ their second for Heavenly Records. This is quirky pop music with cool
harmonies, shades of 80s bands such as The Passions, while still sounding modern. youtu.be/I7Qa_ul9rVI Roxanne Shanté - Live On Stage Another classic 12 incher dusted down from the Wolf’s record box from his raving days - originally released in 1989. New Yorker Roxanne retired from the music business at the ripe old age of 25. youtu.be/qowXH5NBh6o The Raincoats - Fairy Tale In The Supermarket Post punk girlband, contemporaries of the Slits and featuried The Slits ex drummer - Palmolive. This single from 1979 also opened their debut album “The Raincoats’ In 1992 Kurt Cobain went into the Rough Trade Shop in London
In a new feature, our very own Beautiful Wolf brings you an exclusive series from his past... He’ll now transport you back to Welwyn Garden City, somewhere in the 1970’s!
Sounds from the Garden PART 1 in search of a copy of this album and Jude Crighton sent him round the corner to see Ana da Silva at her cousin’s antique shop. Cobain wrote passionately about this meeting in the liner notes of Nirvana’s Incesticide album. youtu.be/MZJt56z5Ywc We hope you enjoy this months podcast, don’t forget you can subscribe to them and listen again on our channel at mixcloud.com/ thisisTheTuesdayClub
To find out more about these and other tracks on our show download your FREE podcast...
click
here
by the Beautiful Wolf Back in the late ‘70s, while still at school, I was in Welwyn Garden City based post punk outfit - Wargames - when our drummer, Jan, and myself spotted an advert in Interrnational Musician Magazine for announcing the worlds first 4-track cassette recorder the TEAC144, they weren’t cheap - but a darn sight cheaper than hiring a studio or buying a reel to reel neither of which were within our budget and it also fitted in perfectly with our punk, do it yourself ethics. So we just had to have one! Luckily Jan had some savings from his Saturday job in Pond’s Tools - so we ordered one, then had to wait months until it was actually released - we were so keen that we went to collect it from the warehouse the day it came in. As soon as we had it home we started recording tracks with our band, and then almost immediately word got around and other bands were interested in getting their hands on it - so we came up with the idea of a cassette release of Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield bands which we named ‘Sounds from the Garden’ - so armed with just 4 Microphones and the TEAC144, with no recording experience or knowledge whatsoever we set about inviting bands into our rehearsal space - The music room at Heronswood School to record a couple of tracks each. The bands included Katyusha Rockets, The Incults, False Concern and my personal faves The War Effort.
In the club
with John Robb
s e n a br m e M d n a e d a bl d ol G Our next guest ‘In the Club’ is John Robb an inspiration to this Zine from his work on LouderthanWar.com He is a writer, broadcaster and of course musician. Still regularly rocking the Punk Rock scence all over the world with Goldblade and his newly reformed 80’s indie heroes The Membranes (listen to them in the Club foot podcast this month ;-). John is a true champion of the underground and indie pop culture so we are delighted to say... Hi John and welcome to In the Club.
rebuilt because of punk, you could say punk is an attitude and not a style of music, 1) We are sitting in the cyber pub doing this interview, you could look at footballers with mohawks and it’s our round. What do you want to drink? and see punk rock there, you could look at all the coolest bands of the last 40 years Sadly it would be a cup of tea. A cup of and argue that they were all touched by the hippie green tea with a bit of luck! maybe hand of punk. As Zhou Enlai nearly said ‘The being cyber pub they would have green tea! impact of punk rock? it’s too early to say…’ 2) What was the last thing you heard/watched that was so good you had to tell someone about it?
Ha! It happens all the time - being the boss of louderthanwar.com I get sent stuff all the time from great new bands like Lets Eat Grandma who are 2 14 year old girls who make this amazing dark music or veterans like Swans who are at the top of the game
4) In terms of new bands starting out is the Internet a help or hinderance?
