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Simon Says!

and the

issue 010 October 2012

Perfect Pop Co-Op

A-Z

of

Min

ki

California dinerLUKE MORLEY - 20 Q’s

S.O.T.S

OOOOOH Matron...

The Union

T O T H I S , T H E T E N T H I S S U E O F O U R N E W I N T E R A C T I V E M A G ‘ T H E P E R F E C T P O P Z I N E ’ - B R O U G H T T O Y O U I N C O N J U N C T I O N W I T H R E C H A R G E D R A D I O . C O M A N D T H E P E R F E C T P O P C O - O P

Welcome

N-MOVEMBER?

Here at Recharged Towers the age old argument rages on. Jordan announces “It’s Autumn and Christmas is on the way, deal with it”. Minki, however, it rather passionate about keeping Christmas in December. The ever encroaching

adverts with cunningly disguised Christmas Musak and tinsel and baubles in the window ever earlier have now overtaken the Autumnal marker that was Halloween and Bonfire Night. Even Selfridges and Harrods seem to have

an unwritten war on whose Christmas department has opened earlier. What it does it mean, however, is Autumn is indeed here. It also means the usual plethora of releases, launches and gigs in the run up to the C-word. What also come with that, however, is the dodgy weather and as many a musician knows, that gloomy rainy drizzle out

of the window is not indicative to a good gig turn out. So we here at Recharged are championing the mac and welly weather and say, never fear. Go out, support your local bands and just demand mulled wine when you get there.

Nothing like warming the cockles of one’s heart ... supporting live music that is, obviously.

Fancy making a contribution?Dear readers, if anyone would like to contribute to the mag, by way of photos, articles, reviews or ads. simply

drop us an email to studio@rechargedradio.com If you want to supply imagery it needs to be either

300dpi or larger than 20cm square if 72dpi, just so the imagery is of a decent quality if we want to blow it up.

For copy we need 250 for a half page, 600 for a full page and 1200 for a double spread.

Fancy taking out an advert? Simply email studio@rechargedradio.com for a price list

Thanks to: Design @8ecreative. Photography: 8ecreative, Marty Moffat Words: @simonj68, Pete Renzullo, Molloy

Hitchcock, Jord, Minki, Jamie Tayler, Archie Deacon, Mike Lidskin

facebook.com/rechargedradio@rechargedradiorechargedradio.comstudio@rechargedradio.com

ContentsCover star: Luke Morley - The Union - by Marty Moffat

Welcome and Schedule 2-3

Minki’s Magic Moments 4-5Lyrics vs Melody

California Diner 6-7Mike Lidskin

The Oldest Profession 8Recharged Radio’s JT

Simon Says 9by @simonj68

Sound of the Suburbs 10-11October Parts 1 & 2

20 QUESTIONS in 20 MINS 12-13Luke Morley - The Union

Ooh Matron 14Recharged Radio’s new agony aunt

Pete Renzullo 15Peleken Records - The true story

Ads 16

rechargedradio.com

THE WEEK AHEAD AT RECHARGED:

Podcasts of all shows available FOR FREE 48 hours from broadcast time

Monday, 29 OCTOBER00.01 - 20.00 Best of: Music and show repeats 20:00 - 21.00 Crawling Home Monday Edition21.00 - 22.00 Wireless Storytime Extravangaza **NEW**22.00 - 00.00 Best of: Music and show repeats

Tuesday, 30 OCTOBER00.01 - 20.00 Best of: Music and show repeats20:00 - 21:00 California Diner 22:00 - 23.00 Sound of the Suburbs - Oct pt2 rpt

Wednesday, 31 OCTOBER 00.01 - 19.00 Best of: Music and show repeats 19:00 - 20.00 Metal Mumin20.00 - 00:00 Best of: Music and show repeats

Thursday, 01 NOVEMBER00.01 - 19:00 Best of: Music and show repeats

Friday, 02 NOVEMBER00:01 - 20:00 Best of: Music and show repeats20.00 - 21.00 Crawling Home on a Friday21.00 - 22.00 Close To Nowhere22.00 - 23.00 I Land Music23.00 - 00:00 Best of: Music and show repeats

Saturday, 03 NOVEMBER00:01 - 11:00 Best of: Music and show repeats11.00 - 12:00 Crawling Home12.00 - 00.00 Best of: Music and show repeats

Sunday, 04 NOVEMBER00:01 - 19:00 Best of: Music and show repeats19:00 - 20:00 The Music Unleashed Top 40 20.00 - 00:00 Best of: Music and show repeats

SOTS ON!

Minki’s Magic moments

while I kiss this guy’. (Oh the mortification, the ridicule from one’s friends to be caught singing such a misnomer)

And, yet, it’s an easy thing to do. A lot of songwriters DON’T hold such massive store in their lyrics. It’s whatever fits, whatever rhymes, whatever fits the meter of the melody. Blues, for instance, is notorious for not really making much sense a lot of the time. Anything goes in a blues jam, any words that come to mind, often repeated ad nauseam because it just fits the hook and can be played with vocally. Then

It’s an age old battle; like George and the Dragon, the Sun and the Moon, Corrie versus ‘Enders. Which ARE actually more important, lyrics or melody?

