BETTER CALL SOLBAKKEN!

The Solbakken Fuzzfestival is a bi-yearly event that takes place out on the South East coast of Norway. Set in an enclave of Arendal called Moltemyr, it’s a garden party set in a very well-appointed garden between two houses. An invite to this was an offer that I was not about to refuse and getting to that part of the world isn’t exactly a cakewalk but like the song conveys, have love, will travel. 

It took a smidge over 12 hours door to door. Exactly a week ago from right about now I took a bus ride through picture postcard beautiful vistas that look like a cross between 'wir ain' highlands and the Pacific Northwest. The shimmer of the sun on the lakes as it went down just added to the twilight zone-ness. All you really need to know is that it is spectacular.

The crowd gather...

Having dropped by Risør a couple of years ago, Arendal further reminded me of the similarity between that region and the East Neuk of Fife. They don’t have a chip shop like they do in Anstruther but maybe I could go out there and open one?

Within a half hour of being there I was out on the town with Fuzzmistress Hilde. After some Indian food we hit up the hostelry she works in called Barrique. A very nice old wood varnished bar with at least one member of staff that will point blank refuse to serve you a mojito. I never take for granted the opportunity to take such jaunts and this was the only evening it would be possible to make that particular scene. And for Hilde to take time out of her busy schedule like this was above and beyond because she is the epicentre. 

Revesound revving up

As straight talking a wee bisom that ever walked, this one can get stuff done. All the others that are involved with this are equally driven, It’s an abject case for labours of love always trouncing something that is entered for gain. Their gain was to see everyone have a great time as a result of their selfless planning. Getting a wee preview of the site the day before was a trip and just hanging out sampling Magne’s epic brews and the Solbakken hospitality really hit the spot. 

The freak weather has been causing ructions out there too and there’s a BBQ ban in Norway right now. That wasn’t to deter them though and a number of broilers were installed to take up the slack. These folks had thought of everything and maybe even a little more.

Snok - Forward into 1971! 

Saturday rolled around quick and it was time for the garden party. As the revellers arrived it was clear that a great community not just from the immediate locale had grown around the event. With a family element that never reduced it to the level of the fete. I met and talked to a ton of people that I wish I could remember their names. It's an age thing that's getting worse by the day.

It all kicked off with a kind of folky review by Revesound. I’d just watched A Mighty Wind a few days beforehand and the similarity wasn’t lost on me. It became apparent even then that the space had become a natural amphitheatre and in the main, the sound was excellent for an outdoor concert experience. At some points during the evening, a mighty wind would indeed attempt to blow the cover off the stage on several occasions. It was expertly tethered though.

A period of broiling and hanging out followed that before the remainder of the music was rolled out. Snok set a pretty high bar for a bunch of actual real life teenagers. Led by Hilde’s son Lars they managed to conjure up shades of Sabbath in 1971 when even their parents weren’t around. Decidedly not-lumpy doom rock, they just made their first recordings that I’m very much looking forward to hearing. Their set was all the more amazing because they had to get a substitute drummer that knew the ropes at stupidly short notice. That guy did good.

Gimme an H, Gimme a C, Gimme a G,
Gimme an L, Gimme an I!

What's that spell? REINE LAKEN!

As I mentioned in Vulcher zine lately, little in my existence gives me greater pleasure than watching and being around Reine Laken. This time out they’d enlisted a new member and it was Camilla’s public debut. It went great and by the time they got to their version of Bikini Kill’s "Rebel Girl", the gathering went under the thunder. "Blitzkrieg Bop" into "Dancing With Joey Ramone" was a very nice touch. All the anxiety that goes into these performances is very much appreciated by their fans. I was thinking about how all the Madrid folks would have loved this.

Wirkola workin' it!

Wirkola Hellraisers are a solid combo that underlines the hard rock seam that ran through the day’s line up. I'm really digging the fact that Nazareth were (are?) so big out there and the ‘raisers deliver a tasty “Kentucky Fried Blues”. I think that Dan McCafferty would approve. At the other end of the spectrum, their take on the Sweet ignites around a three guitar attack, one of whom is Erland Ottem who was in Clawfinger. Their "Ballad of The Lower East Side" wasn’t slouching none either.

DeMidlertidige 

DeMidlertidige (sp?) played at the grungier end of the spectrum and during their set I was blethering. Someone told me that they were playing an Alice In Chains song at one point and I have to say that they rendered it listenable. Something I can’t say has ever happened with that actual band. This Stina girl can sing. I even heard a little Nico in there and of course Grace Slick on a faithful run through "White Rabbit".

