2/7/2022 East Barnet Festival

Usually a local summer highlight the East Barnet Festival hasn't taken place the previous two years due to Covid-19. This year it returns over the first weekend of July, but in a slightly different form as far as the music is concerned. New people are now in charge and the emphasis is now on 'local' talent and new artists who haven't appeared at the festival before. This new booking policy hasn't gone down too well in some quarters, with some people looking at the bill and muttering "Never heard of any of them", while one or two well known local acts with a sense of entitlement have thrown their toys out of the pram at not being booked this year after playing umpteen times before...

There is certainly an interesting interpretation of the word 'local' - with some acts coming from many miles away. I believe the bands booked for last year's cancelled festival got offered 'first refusal' for slots on the stage this year, but inevitably some can't make it on the dates offered this year, while other bands will have split up. To be fair, in spite of the "Never 'eard of 'em" status of virtually every act (apart from today's headliners) the quality of all the acts I see is really good - even if they aren't all to my taste.

I was worried that there wasn't going to be a beer tent this year as there was no mention of it on the festival website and it usually get's featured as it's very popular. Fortunately I found there was the usual beer tent. And even better - local brewery Urban Alchemy have a (well hidden) stall selling bottles of their excellent ales! This appears to be a well kept secret - possibly to avoid upsetting the company running the beer tent? I'm pleased to see the 'official' beer tent is selling one Urban Alchemy ale, but you can buy the same beer for less directly from the brewery's own stall a minute or so's walk away. 😉 And the Urban Alchemy stall is also selling bottles of all their other currently available ales. Fortunately I just happen to have a bottle opener with me and a glass from my previous pint at the beer tent... 🍺

As usual I didn't make it down to the park early enough on Saturday to see the first few acts as they looked like they would be of little interest to me. The first band I actually saw was Total Recall.

A very polished cover/function band. New to me like all the other acts on the bill. Tight and professional sounding with a set full of fairly predictable 'crowd pleasers'. Not much stage presence apart from the singer but they sounded good. (I did actually go to see them at the East Barnet British Legion a few weeks later, but that night they came across as far more of a 'Function band' and seemed cheesy and predictable like they were playing at a wedding - I thought they were much better at the festival)

Next was Talk In Code. They played original indie pop stuff, but although they were more than competent musicians they made little impression on me.

Something rather different on next. Dubvocalize looked like a purpose built festival band. Basically they played a mix of funk and reggae - obviously experienced musicians out to entertain, but I think they will be remembered for the way they looked rather than their music.

I have to say Dubvocaliza had the hardest working frontman of the day and with the guitarist actually got a conga line going out in front of the stage. 

People may not remember their music, but they will remember that - and I think it's important that bands give a performance that the audience will remember. With that in mind I think many of the crowd may remember this as one of the highlights of the festival. People don't just want to hear music that sounds good - they want to be entertained. That's obviously what this band set out to do.

Next up was Tidal Rave. In spite of the name this seemed much more of a reggae outfit to me. They had an earthy gritty realism that I quite liked

Tidal Rave had something of an authentic feel about them and the singers had a stage presence that kept my attention. I couldn't say the same for the following act.

Dex and Soulmates are more than competent musicians but didn't manage to win me over at all. To me they just felt bland and soulless. I have nothing against soul music and most Saturday nights I listen to The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on 6 Music but this was far too polished for me and left me cold.

The Saturday night headliners at the festival really took things up a level - as you would expect of a band with hit singles under their belt. Their name was familiar to me but I couldn't have named one of their songs until a friend mentioned 'Build Me Up Buttercup' - then I knew I'd heard the song on the radio countless times. I wasn't originally planning to stay late enough to see all the bands, but I'm glad I did.

The Foundations were really good! I didn't know most their songs, and they did throw in some covers towards the end - as well as '...Buttercup' obviously. I enjoyed their set more than I was expecting and was really glad I stayed to the end of the festival. The weather was great too! 😎

As usual this year the festival continues on the Sunday, but unfortunately there is another two day event over this weekend that I want to attend both days that clashes with this. 😕 So unfortunately I can only attend one day of each - which sadly means I will miss seeing some friends playing in Barnet tomorrow...

