6 Music Festival Day 3 - With A Baggy Finale

PSB at the 6 Music Festival at the Sage

This was the main day that I wanted to see , though every day was worth going to see. Today was great because it was shared with a lot of friends who I went with , as well as a few who I didn't know were going. We started with an attempted lunch at the Central who unfortunately ran out of food due to the overspill for the 6 Music Festival.

We then went for coffee at The Baltic before wandering into the Sage for the first act. It turned out that John Hopkins the headliner in Hall 2 had pulled out resulting in lots of clashes for me. British Sea Power, Nadine Shah (the stand in act and so brilliant) , and King Creosote to start off with , then Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Wire and Gaz Coombes next up and the night finished with a choice of The Charlatans , The Maccabees and Teleman . This is just my own personal tastes but as I said in my last post Festivals just mean you miss out on some good stuff because , in your opinion, there's better stuff to see. This festival worked extremely well because it's still very cold outside and the festival was completely inside in The Sage.

The only problem is that the concourse stage resulted in a crushed crowd for the popular acts such as Public Service Broadcasting, they need to think about re siting the Concourse Stage , maybe at the West End so that you can use the whole of the concourse to watch the gig.

Anyway like yesterdays post this was my choice of viewing and listening:

British Sea Power:

 This was the first difficult decision of the day especially given that Nadine Shah was now playing . I caught some of King Creosote while helping my friend Bethany get her guitar and bags to to the cloakroom after being escorted there by security, They seemed to be under the impression that she was some kind of guerrilla busker!

Anyway I went into Hall 1 and  British Sea Power were already under way accompanied by on stage flora although the fauna was absent. The sound all over the Sage is the best I've heard anywhere and British Sea Power used it to full advantage.

I must confess , despite owning several albums , I don't know any songs by British Sea Power apart from "Waving Flags" , just love allowing the whole album to wash over me, and their set was treated in the same way. Very powerful rock, and a brilliant start to the night.

Gaz Coombes:

A lot of people thought Gaz Coombes would be "all right". About fifteen minutes in they were shoe horning people into seats. Gaz and the band were not highlighted on stage , but the songs were fantastic and I think a lot of people will be ordering a copy of Matador on the back of this performance. I can name check songs such as Buffalo , 20/20 and Detroit because I've been playing the album for a few weeks after hearing songs on BBC 6 Music.

The sound was amazing and the crowd, like me , loved every minute. By the end of this set you had had your moneys worth for the festival.

Neneh Cherry:

Neneh Cherry had the second smallest band I'd seen at the festival, just here , drums and keyboards / electronics. Despite the minimal line up the sound filled the hall and the songs had the crowd going. Her music is beat heavy but she does sing and her father ,  trumpeter Don who died twenty years ago, would have been so proud and impressed with her.

Public Service Broadcasting:

This was on the concourse and because so many people wanted to see it, it ended up with an , in my opinion, dangerous crush in front of the stage. I moved out to the side and enjoyed another brilliant set featuring excellent visuals , material from the new album "The Race For Space" culminating with the now classics "Spitfire" and "Everest". It's not often you get educational great music , but with these guys you do.

The Charlatans:

 The final set of the festival for me and Hall 1 was so packed that I ended up in the back row at the top of level 3. The band looked a long way off but immediately the crowd were "up for it, mixing new material with classics like "One To Another" , "The Only One I Know" and "Country Boy" before finishing in a glorious finale of "Sproston Green"

A brilliant end to a brilliant festival.  Now it's time to come back down to earth.

Lord Rochester Sets Sail In The Schooner

Didnt expect to be writing this post , but my friends Dave and Julie Campbell have taken over The Schooner in Gateshead and last night was the first gig featuring the excellent Lord Rochester. I'd seen Lord Rochester at the Central Bar (then under the tenure of Mr Campbell) on the recommendation of someone or otrh , and he's one striking dude with his Bo Diddley sound and custom square guitar, backed by the equally excellent Lady Muck on bass and Siberian Tim on Maracas driven drums (something you don't see every day) . There's a few tracks from the night on my youtube channel here

Lord Rochester's website is here with all the details of how they came into existence, plus the albums and singles available , though you can grab a copy of the excellent Hey Here. I also noticed the Mods and Rockers EP here and the only download I could find is Deathbed.

Needless to say the venue is excellent and the setlist was just one good song after another mixing originals with Bod Diddly and Chuck Berry classics such as Almost Grown.

If you get a chance to see them , do not miss them,

Trash Shack: February 2012 - Jackhammers, Women In Revolt and Maximum Zeros

A couple of weeks back I revieved the Star and Shadow Barbarella gig featuring Women In Revolt but was disappointed to find no youtube footage of the band . This week I managed to miss the Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny new album launche at The Central , Gateshead thatnks to EMI's appaling (lack of) promotion , but did get to another excellent Trash Shack gathering.

Brian Coyteman's Collection

Featuring three bands for two quid , in the brilliant surroundings featuring , I believe, Brian Coyoteman's collection of trash memorabila in the wall cabinets , we were treated to three excellent bands , although no youtube footage is available for the Maximum Zeros and The Jackhammers , so you'll just have to take my word for it.