It’s great for getting your music out there, a nightmare for getting paid, brilliant for being able to communicate with people all over the world and a total freedom of ideas good or bad- it’s the biggest change in media and culture since TV and we haven’t even begun to understand it’s 3) There used to be badges and compilation albums impact yet. As Zhou Enlai nearly said again proclaiming ‘Punk’s Not Dead’ but Is Punk rock ‘The impact of the internet? it’s too early dead, alive to say…’ or just evolving? Punk is everywhere and nowhere all at the same time there’s still a punk scene worldwide - huge in some countries that still does the three chord punk thing, you could argue that the city centre of manchester was
5) IF Premier League Football is the current ‘rock’n’roll’ (in terms of Superstar status), what do you think could or should be next big thing?
What about rock n roll again! I grew up in the seventies when rock n roll was the rock n roll and it was better that way football is a fine thing but footballers are not rock n roll... 6) If you had a time machine and could go back to any year in music, what would it be and why?
I would set it to now. Be here now...
7) If you could be any character in a film, what film and who would it be?
The punk rock Terminator... 8) You are now In The Club, but what club do you actually wish it was?
Groucho Marx always had the best answer to this question...
10) What question haven’t we asked you that you wish we had?
Can we give you all of our money?
Haha 100% of nothing, is no problem. Thanks loads John! For all of the news that’s worth reading it has to be
louderthanwar.com twitter.com/louderthanwar facebook.com/louderthanwar
9) Who’d be in your 4 piece fantasy rock’n’ roll band. For more news of Membranes new double album... Guitar, Bass, Drums and Vocals
Dark Matter/ Dark Energy
Any combination of the class of 77. Today was the Slits but Seaford Mods would be cool but they are a two piece so it all gets confusing... just keep reading on!
Dark Matter Dark Energy double album featurette
Here is Membranes new video for the opening track from
Dark Matter/Dark Energy
The song is called: 'The Universe
Explodes Into A Billion Photons Of Pure White Light' Watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/q9fvyvt
When Membranes frontman John Robb did a Ted x talk he met Joe Incandela the head of the Higgs Boson project. A long and intense conversation about the universe followed about the idea of the birth and then the death of the universe itself which seemed perfect for a song cycle for the Membranes new double album and for special gigs called The Universe Explained where Robb interviews scientists on stage and the Membranes play at the end of the night. The highly influential UK post punk noisenik band who had reformed at the request of My Bloody Valentine to play ATP fitted perfectly into the tripped out world of space and the infinite, endless possibilities of a music. All the songs on the Membranes new Dark Matter/Dark Energy album touch on aspects of space - from the opening track that is about the big bang of the universe to Joe Incandela himself explaining the universe over the spooky 'Multiverse Suite' to the closing track, 'the Hum Of The Universe',where the band try
and capture the beauty and violence of the end of the universe and a human life. A human life that is close to the singer because during the recording of the album Robb’s own father died. His death is threaded through many of the songs and the idea that when we all die we return our dust and energy to the endless void of the universe itlself. Tracks like In The Graveyard deal directly with watching his father die and his father can even be heard talking about the universe at the beginning of the same track. Musically the band's first album sees them moving forwards. Influential in the early eighties and eventually on bands as diverse as Mercury Rev, My Bloody Valentine, Steve Albini, The Vaccines, The Charlatans, Lambchop and writers like John Niven and Jon Ronson as well as spawning a whole scene of underground noisenik bands under the banner of the Death To Trad Rock scene the Membranes were and remain a groundbreaking band, the Membranes had no interest in being a retro band. The double album seems them moving forward and experimenting with a fervent post punk, a psychedelia, dark dub, darkwave drones, neo classical pieces, stripped down film score and rushes of noisy discord. Built around the bass guitar - the key instrument of the post punk period that birthed the band this is a 21st century music made by a band who have been left to make music on their own terms.
facebook.com/themembranes
“What an ace comeback after 26 years! Truly amazing adventure into sound.” After meeting the head of the Higgs Boson project who runs CERN Membranes frontman re-ignited his fascination with the universe. Long and intense talks about the universe followed and the idea of the birth and then the death of the universe seemed perfect for a song cycle for the Membranes new album and for special one of gigs called The Universe Explained where Robb interviews scientists on stage and the band play at the end. All the songs touch on aspects of space- from the opening track that is about the big bang of the universe to Joe himself explaining the universe over the spooky Multiverse Suite to the closing track, the Hum Of The Universe ,where the band try and capture the beauty and violence of the end of the universe and a human life.