17/6/2022 The Hip Priests & Dead Hombres @ The Hope & Anchor

Since lockdown ended I seem to be finding myself back at one venue more than any other - and here I am back again. Things seem to be getting a bit 'Groundhog Day' as I keep seeing the same bands here as well. And there is an added sense of deja vu with the first band of the evening. Only a few months ago I was looking forward to seeing Dead Hombres at this venue with their new singer, but she had to drop out at the last minute due to a car crash or something. Tonight I am once again looking forward to seeing Dead Hombres at this venue with their new singer - only to find out she has now left the band after only one or two gigs - due to mutual agreement as things apparently 'weren't working out', although all parties are still friends and parted on good terms.

So now we once again have Nigel 'reluctantly' returning to vocal duties - maybe for good?

The sound of the band seems to have changed slightly as well, with less of an authentic 1950's and a slightlier more punky distorted guitar sound instead. Don't worry - this is still a rock & roll band though!

Next we got Trash Culture. Punky, not shit musicians or anything, but I couldn't get into them.

At all.

Like the opening band tonight's headliners The Hip Priests are also very much a rock & roll band, but a much nastier proposition - quite deliberately so.

Dirty - filthy actually. Full of snotty attitude, and very pissed off with the state of our septic isle - or 'Shit Island' as they prefer to call it.

You wouldn't like to meet these guys down a dark alley - they would probably run you down with a motorcycle, steal all your cash and drugs, and leave you for dead. Or maybe just deaf. And that's just if they were in a good mood that night.

Punk attitude combined with the sound of the MC5 and Stooges mixed with Motörhead. If you don't like those bands and your music loud and fast then you'd better stay well away from these guys.

Just the fact that one of their songs is called 'Zero Fucks Given' speaks volumes. They don't come down from their native Nottingham that often, but when they do their shows are always well attended by their loyal followers. Join them if you dare...

12/6/2022 Wolfsbane, Daxx & Roxane, and Swampstomper @ The Water Rats

 A Wolfsbane show is always an event to look forward to! After the last EP release and tour it all went quiet for quite a while and I thought the band had all gone their separate ways to pursue their various other projects... Then earlier this year it was let slip that a new album was in the can. And a while later a tour was announced. I wasted no time getting a ticket.

And so I find myself at the newly reopened and refurbished Water Rats venue. It's several years since I've been here, and after past experiences with refurbed venues I am fearing the worst - remember how the Borderline was ruined? Actually, I needn't have worried. The front bar is virtually the same as before. Naturally the beer prices have increased, but since Covid everywhere is expensive and this isn't really any worse than anywhere else - I'm just cutting my drinking at venues down as a result. No more real ales at the bar at the Water Rats though, so I'll cut my drinking down even more - just to avoid thirst now.... Swings & roundabouts: Expensive and no real ales, but they have at long last fixed the stinky gents toilet downstairs - no more floor awash with pissy water and no more bad smells. The general layout of the toilet area has changed, and there is now a strange and disconcerting gradient in part of the floor area that I'm sure wasn't there before - I'm guessing covering up some new plumbing. Anyway, I didn't come here to piss and moan about generic keg beer...

Once again Runnin' Blue promotions have put a cracking bill together. Having witnessed the welcome return to action of Swampstomper just over a week ago now here they are again.

Their recent comeback show at the Hope & Anchor was good although the circumstances were rather sad. Tonight is better and more of a return to their normal form.

The Swampstomper brand of raw punk 'n' roll is well suited to venues and crowds like this - loud and in your face with frontman Paul singing straight from the heart.

Next up is an act I know nothing about, but have been told I must see. Daxx & Roxane? Sounds like a girlie pop duo. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Daxx & Roxane are a 4 piece (all male) rock band from Switzerland, but now living in London. And they ROCK very hard indeed!They certainly don't sound like they come from Switzerland either! Think AC/DC meeting Lynyrd Skynyrd down a dark alley and you'll get the picture.

The standard of musicianship is top rate. The level of performance and the energy the band put into their show is outstanding. People sometimes talk about bands being destined to play stadiums at some point in the future. Daxx & Roxane are ready to play stadiums now.

We are all used to various attention seeking journalists and rock stars proclaiming that 'Rock is dead' on a regular basis - here is the proof that it most definitely isn't. Daxx & Roxane have just been added to my list of bands I want to see again.

Wolfsbane don't play very often these days, so when a tour is announced it's a big event for the band's fans AKA Howling Mad Shitheads. And not only is there a tour, there is a brand new album to promote as well.

The opening song is 'Spit It Out' (no - not a Whitesnake cover!) also the opening song from the new Wolfsbane album 'Genius'.