Lyrics are like a poem set to music. They can empathise with exactly how you are feeling at that exact moment. They can be a message to another, they can be a clever play on words, articulate a feeling, a sense, a mood, a memory, something funny, something satirical, something sad …

People like lyrics. They like to pore over album booklets, perusing, trying to work out if what they interpreted is how the songwriter intended it to be interpreted and, if it is, what a joy to know how in sync you are with one of your heroes.

Lyrics can be a story from start to finish, or a series of lines all pertaining to a theme, being just cohesive enough to make sense as one entity. Songs can be in the first person, in which case the listener is a true listener - a therapist, even - listening to the troubles pouring out, of love lost or love found. Or, they can be in third person, telling a story of someone they’ve seen, someone they know, someone they wish they knew!

Lyricists tend to be surrounded in life by small bits of paper, with a word, a phrase or a chorus scribbled here and there. Of course, with technology, now we have notebook apps stuffed to the brim: a phrase we read that would make a good title, with a description of a woman we saw getting out of that car, something we overheard on the bus. All things that we want to convey in lyrics, that hopefully someone will listen to and the picture WE saw will be in their head too.

However, lyrics can frequently be misheard, sometimes with very funny consequences; Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven: ‘and there’s a wine bar down the road’; Jimi Hendrix, Purple Haze: ‘Excuse me,

Lyrics vs MelodyMinki’s Magic moments

again, that’s a skill in itself – to think up nonsense on the spot! OK, you won’t win a Booker prize for the story but who cares if it’s an improvised 12 minute blues jam?

Of course, lyrics can also be a simple Na na na or la la la, or even a series of words that don’t make sense (‘gabba gabba hey’ anyone?). In that way, lyrics and melody become one, rhythmic, a chant, a sing-a-long-a-chorus or refrain.

Melody, on the other hand is the thing that should (hopefully) grab you first. That’ll be the thing that sticks in your head. It won’t matter if you don’t know the lyrics as you’ll be either whistling, dum de dumming or la la la-ing. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re articulating THAT tune that’s going round and round in your head.

Melody is the thing you will use to sing to another person when describing a song: ‘you know, that bit, da da dad a deeeeee’; the thing that you hum first thing in the morning; the tune you can just about decipher that the window cleaner is whistling; that annoying dance tune chorus that you can’t get rid of (Ef Off Capital Radio. Ed).

And so we have the earworm. It can be a nice thing, it can be a terrible thing. It’s a piece of melody that will stick. For. Ever. In. Your. Head. Again, there may be no words attached, just a tune, a part of a chorus, even, that just won’t leave you.

Melody for the songwriter can come from a jam on a instrument, a nice guitar part picked out at random that would work for vocals or simply, as in my case, a tune you start singing that you realise you’ve never heard before. (Ooh I’ve written a song walking to the tube!)

The perfect song is when both of these things come together. The perfect happy marriage of a story or words with meaning and a melody that conveys the tone perfectly. A song that MEANS SOMETHING. The lyrics suit the melody and the melody suit the lyrics. Take a song like ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams. OK, it’s been done to death many a time on the Karaoke circuit but that’s sort of the point. WHY has that song become so popular? Love it or hate it, the words convey a meaning and the melody carries them perfectly.

There are certain songs that stay in the charts for weeks, that appear at the top of every ‘Top Wedding Song’ or ‘Top Funeral Song’ lists, that will be put time and time again on a ‘mixtape’ (does anyone actually make them anymore?) or Spotify playlist for a loved one, all because they mean so much someone. It may be the lyric, it may be the melody, but most probably, it’ll be both, creating the perfect song.   www.facebook.com/MinkisMagicMoments

A to Z of

MMM Dancing – I love doing it. I’m pretty rubbish at it to be honest, though it ‘feels’ like I’m good at it. I was once taped dancing to Flashdance. Watching it back, I had a horrible realisation that I would never ever be a proper dancer. The dream of being a ballerina was long gone due to my height - even at the age of 6 - but then the bubble finally popped at the press of ‘Play’ on the video. Sigh.

Diamante – I am definitely the personification of a magpie. If it’s shiny and glittery, I covet it. I have so much jewellery it’s obscene and most of the time it will be ridiculous overblown jewellery that is ‘just for stage’. I will have bought it saying those very words. Even when I am 70 (doubt I’ll be doing a Rolling Stones but you never know) I will be buying glittery skull necklaces with chains and Swarovski crystals that weigh the equivalent of 2 bags of sugar and gleefully wrapping them around my (probably quite wrinkly by now) neck saying ‘oooh, it’s perfect for stage’. Fact: I have SO much jewellery I needed to buy a chest of drawers to store it and let’s not mention all the stuff in storage …

Dogs (see Cats)

Dropbox (other storage facilities are available!) – has saved my life on many an occasion. I LOVE technology! It never fails to amaze me how I can sync my life on so many devices and have everything to hand, just like that. Magic!

