Postcards from the man cave

I have just completed my fourth week in self-isolation. Other than a visit to a local supermarket three weeks ago the only outside space I have seen is my garden. I am not alone, far from it. Millions of people around the world are getting by on little more than an hour a day spent outside of the home

This blog is dedicated to those people who keep on working through this crisis. Doctors, Nurses, Carers, shop workers, delivery drivers, postmen, refuse collectors…………………all heroes. All of these people are making a real difference, providing lifelines to millions of others. Yet many of the people I am celebrating are amongst the lowest paid in society. Think of all the Chief Executives sitting at home helplessly watching profits skydiving, share prices sliding and the only thing they have done to make a difference is cut costs through making people unemployed.

When this shit storm is over I hope that people realise we need to re-balance the world economy and start to reward people in proportion to their contribution to making society work. Never take anyone for granted and never look down your nose at another person because you think you are more important………….think about it…………you’re not!!!

During a visit to the NASA space centre in 1962, President John F. Kennedy noticed a janitor carrying a broom. He interrupted his tour, walked over to the man and said, “Hi, I’m Jack Kennedy. What are you doing?”

“Well, Mr. President,” the janitor responded, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.”

Perhaps you have heard the story of Christopher Wren, a seventeenth-century English architect who walked one day unrecognized among the men who were at work upon the building of St. Paul’s cathedral in London, which he had designed.

“What are you doing?” he inquired of one of the workmen. The man replied, “I am cutting a piece of stone.” As Wren went on he put the same question to another man, and the man replied,  “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build a beautiful cathedral.”

Imagine how much better our world would be if those at the top of the pyramid realised that without those at bottom nothing happens!

Thus endeth my Easter sermon.

Jade told me a great story this week;

‘I met an old guy when I was on a bike ride and we had a good long chat. Turns out he was a teacher in Sheffield and he’d taught Jarvis Cocker and his sister. The guy proudly told me that he played a part in the name of Jarvis’ band Pulp.

My new friend was Jarvis’ economics teacher and one day he gave the class a copy of the Financial Times from many years ago and asked them all to write down what they’d invest in from commodity lists. They would then read the present days financial times to see who made the best choice. Apparently Jarvis was like ey sir what’s this Arabicus coffee pulp thing. The teacher explained it and Jarvis was like okay I’m gonna put my money on that… Turned out that was the best from the list and he was like, Sir I’m gonna name my band after that. Arabicus pulp was too much of a mouthful so he shortened it to Pulp.’

I love the story and it got me thinking about the genesis of other band names. As many people seem to be taking part in online quizzes as a way of coping with social isolation I thought I’d set some questions. Good luck, answers are at the bottom of this blog.

1. An acronym formed from the first letters of each group member’s first name.
2. Named after Milo O’Shea’s character in Sci Fi classic Barbarella
3. Irish band whose name came from a robot character in The Dandy comic.
4. American band named after a steam-powered dildo in William Burrough’s novel The Naked Lunch.
5. English Heavy Metal band named after a 1933 Boris Karloff film.
6.  American band who took their name from the sidekick of Bart Simpson’s favourite superhero, Radioactive Man.
7. This band was inspired by early-rocker Buddy Holly, whose backing group was called the Crickets.
8. Band named after the South African football club that was the first team that ex-Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe played for.
9. Band named after the founder members family home where they gathered to rehearse.
10. Liverpool  band named after a character in Harper Lee’s classic ‘To kill a Mockingbird’

I hope that some of you are using your unexpected spare time to catch up on some reading. I said in my last blog that I was reading Sandi Toskvig’s autobiography – Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus. I really enjoyed this book so have compiled a list of some of my favourite Biographies auto or otherwise.

Stairway to Heaven – Richard Cole

Steven Davis’ Hammer of the gods is the best known biography of Led Zeppelin This warts and all exposé of life on the road with Led Zeppelin became the benchmark rock biography. Davis’ tales of excess most notably the infamous Mudshark incident helped to build the Zeppelin legend.

I would recommend Stairway to Heaven above Davis’ tome. Richard Cole was Led Zeppelin’s tour manager and also the personal assistant of the bands mentor and manager Peter Grant. Cole was there for every year, every album and every tour and was therefore a first-hand witness to some of the legends that surround Led Zeppelin. Not for the faint hearted, it is however a definitive witness statement of someone who experienced the life with most the significant  rock band on god’s great earth.

Anyone fancy a night at the Edgewater Inn Seattle??

A Magick life – Martyn Booth

Described by the popular press as “the wickedest man in the world” Aleister Crowley was an English writer, mystic, and ceremonial magician. Playing up to his reputation Crowley described himself as the Great beast 666 which fuelled the fires of scandal in the press which labelled him a Satanist.

Crowley gained widespread notoriety during his lifetime, being a recreational drug experimenter, bisexual and an individualist social critic. He was also though a poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He dedicated his life to seeking arcane knowledge. Crowley became a Yoga adept may years before it became fashionable in western society.

Crowley has remained a highly influential figure over Western esotericism. Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page is one of his most famous devotees. Page bought Boleskine house by Loch Ness which was formally owned by Crowley and reputedly where he tried to perform a series of rituals known as the Sacred Magic of Abra-melin the Mage, the purpose which was to summon a guardian angel.

If you want to go beyond the more sensationalist crap pedalled by the popular press and understand a little more about who Crowley really was then this book is a good place to start.

I’m with the band – Pamela Des Barres

Pamela Des Barres was arguably the first groupie. This book is a wonderfully evocative memoir of Los Angeles in the sixties and seventies and describes the social changes brought upon the western world through the influence of rock music.

Beginning with Pamela Des Barres’ early obsession with Elvis, her own Beatlemania madness, and her fierce determination to meet the musicians who rocked her world, I’m With The Band describes how she infiltrated the nascent LA music scene in the late sixties. From being a nanny to Frank Zappa’s kids to relationships with Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger and even Pink Fairies’ bassist Duncan Sanderson to name but a few.

This book is a fantastic eyewitness account of the rise of rock music through to its dominance of popular culture. Des Barres has written other books but they descended in to little more than kiss and tell pap.

The Moon is a balloon – David Niven

David Niven lived through the golden age of Hollywood and was a favourite of Samuel Goldwyn. Niven was born into the English upper class. He attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe School before gaining a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry.

Having developed an interest in acting, he left the army and travelled to Hollywood to pursue a career in the film industry.

 The day after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the British Army. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so; the British Embassy advised most actors to stay put in LA.

Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) on 25 February 1940 and was assigned to a motor training battalion. He wanted something more exciting, however, and transferred into the Commandos.

After the war Niven returned to Los Angeles and enjoyed a very successful acting career. This wonderful book will make you laugh out loud as he describes his life in Hollywood. His description of he and Errol Flynn sharing a house which they called ‘cirrhosis by the sea’ is a scream. This book is a must read for film devotees but will be enjoyed by anyone who likes to laugh.

You’ll never make love in this town again

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal it was worth revisiting this book.

Heidi Lynne Fleiss was an American madam who ran an upscale prostitution ring based in Los Angeles, California. She was convicted in 1996 and following her court case four of her girls wrote this expose of the seediness of the so called high class vice trade.

You will recognise most, if not all of the ‘clients’. I can’t watch Paul McCartney’s moving rendition of Something at the George Harrison memorial concert without thinking about this book. I lost respect for Jack Nicholson and will never watch another Sylvester Stallone film. Remember that this book is nearly twenty five years old but makes the Weinstein trial chilling when you realise just how misogynistic and cruel Los Angeles has always been.

Stoned – Andrew Loog Oldham

‘People say I made the Stones. I didn’t. They were there already’. They only wanted exploiting. They were all bad boys when I found them. I just brought out the worst in them.’

Andrew Loog Oldham was nineteen years old when he discovered and became the manager and producer of an unknown band called The Rolling Stones. This autobiography is a fascinating picture of London in the swinging sixties. Oldham is a fascinating mix of chancer and genius. He became the template for many subsequent pop music Svengali’s and deserves greater recognition than he receives. It was Oldham who locked Jagger and Richards in a room and told them not to come out before they had written a song. The rest as they say is history, but what a history!

Mr Nice – Howard Marks

What an extraordinary fellow Howard Marks was. His autobiography takes him from his South Wales childhood and Oxford University education through his life dealing marijuana and the enormous mythology that accrued around what the tabloids called “the English Toff Drugs King of the World”. This book is called Mr Nice after one of the many aliases Marks’s life as a merchant of pot obliged him to assume.

This book is a hilarious but cautionary tale of a life well lived.  You can’t help but warm to Howard Marks. As you read the book you will wish you had got the chance to drink a pint or share a spliff with Mr. Nice. On a serious note, Marks argues the case for the legalisation of Marijuana and it is difficult to argue with him.

My Niece Steph met Howard and confirmed what my instincts told me…….he was truly Mr. Nice.

Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics – Deke Leonard

From the Publisher:

Man are a band from Wales with more history behind them than the Greeks. Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics is an hilarious account of life in the weirdest rock’n’roll band in the universe. Ablaze with razor-sharp wit, it is a stirring saga of courage, endurance and almost breathtaking stupidity.

I like the idea of Man more than I like the Manband’s music. The Ride and the view from the Welsh connection is one of my favourite songs of all time but few other Man tunes (with the notable exception of Bananas) scratch my itch.

Deke Leonard, however, is a fantastic raconteur. How he manages to remember the many stories he tells is truly amazing given his prodigious consumption of narcotics!

Deke wrote four more books, all superb. He passed away in in 2017. The world lost a true original, someone who deserved a bigger audience. Whether you like music or not you will love this book. Do yourself a favour and buy or blag a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

p.s. If you play guitar, you must buy the Twang Dynasty. This book is Deke celebrating his own guitar heroes. The chapter on my hero Larry Wallis is jaw droppingly hilarious

Notes from a small island – Bill Bryson

From the publisher:

Bill Bryson is an unabashed Anglophile who, through a mistake of history, happened to be born and bred in Iowa. Righting that error, he spent 20 years in England before deciding to repatriate: “I had recently read that 3.7 million Americans according to a Gallup poll, believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.” That comic tone enlivens this account of Bryson’s farewell walking tour of the countryside of “the green and kindly island that had for two decades been my home.”

My friend Phil doesn’t like Bill Bryson. He thinks he should spend more time in pubs connecting with people in the universal environment. I know where Phil is coming from but I find Bill Bryson hilarious. I love all of his travel books but this one resonates because it is about my home country. I love America so it is particularly good to read a book about an Americans love for my home.

If you read this book I can guarantee that (unless your name is Phil and you are a West Ham fan) you will seek out more of Bill Bryson’s work.

The Smell of Football – Mick Rathbone

I have to finish with a sports book. After all, we all miss sport. Whatever is your sporting gig it fills a huge part of our lives. This book is not about a sporting god but is the story of a physio with Everton football club.

From the publisher:

When Mick Rathbone signed for Birmingham City as a 16 year-old apprentice he was living every schoolboy’s dream. But when he discovered he was so nervous he was unable to speak, let alone pass the ball, in the presence of his boyhood hero and City star Trevor Francis, he realised that a career in football might not be everything he had imagined.

The Smell of Football is the brutally honest and utterly compelling story of how ‘Baz’ conquered his personal demons to build a life in the game – from the terrified teenager who purposely tried to get injured in training rather than get picked for the first team, to the experienced pro who became Head of Medicine at Premier League Everton FC in charge of the treatment of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Tim Cahill.

Brilliantly written and packed with hilarious tales featuring a football ‘who’s who’ cast of characters – from Sir Alf Ramsey and ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce to David Moyes, Duncan Ferguson and Rooney himself – The Smell of Football is an engrossing and moving memoir that covers every aspect of the professional game and gives an unprecedented insight into what life is really like at football’s coalface.

This is an inspirational book that shows how any of us can make a difference once we have found our niche.

Thank you for reading this blog. I genuinely hope that you will read at least one of these books. If you do, let me know what you think.

Finally, please recognise the contribution made by those comrades who are selflessly working through these horrific times. Hopefully this will lead to a new world order of collaboration and tolerance…………………………………….I think I’ve been reading too much Mr. Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Quiz answers
1)            Abba

2)            Duran Duran

3)            Thin Lizzy

4)            Steely Dan

5)            Black Sabbath

6)            Fall out boy

7)            The Beatles

8)            Kaiser Chiefs

9)            Fairport Convention

10)          Boo Radleys

Working from home is a tough gig. On the positive side, I am kept very busy so the day passes quickly. I realise what a great bunch of people I am working with, the team spirit is fantastic. I speak with Craig who I share an office with most days which always boosts my morale as we end each call discussing how many beers we’re going to drink together if we get through this shit. On the downside, Skype calls are very frustrating; after all, you can’t make eye contact with a laptop screen!

Phone conference protocols are difficult to adhere to. It’s hard not to talk over somebody when you can’t see what is going on. It proves Professor Mehrabian right;

Professor Mehrabian came up with the now famous—and famously misused—rule that communication is only 7 percent verbal and 93 percent non-verbal. The non-verbal component was made up of body language (55 percent) and tone of voice (38 percent).

Last week I was exchanging emails with my friend Mark. His wife Jeanne told him to ask me what my favourite album sleeves are. Hey, serendipity intervenes again. I have been meaning to sort my vinyl albums alphabetically for months, mainly driven by my inability to find my copy of Solid by the Groundhogs. Jeanne’s question proved the motivational trigger.  I decided that I would only choose my favourite album covers from those I own on vinyl.

I will provide a little commentary on what I like about the sleeve and also a few words about the album. I must stress that I have picked my favourite album covers, not my favourite albums

So here we go, my top 10 in no particular order;

I love Modern art and Don Van Vliet is one of my favourite artists. His paintings have a childlike quality but reward those who study them deeply. There is much wisdom concealed within that childlike simplicity and his use of colours is stunning. Don was a fellow member of the MS club.

Captain Beefheart is Don’s alter ego (named after his uncle, read the story!). This isn’t his best album but it is a good one nonetheless. Seekers should checkout Clear Spot or Ice Cream for Crow for great songs, Trout Mask Replica for weirdness, and Bongo Fury for one of the best collaborations of all time.

ps

Pat told me if I ever buy one of Don’s paintings (I could never afford an original) and attempt to hang it on open display she will perform an orchidectomy with her bare teeth!!!