“There have been some brilliant and breathtaking ‘guitar records’ this year. And this is one of them. Maybe, in terms of sheer breadth of ambition, courage, and devil-take-the-hindmost intelligence, it’s the best one” Incendiary website
‘The new album is easily the best thing the Membranes have ever done. Bristling with a diverse and brilliant section of songs that are epic in scale it is not only the best thing the band have ever done but one of the albums of the year.’
During the recording of the album Robb’s own father died and his death is threaded through many of the songs and the idea that when we all die we return our dust and energy to the endless void. Tracks like In The Graveyard deal directly with watching his father die and his father can even be heard talking about the universe at the beginning of the same track. Musically the Membranes had no interest in being a retro band. The double album seems them moving forward and experimenting with a fervent post punk, a psychedelia, dark dub, drones, neo classical pieces, stripped down film score and rushes of noisy discord. Built around the bass guitar - the key instrument of the post punk period that birthed the band this is a 21st century music made by a band who have been left to make music on their own terms.
‘The new Membranes album is epic, stunning and beautiful. Its strength is its diversity - ranging from angular noise to neo classical, from enveloping drones to ground breaking soundscapes to dark dub brilliance’ 10/10 album review
1. The Universe Explodes Into A Billion Photons Of Pure White Light The first Membranes album for 25 years was inspired by a meeting the head of the Higgs Boson project - an in depth conversation between John Robb and the scientist about dark matter, dark energy and the future of the universe was mind blowing enough to fire the album. Of course it’s not that simple - the first track on the album is about the big bang but also sex and death in a tripped out and powerful song…
beginning of the song is the actual sound of the universe which we were given by inside sources…
8. If You Enter The Arena, You Got To Be Prepared To Deal With The Lions Biblical imagery flashes by as the protagonist steps out into the arena of life taking the blows that come when you follow your instinct - or it could be a song about ritual and danger and semi autobiographical mashing of living under the lights and the gladiatorial nature of modern living. It sounds 2. Do The Supernova The Membranes trademark bass claustrophobic and chemically charged and genuinely driven rush celebrates the universe unhinged and dangerous. and dances across the ballrooms 9. 5776 (The Breathing Song) of the endless void. Driven by a The album is full of surprises. grinding bass and a huge chorus Set over a rhythm track of just this is the Membranes dancing to breathing, melancholic string the grinding neo industrial beat section, bows and twanging of particle physics and endless guitars and a dub bass and galaxies. the atmospheric spectral
3. Money Is Dust Loose and slinky strings construct a brooding groove song - 8 minutes of ebbs atmosphere. This is quite and flows built around a neo-Kraut literally a universal love songrepetition fuzz bass groove, metal two lovers look at the sky on a precision and a sticky black wah freezing cold autumn night and wah freak funk on the guitar (we count the stars. They are lost in love George Clinton although we the romantic notion that all the don’t like him!). In terms of the pin pricks of light that backdrop Universe and the sheer scale of it all the sky are not there any more we are all dust - this is the politics and there are many others that of the surreal and how dust like human greed seems we can’t see yet - in awe to the beauty of nature and the played out against the backdrop of the universe and universe and each other… the vastness of it all 10. In The Graveyard Bring on the dark dub! the 4. 21st Century Man A nervous breakdown of a song Membranes hook deep into the magic stuff, the dark over a grinding riff with the perfect heavy bass crank. dub that they are so fond of in a song about the final Sometimes live this song can stretch to 20 minutes days of a life, holding hands and watching life ebb away with its unrelenting ubermensch bass. During the is weirdly magical and heart breaking… recording of the album John Robb’s father died which 11. Magic Eye (To See The Sky) Musical diversity affected many of the songs that became about life is the key to the album - colliding a spectral folk, and death of a human being and the life and death of Rembetika bazouki’s and a droning harmonium built the universe… around a drone into a song that’s about the universe 5. The Multiverse Suite Joe Incandela, the head of the Higgs Boson project- explains the universe over the membranes created soundscape behind him. The album is musically varied - this track sees a string section and the use of e-bows to create a dark and strange musical backdrop - do we believe in the multiverse theory?