Rangers raised the stakes for Dunfermline’s finest by including "Close Enough for Rock’n’Roll" and they also fired out trusty takes on "Cold Gin", "Godzilla" and "The American Ruse" during their set indicating a certain level of taste for those of us that recognise the fine line that runs through the vein of heavier music.

Camilla and Ingri rippin it up to the strains of Rangers!

The band's were all done and dusted by curfew time but the party went on a good deal longer. heading back there in the daytime, the festival elves had been out and cleaned up. It was all looking as though almost nothing had happened. Service above and beyond self all the way.

Anyhoo... Solbakken FuzzFestival is something the world could do with a little more of right about now. The best small but perfectly formed festival action I’ve had since the legendary House of Rock that went down in Moss in that fateful June of 2011. People talk about game changers but that was a life changer.

My sincere thanks to all those folks that made this happen and for them having me there. There might not have been any morild this time but there was some magic here and there so that’ll suffice for now but I’ll need another RL fix before too long so I hope they have something in the works.

The adventure came to a close with a few hours in Moss Rock City and pretty much before I knew it, I was back on the bus heading for where it seemed like I had just started out. To add to that injury, I tried to use some currency at the duty free shop that had expired. I’m not sure why the Scandinavians change their notes so often but it’s a pain in the arse. Just as well that everything I had left wasn’t hooky and the liquorice score could be made.

BEN VAUGHN IS BACK!

Available now via Amazon UK / Amazon USA 

and CD Baby and other such outlets.

BRAIN DEAD REDUX

OUT NOW! CLICK ON THE COVER FOR INFO!!

HEID FUGUE - I JUST REALISED THAT I HADN"T POSTED THIS!

The blog is 15 on Monday but I’m gonna be out of town visiting one of my homes away from home. My thanks to Jeroen Vedder for setting me down this road that’s allowed this thing to continue to exist albeit in a disembodied state.

I guess this link will take you back to those baby steps. It hasn’t really evolved much but continues to be a place holder. According to the stats, we’ve had more that 1,300,000 views since then. I’m sceptical about the numbers but those kind of details are unimportant. I appreciate the visits and responses. The regular posts ebb and flow but you most likely already have information up the wazoo. So, when you do check in and there hasn’t been something new for a few days then bear with it. There’s maybe a good reason or perhaps not.

You know how teenagers can be.

RIP - STEVE SOTO

ABC GUM - THE BEST KIND!

Thanks to Eddie Flowers for the tip.

SCOTTISH POP - THE MUSEUM PIECE

The Rip It Up exhibit in Edinburgh is getting big licks and it’s worth taking a wander in there. The fact that it exists at all is worthy of supporting such a venture. Had such a thing been tackled in Glasgow, it would have been a different beastie methinks.

If you’re going there between now and November, I’d suggest going on a Saturday and factoring in the Music Walking Tour. That way you get discounted tickets and also some exercise.

RIP - Nicholas George Stephanoff (Nick Knox)

Sorry to hear about the untimely demise of the king of the biggest beat. My memory of Nick is of a quiet fellow that went about his business. Once he trusted you, he was more forthcoming and I was honoured as all get out when he loaned me a mix tape to copy that had the Tuesday Weld song, “Are You The Boy” on it. That was the night we went back to Miles Copeland’s house where the band was staying. Right after Kid Congo's first show at The Lyceum in London. What was that? December 1980? The 15th.

Nick was an ardent pop fan and I recall sending a couple of Lio records as a thank you when I returned the tape. Then the LOTC got dumped and we lost touch but it was heartening to know that he’d re-emerged in recent times to be involved with young Clevelanders, Archie and the Bunkers Norton Records connection. I held some vague hope that he’d make it to Europe with them at some point but sadly that won’t be happening. We’ll toast his memory at FUNTASTIC though. That’s for damn sure.

My condolences to his family and friends.

WELL NOW...

HE'S AWAY AGAIN...

SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO... COMPLETE WITH RUTLES-Y ENDING!

READY FOR THE FUNTASTIC DISCOTHEQUE-A-GO-GO?

ONE WEEK TOMORROW UNTIL THE TICKETS GO ON SALE!!!

SIXTEEN YEARS WITHOUT DEE DEE...

ERIC ACROSS AMERICA - THE LATEST INSTALMENT!

STAND BY YOUR REFRESH BUTTONS!

COMING YOUR WAY IN NOVEMBER!

SAFETY PIN - PUNK ROCK ANCIENT and MODERN!

