Saturday, 28 September 2013

Belated farewell

 

A few years ago we were up in Edinburgh for a daughter’s graduation, and went for coffee to a little cafe in Nicholson Street opposite the Old College. As I was spooning the froth off my cappuccino, I became conscious of a strange “I’ve been in this place before” feeling . The low ceiling, those pillars, the change in level, the stair in the corner – definitely spooky. Then I realised that this used to be a dance hall/ club/music venue. And that this is where I saw the magnificent Keef Hartley Band back in nineteen canteen. A great gig, only slightly marred by occasional views through the crowd of my ex-girlfriend being , I felt,  ostentatiously affectionate to her new beau.

Keef was from Preston and got into the music business by replacing one Richard Starkey in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He also played with Merseybeat legends Freddie Starr and the Midnighters before moving to London and joining cult band The Artwoods. Then it was a spell at Mr. Mayall’s finishing school where he played on the Crusade album with 18 year old Mick Taylor. His own band, featuring Miller Anderson made one classic album (Halfbreed remains in my Top Twenty Greatest of all time) ,  a couple of good ones, and played loads of stormin’ live gigs. He seems to have packed it all in around 1980, went back to Preston, and worked as a cabinet maker for the next thirty odd years. His death, in 2012, seems to have passed me by completely until yesterday.

 

 

 

As far as I can recall, Jon Hiseman replaced Hartley in The Bluesbreakers. Some more survivors.

(Incidentally, Songs for a Tailor is also in my Top Twenty)

 

 

One of the latest graduates from Mr. Mayall’s Academy seems to be finding his own blues “voice”

 

Yes, thanks.

Started some light streetwalking.

Still bored.

Still infested by Poles and Ukrainians

Still pissed-off.

You lookin’ at me ?

Friday, 20 September 2013

Parasites

 

Parasites

The blog has been seriously parasitised by these referrer spam creeps again, folks.They pick on an old post and then hammer it daily with ludicrous numbers of page views. When I delete that post, they just move onto another.I’ve tried several forums for a solution, but the consensus seems to be that nothing can be done – it’s annoying , but harmless. Well, that’s as may be, but I have always believed that there is no such thing as a free lunch, so these shitheads in Poland, Germany, and Ukraine must be getting something out of it. As if I wasn’t pissed-off enough.

So for all my new fans in Eastern Europe, the land that humour forgot – join in all together now………….

 

Sunday, 8 September 2013

House arrest

 

 

I’m allowed books and internet.So…..  Been reading In Another Light by Andrew Greig. Now, I've read some of his stuff before, and we have some shared background and interests, so I should be in his target demographic. However, I have to say that I was disappointed.

That’s not to say that it is not a fair page-turner, if you are not put off by the the parallel sub-plots unravelling in alternate chapters. It’s about Life and Death (what isn’t ?) and Islands. there is a lot of distinctly average writing interspersed with the occasional little nuggets which serve to remind you that the author is capable of better.

The plotting is far too contrived – resolving a love triangle (twice) by making one of the trio come out as gay is, frankly just lazy.Deus ex closeta ?. The  Miss Haversham type character is believable in Dickens, but simply a caricature in 21st century Edinburgh.Even in Trinity !

I did finish it, and if you are looking for an unchallenging light read, then this might fill the bill.But you would probably be better off with something by Christopher Brookmyre.

 

 

Don’t think we’ve had Bessie on the show before. Shame.

 

 

When I used to hitch to London of a weekend to take in the music scene in Greek Street and Wardour Street these people used to sometimes provide a bit of floor for my sleeping bag.

 

 

This is my kind of shit

Stones have never done anything worthwhile since he left and they brought in that poser Ron Wood