What can I say about this Hipgnosis classic? There is so much going on here; the everyday gesture of two people shaking hands, particularly those formally dressed. The seeming indifference to the fact that one of the guys is on fire! Finally, the background is incongruous. Is it a movie set? Maybe it’s a deserted factory? Wherever they are, it’s a beautiful day. Wish you were here indeed!

I love Pink Floyd and this album is one of their top three in my opinion:

Dark side of the Moon

Wish you were here

The Wall

I honestly can’t pick a favourite as it is only ever the one I happen to be listening to. Of those three great albums it is Wish you were here that boasts the best cover!

Pretty whimsical I hear you say.

This is less about the sleeve and more about what this album did for me. I bought this album from Earthquake records in 1977. I had never heard of the Pink Fairies. A guy called Simmo took me under his wing one day and showed me albums that I should own, needed to own. His number one recommendation was Kings of Oblivion.

Forty three years later I sit here in my man cave typing this blog looking at a framed copy of the album cover. I love the perfection of the colours, the expressions of the pigs but most of all I love travelling back through time to the day that I first unfurled my freak flag!!

The album is awesome as well. If there is a better track than City Kids then I have certainly never heard it.

Larry Wallis and Duncan Sanderson passed away recently.

Rest in peace comrades.

I was fascinated by this sleeve from the first time I saw it. I love the black and silver diagonal stripes, the band logo is a design classic but most of all I love the photo of Alex Harvey. Alex looks hard, threatening, uber fucking cool.

What a fantastic album as well. Not only is there not a bad track but the album marks the first outing for Harvey’s alter ego Vambo.

Towering over everything else is the title track Next, a song written by legendary Belgian singer Jacques Brel, Harvey makes the song his own just like Sinatra does with New York New York and Elvis does with Are you lonesome tonight.

Don’t die without hearing this album at least once. 

Never has an album sleeve described what you are about to hear as much as Swordfish Trombones. You really have to listen to this masterpiece to understand what I mean.

Waits was a great songwriter from the get go. I love Blue Valentine, Heart attack and Vine and Nighthawks at the Diner but this one was the game changer. This album marked not only a musical departure but an artistic one as well. The sleeve reflects the fact that through the album you will meet a cast of vagabonds, ne’er do wells and real people that will warm your heart. These stories are set against an eclectic, fantastic musical background.

Tom’s next album was Rain Dogs and he raised the bar again.

Please check this album out and whether you like it or not, see how it resonates with the sleeve art.

I used to flick past this album every week in Earthquake records. I would inevitably retrace my steps and pull it from the rack. I loved the sleeve. The colours are stunning the image of the cowboy waving goodbye to his true love felt strangely reassuring.

The problem was that I was told that the band were just a second string bunch of old hippies that noodled away aimlessly fuelled by a cocktail of weed and psychedelics.

Then I read Winos, Rhinos and Lunatics by Deke Leonard. This fantastic book recounts Deke’s time as a part of legendary Welsh hippies Man. One of the books highlights is the time that the Manband spent with John Cipollina, guitarist with Quicksilver Messenger Service. Deke is awestruck as he describes Cippo’s talents. So I finally bought the album. I really like it but the sleeve is still the star

The French would say this sleeve is ‘Les ballons de chien’ The dog’s bollocks! 

The band logo perfectly illustrates the sound of Motorhead. Another Earthquake records purchase of mine. I had read about Motorhead in the music press, knew of Lemmy through his tenure in Hawkwind but nothing prepared me for the holy row that erupted from the speakers.

The band logo still adorns tee shirts and has seamlessly crossed at least three generations. I would proudly wear this logo if the clothing catered for the more mature old rocker!!!

Lemmy and Fast Eddie are sadly no longer with us but the awesome music still is. The title track and the biker anthem Iron Horse stand out on this album but the band would go on to record many more great songs such as Overkill, Ace of Spades and Killed by Death.

Andy Warhol is one of my favourite artists. I have seen his work exhibited in London, New York and Hamburg. I yearn to see more, particularly his photography.

I was not convinced when I first saw this album sleeve. Nor was I sold on the music. Every band when I was a teenager played Waiting for my man (except for my band of course).

As I started to get into Warhol I realised I needed to buy this album and see if it deserved the fuss.

Brian Eno once said that even though hardly anyone bought Velvet Underground recordings at the time they first appeared, almost everyone who did formed their own bands.

You only need to hear Patti Smith, Talking Heads or the New York Dolls to see that this is true.

A truly great album. I now love Waiting for my man, Heroin and Nico singing All Tomorrow’s parties.

If you like the album then you should checkout more great Warhol art. If you don’t like the music, still checkout Warhol!

Readers of my earlier blogs will have read of my fascination with this album sleeve. I still don’t know whether to be filled with a sense of calm or a sense of trepidation. In the last few years we have visited both Glastonbury Tor and Stonehenge and on both occasions I have thought about this album cover.

Argus is a great album. There are no bad tracks. It will forever be known for Blowin’ Free but The King will come and The Warrior best reflect the album cover theme.

My God there is something deep about this album sleeve. I can remember seeing it on Amazon, reading reviews in the music press but I always felt drawn to the album cover. To this day I cannot describe why I feel so moved.

As you can imagine I needed to check the album out. It is fantastic!!! The Decemberists got even better on their next album The Hazards of Love.

We saw the band live in Leeds a couple of years ago and they are brilliant!!! I have since bought many more albums by this wonderful band but The Crane Wife sleeve still fascinates me.

Postscript: I really enjoyed sorting out my 500 records into alphabetical order. It took a little longer than planned but felt so good. So many memories came flooding back. So many long lost treasures were rediscovered and so many gaps that need plugging were duly noted.

Hey Jeanne, I’ve shared my favourites, now I look forward to you sharing yours.

I never did find that damn Groundhogs album!!!

I have been watching a lot of You tube clips over the past couple of weeks. I set of with best intentions of learning something new on guitar (Romeo and Juliet this week) but get rapidly impatient with myself when I don’t master a new song by the second try. If it first you don’t succeed……..just search for something more interesting.

I found the following three clips this week. Each features a great guitarist interpreting pieces not written with the guitar in mind.

Jeff Beck – Nessun Dorma

I saw Jeff Beck supporting ZZ Top at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. I have always loved his playing but thought he had become too ‘noodly’ in his later years. Not at this show, Beck was awesome……….he blew ZZ Top off the stage!!

I’d lose the boots Jeff!!!

      Eleanor Rigby – Stanley Jordan

I first saw Stanley Jordan on much missed music show the Tube. I stared open mouthed at the screen. I had never seen anyone play the guitar like him.

Star Spangled Banner – Jimi Hendrix

This closes Woodstock. Jimi starts playing the National anthem faithfully but then veers off course. Hendrix seems to mimics explosions, machine gunfire and a wailing emergency siren – musical images of horror. Hendrix had served in the US air force and still had many friends who were in Vietnam. Hendrix then plays the “Taps” melody, a tune traditionally performed at military funerals to honor the sacrifice of service.

Finally, he returns to the traditional anthem melody, offering a full and faithful conclusion to the song. One of the defining moments in Rock music history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFLy8eGtSYo

 I’ll finish off this blog with a few more comedy clips. I felt much better watching these clips and laughing out loud. I hope you find them funny as well

Jeremy Thorpe (29 April 1929 – 4 December 2014) was a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for North Devon from 1959 to 1979, and as leader of the Liberal Party between 1967 and 1976. In May 1979 he was tried at the Old Bailey on charges of conspiracy and incitement to murder, arising from an earlier relationship with Norman Scott, a former model. Thorpe was acquitted on all charges, but the case, and the furore surrounding it, ended his political career. It was felt at the time that the British establishment had looked after one of its own. As official documents were released over the years it was seen that this was no conspiracy theory. Thorpe may have lost his political career but he never went to jail which he surely should have done.

This clip features Peter Cook spoofing the Judge summing up at the Jeremy Thorpe trial. It is hilarious, but like a lot of the best comedy, the underlying theme is to expose corruption in high places.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8U

From the same Amnesty benefit are two clips of Rowan Atkinson. This was in the pre Mr Bean years when Atkinson was at his funniest in my opinion. The first clip features a duet with Kate Bush! The second clip features Atkinson as the Devil greeting new arrivals in Hell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwG5AqZih8I

The final clip is a compilation of Billy Connolly jokes. Still the king of comedy for me

Thanks for reading. I’ll finish with a couple of quotes

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.

Ernest Hemingway

We live in strange time’s comrades. Increasingly large parts of our lives are on lock down. Some of us are personally locked down for the foreseeable future. I have just completed a week of self-isolation; I’ve had to work at home for a week and I found it unbelievably stressful. It’s likely that we will all have to spend time confined to our homes in the near future so I thought it would be good to focus on things that can lift the spirit whilst helping pass the time.

As you may guess I’ll start with music. I’ve picked five tracks that never fail to lift my spirits when I hear them

1. I still believe – Frank Turner

I first heard this track watching highlights from the Cambridge Folk festival a few years ago. I was shocked to see how crazy the crowd went when Frank played this track as I’d never heard it nor heard of him before. I’m a big fan of Frank’s music now and this track never fails to get my adrenaline flowing and fist pumping. If you like it check out the album ‘England keep my bones’ a fine tribute to my home country.

• Jeruselem – William Blake

A few years ago we were In Glastonbury, one of our favourite towns in one of our favourite parts of England. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed browsing around the market and talking to the many New agers and Pagans that sell a wide range of esoteric wares. We saw that there was a bus that would take us to the foot of Glastonbury Tor so we jumped on. I love seeing Glastonbury Tor on the horizon, so iconic. Anyway, by the time we disembarked the sun was blazing and the temperature had soared into the eighties. I have MS. It’s a shitty condition at the best of times but it plays particular havoc in hot and humid conditions. Putting discomfort to the back of my mind we set off walking up the Tor. It is not really a challenging climb, a pleasant stroll if you’re relatively fit. It nearly fucking killed me! I must admit I faltered in the very last stages and thought about turning back. Pat encouraged me and I got to the top. I sat in the shade on the cold stone bench in Saint Michael’s Tower the emblematic building at the summit of the Tor. It was a truly spiritual moment. Later I sat alone in the sun gazing over the mythical Isle of Albion feeling lucky to be alive and proud of my heritage.

I first heard the hymn Jerusalem at Barrow Grammar school for Boys. I have loved it ever since. It never fails to swell my heart with pride and patriotism. My funeral Hymn I think (along with It’s a grand old team of course!!)

• This Land is your Land (Woody Guthrie) performed by Mary Gauthier

1^st June 2017 we saw Mary Gauthier at the String Jam Club in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk. The club is held in the County Hotel where we were staying. Mary Gauthier was staying there as well. Just prior to her going on stage President Trump announced (via Twitter of course) he was pulling the USA out of the Kyoto protocol on climate change. Mary was truly horrified. She walked on stage and apologised on behalf of the American people. She then played a heartfelt, understated and very moving version of this Woody Guthrie classic. It was a truly moving moment that I will never forget. The song has been a regular encore at her shows ever since.

I love the words and the sentiment of this song. It says in the Bible that The meek shall inherit the earth. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a 19^th century French politician who was the first  person to declare himself an anarchist said ‘Property is theft’ and Woodie Guthrie wrote this rallying cry to the working classes. Remember in these troubling times ‘This land was made for you and me’

This is the America I recognise and love as much as I love my own country

This clip was recorded at my favourite venue – The Met theatre – Bury

• Thelma and Louise – Trish Murphy

Anyone with Daughters knows the importance of Female empowerment. The world is split pretty much equally between Males and Females. Power and influence is split 90-10 in favour of males. Surely any idiot can see that this is wrong???…………………….I guess not.

I was already a fan of Trish Murphy when I heard this track from the Girls get in free album. I loved it from the get go. On the album it is a rollicking anthem. I was delighted to find this clip of an acoustic version on YouTube. I love the sentiment behind this ode to female empowerment. If you it like then treat yourself and buy Girls get in Free, Rubies on the lawn or any other album by Trish. You won’t be disappointed. She does a great version of These Boots are made for walkin’ on Rubies on the lawn. Enjoy!!!

• What a wonderful world – Louis Armstrong

I can’t say it any better than Satchmo

Inspiration

At work I have a PowerPoint presentation I turn to when I’m feeling stressed or doubting my ability to succeed. It contains a collection of quotes that I find inspirational. Most of them are from business leaders but I have started to add quotes from anyone that lifts my spirits and makes believe in the power of positive thought. I will share with you a few of my favourites. How do they make you feel? Who inspires you?

Robert Kennedy. The greatest President who never was. Sirhan Sirhan I hope you rot in hell. Like Mark David Chapman you snuffed out a candle of hope.

Mary Kay Ash was a Texan lady. She started Mary Kay cosmetics with a $5000 loan from her son in 1963. Mary became a Billionaire.

I love this quote. It inspires me as a People manager. Think about it………its true isn’t it?

Next time you walk past a homeless person and look the other way remember Mary’s words and hang your head in shame.

In 2018 we visited the National Civil Liberties museum at the former Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. The Lorraine Motel is where Martin Luther King was shot and killed by James Earl Jones (hmmm, read about it, do you believe it was him?). I wept all the way round. I felt deeply ashamed to be white, at man’s inhumanity to man. The story of Rosa Parks is both moving and inspiring.

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Its success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities.

Rosa Parks died aged 92 in 2005. There are few people in life who manage to inspire lasting change.

RIP Sister Rosa.

In England Women were not allowed to vote until 6 Feb 1918 and then only those aged 30 or over. Full democracy for all over 21 only came in 1928. This was only due to the efforts of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Suffragette movement.

Sisters, treasure your vote. Brave women gave their lives to win it for you. Use it wisely. We men haven’t got a fucking clue!!!