One of the reasons with persevering to get a 40^th Anniversary NBT out  was the fact that it could be printed by Martin Lacey that used to do it at Juma. And that self same person has reactivated his old punkzine, Safety Pin with the first issue available now and a desire to set up an ongoing publishing schedule.

That’s right. It’s a print only deal. You have to turn the pages, none of that swiping required. 44 pages, A4 format with a 7” EP of archive cuts by Sheffield combo Stunt Kites who I believe are still active today?

It’s a fiver + whatever the postage is to wherever you are. Click the link back there to see what that entails.

It's Joe's Birthday!

NOT SO YOUNG MAYBE BUT STILL FAST AND SCIENTIFIC!

Just 4 Weeks Away!

RIP - STU BOY KING

ALL THE ERIC SHOWS COMING UP... HE HAS "VINYLS"!

WRECKLESS ERIC IN GLASGOW! JUST 2 WEEKS AWAY!!

AULD REEKIE DOUBLE WHAMMY

THE GEATOR WITH THE HEATER!

THREE DECADES OF BARBARA ANN!

WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY ERIC?

The line in "Gateway To Europe" about a bridge being built to where no-one wants to go really chimes with me and these times. Then there’s the futility of almost everything but let’s not get into that now. The way people listen to things these days have stymied ‘the album’ as a concept. Especially those like this that has been sequenced to be experienced in a particular order. Like a good film or book that you won’t want to avert your attention from.

The mood that Construction Time and Demolition strikes isn’t always as bleak as it might seem though. As uncompromising as Suicide, there’s a cautious optimism coursing through the frequencies that somehow offers a respite that so many records simply don’t any more. I read about things and wonder ‘is this it?’ when I hear them. Not so with this. There’s an extensive tour coming up where the album content will likely be interpreted differently every night. It’s not going to be lurking somewhere out of view on a laptop to augment the performance nor vice versa. What you’ll see and hear in real time will add an extra dimension to the recorded version. That will also be the case if you hear the documented version prior to seeing the show.

You’ll likely hear some old stuff but it’s all about forging forward. Like your Neil Young and your Rab Zimmerman, this fella has absolutely nothing to prove. He’s presenting you with yet another set of songs that will allow you to catch up with that fact. You might be able to plot where he’s come from but you sure as shit won’t have any inkling as to where he’s going. Other than leading a bunch of us over that ‘bridge’ to whatever is in store. Hopefully a place where there is no such thing as a franchise in any shape or form. The majesty of the sound that is captured here is really quite astounding. That's saying something when considered against Eric's body of work.

Get physical copies of the album from the man himself during his extensive, upcoming tour dates in the US and the UK. If you don't find yourself anywhere near then hit up your local shop or wherever you buy your “gear” these days. If you want to get it digitally, please do so directly at Eric’s bandcamp page.

RIP - LILL BABS

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY (PRINT EDITION)

All low key on this 41st NBT anniversary but I did recently happen upon this. Pretty funny. The comments suggest that this portal might have something to do with the ex-Sounds scribe Sandy Robertson but I might be wrong. It wouldn’t be the tenth time. I imagine that my ‘beef ‘with Sniffin Glue at the time was that I didn’t chime with their worldview and maybe thought I should have a go at the zine lark myself. Mark turned out to be a stand up guy. As did Tony D(rayton) and some other folks I might have had a pop at. The folly of (relative) youth.

Talking out of my arse is an activity that I reserve the right to practice to this very day. I did and said, often in print, some incredibly stupid things based on the flimsiest even non-existent premise. I don’t believe the claim that The Dictators were (and are) better than The Pistols to be one of those however and I stand by that original statement.

For better or for worse and irrespective of what any bugger thinks.

And congratulations to Sir Andy Shernoff for having our namesake appear in the Season 3 premiere of the TV show, Billions. I never watched it but those music placement folks on that show obviously know a contender when they hear one.

LIBRARY MUSIC!

DON'T MAKE THE FATAL ERROR... MISS AMY"S SHOWS AT YOUR PERIL!

FRANKLIN FEST 2018

THE BUCKLE ON THE BIBLE BELT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY LLOYD!

WURLITZER ANTHEM!

A GLORIOUS RACKET!

FUZZTASTIC!

THE HUMAN JUKEBOX KNOWS NO BOUNDS!

LOOK OUT HONEY 'CUZ THEY'RE USING TECHNOLOGY!

LO QUE HICIMOS FUE SECRETO

INVESTIGATE THIS!