Blaze Bailey is still one of the best frontmen out there - I've never seen anyone else work as hard to get a crowd going. His voice is still great as well, and his self-deprecating humour really helps to win the audience over. Although with a back catalogue of songs as good as Wolfsbane and the great atmosphere in the room half his work is already done.

Unfortunately guitar wizard Jase Edwards has to play the show sitting down - it turns out he has a broken vertebrae in his back. Time has taken it's toll on 3/4 of the band, but bassist Jef Hately surely has a Dorian Gray type picture hidden in his attic!

There is some new material from the latest album in the set like 'Impossible Love' and 'Zombies', but tonight is mainly about banging out the hits - 'Steel', 'Ezy', 'Money To Burn', 'I Like It Hot', 'Temple Of Rock', and the newer 'Smoke And Red Light' from the previous album 'Wolfsbane Save The World' all get an airing. In an interesting link with the past the main character from the 'All Hell's Breaking Loose at Little Kathy Wilson's Place' mini album appears on the front cover of the band's new album - and also the stage backdrop on the band's current tour. In fact she has even appeared 'in person' at previous shows on the tour, but sadly not tonight in London. Needless to say the song 'Kathy Wilson' does make an appearance tonight - always a fan favourite!

Hang on - what's this appearing on the right?

Yes, it's a wolf!

Some more classics like 'Man Hunt' and the brilliant 'Paint The Town Red' and all to soon the set is over. However, as always a Wolfsbane show has been great fun and highly entertaining - made all the better by hanging out with great people!

4/6/2022 A Gig for JB

A night of mixed feelings. I never got to know JB that well, but he always greeted me like a long-lost brother. If you go to loads of gigs you tend to see the same people at a lot of them - you obviously have similar tastes in music, and you end up making new friends. There is a certain crowd of people I see regularly at the more rock 'n' roll gigs - the 'usual suspects'. JB was part of that crowd - if I go to any gig at venues like the Dublin Castle or Hope & Anchor then I'm bound to bump into some of them. Music is a great way to bring people together - you find yourself mixing with people who are already on the same wavelength as yourself. JB was everybody's favourite Frenchman - the warmest hearted bloke I've ever met, but was sadly taken from us late last year. His death was totally unexpected and a great shock to all - especially his partner Katrin.

JB had a massive love for blues and rock 'n' roll music - especially in it's rawest and most basic old school form. And the legendary Hope & Anchor was one of the places he loved to see his favourite rock 'n' roll bands. So it seems very appropriate that his friends at Runnin' Blue promotions chose this as the venue for this tribute show. It seems especially fitting to me personally as the last time I met JB was at this very place only about three weeks before his death. And one of the bands he loved that was playing that night is also on the bill tonight, but more of them later...

Opening the show tonight is Swampstomper - fronted by JB's great friend Paul Brightman.

This powerful punk 'n' roll band have been away for some time, but hopefully we will be seeing them more regularly again soon.

Their sound is tight, punchy, and tuneful. The band they remind me of most strongly are the much missed Yo-Yo's founded by ex-Wildhearts bassist Danny McCormack.

This must have been a difficult and emotional show for Paul to play as a tribute to his late friend JB but hopefully it has helped him get some closure....

Next up is another of JB's favourite bands - a good example of what I call a proper rock 'n' roll band. It's not just the sound or the look - like with Motörhead or the Ramones, it's the spirit with which you play it. You can't be taught it - you either have it or you don't. There are loads of technically really good guitarists out there who have had hundreds of lessons and practiced endlessly, but still can't play rock 'n' roll convincingly - they just don't 'get it'. These guys get it.

It's The Electric Shakes, and they have some significance to me personally as they were unknown to me previously when I saw them at the Dublin Castle in October last year. I thought they were really great. JB was there - little did either of us know it was the last time we would ever meet. Around 3 weeks later he was gone.

I mentioned Motörhead and The Ramones. The Electric Shakes sound like neither, but I'm sure both were an influence. Those bands didn't sound like traditional old school rock 'n' roll combos, but there were rock 'n' roll - they understood what it was about. Some people can play rock & roll perfectly - in tune and in perfect time - all the right notes in all the right places, but it's still not rock 'n' roll. Because rock 'n' roll is an attitude, and if you don't have the attitude it's still not rock & roll no matter how perfectly you play it. These guys know this. JB knew this.

True rock 'n' roll is a celebration...

...of life...

...and tonight it's a celebration of JB's life.