Dave Hickson was renowned for his physical approach as a centre forward, which coupled with his determination soon made him a crowd favourite. Off the pitch, Hickson was a different man, quiet and unassuming, but the Dave Hickson that pulled on a Blue shirt and entered battle every Saturday afternoon was an aggressive character, no quarter given or asked. This aggression would lead to several run-ins with officials, and three sendings-off during his career, but that was his style & the fans loved it. A youthful Hickson with his striking appearance, fully quiffed up with a shock of blonde hair, as was the style of the day, was one of the few things to get excited about on the terraces of Goodison Park. Dave Hickson soon forged a productive partnership with John Willie Parker, with Hickson being the target man. Although his reputation as an aerial threat was well known, Hickson was also a difficult opponent with the ball on the floor, and could produce a powerful shot, which earned him the nickname Cannonball Kid. Hickson played more than 400 games between 1948 and 1963 most for Everton. Dave played for the following his clubs.

Everton

Aston Villa

Huddersfield Town

Everton

Liverpool

Cambridge City

Bury

Tranmere Rovers

His most famous quote was;

“I’d break every bone in my body for any club I play for but I’d die for Everton.”

I have that quote on the back of a T shirt that will never be thrown away.

Dave died aged 83 in July 2013 and was an Ambassador for Everton football until he passed away.

RIP Dave Hickson

Sport

The worst thing about the last two weeks has been the absence of sport. Many now realise how integral sport is in our daily lives. Whatever is your sporting gig I bet you’re missing it?

In Football, all Leagues in Great Britain have been suspended and the European championships cancelled. It’s highly likely that the Olympics will be cancelled. The US Masters Golf tournament and the USPGA have been cancelled and all Cricket worldwide is suspended. I have picked just a few examples, there are many more. I was watching youtube clips last night to slake my sporting thirst. I will now share with you five sportsmen who I have loved watching over the years. I know you will all have your own heroes in a wide variety of sports so I hope my choices will inspire you to consider your own top 5.

Viv Richards

I love cricket. I have been lucky to have watched some of the greatest batsmen to have played the game. One reigns supreme though. Vivian Alexander Richards was born in Antigua in 1952 and went on to play for the great West Indies side from 1975 – 1991. Viv was a force of nature, the most destructive batsmen I have ever seen. Watch the following clip of him scoring a century against Australia to see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjsoRQnSb-E

Shane Warne

To even things up I have to pick a bowler as well. I would have loved to pick an Englishman, Botham, Willis or Anderson perhaps. I would at least have liked it to be a fast bowler. Dennis Lillee, Michael Holding and Malcom Marshall are all heroes of mine.  The best bowler I have ever seen is a Spinner, a leg spinner. He is also an Australian. Shane Warne was quite simply awesome. I loved watching him bowling. He out thought batsmen and intimidated the world’s best with his ability. He also dated Liz Hurley…………..respect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs2Pw952rcI

Dick Butkus

Like many Walneyites, the highlight of my week used to be Sunday lunchtime in the Vickerstown Institute. Back then licensing laws meant that the bar could only serve between 12.0 and 2.0 pm. What two hours they were though. There would be a dozen or so of us sat around the same table. I can hear the laughter now, remember the characters and shake my head at how much drink we managed to consume in two hours. It takes me a week to drink that much today!! Much of the conversation revolved around sport. American Football started to become popular in the UK in the late Eighties. Much of the debate in the ‘Tute was around which was the hardest sport Rugby League or American Football. The Walney cognoscenti argued that Rugby League deserved the accolade  with the vote almost unanimous. I argued on behalf of the American game, my only supporter was the legendary Red Dog, a Rugby League fan himself. I found a video called Crunchtime – The NFL’s hardest hitters. One player to feature was Chicago Bears Middle Linebacker Dick Butkus. My god this man was awesome, truly scary. When the Vickerstown barflies watched the video the which sport is the hardest argument melted away and went back to more sensible sporting debate.

Butkus became an actor when he retired from Football and proved to be a relaxed, funny human being. The Vickerstown Institute closed. I still miss those Sunday lunchtimes. I miss Red Dog, a truly funny man. Red Dog is still alive but his story is a troubled one for another time. Those who know him know what a fantastic guy he is.

Nolan Ryan

To Baseball. In 1993 Pat and I were on holiday in Texas. We stayed two nights in Arlington across the road from the ballpark. Pat said that she wasn’t going to the ball game two nights on the run so I had to choose which game I saw. Displaying my renowned patience I opted for the first night. The Texas Rangers were playing the Chicago White Sox. This was my first live Baseball game and I loved it. I sang the Star Spangled Banner, fist clenched to my breast. I did the Seventh inning stretch and I also got totally shit canned. It was one of the best nights of my life. The Rangers got beat but it didn’t spoil a great night. I bought every Rangers souvenir in the shop, ate Nachos and became best friends with the Beer boys.

The following night I had to settle for watching the game on big screen tv in a restaurant tantalisingly close to the ball park. That night the Rangers Pitcher was the legendary Nolan Ryan. Nolan was then 46 years old and playing his final season. Imagine my bitter disappointment at not only missing seeing the great man in action in the flesh but I also missed one of the most famous moments in Baseball history. Check it out

I loved the headline in the following day’s local newspaper

‘Nolan pitches a six hitter’!!

Duncan Ferguson

I have to finish with Soccer. Not only Soccer but my beloved EFC. Not only EFC but my all-time hero Duncan Ferguson. Duncan was branded a thug by the red top press, as a bad example for youngsters. When Big Dunc signed for Everton from Glasgow Rangers he was told that the players operated a rota so that every week a few of them would spend the afternoon at Alder Hey Children’s hospital spending time with sick kids and handing out club merchandise. Duncan refused to join the rota, instead he said he would be there every week. He was as good as his word. He kept in touch with some of the kids when he was transferred to Newcastle. Big Dunc returned to Everton and carried on his weekly visits until he retired. After his career ended Dunc moved his family to Majorca. He still stayed in touch with the sick children in Alder Hey though. Big Dunc was a hard man on the pitch but a thug?? Does he sound like a thug??

Reading

A great way to pass the time whilst enriching your life is to read a book. Whatever you’re interested in there’s a book out there about it. Whether it’s the escapism afforded by a good novel or the knowledge gained from a good biography, the learning you can get from a book on a specific topic or the inspiration you can get from travel books you will find reading a truly rewarding experience.

I have picked five books. This was truly hard as I have loved reading since I was five. I have read thousands of books across every sphere of literature. The books I have picked are not necessarily my favourites just examples of the different genres I love.

Between the stops – Sandi Toskvig

This is the book I am currently reading. It is in essence an autobiography but Sandi has written about her life using her Bus journey from her home in Dulwich to the BBC studios in Central London as a central theme. Sandi uses the stops along the journey as a way of describing her journey through life. I have always enjoyed watching her on TV and find her funny but I have really enjoyed getting to know the real Sandi Toskvig. I have also enjoyed reading about parts of London that I have added to my must visit list

Harry Potter – J K Rowling

I can’t pick one of the seven books in the Harry Potter series, it’s not fair. They are absolutely fantastic, right up there with Tolkien and CS Lewis. Do not make the mistake of dismissing them as children’s books because they are so much more. There is more wisdom about the human race in these seven books than there is in many academic theses. Do yourself a favour and read them, the films are good but they do not do these wonderful books justice.

In my life – Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson was a Labour politician who retired in 2017. A former postman, Johnson was renowned for his common sense and sense of reason. He wrote a highly lauded autobiography over three volumes charting his journey from humble beginning in London in 1950, through being orphaned at age thirteen and ending in a successful political career. I have all three books but am yet to read them. I have read, however, In my life. This book is about Alan Johnson’s lifelong love affair with music. It is wonderful; our musical tastes have many similarities although I think mine are better! The mark of a good autobiography is when you finish it; you really want to meet the person. I know I would enjoy a few pints with Johnson talking about music with a sprinkle of politics.

High Fidelity – Nick Hornby

Another book about music but this time a novel. I enjoy Nick Hornby’s books which started with Fever Pitch, his story of being a lifelong Arsenal fan leading up to the title winning season in 1989. The book though intersperses Football with Hornby’s life story. Well worth a read whether you’re a fellow Gooner or a true Football fan. High Fidelity tells the story of a guy who owns a record shop in London. It describes his musical snobbery, something I can empathise with. The novel is so much more than that. It is about relationships, about the difference between men and women and ultimately about the ability of music to be a power of good. It was made into a decent film although the demands of Hollywood forced it to be transported to Chicago. Believe me comrades, the book is much better than the film.

The Dharma bums – Jack Kerouac

Kerouac is one of my favourite authors. On the Road is his most famous work. It is a great book but not his best in my opinion Big Sur is another fantastic book. It makes me want to experience the magnificence of this part of Northern California. The Dharma Bums is the Kerouac novel that does it for me. Like all of his books it has an autobiographical feel to it. The open spaces and Buddhist overtones of this book appeal to me. A troubled man but a genius nonetheless.

Movies

I appreciate that some people would much prefer to watch a good film than read a book or listen to music. I prefer the latter two but I do like a good film so I have picked five of my own favourites.

The Shawshank redemption

Ostensibly a prison movie this film is so much more. Based on a Stephen King short story the movie is based around a grave injustice. It is ultimately one of the most uplifting films of all time. Truly great performances from Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.

The Wedding Singer

Cheesy, yeah but I don’t care. This film features two of my favourite actors Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Their on screen chemistry led to a number of other movies. This is my favourite though, I can watch it again and again and never get bored. A truly feel good film.

The Godfather

The acting talent alone makes this film worth watching. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece features stellar performances by Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Dianne Keaton and Talia Shire amongst many others. Towering above the rest though is the incomparable Marlon Brando. If you’ve ever wondered what the fuss is about then watch Brando in this film. He brings Don Corleone to life in a way that nobody else could. I read the novel by Mario Puzo before seeing the film and the author himself couldn’t have imagined Don Corleone as vividly as they he is brought to life by Brando.

The Godfather is my favourite film of all time. When I am treated with disrespect  I close my eyes and imagine the scene at the christening of Michael Corleone’s Nephew. I can put life back into perspective after that meditation!!

Dirty Harry

If the Godfather is my favourite film then Clint Eastwood is my favourite actor. I could have picked Grand Torino, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Pale Rider even Every which way but loose but I have gone with the character which established Eastwood as a star. Harry Callahan is a San Francisco Homicide detective who employs unorthodox methods to solve crimes. This film introduced the world to the .44 Magnum, Harry’s weapon of choice. The series eventually ran to five movies with the Economic law of diminishing returns applying. Once you see this film burned into your mind will be Eastwood gently intoning to a bankrobber

‘This gun in my hand is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky? ‘

The Wizard of Oz

I’ll finish off the movie section with the ultimate feel good movie The Wizard of Oz. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t watched this brilliant film. Towering above everything is the performance of Judy Garland. What a talent, what a screen presence. Judy Garland went on to lead a tragically short life but this film stands as testament to her brilliance. I love to listen to her sing Somewhere over the Rainbow, one of my all-time favourite movie tunes.

Comedy

They say that laughter is the best medicine. It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

I have picked five of my favourite comedy moments. I watched or listened to them again yesterday and laughed out loud all the way through. Check them out, I hope you enjoy them too. I hope they inspire to hunt down some of your favourite comedy moments.

The Crucifixion – Billy Connolly

This is nearly fifty years old! As you can imagine it caused offence in religious circles but is not really blasphemous, just a great example of Billy Connolly riffing about Glasgow.

Bruce’s song – Monty Python

This short (about one minute) song is not only hilarious it is also very, very clever. I certainly discovered some wonderful Philosophers through this song.

Rehab, Alcohol and Drugs – Denis Leary

I never saw Lenny Bruce or Bill Hicks. I did see Denis Leary  though. His No cure for Cancer show is a funny today as it was when I first saw it over thirty years ago.

I’ve had it up to here – Victoria Wood

Victoria Wood hails from Bury. There is a statue of her in the town centre dedicated to the memory of this immensely talented, very funny woman. This song was from an Amnesty International benefit show and it still makes me laugh out loud.

Trouble – Rik Mayall

My favourite British comedy actor. Rik Mayall died tragically young but left behind a legacy of hilarious comedy performances.

I hope that there will be something in this blog that helps you get through these challenging times. Although we may need to self-isolate but that does not stop people from keeping in touch. If you can, reach out and help those less fortunate and remember; Never turn your back on a friend.

In 1974 a shy, nervous boy started at Barrow Grammar school for buys. I hated most of the next five years but one thing has stayed with me since that first day. Enjoy!!

After a musically barren (gig wise) February I was really looking forward to seeing this show. We hadn’t seen Elvis Costello since he played an acoustic show in our hometown in the early eighties. Support act that night was someone I’d never heard of, T Bone Burnett. I vowed to myself to look out for this guy though doubted I’d ever hear about him again………………shows what a musical savant I am!!

When I saw Elvis was touring I booked tickets and bought his new album Look Now. I wasn’t disappointed; it’s a damn fine record.

I was also delighted to be returning to Sheffield. On our last visit we saw Mary Gauthier at the University, a great show. We also visited some good pubs and record shops. Gigs, Pubs and record shops………….Truly a holy triumvirate!

Sheffield doesn’t immediately conjure up visions of a major musical heritage in the way that London, Liverpool and Manchester do……………..does it?  Sheffield, however, spawned Joe Cocker, Paul Carrack, Def Leppard, Cabaret Voltaire, Human League, Pulp, Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys and who could forget the mighty Jilted John!!! Pretty damn impressive by anyone’s standards wouldn’t you agree? There are many more, I just got bored of typing, sorry.

First stop after checking in at our hotel was Bear Tree Records in the Forum on Division Street. I’d never visited this place but online reviews were good so my expectations were high. I wasn’t disappointed. My mission was to get hold of the new Cornershop album England is a Garden on vinyl which was released the day before. Not only was it in stock but in a limited edition blue vinyl with a poster……………..result. I also picked up a copy of Gillian Welch’s Harrow and the Harvest on vinyl (fantastic sound quality). Both albums were very competitively priced even compared to Amazon. Amazon can never compete with the satisfaction that music fans get from foraging in record shops, surrounded by fellow vinyl anoraks.