There's no embed code.

TODAY NEWCASTLE, TOMORROW ... er EDINBURGH!

SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE IDEA TO ME...

THE DYNAMITE JUST KEEPS ON COMING!

The Courettes are back with another dozen of those tunes that will hit you upside of your head. “We Are The Courettes” is maybe another cheeky wee nod in the direction of their spiritual Tacoma forefathers. It continues to outline just how much better these kids are than the slew of two person crews that are out there. Many of those are good for maybe one 45 but there’s an extra oomph to this combo. I don’t really want to try and quantify what it is, just so long as it just keeps on coming. The pop crunch of “All About You” is like supercharged Lulu. There are also ballads. That’s right. No, I hear you say? Oh yes and they really pace the sequencing beautifully.

I’ve no idea if Flavia knows who The Geator is and I’m hoping she doesn’t because “Strawberry Boy” is pure Jerry Blavat. And when all is said and done, there are few full on screams that compare with that of Ms Couri. Combine that with the fuzz and clatter and you’ll be grinning all over your fizzog.

The sonic boom that they’ve come to customise is intact but they’re growing into a multi-faceted rockin’ machine. I look forward to hear how the slower songs might be applied to the live set but the way “Fool Fool Fool” closes the album just makes me want to take the ride all over again.

They are The Courettes!

WISH I COULD GO TO THIS BUT NO CAN DO...

SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE GAL THAT LABOURS ON THE PAGE...

Starting off with “From philip roth@gmail to rzimmerman @ aol.com” it’s evident that these past years playing with Eric has arrived at a sound that really captures the edge that this girl has over the competition. The majesty of the jangle around the bass propulsion is verging on anthemic. Not that she doesn’t have a brace of anthems in the catalogue that trounces most everything but this album has an atmosphere all of its own. It has a Tom Petty-type undertow too and as a  statement of intent, it kicks things off at a damn high bar.

The place of Amy Rigby in the firmament of music is another example of something that people who have no idea of its existence could really do with hearing. If you’ve ever read her blog then you’ll know what this lassie can do with words. Before I even heard “Are We Still There Yet?”, it was one of the best song titles I’ve ever come across and to my mind there's just one person who could come up with it.

Her world-weariness is at once cinematic and also deeply personal. “The Old Guys” really hangs together as a piece where recent albums were perhaps collections of songs recorded where and when she could get it together.

So I could waffle on but I want you to hear how damn great this is for yourself. My favourite on the album is “Bob”. It’s like if maybe Joe Meek had produced Linda Thompson. The brass is spine-tingling and if anything it’s the biggest departure here as she relates the story of her old friend. The closer “One-Off” could be applied to several individuals I know but in terms of characters and entertainers, this Amy is in a class of her own. She may set her sights near the middle or somewhere below but what she comes up with is, to my mind, absolutely revelatory. Still the best. Still the champ.

Check out the tour dates here and if she isn’t coming round your way anytime soon then just order a physical copy here. If it’s a download you need, enquire at her website or wherever such doohickeys are sold.

GET BUNKERED! - SENIOR ADVISOR - NICK KNOX!!!

THE MOTORCYCLE BOY REIGNS!

THEM COURETTES ARE BACK! - MARCH 30th!!

MISS THIS AT YOUR PERIL:!

RIP - MICHEL (MiMi) CROSS

RIP - FRODE SKJOLD

RIP - EVA GARCIA BENITO (SOUL BLONDE)

LOLA ARMY - Designed by Eva. 

There’s too much of the type of news you hope will never come. That which you desperately want to be fake or just plain untrue. Or even just plain mistaken. Today was another of those, when someone who is really just a kid departs in an altogether untimely fashion. Eva was something else, a gentle soul with a huge artistic, creative heart who apart from all that was just a wee gem that radiated. She and her life partner Murky blazed a trail across the Spanish Underground. Perhaps the best known of these projects is LCDD, who played all across the planet. Even in Glasgow.

Lisa Fancher, Eva, Old bloke
outside LA ALEGRIA in Madrid
November 2016

Photo by MURKY

During a fairly protracted period of illness, her creative edge never slipped and she was the mastermind behind LOLA. A wee Spanish wummin that can be found in regalo emporiums all across Spain. Eva presented me with one during Sesentafest and it was quite the honour to receive such a cool gift by the designer herself. Most importantly, it was she and Murky that masterminded our adventures in the real Madrid that really made me fall in love with the city.