The final band tonight is another particular favourite of JB's - The Witchdoktors. Again, this is an outfit I consider a proper rock 'n' roll band.

The music is very 1950's/60's sounding, but with a more modern punky edge. This is how rock 'n' roll is meant to be played - and you can't learn this from having lots of guitar/bass/drum lessons.

Like tonight's previous bands - it's all about the attitude. Not how LOUD you are or how fast you can play - anyone can do that. Well nearly anyone. As I said earlier - it's about the spirit with which you play this music. And if the spirit of JB was here tonight I'm sure he would have loved all three bands.

Runnin' Blue promotions and all the bands really did JB proud tonight - well done to all involved for putting on such a great event.

 

29/5/2022 Bike Shed Motorcycle Show part 2

So on Saturday I went to the Bike Shed Motorcycle Show on the train, had a beer, got the train to a gig in the evening, and had more beers. Having satisfied my desire to sit at the front and pretend to be a train driver on the DLR I decided to go to the Bike Show again on Sunday, but on an actual motorcycle - one ticket to the show gives multiple admission on different days if you want - so it didn't cost any extra to go twice and see the few things I didn't get time to see the previous day. Well that's the theory anyway, but of course there is a little petrol used to get there and back. Journey planning says it's quicker going by bike instead of train too. And it's also a good way to see how well my new Beeline motorcycle SatNav system works as well. 🏍

The weather is nice enough, and the ride down to Shadwell is fairly straightforward as the roads for at least the first half of the journey are fairly familiar and SatNav isn't required. My new Beeline takes care of the rest. 🏍 The Bike Shed people have arranged free motorcycle parking in the street right outside the venue - which is cool. 😎

This picture is just a very small section of the show - there are hundreds of bikes on display, and as it's not a commercial 'trade' show the machines on display are virtually all custom bikes.

The atmosphere is very cool and relaxed, and you get get as close as you want to the bikes if you want to inspect their engineering or paintwork closely.

This one brought back some memories as it's based on a Triumph Speed Triple like the one I used to have - much missed and my favourite of all the bikes I've owned.

However, this old Royal Enfield is more like what I'm riding these days - although mine is very updated for modern times.

And the engine from this one looks very familiar too.

I suspect some of the bikes on display don't even have working engines and may never have turned a wheel under their own power, but they really are literally works of art and things of great beauty.

There really are some inspired and highly imaginative machines here - would you believe this started life as a Honda step-thru moped?

Brilliant!

Not all the bikes on show are shiny works of art.

Royal Enfields seem to be getting increasingly popular with custom builders - both old ones like this.

And new ones like this dragster based on the current 650 twin models.

And this one, which is actually a factory concept bike based on the current 650 Interceptor/Continental, but a possible future production model.

And this custom which is based on the latest 350 Meteor model.

This is just a tiny selection of the weird and wonderful machines to be seen - there are are Harley's, Triumphs, Nortons, Moto Guzzi's and Ducati's from Italy, as well as BMWs and all the big four Japanese brands, and many others - road bikes, choppers, racers, off-roaders, supersports, and everything in between.

There are plenty of other things to see and do as well - get a tattoo, get your hair done, shop for motorcycle parts and clothing, eat a wide variety of street food, and drink a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the venue's pub or the whiskey bar. And there is plenty of live music too! It's been a good, varied, and interesting day out - I expect I'll be back next year.

The journey home turns into a bit more of an adventure than planned. There is a major bicycle race going through London on the Sunday and some of the roads are shut - only a minor problem on the way to the show, but more so on leaving to ride home. We were diverted South instead of being able to head back North. Somehow I ended up leading a very noisy convoy of motorcycles towards Wapping. I think they somehow assumed I actually knew where I was going - so they followed me, but actually I was winging it based on my SatNav auto-reroute. It's many many years since I actually drove or rode through Wapping and it has changed totally since the times I drove to a rehearsal studio there. Anyway, due to road closures and diversions I ironically ended up going past the actual Bike Shed club venue in Old Street!

PS: The following week I receive a letter from the Metropolitan Police informing me that I got caught doing a massive 24 MPH in a 20 MPH zone on the A10 on the way home - so it's going to be either a fine and points on my clean license or a Speed Awareness Course for me - again. So going to the show on my bike didn't work out so cheap after all.... Now I'm wondering if I'm going to get another letter regarding all the times I used bus lanes on the way to and from the Bike Show as well...