Drums – Another thing I love. I don’t even think Adam and the Ants and the double drummers are to blame. If I wasn’t so lazy I reckon I would have been a drummer. Trouble is, as a vocalist, you get spoiled.

1. Finish singing.

2. Walk off.

3. Go home.

Greetings from California!I love surprises. Who wouldn’t? Putting on a sportcoat and finding a $20 bill (or convert to your favorite local currency) that you’d forgotten was there. Ordering the 20 piece Chicken McNuggets and finding the rare 21st piece. Or finding that “bonus track” at the end of a new album--and it turns out to be great.

Well I was given not one, but two great surprises recently. In my case, I love finding out that unbeknownst to me, a musician I like has been working on a new album--and it turns out to be great! Over the past couple of months this has happened several times, and I’m here to tell you about two of these instances.

Kevin Seconds is a DIY legend around these parts. You may know him for his work with 7Seconds, a punk mainstay since the 1980’s. That band is based in Reno, and Kevin still tours around the world with them. Reno’s only a couple of hours “up the hill” from Sacramento, his base of operations. Another favorite band of mine that he’s been in is Go National--more of a power pop band. Along with his wife Allyson Seconds, he’s been roughly at the center of the Sacpop music scene for many years--there’s probably only one degree of separation between any local musician and Kevin. I’ve seen him play many times, in various configurations, but the common thread is this: he shows up, plugs in his guitar, and starts playing. No fuss, no muss, no drama.

He just released a great solo album called “Don’t Let Me Lose Ya”. At first blush, you might think it’s simple acoustic folk/protest music. But a closer listen reveals all sorts of sophistication, in terms of arrangement, songwriting, and vocal performance. For instance--most songs feature cellist Alison Sharkey’s fluid lines intertwining effortlessly around Kevin’s strong acoustic guitar, resulting in an unusually full sound for this type of music. And Allyson Seconds, who’s coming off her first solo album, supports Kevin with her perfect harmony vocals.

And let’s give it up for Kevin. His vocals are stronger and better sounding than I’ve ever heard. He’s always had one of those youthful-type pop voices. A lot of times, pop singers seem like they’re trying to sound like Mike Love, which doesn’t always work unless you’re in the Beach Boys, but he avoids that tendency. There’s a yearning in his voice which really lends authenticity and credibility to his

California diner

heartfelt lyrics.

As for some of my favorite songs, the leadoff track “Forever Try” is the kind of song you want to hear when you’re down. It’s a musical pep talk. “Let’s go out and get our hands dirty, forever try/throw caution to the wind, don’t worry, forever try”. “On the Hill” picks apart the hypocrisy of our elected leaders and religious figures--some of whom are one and the same. “Masterpiece Unfinished” is a stunner--a great example of the engaging guitar/cello interplay found throughout the album. It moves quickly, and paints a complimentary picture of somebody the writer admires. And the album closer, ”The Elements And You”, features a nice ringing electric guitar to augment the acoustic and the cello. It’s another uptempo song; a personal story of a young man who had to grow up quickly. Kevin’s writing style is interesting. He does character studies, but they’re often written in second person. He recounts the subject’s tale by singing to them. That’s a little different, as most stories are told in either first or third person--but it’s very personal.

Get this one. It’s really good.

www.reverbnation.com/kevinseconds

Texas. Yep, it’s such a big place, it’s a sentence unto itself. Subject and predicate. Noun, verb, and adjective. It looms pretty large in American culture. You’d think that there’s nothing left to say about the place, but you’d be wrong. Sure, there’s cowboys, barbecue, country music, boots, football, Tex-Mex food, pickup trucks, big hats, Austin; pretty much all the things that make America great! But there’s something else I want to tell you about: Lannie Flowers!

California dineremotion--like the runaway guitar work on the first of two versions of “Give Me A Chance”, the centerpiece song of the album.

I always say that I would not want to go back to my youth, unless I’m allowed to bring my (hopefully) mature, middle-aged brain with me. Lannie does just that with this album. Thematically, it’s a look at the teenage years--the angst of being lonely, underage, and bored, and wanting to get your first girlfriend. But remarkably, he remembers exactly how all those emotions feel when you’re fifteen years old, and his writing puts you back in that frame of mind. You also get the sense of wanting to bust out of that small town. The interesting thing is, if you think of it, when we’re in our teens, and feeling those emotions--it feels like you’re in a dead-end small town--whether you’re truly in a small town, or in suburban Los Angeles (like I was), or even New York City. That “trapped” mentality is there.It’s a strong album all around, but some standout tracks include the aforementioned “Give Me A Chance”, and the alternate version “Give Me Another Chance”, which is slightly more acoustic than the first. It’s a catchy song, and we’ve all been there; trying to get the girl or guy back, against all hope, but not trying to scare them. “I don’t want a commitment girl/Or a letter of intent/I just want you to know I/Said every word I meant/Please give me a chance.” There’s those teenage emotions again, but spoken more articulately by someone who’s got some experience. “Another Weekend” perfectly captures the boredom that comes with being old enough to want to have fun, but just slightly too young to do anything about it. It’s the perfect leadoff track, starting off with a burst of energy and setting the pace for the entire disc. Finally, “You, Yeah You” features some great slide guitar work, with a piano bridge that sounds a little honky-tonk and a little Beatlesque.