Sitting in their tiny apartment listening to hopelessly obscure shellac is an experience fully scorched into my skull. It was especially crammed the night after The Dahlmanns made their Wurlitzer debut. So I’ll miss her physical presence the next time I’m in town but she’ll never stop being a fixture in our hearts and minds.  To Murky, we their friends will attempt to help with the huge hole this loss will bring him. We can’t begin to fill it but I hope he knows that we’re all around for him.

I thank both of them for those times of Alegria that hanging out with this cool couple brought to this old daftie.

Here’s her theme song...

AMY RIGBY - ONE ON ONE AT CITY WINERY

QUESTIONS IN A WORLD OF SHIT - MATT and KIM RETURN TO THE RING!

CONSTRUCTION TIME & DEMOLITION

MOON DUO INTERPRET ALAN VEGA...

NOT QUITE SO YOUNG BUT STILL FAST AND SCIENTIST-IFIC!

Some bright light for these dark days!

IN HONOUR OF JEAN-LUC, HAPPENING THURSDAY 4th JANUARY...

A NEW YEAR MAYHAP BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S BILLY MILLER'S BIRTHDAY!

I DOUBT THAT YOU'LL EVER READ A BETTER BLOG POST THAN THIS...

... Amy really outdid herself.

RIP - Jean Luc Le Dû

He posted the following tune recently. Let's remember him through that...

SENSATIONAL SEASONAL FARE!

AS HEARD ON PURE A FEW MINUTES AGO!

LA FIAMBRERA PUNK EXHIBIT - IF YOU'RE THERE YOU MUST VISIT!!

The Danny Fields Section

So it turned out that all those years of hoarding weren’t in vain. I’d posted something about the Madrid exhibition before I took off there but hadn’t seen anything other than some snaps of the way it was coming together.

Walking down those steps to the space, I could never have envisioned the way that it would look. Certainly not the stuff that I’d included. The photos and the art are one thing but to breathe life into material that’s spent the best part of four decades in boxes is something that never crossed my mind, I felt like I was definitely the weak end of it all.

Go to the Facebook page and have a virtual look!

Turns out some of that stuff looks pretty good and what a joy it was to be able to discuss the joys of paste up with a good few like-minded patrons that dropped by. For all of this to go down in my adopted city, it’s all a bit squiffy to contemplate. It was great working with Ruth and Francisco to put it together. Now that all the projects are pretty much done and dusted it’s maybe time to just not plan anything for a while other than maybe a jaunt here or there. I get real sick of me during periods like this.

The time between now and this proposed Brexit shit shouldn’t be wasted. Perhaps common sense will prevail and it won’t happen but I wouldn’t be holding my breath in expectation of that. I count 14 and a bit months to go as bonkers as possible and if we get beyond that then let’s just take it as it comes. We can’t be unscrambling those eggs but there will undoubtedly be breakages along the way. There was an outbreak of that common sense I referred to earlier in America yesterday, let’s hope it’ll catch on. Meanwhile, it feels like the shortest day has been going on for a week. It's hardly gotten light in recent times. 

RIP - Pat DiNizio

TWELVE DAYS INTO DECEMBER?

I just realised that I hadn't posted anything in December. I've been busy and I should really tell you why but for now, the best Seasonal music since them Pantone kids put out "Cancion de Navidad" broke cover earlier today.

Yes, there's a virtual SCREECHING WEASEL celebration of the stupid season in all their trademark glory. Many attempts to ape the way Ben picked up The Ramones baton but few have even come close to coming close. These two gems will take you from "Christmas Eve" to "New Year's Eve", what you get up to on either end has sod all to do with me.

This is the Sp*tify link, it is however available from all vendors of the file format. Perhaps this time next year there'll be a groovy wee seven inch version?

As a response to some cockamamie Rolling Stone list, here's Ben's 27 contenders from the Pop Punk Pantheon!

FOUR DECADES AND COUNTING...

Frankie Teardrop by Roberto Majan

It’s been a crazy few months and 2017 closes out with the advent of an exhibition in Madrid to mark the 40 calendar years since PUNK, the commodity began to take hold. It’s also a little over that since this malarkey set sail so we’ve all grown older somewhat disgracefully over the years.

We can debate the whys and wherefores down the road but I’m beyond thrilled to be involved with mi amigas and amigos at LA FIAMBRERA where the show will run from Friday December 1^st until February 4^th 2018.