being everywhere even in the suburbs where we are actually in the heart of a universe - the magic eye is the invention of the telescope and how science challenged the stuffy orthodoxy and terrified the conservative.
6. Space Junk Grinding post punk, space funk gunk that hits a bass driven groove as the guitars slash against the monster riff that looks at the debris of the space race and the debris of emotional scree. I Wanna take You High goes the ‘chorus’ and when the membranes mean high they mean really high…the track also sees the first appearance of the melodica a key part of the Membranes sound.
13. Dark Energy A song of melancholy and coming to terms with loss
7. Dark Matter Built around beautiful almost classical drones that are played on e-bows the song rises to a blissed out climax like a flimscore as it soundtracks the eerie beauty of the universe. The sound at the
12. Hail To The Lovers An outer space love song with a churning lead bass line and fractured guitars and a huge chorus…
14. The Hum Of The Universe In the end we all die, everything dies, your loved ones die, the universe dies and everything returns to the hum of the universe. The song is about the violence of death and then the endless peace that stretches out for ever as the universe implodes and glows into eternity - a beautiful emptiness. The song is also in B flat the key of the actual hum of the universe and the hum of meditation as you meditate on death itself like Aghori Holy men o the banks of the ganges in Varanasi (the songs original title).
SUMMER TOUR 2015 June 6 York Fibbers June 13 Glasgow Broadcast June 19 Manchester Deaf Institute album launch
July 3 Cambridge Portland Arms July 4 Leeds The Brudenell July 25 Hebden Bridge Trades Club Check press for details
Highly influential UK post punk band the Membranes formed in the late seventies and their angular and noisy records were popular with John Peel and the music press and had a big influence on Big Black, Mercury Rev, Lambchop, Sonic Youth and a diverse range of then emerging American bands as well as UK groups as varied as My Bloody Valentine, Godflesh, The Charlatans and many others. The group were a key part of the post punk DIY scene and toured the world several times and when My Bloody Valentine and then Shellac asked them to reform for separate ATP festival events it made sense for them to continue after a 25 year break. Their upcoming album in June, Dark Matter/Dark Energy is already getting a great reaction from the press and media and their gigs have been stunning. When John Robb met the head of the CERN project after a TEDx talk they were both speaking at it was the start of the Membranes most audacious album. Long and intense talks about the universe followed and the idea of the birth and then the death of the universe seemed perfect for a song cycle for the Membranes new album and for special one of gigs called The Universe Explained where Robb interviews scientists on stage and the band play at the end. All the songs touch on aspects of space- from the opening track that is about the big bang of the universe to Joe himself explaining the universe over the spooky Multi-verse Suite to the closing track, the Hum Of The Universe ,where the band try and capture the beauty and violence of the end of the universe and a human life. During the recording of the album Robb’s own father died and his death is threaded through many of the songs and the idea that when we all die we return our dust and energy to the endless void. Tracks like In The Graveyard deal directly with watching his father die and his father can even be heard talking about the universe at the beginning of the same track. Musically the Membranes had no interest in being a retro band. The double album seems them moving forward and experimenting with a fervent post punk, a psychedelia, dark dub, drones, neo classical pieces, stripped down film score and rushes of noisy discord. Built around the bass guitar - the key instrument of the post punk period that birthed the band this is a 21st century music made by a band who have been left to make music on their own terms.
