21/9/2019 Warner E Hodges Band + Sara Vista @ The Archway Tavern

 A bit of an out of the way venue. It's not really, but that seems to be how people regard it these days so they don't want to go there - even though it's just opposite Archway tube station at the top end of the 'Holloway Strip'. It's actually called Club Kollis and is well hidden in an upstairs ballroom at the famous Highgate pub. It's quite surprising the impressively large pub building has survived the attentions of developers and not been raised to the ground to make way for yet more (un)affordable housing. The building is not really a pub anymore, although the famous Intrepid Fox moved into the downstairs bar for a short time after being forced out of the West End. Then that bar became the Dusk Til Dawn nightclub, but that didn't last long either. Then it was supposed to be converted into a restaurant, but I think that might have fallen through as last time I looked through the window it looked like it was being converted back into a bar with Guinness taps being installed. Most of the upstairs floors have now been converted into flats which is ominous... However, this room actually makes quite a decent music venue - although the less said about the bar selection and prices the better...

The artist formerly known as Kiria has reinvented herself yet again. Once a pop/punk artist, she moved on to rockabilly - showing that she is actually a much better singer than she appeared in her previous incarnation. Now she has moved on again and become Country & Western artiste 'Sara Vista'. The focus in now less on rock & roll and more on acoustic balladry. It has to be said she does it very well.

Sara has surrounded herself with good musicians, although I think the double necked Gretch sported by the guitarist is rather OTT for a country band - I think maybe that sort of thing is best left to Jimmy Page, and even he wouldn't play a double necked guitar for the whole set.

It's good to see that some effort has been put into the visuals for the band, but the overall performance seems a bit on the serious side and the guitarist looks like he'd be more at home playing at a jam/open mic night in a pub. He can play well enough and has a good sound, but it distracts from the singer who should be the focus on this stage. Sara sings well and has an easy relaxed stage persona, but I'm more of a rock 'n' roll guy and to be honest this doesn't really float my boat however good it may be.

Next we have a blues trio called Mudlow with a really good meaty sound.

They are more lively than Sara's band - maybe she would have been better with these guys backing her instead of her own band.

And on to the headliners. Having seen them before I already know they are going to be good. Warner E Hodges first rose to fame as a guitarist in US country punk band Jason and The Scorchers in the 1980's.

Although based in America Warner has a British band when he tours in Europe, and he is also recording a studio album of original songs with them as well as releasing a live album.

Although Warner is probably known more as a country/rock artist, when the Warner E Hodges Band hit the stage the emphasis is very much on ROCK!

Although there is still a country influence Warner very much wears his heart on his sleeve and says his favourite band is AC/DC - and it shows! Although this is a band playing mostly original material they do a great cover of 'Riff Raff'. Warner also takes a step back and lets the rest of the band shine - some of you might recognise Ben Marsden of the Main Grains and The Spangles on guitar and Jason Knight of The Haunting AD and Binge Drinking on bass.

There is more of a nod to Warner's country roots with a cover of John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', but a more rocking version than played by other artists. But the rock balance is restored with a stunning and seriously heavy version of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs'. Warner's UK band really come into their own on this song and would give any serious heavy metal band (including Sabbath) a run for their money - the drumming in particular is fantastic!

If you are looking for a good night of thoroughly entertaining country rock music then I highly recommend the Warner E Hodges Band. Keep your eyes open - they should be back in the UK soon...

14/9/2019 The Quireboys @ The Forum

Well, another year rolls round - so it must be time for another Quireboys show in London. At The Forum. As usual. So everybody meets up in the Bull & Gate like they always do, although this great old pub has had the guts ripped out of it to refurb and convert into a restaurant while ditching it's past as a well known live music venue. This place used to be packed when there was a show at The Forum next door, but they don't appear to be doing much trade today...