But really, if you’re the type of person who only buys single songs, you’re going to like so many tracks off this album, you’ll just end up buying the whole thing anyway. They’re all solid, and the infectious tunes stay with you long after you’ve turned off your music player of choice. Pick up this one too.

www.lannieflowers.com

Well, that’s it from California for now. Your homework assignment this month is to listen to Kevin Seconds and Lannie Flowers. And to listen to the California Diner on Recharged Radio - as well as all of my other colleagues’ shows. There’s a ton of great indie music out there, so get some it in your head! See you next time.

- ”Chef” Mike Lidskin mike@rechargedradio.com

Lannie is a longtime proponent of the Texas power pop scene. In fact, he IS the Texas power pop scene! He’s more influenced by The Kinks, Raspberries and Replacements than Waylon and Willie. As he’s told me, he probably gets more interest outside Texas than locally. But no matter, his new album “New Songs Old Stories” is a really excellent piece of music.

This album is a really fun listen. Jangly Rickenbacker guitar sounds, power chords, and a driving rhythm section--the power pop elements are all in place. The main nod to regionalism would be the tasty slide guitars, and Lannie’s Texas drawl. There’s some bouncing piano in the mix, and the occasional harmonies, handclaps, and whistling add some spice. The moments on the album when he sings and plays with reckless abandon heighten the excitement and

The Oldest ProfessionIt occurred to me, the other day while in conversation with our own dear Minki, that there’s not much difference between musicians and...er... promiscuous people (sometimes in trade). No, wait, hear me out. There’s some logic to this,

Both use their body to please other people. Both usually work at night.Many work from home. Bed is their favourite place. Some have a room in their house devoted to it. All have their preferred..er... aids. The pimp/promoter takes all the money and get angry when they ‘hold out on them’. All are usually broke but rather well dressed.

I’m sure we could sit all night and list similarities. There’s a reason why they called it ‘Rock n’ Roll’...

(I’m writing this while listening to Johnny Cash - Live At San Quentin. Apt? Well, maybe. Also, slightly ironic. I nicked that record from [name withheld for legal reasons]. Anyway, I prefer the term ‘liberated’ - I found it down the back of an old piano. So it was probably on borrowed time anyway. Probably).

I digress.

Let’s concentrate on the penultimate point on that list...

Now, I know that it’s long been the case that bands seem to be taken for granted to provide entertainment in bars and pubs for free, or a few drinks - but why is that the case? Why is it so acceptable that bands rarely get paid for their entertainment services but DJs do?

Personally, I can’t stand DJs. I think they’re overhyped bores. They’re like the guy who comes round your house and hogs the playlist on Spotify because they know ‘better’. I’ll fess up. I know I do this after a few drinks and also, see the looks I get from my other half. I get it. It’s annoying. I usually take more interest in silly conversations after about 3 or 4 tracks anyway and then just get drunk (whereupon I suddenly think I know better about music again... but then I really don’t). I’ve sat in ‘trendy’ London bars having to listen to someone else’s music choices, which are all painfully cool, while I gaze at the person on the wheels of... whatever they’re made of these days... getting paid to foist their record collection on you.

However, that’s just my opinion. A very good friend of mine might read those words and punch me in the face next time we meet. He’s a club DJ... My overarching point here is why should someone who really, only presses ‘play’ get paid

and bands, who regularly have to mount a small logistical operation, frequently with people they don’t know, to get to a gig, plus stick a whole bunch more effort into preparing themselves, not get paid?

‘Ah,’ you say ‘But many bands are a bit crap and need the exposure/practice and why should the venue front up for that?’. Quite simple; entertainment puts money behind the bar. It’s an endless rankle of mine that many venues put zero structure into their entertainment, preferring to leave it to keen amateurs and... freelancers. Most of these ventures fail and leave everyone pissed off. Well, dear venue, pay peanuts...

Here’s a novel idea. For all of you venue owners, why not employ someone (maybe a member of your bar staff?) to take care of the entertainment? Set a budget? Maybe run auditions to play at your venue, so you won’t be left with a turkey for a band. Also, what the hell was ever wrong with residencies? I simply can’t see the point of promoters. All they’re doing is taking the pressure off the venue to fill their stage... on the cheap. Pay peanuts...

The only way that this sort of promotion can work is do what certain promoters beginning with the letter ‘M’ do. Push all the onus onto the band and make them do the work. ALL of it. Then just sit back and rake it in (when people can actually afford the door tax).

So what does that make the promoters? Pimps? Maybe. Just packing a bit less heat.

Thing is, so many venues/pubs are trying to get on this bandwagon (no pun) that this sort of caper shows no sign of dying out. It’s harming the scene. If the promoter is allowed to run riot over the venue, the venue gets a bad name. Promoter doesn’t really care - venues come and go.