Pat doesn’t share my enthusiasm for getting heads down in record bins so I called her when my vinyl lust was sated and we met up at a nearby pub the Frog and Parrot. What a find, I greedily surveyed the selection of real ales on offer and settled on a locally brewed Porter, a fine selection. Sat near to us were a bunch of Sheffield United fans partaking in a little libation prior to heading to Bramall Lane to watch their heroes entertain the flatlanders from Norwich. I have a soft spot for Sheffield United as Everton have signed Phil Jagielka, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin from them, all fine players who have played or will play for England. Sheffield United, or the Blades as they are known to fans, also have a highly respected firm. The Blades Business Crew (BBC) boast former Housemartin and Beautiful South singer Paul Heaton as a former active member and are much respected by Top boys from the firms of all England’s major clubs.

The Blades hated neighbours are Sheffield Wednesday.  Their home ground is Hillsborough.  In 1989 96 football fans tragically lost their lives at the FA cup semi-final game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Pause a moment, 96 people died watching a football match……………………killed by the incompetent actions of the Senior Police chiefs in charge that day.

I will never recover from watching the scenes on TV………………….innocent people dying………………..oh shit I weep as I type.

I have  loathed the Red top media ever since……………………..the bastards who tried to blame it on drunken fans…………………….Please, please look for the truth before believing the shite pedalled by the right wing media.

I am a proud Evertonian  but I feel desperately sorry for those poor Liverpool fans who lost their lives and their families who try to expose the hypocrisy of the official version of events.

My own Sheffield Wednesday experience cam a decade later.  1998 is a year I will never forget. I lost my Mam…………..My Mam always believed in me, always forgave me for the many things that I did wrong. A few months before she passed I went with my mate Craig to see Everton play Sheffield Wednesday. We were struggling but Wednesday were way worse than us. Any Nobhead could see that we were going to batter them……………………Oh dear, I never reckoned with Paulo Di Canio.

In all my years watching football at Goodison Park I have never seen a performance such like. ‘D-I Can-io sang the Wednesday fans to the tune of the appalling Otawan song. He was Fucking awesome……………………I saw all the greats from that era but none as good as him.

Wednesday won 3-1, the future looked bleak.

Ultimately Everton survived but my Mam didn’t……………….

The other song that resonates from that day was the Wednesday fans chanting to the tune of Singing the Blues;

I’ve never felt more like Singing the Blues

Wednesday win, United lose

Oh Wednesday

You’ve got me singin’ the blues

Indeed!

I hope the BBC caught up with you fucking woolybacks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to our day in Sheffield.

We took a leisurely walk to the Beer Engine. This pub looks decidedly nondescript from the outside. Inside is a different story. A warm welcome and cool décor await. A  great selection of real ales on tap and a menu of freshly cooked Tapas that would melt the hardest of hearts . We enjoyed an enjoyable couple of hours before adjourning for a power nap prior to the evening’s festivities.

Sheffield City Hall is a grade 11 listed building which dominates Barker’s Pool, one of Sheffield’s central squares. It is a neo-classical building with a giant portico. The inside of the building is equally impressive with wide staircases and very high ceilings. The great hall is spread over three floors each of which has a bar. We were on the top floor. Our seats were not particularly good. They cost £60 each and had a partially restricted view, a fact not advertised. Fortunately due to a few no shows we were able to blag better seats. The venue has 2217 seats and I would guess 2000 were filled. Support act was Ian Prowse. We didn’t go in to watch them but they sounded OK from the bar.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters wandered onstage at 8.15 and launched into Strict Time. In total they played 26 songs in a show that lasted two and a quarter hours. Elvis played most of my favourite songs though I would have liked to have heard a few more tunes from his latest album. Highlights for me were Good year for the roses, (I don’t want to go to) Chelsea, Alison and Pump it up. I particularly enjoyed watching a middle aged couple who were sat on the front row moving off to the side and enthusiastically bustin’ their moves to Pump it up. She throwing all inhibitions to the wind while he was more restrained. I detected a Northern Soul fan background in the shapes they were throwing. The only slight downer for me was that Elvis didn’t play Shipbuilding, one of his finest songs in my opinion. It had featured in all of the preceding shows on this tour although EC seemed to be suffering from a sore throat which would explain its absence. It was a very good show though perhaps not quite a great one. The Imposters are top notch musicians who provide an excellent platform to drive the songs along. I would recommend catching a show if you get chance.

Setlist

Strict Time

Clubland

Green Shirt

Accidents Will Happen

Watch Your Step

Just About Glad

Harry Worth

 (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea

Suspect My Tears

Watching the Detectives

A Good Year for the Roses

A Face in the Crowd

I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down

Mystery Dance

Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter

High Fidelity

From a Whisper to a Scream

Alison

Mr. & Mrs. Hush

Pump It Up

Flutter & Wow

Getting Mighty Crowded

Everyday I Write the Book

Oliver’s Army

 (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding

It’s hard to believe that it is 43 years since Elvis Costello and the Attractions released their first single Less than Zero on Stiff records (Buy 11 fellow anoraks). In the intervening years he has written songs with musical luminaries such as Sir Paul McCartney, Carole King and Burt Bacharach. He was once married to Cait O’Riardon the original bassist with the Pogues and also featured in the second Austin Powers movie………………….yeah baby!!

After the show we tried to get in the Spoons next door but it was way too crowded so we walked back to Division Street and the Frog and Parrot. The place was bouncing by now. The good people of Sheffield obviously have excellent taste as all six of the real ales were sold out. I had to settle for a pint of Camden IPA which wasn’t bad.  The age group of punters ranged from teenagers to some in their sixties and the atmosphere was really good. The DJ was blasting out Fifties tunes which was absolutely brilliant. Even the youngest punters were getting into the music and I vowed to buy some Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard stuff as they sounded awesome at high volume.  After a couple of hours in the Frog and parrot we headed back to the hotel for a nightcap to round off a great day out in Sheffield.

The following morning we met Jade who was coming off a nightshift at the Children’s hospital. We had breakfast at a good ‘Spoons and caught up for an hour or so. A great way to round off our trip.

I can’t wait to go back to Sheffield. There are many more pubs and record shops that I want to explore and several Indian restaurants that look tempting. I noticed many cool looking vintage shops which I didn’t get to browse in. If it wasn’t such a pig of a journey from our small Island home we would surely visit more often.

I love music, have done since I was very young. It has defined my life, influenced travel plans and consumed a significant part of my income. I have heard many people say they love music too but what they really mean is they like it. Like doesn’t confer any sort of passion hence they use ‘love’.

In 2017 we embarked on a road trip that took in New Orleans, Clarkesdale, Memphis and Nashville. It cost a fortune but was worth every penny. The whole trip was about music. We saw the Crossroads, the studio where Elvis first recorded, hung out in bars that influenced Rolling Stones lyrics, Marie Laveau’s tomb amongst many other highlights. This year we will visit LA and Austin Texas, two cities steeped in the history of music.

I have drank in Amy Winehouse’s local, Led Zeppelin’s favourite LA hangout, the bar where Janis Joplin had her last drink and the pub that John Lennon chose as the venue for the first date with Cynthia, his wife to be.

I was listening to music last weekend when I realised there are a number of songs that stop me in my tracks. Whatever I am doing, whoever I’m talking to, I need to zone out and concentrate on the song. Some of these songs probably wouldn’t make my personal top fifty, others are in the top five. I will try to explain what it is about them, probably no single reason, but every time I hear them I am transfixed.

The following list is by no means all but is a significant number. I will try to explain what it is that grabs me and won’t let go.

1952 Vincent Black Lightning – Richard Thompson

One of my loves is a great lyric, especially one that affects me emotionally. This tune is a tragic love song that makes me well up every time I hear it. I (try to) play guitar and tried to learn this acoustic masterpiece. The first struggle was the tuning CGDGBE – what’s that about?? Secondly Richard Thompson employ’s deft fingerpicking, I can’t even manage crap fingerpicking. Buoyed on by Henry Ford’s words – ‘If you think you can do it or think you can’t do it…………..you’re probably right!’ I persevered. I managed to busk the guitar parts ‘til they sounded ok to me but it was when I tried to sing it. I kept breaking down in tears when I reached the last verse!!……………..Dammit Richard…………….why don’t you cry? How can you make guitar playing seem so effortless?

Check out this youtube video if you want to understand what the hell I’m going on about

Last of the Hobo Kings – Mary Gauthier

I tried out my theory with this one. I put ‘Live at Blue Rock’ by Mary Gauthier on and had to stop when Last of the Hobo Kings came on. Now Mary Gauthier is one of the finest lyricist’s of all time and a writer of many heart wrenching songs. This is not one of them. I like to think of this as a celebration of an alternative life well lived. I first heard it at a Mary Gauthier show in Bury. She told the story of why she wrote the song before playing it and the story has stayed with me ever since.

Over to Mary Gauthier:

I was in the café atrium sipping Dutch coffee one morning when I saw a headlined obituary in the International Herald Tribune newspaper for Steam Train Maury Graham, the Grand Patriarch of the Hobo Nation. I’d never heard of him, but I read his obituary and it grabbed me, he grabbed me, and I knew I’d found the thread of the song I should write. My attention fully engaged, I started poking around on my laptop for the more of Steamtrain’s story. The first thing I found was the website for the funeral home where he was being laid to rest. I clicked on his name, landed on a message board and read all the messages posted there from people who loved him, mostly other hobos. I kept poking around, digging up hobo treasures and gathering hobo stories from all over the web.

Maury Graham was a folk hero and legendary figure in his community, thus the headlined obituary in The New York Times, and The International Herald Tribune paper. I travelled deep into the vernacular and history of hobos in America, and time flew by. I learned about the hobo jungles and the hobo gatherings, the annual King and Queen elections, and the hobo lifestyle. It was a wonderful journey into a world I’d never visited and I emerged a few days later with the song in hand. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written.

New Rose – The Damned

I had yet to reach my teenage years when this song was released. Even in my early years I was an avid reader of the music press thus I was aware of Punk Rock as it began to evolve in London in 1976. The Sex Pistols were the band all music fans were waiting for and wanted to hear. It was The Damned that were the first Punk band to release a single. New Rose was released on the iconic Stiff records (Buy 6 was its catalogue number fellow anoraks). I first heard it on the John Peel show, surreptitiously listening when I had been sent to bed. Man, I was blown away………………I was a Prog rock fan for God’s sake!! My life was changed forever. Rebellion was in the air and I wanted to be a part of it. My education started here.

I bought my copy from Earthquake records. It came in a picture sleeve, Slade didn’t. I got home and played it repeatedly for days on end. From the opening ‘Is she really going out with him?’ through Rat Scabies ferocious drum intro and Bryan James’ fast paced chords I was hooked.

A few weeks later the Pistols released Anarchy in the UK, the Clash released White Riot and the Stranglers released (get a) Grip. The Damned soon became a joke in my eyes, I quickly moved on.

Now, nearly 45 years later, I still stop and freeze when I hear New Rose. I like a few Damned tracks but my God, this song changed my life and opened doors that have kept me exploring musically ever since.

I have friends who say that Punk was ‘not music’, ‘the end of music’……………….the same people who say they love music but really mean they like it. Even worse, they only like safe tum-ti- tum pleasant tunes.

Check this track out. This is where it began in England. In America it was the MC5, the Stooges then the  Ramones. As Bob Dylan said ‘The times they are a changin’

Miss Ohio – Gillian Welch

Time to calm things down after the rousing clarion call of Punk. Time the Revelator was the first Gillian Welch song I heard and it’s fair to say I was hooked. I came late to Gillian’s music but I quickly bought everything she’d released. Soul Journey’s was supposed to be the album that made me think she’d sold out and gone too commercial. I put the album on, It started with Miss Ohio. I had to pull over, listen to the whole album, then  listen to Miss Ohio again before I could continue my drive into work. To this day Miss Ohio makes me stop whatever I’m doing and listen with 100% attention.

The line “I want to do right but not right now” echoes a famous prayer of St Augustine; “Lord, make me pure—but not yet.”. Here the line is detached from a religious context but the sentiment appears to be similar! A nice allusion to the dualities of human nature. Maybe Miss Ohio went on to be good after all … or maybe not …

Listen to Gillian sing

She’s a-running around with her rag-top down

She says, I want to do right but not right now

How does it make you feel? How does Gillian sound? It grabbed me the first time I heard it and still does now.

You were always on my mind – Willie Nelson

Continuing in a mellower mood comes one of the finest love songs of all time. Written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson it was first  recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1970. I’ve never heard the original version so can’t comment. For me this song this is about two singers; Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.

Elvis’ version is awesome. I can’t relate to people who claim they don’t like Elvis. Sure he didn’t write his own songs, most of his music was schmaltzy and insignificant, his films were crap but when he did get it right there was no-one better. Listen to his early music, that’s what the fuss is about. Awesome doesn’t begin to describe how good he was. I’ll never forget standing in Sun studios listening to the original acetate of That’s alright Mama………..stunning. In RCA Studio B the guide told the story that Elvis liked to record in the dark……she dimmed the light and played the first take of Are you lonesome tonight……………..spine tingling!!!!!!

So why Willie Nelson? It’s the voice, calming, mesmerising, so goddam believable. The lyrics of this song make me think of my own failings and frailties. I wish I could look the love of my life in her eyes and apologise my weaknesses. If I could, I would want to sound like Willie Nelson. What a voice, what a guy. Who would not want to be Willie Nelson?  “As adults we try to relax from the never-ending quest for reason and order by drinking a little whiskey or smoking whatever works for us, but the wisdom isn’t in the whiskey or the smoke. The wisdom is in the moments when the madness slips away and we remember the basics.”  

 Willie built his own golf course on his ranch:

“Par is whatever I say it is. I’ve got one hole that’s a par 23 and yesterday I damn near birdied the sucker.”

What a man, what a song……………………Pour yourself a self a big one or skin yourself a fat one, dim the lights and listen to Willie singing You were always on my mind.

Captain Beefheart   Big Eyed Beans from Venus

Time to let your freak flag fly.

 I first heard this song when I was at school. Back then it stopped me in my tracks, slapped me in the face……..It was different to anything I’d ever heard. The opening riff, the guitar tone, Captain Beefheart’s rasp……I was hooked. I had heard of the Captain as I was a Frank Zappa fan. I loved his singing on ‘Willie the Pimp’ from the Hot Rats album.