This is starting to get predictable. And how many times can they play their classic 'A Bit Of What You Fancy' album in full? It is a great album - it contains nearly all their best songs and it sounds terrific. Not that they haven't done some great rock 'n' roll songs since then, but they haven't come close to matching that first album. I can't get into their more country rock stuff at all - I can appreciate there is some excellent songwriting there, but those songs just don't float my boat. The Quireboys are are terrific rock 'n' roll band - maybe the best we have in the UK these days, and I much prefer them when they stick to what they are best at.

"What time is it?"

Yes, it's Seven O'clock!

The Quireboys are the ultimate party band! And Spike is still one of the best frontmen around. Probably 'well oiled', but funny and charistmatic - he has the moves, and that voice. And he has the crowd in the palm of his hand.

With a great band behind him, and a rich back catalogue of songs to choose from (even if nearly all the best ones come from the first album) you can't help but be really well entertained. If you go to a Quireboys show you can't fail to have a good night. With their good-time rough 'n' ready Rolling Stones and Faces style bar-room boogie they will always get your feet moving and everybody singing along with classics like 'Seven O'Clock', 'Misled', 'There She Goes Again', 'Sex Party', Don't Bite The Hand', 'This Is Rock 'N' Roll', Good To See Ya', 'I Love This Dirty Town', and of course their great ballad (and possibly finest song) 'I Don't Love You Anymore'. The Quireboys have always been a great sing-a-long band who create a terrific atmosphere. The only other band I know who have that effect on their fans are The Wildhearts, and Ginger from that band played guitar for the Quireboys in their early days - before their first album.

So a bunch of great songs are played and a good time is had by all. I think I ran out of new things to say about Quireboys shows years ago, and it seems a bit boring having to write the same things about every gig. See you all again next year? Same venue, same songs, same crowd. I guess as long as people are still buying tickets the band will keep coming back - and I expect I will be there too. It has become quite a social event after all.

12/9/2019 Lilith & The Knight + Hawkxx @ The Dublin Castle

An interesting but ultimately disappointing night. I arrive in time to see the support band who were previously unknown to me.

This was Hawkxx. New to me, but they certainly made an impression.  Heavy, grungy but tuneful and commercial.

Sometimes you stumble across a band you've never heard of and straight away you think they sound and look great! Immediately you find yourself thinking things like "Why didn't I know about this band before?" and "Why aren't they already stars?". It doesn't happen very often, but this one of those bands.

I get the feeling a lot of work has gone into their look and sound - this doesn't seem like a band who were just formed last week. They look and sound like they know exactly what they are doing and come across as very polished and professional. Hawkxx go straight away on my 'Bands to watch' list.

And so onto the band I'm actually here to see. I'd been aware of Lilith and the Knight for some time before I finally managed to catch them - circumstances just kept getting in the way - as well as 'security' at another Camden venue... I had a promo CD of theirs and had seem one or two videos which made me want to check them out - an intriguing  mixture of Goth and metal.

Heavy and with a fantastic image, I was keen to see them. And in January, then again in May this year I finally did. (see blog earlier posts) I was impressed - this was a full-on rock band. Not quite as heavy as I was expecting, but with a dynamite singer! The band were solid, but it was the singer who grabbed the attention with her stage presence and charisma - backed up by really great vocals. Proper actual singing - no screaming or dumbed down nu-metal or grunge - no grunting or growling to fit in with 'the scene', just a soaring, melodic and natural melodic absolute top quality polished vocal performance. So much better than heard nearly all current metal bands. I did note that although the band were tight and obviously knew what they were doing, they all looked like they were in different bands and just didn't belong together - visually at least. If they could just sort their image out they had the potential to really go places. But ominously, before their last gig they announced that it would be their last ever show playing their current and older songs. Apparently the band were about to go though some changes (for unspecified reasons) and reinvent themselves with a new look and sound - they say things will be very different and some of their fans may not like it... Tonight the 'new' Lilith and the Knight is finally revealed...

'Different'? They aren't kidding! The bass player and drummer appear to have been sacked - and not replaced. Only the vocalist and guitarist have survived the reshuffle, while a keyboard/laptop player has been added in the form of the singer's sister. I mentioned last time I saw them that the backing band looked like hipsters instead of rock musicians and the only thing missing were the beards - now a beard has appeared on the guitarist!