So, in conclusion, here’s a 6 point plan of how to run a night. Feel free to use it.

1. Employ one of your staff to book the bands2. Hold auditions (not got time? FFS, you’re a business - MAKE TIME). 3. Sign the best of the bands up to a residency lasting no less than 1 month4. Advertise the night. You know, like people do to make people aware of things they want them to

part with their hard earned shekels for. 5. Don’t charge entry, or if you do, keep it to less than the price of one (1) pint. People get snippy when the entertainment starts eating into their beer money before they’ve even heard it and also, more money over the bar, surely?!6. Fend off the ravenous promoters/pimps who keep on turning up.7. Pay the bands an agreed fee per gig, no less than £508. Repeat from point 2.

Seems pretty straightforward to me. If you don’t fancy doing that - buy a jukebox. It’s a lot cheaper than bands or DJs.

Also, prevents people from feeling fed up, used and angry at you.

Which is kinda what happens the morning after... JT 2012

blog and twitter legend @simonj68’s column in Sound of The Suburbs

Simon Says

The time came round again when a small movement in my home office caused a cat to scream and hide for the rest of the day and me having to spend half an hour tidying up. Yes, once again I had knocked over a pile of CDs; cases split and loose CDs all over the floor. It wasn’t long ago that I had all my CDs in order, the sort of order that is part alphabetical but has exceptions that only a bloke can justify to himself. Like, when sorting out vinyl, the 12” singles didn’t go with the albums, except for Billy Bragg, and the “The” at the start of a band name didn’t count when sorting alphabetically but the “A” did. It all made sense and I knew where to find all the records, which was the main thing. So when CDs were invented and that was the future, I started keeping all mine in order, as they would sit with my vinyl and always be part of my music collection. Or so I thought. Now, my vinyl is all still in the same order, but CDs are in the most random of piles; on shelves, on CD racks, on my desk, in drawers. They’re pretty much all over the house, which is probably why I keep knocking them over and thinking I must do something with them. It is another curse of the iPod / iTunes system, where everything is loaded on to the PC and player, and then you never actually pick up the CD again. So unless you play it and read the booklet and look at the art on the first day you get it, you probably now never touch the CD again. It is not evil, however. I spend far too much time on trains and in hotels. To be able to have thousands of albums to listen to whenever I want is a luxury I would not now be able to give up. Gone are the car journeys where there’s a sudden realisation that you only have 2 CDs in the car for a 4 hour drive. Now anything I own in a digital format is with me all the time, and when sat in an airport for 6 hours that is a lifesaver. (Not my life: the people I would kill for annoying me are now blocked out of my ears by music!) But what to do with the CDs? They just don’t mean anything to me, apart from some signed ones, a few limited editions and some favourites (however, finding one to play would be a mission in itself, considering I have no idea what pile a lot of them are actually in). I looked at some of the sites that offer to buy them, some by pure volume, others by individual offers and the returns on offer were just not worth the effort of scanning each one in, searching it, submitting it and getting an offer of 30 pence for it. I guess if you do it on an industrial scale and sell them all on Amazon or eBay then there is a lucrative business there. Buying a CD for 50p and selling it for 3 quid is a good mark-up in any line of work, but like almost everyone I spoke to, the time and effort is just too much. For most

CD BABY! people it’s easier to just take the car boot option and sell them all for whatever is offered or the charity shop route and just drop them all off. What struck me though as I talked to people about this is that nobody would do it with their vinyl. Even people who no longer have a turntable wouldn’t give their vinyl away, even if it is all boxed up in the loft or spare room under a bed. Everyone has that one album worth a theoretical fortune, but more than that, everyone had a story about where and when they bought albums. I can remember exactly who I was with and what days I bought albums and singles in the 80s, but couldn’t find an album I bought from Amazon last week that I know must be within 6 feet of me as I type this. Add into this the MP3 generation where there is no physical product at all, and I begin to wonder why artists put so much time and effort into their work. I am glad so many still do, but when the majority of music is now bought just by clicking on iTunes with people just buying individual tracks, there is not going to be much of a story to tell your children about is there? No queuing up on a Saturday in the rain outside Record House in Aylesbury High Street as they were only getting in 10 copies of a limited edition album, so you had to be there to get it. In the end I decided to keep the CDs, but am now stuck in the dilemma of where the hell to keep them and how to order them so I can find them if needed. I still buy almost all of my music in physical form, as I just don’t trust the PC and iPod to keep it all safe, and having drowned an iPod and looking at 2 broken laptops, that is with good reason. As for keeping it all in the “cloud” and just having a player to play what you choose, like Spotify but with your own music, that just seems such an alien concept to me. I am not a Luddite and I enjoy new technology, but there are few things in life that make you as warm feeling and part of a community as queuing up with your mates to get an album. You just don’t get that on line, and that is a sad thing for music and community. On a side note, Rolling Stones tickets went on sale earlier today and from an original price from around £100 to £400 each, within seconds were on sale on Viagogo for £12,000 EACH. A couple of years ago, Friars Aylesbury closed, which was a legendary venue for many years. Weller played the final gig. You had to queue up to buy the ticket. That is what it means to be a fan; people in sleeping bags all night to ensure they don’t miss out, not some faceless corporate scam to charge you a fortune. The web has done so much for music and bands, but a lot of it not great for music, bands or fans.