facebook.com/theMembranes
DAMinx It’s not always easy to know who you are talking to at Tuesday Club gig. Looking for the cowbell
The Minx Agony Column Monday (Monday) The Minx is never unwell. Is always pretty well. And definitely always pretty. Pretty fabulous, in a very Russian ice princess type way (not too girly, pink, sparkly, unless is custom Uzi). But this week Minx was unwell and had bad teeth and had to see dentist. У меня болит зуб Dentist give Minx a root canal. Minx confuse at first but have to be careful not to scare dentist as he has drill in hand, which mean it is not safe. Surely canal mean small narrow boat inserted in tooth. Minx imagination has whole waterway system in mouth, with lock and Sunday cruiser of tiny people drinking prosecco. But no, not this type of canal. Minx, sad as quite liked idea of tiny parallel universe having Hoseasons holidays in mouth. Minx actually feel like nail in mouth, like this, острая зубная боль So Minx home and lying on sofa, with both Minions and Wolfdogs knowing that Minx not well. Is quite sweet as they all sit at feet checking Minx OK every 5 minutes. Minx will have to visit dentist man more often.
Thursday (Thursday) Ok funny animal make Minx smile. Ouch. Is hurt when smile. Will go back to be grump.
Friday (Friday) воскресенье (Sunday) Is this rabbit or cat? Minion know that it please Minx to have ill lolcat to take mind off pain. Saturday (Saturday) Minion try to say Minx is ancient monument? Pain is ease thankfully, so Minx can severely reprimand Minion as required. Minion and Builder Minion getting lazy. Now is ridiculous. This woman is not ill. Is fashion victim. On catwalk. Minion is fired.
Tuesday (Tuesday) Minx feel like this Though not man obviously. Where is minion get these pic from? Wednesday (Wednesday) More of this Now is get ridiculous. Who is this stupid man and his Hitler type friend? Minx in pain and do not appreciate stupid Picture Editor of Minion.
* OK Minion not actually fired, but has to sleep in doghouse for 2 night. Kalashnikov and Perestroika sleep in special Wolfdog bed at end of Minx bed anyway.
Getting the follow up together as we speak. Plenty of new songs on the boil.
4) As a man of style, do you think fashion still has a place in music? The gang mentality seems to be in short supply these days? Yeah definitely a plus to have the wherewithal to think about what you look like no matter what you do. More clobber matching = more attention snatching.
5) If She Made Me Do it was a cake, what cake would it be? Vegan Ginger Ninja cookie from Cookies and Scream in Camden.
6) What are your top 5 albums of all time? Depeche Mode - Black Celebration Cabaret Voltaire - The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Pirate Space Sponge - Wax Ecstatic
7) What was the last thing that made you laugh? Radio 1.
Hi Will and Welcome back to In the Club. You are only our second returnee, so we’re very privileged! Dave Barbe being the other, you may know him (hehe)?
She Made Me Do It’s fab debut album ‘Endless Dream State’ Came out in March, but what’s next, a follow up?
1) One answer that is common to our question is there one thing we haven’t asked is: when do we get paid, or where’s the money. With that in mind if you did have ‘the money’ what would il you spend it on? Premium bonds and magic wands.
2) On the album you’ve expanded your sound to using other instruments than just guitar, do you see smmdi becoming a full blown Tuesday Clubesque band? Who knows? We’re definitely open to adding whatever elements it takes to make whatever song we’re working on work. We might just clone ourselves a few times instead though.
3) You’ve collaborated with many people in your career, but who (whether dead or alive) would be the one you haven’t and would want too most? Die Antwoord (alive) or Warren Zevon (dead).
In the club extra
9) One of the tracks on the album is called ‘God of London’ Who is the ‘God of London’ in your opinion? The Pearly King of Holloway.
10) Which question would you want to ask us? Is a song entitled See You Next Tuesday out of the question? And who would it be about?
Now that is a great question Will, we must consider and reply! You can find out more about Will and Shaheena here:
www.SheMMDI.com
50
shades...