All the old songs have been ruthlessly swept away - as has any trace of rock, metal or goth. The girls look and sound great, and the new songs are OK - but this is pure Radio 1 type pop music. The guitarist seems to have very little to do...

Musically there is nothing wrong with the new sound - if you like that sort of thing. I suspect some of the band's old fans are rather bemused by these developments. I certainly am. Maybe they should have changed the name of the band along with the image, songs, and sound?

What were they thinking? Did 'management' put them up to this? Was the whole 'rock' thing just a charade the whole time? "Ever get the feeling you've been swindled?" As far as I'm concerned all their credibility has gone straight out the window. Did they ever 'mean it'? Do they even 'mean' this? So many questions, but after this I'm not sure I'm even interested in the answers. However, I will be interested to see how many of their old 'rock' fans come along for the ride - or will the band ditch them just as ruthlessly as they ditched their old songs and image? Maybe

Good luck with that girls...

31/8/2019 The Hollywood Brats @ Nell's

It's not every day you get a chance to see the infamous Hollywood Brats - in fact no one has had a chance to see them for over 40 years - so tonight's gig is rather special. They were possibly the best band you have never heard of, and effectively were punk several years before anybody had ever heard of punk rock due to their uncompromising snotty attitude, and dirty raw sound - contrasting with their sleazy Glam Rock look. They were undoubtedly ahead of their time and had burned out before the punk explosion in 1976, although some of their members became instrumental in the earliest days of that scene. Now, for one night at least - they are back. The venue is Nell's Jazz & Blues an upmarket West Kensington joint that is not these days used to hosting sleazy rock bands - although things were different it's it's earlier life as the West One Four club and even before that...

However, first tonight we get a set from The Vulz. They are a London band who play very 1970's style early punk rock.

If you like that sort of stuff they have some good tunes and are well worth checking out. Their lead guitarist Gary Pearce has also been seen recently playing bass with the Bermondsey Joyriders.

Not surprisingly, this gig is sold out in advance. The infamous Hollywood Brats may never have 'made it', but they have become legendary in the UK's underground rock 'n' roll scene. They were definitely a band ahead of their time. If they had just appeared a few years later things might have been very different, but in the early to mid 1970's the world just wasn't ready for them. Maybe it still isn't, but their intrepid frontman Andrew Matheson has reformed the band around three core original members - along with some new recruits to make up the numbers. Still out to impress, the singer is by far the best dressed man in the room.

In the mid-1970's the band became masters of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with a mixture of self inflicted disaster and incredibly bad luck - they mixed with the stars but remained in the gutter. They managed to record one album, but although it contained some great songs it wasn't released until years after the band had gone their separate ways. But that's another story - if you want to know more then read Andrew Matheson's fantastic book Sick On You which tells the band's story in a tragic and hilarious way - easily one of the best rock books I've ever read.

Members of the band became influential in the earliest days of the London punk scene, but by then the Hollywood Brats had already split up. Keyboardist Casino Steel went on to join early punk rockers The Boys while guitarist Brady formed the infamous London SS along with others who would later appear in The Damned, Generation X, and The Clash. The band never got as far as recording anything or even playing a gig although they provided a vital springboard for the yet to be discovered punk scene. In more recent years Brady has reformed London SS with a new lineup who have actually made an EP and played shows. Meanwhile, Andrew Matheson made a couple of solo albums before vanishing into obscurity. Until now.

With the publication of the brilliant 'Sick On You' book and the release of an expanded double CD version of the band's only album there is now new interest in the Hollywood Brats - and their singer has decided it's time to cash in on this fact while all the members are still alive. So Casino Steel has been found, and Brady dragged away from the pubs and clubs of Camden. It's actually a miracle that Brady is still alive considering his past habits and current liking for a drink. Although the band only ever had one guitarist, tonight a second one has been brought in 'just in case' - and I'm told the unpredictable Brady is apparently under strict instructions not to drink before the show. Apparently (and amazingly) he sticks to this. However, it seems that someone doesn't trust the hapless guitarist not to fuck up - and whoever is on the mixing desk appears to have been instructed to keep Brady's guitar way down in the mix and boost the 'standby' guitarist. This doesn't appear to be necessary as the legendary Irish boozer seems to be in good shape and playing well as far as we can tell. I actually feel quite sorry for him as the other guitarist overplays and steals Brady's limelight throughout the set. Seeing (and hearing) the band's original guitarist perform was one of the main things I was paying for, and I definitely wasn't the only one to be disappointed with the sound mix for this reason.