Web: www.rumblesandgrumbles.comTwitter: @SimonJ68Skype: rumblesandgrumbles

And

THE RADIO SHOWTUESDAY’s 10pm

with Andy Scratch and John ‘Vintage’ Viney

Dear Suburbanites, welcome to our now familiar (for those who read last month’s issue) extended and more in depth Sound of the Suburbs column. We decided that it may be good to expand a little on the show ethos and more importantly the great bands and people out there keeping the dream alive and helping to expand the DIY ethic’s legacy for great and interesting music. We know this is backwards compatible, but it means if you missed the show, you NEED the podcast to match up with the text... we’re not as dumb as I look :-) ... ahem anyway, happy hunting...

Sound of the Suburbs OCTOBER PART 1One Eyed - intro theme by The Reverse Family 1) The Fixx - Take A RiskThe Fixx are an English rock band formed in London in 1979.Featuring local St.Albans boy Dan K Brown on bass. www.thefixx.com/ 2) Nick Haeffner - Good Times??? is it called thatNick’s classic album The Great Indoors, released in 1986 on St

Albans’ Bam Caruso label. ‘The best sixties-style psychedelic release of the week is not Sgt Pepper now on CD but the debut by Nick Haeffner...an album that is varied, unexpected and wonderfully refreshing.’ - The Guardian ‘... reminiscent of the best of English psychedelia’ - Jon Savage: The Observer

www.nickhaeffner.co.uk/styled-12/index.html 3) Damn Vandals - Revolution/Rehearsal - much vaulted up

and coming rockerswww.damnvandals.co.uk4) Dark Stares - Whiskyhttp://www.darkstares.com/ 5) The Tuesday Club - Dolly Dynamite - 3p. The debut single/free download from the Herts/London based 8 some (times)...www.thisisthetuesdayclub.co.uk

6) VINYL - Orange Juice - Simply Thrilled Honey. A charity shop find for Vintage Viney – 7 inch single from Orange Juice on Glasgow’s Postcard label released in 1980www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Juice_%28band%29 7) VINYL - Laurie and the Chameleons - The Lonely SpyA 7 inch single on Liverpool’s Zoo label, which also brought us Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen. This track written by label owners, Dave Balfe (later famous for signing Blur) and Bill Drummond (later one half of the KLF) www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo_Records 8) Void - Pop Love - taken from the Class of ‘81 vinyl album released on the Upper Class label. www.mutant-sounds.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/va-class-of-81lpuk1980.html 9) VINYL - Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)12 inch single from jangly early 80s Liverpool bandwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Icicle_Works DEMOs10) Grim’s worst nightmare (Box 09) - The Scratch. Recorded live in rehearsal featuring The Baron on drums, in the back of the Queens Head pub in Box, Wiltshire.11) Red Lector - Other Peoples Problems. Sadly we have no more info on Red Lector, but feel free to fill us in! :-) 12) VINYL - Dead Boys - All This And More. From the American punk legends www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_Boys 13) VINYL The Monochrome Set - The Monochrome Set.Andy Warren and Bid went to school together; Lester Square and Adam Ant both attended Hornsey School of Art. The latter two formed a band called “The B-Sides”, which Andy joined sometime in 1976.And for all Ant fans like myself that association spawned the Antz best album - Dirk Wears White Sox. Thanks Monochrome

And

5) Esperi - Made for Life www.esperi.bandcamp.com/track/made-for-life-2 6) Corner Laughers - Now that I Have You I’m Bored www.cornerlaughers.com/ 7) VINYL - Orange Juice - Breakfast Time. B-side of the 7inch played last showwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Juice_%28band%29 8) VINYL - Pop Will Eat Itself - Everything that Rises12 inch single - A cover of Shreikback trackwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Will_Eat_Itself 9) The Fringe - New Day - Class of 81another track from the class of 81 compilation album - see previous for link DEMOs - both demos have a late 70’s association with the Satellite St.Albans’ website. www.satellitestalbans.co.uk10) Tepid Hallibut – You Need Cash 11) The Features - Fun 12) VINYL - The Astronauts - How Long is a Piece of StringWelwyn Garden City’s finest anarchopunk band fronted by Mark Wilkins, once described as The Post-Punk Dylan of Welwyn Garden City. This track is taken from their 1981 album Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs 13) The Bodies - Zone X. St Albans late 70s New Wave.www.waldos.co.uk/html/satellite.html 14) The Tea Set - Saw Tooth. Watford’s finest post punk band.www.theteaset.org.uk/html/next.html 15) VINYL - Jane Air and the Belvederes - Yankee WheelsFrom Akron Ohio this on a Stiff 7incherwww.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=jane_aire_and_the_belvederes 16) The Bleeed - Valerie Leon Queen of Neon. The Bleeed are still yet to release anything officially, but our sources say 2013 will be their year! www.soundcloud.com/thebleeed/sets/the-bleeed-the-band-that-bled https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/sound-suburbs-october-2012/id490137655?i=123129713