By Grae J. Wall of The Trailer Trash Orchestra, Los Chicos Muertos and webmeister at The Poetry Underground facebook.com/ groups/231169533733340 The Tsunami Effect of the Butterfly’s Pogo! Once upon a time there was a 15 year old boy who used to go along and help his brother sometimes when said brother and brother’s mate ran their Pegasus Mobile Disco. On this particular occasion the boys had been booked by Roundwood School in Harpenden for their Winter Disco. Everything was going swimmingly until brother’s mate pulled out a new 7” single he had purchased and announced “this is great, I picked it up yesterday”. So ensued a clatter of drums and a buzz-saw guitar riff a four beat snare signal and then the most urgent and exciting of rackets – the vocalist sounding more like a psychotic would be killer than a lovesick crooner. The dance floor cleared and looks of bewilderment and disdain were aimed at the DJs. The 15 year old however fell instantly and deeply in love. The year was 1976 and the song was New Rose by The Damned. Fast forward twenty something years and the 15 year old has grown. Alongside his life of performing in bands he has fallen by accident in to a career of Arts Development moving from Youth Arts Worker to Music Animateur, and now (courtesy of a new influx of funding from the new national lottery) the first (and last) ever Arts Council of England Officer for Contemporary and Community Music. Now as he had grown, the spirit and attitude of his punk initiation had remained with him and blossomed in to a passion for accessibility, innovation and DIY spirit within the music world. One day he read a letter that a young woman (from a charity called Artsline) had written to DAIL magazine bemoaning her experiences as a disabled punter at festivals and venues. The letter was written with zeal and angst and it reminded the Music Officer that he had only recently been discussing the Disability Music Portfolio with his colleague who oversaw that work and who was keen to bring onboard an
organisation that was more representative of and in touch with the regular music scene. He showed his colleague (who happened to be a very cool and sweet ex member of This Mortal Coil) the letter and they decided to invite the writer – a certain Suzanne Bull – in for a chat. Following that meeting they invited Suzanne to come up with a project that addressed her concerns and offered to fund that project. Well that project was named Attitude is Everything, and within a few years it became an independent charity that set about challenging attitudes at the very heart of the music industry. It set up a Charter of Best Practice that became adopted by many venues and festivals from the modest through to the likes of Glastonbury and Reading and slowly but surely attitudes did begin to change and viewing ramps began to appear. And so it was that many thousands of people’s lives were enhanced for the better and continue to be enhanced ‘til this day. That Charter celebrates its fifteenth birthday this month as that 15 year old punk sits and writes this column. You can find out more about Attitude is Everything at:
attitudeiseverything.org.uk
Two poems this month, the first from Nathan Derienzi Brett and the second from me. Until next time, Je suis Charlie Baudelaire! Grae J.
Rapture Divine
Your blood boils to burst forward thinkers reverse nd And those who saw life are struck bli From the sky rain hot stones and sharp shards of bone In the rapture the rapture divine tv screen Your prophets are seen on a cracked s Screaming mercy for all of their crime Lo The preachers and priests Loot and rape those who’ve deceased Apocalypto sings sweet in their mind Thunder bolts and hell fire Voodoo saints howl desire Pain and pillage and passion galore Should ers ach die do to it wa n me ble No e so ba And m d y cry y h the l wil ead bu Not one tear zzes lik All day e a bee I’ve bee They knew of dying hive n torn Huggin b e t g w n bor f re e o en lks and Before they we punchi Everyth ng them ing on out t h ett Br S e i nz o I esca TV seem Nathan Derie p s tragic With m e to the back r y birth oom day Co Jim W t e hite Wi Du Rh one llard G Cowbo rant Co y Junk nspirac ies and Startin y Lone J g to rel ustice ax I’ve bee n ward ing off With h this S.A ealthy .D. living a But ton nd pos ight we itive th ’re in th And ab inking e ring stinenc e i I’ll sur s no op f this c tion r u shing c On a b ruel wo oard h ewn fro rld For you m your I will l sad cof ive For you fin lids I will b e angry For you I will e mbrace For you I will l ove And if I shoul d punc Or hug h you you tod ay I apolo gise in advanc Grae J e . Wall
In Adva nce
The Poetry Underground
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! Lots of excitement at The Tuesday Club HQ this month which is definitely rubbing off on The Parsons Knows!! Can’t wait to get this EP tour up and running... So many fantastic local gigs coming up in June, indoors, outdoors any doors really so make sure you pay attention and don’t miss out! Obviously TTC hit the road this month so check out the tour dates. There is a full programme of events at Trestle Arts Base too with 2 Acoustic Cafes in June on the 7th & 14th (which may be out of doors weather permitting) and our main gig at the end of the month as usual on 27th June when local guitar hero Bernie Devine will be joining Hidden Jules along with one of my very best friends Richard Dear who is finally after much nagging dusting off his bass. You won’t want to stay in to watch Glastonbury on the TV and miss this gig I can tell you right now. We’ve all got catch up right?! Talking of Glastonbury I would like to wish local rhythm ranters The Antipoet (see pic opposite) all the best for what I think might be there 3rd appearance at Glastonbury this year.