The setlist is predictably most of the band's one and only abum, but there are a handful of great songs on there. No soppy ballads or any crap like that - it's full on dirty sleazy rock 'n roll. All the 'classics' are there - 'Courtesan', 'Another School Day', 'Chez Maximes', 'Tumble With Me', and of course 'Sick On You' get an airing - the latter two also having been covered on The Boys first album. As well as the three new 'guest' members of the band on guitar, bass, and drums - another figure joined them on stage towards the end of the set. A scruffy but rather familiar figure.

Yes, it's none other than Bob Geldoff. The Boomtown Rats singer has been a vocal Hollywood Brats fan - saying of their album "Proper, true rock 'n' roll. The music is magnificent". Tonight he joins the band for a song that didn't make it onto the album - a cover of The Kinks 'I Need You'. This song does actually appear on the recent expanded edition of the album along with some other out takes, covers, and rough and ready live recordings.

Well it's certainly been quite a night. The club is packed, the atmosphere electric, and it seems everyone is there - all the familiar faces and musos from London's underground rock 'n' roll scene. It really feels like we have been at something special - an event. For most the people present it is their first, only, and probably last chance to see these underground legends.

28/8/2019 Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts + Clem Burke & The Tearaways @ The 100 Club

 A good bill, but it's really the support act I'm here to see...

So on first are Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts - formerly Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors.

This is the band Ryan plays with when he tours in the UK, and they are very good.

Regular readers will probably recognise bassist Rob Lane AKA Laney 74 from various other bands over the years.

Ryan Hamilton himself is a US country rock singer/songwriter with unique on stage charisma and a great line in banter. As well as being able to write great songs like 'Smarter' he is very funny between songs. He tells some great stories as well! If you go to one of his shows you will be well entertained for sure.

I was looking forward to seeing tonight's headliner. Clem Burke is best known as the very Keith Moon inspired drummer of Blondie. He has also been involved with other things over the years, having played with Michael Des Barres & The Chequered Past - along with Blondie bandmate Nigel Harrison on bass. I remember seeing that band at Dingwalls and The Marquee back in the day. Clem was even in The Ramones for about five minutes as well!

Tonight he is taking a back seat (literally) with his own band The Tearaways. They play very 1960's inspired powerpop. Clem Burke has been one of my favourite drummers since I first discovered Blondie, but I am a bit underwhelmed tonight and he doesn't seem that together for some reason. His band although competent are unremarkable...

...but he has one ace up his sleeve tonight - a guest appearance by a Sex Pistol!

Glen Matlock is no stranger to the 100 Club - he must have played here more times than almost anybody, back from his days playing bass with the Sex Pistols up until now - last time I saw him I was supporting him at this very venue. But regardless of the main act's punk/pop/new wave credentials it's the support band who provide th best entertainment tonight.

25/8/2019 Little Gransden Air Show

Today is a real scorcher - possibly the hottest day of the year! The perfect day to travel out into the country on a motorcycle - if only I still had one. Thanks to thieving scum I am having instead to travel to an air display by car for the first time in many years. This is sub-optimal, but at least the car's built in SatNav helps me find a small airfield in the middle of nowhere. I have never been to Little Gransden (not to be confused with the nearby WW2 bomber airfield Gransden Lodge) before but have read very good reports of it's annual charity airshow. I decided it was time to pay a visit.

It's billed as a 'family' event (including a car show) without any particular theme so there is a wide range of different aircraft flying - both military and civil. This is a Spartan Executive from 1938 - a very modern looking and advanced machine for it's time. It's so 1930's it actually looks like an art -deco aircraft!