As ever a very BIG thanks for listenting and all your support, please don’t forget to send us your old demos and we’ll see you again for our November shows on rechargedradio.com Andy Scratch and Vintage Viney xx

Set for your part in this and some great tunes yourselves too. www.themonochromeset.co.uk

14) Bino - Dream for My Sake - Class of 81. Another track from the class of 81 compilation album - see previous link 15) Picasso’s Optician - Given up Tryin’ - Class of 81another track from the class of 81 compilation album - see previous link

16) Cara Mitchell - Have You Ever WonderedBeautiful ethereal track from her debut EP. She’s still only 16! We played a gig with her at the AAA club and it was pretty darn amazing. Not a sound I would normally proliferate, but was

captivated in a Tolkein-esque way and they were from the Shire ... but probably not Hertford, Hobbits, not Mitchells, I guess? www.caramitchell.net/ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/sound-suburbs-october-2012/id490137655?i=122436175 Sound of the Suburbs OCTOBER PART 2

1) Limozine - Twenty Greatest Hits. A classic from a classic rock’n’roll band www.limozineband.com/ 2) Exit International - Lay to Waste. Cardiff based noisenicks; best band with 2 basses, since The Tuesday Club

www.exitinternational.co.uk/ 3) VINYL - Icicle Works - As the Dragonfly Flies. Taken from their debut album, The Icicle Works, released in 1984.

4) VINYL - World of Twist - The Storm. 12 inch single from the early 90s band World of Twist, touted by the music press as the next big thing, released one album Quality Street and then promptly disappeared (The B-side of this was a cover of the Stones, She’s a Rainbow and was produced by Martin Hannet)

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Twist

20 Questions in 20 Minutes:

Luke Morley is left-handed guitarist and co-songwriter for The Union. (We don’t know why we mentioned he was left handed, however, it does make for symmetry on stage with his other compatriot Peter Shoulder.) Previous to this, he was best known for Thunder, a band who throughout their long career were not only popular in the UK, but also big in Japan (Ed - always wanted to say that).

The Union are currently in the process of recording their third album’ The World is Yours’, after raising the funds in under 24 hours on PledgeMusic, which will be released in February. This nicely coincides with a series of UK tour dates (see right). For more details and to hear a sneak preview of the album see www.theuniononline.com

1. If you could look like anyone else, who would it be?Johnny Depp - it’s a cheekbone thing... (Ed – becoming a bit popular, that answer!) 2. Favourite flavour of Pot Noodle?Uuugghhh... 3. Stoned, drunk or sober?Definitely drunk! 4. You are a puppy, what breed are you and why?Border Collie. An intelligent dog that can handle sheep. 5. Shoes, trainers or boots?Shoes and lots of them!  6. What would you have been called if you were born a girl?Definitely Susan. 7. Everybody wants some … what?Usually money 8. Which monopoly playing piece are you and why?Car because I’m sleek and fast obviously! 9. Favourite word and why? ‘Yes’ because it’s nearly always followed by something positive and even if it isn’t you know where you stand. 10. Boiled sprouts, cabbage or spinach?Spinach like Popeye.

11. OK, we now know The World is Yours, but where are you heading off to first?The bathroom. It’s all the spinach..... 12. You’ve hit random on your iPod – what’s the first song that comes up?‘I Saw The Light’ by Todd Rundgren  13. And what was the last track you deleted in disgust? ‘Summer of ‘69’ by Bryan Adams 14. What would you like to have total control of?My iPod  15. What is at the top of your To Do List today?Survive today 16. Favourite insult? ‘You are a total c**t!’ 17. Perfect night in?Wife, film, red wine 18. Perfect night out?Wife, dinner, red wine 19. Who would win a fight between deer, a goat and a boar? Boar - everyone knows that?!?! 20. Describe yourself using three words...driven, opinionated, sociable

See The Union on tour in February 2013

13 February Manchester Academy 3, Manchester

14 February The Cathouse, Glasgow

15 February The Diamond Rock Club, Ballymena

17 February O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle

18 February The Cockpit, Leeds

19 February Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

21 February O2 Academy Islington, London

22 February Steelhouse Club, Newport

23 February Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

24 February The Fleece, Bristol

OOOOOH Matron...

Dear Matron, I need to be immunised as

I want to go abroad but I hate needle

s. What

should I do?

Dan, Somerset

Poppy cock, it’s mind over matt

er. If you are going off travelling then you need to get the need

le. You

need to get ejaculated nowadays if you want to be safe … c

an’t be frightened of a little prick, dear.

Dearest Matron, I would like to buy you a gift. What would you like for Christmas? General Template, Croydon Now look here. I will not hear mention of the C-word. I won’t have it I tell you! It’s most disappointing that you’re so free with it. Disgusting, in fact. I mean, children may read this and it’s just too early for them. That word has SUCH an impact on them. Really, it has an impact on everyone. I know some people hate the C-word. I actually love it, but probably only use it once a year. It has much more impact then. I suggest you hold your tongue and ask me in a month or so.