Also coming up locally is the Alban Street Festival on the 21st June which I am sure you all know is a brilliant local event with lots going on for all the family and 2 stages of local music to boot. An acoustic stage down by Jack Wills which I had the pleasure of introducing last year and the main Taxi Rank Stage which I have been asked to host this year on behalf of Radio Verulam and The Parsons Knows Local Music... I am stepping up in the world eh?!... Rock’n’Roots from Dodo Bones, Indi & the Vegas, Broken Boat & the Swanvesta Social Club all regulars at Trestle and on my radio show so I am hugely looking forward to this. Come say Hi if you’re around.
tinyurl.com/nby36v3
At the beginning of July you’ve got a couple of fringe events for the Organ Festival. On 5th July run by yours truly outside the Clock Tower at 12.30 – 3.30pm a selection of local artists like Starseedz, Li Li, Neil Stanton, Michael King, Emma McGrath & Harry Phillips. (Our very own TTC playing in the Vintry Gardens on the 11th July at about 1pm.)
More...
The Antipoet
Emma McGrath
Also on 5th July is Watford Live run by Tom Craven & Papermouth its Watford Live Festival
for next month and just tell you about one more event that I would love your support on!
facebook.com/WatfordLiveFestival
Saturday 6th June – The Crescent Open Day 2-6pm. thecrescent.org (see flyer on next page)
with yet again another fantastic stage of local musicians including Dodo Bones & TTC so have a look. You can quite literally go from one event to another on 5th July!! Well I will anyway... In other news a huge congratulations to our very own Emma McGrath who played at the legendary 100 Club last month. What an experience for a young upcoming performer! Big thanks to Peter Rolinson for passing that support slot my way. If you want to have a look and see how Emma got on then there are lots of pictures and videos up on her facebook page facebook.com/Emma.McGrath.Harpenden?fref=ts As I have prattled on for ages I am going to save individual band recommendations
Now this is a cause very close to my heart and not only do I help fundraise for this hardworking HIV charity who are completely self-funded but I am also on the board of trustees, something of which I am very proud ! So we are having a fundraising Open day with lots of cake (if you came last year you know this to be true! ) tea/coffee/ beer & wine and what else… oh yeah… Local Music (well what else!) from Nick Stephenson, The Antipoet, Starseedz, Li Li & Emma McGrath. So please come along, find out what it’s all about & show your support for a worthy cause! Enjoy lots of cake & local music... I love my job...
Starseedz Starseedz
Dodo Bones
Indi & the vegas
Here endeth the gig guide... ( I just don’t want you to miss out you see!! ) Don’t forget to tune in to The Parsons Knows Local Music on Radio Verulam every Thursday evening between 7-8pm to hear all the latest news and gig info & great local tracks too.. Guess who will be getting an exclusive pre-release spin Thank you & goodnight…
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Martin Luther soundcloud.com/denise-parsons-1 facebook.com/theparsonsknows?ref=hl twitter.com/RVparsonsknows
Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St.Albans, AL4 OJQ, t: 01727 850950 e: production@trestle.org.uk, www.trestle.org.uk @trestletheatre
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