Another Spartan. They both flew together in formation at the show - a

very rare sight in the UK, or even in the USA where they were built.

This Boeing Stearman is actually not as old as the Spartans!

Continuing the training aircraft theme here is the aircraft most

pilots in theUSA moved onto after the Stearman - the Harvard.

In the background can the seen a British post war training

aircraft -  the Canadian designed de Havilland Chipmunk.

If you were lucky enough not to get 'washed out' in pilot training during the war

you might be lucky enough to graduate to a 'hot ship' like the P-51 Mustang.

Once a very familiar sight in these Cambridgeshire skies.

Later in Russia they were using this trainer based on the famous Yak WW2 fighter aircraft.

Training aircraft have a tendency to come to grief - this one seems to be no exception.

Something a bit more modern - a Pitts Special aerobatic aircraft. 

Small, but a very hot performer with an exceptional power-to-weight ratio

I didn't bother trying to take any pictures of aircraft actually flying - it's a complete waste of time on a phone or tiny digicam as they just look like black dots in a big sky unless you have a proper telephoto or zoom lens.

No Spitfires to be found (on the ground) today, but the star of the show was probably this rare Mk 1 Hurricane - a rarer breed than the Spitfire these days although the opposite was the case in 1940.

The weather was glorious with not a cloud in sight and scorching temperatures. The ticket price was much lower that the big air displays at better known airfields and although this was a smaller show with less of the 'heavy metal' star acts of the UK airshow scene like the Red Arrows or the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight there were still plenty of hot performers - including ones that didn't land like the Sea Fury and Spitfire so I didn't take pictures of them. It really was great value for money compared to the larger more well known airshows. One interesting 'act' was a performance by a 'Little & Large' duo - a full size aerobatic aircraft with a highly skilled pilot, and a much smaller radio controlled model of the same aircraft 'flown' from the ground - flying in formation with each other while performing all sorts of synchronised aerobatic manoeuvres - this was really amazing to see and must take incredible skill from both pilots considering the huge difference is size and power-to-weight ratio between the two aircraft. There was also some amazing aerobatic flying from display teams and solo aircraft - some of them performing manoeuvres that just don't seem possible as they seem to cease 'flying' and go totally out of control for a few moments!

One thing that really struck me about Little Gransden was the much more relaxed and informal atmosphere compared to the bigger events at places like Duxford - much more like I assume airshows used to be like many years ago. It's much easier to get closer to the aircraft on the ground and see what's going on. Yet in spite of all this it struck me as being really well organised and safe. I will definitely be back.

16/8/2019 Back 'N' Black @ Big Red

This isn't something you see every day; an all girl AC/DC tribute act - from Switzerland of all places!

This is Back N Black and they are pretty good. They don't try to be an exact copy of AC/DC, but the sound is quite close as is the energy and attitude.

This band have obviously drawn a lot of people as Big Red is packed. As an AC/DC tribute act it goes without saying that the setlist is packed with absolute bangers, and the standard of musicianship is good too - you can't fail to have a good night!

As they hail from Switzerland I guess these girls don't get to play in London that often so it's a bit of an event when they do. Black N Red are certainly a 'party' band and Holloway Road's Big Red is definitely a 'party' venue so a good time is guaranteed.

This is for sure a band I'd go and see again, but who knows when that might be, or where? Sadly it looks like it won't be at Big Red - this very well known rock bar is being forced to close next month due to a massive increase in rent demanded by the greedy landlords. It's a shame the owners of Big Red are being forced to leave - the place had become a North London legend with the rock crowd. I had loads of great nights there and also saw some really good bands there. I and many other people will really miss it. 

With the loss of The Gaff over the road, the 12 Bar Club nearby, and the 'Intrepid Fox' @ the famous Archway Tavern at the Northern end in recent times the 'Holloway Strip' is becoming a shadow of it's former self. Like in the West End it feels like our rock culture is being rapidly eroded.