This song has, without doubt, some of the best guitar work you’ll ever hear on record. It’s delta blues from another dimension. I was talking to an immensely talented local guitarist a few years ago who I knew to be a Beefheart fan. I asked if he could play Big Eyed Beans from Venus and he guardedly admitted he could. It was fairly obvious that he didn’t want to show me how, what he didn’t know was that I don’t want to even try. I’d only ruin it!

Clear Spot was the first Captain Beefheart album I heard. I was amazed by the chords, the rhythm, the lyrics, the poetry and then came Big eyed beans from Venus. Forty odd years on this track still amazes me. I will probably like you if you’ve heard this track. If you love it like I do then I will definitely like you.

This was one of John Peel’s favourite songs of all time.

Mr. Zoot Horn Rollo

Hit that long lunar note

And let it float

…………Pure bliss………..

Sonny’s Lettah – Linton Kwesi Johnson

Linton Kwesi Johnson, also known as LKJ, is a Jamaican dub poet who has been based in the United Kingdom since 1963. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. His performance poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British reggae producer/artist Dennis Bovell.

Tolly, a guy I used to work with, loaned me Forces of Victory by LKJ when I told him I liked Reggae music. I don’t know what I expected but it certainly wasn’t an album of poetry. The music is a bit part player as LKJ’s poetry is mesmerising. I love Jamaican patois, it conjures visions of tropical sunshine, strong Rum cocktails and fast bowlers. Sonny’s Lettah has a serious message. It is an anti Sus poem. Sus law empowered the police to arrest any person they suspected of loitering with intent to commit an arrestable offence. …The vast majority of those arrested were Black people.  The sus law caused widespread public concern and was abolished after the 1981 Brixton riots.

This poem gripped me the first time I heard it and still does today. I can’t imagine how it felt to live under its shadow. Sadly, Sus seems to be making a comeback with ‘Stop and search’ policy implemented by many police forces today. Evidence seems to suggest that this policy has, at best, limited impact on violent crime levels.

Have a listen to Sonny’s Lettah

Route 66 – Chuck Berry

Written by Bobby Troup this ode to the Mother road has been covered by a huge number of artists. The Rolling Stones did a great version as did Doctor Feelgood but my favourite cover was recorded by Chuck Berry. Troup was a Jazz musician who wrote the song in 1946 inspired by his drive West to look for fame and fortune in Los Angeles. Nat King Cole heard the song and released the first cover version and made it a hit.

I love America and this song always symbolised the American dream to me. Though I have never driven from Chicago to LA I have travelled parts of the Mother road and loved every minute. Try and visit Seligman, Arizona the small town that was the inspiration behind the Disney film Cars. We met Angel Delgadillo who is a business owner in Seligman who has been dubbed the “guardian angel” of U.S. Route 66. He is the main founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, established in 1987 to campaign for “Historic Route 66” signage on the former US highway; similar initiatives have since been established in every U.S. Route 66 state. It was Angel who lobbied Congress to recognise Route 66 as having National historic status. He is a truly wonderful, modest, friendly man. I can’t do a road trip without Route 66 being a key fixture on my music compilation.

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

Another road song. For years I really didn’t like Bruce Springsteen. He epitomised all I disliked about stadium gigs full of chest beating anthems…………….except I loved this song from the first time I heard it. When I hear the crashing opening chords I want to jump up, dance, sing a long at the top of my voice, grab a guitar and play along pausing briefly to learn to play Saxophone. This song still makes me feel good every time I hear it, remember how it felt when me and Pat were younger and the whole world felt open to us. All we could see were opportunities to see the parts of the world we dreamed of.  I guess Bruce is singing about getting out of New Jersey with his girl. He did of course……..but today can look back fondly to those Asbury Park days that defined him.

This is another tune that is a must have on my road trip compilations. If I feel down I only need to play this song to lift my spirits.

Bruce Springsteen redeemed himself in my eyes with Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad and the Seeger sessions. It is Born to Run though that will always define him in my eyes

Smells like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

I still vividly remember staring, open mouthed at the TV screen when I first saw the video for Smells like Teen Spirit on MTV. I love the slowly swaying janitor and the cheerleaders who go through the motions until becoming energised as the crowd wake up and begin to mosh.

Kurt Cobain said he was trying to rip off the Pixies when he wrote it. Cobain came up with the song’s title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, at the time the lead singer of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, wrote “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on his wall. Hanna meant that Cobain smelled like the deodorant Teen Spirit, which his then-girlfriend Tobi Vail wore. Cobain said he was unaware of the deodorant until months after the single was released, and had interpreted it as a revolutionary slogan, as they had been discussing anarchism and punk rock. How goddam cool is that???

I am hooked from the moment I hear the guitar riff. I love Kurt’s voice, love the lyrics. I can’t help but think how he would have turned out if he hadn’t tragically taken his own life at the Rock’n’Roll occult age of 27. I can’t sit down and listen to this track………I need to be up playing air guitar and singing along, empathising with Kurt. Another song that heralded a revolution in popular music. RIP Kurt

Well that’s ten tunes which feels like a good number to end on. I am torn by the fact that I didn’t get to write about:

Ain’t Nuthin’ but a G thang – Dr Dre

I still believe – Frank Turner

Jeruselam – Steve Earle

Pancho and Lefty – Townes Van Zandt

I walk on gilded splinters – Dr John

I had to stop somewhere or this blog would have become a book! When your life is defined by music you build up a vast library of tunes that define stages of your life. I said at the beginning that some of these songs would not get in my top 50 or even top 100. I’m conscious (and somewhat horrified)  that I have not included anything by The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Alex Harvey and many other of my favourite artists. My intention was always to highlight songs that form part of my musical fermata. I bet you have some as well. I hope this blog will cause you to consider your own. I hope you will check out these ten songs. It will only take an hour of your life but hopefully some of these songs will enrich it.

This blog is dedicated to Earthquake records. You were my musical finishing school, where I got my degree in music that made a difference.

This blog is about my enduring love for the city of Liverpool. I have visited many of Great Britain’s best cities but none feel as welcoming as Liverpool. Natives are known as Liverpudlians or more commonly as Scousers  (after the cities signature dish). In England we have Cockneys, Brummies, Mancs, Northerners, Southerners……..I could go on………but none are as distinctive as Scousers. They are warm people who possess a fantastic sense of humour. They also have an inbuilt sense of fairness. This gets the city unfairly labelled as a hotbed of left wing thinking. The Labour party created the NHS and places social justice at the forefront of its policies. These are values that resonate with Liverpudlians hence the city’s left wing reputation. When you walk around the city you will notice that people regularly drop coins in the cups of the homeless, showing these unfortunate Brothers and Sisters their due respect. Only in Glasgow do you see similar respect shown to those less fortunate.

I have been coming to Liverpool for many years. My Dad sailed from here when he was in the Merchant Navy. There will be no nostalgia for the early years more a celebration of the cities pubs and people! But first I owe to myself to begin with a love story that has lasted half a century. I am an Everton fan, I love the Blues. It goes without saying that I hate the scum from across Stanley Park so they will not be mentioned again.

Sadly, I no longer get to the match so I dearly miss visiting the Old Lady, The school of science, Goodison Park. When I watched my beloved Blue boys my heart would nearly burst when Z Cars played as the players ran onto the pitch. There have been so many good times. Watching Duncan Ferguson and hearing the crowd sing his name to the tune of Go West. I was there on the last day of the season for the game against Coventry when relegation was a strong possibility. The atmosphere was incredible, the fear palpable. We drew 1-1 (cheers Gareth Farelly) and Chelsea beat Bolton so we stayed up. I don’t know who was the most relieved, us or the Coventry fans who had to get home safely!  I remember my friend Geoff and I taking our young daughters to see us play Man Utd who were  top of the league. We went into half time lucky to be only one – nil down. In the second half we absolutely battered them and were unlucky to only draw. Our girls saw what it means to be a Blue, they are Blues to this day. I also remember watching a midweek match against Man Utd where I finally understood what the fuss about David Beckham was…………he tore us apart!

I love the pubs around Goodison. I mourn the passing of the Blue House and of the pub that I can’t remember the name of that was close to Kirkdale station. A special place in my heart is reserved for The Winslow. This pub is opposite the main stand. On match days it is full of Blues looking forward to the match. It is near impossible to get served, the beer is average (no real ale) but the atmosphere is unforgettable. I worry that if Everton relocate to Bramley Moore Dock then the Winslow will perish along with Goodison Park. It is not the nicest or safest neighbourhood you will visit but history paves its streets and some of the best people on God’s great earth live there.

One last story about the neighbourhood. I have a friend who is a Drugs Counsellor. One early Summer day he and his Dad were walking up towards Goodison park. A young lad on a bike buzzed them a couple of times. He shouted to my friend  ‘what are you doing around here?’. ‘We’re going to buy our season tickets’ he replied. The young lad shook his head and said ‘ and you’re counselling me?’

In the Nineties a bunch of us regularly took the two hour train journey to Liverpool to watch the Blues. We would head for the Canarvon Castle  pub  on Tarleton street just off Lord street. This great little pub serves The best sandwich ever!! Toasted Bacon, Egg and Cheese. I can taste it as I type.  I’ll never forget eagerly ordering  six of these delicacies only to be told by the young barman that they didn’t serve such sandwiches , only what was on the menu. I perused said menu and ordered six Cheese, Egg and Bacon!!! Obviously this Mensa dodger must be a Koppite!. The landlord always hailed us by shouting ‘The Woolybacks are in’ It was always taken in the best spirit and I truly miss those halcyon days.

We always headed for Coopers bar opposite Central Station. This tiny pub needs to be experienced to be believed. You can find yourself entertained by a Leprechaun Karaoke singer, offered black market goods or just included in the conversation of the regular punters. We use to meet Frank and Johnny in Coopers. Frank was my Dad’s best friend and He and Johnny were passionate Blues. We drank and laughed right up to game time. Sometimes we would meet them after the game in the Winslow and carry on. Both of them have sadly passed away. I miss Frank so much, he helped me when my Mam passed away and was always there when I needed advice. I will never meet a more generous man and I am proud to have counted him as a friend. I always remind Frank’s daughter that when her and her son wear red Santa suits at the Santa dash that Frank will be looking down shaking his head. He’ll still love them though!

Next door to Coopers is one of my favourite pubs on earth. The Globe is a small bar with a sloping floor that makes you feel drunk before you have had your first pint! This place is friendliness personified. I like to go there while my wife is shopping. I sit drinking a pint, people watching  and listening. The ladies behind the bar are brilliant. You never wait to be served and they always remember what you are drinking. My wife loves the Globe as well, when she rings to see where I am and I tell her I am in there, she tells me to order her a beer and that she will be there in five minutes. If you love pubs that play great tunes and are full of trendy people then don’t go to the Globe. If you just like to relax and enjoy a good craic then make a beeline for the Globe.

Another favourite City centre haunt of mine is The White Star. This pub sits at the entrance to Mathew Street and is named after the Shipping line that counted the Titanic as the centrepiece of its fleet. There are some great photos of the Titanic on the walls as well as many other shipping related mementos.  I like to sit in the back bar and watch football if there is a game on. The back bar of the White Star was apparently used by former Cavern DJ Bob Wooler to pay all the club’s groups, including You Know Who. Where the Beatles wall is in the back room, is where they were paid.

There are also a number of brass plaques on the front wall: one to the Beatles, one commemorating the twinning with a Czech White Star. Others mark the twinning with pubs in Norway. One with the Mets Sports Bar in Skien, and one with The Fat Lady in, er, Grimstead.

As I have got older, Mathew Street has become less and less of a much visit. It is filled with theme bars with loud music blaring. Sadly, competition has led to bars employing touts enticing potential customers with the promise off free shots. Too reminiscent of European holiday resorts for my liking, but as I said earlier, I’m getting older. There are gems though, so if you wish to avoid overcrowding visit midweek or on a Sunday. You will find the Cavern club….not the original but a faithful reproduction. Lots of live music in there, much of which is free. Across the way is the Cavern pub. Try to visit on a Wednesday night or early Saturday night and catch a set by the Amazing Kappa band. Paul Kappa is a brilliant guitarist and frontman. He plays for 2-3 hours and his set features both covers and originals. He plays Led Zeppelin tunes like Jimmy Page and plays an amazing version of Norwegian wood. Entrance is free!!! Each brick on the front of the Cavern pub contains the name of artists/bands that have played on Mathew Street. The names are jaw dropping.  Outside is also a life-size statue of John Lennon. You will need to tread carefully around a constant stream of people posing for photographs draped around John at all times of day. A further photo opportunity is available back at the Cavern Club where there is a statue of former Cloakroom girl Cilla Black……………….hey, whatever floats your boat. At the corner of Mathew Street is the Hard day’s Night hotel. This is as you can imagine a Beatles themed hotel. Prohibitively expensive at weekends, good deals can be found on Sundays and mid-week. I enjoyed staying there but once was enough. A far better and far more authentic Beatles experience on Mathew Street is The Grapes. This pub is where the lads drank between sets at the Cavern. The old part of the pub has some fantastic photos of the band drinking in there. I always enjoy a pint in the Grapes, it’s authentic which is very refreshing. Mathew street also has Eric’s. This is the venue where Punk bands played in Liverpool and for a time in the late Seventies  was a Mecca for serious music fans. Yazoo (Vince Clarke from Erasure and Alison Moyet ) called their debut album Upstairs at Eric’s. The original club closed in 1980. Eric’s re-opened in 2011 and hosts bands most nights of the week. I’ve only been in once recently, not quite my scene but great news that good quality live music is on offer again.

Music in Liverpool is dominated by The Beatles and rightly so. Although they only lasted for ten years they left behind some of the best tunes of all times. I am sick of having pub arguments at home with people who say they don’t like The Beatles, think they are overrated, say they prefer The Stones. The same people sing along as loud as anyone else when Hey Jude or any other Beatles classic is played on the Juke box! Ironically, The Beatles played more shows in Hamburg than they played in their home town. There are many other fine bands who have hailed from Liverpool; Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Teardrop Explodes, Echo and the Bunnymen, The La’s and The Zutons to name but a few. It must be a hell of a millstone following The Beatles!

