I’m not sure how much sense it’ll make because both my
Cabeza and my Corazon are still holed up out in Madrid someplace. They don’t
have much use for their physical host right now but hey, I’m getting ahead of
myself here so let me try and explain. When I set out with SESENTAFEST, I guess
I never thought about it too much. The whole premise turned out to be somewhat
ambitious for someone with less than no conventional ambition.
I turned six decades old and figured it would be a gas to
organise an extended shindig to mark that occasion. The closest thing I ever
did like this was to get married back in 1979. I don’t recall much about that. The
honeymoon was in London and during the time there, an opportunity came up via
my pal Howard to go and see Motörhead in the studio. That was vetoed for some
reason but we did see The Psychedelic Furs at The Moonlight Club in West
Hampstead.
A friend and I put Dave Alvin and The Guilty Men on at The
Grand Old Opry in Glasgow a while back. Despite only selling 13 tickets in
advance, we got 260 walk up and it worked out with us making 20 quid each on
the night so that was really my extent in terms of putting on a show. When I
say putting on, I mean coming up with it and bringing in the professionals.
This was punishment for Jonathan Vidal who was instrumental in my discovering I
had an extended family that I didn’t know about. All I can say is that playing
“All Pop, No Star” by The Slingbacks that fateful night at the Wurlitzer
Ballroom in October 2008 opened up a whole alternate dimension to me. Throwing
a stramash that would last from the closing hours of Thursday November 2nd until the wee hours of the 5th seemed like the way to go. I have no
dependants other than those I've adopted and if I get hit by a bus tomorrow then at least everyone will
remember the occasion as a true rock n’ roll experience in the city that only ever
sleeps during siesta time. As I type this, I realise that next October is my 10th Wurliversary...!?
The DJ tag team of Los Sangria-Las got things moving. This
was my pal Sara and I playing records in the wonderful WEIRDO! BAR, my other
home away from home where the throng got in about the Cafe de Licor and other
treats. It really was fun to trade tuneage with my wee Spanish sister and I
hope we can do it again. She has such great taste and sense of exactly what to
do in a room. We rolled from there and down to Wurlitzer for a wee small hours nightcap
though it was closer to morning than it was to night.
Friday the triple action of Wreckless Eric, Amy Rigby and
Amy Allison took the stage. As entertainers, songwriters and just plain old
great folks go, this was a dream come true. None of them should need any
introduction but if they do then I envy you. We jumped around like crazy folk
to the musical selections presented by Diego El Sotano and Head and Banger.
Everything went swimmingly.
Those gathered to play all had some connection to these
recent years and to the history of NBT. Saturday was my actual birthday and we
kicked off with Reine Laken playing their hearts out on two songs, a huge thing
because they’d never been out of Risør. Their gift to me was “I Want Your Love”
and “Hate To Say I Told you so”. The fact that they nailed it is one thing but
they had my love from the day and minute I met them. Suzy and Los Quatto were
next. Completely instrumental in this taking place and recalling the "1-2 Tutti
Frutti" battle cry.
This could not have taken place anywhere else but Wurlitzer.
The epicentre of what has become an important source of transfusion to me gave
the whole thing a gravitas that having at home in Scotland would not have
provided. The location and the setting and the people elevated everything.
Sure, I threw it but those that attended booted the whole stramash into the
stratosphere.
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Photo by Tom Erik Kristoffersen |
I met Andre and Line Dahlmann in Madrid too and that was a
massive moment. They’re the kids I never had and what do you know, they have a
kickass popular music group. Not only that but they covered and made a record
of them doing “Fireball”. The first record I ever bought at age 6. They were in
cahoots with those Nomads. Who in addition to agreeing to come to this
malarkey, they only went and recorded a brand new song for the occasion and the
commemorative 45. I was moved to tears let me tell you and I’m a hard-faced old
sod. Young Marco Padin of Ghost Highway Recordings had these chestnuts struck
into vinyl and there’s a beautiful little 45 doing the rounds. I don’t believe it
either but I have physical proof.
Anyway it was a heck of a turnout, an international
gathering of the punk rock clans with Ross Nelson breezing in from Australia
even. I think we were nudging 80 out of towners in the end, many of whom hadn’t
visited the fabled city before. NBT has been for me what playing the pipes was
for my father, it has allowed me to meet and get to know like-minded crazies across
the world.
It wasn’t just my birthday, Rocket To Russia turned 40 on November
4th too. And it was Nancy’s but sadly she couldn’t be there other than in
spirit. Ulla, Kaisa and Aku did though.
When it comes to Madrid, I’m always wary of having talked it
up too much. What if all these people didn’t take to it the way I did? There
was no need to worry, since the mass invasion I’ve had about a dozen revellers
check in to enquire if there’s a Samaritans group that might assist with their
transition back into reality. This was an experience that they’re keen to play
on repeat just as soon as it’s humanly necessary. I’m always buoyed up to
discover that it’s not just me that gets it.
Attendees were urged not to bring gifts but many gave that
the rubber ear. The idea was to have a charity box with proceeds going toward
permeating Madrid's R n' R supremacy for future generations of the unique
metropolis. MENUDOFEST provides a musical grounding for kids by putting on
daytime events in the city’s clubs. Venues open (often not long after they’ve
cleared out the big kids) to welcome the prospective stars of tomorrow with
parents and family members. Artists and bands pitch in to provide their services
to assist aspiring youngsters to make as big a racket as possible. Some of the
really young ones give the ‘avant jazz’ types a run for their money. I think we
raised around 500 euros around the time of writing and that might increase a
wee bit before I settle at the end of the month.
All that remains to be said is that the world outside the
hallowed walls ceased to exist for a bit. Mi amigo Jo Espen said that Wurlitzer
is our Bang Bang Bar/Roadhouse. Anything can happen in there and it absolutely
did. If you’re familiar with “It’s A Wonderful Life” then you’ll know the “Remember,
no man is a failure who has friends” credo.
I sure felt like George Bailey
over that weekend.
This is just a hobby for me, nuthin’ y’hear... a HOBBY?? My
arse. It ceased being that a long time ago. Who could ever have
believed it’d become a vocation. My granny used to tell a story about how some
minister or someone told her that I’d come to represent some form of religion,
he evidently neglected to mention that it was rock n’ roll.
SESENTAFEST definitely happened but I’m fine with anyone considering
that something so damn groovy could never have happened. I have the bruises to
confirm that it did. Massive thanks to everyone that contributed by playing and coming and going crazy to what really turned out to be beyond all reasonable expectations of a bloody high old time.
Here is Amy's report. I get something in my eye every time I look at it.
I'm currently working on photos so maybe there'll be a pictorial to accompany this at some point. Then again... meanwhile you can get a wee idea of what went down here. Photo album by Mona Di Pontty.