First up were the Maximum Zeros , loud thrashy punk the in the style of the legendary Saints , the also covered "River Deep, Mountain High" and an excellent version of Vince Taylor's "Brand New Cadillac". Too loaud to record on my camera , but excellent nonetheless , well worth seeing if you get the chance.

Lady Annabella of Jesmond

Lady Annabella and Photographer Friend

Women In Revolt

Next we had the excellent trans gender garage rock of Women In Revolt , featuring Sheena Ravolta in best Iron Lady two piece on vocals with matching hair and handbag , Staggering BeBearded Rosie Lea on guitar , Mitch "Male" Mitchellson on drums , and the lovely blonde bassist who'se name escapes me but will update this when I find out. Anyway they delivered an excelelnt entertaining set including numeraous Electric Chairs covers (or should that be "Electric Chair Covers) , no matter , a superb time was had by all , the band being augmented by the lovely Lady Annabella of Jesmond on dance !!

Jackhammers

Jackhammers CD - Nice Stiff Pastiche

Finally we had the Glasgow Bawbags The Jackhammers , more high energy rock punk , again to loud for my camera to record , but I bought their CD "Give 'Em Enough Dope" and a tote bag as well. The CD is weel worth the investment , and the band , like everything tonight were superb.

 


The Trash Shack presentation are excellent and ludicrous value for money so get yourself down , and if you see ANY of the bands playing within striking distance get yourself down there!!

Star and Shadow , Barbarella and Women In Revolt

Sometimes for a post you need to think about a headline , but my inauguration to the Star and Shadow an Friday night provided it's own .The Star and Shadow at Shieldfield is a setting for almost sixties style happening and fun nights . They may be film or bands or both . Seating includes tables , chairs , settees , the bar sells alcohol and chocolate and you are handily placed for The Tanners pub as well.

Friday night commenced with a showing of Barbarella , sixties Dino De Luarentis film with Jane Fonda's opening  outer space strip tease , a perfect curtain raiser for the night . Part of the fucn was wondering if the people in dresses were male or female , I reckon most were female and all looked the part.

The band were Women In Revolt , taking their name from the Paul Morrisey  1971 film  "Andy Warhol's Women In Revolt" featuring Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis . Essentially Wayne / Jayne County inspired garage rock fronted by a definite transvestite , and featuring a female guitarist who opened with and excellent brooding cover of Link Wray's  "Rumble" . Unfortunately I can't uncover any details of the band apart from they are playing Gateshead Central on 8th of February and curate a Susnday session at The Cumberland Arms. Anyway the songs I remember were "Are You A Girl or Are You A Boy?" and Wayne County's "Man Enought To Be A Woman" and "Fuck Off" plus a few others before reprising "Are You A Girl or Are You A Boy?" to close the set.

Will be back to the Star and Shadow soon and also checking out Women In Revolt , and next time will take my camera. A Wonderful Night!!

Trash Shack X-Mas Bash 2011

I got in at 1am today which is quite late for me on a school night , after attending this excellent 3 band trash bash at The Central Bar in Gateshead. The line up was (in order of appearance)

• Dick Bronte and the Cosmonauts
• The Coyotemen
• Lord Rochester

The first two bands I knew , but Lord Rochester only through word of mouth and Youtube!!.

The place was jumping and standing room at a premium , but from the first notes it was obvious that the mini multicoloured coxcombed soundcrew were spot on .

Dick Bronte sounded good and everyone remarked it was the best they'd every seen them. Lead singer Kenny was in great voice as well as providing eye candy for at least a few ladies I know , while bearded Phil's guitar sounded great and the rhythm section were excellent .  They specialise in obscure rock and roll , and grarge rock and a solid version of Rufus Thomas' "Walkin' The Dog" , was accompanied by an impressive take on Dave Bartholomew's "The Monkey Speaks" , and a darkly comic "Black Cadillac" amongst others . A superb opening set for the night.

Next up were The Coyotemen , still "taking shit from no man" , in which mild mannered pub host Dave Campbell is transformed in to silver Mexican Wrestling Masked wild rockin' animal "Ratty" Coyoteman , jumping from floor to wall to ceiling , running through classics such as "Any Port In A Storm" , "Loopy Lopez" , "Primitive Urge" and lots lots more. Sound again spot , although Ratty reckoned someone had knocked his microphone out of tune , but the sounded great to me , and the crowd agreed. How much good staff can you get in a single night!! And there was more....


Headliners were the impecably turned out Bo Diddley guitar toting Lord Rochester , with Lady Muck loking lovely on her McCartneyesque Hofner violin bass providing solid rhythm with sophistication , and on drums the marracas weilding Scot Siberian Tim. A heady mix of originals an covers "C.A.D.I.L.L.A.C." , "I tried to send a monkey by UPS" , "Deathbed" , "Seasick" as well as Chuck Bery's "Almost Grown" , and Bo Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley". A revelation and will be definitely seeing them again (well all the bacds)

All in all a night of pure gold , you really should have been there!!