A short walk from Mathew Street just off Dale street is the oldest pub in the city. Ye Hole in Ye Wall  Dates from 1726 and stands on the site of a 17th Century Quaker Meeting House. Unusually, due to its history, the cellar is actually on the first floor. More recently – as late as 1977 – this particular haunt became one of the last to open its doors to women. Speaking of haunts, this pub is allegedly the home of a spectre in a long coat. A great pub that serves a fine selection of real ales and is a must visit for history buffs .

If you leave Ye Hole in Ye Wall and head back towards the Waterfront it is worth visiting The Old Bank on James street. No prizes for guessing why this pub is named thus. It is an amazing building which features ludicrously high ceilings and fantastic ornate chandeliers. Bar prices are very reasonable and the beer and spirits selection is excellent. Behind the old Bank on Old Ropery is the Cornmarket. This Victorian pub is always spotlessly clean. It is a great place to relax and drink a few quiet pints. The Cornmarket serves food and has a beer garden.

If you walk back along the Strand past Liverpool 1 you will come to one of my favourite pubs in the city. The Baltic Fleet ; a mid-19th century pub named after the crews of Siberian whaling ships who used to frequent it. There are secret tunnels that allegedly lead from the cellar to the dockland, and another leading to the old red light district of Cornhill which provided the ship crews with their most pressing of needs – beer and prostitutes. Although the clientele has now changed, in look, history and character, the Grade II listed Baltic Fleet is arguably Liverpool’s most interesting surviving pub.

Now the cellar is used for brewing a host of exceptional ales in copper kettles making the Baltic Fleet the only brew pub left in Liverpool, with a rotation of 136 recipes for beer. 136! Throw in a log burning fire, stripped pine tables, duck egg blue walls and high windows on three sides, The Baltic Fleet is a must-visit boozer. For Ghost hunters, the Baltic Fleet is supposedly another of Liverpool’s most haunted pubs

I’m very sceptical about ghosts and hauntings but I’m conscious that I mention them a lot. A vocational habit for lovers of old buildings I guess.  With this in mind I now take you to the Philharmonic pub on Hope street. This is the place where Paul McCartney played a secret show on the episode of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke dedicated to him. The pub is most famed for the Gents toilets! The immaculate Victorian pissoir attracts a stream of women on nights out to look at its magnificence (allegedly!). This fantastic place has many ghost stories of which the most spectacular occurred in 1971, when Walter Slim – a man who had been dead for 83 years – walked into the pub and bellowed to the barman: “In the name of human charity, I’ll have your gin sir!” – and he was dressed in the top hat and cape, and was actually served the gin, which he drank, before leaving.’ The ghost is said to have told bemused drinkers his name and that he’d been disturbed from his deathly sleep in his tomb at a local cemetery.

People naturally thought the man was a prankster, until later that week when police discovered that Satanists had broken into the tomb of a Walter Slim (1861-1888) in St James’s Cemetery and had not only opened his lead-lined coffin – in which the body was perfectly preserved – they had carried out an elaborate black magic ritual called the Octagenesis of Resurrection – by which means a corpse is supposedly brought back to life. Hmmm!!

Close to the Philharmonic is Ye Crack on Rice street. I love this place! This is where John Lennon took Cynthia on their first date and the pub is festooned with some excellent photos and paintings of him. They have a great selection of beers on offer and the locals are a friendly crowd. I also love this place because the bar staff are Evertonians

While we are in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool I must encourage you to visit two great pubs

Peter Kavanagh’s – 2-6 Egerton St, Liverpool L8 7LY

Located on Back Egerton Street, Peter Kavanagh, the establishment’s namesake and landlord for 53 years, was, in his spare time, a city councillor, an inventor and a still-life painter. His eclectic and eccentric sensibilities have survived, embodied in what must be one of the most intriguing pubs Liverpool has to offer. Just like the interior, the characters are equally as intriguing and no-one is a stranger for longer than 5 minutes. Amongst the decor there’s a row of urns containing the ashes of generations who’d chosen Kavanagh’s as their final resting place, they never forget anyone. Its inhabitants consist of students, professionals and labourers alike who all find solace in a cornerstone of Liverpool’s history and good beer. P.K’s was voted pub of the year in 2019 and richly deserves this accolade. Your life will be richer for visiting this great pub.

THE CALEDONIA – 22 Caledonia St, Liverpool L7 7DX

Known as The Cali to its regulars, this boozer truly defines “The People’s Pub”. They call Catherine Street home and always have live music on with a huge concentration on Folk, Roots and Jazz to accompany an extensive range of ales. You will find even the most timid of visitors in the corner tapping their feet to the beat, the more confident person banging their hands against the table and the regular who has miraculously simulated a seemingly regular table spoon into an impromptu contribution to the performance

There is more to Liverpool than pubs. Liverpool 1 offers shopping fans over 170 shops from High street staples and department stores to upmarket Designer brands. It is right in the middle of the city and is mostly open air. I personally prefer Bold street adjacent to Central station. Famously bohemian, Bold Street has always had an independence and charm unmatched by any other area of the city. But in recent years, it’s the Bold Street restaurants that have got Liverpool talking.

Witnessing somewhat of a food revolution,  the gaps between vintage retailers and gift shops on this road has been filled by coffee bars, brunch stops and restaurants, all busy putting a Scouse twist on global cuisines.

There are Greek, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Lebanese restaurants to name but a few. There are some fantastic independent cafes which are a pleasure to visit.

I love the Vintage shops such as Soho and Pop boutique both of which sell records. My favourite record shop though is Dig Vinyl which is on the first floor of Resurrection, a cool clothes shop. I have picked up some great albums and real bargains at Dig Vinyl.

Bold street also offers a gateway to Concert Square which is one of the cities liveliest nightlife spots.  Here you’ll find some of the most popular nightlife venues in the city including McCooleys, Modo, Soho, Fusion, Einstein, Coyote Ugly Saloon, Level and Boston Pool Loft. As you can imagine, this area is for younger people!  An alley off Concert Square leads to Seel street which has some cool hotels and some decent bars and restaurants.

For culture buffs there is the Museum of Liverpool on Albert Dock. This is a fantastic place that features both permanent and special exhibits. The museum deals honestly with the part that Liverpool played in the repugnant slave trade as well as celebrating the history of this vibrant city. There is also a Beatles museum on Albert Dock which I have never visited but gets good reviews on Trip advisor. There is also a branch of the Tate gallery on Albert Dock which is high on my to do list.

There are two magnificent cathedrals at each end of Hope Street. The Anglican cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece while the Catholic cathedral is a modernistic building affectionally known to Scousers as Paddy’s Wigwam!!

John Moores University enjoys an excellent reputation in academic circles (I wouldn’t know)

A must do is to take the Ferry across the Mersey. The return journey from Birkenhead is the best as the views of the city skyline and the Liver birds are spectacular. Spoiler alert, you’ll hate the f**k*ng song by the time you get back to dry land!!!

I still want to visit Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and go for a few beers in Wavertree. I really could write much more. As I scan through this blog I am conscious of the great pubs I have missed, the fantastic statues, the Mersey tunnel. Do yourself a favour and book a few days in Liverpool and check out some of these brilliant places and discover a few of your own. Share them with me and I will visit……. as long as they are not red of course!!!

The Ultimate Pub crawl!!

My adult life has been defined by three things; Music, travel and drinking in no particular order.

In my previous blogs I have concentrated on gigs we’ve attended recently and the cities where they took place. Of course, every city we have visited has resulted in visits to the various hostelries on offer.

This blog pays homage to some of the best pubs, bars and clubs we have drank (got drunk!) in. Most of the ones I have chosen are because when you visit them you are standing on the shoulders of giants. They may not be your heroes or may not have inspired you but you won’t deny the impact these past patrons have had on our culture. The below photo is from the Winslow Liverpool 4. This pub is directly opposite the main stand of Goodison park, home of my beloved Everton FC. It doesn’t serve the best beer, is murder to get served in but every punter is a fellow Blue………………what more could a man want!! When (if) Everton move to their proposed new stadium at Bramley Dock then, I’m afraid that the Winslow will perish along with the area around Goodison Park which will be a tragedy.

I will start this pub crawl blog in New York City. If you’ve never been to New York then hang your head in shame and book immediately. If you’ve ooh’d and aah’d at Disney or Universal film sets then do yourself a favour and get to Manhattan. Every street, every Diner, every bar will seem familiar. The difference is that they’re real!

We’ll kick off at McSorley’s Old Alehouse in the East Village. Greenwich Village is The best neighbourhood on earth. Yup, better than Haight Asbury, North Beach, Soho, Camden, Venice Beach……..anywhere you care to name. This is where CBGB’s was, where the Fillmore east was, where Andy Warhol had his Factory, where Bob Dylan was discovered, where the Stonewall pub that inspired the riots still is………………my god, I could go on forever. Anyways, back to McSorleys. This pub on E 7^th street opened in 1854. Past patrons include Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S Grant and Teddy Roosevelt. President’s aside, cultural drinkers include Woody Guthrie, Hunter S Thompson and Brendan Beehan. Hell, John Lennon also drank a beer or two here . Today, the floors are still covered in sawdust. They serve two types of beers; Light or Dark. Order a beer and it come s in two glasses. The Gents toilets would make the Philharmonic in Liverpool weep in submission they are so clean. There are many regulars and a few tourists. Do yourself a favour and grab a beer in a great neighbourhood in the world’s best city (sorry London).    

Next up we’re off to the West Village and The White Horse Tavern. Now this bar drips in history. A haven for writers and artists, Dylan Thomas was a regular. Ol’ Dylan drank his last whiskies in here before returning to the Chelsea hotel and passing away a few days later. Norman Mailer, Hunter S Thompson, Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison were other famous patrons. Jack Kerouac lived across the block and was regularly thrown out. For me, the best story is that this bar inspired the opening line of Mary Hopkins’ ‘Those were the days’…………..’Once upon a time there was a tavern’

Today the White Horse Tavern has a good crowd of regulars, serves good beer and decent food. But it’s the history that draws me in.

The Tavern is located at Hudson and 11^th street. If you really want a dose of culture, the building that was used as the apartment in ‘Friends’ is close by at the corner of Bedford and Grove st.

We’re off to the West coast now. San Francisco is our next destination and a pub that my friend Phil introduced me to. Vesuvio is located in North Beach close to the famous City Lights book store. This bar was a favourite haunt of the Beat Generation. Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Neal Cassady all drank here with my hero Jack Kerouac. Musical luminaries who blew the froth off a beer include Bob Dylan and Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner. Dylan Thomas also got shitcanned in Vesuvio. This bar is a great place to hang out and a place where you feel that you are standing on the shoulders of giants, the mark of a really great bar in my humble opinion. After a few beers I walked to City Lights and bought a copy of Howl by Ginsberg.

San Francisco has many great bars and my second favourite neighbourhood on earth (Haight Asbury). Nowhere in the city has quite the heritage of Vesuvio. A great place to drink a few beers after a hard day foot slogging up and down the cities many hills .

Heading South, a five hour drive takes you to the vast sprawl of Los Angeles. A difficult city to truly love but with enough highlights to keep the hardiest traveller entertained. The first bar I have picked is a rarity for me in that it’s part of a chain. Barney’s Beanery original bar is in West Hollywood, just off Sunset Strip. This is a great place, good beer and good food. Jim Morrison was thrown out of here for pissing on the bar, a plaque now marks the spot! Sadly, Barney’s was also the place where on 4^th October 1970 Janis Joplin partied with friends before returning to the Landmark Hotel and dying from an overdose. Janis was a fantastic singer with the most powerful voice I’ve heard. I would love to have met her, to have listened to her stories about growing up in Port Arthur Texas, of moving to Austin, of hanging out with the Grateful Dead at 712 Asbury street and of her time living at the Chelsea hotel in NY. A powerful reminder of the evil of Heroin.

The headline act of Los Angeles bars is on Sunset Strip itself. The Rainbow Bar and Grill is fuckin’ awesome!! This was Lemmy’s local, Led Zeppelin had their own booth, Alice Cooper partied here with the Hollywood Vampires, John Lennon, Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson……………I could go on forever. Just go, immerse yourself in Rock’n’Roll history. The loud, young dudes at the bar might be the next big thing. It’s full of tourists but who cares??? This place makes me feel alive. Next door is the Whiskey a go go . If you’re into Rock music this section of Sunset Strip is Mecca. Don’t leave LA without going to the Rainbow.

Next stop is Texas and the Lakewood Landing in Dallas. Another place that Phil introduced us to. This place is proud of its dive bar tag. It is truly a neighbourhood bar, the sort of place that makes you want to move to the area. The thing that did it for me though was the waitress.      Lucille Matthews worked as a bartender at the Lakewood Landing for more than 30 years. And she wasn’t just a drink slinger. Lucille, who once worked for Jack Ruby, was the heart and soul of the place. Plus, she was a downright interesting person who loved Dallas and enjoyed researching the city’s history. Lucille passed away in September 2001 and I am all the richer for meeting such a fascinating, friendly person.

200 miles South of Dallas is the state capital Austin. I’ve drank in many bars in Austin but it’s two clubs I’ve picked as must do’s. The first is the legendary Antone’s. This Blues and R&B club was opened in 1975 by Clifford Antone. It’s original home was on 6^th street. There have been several moves over the intervening years, Antone’s is now located on East 5^th street close to its original location. Over the years Antone’s has featured gigs by BB King, James Brown, Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I could add many more names to this august list of artists. The first time we visited Antone’s it was located on Guadalupe street. We saw Steve Earle play a fantastic solo set. Support act that night were Charlie and Will Sexton. Charlie has been a member of Bob Dylan’s touring band for many years. I loved the place. By our next visit to Antone’s some years later, the club had moved to West 5^th street. This location didn’t have the atmosphere of Guadalupe street but we saw a great show by Trish Murphy. I hope to checkout the latest venue in 2020.

The second club is a South Congress street institution. The Continental Club started out as a swanky supper club, then became Austin’s first burlesque club and later became a working man’s blue collar bar on South Congress that opened every morning at 7am and eventually grew into one of the premier live music venues presenting bands like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Joe Ely and the Residents. Robert Plant has graced the stage in the Continental club, that must have been some night. We went there to see Toni Price, a regular performer at the club. Unfortunately we missed her set but did see a great show by the Leroi brothers. The punters in here are a laid back and friendly crowd although one of them did get upset when I had my photo teken there, a no no apparently! I look forward to visiting again in 2020.

