The Stand Delivers

You know how in life you're always going to do something , visit somewhere , meet someone , well The Stand in Newcastle was getting like that with me . Anyway the catalysts for my eventual visit was that the brilliant John Scott was MCing a charity night in aid of Blood Red - a local Blood Cancer Charity.

I'd noticed the line up which turned out to be absolutely excellent , every act delivering a brilliant set.

The layout of the Stand is amazing , Restaurant / Bar area upstairs , with a huge outdoor area which is fine if you need a tab , but will be even better in summer. The stage is small , but comedians dont take up that much room since Bernard Manning passed away. Also there is a decent bar in the auditorium area.

We sat at the back , but my friends were horrified when I agreed to fill one of the empty front row tables. "They wont pick on you , I promise , they always go for the second row" the guy from The Stand promised . He lied. But it was an absolutely excellent night.

You sort of feel wrong saying one act is better than another, but Nick Cranston was a revelation , young , tall , be-hearing aided , bespectacled and bloody funny.

Simon Donald did a brilliant take on your street survey guy, Barry Twyford.

Nicola Mantalios-Lovett opened and harrased me much to everyones amusement , but she let me stroke her face before accusing me of being a pervert (cue huge guffaws).

Gavin Webster wrapped up proceedings with the longest set and much laughter. and all this book ended by John Scott!


There was an emotional presentation of a cheque for £12,704.27 , I think , which will help ne charity projects for Bright Red . The fundraisers have done an amazing job.

Anyway , The Stand should definitely be on your places to go list!!

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!!

No Money Down: MOTFEST 2011

The Mouth of Tyne Festival 2011 was the first one that was a ticket (£2.50) only event for the Sunday festival in The Priory. I nearly missed out but mty friend Sarah let me have hers. The details are here.

In the street there were some amazing exhibitions like these dinosaurs!!




The line up ran thus:

13:00 Martin Stephenson

           Played some excellent folk and rockabilly stuff getting th ecrowd of to an excellent start.

14:00 Fuel Fandango
           Didnt see these but heard excellent reports.

15:00 Smoove and Turrell
           Didnt see these either

16:00 Neville Staple Band
           Some excellent ska covers (Johnny Too Bad , Pressure Drop) , Specials numbers (Ghost Town ,
           Gangsters) and one or two originals . Well worth seeing and had the crowd jumping.



17:00 Buzzcocks
           Headlining act and they were superb helmed by Shelley and Diggle , finding room in their
          set   for my two favourites (Why Can't I Touch It? and Love You More() , tearing through loads
          of hits in thesun , and encoring with Harmony In My Head , Ever Fallemn In Love and
          Orgasm   Addict.


There's a lot of photographs from the day here
A superb day , but next year I'll be getting my ticket early!!

Street Life - Blackbeard's Tea Party

The last few weeks have seen some excellent bands performing for free in Northumberland Street, Soznak and The Baghdaddies i have known for years , but today came across an excellent young band who played some great Sea Shanty based based music. Bought their CD which opens with a cracking version of "High Barbary" and was talking with them about the Rogues Gallery project. Anyway below is the video from todauy and above is some related music.

If you gert a chance go and see them , I believe they are on at the Cumberland Arms very soon.

I've Got A Wristband And I'm Gonna Use It - Evolution 2011

Creat A Queue

Spillers Wharf

Finally succumbed to the line up for Evolution and bought a weekend ticket. The organisation is attrocious , designed to make it as difficult as possible for the customer. Once you have your ticket you thatne have to get to the Newcastle side and enter the queue making bit to get your wristband. Once past that the stages are a long way apart (Baltic Square over the Millenium Bridge , Spillers Wharf and UMT Stage way down the North Side of the river , and Ballast Hills , location odf the Jumpin Hot Stage up past the Tyne pub , but at least sited on grass and very civilised.

Some amazing artists such as Iggy Pop , Billy Bragg , Plan B , Tinie Tempah and the food and stalls not too bad . It's just the lack of organisation , the bad siting of stages  that put a downer on the thing , but the music has been superb . You can see all the pictures here.

One Drummer - Two Guitarists - Three Chords - Four Leather Jackets

Gotta say last night was a bit of a revelation, the started started with Pitbull's brand of thrashy hard punk, with Shev in good voice and some excellent covers - Screamager , Holiday in Cambodia , In A Ruyt and Staring at The Rude Boys. During the latter song Fitzee remarked "When I first heard this I was down in the mosh pit , now I'm thinking 'Ooh there's a seat'"!! , brilliant stuff and well worth the price of admission , except this was a free gig!! But we'd pay to see them , and a great support.

The Rawmones Backdrop

The Rawmones (website with videos and MP3s here) started setting u pand certain signs didnt bode well , the bassist was bald , and the guitarist didnt seem to be entering into the spirit of things. We neednt have worried. Driven by the power house of Adas Pepper on Drums (who also designs all the graphics , the backdrop , and plays in the Charlotte Yanni Band , Reet Hot Chili Peppers and Wonky Chomp) , wigs and leather jackets were donned and the Ra(w)mones were there in the Star . 1-2-3-4 go . Someone once said Ramones songs are like smarties , you can't have just one , you always scoff the whole tube , and last night was like that .



Fitzee reckoned these were the second best band in the world! If you get a chance to see them , do it , the are a sonic and visual treat. Wht did they play , it doesnt matter , it was brilliant, Cretin Hop , Rock'n'Roll High School , 53rd & 3rd , The KKK Took My Baby Away dedicated to Pitbull , and a million more. Will get some video up on here later , but if you get a chance to see this lot , DO NOT MISS!!