Alongside a collection of print artefacts, there’s an interpretive strand where artists associated with the gallery have created a piece to reflect what this four letter word means to them. The results are very impressive and I imagine that those graphically closest to NBT hearts will be Shag’s "Smash It Up" and Roberto Majan‘s interpretation of an audience at a Suicide show entitled “Frankie Teardrop”. There’s also a photographic aspect that collects work from some of the most prolific names of the time including Ramones images by Danny Fields and also Ian Dickson, Bob Gruen, Sheila Rock and Ray Stevenson. Limited run signed prints of these will be available to buy at the gallery during the run of the show.

Smash It Up by Shag 

If you find yourself in Madrid then please drop in and have a look. If you’re looking for an excuse to visit a great city and you’ve been umming and ah-ing about where to go then let me tell you that you need look no further.

Stay tuned for news on an important event that’s being planned for the close of the show because you might want to tie that in with your travel plans.

WHAT IF STEWART CRUICKSHANK WAS ONE OF US?

The prospect of trying to shepherd a bill as rammed as this seemed like a heady prospect. It’s usually bad enough with two or three acts but there were a lot of bodies to get on and off stage.

What we maybe didn’t factor in to that concept was that they were doing it for Stewart. And somehow it took on the form of flying by the seat of your breeks. Just like the man himself might have assembled it.

Hadn’t been to the venue before but it’s a great place. Like a bijou St Andrews on the Square perhaps. By the time we got in, David Scott, Jamie Gash, Duglas T Stewart and Chloe Phillips were already on stage. I’m sure there was somebody else too but I was a little distracted by familiar faces in the crowd. The Thanes were next doing a short set of Poets material with original member Fraser Watson on stage with them. I believe they hope to do it all again at some point.

THE THANES do THE POETS

Was it Rab Noakes and Roddy Hart next? I think so. It was all getting to be a bit overwhelming as folks that I hadn’t seen since at least the funeral were appearing all over.

I think Emma Pollock appeared with Rab too, then Kim Edgar and Karine Polwart with Emma. Karine performed a Cruickshank favourite. Joan Osborne’s  “One of Us”. Not the song with the gabba gabba refrain. This was the thing about Stewart, if he liked something he would tirelessly bang on about it. I was subjected to why this was brilliant on many occasions and became convinced that indeed it is. 

THE PASTELS

Did Sandy Semeonoff perform “Grizzly Bear” next? I think he might have. He was incredible, like a one person Daddy Long Legs. Then he introduced The Pastels the way Calvin Johnson did. They did three songs including a version of ‘Different Drum’ that really hit the spot. The overwhelmingness has given way to flat out disorientation at that point. I’m not sure of the running order from here but The Primevals raised the roof and then Iain Shaw followed them with a rendition of “Dinosaur Egg”. Justin Currie and Stuart Nisbet were next up (I think), Stuart sung a song 'wot he wrote' that I could imagine Amy Allison singing. Brian Hogg and Brian Young did a couple of songs and then it was time for Mowgli and the Donuts. John Cavanagh introduced them by suggesting that there had maybe been a pact between Wilf and Stewart that the band wouldn’t play live again until Robert Mugabe had been deposed. Something you couldn’t rule out.

The stories and the flashing images above the stage just added to the happening like nature of the night. The Crunchies closed the proceedings in rapturous style. Versions of “The Letter” and The Velvets “Rock n’ Roll” were transcendental enough but it was The Hooters “I’m Alive” that really hit the message home that he actually is. Not in terms of taking 2 hours to doddle down the Byres Road but there was a distinct presence.

THE CRUNCHIES do THE HOOTERS

Richard and Helena and Lorraine and Sushil and everybody really managed to put something together that went beyond justice in celebrating the good Captain. The perceived chaos never occurred and there’s no way that the attendees didn’t get the fact that such a thing could likely never be repeated. Of course, that’s not to say we shouldn’t try.

But let’s coast on the outright triumph of this one. Muchas gracias to everyone that took part to create something that I don’t think even Krunch would be inclined to mump about.

A seriously great time was had by all. In case it's of interest, the outcome of the Lou Reed adventure ended up in Stewart becoming a firm friend of the legendary grouch. And Lou picking up the studio tab. All was well that ended well. Just like Friday night.

Terrible phone pics by me.

RIP - TOMMY KEENE

RIP - WAYNE COCHRAN

RIP - DAVID CASSIDY

SESENTAFEST - An attempt at documentation

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.

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.

A WONDERLAND OF STAR DUST!

RIP - FRED COLE

I think this is a belter!

IT'S TIME!

HEADING THIS WAY NEXT JUNE!

FOUR WEEKS FROM TONIGHT...

TICKET LINK!