Heading back east, the crawl hits Tennessee. First stop is on S Main street Memphis. Earnestine and Hazel’s is known as the most haunted bar in America. The building where this bar is housed originated in the late 1800s, when it was built as a church. Then it was a pharmacy and sundry store, and then an old jazz café and brothel before it became a bar, so there’s a lot of unsettled spirits in here. The brothel was upstairs. A fascinating fact about this place is that the Jukebox is allegedly haunted! On Christmas Day 2006, Karen Brownlee, bartender and manager of Earnestine & Hazel’s in Memphis, was discussing the death of “The Godfather of Soul,” James Brown, earlier that morning. As the discussion continued the voice of the recently silenced singer erupted from the jukebox proclaiming, “I feel good!” The shocked employees stared at each other as Brown joyfully crooned, “I got you!” Was the soul singer speaking through the jukebox or was it just a coincidence?

At Earnestine & Hazel’s, the jukebox is known to have a mind of its own. It is known to play according to discussion or sometimes the thoughts of patrons and employees at the bar. Another time a group of friends celebrating a woman’s divorce were greeted by the jukebox blaring Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.” Some time later a paranormal investigator was discussing exorcisms and the jukebox cheekily piped up from the corner with the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” Interestingly, many of the performers of these songs passed across the floors of this most historic dive bar, and some even slept here when Earnestine and Hazel were renting the rooms upstairs. Stories circulate of prostitutes either committing suicide or being murdered upstairs as well. Perhaps that explains the patrons who feel someone grab their hands at the top of the staircase. This feeling is sometimes accompanied by an overwhelming sense of sadness. When in Memphis if you wish to spend some time among the past, stop into Earnestine & Hazel’s, enjoy a Soul Burger, say hello to the sisters, perhaps take the hand of a long-dead prostitute at the top of the stairs, and maybe the jukebox will cheekily pipe up with an appropriate song to accompany your visit. We visited here in 2018. Phil was in Memphis on business so we arranged to meet here. The waitress overhead us talking about the history of the bar and told us to have a look around upstairs. It was genuinely eerie, I’m not sure if I believe in ghosts but this is the closest I have come to being convinced.

Oh, one last thing. The Rolling Stones visited in the sixties when playing a club across the street. Mick Jagger later wrote:

‘I met a gin soaked barroom queen down in Memphis’

Next up is Nashville and a place called 3 Crow bar. The centre of Nashville is a temple of Bacchanalian excess. Main street is a seething mass of partygoers 24/7 with most bars having live music. Bands play both kinds of music………..Country and Western! 3 Crow bar is located in the Five points area in East Nashville. It is a true dive bar, many regulars who congregate to talk, laugh, drink, smoke and watch live sports…………..sounds like heaven eh? East Nashville is a great alternative to the frantic city centre. There are great bars, restaurants and music venues. There are also some great record shops and vintage shops, wine merchants, food shops and many other independent vendors. There are few hotels so Airbnb is your best bet if you want to stay in East Nashville. It is easy to see why so many great musicians move to Nashville when you visit this cool, Bohemian neighbourhood. When in Nashville, make sure you visit RCA studio B. This is where Elvis recorded when he was in town. On the tour when you visit the actual studio where he recorded you are invited to sit down while the guide tells you that when recording, Elvis liked to sing in the dark. The studio lights are dimmed and the original acetate of Are you lonesome tonight is played…………..Truly spine tingling!!!

Before leaving the States we must visit Woodstock in upstate New York. This fantastic little town gave its name to the festival that was actually held some sixty miles away in Bethel Woods. No matter, musical luminaries such as Bob Dylan, The Band, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Paul Butterfield, Van Morrison, Todd Rundgren and Graham Parker have lived here. We loved our visit here in 2017. We often had a beer sat on the porch of the Station bar and Curio. This laid back bar was so relaxing. They served a Cucumber beer which may sound revolting but was actually a great thirst quencher on hot summer days. Our hotel was a couple of hundred yards away so it wasn’t far to stroll home with a smile on our faces.

Flying home to England we must stop in London. A close rival to New York for my favourite city award. There are many bars I love in London, many because I love the beer, or the neighbourhood or the age and history. To narrow it down to just two was hard. It meant excluding the Museum Tavern by the entrance to the British Museum………….too crowded, nearly all tourists but this is where Karl Marx went for a lunchtime pint when he took a break from writing the Communist manifesto in the reading room of said British Museum. I will start in Soho and the Coach and Horses on Greek street. Norman Balon who enjoyed the sobriquet of Britain’s rudest landlord worked there from 1943-2006. It was a favourite watering hole of literary types, artists and actors. Francis Bacon, George Melly, Peter Cook, Keith Waterhouse and Tom Baker were regulars as was writer, journalist and bon viveur Jeffrey Barnard. The latter was a Soho legend. Frequently drunk, when he was too indisposed to file his weekly column to the Spectator magazine his editor left the space blank with just the words ‘Jeffrey Barnard is unwell’ This became the title of an award winning West End play written by Keith Waterhouse detailing a drunken night in the Coach and Horses enjoyed by our eponymous hero. Private Eye magazine hosts weekly lunches in a room upstairs in this bar. Drop in and enjoy a pint of London Pride safe in the knowledge that Mr Balon no longer presides over the bar!

Camden is the next stop and the Hawley Arms. This great little pub was Amy Winehouse’s local. Amy apparently often went behind the bar and did a shift serving drinks long after becoming famous. Other famous patrons have included Pete Doherty, Alex Turner, Kate Moss, Liam Gallagher, Johnny Borrell and Russell Brand. There is a gallery of signed Rock star prints which must be worth a fortune. I love to take a break from foraging in Camden market and enjoy a pint in the Hawley Arms. I remember looking at a Richmond Fontaine poster signed by Willy Vlautin a hero of mine. I saw Willy and his band the Delines earlier this year and got him to sign a poster for me!

I will finish back in Liverpool at my favourite pub The Globe. This small place opposite Central station only claim to fame is holding the inaugural meeting of the Liverpool branch of CAMRA in 1974. This place is so friendly. If you’re looking for cool people, great tunes and a lively atmosphere don’t come in! If you just want to relax and enjoy drinking good beer, listening to great conversations and being served by the best bar staff on earth then head for the Globe. I will be there later this week and I can’t wait.

There are many places that I have missed. Phil took us to a great place called Brutopia in Montreal. In the same city I had breakfast in the diner used every day by Leonard Cohen when he was in his home town. We drank in great bars in Hamburg this year. We visited some great pubs in Whitby but they will have to wait for another time.

I’d love to get recommendations of bars to visit. I hope you get to try out some of the places I have mentioned. Let me know what you think. Cheers!!!

My friend Phil e-mailed me at 6.0 am on Thursday. His neighbours had just complained that he was playing Live and Dangerous (by Thin Lizzy) too loud. ‘You can’t play Live and Dangerous too loud’ I replied. I guess it was Midnight in Austin, a great time to blast out Thin Lizzy.

I have been wondering how to blog about live albums for a few weeks so Phil’s email gave me the kick up the arse I needed to get started.

The heyday of the live album was the Seventies when every self-respecting band released one. The press, however, were a little cynical. They saw live albums as contract fillers utilised by bands when they wanted to change labels or re-negotiate a deal. Reviews were often derogatory to say the least.

I disagree; some of my favourite records are live albums. The Press also darkly hinted, even brazenly complained that some albums were heavily ‘doctored’ in the studio. Live and Dangerous was one of the most thus slandered. Listening to it today I must say that I don’t care. Checkout Baby drives me crazy………..it sounds nothing like the studio version. I saw Thin Lizzy twice. The first time on the Chinatown tour in 1981. That night they were lackadaisical, not bad but not good. Later I found out that Phil Lynott and Scott Gorham were heavily into dancing with Mr. Brownstone in that era of the band. I saw them again at the Reading Festival in 1983, one of their last ever appearances. They were dynamite that night, they sounded just like they do on Live and dangerous…………’nuff said!

My favourite live album is Bongo Fury by Zappa/Beefheart/Mothers.

Frank Zappa and Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart were high school friends in Los Angeles. After school, Frank Zappa founded the Mothers of Invention. The Mothers were a musically virtuosic, anarchic band who lampooned American society and upset the establishment. Don Van Vliet formed his own group, Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band who played earthy blues music in the style of Howlin’ Wolf.

Zappa went on to produce Trout Mask Replica regarded by many as Beefheart’s masterpiece. Anyway, Bongo Fury was recorded at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin Texas in 1975. The album is unashamedly studio enhanced with some of the tracks only 50% recorded live. It doesn’t matter!! The album is awesome. A great Mothers line-up ably back Frank and the Captain. The guitar solos on Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy and the Muffin Man are truly awesome, The poems that constitute Sam with the showing scalp flat top and the Muffin Man are literary genius. I really, really love listening to this album. You should check it out…………..at 2.0 am as you are mellowing out after a great night. One of my biggest disappointments in life was finding out on my first visit to Austin that the Armadillo didn’t exist anymore( I didn’t stay disappointed for long, 6^th street grabbed me and hugged me to its decadent bosom and I was hooked forever!!

My next favourite live album was recorded 200 miles away in Houston Texas. Live at the Old Quarter Houston was recorded by one of my all-time favourites Townes Van Zandt. Townes should have been as big, if not bigger than Bob Dylan. A self-destructive gene meant that he never got the recognition he deserved. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris all covered Townes’ songs. Steve Earle proclaims his genius to anyone willing to listen. Live at the Old Quarter may as well be a bootleg. It’s recorded at a small venue in humid Houston. The air conditioning is not working so it’s uncomfortable to say the least. You hear every stage announcement, every note, every joke, every heart-breaking song. Seriously, this is a great album, please check it out sometime when you’re in the mood to hear one of the best singer-songwriters of all time.

Listening to Live at the Old Quarter again made me think of my own gig-going experiences.  I saw Roger Walters play the Dark Side of the Moon and other Floyd stuff around 2005. Great show but it sounded just like the records. Ten years later I saw him perform The Wall, fantastic show but close your eyes and you may have just put the album on. I don’t like Arena a gigs anymore, give me a show in a small theatre or pub any day.

Earlier this year we saw Tom Russell. He played solo, just Tom and a Gibson J45. You got bum-notes, false starts and laughs. Towards the end Tom asked if anyone had any requests. There were many, he picked a few out at random and delighted the audience.  A couple of weeks ago we saw Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier. Both mis-fretted the odd note, mis-started the odd song but it made it all the more real.

The next time you go to an enormo-gig, ask yourself how real it really was? Did you hear any bum-notes, false starts or plain spontaneity? My guess is not and if you agree then get yourself to a small gig and let your freak flag fly.

A few years ago I saw the Mighty Houserockers. As they prepared to play the second set, someone shouted from the audience ‘ play Hendrix’. Guitarist Les Wilson looked up, turned to the band and said, yeah let’s play Hendrix. What followed was one of the best hours of my life. Obviously, I will never see Jimi but Les Wilson was so good that, close your eyes and you could have been at Monterey.

My next choice goes to Rory Gallagher Live in Europe. A native of County Donegal from where my wife’s mother hails from, Rory is one of the best blues guitarists you will ever hear. His live shows were legendary and he was loved and worshipped by his peers. A complicated, introverted man, Rory succumbed to alcohol and died too young.

Now I go somewhat off piste. My favourite band for many years was Jethro Tull. Tull are the band that critics love to hate. Front man Ian Anderson is well educated and plays the flute, why wouldn’t you hate his band?? The fact is that they are brilliant musicians and have released a sackload of fantastic albums. In 1978 they released Bursting Out, a double live album. I had seen Tull a few times by then and so therefore could appreciate that Bursting Out accurately reproduced the live experience. When I listen to the album today I am still blown away by the quality of the musicianship and the songs. You definitely will never accuse Tull of just reproducing their records at shows.

I have now seen Jethro Tull around twenty times and own more than thirty albums. I can honestly say that Bursting Out represents the pinnacle of their career.

So, where next? How about a franchise album; Nirvana – Unplugged in New York. This show was recorded in November 1993 and was the subject of much acrimony between Kurt Cobain, MTV and even his bandmates. Kurt died in April 1994 and thus this album serves as a window as to how he was feeling at the time. The raw emotion in Kurt’s voice coupled with the stripped down arrangements of the songs  make for a harrowing yet joyous  celebration of his life. Most people will say that Nevermind is the classic Nirvana album but if you want to know how Kurt Cobain really felt then listen to Live in New York. RIP Kurt

There are a good few Unplugged albums around. Some are pretty damn good others mediocre to say the least. One of the good ones is by Bob Dylan. Now I love Bob Dylan but I struggle with his live output. Still, I make no excuse for pulling out Blood on the tracks, John Wesley Harding or Highway 61 revisited and bypassing his live albums.

Next up is one I own thanks to my friend Mark who brought me a copy over from Texas. Joe Ely – Live at Antones is a shit-kicking album that you just want to put on again when it finishes. Joe came to prominence as co-founder of the Flatlanders with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Clash frontman Joe Strummer loved Joe Ely both as a friend an as a musician. You can hear Joe Ely’s influence on Strummers post Clash band The Mescaleros. This is one artist who I would love to see live. Happily, I have been to Antones, twice. We saw Steve Earle do a solo show there in the nineties when he was in the middle of his Crack phase. A great show.

If you can get hold of Live at Antones grab it with both hands and enjoy one of the best party albums ever.

Another must own live album is Stupidity by Doctor Feelgood. This album was recorded by the best line up of the legendary Canvey Island pub rockers. Lee Brilleaux, Wilko Johnson, John B Sparks and the Big Figure.  This was the first live album to debut at number one in the UK charts when it was released in 1976. It really is a feelgood album and was the zenith of the bands career. Doctor Feelgood still tour today though with none of the original line up.

If you have time, watch this 15 minute clip of the original band live in 1975. You’ll understand what the fuss was about.