If you have an etiquette dilemma, a conundrum or a something you want Matron to ponder on, feel free to email: matronscarryon@gmail.com

Welcome to the new Recharged Radio AGONY

column

Que, si? Anon, sent by text Que si what, dear? Oooh, that reminds me of that young flibberty gibbet John Cleese in Fawlty Towers. Now there’s a man, I tell you. What I could do with those lanky limbs. I’d like him to give me a damn good thrashing with that branch. *cough* Well, ahem, what do we have next? *rustles envelopes*

---------------------------------------If you have an etiquette dilemma, a conundrum or a something you want Matron to ponder on, feel free to email matronscarryon@gmail.com.

Australian Independent Music Scene

I’m going to share a story with you. It’s based on the events I experienced at a studio here in Perth, Western Australia. I’ve decided to go for a fictional platform on which to deliver this little tale – but like all good tales, the ones that you KNOW are going to have some pretty crazy happenings, this is…

“Based on a true story…” By Peter Renzullo

PART TWO – Just another dayDee walked through to her reception desk and sat down. Finding a used condom in the toilets first thing in the morning was not a great way to start the day, especially knowing that her boss Garny was alone when he ‘inseminated’ it for her to find. The start of business was officially rung in by the first call of the day. Dee picked up the phone with a sigh. “Good morning, Peleken Records this is Dee speaking…”.

“Yeah hi, I just wanna discuss an invoice I received from you guys.” The man didn’t sound very happy at all.

“Very well sir, how can I help you?”

“Well you can start by shoving this invoice up your arse! I was told the cost for my recording would NOT include the usual per-hour rate, that it was a fixed fee! But this invoice shows me I’m supposed to pay for 5 hours of extra editing time!” The guy was pissed off, and Dee knew exactly what he was talking about, because it happens all the time.

“We’re very sorry about that mix up sir. Can I ask who you spoke with when you booked?”

“It was the owner, so don’t try to feed me some bullshit about needing to discuss it with the manager. It came straight from his mouth!”

“Ok sir, I’ll just look up your file now and see what’s happened. Do you mind holding the line?”

“Just get it sorted and call me back!” he snapped. With that, he left his number and promptly hung up on Dee.

She looked up his details and found that he was indeed promised a flat-rate. What Garny had failed to mention to the man was that the flat-rate covered ONLY the time he spent in the studio, not the time it would take Lez to edit the audio. This detail is very clearly written into the contract, but more importantly it is ALWAYS mentioned to the artists when they come to record. The problem is that Garny decided not to tell him that, and probably sold him the whole “we’re the only studio in town that does flat-rate recording, which means you

only pay a set fee for the time you spend in the studio – no per-hour studio time!”

Just then, Garny walked through the door. “Morning Dee! Are we winning!” he asked.

“Morning Garny. Actually, no we’re not. We’ve got another artist who’s just called up and discovered that he had to pay for Lez’s editing time. You forgot to tell him about that.” Dee was annoyed, and didn’t hide the fact. Garny just started laughing. The sort of laugh that seemed to say oh poor little Dee. You just don’t know how this works do you…

“Ha! Dee, Dee, Dee. That’s what you call ‘good-salesmanship’. You make them feel like they’re getting the best deal in the world, when they’re actually getting the exact same thing as everyone else! I just do it better then most people I guess. Never mind, it’s something you just couldn’t understand Dee.” With that, he shuffled off shaking his head in amusement.

“Fuck this...” Dee muttered under her breath. She picked up the phone and dialled the man’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hello sir, this is Dee from Peleken Records. I have your file here in front of me.”

“Alright good, so what are you going to do about this bullshit?”“I’m going to transfer you to the owner so he can explain the extra charges to you.”

“Good! Put me through, I’m sick of this!”

Dee pressed the button to go through to Garny’s office.“Hello, Garny speaking.”

“Garny, it’s Dee. I have a gentleman here who’d like to discuss something with you.”.

Garny sighed. “Can’t you deal with it? I’ve just got in Dee.”

“Sorry, it’s something I just don’t seem to understand.”

“Alright, alright. Who is he?”

“Sorry Garny I need to go to the ladies room. Putting him through now…” she pressed the button, and saw the call transfer to Garny. Dee was never so happy to be heading to the ladies room.

Peleken Records – The true story…as told by the man who was there

Welcome to the new Recharged Radio AGONY

column

“Now this is a cheeky little track isn’t it?” Q Radio’s @carolinethedj

SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY:SUNDAY 2nd DECEMBER - BAR 62 St.Albans

Ain’t Got No Class Out 03 December

THIS IS THE TUESDAY CLUB

“If Roxy Music were doing the Rocky Horror show, they’d sound like this” - Steve Honest, Hackney Road Studios

www.thisisthetuesdayclub.co.uk

“The art of performance lies in The Tuesday Club! They are a must see band”Prettyxcentric

 

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