Songdog and Phil Burdett - a house gig presented by Queensland, Colchester, Essex.

On Saturday just gone (July 5^th) I attended a fairly unusual gig, an invite only (thanks Mr Burdett) house gig, featuring Phil Burdett supporting Springsteen endorsed Welsh indie/alt.folk act Songdog. The setting, a normal sized living room in a normal sized house in the outskirts of Colchester, Essex. Couldn’t have been more there than say 20, including the musicians. But what a great idea, taking on an 'it’s all about the music' manifesto with a beer glass passed around at the end so the acts didn’t go home empty handed. Bring your own and some cake too if you wish (marvellous Chocolate Guinness cake btw).

Phil Burdett has always been a wonderful performer to watch in such intimate settings accompanying only himself and tonight was no difference. Plenty of song from an album not appearing until next year, a few picks from his now extensive back catalogue and one from his current album. Phil seems to revel in this backhand self-promotion and his set was concise, fresh and a treat. Here’s ‘Valentino Mainline’ to provide video evidence of the whole thing.

 

After a short break Songdog squeeze themselves (at one point all six of them) into the performance area and do their thing. Starting with the first song from their first album, 2001’s ‘The Way Of The World’s sublime “Isabel” and presenting a set coursed through their whole catalogue, the band were in absolute fine fettle. Highlight for me, “Fairytale”, the band joined by manager Corrinne Frazzoni on joint lead vocal, as seen here.

And so after a dozen or so songs from Songdog the gig drew to close. Time for a mingle and a chat and a few photo opportunities. A great idea, the ‘Queensland house gig’ series (there’ve been about six of these now) is a wonderful idea, put on in a welcoming, warm and friendly way by wonderful hosts Ray and Ali Canham. Hat’s off to the two of you, and to Phil Burdett and Songdog. Here they are again with “Bumpy Road” from 2013’s ‘Last Orders at Harry’s Bar’

Songdog Website

Phil Burdett Website

Ed Harcourt - The Saddest Orchestra (Live Wonderland Mag Session)

Just came across this little belter, track 3 from the mini album 'Time Of Dust'. Great performance, great 'tache.

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Or here on Wonderland's site.

Juke, at the Railway, Southend on Sea, 22/05/14

Barnstorming Juke gig last night, best one yet. In true ThamesDelta WorldService fashion, how could I not post the wonderful Bowie cover 'Suffragette City'? I'd heard this on youtube a few days previously without knowing it were Juke and thought, 'damn good version of Bowie track!'. To then see it was Juke was a bonus. So here's my vid of only their second performance of this track. And some pictures. Have a look at some of the bands great original material from previous posts. Or from the links at the bottom of this post.

 

Juke Facebook

Juke Twitter

Juke youtube

Juke live at Chinnerys in Southend on Sea 09/05/14

I've already mentioned the mighty promise of Juke and posted some audio and links to video's, and now here's some more, in the form of some I shot myself at their gig at Southend sea front's Chinnerys. If you're local then they're at The Railway in Southend this coming Thursday (22nd of May). See you there?

Juke - Mojo - A future anthem in waiting

Saw this band at Chinnerys on Southend sea front a few weeks ago. It was one of those gigs where I didn't really wanna go but got dragged along anyway. And I'm glad I did, they were great. I came away with thoughts of a name change (JUKE has grown on me now by the way) and a title for their first mini LP/EP. I'm nearly 50 for god's sake, these boys could be my grandchildren! They can come up with their own names and stuff (The Aspergiks/Future Anthems EP featuring the as yet unwritten title track just in case you were wondering). This is still the stand out track for me from their current set.They have gigs coming up at Chinnerys again on May 9th, the Railway in Southend on May 22nd and Peggy Sue's in Leigh On Sea on April 25th. You could go and see them and that and say you were there at the beginning if they get big. And if they don't get big, you can have a good time anyway.

JUKE are Matt Lamb, Miles Hobbs, Keiran Brown, Tom Cuningham and are Essex boys. 

https://www.facebook.com/jukejointsounds

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/pnb8ldnc3vza889/Juke+-+Mojo.mp3

25/04/2014 - Juke at Peggy Sue's, Leigh on Sea - Just back from what I believe was Jukes 4th gig at a small 'piano' bar in Leigh. They went down a storm, it was a joy to watch. Thanks for the dedication on 'Mojo', most appreciated. Here's some grainy iPhone/Hipstamatic pics, plus a random one from some movie ('Future Anthems' EP sleeve in my mind). Go see 'em soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juke - Mojo

Pretty fine rock'n'roll song by a band only 3 gigs old. Future Anthem.

Thames Delta World Service #15 - 07/03/2014

Slightly shorter, still as sweet. Here's my first podcast of new stuff for 2014. Featuring two from Marc Almond, Robert Ellis and Eels. New stuff too from Sohn, Lana Del Rey, Coldplay, Damon Albarn, The Horrors and Villagers. Also tracks from a psychotic Teddy Thompson, James Auger, Buffet Libre and Laura Marling. And when you think it's all over...a Brucie bonus.

                        To play or download the podcast, CLICK HERE!!

Marc Almond - The Tyburn Tree (with John Harle) and The Last Tasmanian Tiger

Marc Almond first ventured into quasi classical territory with John Harle last year, providing vocals on a couple of tracks on Harle's 'Art Music'. Now arrives 'The Tyburn Tree', a fully-fledged collaboration, steeped in theatre, art and poetry. The Tyburn Tree itself was a gallows in what is now Marble Arch, from a village called Tyburn which was recorded as being at the west end of what is now Oxford Street. Executions took place from the late twelfth century; the Tyburn Tree Gallows itself active from 1571 to 1783, and the word Tyburn became synonymous with public (mass) executions. What this has to do with music is that it sets the scene for the stories told by the songs of a dark unforgiving city of the past. Tales of folklore, 'Spring Heeled Jack', tales of true horror, and maybe monsters like a Minotaur, roaming through 'The Labyrinth of Limehouse'. 'My Fair Lady' opens with a rendition of 'London Bridge is Falling Down' and you feel not too sure about what is happening. A minute later you’re singing along to a chorus(?) of 'bye bye baby' like a 60's pop throwback leftover before the song continues with bricked up windows and bridges of flesh. 'Fortress' gives a song writing credit to William Blake (it's adapted from a poem), it's a dark rhythmic beast, like Woodkid but much more scary. Other songs include 'Dark Angel', 'Black Widow' and 'The Vampire of Highgate'. This is not modern London, it's London as it grew and gelled, as it was scared of itself. It's a fine album, without peers. The only record in my collection I feel I can even connect to it is The Skids much neglected fourth, 'Joy', which was also rooted in a past that was dark and also stood apart from the mainstream musical background that it would not have existed without. But it's great and I recommend it whole heartedly!

If you fancy your Marc Almond a touch more as you might expect then check out the (also) new 7"/CD release 'Tasmanian Tiger’ EP. The titular track is a full on bonkers glam/pop romp and tells the story of the last Tasmanian tiger, an animal extinct since the 1930's. It is mental, features great production from Tony Visconti, and is joyously up there with best of Almond's solo output. The rest of the EP is great too, with contributions from Jarvis Cocker and Carl Barât.