My last pick is Live in London by Leonard Cohen. If you don’t own this album go out and buy it immediately!!! Leonard Cohen had virtually retired from music and was living the life of a Buddhist Monk at  the Mt. Baldy Zen Center in Los Angeles. He returned home to find that his then manager had embezzled all of his money. This forced Leonard back on the road so he could recover some cash. The tour was a triumph, his backing band are absolutely magnificent and the songs speak for themselves. His warm personality and humility shine through and you feel uplifted as soon as the needle hits the vinyl. We saw Leonard Cohen on his world tour and it was the most spiritual thing I have ever experienced. By then Cohen was in his late Seventies but still managed a three hour set with no break. A Wizard, a true star.

I could go on for an age more. I haven’t mentioned SAHB live or No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith by Motorhead, both great albums. I’m sure some of you will have your own favourites. Next time you are foraging in a record shop or surfing Spotify, don’t flip past the live albums. Check some out, rich rewards are to be had.

I’ll leave the last word to Frank Zappa

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turresi – The Sage Gateshead 29/11/2019

So to the final leg of our November tour that has featured two visits to Bury, Edinburgh and the latest trip to Newcastle. We have seen Wishbone Ash, Mary Gauthier, The Hot Club of Cowtown and Rhiannon Giddens.

We’ve been to Newcastle a few times over the years. I can’t make my mind up about the place. I love Geordies, like the Football team, The Tyne is one of my top 5 rivers (sad, I know) and the City Hall is a great concert venue. I’m just not convinced by the city itself. There is some fantastic architecture, some decent pubs, some good record shops but………………..I don’t know what it is but it is not in the same league as London, Liverpool or Leeds (maybe it should change its name to Lewcastle!!).

Musical luminaries include Brian Johnson of AC/DC, Lindisfarne, The Animals and Venom (a legendary Black Metal band whose singer Kronos once described Satan as ‘a reet bad lad’). On the downside it is also the birthplace of Sting, Mark Knopfler and Bryan Ferry.

Our hotel was on the Quayside a lively stretch along the River Tyne, home to the landmark Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Once a commercial dock, the area is now a nightlife hotspot with stylish bars, restaurants, and clubs. On Sundays, Quayside Market sells local produce, crafts, and street food. The opposite bank is dominated by the modern BALTIC art gallery and the steel curves of Sage Gateshead, a popular concert venue. I’m not a great fan of stylish bars, restaurants, and clubs so I did a little internet research and headed for the Bridge Tavern. This place was billed as an unfussy brewpub serving artisan ales from its on-site micro brewery plus locally sourced seasonal food. Sounded right up my street and indeed it was. It was fairly quiet when we arrived but soon started to fill up. I drank a couple of pints of a superb Porter and looked at the appetising food being consumed by fellow patrons.

Next up was a visit to the Crown Posada, the second oldest pub in the city. Legend has it that the pub was bought by a Spanish Sea Captain for his mistress.  I really loved this pub, it served great beers, had a friendly clientele and also had a record player on the bar. They were playing an album by Smoove & Turrell which was called Crown Posada. I’ll buy the album when I can find a copy. The only downer was that they had sold out of Ham and Pease pudden’ stotties which are a friend who hails from the city’s favourite delicacy.

We left the Posada and went for a walk to check out a bar called the Newcastle Tap which promised Cask Craft beers and good Pizza. Walking into the heart of the city fuelled my frustration with the place. Beautiful buildings are interspersed with some modern monstrosities which spoil the vibe of the place. As we neared our destination I was depressed to note the proliferation of chain bars such as Revolution, chain restaurants and a lack of independent shops and proper boozers. The Newcastle Tap had the ambience of a hospital canteen! The beer was OK but the number of plates with barely touched Pizza put us off looking at the menu, never mind trying the food!

I booked a table at the Bridge Tavern online and we walked back the way we had come. We stopped back at the Crown Posada which was now very busy. We managed to score seats which was a bonus. As we talked it struck me like a bolt of lightning! I hadn’t heard a proper Geordie accent!! I love  Geordie patois, it’s one of the most distinctive accents from anywhere in the world. I read ‘Larn Yersel’ Geordie many years ago. I was a huge fan of Viz magazine and Auf Wiedersehen Pet was my favourite TV show. Where were the Geordies?? Sure, people spoke with a soft North Eastern lilt but no-one spoke proper Geordie! I started to reminisce about Tom Scott. Tom was a big, bluff Geordie. A true Shipbuilder who had not only built ships, but served on them in the Merchant Navy. Tom came to work in our place around 2000. A hard taskmaster who was blunt to say the least. I loved the guy! I remember telling him about a Geordie I had worked with in Glasgow. Tom’s eyes lit up, he said ‘he’s the only person I have ever employed twice, do you know why?’ I shook my head. ‘Because I enjoyed sacking him so much the first time he worked for me’. That pretty much summed Tom up. A truly great man who I learned so much from. Tom died ten years ago, maybe more. I could have sat and told Tom stories all afternoon but I heard a wonderful sound, a broad Geordie accent!!

Two young women were looking for seats in the crowded boozer. ‘Talk dirty to me and you can have these seats’ the young woman was slightly taken aback. Don’t worry, I just wanted her to say Hadaway and Shite. This is Geordie for go away. She laughed and obliged which was music to my ears.

We walked back to the Bridge Tavern for an excellent meal and another pint of the superb Porter. Back to the hotel for a pre gig power nap.

This was our first visit to the Sage theatre in Gateshead, a brilliant venue with fantastic acoustics. I will subscribe to the mailing list as I definitely want to return to this fantastic place.

I have loved Rhiannon Giddens since I first heard her when she was a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. I have avidly followed her solo career and have seen her live twice before tonight’s show. She studies the history of slavery with a passion. A proud African American, she deplores how her ancestors were treated and seeks to educate her audience into the injustices meted on her race by her American homeland. We have visited the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and wept at the horrific way that African Americans were treated. The Museum of Liverpool details the part that Great Britain played in the slave trade. Even in these dark days of Brexit where a ‘Little Britain’ mentality prevails, I honestly behave that a huge majority of people abhor slavery.  I thought that Rhiannon spoke too much about injustice tonight. Nobody disagreed with her; I hope we all deplore the history she describes. However, we all came to watch a brilliant musician and singer. I was impressed with her musical (and life) partner Francesco Turresi. Their performance was absolutely superb. They were ably augmented by double bassist (regular readers will know I love this instrument) Jason Sypher. They played two sets ( a much welcomed trend) with no support act. The encore ended with a song by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a fantastic musician whose music I was introduced to through Rhiannon Giddens’ patronage.

Setlist

Inside Me Is Heaven

Gonna Write Me a Letter

Briggs’ Forró

At the Purchaser’s Option

Minstrel Tunes From 1855

Dido’s Lament

Underneath Our Harlem Moon

I’m on My Way

Molly Brannigan

He Will See You Through

The Lonesome Road

(Gene Austin cover)

Up Above My Head

(Sister Rosetta Tharpe cover)

After the show we walked across the swing bridge which affords brilliant views of the Millenium Bridge and the Tyne at night. There was a ‘Spoons next door to our hotel (The Quayside) so we stopped off and drank a few nightcaps. Once again, sadly, there were no proper Geordie accents to be heard. I really enjoyed our trip and the show but I still can’t make my mind up about Newcastle. I will return as I definitely want to visit the Sage again, but I hope that next time I will rejoice in hearing proper Geordie patois!

The next morning we revisited ‘Spoons for breakfast. We walked past a guy smoking. I realised with a jolt that this was the first person I had seen smoking a proper tab! No girlie vaping for this Geordie trouper! Newcastle used to be the ‘smerking’ capital of the world. Checkout Viz or Harry Enfield’s wonderful ‘Bugger all money’ if you don’t believe me. Perhaps change is good after all!!

This blog is dedicated to Tom Scott. You taught me so much bonny lad and I never got chance to thank you.

This blog was brought to you by a good bottle of Chablis and

Love this Giant by David Byrne and St Vincent

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits

Live in Europe by Rory Gallagher

Wish you were here by Pink Floyd

Hot Club of Cowtown – The Met Bury, 16^th November 2019

Back in Bury again, just two weeks since our last visit. Honestly, my heart lifts as we drive into this small town. I always smile when I pass the Roach Hotel, I must go there! Even if we don’t stay there I must have a beer and toast its fantastic name!

I fully intended that this blog would see me raging at the grave injustice visited upon Bury Football club. Bury FC were elected to the Football League in 1894. They won the FA cup in 1900 and 1903. In the latter final they beat Derby County 6-0, a score equalled only last year by Manchester City. Last season they won promotion to division 1………………….. However, on 27 August 2019, Bury were expelled from the Football League due to unpaid debts and poor ownership.

Why was this allowed to happen?? To add insult to injury, Everton Director Bill Kenwright offered to inject over a million pounds into Bury to save them but was stopped by the Football League as it contravened their rules…………Shame on you!!!!, shame on the Premier League and it’s Billionaire clubs who stood by and let it happen. This is only the beginning comrades, expect other clubs to perish, after all, once mighty Bolton Wanderers nearly suffered the same fate as Bury only being rescued at the eleventh hour.

Rant over (for now), I visited Wax and Beans for a second time. I love this record shop! There were punters sat drinking coffee and shooting the breeze and fellow vinyl foragers hunched over the record bins. I bought Love’s debut album, Nicely out of tune by Lindisfarne (Newcastle is our next road trip) and Hard Rain by Bob Dylan. Hmm, I swore I would never buy another Dylan live album. Much as I love ol’ Bob, his live albums suck! So why did I buy it? Well both Mick Ronson and T Bone Burnette are in his backing band on this album, surely reason enough? I intend to blog about live albums in the near future so watch this space.

Vinyl lust sated, I visited the Two Tubs. The small front bar was almost empty when I arrived so I got a good seat, bought a pint of Thwaites Best and settled down to relax.

Are you into Rockabilly? I was shaken from my reverie by a guy sat at the bar. Beg pardon? The guy saw I was wearing a Sun records sweatshirt. I explained that I had bought it from the studio in 2018. He was impressed thus began a very enjoyable discussion on music. It turned out that the guy was a singer in a Rockabilly band. We discussed the stuff he played and, to my delight, found we both love The Cramps. Our conversation carried on through a fire alarm (ironically caused by his vaping. Interestingly everyone in the pub ignored it!) and we covered much musical ground. He took a phone call from the drummer in his band. My new friend said he was off to the Thirsty Fish and invited me along. I had never heard of the Thirsty Fish so he told me where it was and I promised to see him in there later.

The Thirsty Fish is based in an empty shop unit on the front of the Millgate shopping centre. A none too exciting prospect thought I. How wrong was I? Eight real ales, a good number of real Ciders and a small selection of Continental Lagers are on sale. There are a few tables and bar stools in this small place. The décor is cool, the tunes played are excellent and the clientele are really friendly.

I started with a New Zealand IPA which was excellent then followed with a pint of Strong Mild (7%abv) recommended by a fellow punter. My Rockabilly friend’s drummer turned out to be good company with excellent musical taste. I could cheerfully have stayed all afternoon but in the interests of sobriety we bid our new friends farewell and headed off for a curry. We had a quick pint in the Waverley (another first) before eating at the Darbar restaurant next door. Suitably fortified it was back to the hotel for a power nap and a shower!

So to the gig. No beer bellies on show tonight thankfully. The punters were of a fairly diverse age range. I was delighted to see such a big crowd. When I mentioned that I was going to see the Hot Club of Cowtown, my work colleagues shook their heads with incredulity and assumed I would be the only person at the show!

The Hot Club of Cowtown is an American hot jazz and Western swing trio that formed in 1997. The band’s name comes from two sources: “Hot Club” from the hot jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli’s Quintette du Hot Club de France, and “Cowtown” from the western influence of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and other early Western swing combos, as well as the band’s love of fiddle tunes, hoedowns, and songs of the American west.

The band are fronted by violinist Elana James who is ably supported by guitarist Whit Smith and double bass player Jake Erwin. You would swear that there are double the number of musicians on stage. They sound fantastic and the crowd love them. Elana James pulls facial expressions that I found slightly unsettling, they reminded me of Popeye!!

They play two forty five minute sets which contain a healthy selection of songs from their new album Wild Kingdom though thankfully refrain from playing their cringe worthy version of Loch Lomond. Guitarist Whit Smith is absolutely superb. His solos are well constructed and beautifully played. Smith is also a good singer. I love the Double Bass so Jake Erwin was also a treat for me.

This was a great show and I loved seeing so many smiling faces in the audience. Tickets cost £19 which was an absolute bargain. The band hail from Austin Texas, the third act we have seen in Bury this year from that venerable city. Delines singer Amy Boone lives off SoCo, Tom Russell has just moved there from Santa Fe and all of tonight’s act are domiciled there. We visit Austin next year. I wonder if there are many Bury bands playing in the city?? Perhaps my new Rockabilly buddies will be starring on 6^th street!!

The previous weekend the Met hosted the annual Bury beer festival. This weekend seemed to be the Bury smoking festival! I have not seen so many tobacco devotees congregated in a long while. Every pub we visited had a smoking crew outside the doorway. Inside each pub were a good number of vaping devotees. Post gig we adjourned to the Robert Peel fighting our way through the outdoor smoking throng. Inside, the pub was busy and the atmosphere was quite relaxed which belied the heavy police presence outside. We chuckled at a young chap who sported a king size tucked behind his ear, a sight we had not seen for years.

We stopped off at Rayners on the way back to our hotel. There was a good sized smoking posse chatting to the two doormen outside. Inside, we were almost the only punters!! A friendly barmaid, and good drinks at reasonable prices were a great way to end another excellent day in Bury, a true Jewel in the crown of England’s glory.

Postscript:

The next morning we decided to head for breakfast at the Art Picture house. As we rounded the corner we saw clouds of billowing smoke!! Fortunately it was not a fire, just another bunch of enthusiastic smokers outside the pub. This was 9.0 am, inside there was a goodly number of punters scarfing full English breakfasts washed down with early morning pints. I hung my head in shame as I drank my Cappuccino!!

Postscript 2:

Hard Rain is pretty damn good, not my favourite live album (blog will follow soon) but pretty damn good. Bob, you are forgiven!